The ladies' garland. [volume], May 17, 1828, Image 1

About The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
gljc aairtcg* (Bai1.mii,
VOX.. 4. HASFERS.FSRRY, VZRGII92A, MAY 17, 1828.
NO. 4®
PL'BLISIIIIU EVKB1T SATUHDAV EVKNTSO,
15V JOHN S. GALLAIIEU.
TKUMS.—One dollar and fifty cents per annum,
payable at the expiration of the first quarter, or
one dollar and twenty-five cents, to be paid at the
time of sfibserming. Payment in advance, from ;
distant subscribers who are not known to the pub- I
Is her, will invariably be expected. Should pay- !
item uc deferred to the enu of the year, f~ win
required.
THE REPOSITORY.
THE BALL.
lit MRS. HOFI.CND.
'• Even if I were not prevented by tins un
looked for engagement from accompanying you
to the ball to night, my love,” said the honor
able Alfred Seymour to his beautiful young
wife, “you must nevertheless have declined it.
for the child is evidently unwell; look, how the
pulse throbs in Ins little throat, Sophia!"
■ So they always do, i believe. I really wish
von were less of a croaker, and candle-maker,
iny dear; however, to make you easy, 1 will
send for Doctor Davis immediately : as to the
ball, as I am expected, and have gone to the
trouble and expense of a new dress, and have
not been out for such a long, long time, tcallv
1 think 1 ought to go.’ “ \ ou would not leave
my boy, lady Sophia, if’—‘not if there is the
least danger, certainly ; nor If the •' : dio-dd
pronounce it ill; but I do nut believe it is so ; I
see nothing particular about the child, for inv
pari.
As ill'' young mother said this, she cast her
eyes on the child, a id saw in its little heavy
•.yes something, which she felt assured, leas par
tieular—she saw, moreover, more strikingly
than ever, the likeness it bore to a justly beloved
husband, and in a tone of self correction added,
poor little fellow, I do not think \ ou are quite
:iie thing; and should it prove so, mama w ill
not leave you for the world ’
The rountenance of the father brightened.
\nd lie departed, assured that the claims of na
ture would soon fully triumph ohm any little
.ingering love of dissipation. vtruggling for ac
customed indulgence: and, as he hade her good
bye, he did not wonder that a st.tr so brilliant
desired to exhibit its rays in the highest circle
of fashion. Nevertheless, as he could not be
present himself, he thought, on the whole, it
was better she should he absent. A vounsr no
bleman, who had been his rival, and worn the
willow some time after their marriage, hail
lately paid marked attention to a young beauty
every way likely to console him ; and Mr. Sey
mour thought it would be a great pity if his
wife's blaze of beauty, appearing suddenly be
fore him, after it had so long been withdrawn,
should indispose his heart toward a connexion
every way likely to prove happy.
Unfortunately, the for d husband gave indica
tions of his admiration alike in looks and words,
anil as the fair young mother turned from him
to her mirror, she felt for a moment displeased
that her liege lord should be less solicitous than
herself to ‘witch the world’ with her beauty;
and whilst in this humor, she called her maid
to shew her the turban and dress • in which she
intended to appear.’
“I.auk, my lady! why sure you intends it
yet. Did any body ever hear of such a thing
as going to stay at home, when you are all pro
pared .' You have been out of sight ever so
long: and you area thousand times more beau
lifultr than you ever was. Ah! I knows what
I know Miss Somen ille may look tw ice ere
■•he catches my lord. it’ so lie ; ■ ■>» -s you in this
her.- plume; • cold bud!) is so m wuiuied, the*
say.”
Could it he that this vulgar nonsense—the
senseless tirade of low flattery and thoughtless
stimulation to error—could a fleet the mind of
the. high-horn and highly educated I.tdvS)
phiaAlas! yes—a slight spark will ignite
dormant vanity: and the love of momentaiv
triumph surpass the more generous vi-di of giv
ing happiness to others, in a sphere distinct
fioru our own. l'he new dress was tiiedon;
ils effect extolled by the maid, and admitted la
the lady. The carnage was announced, and
she was actually descending 'then the low trail
of the baby broke on her ear, and she recollect
ed that in the confusion of her mind, during the
time devoted to dre-s and anticipated triumph,
she had forgotten to send lor the medic;.! friend
of the family.
Angry with herself, in the first moment of
repentance, she determined to remain at home ;
but, unfortunately, she reconsidered, ai.d went
before the arrival of the doctor. ’Tis true, 'lie
hit messages, and various orders, and w fir
fulfilled a mother's duties; but she closed her
eyes to the eudent iwakiiessot her bov, arid
contented hersi It will, determining to return as
soon as nos.-ible.
Who could return, while they found them
selves the admired ol all, ami when, at h i-t,
the adoration ol < i/'.s saluted her (rum him. uhotn
'lie well knew it was cruelty. or tin, to attract.
1 he observation torced upon her of .Miss Sittn
ervilles un laucholy looks, told her this, and
compelled her to recollect that she was without
her husband. and therefore likely to lie closely
watched. She found that in the midst of tri
umph, we. may be humbled— in the miilst of
pleasure, paint d ; and she rt solved to lly from
the scene of gaiety, more quickly than she had
come. But numerous delays arose, each of
which Irarrassed her spirits riot less than they
retarded her inovemeiits. She became at Ion"til,
so annoyed, as to lose aii her hioom. and hear
herself as much conduled with, as she had he
fore been congratulated. She felt ill, and was
aware that siie had a right to expect reproaches
from her husband, not less on account of her
self, than her child; and whilst in this state of
perplexity, was summoned to her carriage by
servants whose messages from home increased
her distress.
The young mother arrived in time to see the
face of her dying child distorted by convulsions,
3r,d to meet from her husband, anger, reproach,
and contempt. She was terrified to witness the
death of the innocent being she had forsaken
in a moment so critical; arid bitter was the
sorrow and remorse, which arose from offend
ing him, who had hitherto l ived her so fondly,
and esteemed her so highly. These emotions,
combining with other causes, soon rendered
her the inhabitant of a sick bed, and converted
.1 lioirne so lately tlie abode of happiness a . :
hope, into a scene ol sorrow, anxiety, and deal!.
Lady Sophia, after much suli'ering, recovered
her health; hut when she.left her chamber, she
could nut help being sensible that her hu-diund' ■
confidence w as withdrawn from her, though pity
and kindness wore shown t■ > her situation-—
Kntire silence about the past, was the utmost
act of tenderness to which Mr Seymour could
bring himself on a subject which had w winded
11'• r: so dec;'1;' and '■! : '!) recurred with renew
• d pain, when all anxiety was removed lor the
life of one still dear, hut no longer invaluable
And all this misery,— the li arful prospect of
a long life embittered bv self repmach. useless
regret, and L-t atlcctioii, r is purchased by a
1 new dress, and an ignorant w aiting maid ; a
I u-k so full of danger, and so ftt.il in rth .•* was
incurred, to strike a man already rrfus' ,!, ami
wound a woman, who never injured her buck
are the despicable efforts of vanity for tempora
iv distinction; and such the, deplorable conse
i|'.iencfs of quitting the tender offices of affee
tion, and transgressing the requisitions of duty
THU MIRROR.
> It!)M Tilt I)At ilF.LOIls’ JOlllNAI.
u.vcm:r.oHS’ toumknts.
Even we of I ho quirt life, have our little vex
; at ions which • flesh is heir to,' and from which
| none escape The moment we leave the • otiinn
: nun digiiitdtc' of the study, or fireside, the in
| stant we kic k the Rout from utir toes, and draw
; on our [toots for a stroll, a partv, or for the
| church, annoyance dogs our heels, or stare." Us
: in the face. In the first place, in parading the
j - trects, u tall, a shop shade pitches one's [teat rr
j into the mml, or, unless you understand fencing
] so as to parry the thrust with your cane, a lump
! lighter darts the end of his ladder into youi
hreutl-lutskct — in looking up, while walking, to
ascertain the hour from some steeple, an open
! cellar door either plunges one head foremost in
darkness, or some little fell wv assaults you with
his head, where you h ast desire or expect it—
in turning a coiner, because people will not
keep to the right, a game of dodging a prome
nador ensues, and there is no escape until you
have fairly adopted the Indian custom of join
ing noses in unwilling compliment. Hut the
church also has its torments. The battle ol
Vtvann h s been fraught with terrible cotise
qui nces, as to seeing our div incs on the !s.ib
hath. 'I ii>- ladies, after that naval engagement
introduced into Church what they called * No
varino hats,’ as large as the mainsail of a Turk
ish man ol war, vihich. placed anv where he
tween the priest and parishioner, I dim a total
eclipse ol vision—the sound ol the preacher’s
voire whistles round it, it is true; but then i>_
comes as faintly as the mew of a drowning kit
ten. We have been seated behind these drop
scenes, ami have dodged and wriggled, until
we fancied we had the lumbago, to catch a prep
at the minister, but in v ain •. and tinallv, in Gi
der to see fairly, have been driven to the or
chestra, in which we are searn lv better oil. t,n
ladies' feathers from the body of the house hv
their tallness, wave athwart our ken, like the
birds in Der I rryshuU.
This leads one to remember Theatrical to,
ments from the same cause—a_ud now