Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-15

tended to say: but mutual reserve rem
dered the remainder of the evening
could, formal, and insipid /; and when
Leland took his leave, Harriet felt
more than ever dissatisfied. AS it was
not late in the evening, she resolved to
dissipate the melancholy that this lit
tie interview, in spite Of all her efforts
to laugh at it, left on her mind, by
spending few moments at neigh
bour's, whose three daughters were
her most intimate companions.
The youngest of these ladies was
gay and interesting girl, and was the
first to meet and welcome her young
friend-but as she held out her hand,
Harriet discovered little flower in it
it was a" forget-me-not;" she exasnin-
ed tit was one of Leland's; the mark
she made on it, when she took it from
the basket of the Hower-girl, was there.
This was at the moment an unfortu-
nate discovery.-She had heard that
Charles frequently visited this family,
and that he even paid attention to Jane:
but she had never before believed it;
and now she shuddered at the idea OF
admitting that for once rumour told
truth. "Where did you get this pretty
flower, Jane?" said she. ooh, beau to
be sure", said Jane, archly;" don't you
see-Frgst-ms-noi!" and as she took
back the flower, 81 should not like to
tell you where gotit; Pllwear it in my
bosom, though-come sing:-
I'll dearly love this pretty flower,
For his own sake who bids me keep it
| III wear it in my bosom's-"
Hugh, jane" said Harriet, interrupt
ing her, "my head aches, and your sing
ing distracts me. ""Ah! its your heart"
said Jane, cor you would not look so
dull" "Well, if it is my heart" said
Harriet, as she turned to conceal her
tears, it does not become a friend to
trifie with it.''-She intended to convey
a double meaning in this reply; but II
was not taken, and as soon as possible
she returned home.
A sleepless night followed: Harriet
felt that she was injured; and the more
she thought about it the more she felt.
l-She had engaged her hand to Leland
six months before the time appointed
for their union was approaching fast,
and he acted thus "Ifhe wants to be
freed from his engagement" said she
to herself, 81 will give him no trouble;
and she sat down and wrote, request
ing him to discontinue his visits. She
wept over it flood of tears: but she
was resolute until she had dispatched
the note to his residence Then she
repented of it, and then again reasoned
herself into the belief that she had act
ed right. She waited for the result,
not without many anxiously cherished
hopes that he would call for an expla-
nation. But she only learned that the
note was delivered into his hands: a.
bout month afterwards he sailed for
England. This was an end to the
matter.-Charles went into business in
Liverpool, but never married; and Har.
riet remained single, devoting her life
!, to the care of her aged mother, and
ministering to the wants of the poor
, and distressed around her.
About forty years after Leland left
Philadelphia, Harriet paid visit to
Newly ork, and dining in large com
, pany one day, an old gentleman, who
il seemed was bachelor, being called
/, upon to defend the fraternity to which
he belonged from the aspersions o.
some of the younger and more fortunate
part ofthe company, told story about
Philadelphia, and courtship, and ar
engagement, which he alledged wa:
, broken off by his capricious mistress
!. for no other reason than. his offering
her a sweet new-blown forget-me-not
six weeks before she was to have beer
. made his wife.-"But was there no o.
;. Their cause" asked Harriet, who sal
!. nearly opposite the stranger and eyee
\ him with intense curiosity? " None tc
: my knowledge, as Heaven is my wit
= ness" Then what did you do will
the other flower!!" said Harriet; TIT
stranger gazed in establishment: it wa
> Leland himself, and he recognized hi
Harriet, though almost half a centur,
: had passed since they had met; and tn
= mischief made by the twin-Aowers wa
, all explained away, and might hav
: been forty years before, had Charles
said he had lost one of the forget-me
:, nots, or had Jane said she had toun'
.. it. The old couple never married; bu
= they correspondent CONSTANTLY after
wards, and I always thought Harrie
: looked happier after this meeting tha
she ever had looked before.
!. Now have only to say, at the conciu
sion Of my story, to my juvenile reao
err. never let an attachment be abrupt
! lly broken of; let an interview and
) candid explanation speedily follow e'
! ery misunderstanding: For the ten
derest and most valuable affections
,,,la, xvon will he the easiest wounded