Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-11-17

S"S~Sh StiiuS saw shouSb lhS ihSt :
ry hail." she was stranger to every
feeling but transport. She still sat
upon her seat, but reused by the fasci-
nation of every thing around her, her
wild black eye beamed out the express
sion Other soul within. Every fibre of
her frame seemed alive to exiacy, and
when il was her turn to take the floor,
she bounded like a young deer to her
place, not suspecting she was seen or
noticed, SO absorbed was she in the
rapturous spectacle before her
She danced, as we might expect one
to dance with her elastic spirits ANNA.
ted by the allurements of hovely and
music.
The young men admired the undis-
guised airiness of her manner and spi-
rits, We'd with each other for her hand,
and summoned their pretty speeches 60
fill her ears. But Caroline knew no
preference, and attributed their fine
speeches as the common stock of So
ciety, retailed alike by every individual
according as chance furnished an occa-
sion She did not escape the notice of
her own sex Those TO whom society
was more familiar, ever jealous of
rising star and envious Of the caresses
bestowed on her, began under the guise
OF smiles to beg an introduction Oh!
degenerate human nature! Entirely
ignorant Of the ungenerous passions Of
mankind, herself unspotted purity, she
thought the world was as it appeared;
that every smile was the emanalion Of
heart unbittered as her own; that
these advances to her acquaintance
were the forms of limitations into that
society with which she was yet SO much
enchanted
Poor girl how little did she dream
that those smiles were wells whic h en-
w and malice had raised to hide their
own horrid features! How little did
she dream that these voluntary courte-
sizes on the par. Of those Of her own sex,
were mere sublerfuges to expose to ri
dicule her unguarded volatility!-But
such was the truth. They played off
on her unsuspecting mind till they
were satisfied. She went home delight
ed. Weeks and weeks were spent in
reviewing the events Of that happy
night, and enjoying in rapturous anti
cipation other similar passtimes.
But it is not the To-, of human beings
long to enjoy an unruffled calm Of de-
light. Caroline was by no means an
exception. The current of her happy
thoughts was disturbed by the unex-
pected communication of a kind friend.
1t was this.-Reports were in circu-
lation that when at the ball, Caroline
was rude in her manners, "volalile, "
too much pleased with attentions,
thought too much of herself did not
behave as young Miss ought TO be-
have,' sc. UnmindSul that she had
excited any notice, and scarcely con-
scious that she herself had played a
par, in the assembly, she was thunder
struck! Not as yet suspecting that any
thing but her own conduct could give
rise to these reports, she at once be-
lieved that all was true. She tried to
review the events of the night, but her
recollections were limited TO what she
saw, for she thought herself as yet but
little other than spectator. The on.
ly result of the retrospect was, that she
was pleased. ard as she could not re-
collect how she demeaned herself, there
was a possibility that her conduct
might be exceptionable Her sensi-
bility (Which was not an obscure trait
in her character was now reused TO
its highest pitch
She had not long been engaged in
repen,ing Of her thoughtlessness, and
making resolutions to observe more
rigid course Of conduct, when she was
informed by another that the reports
she so deeply lamented, were scandal
lous aspersions thrown out ~ those
who were under apprehensions OF be-
ing supplanted by her. This single
suggestion was enough to point OUT to
her sagacious mind, the nature OF envy,
malice, and every species of detrac-
ton which human beings make use OF
to bring others on level with them
selves, and to extinguish every light
which would make their own obscure
ty more visible.
Caroline is yet young-but the short
time she has mingled with society, has
laugh, her, that We enter it with hopes
and feelings which more extensive
intercourse is sure 10 disappoint: that
all the bitterness and rancOur which SO
often obtrude themselves amo 6 equals
in so. iety, are not the original ingredi-
ents to our natures, but taught by the
commerce Of the worldly that desire
of being the objects Of preferment
whom we once begin to consider our
selves as units in society.
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