The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1825-12-10

ments of novelty and music.
The Young men admired the undisgused airi-
ness Of her manner and spirits. We'd with each
other for her hand, and summoned their pretty
speeches to fill her ears. But Caroline knew no
preference, and attributed their attentions to ac-
cident, and considered their fine speeches as
the common stock of society, retalled alike by
every individual according chance furnished
an occasion She did not escape the notice Of
her own Those to whom society was more
familiar, ever jealous Of rising star, and enyi
Gus of the caresscs bestowed on her, began un-
der 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
il appeared: that every smile was the emana-
ton Of a heart unbttered as her own: that these
advances to her acquaintance were the forms Of
initiation into that society with which She was
as yet SO much enchanted
Poor girl How little did She dream that those
smiles We're wells which envy and malice had
raised to hide their own horrid features How
little did she dream that those voluntary courtc-
sizes on the part Of her own sex, were mere sub
terfnres to expose to lidiculc her unguarGed vo-
latlty but such was the truth They played
of on her msuspecting mind till they were sa
tlsficd. She went home delighted Weeks and
that happy night, and enjoying in rapturous an
tlcpation other similar pastimes.
But it is not the lot Of human beings long to en-
joy an unruffled calm of delight Caroline Was
by no means an exception. The current Of her
happy thoughts was disturbed by the uncxpcct-
ed communication of kind friend
1t was this-Reports were in circulation that
when at the ball. Caroline was rude in her
manners, VOLATILE too much pleased with at
tcntlons, thought too much Of herself did
not behave as a young Miss ought to behave
sc, Cnmindfu that she had excited any no
tice, and scarcely conscious that she herself had
played a part in the assembly, she was thunder
struck Not yet suspecting that any thine
but her own conduct could give rise to these re-
ports, She at once believed that all was true
She tried to review the events Of the night but
herrecollecton was limited to what She saw for
she thought herself as vet but little other than .
spectator.-Ihe only result Of the retrospect
was that she was pleased end as she could moi
recollect how She demcaned herself there was a
possibility that her conduct might he exception
able. Her sensibility (Which was not an obscure
trait IN her character,) was now reused to its
highest pitch.
She had not long been engaged in repenng
OF her tloughtiessness, and making resolutions
to observe moro rigid course Of conduct. when
she was informed by another that the reports She
so deeply lamentcd were scandalous aspcrsions
thrown out by those who were under apprehcn-
sons Of being supplante,l by her. This single
suggestion was enough TO point out to her saga
cIous mind the nature of every malice, and eve
ry species of detraction which human beines
make use of to bring others on A level with M