The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-30
Mu Ttnnsmogrifeatlons.-Mrs.M lr.

| female parts OF humlnliy IN its progress
through childhood, girlhood, aud wo-
manhood, TO marriage aud old are. But
TO us of the more lordly sex she has de-
MED muiobllity which perhaps she has
not so much obseVed--this is solely
because she Is nor one of US, and could
scarcely have opportunities of remark
ing our changes rs closely as those of
! her own sex. She observes, there is
very little change IN men from early
boyhood, aud thai they keep the same
faces, however uely.' In soma instan-
cos II may be SO, but in general there
are very few animals more unlike lhan
the boy 10 the man but perhaps Miss
Milford, in this sweeping ndstinction,
onl " alluded To the 'wcarers Of smock
| trocks, in that ease there is an end of
the argument; but surprising the con-
trary, (Which | do, otherwise an excel
lent article would be lost,) will pro-
coed 10 detail the history Of my own
Transmogrlhcatlons.'
cannot say fecolllcct myself, but |
| perfectly well remember a portrait that
strongly resembled me, painted when
was two years old, for my dear and ten
der mother, and valued accordingly.
1t represents fat, rogush, black-eycd,
curley-headed urchin, sitting, on bank
with lap full Of flowers, which showed
out magnificent from the white flock
beneath them. There was happiness,
round, rich, luscious, rosy happiness, in
every little feature ; and altogether il
was such a child as mother might be
proud OF. Three years after, can re-
collect myself--thc fat was passing a.
way--l was growing tall, slender, an
imPudent seIi-wlIlcd mp, the delight Of
my father, the torment, oimy sister, and
the curse OF servants. My godfather
gave me guinea, and | gave it TO ii
groom, rs "A bribe to let me mount his
horst and ride Inn few yards 10 water.
mad a new beaver hat--l had no oh
lection 10 sunbeams, and thought | could
turn II 10 better account cut II into
the shape ola very tolcrable boat, aud
sent IT down the stream, that, innocent
of mischief, flowed quletly through the
grounds. Yet amid all Tins wIldncss,
there might have been seen 'Sparkles
of better nature : for had much ,cn-
! detness IN my composition, glmpSes
OF enthusiasm, and some queer unachn-
cd notions of the beautiful for instance,
a gang of gipsies sometimes favored
our villoge' by pitching Their cents III
the outskirts and many a tine have /
slipped away from tine paternal cure Of
Old John to listen to he voice Of one
dark-eyed girl among the troop, who
had fascinated my young heart, or (rl-
ther SUPPOSED NY ear, by her singing.
How often have wept over the melan-
choly fate Of the lady, who, in the storm
at sea, told her lover 10
Take a white napkin, and bind my head soft
And then throw me overheard, ne and my ba.
| by
and have frequently been elevated to
hefoIsm by the splendid portrait Of that
hero vino was martyri,ed at Tyburn
his constancy at his tridl won my ieryenf
admiration.
| stood a, bold as John Of Gaunt,
All in my natfy atirei
| NJ ei scemd dauuted IN the Least,
Which made tie folks admire
hat all the people they may say,
| That am no des-arieri
| Tor the captain, he must lead the way,
! And the men must follow l-tcr."
My wild spirits were really taken cap
tive by these yagabonds the lawess in
| dependence of their children was an
envy; they had no lessons to learn, no
elder sisters to keep them in order, no
elder brother to tlump them out, Of
their pocket money; their whole exist
ence TO me was paradisaical. | believe
if thcy had attempted to steal me, they
would have found the business half done
to their hands.
At seven years old I was breached-I
had cloth jacket and trowsers--I was
told that | was a man and | thought
| il was incumbent on me to be grave
and genllcm9nlkc.' Ipaid more attcn-
ton to my lessons and the young ladies',
and thought 1t an imperative duty 10
discover they were more amiable and
pretty than boys. Soon this affection
became sincere. My sister was better,
loved than all my KIN; to her flew 10
roar away my grief, when my father
took out Henry and left me home, or
when he threatened to sell my pony, or
give him 10 my playfellow, Richard
Howard, whom l hated ever after. In
her reposed all my confidence, and
in her gentle bosom deposited my tu-
tors seventies, and my brothers wrongs.
was, in ruth, a most pathetical nit ,
But at ten, % what a change was
there!' No Chrysalis,' metamorphosis
was ever greater. ! had grown accus-
toned to my breeches, and no longer
held them in any consideration; | was
inpudent to my sister, contradicted my
father, fought my own battles with my