Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-28

some attemnts 10 conceal this expectation, anu
Lena was 700 modest 10 confess how July sne
relied on the promises, made by boy OF iour'
teen to girl of ten years old. When sustain
ing bitter disappointment in the negieet OF :le
vonno merchant. who returned 10 his natise
Mace without making any inquiry concerning
e., ola friends. she still remained silent, ana
would GLADLY have avoided the subject ALTO
.e,he. But she was not suffered 10 grieVe o.
YER her blighted hopes in secret: the ve1auoh
of her iniidicious parent was ungovernaoie; 'ne
.eolded and fretted herself into fever: and the
agitation Of her spirits, when beginning 10 SUD-
eide was revived again by an unfortunate CIR
cums,ance. Maurice Kettler, unaware oil the
Mace of Mrs Engagements retreat, had be.
come the purchaser of the adjoining house and
land LIMA now felt much difficulty IN tran
QUILTING the emotions which disturbed her bo-
SONS peace. She could not approach the lat
tice without catching glimpse OF Maurice
Tall, graceful and finely proporsioned, ne SUI,
retained the beautiful lneaments which she had
so we'll remembered. His thoughtless good
humor. and unbounded liberslity, were likewise
unaltered; and he seemed changed only IN ms
forperfulness Of her. She was also much dis
,ressed by toe inccssant complaints OF her mo-
Their Seldom lifting her thoughts above this
world, Mrs. BruggemaDn never ceased to be-
wall the change in her circumstances; and to-
tally unc onscious OF her own unworthiness, pre-
sumed to charge heaven with injustice IN per
hitting the visitation Of so many heavy afflie-
lions. Lena's pious feelings were continually
shocked by the ut,erance OF the revolving senli-
ments OF an uhregenerate mind, and she vanly
tried to inculcate the holy precepts oil the Cos
pei, aud 10 bring her nearest and dearest reia-
tive TO a sense of the divine goodness Some
times, in order TO soo,he her mothers irrlta-
blity, she would throw up her hne eyes to hea'-
en-, pronounce her conviction that better days
would ensue; and though liz common with all
true christians, looked only TO future state Tor
the enjoymen, of pure felicity, yet, depending
upon an omnipotent power, she did not despair
Of attaining happiness on earth.
In addition to her other disquietudes. poor
Lena's ideas Of propriety were cruelty outraged
by the vulgar pleasure which Mrs. Brugge-
mann derived in watching and commenting up
on every thing that passed at her nelghbors;
but, too du,iful to reprove the mere follies and
mistakes OF q parent, she endured the annoy
ance in silence, striving 10 subdue her own vex-
alton at the ineorrigibie disposition which for
babe all hope Of domestic peace.
The wassail and banqueting at the great house
were withou, end; every night brilliant illumi-
nation shone from the windows, and the sound
Of lsvelry and merriment penetrated Lena's
distant apartment. Often, too, when the bright
moon tipped tn, trees with silver, JOYOUS par
" Toasted in the stately garden Lovers might
be seen stealing away through the bleached al
lrys chequered only by the rays which came
dancing through the waving branches OF flow
ering shrubs, and Maurice Ket,ler, the life and
soul Of tie entertainment, doing The honors TO
all his guests, while he lavished the most Fat
teripg attentions upon one. Lena, tired OF con
tentiou, sometimes suffered herself TO be dragg-
ed TO the windos on these occasions; and she
struggled hard with her feelings when surveying
the naughty airs and disd ,iniul manners OF the
beautiful Cunegonde. Might she no, feel glad,
TO see how small chance OF happiness there
was for Ma urce in his ambitious cneice!-No,
no: she was too gentle, 100 kind, too forgising,
TO indulge sentiment So nimicai 10 her an
gelic disposition. and she grleved al the indlca.
tions OF an imperious temper which the intend
ed bride continually displayed Mrs. Brugg.-
mann, vexed that she coui;' hna very few faults
in The pei sona appearance OF the lady, and
somewhat awed by her proud looks and sc orn-
full gestures, openly reJotced al the prospect OF
welded infelicity which awaited the merchant.
The gossiping danes attention was, however,
soon called off from the affairs Of others by the
pressure OF poverty al home, She could not
find any sale for her yarn; and there was Far less
demand than here toiore for Der daughters en-
broidery Lena bore The priyations which their
lessenrd profits entailed upon them, with all her
usual patient sweetness. She ."iled from
morning until night, devising new patterns,
which she trusted would please the eyes of the
rich maidens Of the city, and bring fresh Gus
toner, for her needle. work, but the trade grew
duller and duller,an wan, absolutely stared
her in the, face. "What are become OF all your
fine predictions now, Lena" cried Mrs Brug-
gemann owe are likely 10 starve, think, be-
fore this mighty good fortune, which is to come,
arrives. An, you may talk as you will, but il
Is all destiny, some folks are born TO be lucky.
while others, far more deserving, are doomed
10 eat the bread of bitterness all the DAYS of
their lives. II there was any thing except a
blind chance in the affairs oi his world, how
comes IL that Maurice Krttier roll in money,
while you wan' common mes essaries?"
Lena's confidence in heaven was not slacken-
ed oy these and similar speeches; she prayed
more terSently Than ever, aid replied with mild