Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-30
Little Gme seemed 10 have been be.


ancc of things indicated the tasteful
hand of woman. AS we drew nearer,
we discovered an uncommonly pretty
young woman, milking COW, which
, grazed by the side Of the wall. My
friend was "A great admircr OF beauty ;
, and he exclaimed with much cnthnsi-
asm, "Who is that swcct-looking g'rl !
!; Her hair is arranged as il she had
, studied the grac es; and her face Is
like that most feminine of all flowers +;
the delicate, ncxilc, and blushing
sweet Pea-IIow come she in farm
yard 2" :" She is the daughter Of the
old blacksmith, who lives near my
house," replied | and her situation
is one Of the few evils, which result
from the universal ambition our com
mon people have TO educate their chIl-
dren above their situation IN liic."
"Oh, do not preach that doctrine,"
said my friend: it is a generous and
noble pride, and should be encouraged.
rather than blamed. What real rank
is there in this country that education
does not confer? The field is open 10
the humblcst competitor; and he who
can WELD "a lance, has a right to en-
ter the lists, and strike the shield of the
proudcst, till it rings again. 1t is this
possibility Of making ones own rank,
which gives an impulse 20 enterprise
throughout our land it is the stream,
that keeps the whole ma chincry Of
society in motion. Do not for con-
science sake, say any thing against
education"
"Your cloquence is useless" re-
piled !, "for none can be more con-
vinccd of the value Of our free instItu-
tons, and the immense advantages
accruing from facilities for Instruction,
than myself; but there may be a
wrong way of using good thlngs-or
there may be excess in the use. |
should not regret that my friend the
blacksmith, had stored his daughters
mind with useful lsnowlcdge-sor it is
better for her to know who united the
Houses of York and Lancaster, than to
be learned on the subjects Of ribbons
and laces, but | do regret that, by
placing her at fashionable school,
he has given her distastc for duties
she must perform, and cngraltcd Oh
her naturally fine mind an elegance
and taste, which places the ignorance
and vulgarity around her in strong and
unplcas!ng contrast.
She went to such school, and her
pretty looks and winning manners
made her favoritc. Her rich com
panions loved to call her the " Lilly
Of St. Leonards s"-they loaded her
with presents, and SO far forgot their
aristocracy as to request her to spend
her vacations with them. Sac was
one Of those with whom gcntility is
ins.inctiyc; aad she adopted the
graceinInes. of refined life so readily,
that one would have supposed her al
ways accustomed to it.
Had this been all, il might nave
been well-it would but have cost her
struggle to return TO her own homcly
aud secluded path of lifc-and that
struggIc mi ,,ht have done her cool;
bat these young ladies had brothers
and they were not blind TO form
airy as an embodied zephyr, aad a
face that always looked as if angels
cast the light Of their smiles upon it.
Is is true, that most of them were mere
admirers; for love in modern times
has learned TO support a sort OF shlv-
cring existence at the feet of reason"
1T is we'll he has," observed my
bachelor friend )" he moves his heavy
wings with more difficulty, and is less
liable to take cold from accident, after
such a hardy education"
"There was one young gentleman
among these admirers" continued /,
"who had not learned to argue thus.
His parents were soon alarmed at the
serious consequences likely to result
from their daughters school acqualnt-
ance. The panic become general;
and the poor, unoilcnding Lilly of ST.
Leonards, found herself Stunned as
suddenly and unexpectedly, as she
had been courtcd, by the great.
i But George B. was young, roman.
tic, and refractory. 1t was in vain to
talk to him about parcntagc, or pro-
perty. lie had wealth enough Of his
own /; and as for rank, like Allan OF
the mist, he said, "Nevcr could pclu-
cid drop come from polluted spring"
E So he loaned her books, with very
/ expressive sentences marked; looked
, anxious when he heard her praise