The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1828-03-08

she was not destitute of one point OF beauty
Her little finger was round, taperlng, white,
soft, and terminated By nail bearing beau
tlul pink tinge. do not know how the disco
very came about, but Sally had learnt that
beautiful fingers were much esteemed in tue
world, and in her ssnguiae ..-lr silati"n Sic d,
not despair Of making the charm extend TO the
whole person. The little leavcn that leavened
the whole lump was text in point, and Sally,
like many others, did not doubt any thing if
there was scripture for it. So she bought rings
for her little finger, washed it with cream Of
amber, and waited with longing and anguish
ing anxiety, till the nail should grow to that
length which the laws Of beauty prescribe.
Gentle reader let not thy lip curl in scorn! 1t
is a gambling world, and Miss Sally St John is
not the first individual who has entered into bu-
siness with small capital We have seen Mer-
chants, Lawyers, and grave Preachers tread the
stage of life. with pretensions based upon no
better grounds than hers and we have seen
madens put the best foot first with a prcsum
ing confidence, when the said foot was not a
WIKI better than oaIly's litle finger. Look at
home. ye scorncrs, and see If there is not a
more jus: proportion between fair finger and
a husband, than between your demands and
your deserts
The campaign now opened, and the effect of
the hf'.e finger was to &c tried. bat years rolled
away, and Miss Sally St John, * the age Of for
weight alone and single, confessed herself five
and thirty Her minister, a preshy terrain, spoke
to her Of futurity: I" 1t is, said be, 9 world Of
sorrow; riches take to themselves wings and
fly away; friends fail pleasures cease, and our
dearest possessions are withdrawn" Sally sat
looking at her little finger, 1t was little less
plump than formerly, but il was still very
handsome finger The clergyman proceeded;
What is there, said he, chat should attach US
to the world ?" Sally REPLIED . thi, viii do for
those who are bereit o. a'i earthly comforts,
but" said she. casting Ter eyes at her finger,
see no harm in enjoying those blessings that
providence has bestowed " This is trne," SAID
the clergyman in TIE abstract; but the heart
is decetlul. the blessings Of providence are apt
to become idols, and to withdraw the heart
from its true allegiance It becomes rs all to
try ourselves and see if there be any wicked
way in u.s. and if we discover that the heart is
undnly attached to any earthly treasure, il is
our duty to sacrifice it, The stern rule Of
scripture must be applied, i" if thy right land
offend thee, cut it off,
During the conversation, Sally's right hand
lay displayed in her lap, with the darling finger
adorned with rings Of coral, Turquoise, pearl,
and precious stones. Whether by accident or
not we cannot say, but as the clergyman made
the last remark his eye descended from the
countenance Of his fair auditor and rested upon
her favourte finger. She thought the clergy
man intended to make literal application of
his words to her own right hand. The tears
started to her eyes, but she said nothing The
inward struggle was deep. The clergyman de-
narted and Misc Sallv 81 John after dne of,ac