Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-11

In the real alarm, | ex,rIcaied myseh Hoi"
the chaos to ascertain the fate oil my iamiiy'
aud found my unfortunate vile douoiy over
whelmed by the general discontinue, aho 'ne
fall of an immense screen, which one oi our Wis
lage architects had, IN the fuilness Vi MS i"se'
nuty, converted into parll'ioh ce'"ee" ."'
sale de dance, as it was announced IN our P'o
gramme-for We had programme 100 a"o me
supper room; and which. OF COURSE ''e "r''
inunGation Of belle and beaux had swept away
as il il had, been gossamer..
Resc uing the partner oil my Joys anu sorro"e
from the ruin. with the loss Of j whole revenue
in lace feathers. and eros de Naples undone
forever. and Ieay ing the ground covered over
win fun crop of beads and 5ugles, bore her,
fain,ing and frightened, out OF all hope oil gio-
~ for the night, up to her chamber, which !
found already invaded by festive crowd,
whose chief amusement was the examination OF
every little recess of those shrnes IN which
beauty keeps her secrets against The ravages OF
time. :.
Dull as nv glance was, even discovered
some mysteries Of the art of perpetual youth,
vhic h the last three months and French Ia
dv's maid had communicated TO my village
queen. ..;.
But, to the rustic inquirers round US, the IN
yes,jpation was worth ball and supper put to-
pe,her. Our nearest and dearest friends were,
as Nigh, be concluded, the most active IN the
inquiry, and saw, not without some ieehns OF
gladdened justice, the preparations ;or whoIe
winters cam paign Of renovated ana feslstess
bloom carried off as trophies.
But my wife's patience had passed away Win
her rrighr and at the moment when her mos'
confide ntial neiehbor was 10 the act OF deVei-
ing a French 6oire Of the most precious and
nrofound nature, from its blue morocco, double
volumed caisse, le,tered pensees sur Fhomme. IN
which rough ve,itabie was the least ot the de-
meanors, my beloved dashed her way through
the laughing rabble with the vigor OF bereav-
ed tieress, rent the bofe from the meagre n
CURE tina, with virgin hypocrisy was On the We
~ poin, OF appropriating lis contents Tor iu'
lure use, and by an energy denied 10 all but fe
males in despair, absolutely flung the deln-
ouent headlong out of the chamber. then
Joined my forces to the conqueror: the defeat
became general, and the chamber was cleared,
but cleared like field OF bat,le-left covered
with the wrecks Of all that once gittered there
to do mischief to mankind.
My next inquiry was for my daughters. l.
mily found with her rosy ehesks turned to
scarlet by wrath at the prosecutions OF fellow
with beard down to his middle-a learned
Brahmiu, who, after plaguing he unhappy
girl with iargon worthy of his kindred balloons
during the evening, had now .aken al, vantage
of the crowd to come to direct language, and
made the regular offer Of dying at her feet.
The multitude kept mt from the philosopher
lust long enough 10 hear him propose an elope'
ment Indignation left me nopower OF words
| but ] conlrived 10 do without them. tore my
path through a phalanx Of dominoes, Indian
haaksss apa oassfR 66baahhd lie same i' arga
ment which ] had found so effective with MI
Uluamarine. He started from his knee, and
assumed she hero. grasped his beard, bro't
away his wisdom and bis mask together, and
saw--ihe Decorator himself My measures
were not he less energetic. ! gave him new
ground for half dozen Of actions before he
reached the head of the stairs. How he con.
lrived to reach the bottom, believe he as lit
tie knew as inquired.
NV sole remaining stake in this lottery OF
love and riot was my stately daughter Caroline
! After a long search, found the beauty Of my
| princess covered with the wrecks OF her pu>
mage, her cheeks washed with tears, and her
| white hands notified with paint from the visages
OF troop Of fauns and salyrs who had encir
cled her, and between impudence aud revelry,
both stimulated by Hoods OF my best cham.
palgne, were astounding her ears with incanta-
tons worthy Of their patron deity, and insult
ing The harassed girl into manual defence
This, too, put TO the route after some efforts;
aud in the midst Of roars Of laughter, carried
my unlucky daughter TO the chamber where
her mother and sister sat in sublime repent
auce, and as they examined their piece-meal
drapery, vowing irreconcilable resentment a.
gainst the living world.
They were not without speedy revenge up
on at leas, a part Of it. The chandelier, in
whose fall had augured The ruin Of my house,
was destined to be its preservation. Some Of
the tapers had continued 10 burn. The most
brilliant and hostile belle Of the vicinity was
swept infulI waltz across the spot where one Of
those lurking incendiaries lay smouldering I'M
observed. Her drapery, almost as combus1ihle
as herself, touched the taper. The gallant hus-
sar, who in sabre-,ache and musrache unparal.
leled, was whirling away his fond and breath>
less enthusiastic with the rapidity Of cathe-
rine wheel, felt 100 much absorbed in the glow
ing cheek, that according TO the laws of the
dance, lay melting, like an over-sunned peach,
on MS epaule,ted shoulder, to think of the
world beside.