Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1831-03-31
THE VILLAGE BELLE.
rom V;Aoor 7,les, 6v Stacv G. Potts Elsa.

conquest !; and her blue eyes brighten, and
her little heart beats quicker at the thought
of being, one day, the heroine, herself, of
some legendary proser and Of having her
own victories recorded. Well, the desire
to be loved, may reign in an amiable boz
som--may possess kind and virtuous
heart. But power is dangerous, there are
so many temptations to its abuse. These
things would have my fair readers remem-
Der as they go along with me and it may
be, we shall all be wiser, and therefore
better, before we part.
Ii ever you should come &c ,'esbury,
Eov 4 Ill see sweet little c. ~rrp in IL"
A%s','ows towards the rives, e..e.s..al itif
away amid cluster Of black afders, with
its white chimney and snowy palings, peep
ing through the foliage and they will tell
you that Annette Merton once lived there,
for all the villagers remember her. 1t was
one Of those terrestrial paradises which the
sick heart. disguised with the wrongs Of
men, so often pictures to itselC-so often
longs for. And she, oh she was beauti-
ful creature; my heart, even now, beats
quicker, as her image rises before me.
She was gay, lively girl, with the pol
ish ola summer in the city, and good ed
ucation; and whatever her talents might
have been, she at least possessed tho pow
err Of pleasing-the tact of winning hearts,
in most copious measure. l never could
divine exactly how she did it; but there
was free, frank, friendly air about her
that inspired confidence and gifted thus,
at all points, she played most mastery
game amongst the village beaus. Every
body was glad to gallant her was emulous
which should pay her the most attention ;
and every young gentleman in the village,
who could afford to spruce himself up lit
tie once in twenty hours, paid her an
afternoon or an evening visit.
1t would have been amusing, to one who
went as mere spectator, to have attended
a Saturday evening levee at the Alder Cot
to see the address practiced
by the competitors for her smiles, in elicit
ing some distinguished mark of her favor.
They gathered round her in the little par
lor and If she spoke, there was strife as
to who should most approve what she said
il she dropped her handkerchief, two or
three heads came in contact in tile general
effort to restore it to her and If she walk
ed, they were happy who got by her side,
and all the rest wef6 miserable. There
were to be seen every variety Of countc-
nance, and every description of temper |;
and such spectator might have been edi-
fed though the principal impression made
upon his mind, would probably have been,
that counting, under such circumstances,
was most particular foolish kind Of bu-.
siness.
But Annette sung "The moon had climb
ed the highest hill 5" and told boarding.
school stories and talkedleloquen.ly about
love and poetry, music and painting; was
witty, sentimental, and good na;urcd was
invinciblc, always, absolutely always the
conqueror. The young ladies of tho VIII
lage saw themselves undeservedly deser-
ted looked month after month on the sue
cess Of their general rival; and prayed
probably, if young ladies ever pray about
such matters, that Annette might speedily
make choice among her worshippers, and
leave them the remainder. 1t was for.
lorn hope she intended to do 40 sucI
thing. She was the village belle aud the
village belle she meant to be.
~ Sd UdppcuSS bUWcSCEs uOS dCHa UCuu-
ties, like all other great folks, who have ia
take their common chances in the fortunes
Of humanity, sometimes, in the end, outwit
themselves. In process of time, one and
another, and again another, wedding took
place in the village the girls whose names
were seldom spoken; whose modest pre-
tensions and retiring habits we're perfectly
eclipsed by the brilIiancy Of the reigning
star. secured their favori,es -; were wooed,
and won, and married, and still Annette CO.
quoted with all, & was still admired by all.
How many good offers she refused or
sighted, were only recorded in her own
memory. Hope deferred" saith the
proverb, makes the heart sick" Those
who were sincere in their addresses, grad
nalIy one after another, offered themselves,
were rejected or put off and fell into some
easier road to matrimony. She was, at
last, aeft with courtiers as heartlcss, in love
matters, as herself; who sought her COM
pany because she was agreeable firted
with her because she was I" the BELLE and
romped with, and kissed her, whenever
they had opportunity, because IL is always
worth some pains to win such favor from
beautiful girl. We never, never get to be
too much of the bachelor for this. Well
might Byron ask:
Who can curiously behold
Sxss- al e.a anaA nfl aaa aufa ri