The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-21
COURTSHIP

We have frequently observed, and it ha
been matter of sorrow, and sometimes
Indignation 10 us, that most young, aye, an
/ s"Inetimcs even old folk proceed, durin,
this state, in a manner which is afterward
sure to produce pain and disappointment
| There is too much of art and too little O
nature, too much disguise and too little can
dorm word, there is, generally, on boil
sides, far too little confidence.
Now, without pretending to have beer
admitted very deeply into II knowledge O
the affairs either Of our fair friends or thei
gay Lotharios, we think we can draw up
little sketch which more than one of then
VIII be able to lay 10 heart, and, as it car
RES with it its own moral, we will, without
much ado. commence.
Less than forty years ago there dwe,t, ir
Liverpool, gentleman. "A surgeon by pro-
fession, whose name was Holden. He had
lone only daughter" who was known by the
modest Christian name of Priscilla. and, like
old Polonlus, he loved her passing well'
As the mother of Priscilla had died when she
was very young, she became the verv cap
pie of her fathers eye."-the being upon
whom he lavisked all the affections of his
nature. Having always been absorbed in
the mere dry details of his profession, he
was not man possessed of many elegant
requirements. He, however, determined
within himself, that his daughter should be
a model of perfection. No cost or pains
were spared to render her u complete para
gon in every species of accomplishment.
Her genius WIS, as it were, put into hot
he'd When the first years of childhood
were past. her father, whose indulgence
was unhonn,laJ and ybO monfob tho M
cessary taste TO enable him to take upon
himself the direction of her studies, allowed
her to undertake such as pleased her own
fancy. 1t was natural enough, that a young
girl, of all ardent disposition, thus left to
herself, should make choice rather of that
which was snowy and fashionable, than
that which was useful. Her reading. ALSO
was confined principally to novels and TO-
mances, through the whole ocean OF which
she was permitted to drive without helm or
pilot TO direct her course. Now we have
no objection to these elegant and lighter
flowers of the garland of literature, but they
should, in all cases, be judiciously selected,
and only REQUIRED TO as occasion serves, to
unbend the mind after more serious and
serviceable studies.
1t is observable, and is, withal, perfectly
natural, that "a young lady no sooner arrives
at slight knowledge Of herself, than an
innate tenderness arises in her heart, which
TO fix itself only requires an object. One
would have thought. that, with Priscilla
Holden, considering the nhammatory sort
Of reading to which she had heen addicted,
and the desulIory though expensive course
OF her education. this feeling would very
early have developed itself. Such, howey-
er, was not the case. Though of lively
imagination, she was naturally girl of
good sense, and she avoided, intuitively,
the shoals of fools and coxcombs who were
Sc assiduous in paying their court to her.
She was in her tewnty-first year when, at
party, she met with Henry Selwyn, a
Young man Of talent and acqnireme nts
Now she had. in common with the rest OF
her sex, imhibed the silly opinion, that as
men are necessarily the masters, and pro-
tectors after marriage, it is proper that wo-
men should have the pIerogative of exer-
csng as much tyranny as they possibly
can previous to that event.
Selwyn soon became very assidnous in
his attentions to Priscilla, and it was evil
dent to all that he was deeply and devotedly
in love with her. When she made this dis
co,ery, her sensations were any thing but
disagreeable, for her heart had long pant
ell for an object on which 10 fix ITSELF
When, however, the Young Selwyn began
10 make those pointed advances towards
her, which are so we'll understood, she kept
aloof, and assembling her real feelings.
treated him. with rigid GOODNESS and formal
ity. We will not undertake to say, that
such conduct is wrong in all cases. Ladies,
like the ancient PaIlhians, conquer most
when they seem to fly. Selwyn proved the
ardor Of his passion by the perseverance
with which he pursued the siege for peri.
oil of six months, duiihg which the icy
frigidity in which the lady had armed her
self seemed little likely ever TO be thawed.
He had managed adroitv to get introduced
to Mr.. Holden, and, as the latter found,
from his conversations with his daue liter,
that she held Selwyn in high estimation, he
was admitted to the house on the most
friendly footing.
At length, the poor young man became
seriously i'll, in consequence of the continu-
ed disappointment of his fondly cherished
hopes. Mr.. Holden was called in to attend
him. AT first, he was much puzzled to make
out the precise nature of the disorder with
which his patient was afflicted. lie imag-
lIeu ~ 10 We HtTFOuS I6SCIs oelWyIi,
however, knowing the inefficacy Of all medi-
cine TO a mind diseased" on the third Wis
it described his symptoms more accurately
than he had done at first, 10y confessing the
real state of the case. The father was not
displeased. He liked the young man, and
his prospects and character were unexcep-
tionable. One thing, however, he had long
made up his mind to,-2that his daughter
inclination should lie the law upon which
he would alone act in the disposal of her
hand.
Priscilla was not at all disconnected when
her father abruptly informed her of the dis
covery which he had made. II was the
very subject which had been occupying her
thoughts for hours before. During the ILL
ness Of Selwyn, pity had stepped in and
subdued her heart till it was pervaded only
by the hest and tenderest feelings Of bel
sex. She then felt in full force how dearly
she loved the poor youth, and how highly
she appreciated his estmable qualities
The natural frankness of her disposition a
that moment predominated. and she tol,
her father all that she fell, and had so long
and cruelty concealed. She concluded b,
commissioning him to tell Sclwyn, that sh,
I accepted him 1t will easily he, conceive,
how rapidly was the recovery of the latter
after his prescription from such doctor
Three days after he was at her feet thank
ing her, in rapiurous terms, for the happi
ness which she had bestowed upon him.
pr;sr,ll,, ,p,e mn. yet disnOsed tn ranounc