Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-11-22
M 7 O T.
THE CoQUETTE.-A SKETCH.
RY MISS 8. u. nENu

OF the rejecting mindl The prize is
one of varied character, now bright
with hope, gilded by anticipation, then
shrouded in gloom. Trace but the his
tory Of a man from infancy to matu-
rity, and thence on, to the decline OF
life, and how checkered are its lines /;
the favored child of ease and indul-
gence, may see friends, fortune, all
departing, till the last link, the last tie
| of life is broken-while he, who in Pc
nury and sorrow first entered upon the
experience of life, sees himself, by a
succession ofunforeseen circumstances,
raised to the very pinnacle of prosper
Gus fortune. And so the world goes
on, the wheel is ever turning, the Sc
cret springs which influence the mans
destiny, and produce the moral disci.
pine, are to US invisible; it is enough
that He who controls and directs them
all, is as perfect in wisdom as in good
ness.
The superficial observer looks on
and exclaims, "'tis all the work of
chance !" he looks not beyond the sur
face, he sees not the hidden causes
which have produced the result-he
perceives not that character has exert
ed a powerful inluence-he acknow-
lodges not the doings of an inscrutable
Providence. From slender materials
some manufacture a fabric of Happiness
while others as wantonly sport with
their own peace and that of others, and
throw from them every advantage that
station, friends, and all else can offer.
How little does the parent realize, when
his fond indulgence is fostering the
seeds Of passion in the child OF his af-
lection, that ne is barking the arrow
which is to destroy his future peace ,
how seldom does he reflect that the in
diligence ofthe selfish and sinful pas
sions, may poison the stream ofllfe and
turn all its waters to bitterness.
The changes which mark an indiyi-
dual's LOT, would sometimes seem 10
battle all calculations upon causes and
effects. Again, they would seem the
natural result of character, Of no arbi-
trary enactment, the simple following
out Of consequences, the effects of
which as naturally follow from 2revi-
Gus causes, as the harvest of autumn
from the showers and sunshine Of sum.
mer. A circumstance, which may be
placed in the latter class, was related
TO me a short time since, which, though
wearing the garb of romance, in its
simple truth but confirms The assertion
that the every day occurrences of life
will occasionally cause fiction and i'm
agination to blush for their deficiency.
What is the matter?" exclaimed
Mr.. Meredith, as he entered his own
luxurious apartment Z" why that frown,
my dearest wife-and whittier goes my
little Amelia!" as his daughter hastily
closed the door opposite to the one he
had entered.
"lfa irown was on my brow" an
swered Mrs. Meredith, cit was that |
was balancing Amelia's wishes with
my own"
"And the scale has preponderated
in her favor" added Mr.. Meredith, fin
ishing the sentence his wife had COM
meneed.
"YoL are right refused until re-
fusal was in vain. knew her health
would be endangered, but she set her
heart on attending the dancing school
ball."
"But she is just recovering from
sickness, and the exposure on such an
evening as this promises to be, may
cost her her life +; surely you have not
consented"
81 have-for cannot long oppose
Amelia, in thwarting her, | punish my
SELF" answered the weakly indulgent
mother.
"Ah, my dear Mary" exclaimed
Mr.. Meredith, "will a constant course
of self indulgence prepare our child to
bear the necessary ills and trials of
life? No. Believe me, though cppo-
sition may not meet her while here un-
der our care, though we may shield
her from suffering, the world will not
be slow to ~disappolnt her."
Mr.. Meredith was a man of princi-
| pie and sense. He loved his family
ci:cle, but the increasing calls of his
profession left him little leisure time for
home-little time to devote to his daugh
ter's education, though there were &C.
cosions when he deeply regretted the
mistaken indulgence which Amelia re-
ceived from her nother-an only child,
she was the cherished object OF atfec-
ton to both parents /; but far different
was their mode OF manilesting it.. Mrs.
Meredith weakly yielded to every ca
price and whim which the spoiled child
Of fortune could form her husband,
with a more judicious affection, looked
forward TO the future effect upon her
II -..Ia = A. -.