Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-10-09
From the Charleston Courier.
OLD FURNITURE.

Carolina Clifton was the most loqua-
cious young lady that ever transferred the
love Of a rattle from infncy's toy, to wo-
manhood's tongue. 1t was, therefore,
with much surprise, that her mother one
morning noted the flight of full one half
hour, without a single word from the gar
rulous girl She hailed the miracle as the
promise Of that verbal thrift she had so
frequently recommended to her practice.
She was, however, mistaken. During the
aforesaid term of taciturnity, her daugh-
ter's eyes had repeatedly travelled round
the room resting at last upon an old So
fa-Mama, said she, what is the reason,
that with a f,,tune as ample as Mrs. All
shows, or Mrs. Debtington's, theu are so
magnlficently furnished, while your estab-
lshment is so--so-not exactly mean, but
questionable. For several reasons, my
dear. Every article in this house descend
ed to me from my grandfather-and the
associative principle, now clinging to stur-
dy oak and solid mahogany, would be en-
tlrely destroyed by modern marble and
veneering. Upon that very sofa for in
stance, lay my honored parent, just reco-
verlng from wound received in a gallant
sally against his country's enemies, when
a martial novice, who had been at his side
when he gathered the last of his laurels,
rushed suddenly in, and graspng the hand
OF the veteran, announced the glad tidings
that Britain had recognized the indepen-
dence Of her cideUdm colonies. That en-
thusastic youth was Walter Clifton, your
own Iamented father. A tear started to
the widows eye-nor did sympathy look
in vain for It's twin-pearl in that of her au-
ditress. With the latter, however, sensi-
bilty was rather an impulse, than a tenor.
She brushed it hasli lily away and resumed
the topic. That settles the matter as re-
CARDS the sofa, which, however, might as
well he preserved in any other apartment
as the drawing Is that grotesque
looking fower-pot a raliying point of re-
minisense also? 1t is so. Before taste
had constructed the classical vase, (that
fairy pagoda Of the flower goddess) yon
! piece OF porcelain was considered rather
an elegant mantle ornament, which my
dear mother, indulging an affectionate fan
cy, was wont to fill with the blossoms that
sprang spontaneously around her hus-
| bands grave. Dying, she requested me
never to displace it, but to continue her
custom; and as she was buried next to
him, the same spot affords verdant memo
rails for both, with which it is repIenished
every Sabbath. But as your youth dispo-
ses you to treat these things with rather
more levity than isagreeable to my feelings
I'll waive the motive Of tenderness, and
give you that of pride. Pride, mama?
How can you possibly make that out ?
Simply thus, Carolina A really proud
person does not like to have attention d.
verified from itself to any thing else. Now,
as have taken some pains with the furnl-
ture of my mind, | could not patiently
brook its being riyalled or sUpplapted by
that of the most ingenious cabmet.maker,
| upholsterer, or other mechanic in the uni
verse. In Mrs Alishow's saloon, ears
are quite useless appendage. She would
never forgive the yisiter who should depart
without a comment upon her style, and a
mental inventory of her FOOLS paradise,
from pler-tables to piano-fortes, were it
only to be used as a gossping memoran-
dun to spread the fame Of her fnery
wjthal. As to Mrs. Darlington, she
would covet frippery with an execution
hanging by hair, like the sword of DA-
M0cLEs, over her devoted head. No won
der her husbands creditors refuse compo-
sition-hcr watch is a repeater of their
wrongs-hcr wnter-cloak the cover of a
thousand minuter extravagancies. The
thorns of insolvency lie under the roses OF
her superb carpet, and domestic discord
mingles with the melody Of her exquisite
harp, Mrs. Clifton was here interrupted
by the entrance of both the subjects Of her
philippe.