Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-10-04
ON AGE AND beauty.


alone IN hGR dressing room, stEpPeu "a q"
the fashionable ornaments, that usually deck,
ed her person, and which were now streweo
around her in every direction. Some were
toesed over the backs of chairs others she
WINS arranging on her arTnoire and the most
costly giittered in an open basket on the toll
lette table. She had risen late, and was
now rectifving the disorders OF the prece-
dinr niOhf: for she had cast of her finery in
basfv negligence, after having at late hour
taken leave of large circle Of acquaint-
ance who had crowded her drawing room,
tasted her sweets, and basked in her smiles,
for few brief hours, and then left her-to
her own thoughts. These she soon buried
in sleep but the next morning-ah! how
stale and Improbable it sometimes ap-
pears 1.-THE next morning this lady felt
strangely weary the hours began to have
an effect upon her, for which she was puz-
zled to account. She eank into an easy
chair, when her labors we're over, and it so
CHANGED that the large mirror, swinging over
the toilette, inclined a little so as to reflect
her whole person. She naturally enough
fixed an anxious gaze on that much admired
form; but alas a few hours seemed to have
wrought sad changes there. All her boasted
charms seem to have been thrown aside with
the elegant apparel that had SO lately adorn-
ed her.
How unbecoming these loose robes are 7
she exclaimed, 'and used not to think so,
she added, with sigh. And this bonnet de
nuit-T never before thought it so frightful {;
.--pshaw! il makes an old woman Of me Z
So sayirg,she removed the offending cap, and
throwing it from her, began to arrange her
fine tresses into more becoming head dress ;
butt plain spoken mirror before her told her
such home truths, in its own quiet, reflective
manner, that she found her task an irksoms
one, and grew fretful with her fruitless en-
beavers to restore to her hair its glossy black
ness, and to her face its dimpled charms.
Thought something was wrong, said she,
as she looked up languidly at side window,
where the upper blinds had been left open ;
. it is that odious light streaming in from
above, so unbecomingly, that makes me look
so haggard this morning and then the ia
tigue Of SO large q party. How beautiful
Euphrosyne looked !! continued she, musing-
ly she was q little child when made my
debut on the stage of fashion, and now be-
hold her radiant in the proud loneliness OF
youthful matron! Time was, when could
have matched her charms, but now--Well.
well; I was never before SO forcibly remind
ed of the alteration q few years can make.
How changed look! How very wretched
and nervous I am this morning. Again she
turned her languid eyes upward, toward the
intrusive tell tale beam glanced them once
more over the mirror, and started with af-
fright; for, reflected there, she perceived a
dimly defined but most unsightly form bend.
ing over her.
Il know thee, insidious intruder, replied
she, covering her face with her hands. !
have had warnings Of thy approach, and
now thou art here; yet defy thee!
Hush, hush ! said the calm hollow voice
of Old Age, for no other than he was the
strange visitor, hush do not defy me: !
have not vet laid my hand upon thee, and on
thyself it must depend whether my sure
touch be that Of friend or an enemy {;
whether the dominion Ishall surely exercise
over thy fate, be that Of q gentle master, or
stern tyrant.' a.sasl.. ,..
While these words were sounding omi-
nously within her heart, the lady endeavor-
ed to turn deaf ear to their import. She
rose frem the dressing table. rang the bell,
and ordered her maid to shut the blinds, and
keep them better closed in future. She then
gave some directions respecting her ward.
robe, and throwing herself on sofa, fell in.
to a reverie, Ia, which she laid vigorous plans
tor defeating the designs Of Old Age. i
will so disguise myself thought she, that
the wretch will not know me. His presence
here is heavy burthen, and 1t would be
Notifying past endurance. TO be recognized
by such an antediluvian monster, In the
midst of society. from hence forward and
tor evermore to have my name coupled with
his So the next time she dressed for COM
pany, her own hair was gathered away out
Of sight, and some shining ringlets were SUBJ
stituted in its place; and. in addition to the
becoming effect Of a new and elegant head
dress, slight tinge Of rouge concealed the
Tavages time had made on her complexion:
and thus, indeed, she might be said to defy
Old Age for though he frequently lowered
about her, and whispered his melancholy
forebodings ia her ear. she had the satisfac-
ton to perceive, that in company, at least, no
one was aware of his presence but herself.
II was in the solitude Of her own boudoir;
that Old Age became her prosecutor; when
the excitement of admiration was over; the
person disrobcd of its gay attire. the coun-
tenance Of ito false ornaments, and forced
smiles; ali I Age claimed her then, and
grew familiar. She never seated herself at
her toilette, but he placed hinsel f at her side,
and preached to her, and pried into her
heart, and annoyed her 30 necessarily. that
there was no resource for her, but to array
for relief. 1t was sad sight-her worn
and faded form, beneath the
frail disguise of fashion. -. II.
Why 90 weary of me already 7" said
Age to her, one day, when he saw the advan-
tage he was gaining; 'why so resolute to
ward on my hand and turn from me thy
cpuntenance? Let us be friends
Friends cried the, faded beauty, thou
my friend Thou art my destroyer and as
] once defied thee, 50 now fear thee not.'
Vain woman murgnured her tormentor,
yet again warn thee, with myself it rests
whether prove thy tyrant or friend. The
time approaches when must make myself
visible to the whole world as thy insepara-
BILE companion. Why should we appear as
enemies? $50 aa5I8 d 49, 'a, 1
How said she Indignantly, .how canst
thou have the hardwood to imagine that !