The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-08-14
SELECTED TALES.
THE UNPREsUMING MIR. HUDSON.
BY MISS sEpswIck.


Ii CHANGED TO me, during the travelling sea
son, to fall in with party who like mysel
were destined for fashionable watering place
The most conspicuous members Of this party
were Mrs. Campbell, Ia widow,) and her only
and very pretty daughter, Louisa, whose name
according TO modern usage, was galcsed in.
, 10 Louise. The mother was educated in the
, old school, or, 10 speak more accurately, in no
school at all; but II she was ignorant, she was
unpretending; and it is, perhaps. as well TO
have the mind vacant, as 10 have il filled with
foreign, i'll assorted, and indigested materials,
that cucumber il without increasing its riches
or productveness.
All Mrs. Campbell's pride of every kind and
degree, was concentrated in Louise. She had
been, I'LL this summer Of her seventeenth year,
at fashionable boarding school in one OF our
large cities. She bad approved masters, and,
as her doating mother said, and reiterated,
neither time nor expense had been spared in
her education and accordingly in her mothers
acceptation of the word, she was educated.-
She played and sang so well, that Mrs. Camp
bell averred that she had rather listen TO her
than to Pedrotti or Mrs. Wood. She drew
very prettily.-Sbe learned by heart two entire
plays of Goldoni-she had made wax flowers,
which her mother assured us were quite as
natural as real ones-a and she spoke French
like other young ladies. lf the circumstances.
relations aud issues of this breflie require any
thing more, the balance, las our mercantile
friends have it,) had not been thought Of by the
mother, or prepared for by the daughter. To
do Miss Louise justice, however, she had rot
been spoiled. She was gay and good bumor-
ed; she had the most good natured self com.
placency-no uncomfortable awe of her super
iors-U rather think she did not believe in
their eNistence,) no jealousy of her equals, and
to her interiors, she was kind hearted.
IL was in a stage-cosch on warm day in
June that the day broke on our acquaintance.
| Mrs. Campbell was a lady of facilities, and we
had not travelled half day together, before
by means OF half dozen ingenious, wayfaring
questions, she had ascertained all she cared 10
know of us, and had literally repaid us with
what she thought we must care TO know Of her
Besides us there were two persous in the coach,
not so easily perused. The one a Colonel
Smith, (Smith, happily called the anonymous
name, and certainly that most tormenting and
battling TO an inquirer,) and the other a Mr.
Charles Hudson. Col. Smiths demeanou,
was very unlike his name, marked, hieh-bred
and little aristocratic. A gentleman. he Ger.
taiuly was, Mrs. Campbell said, as soon as we
had an opportunity Of holding a caucus on
our fellow travellers. but whether he were OF
the Smiths Of New York, Jersey. Pennsy ylyana,
Maryland, Virginia, Carolina. and so on.
through the States, she could not ascertain,
However, the cardinal point was settled. He
was . gentleman, by all our suffrages; and this
most important matter established we were at
Liberty TO interchange with him the common
civilities Of life
Mr. Hudson was more puzzling case for
our inquest. Mrs. Campbell remembered to
have met very respectable family Of Hudsons
at Saratoga, who were from Boston.-At least
she was almost sure they were, but our Mr..
Charles Hudson. in reply TO certain leading re-
marks Of hers, had said he had never been in
Boston. She remembered, too, when she was
/ in Baltimore, some twenty years before. 10 have
seen family of HuJsons who were very inti-
mate with the Canolls-this was equivalent to
patent Of gentility-but Mr.. Hudson affirmed
/ he did not know the Baltimore Mudsons.
! One Of us remembered a certain Mr.. Hud-
son who once had unquestioned circulation in
! the beau monde of New York, but whence he
came, was not known or soon forgotten. Miss
! Louise had heard young friend say she had
danced with a Mr.. Hudson at Washington-
| this could hardly he admitted as credentisl
and we were at last compelled to wait till we
could adjust the gentlemahs claims by his
merits The dlsquietiDg aBxieties Of some
good people IN our country, the head Of
! IdfnUy OF fdnk, ~ htIy lIhc d bSlfs on the IAN
cied equality resulting from republican insttu-
! tions.
! Mrs Campbell was not inclined TO be over
fastidious, but she gave II in charge to her
daughter TO be " rather reserved" while were
mained on the level arena Of a stage coach
Miss Louise paid as much Difference to her
mother as could be expected, reserve not being
the quality par erceiience Of American young
ladies. In the course Of the morning, an acci-
dent to the coach compelled the passengers TO
walk for some distance down steep and wind
/ ing descent. The morning was beautiful
/ The air deliciously tempered. The majestic
oaks aud naples Of Virginia, like its inhabitants
/ Ito borrow a rustic phrase from one Of their
nountaineers,) stout Of their country" threw
their broad dense shadows over our patb-the
rhododendron, then in It's glory, was in profus-
ion around us, and Wild roses, with other uD-
known and unnnmbered flowers on every side.
Our party was not Of the most romantic ma
tersls, but az we ascended the gorge, and
looked below us on sea Of the topmast branch
es Of lofty trees, and long before US toaa mar
row and winding rsvine, sunk between the
mountains. and afording just space enough
for road beside a brawling stream, we were,
though as have confessed, not Of the most
susceptible materials, all excited by this fresh
and beautiful aspect Of nature. The pretty
Louise. with the elastic step and joyous spirit
Of youth, leapsd down the rocks and over the
runs, singing. laughing, and e1claimng at e.
very step. Her mother toiled after her, calling
out. Louise, my dear, you'll fall. Put on
your bonnet, my child. you'll be one freekle-
Louise Louise yOur glove, off how alb
surd :"
Bur Louise heard not, or needed NOT. She
ran on like another Atslsnts, defying the gen
tlemen to overske her, and. like her prototype,
giving them fair chance, By often stepping a
SIDE to crop flower too inviting 10 be resisted.
They al folloved her lead-all but Mr.. Hud-
SOD. Who eoolly walked beside the elder ladies
POINTED out ths best stepping plsess--gs'e
them his arm when necessary-and gave them
the flowers he gathered, reser,ipg only a few