Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-12-03
From the pliiisdclpha Saturday Courie
THE BRACELETS.
IA TALE WITH A MORAL.l
by MRS. NJ. ST. LEON LOUD.

1T was New Years Eve, ana group
of young girls were gathered around d
cheerful wood fire, which blazed ard
cracked as If ia emulation oi the bright
smiles and merry voices Of the lnlle
party. Almost hidden in the crimson
depths Of a web cushioned arm chair,
sa, lady whose aye might have been
sixty, although Tines dealings with
her had been 80 gentle, that her features
still retained traces Of great beauty.
Her light auburn hairlay in glossy waves
OH her high, smooth forehead, while
only here and there a gleam OF silver
betrayed the irosts OF age and the
delicate muslin cap tied under her chin
with a narrow white ribbon, showed u
refinement Of taste which not always
accompany lts possessor into the vale oi
years. There was u primness in the
disposition Of her snowy 'kerchici, and
the folds OF her brown silk dress, III ac-
cordance with the name OF Mss Lee,
which graced the bright brass plate on
the door. The parlor of Miss Fanny
Lee, or as she was lamillarly called,
Aunt Fanny, was considered sort OF
Elysum by the school girls OF the vii
lage, and thrice happy were they when
honored with formal invitation 10 spend
the evening within It's veDcratcd walls
Dearly did Aunt Fanny enjoy the socie-
,ty Of the young their amuscments,
thei joys and their prospects, all inter
esled her she sympahised in the thou
sand sorrows which youth is heir to, and
in all doubtful and trying cases she be-
came .teir adviser. Early that mornilg
she sent invitations TO about dozen Of
her particular favorites to drink tea with
her, and bring The gifts of the season,
which they IND received, for her inspec-
ton. Punc,ual TO the time the little com
pany assembled, and did school girl
justice to the good cheer which was al
ways to be found on Aunt Fanny's table.
The tea things were removed, and a
small round table was drawn into the
centre OF the room, on which lay well
worn family Bible, aud an old fashioned
red morocco casket. That casket con-
tanned mystery, and was n perfect
milestone to juvenile curiosity, bot none
dared question: Aunt Fanny concerning
it. Many time during her absence
from the room, had somo youthful visitor
essayed to hli the lid, but il was always
fastened, and likely TO remain so. A
silver candlestick, bearing a candle so
tall that it only served TOY shed "dim
religious light" on the objects below,
was placed on the table. Boxes, books,
pictures, card cases and many other
things had been examined and admired
when one young lady produced small
box, and opening it, drew forth gold
chnin of exquisite workmanship, and as
she held il up on her hands, and The
massy links glitered in the light, her
face flushed with the consciousness Of
possessing an ornament worth all the
presents of her companions put together.
"This," said the vain gi,l, 81 reeeiv-
ed from my uncle, who has juGt re-
turned from the East Indies what Do
you think Of it, Aunt Fanny"
"Pul itup," said the old lady quietly,
"and if you, my dear young friends, can
spare me an hour longer, will relate
an occurrence which that ornament has
brought freshly to my mind, and may
you be warned by it never to indulge
in inordinale vanity and love or dress" ="
"Oh, yes, yes" exclaimed every
voice, "wc could stay till midnight to
hear one Of Aunt Fanny's stories"
The presents were quickly deposited
in baskets aud re,icues, the chairs were
drawn closer round the fire, and Aunt
Fanny commenced:
"About a week previous to the first Of
January, many, many years ago, the
little town Of Wslby became The scene
Of an unwonted internal commotion, and
the usually quiet affairs of the village
were disturbed by "A strong under-cur-
rent, though in what direction it was set
ting, il baflcd the wis.st heads To dis
cover. Young men IN lrock coats and
top boots, with huge ivory Bonded canes,
looking the very impersonaIlon oi village
Importance aud genllliy, were seen to
steal myslerIously just at dusk into the
little back room OF the hotel, but at
what hour Of The night they emerged,
none knew. AT last the rcsul, OF these
nocturnal meetings came out there was
to be grand sleIghlng party TO proceed
about ten miles and JON the elite OF The
village of NJ III Il ball on New
Years Eve, and many u bright eye
flushed with delighted anticlpations OF
what the event NIGH, bring forth.
Never before were such d"ings dream
cd of IN Welby, aud like all Innovations
on established usage, tho scheme met
with much opposition. The minister was
thankful that he had no children To be
led aslray by evil example, and the dea-
cons wife was nearly transformed into
statute by discovering that her only
son, insligatcd doubtless by the very
Spirit of Evil, was an alder and abelior
of So wicked design while the dea-
con, like good old Lot, looked neither
To the iight nor left, wisely resolving TO
he blind IT, that which he could mol pre-
vent. Time wore on, and the important
day drew near, and young men we're
seen hurrying TO and iro, hung slclghs,
borrow iug buffalo skius aud bells, aud en-
dcayOrIng 10 secure spirited ho,scs aud
careful drivers; giving orders to 'he
shoemakers ior elastic pumps, and to The
A..