Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-01-23
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
TEa EsES "A q Ell IL Il s.
ny MRS. NJ. ST. LEON LOUD.

ny MRS, NJ. ST. LEON LOUD.
II was New Years Eve, and group of
young girls were gathered around cheer
full wood fire, which blazed and cracked as
if in emulation of the bright smiles and
merry voices of the little party. Almost
hidden lin the crimson depths of a well
cushioned arm chair, sat lady whose age
might have been sixty, although Times
dealings with her had been so gentle, that
her features still retained traces of great
beauty Her Light auburn hairlayin glossy
waves on her high, smooth forehead, while
only here and there CLEAN Of silver be-
trayed the frosts Of age; and delicate
muslin cap tied under her chin with a mar
row white ribbon, showed q refinement Of
taste which does not always accompany its
possessor into the vale Of years. There
was q primrose in the disposition of her
snowy white 'kerchief, and the folds of her
brown silk dress, in accordance with the
name of Miss Lee, which graced the bright
brass plate on the door. The parlour of
Miss Fanny Lee, or as she was Familiarity
called, Aunt Fanny, was considered a sort
of EIysium by the school girls Of the village
and thrice happy were they when honored
with formal invitation to spend the eve
ming within its venerated walls. Dearly
did Aunt Fanny enjoy the society Of the
young; their amusements, their Joys, and
their prospects, all interested her; she sym
pathised in the thousand SORROWS which
youth is heir to, and in all doubtful and try
ing cases she became their adviser. Early
that morning she sent invitations to about
a dozen of her particular fayorites 10 drink
tea with her, and bring the gifts of the sea-
son, which they had received, for her inspec-
ton. Punctual to the time, the little COM
pany assembled, and did schoolgirl justice
to the good cheer which was always to be
found on Aunt Fanny's table The tea
things wer removed, and a small round Ia
bic was drawn into the centre Of the room
on which lay well-worn family Bible, and
an old-fashioned red morocco Casket.--
That casket contained a mystery, and was
a perfect milestone to juvenile curiosity
but none dared question Aunt Fanny CON
corning it. Many time during her alb
soncc from the room, had some youthful
visiter essayod to lift the lid, but it was al
ways fastened and likely to remain SO. A
silver candle stick, bearing a candle SO tai
that it only served to shed dim religious
light on the objects below, was placed upon
the table. Boxes, books, pictures, card-ca,
ses, and many other things had been exam
ined and admired, when one young lady
produced small box, and opening it, drew
forth gold chain Of exquisite workman
ship, and as she held it up on her hands, anC
the massy links glittered in the light, hel
face flushed with the consciousness of pos
sessing an ornament worth all the presnts o
her companions put together.
This said the vain girl, 4 received from
my Uncle, who has just returned from the
East Indies; what do you think Of it, Aun
Fanny
Put it up, said the old lady quietly, 'an'
if you, my dear young friends can spare M
an hour longer, will relate an occurrence
which that ornament has brought freshly t.
my mind, and may you be warned by
never to indulge in inordidate vanity an
love of dress
oh yes, yes exclaimed every voice, 'w
could stay till midnight to hear one of Aur
Fanny's stories
The presents were quickly deposited i
baskets and reticulos, the chairs We're draw
closely around the fire, and Aunt Fam
commenced:
About a week previous to the first {
January, many, many years ago, the hit
town of Wclby became the scene Of an III
wonted internal commotion, and the usual
quiet affairs Of the village were disturbe
by strong undcrcurrent, though in wh'
direction it was setting, it ballled the wise
heads to discover. Young men in froc
coats and top boots, with huge ivory hoade
canes, looking the very impersonation
village importance and gentility, were see
10 steal mystcriOusly just at dusk into Il