The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1841-06-05

been here Just fortnight" thus he
unused, sand a pretty dull time I'vc had
of it. Day after day, the same stupid
routine. In the morning swallow six
glasses of Congress water at the Spring,
with the hollow eyes of that sick minis
ter from Connecticut glaring on me like
serpent, and the die-away tone of that
nervous lady from Philadelphia, sound
ing like knell in my ears. cannot
drink in peace for those everlasting Miss
les Hill, who all three chatter at once,
and expect me to be entertaining and
talkative so early in the morning, with
my stomach full Of cold liquid, and long
dull day in perspective! Then comes
breakfast. The clatter of plates, the
murmur Of voices, the rushing of the
black walters, the variety of steams,
make mo glad to retreat. find still
corner of the piazza, and begin to read !;
but the flies, draught of air, or the in
trusive gable ofmy acquaintances, ut
terly prevent me from becoming absorb
ed IN book. 1t has now grown too
warm to walk, and look in vain for DR..
Clayton, who is the only man here whose
conversation interests me. | avoid the
bllliard-room, because know who shall
meet there. Tho swing is occupied
The drumming on the piano of that old
maid from Providence, makes the saloon
uninhabitabe. They are talking poll
tics IN the bar-room. The very sight Of
the newspapers gives me qualm. in
voluntarily begin to doze, when that in
fernal gong sounds the hour to dress.
No matter; any thing for relief. Din
ner is insuffe rable; more show and noise,
than relish and comfort How gladly
escape to the garden and smoke! That
reminds me of what told Jones, yester-
day, about matrimony. He laughed at
me. But there's no mistake about it.
Catch mo to give up freedom, and provide
for family--be pestered with a whole
string of new connexions, when | cannot
bear those ] have now-~never have a
moment to myself--be obliged to get up
at night for a doctor--have to pay for a
boys schooling, and be plagued to death
by him for my pains--be bothered con-
stantly with bad servants-see my wife
lose her beauty in twelvemonth, from
care-my goddess become mere house
hold drudge-give up cigars--keep pre-
else hours-take care of sick children
go to markell Never, never, neUer!"
As his reverie emphatically termina-
ted, Mcneil slowly raised himself to a
sitting posture, in order to ascertain the
state of the weather, when sight pre-
sented itself which at once put his philo-
sophy to fight and startled him from his
composure. He did not cry out, but
hushed his very breath. Beside him lay
female form in profound slumber. Her
hair had escaped from its confinement,
and lay in the richest profusion around
her face. There was delicate glow
upon the cheeks. The lips were scarce
! ly parted. The brow was perfectly Sc
rene. One arm was thrust under her
head, the other lay stretched upon the
coverlid. 1t was one of those accidental
attitudes which SC ulptors love to embo-
| dy. The bosom heaved regularly. One
| felt that it was slumber of an innocent
creature, and that beneath that calm
breast beat q kindly and pure heart. Nc
Neil bent over this vision, for so at first
it seemed to him, as did Narcissus over
the crystal water. The peaceful beauty
of that face entered his very soul. He
trembled at the still regularity ofthe long
dark eye-lashes, as if il were death per-
sonifed. Recovering himself, all at once
something familiar struck him in the
countenance. He thought awhile, and
the whole mystery was solved. They
occupied the adjoining chamber; she had
gone down stairs in the night to procure
something for the invalid, and on return
ing, entered in the darkness, the wrong
room, and fancying her mother asleep,
had very quietly taken her place beside
her, and was soon lost in slumber. No
sooner did this idea take possession of
Mcneil, than with the utmost caution and
a noiseless movement, he stole away and
removed every vestigs of his presence
into vacant apartment, opposite, leaving
the fair intruder to suppose she alone
had occupied the room. At breakfast,
he observed the mother and daughter
whisper and smile together, and soon as
certained that they had no suspicion OF
the actual state Of the case. With the
delicacy that belonged to his character,
Mcneil inwardly vowed to keep the Sc
cret forever in his own breast. Mean
time, with much apparent hilarity, he
! prepared to accompany Jones to Lake
George. His companion marvelled to
perceive his unwontsd gaiety wear of
as they proceeded in their ride. Mcneil
became silent and pensive. The evening
was fine, and they went upon tho lake to
enjoy the moonlight. Jones sung his
best songs and woke the echoes with his
bugIe. His friend remained silently
wrapt in his cloak, at the beats stern
At last, very abruptly he sprang UP, and