The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-08-23

sorts OF FOLLY. wish that you would tell her that
she must stay at home.
Il have made promise, said Mr.. Atkins; 'and
will keep il; and Abby trust will keep hers
Abby few around in high spirits to make her ne
cessarY preparations for her departure and he moth
err assisted her with heavy heart.
cHAPTERu.
The evening before she left home her father call
ed her to him and fixing upon her a calm, earnest,
and almost mournful look, he said, abby, do you
ever think ? Abby was subdued and almost awed
by her fathers look and manner. There was some
thing unusual in ii--somelhing in his expression
which was unusual in him, but which reminded
her of her teachers look at the Sabbath School
when she was endeavoring to impress upon her
mind some serious truth Yes, father she at
length replied, Il have thought great doal lately
about going TO Lowell"
'But do not believe, my child, that you have
had one serious thought upon the sub ect, and
fear that have done wrong in consentng to let
you go from home II | was to maintain you
here, and had no employment about which you
could make yourself useful, should feel no self
reproach, and would let you go, trusting all might
vet be well but now have done what nigh at
some future time severely repent of; and if you
turn to us better, mider, and more thoughtful
girl
That night Abby reflected more seriously than
she had done in life before. Her father s
words, rendered more impressive by the look and
tone with which they delivered, sunk into
her heart as words Ind never done before.
She had been surprised at his ready acquie in
her wishes, but il had new meaning. She
felt that she about TO be abandoned to herself.
because her parents despaired of being able to do
any thing for her they thought her too wild, reck
less, and untameabe, to be soflened by aught but
the stern lessons Of perience
will surprise them, said she to herself; will
show them that have some reflection and after
come home, my father shall never ask me i'll
think. Yes, know what their fears are, and |
will let them that can take care Of myself and
as good care as they have ever taken for me.
know that have not done as well as / ought TO
have done, but will noao, and when return they
will see that better ,milder land more thought
full girl. And the money which intended TO
spend in fine dresses shall be ru: into The bank !;
will il all and my father shall see that can
earn money and take care Of it too. 0 how differ
ent will he from what they think am and how
very glad it will make my father and mother to
see that am not so bad after nil.
New feelings and ideas had begot
lutions and Abby's dreams that nigh. were Of
smiles from her mother, and words from her father,
such as she had received and begged
When she babe them farewell the next morning,
she said nothing the change which had taken
place in her views and feelings for she felt slight
degree of sell>distrust in her own frmness of pur
pose
Abby's self-distrust was commendable and aus.
pcious, but she had very prominent develope-
nent in that part of the head where phreno logst
locate the organ Of frmness, and when she once
determined upon a thing, she usually went through
with it, She had resolved to pursue course en-
tirely different from the one she had first marked
for himself This was more difficult on account
of her long p, opensity for dress, love of which,
was freely gratiftd by her companions. But when
Judith Slater pressed her to purchase this henuti-
tiluI piece Of silk that splendid piece If muslin,
her constant reply was, mol have determi ned not
to buy any such things and will keep my resolu
ton
Before she came to Lowell, she wondered in her
simplicity, how people could live where there
were SO many stores, and not spend all their mon
ey and it now required all her frmness 10 resist
being overcome by the tempting DISPLAY OF beau
ties which met her eye whenever she promenaded
the streets It was hard TO walk by the milllner s
shops with an unwaverng step, and when she
came to the confectioners, she could not help stop
ping. But she did not yield to the temptation
she did not spend her money in them. When she
saw fine strawberries, she said TO heTse'f,'l can
gather them in the pasture next year; when
she looked on the nice peaches, cherries, and
piums, which stood in tempting array behind then
crystal barriers she said again., Il willsdo without
them this summer, and when apples, pears and
nuts were offered her for sale, she thought she
would eat none Of them till she went home. But
she felt that the only safe place Cor her earnings
was the savings bank, and there they were regular
Iy deposited, that it might be ont of her power to
indulge in momentary whlms. She gratified no
feelings but newly awakened desire for mental
i'm provement, and spent her leisure hours in read
ing useful books
Abby's year was of perpetual seii"con'est
an sefdenial, but it was by no means one oil un'
mitiga:ed misery The ruling desire of years was