The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-11

what makes you th!nk So: Mr. Nes'pury IN
quired.
'iou look worn out, just as ] feel answered
Mr. Cunningham. 'l!ow strange il is he added,
shat married men will ever suiler themselves TO DC
drawn into such crowdsn
sWby not married men as well as bacheors?'
asked Mrs Eldon.
because they relinquish real happiness and COM
fort, for htigung peasure--ii pleasure 1t can be
called, answered Cunningham. Ones own wife,
Is the place, and the society, for unalloyed enjoy
ment Am not GIT, Wcstbury'
Miss Eldon turned her eyes on Mr. Westbury. MS
she waited TO hear his answer, and an expression
compounded of curiosity, contempt, and satisflc-
ton met his eye. 1t was the first time he had ev-
err remarked nm unlovey, an unamlable express
ion on her countenance lie calmly replied TO MIR
Cunningham
Enthusiastically the pleasures of domestic life
are the most pure, the most rational that can be
enjoyed
20, it is strange said Mr. Cunningham, shat
any one can willingly exchange them for crowded
rooms and pestllenlal y0pOrs, such as we are now
inhaling! There is nothing to be gained in such
company as this. Take any dozen or half dozen
Of them by themselves, and you might stand some
chance to be entertained and instructed; but bring
them Il together, and each one seems to think it
Il duty to give himself up to iriyolily and nonsense
doub. whether there have been hundred scns-
bic words uitercred here tonight, except by yon-
der circle, of which Mrs Westbury seems to be the
center There seems to be something like rational
conversation there
Mr. Wcstbury turned his eyes and saw that Julia
was surrounded by the elite Of the party, who all
seemed TO be listening to II conversation that was
evidently carried on between herself andMrlyclch,
gentleman who was universally acknowledged
as one of the first rank and talent in the city, For
"A minute Mr. Westbury suffered his eyes to rest on
Julia, Her cheek was sufnsed with the beautiful
carnine tint of modesy and her eyes were BEAM
ing with intellectual light-whe over her features
was spread light shade Of care, us if the heart
were not perfectly at ease. 'She certainly looks
very well, was Mr. Weslbury's thought and his
feeling was one Of graiied pride, that she who was
inevitably his wife, did not find her proper level
among5, the light, the vain, and the frivolous.
You have been delightfully."- attentive to your wife,
this evening my dear, said Mrs Cunningham to her
husband, as soon as they were seated in their cur
rlagc on their way home.
Il am not sensible of having neglected you, Lu-
cy,' said Mr. Cunningham.
Mo- suppose not; nor OF having been very
attentive to anothcr,'
'ccrainly am not. 70 whom do you alude"
Il suppose said Mrs Cunningham, that Mr.
Wcslbury is equally unconscious OF having had his
attention engrossed by any palicuar individual
'YOu surely cannot mean that | was particular
y attentive to Miss EIdon, Lucy;'
80, how could mean so; said Miss Cunning
ham, with kind of laugh that addressed any thing
rather than pleasure, or good humor. Il really
wonder how YOU came to reCoect having seen
such person as Miss E!don, Tonight
'lour remark concerning Wesibury brought her
to my mind, said lIr Cunningham,
How s,ranga!' said his wife. 'And how cS-
IRENE that Young ady's modification must have
been, that she could not detan two newly married
gentlemen near her for more than an hour and Il
half at one time! Seriously, Mr. Cunningham, the
company must have thought that you and West
barry were striving which should do her most hom-
age
'Anl seriously my dear Lucy said lIr Cunning
ham, taking the hand of his wife, which she reuc-
family permitted him to dctain, seriously, it was
merely accidental that spoke to Miss Ldon ,h's
evening. There is not a person on earth whose So
ciaty and conversation am more completely in
diiicrenl-sO, take no offence, love, where none
was meant. There il no one whose conversation
can compensate Inc for tho loss OF yours, and ii is
one reason why so much dislike these crowds Tor
Il time, they necessarily separate US from each 9TH
cr.'
The following morning. Mrs Cunningham called
on Mrs Wcslbury, who at the moment OF her afrl-
val happened to'be in her chamber--hut she in
siaully descended to receive her visitor. When
Mrs Weslbury left the parlOr short time previous,
her husband was hcre but he had disappeared,
and she supposed he had gone out. lie was,
however, in the library which adjnncd the parlor,
and the door between the two rooms was not quite
closed. hier the compliments Of the mOrnlng,
Mrs Wcstbury remarked
Il was somewhat surprised 10 see YOU at Mrs
parkcr's last evening.
Surprised why soI
'Yoa recoIlect the conversation that took place
on the subject, the morning was at your house "
O, yes--i remember lhut Mr. Cunningham was
giving a kind Of dissertation on the superior pleas
ures of ones own chimney corner. Realy, wish
he did not love home quite 50 woll--though don I
despair of teaching him, by aud by, to love soce-
iy.'
Can it be possible that YOU really regret your
husbands attachment 10 home = asked Mrs West
bury.
yes, ccrtainly--whcn it in,erreres with my 90
ng out 4 man and his wife NAV surely enjoy
enough of each others society, and yet see some
thing of the world. A, any rate, shall teach Ned,
that am not to be made II rccuse for any mani
Have you any iears,my dear Mrs Cunningham,
said Mrs Westhury, that yonr want Of conlorml-
,y to your husbands taste, will lesson your inlu-
encc over hun 2
And of what use is this influence asked Mrs
Cunningham, unless it be exered 10 obtain the
enoymenls love'
'Opray BEWARE, said Mrs Wcslbury, with much
feeling, --'Rewarc lest YOU sacrifice your happl-
ness for a chincra Beware how your tri1c with
SO invaluable treasure as the heart ola hushandr
'pho-pho--how serious you are growing said
Mrs Cunningham. Actually warning and cShor-
ting n, twenty years Of age!-What a preacher
YOU will he, by the time you are forty! hut now
be honest, and confess that you, yourself, would
prefer ball or party, 10 setting here through
stupid evening with Wcsbury.'
'rhen speak TRUTH said Julia, Il should pre-
fer nm evening at home TO all the parties in the
world--balis never attend, and do not think stu
pidity necessary, even with no other companion
than ones own husband
h,,, Z. -