Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-04-29

the East Indies; what do you think of it,
Aunt Fanny7"
put ii up" 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 you may be warned by II
never to indulge in inordinate vanity and
love of Dress"
ooh yes, yes" exclaimed every voice,
1--WE could stay till midnight to hear one of
Aunt Fanny's stories" ..
The presents were quickly deposited in
baskets and reticues, the chairs were drawn
closely around the fire, and Aunt Fanny
commenced.
about q week previous 10 the first of
January, many. many years ago. the little
town Of Welby became the scene of an
unwonted internal commotion, and the
usually quiet affairs of the village were dis
turbed by strong under current, though
in what direction it was setting, baffied the
wisest heads to discover. Young men in
frock coats and top boots, with huge ivory
headed canes, looking the very impersona-
ton of village importance and gcntility
were seen to steal mystcriously just at dusk
into the little back room of the hotel, but
at what hour they emerged, none knew
| At last the result Of these nocturnal meet.
ings came out; there was to be a grand
sleighing party to proceed about ten miles
to join the elite of the village of M
in ball on new years eve, and many a
bright eye flashed with delighted anticipa-
tons of what the event might bring forth.
Never before were such doings dreamed
Of in Welby, and like all innovations on
established usage, the scheme met with
much opposition. The Minister was
thankful tina, he had no children to be led
astray by evil example, and the deacon's
wife was nearly transformed into statue
by discovering that her only son. instigated
doubtless by the very spirit of Evil, was
an alder and abe,tor of so wicked design;
while the Deacon, like good old Lot, look
ed neither to the right nor left, wisely re-
solving to be blind to what he could not
prevent. Time wore on and the impor-
taAt day drew near, and young men were
seen hurrying to and fro, hiring sleighs,
borrowing buffalo skins and bells, and en-
deavoring to secure spirited horses and
careful drivers; giving particular orders to
the shoemakers for elastic pumps, and the
,ailors for unmemtonables of an extra
fashionable cut. But who can paint the
trouble and perplexities of the young la
dies Of country village on such an occa-
sion. Some have cloaks, bonnets, and
dresses to make; others were anxiously al
tering according to the latest fashion, those
which had already done duty through two
or three seasons; and many murmured that
their slender means restricted them to a
plainness of attire i'll suiting their desire for
display. .
In a small but tastefully furnished cham
Der, two young ladies were performing
the duties of the toilet. Lucy Moreton,
the beautiful belle of Welby, stood be-
fore mirror arrayng profusion of light
glossy hair. and as curl after curl was re-
leased from its paper letters and fell grace
fully against cheek round. dimpled and
glowing with the pure roses of health, her
deep blue eyes lighted up with an express
sion of triumph, and smile of gratifed
vanity stole over her countenance. knew
her well, and was at that time very indul-
gent to her follies, and even to her faults
considering them rather the effects Of cir
cumstance, than the natural prompting of
her heart. An only child, and mothe rless
from her birth, nearly her whole life had
been passed a, boarding school, where in
the acquisition of snowy accomplishments,
her moral education had been totally neg
lected, while her surprising beauty obtain
ed for her large portion of fiattery and
admiration. Love of dress was her ruling
passion, as a natural consequence she be-
came selfish, and scrupled little as to the
means by which she attained her ends.-
When she left school at the age of seven
teen, Mr.. Moreton found with surprise and
modification that his idolized Lucy was as
deficient in temper and principle, as she
was perfect in face and person.
A short time before her return, Mr..
Moreton had taken an orphan niece TO re-