Litchfield enquirer., 1843-07-13
From the Christian SouUenir.
 THE CORAL RING. OR THE TEMPERANCE PLEDGE.
BY MRS. H. E. 5. STOWE.

SlflS are so thoroughly StilSh, as from il teen to twenty said Edward Ashton, delil erately, as he laid down book of fanc
 that he had been reading, and leaned oyc
 a centre table,
 You insulting fellow ]! replied tai br liant looking creature who was loungin
 on an ottoman hard by, over one of Dick ems last works.
 Truth coz--for all that said the gentle
 man, with the air of one who means to pro yoke discussion.
 'Now Edward, this is just one of youl wholesale declarations-tor nothing only to get me into dispute with you, yol know replied the lady ; on your con science aow eff you have one) is it not so |! | My conscience feels quite easy, cousin in subscribing to that sentiment, as my cen tession of faith,' replied the gentleman with provoking sang troid.
 'Pshaw tits one of your fusty ole bachelor notions. See what comes now, O. living to your time of life without wife disrespect for the sex, and all that. Really cousin, your symptoms are getting alarm ing
 May, now, cousin Florence,' said Ed. ward, you are girl of moderately gooC sense, with all your nonsense-now don' you q know you do) think just so too!' 'Think just so too'!-do hear the crea- ture 2 replied Florence. No sir you can speak for yourself in this matter, but beg leave to enter my protest when you speak l for me too.'
 | Well now, where is there, coz, among all our circle, a young girl that has any sort of purpose or object in life to speak of | except to make herself as interesting as possible-to be admired, and to pass her tune Tn as amusing a way as she can :! Where will you find one between fifteen and twenty, that has any serious regard for the improvement and best welfare of those ] with whom she is connected at all, or that modlfies her conduct in the least, with ref erence to it !-Now, cousin, in very serious earnest, you have about as much real char acter, as much earnestness and depth of feeling. and as much good sense, when any one can get at it, as any young lady Of them all iAId yet, on your conscience, can you say that you live with any sort of ref erence to any body's good-or to any thing but your own present amusement and qualification
 What shocking adjuration,' replied the lady, 'prefaced too by three story con- plimcnt {! We'll, being so adjured, I must seriously and sobcrly, don't sec as am selfsh-I do all that have any occasion to do. for any body. You know that we have servants to do every thing that is necessary about the house, so that there is no occa- sion for my making a display of house. wifery excellence ; and l wait on mamma <, r.rlt, small matter that,) and them
 But after all, what is the object and pur- pose of your life 2
 Why-I haven't any. don't see how can have any-that is, us am made. Now' you know Tve none of the fussing, baby tending, herb tea making recommendatlohs of aunt Sally. and divers other of the class commonly called useful. Indeed, to tell the truth, think useful persons are commonly rather fussy and stupid. They are Just like the boncset and hoarhound and catnlp, very necessary to be raised m garoeE' but not in the least ornamental
 And YOU charming young ladies, who phiIosophize in kid slippers and French dresses, and the tulip and roses-Very charming, and delightful, and sweet but Il, for nothing on earth but parlor ornaments,
 '::! "-.,serlor ornaments are good ID lheir IT? 'No, myAe young lady, colorlng ana ell that is exatle vexed. .,., ] three houF give up the point then', sad the the gentleman, that that is all you girls are good for-just to amuse yourselves, amuse Others, look pretty and be agreeable.'
 Well, and if we behave we'll to our pa rents. and are amiablc in the famlly-l don't know-and yet said Florence sigh- ing, have often had sort ot vague 'dea of something higher that we mlght become yet really-what more than tnis IS eX- pected of us what else can we do
 .Iused to read in olG-fashoncd novels. about ladies' visiting the sick and the poor' l replied Edward. You remember CHleDS in Search of Wife?
 Yes, truly that is to say' ! remcmocr the story, part of it and the loVe-scenos but as for all those everlasting conyersa- lions of Dr. Barlow, Mir. Stanley, and mo- hodv knows who else, l skipped those ot course. But really, this visiting and tend, 1 ing the poor, and all that, seems very well in a story, where the lady goes intoa pic turesoue cottage half overgrown with hon. evsuckle, and finds an emaciated, but stll 1 beautiful woman, sitting propped up by n;llows. But come to the downright matter of facts of poking about in all these vile dirty alleys, and entering little. dark rooms amid troops of grinning children, and smel ling codfish and onions, and nobody know what-dear me, my benevolence alway evaporates before get through. I'd rath CT nav any body five dollars day to do for me than to do it myself. The fact is that have neither fancy nor nerves fo
 this kind of thing. |,
 Well, granting then. that you can d nothing for your fellow-creaiurcs unles
 you are 10 do il in the most gentle, agreed
 ble, comfortable and picturesque manne |. possible, is there not great field for a we man ike you, Florence, in your influence g over your associates ]!
 q never thought of it, replied Florenc'
 .,o,, .an,a har the remarks tht