Litchfield enquirer., 1843-05-18
THE DANCING SCHOOL.
BY MRS. HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.

Mamma" sVid Isabella to her mother, one morning, after she had been some weeks at Madams Le Blanche's "we are going to have ball next week."
 We, child who !"'
 "Oh Madame Le Blanche, l mean She always closes her lessons by set of co. tillion parties, so as to teach us gradually to to dance in company. She invites in gentle men and ladies, and we haze full band of music, and Ellen Gilmore says it will be like real ball.
 Mrs. Selden was uneasy, and puzzled by this information. She had said that she disapproved of balls,and that her child should not attend them; yet she was met by one on the very threshold, aud her daughter, with flushed cheeks and brightening eyes, was flunering with excitement and desire.- Should she forbid her to go? Should she shut at once from the eager eyes the brilliant scenes which she had suffered to be half should she give? How make her appreciate the dancing school! And could she make the child in her present eager and excited state, feel the force ot any Kind of reasoning on the subject!
 Mrs Selden appealed to her husband
 
 go to those cotillion parties."
 Why, let her go. don't see much diff ference between them and the school-its all dance, dance, dance, with the child, at any rate, and has been these four weeks"
 So Mrs. selden acquiesed.
 "Dear child how tight this dress is 2" said the mother on the eventful evening, as she presided over he. daughters toilette. Qt was new dress just sent in from the mantua-maker's for the occasion.) "Oh, mother, it is not in the least tight, quite comfortable-it was hard to hook, know; new dresses always are-at all events, you know mother, it can't be altered now look how beautifully it sets ;" and the bright girl turned suddenly round to her mother, her sparkling eyes, flushed cheek, and waving curls, drew herself up, so as to show her pretty form to the best advantage.
 "There go! you are a wild thing ;" said her mother i; '" stay though, let me fix that flower in your hair, and those curs. Now, Isabella, promise me you will not stay after ten."
 "I won't if can possibly help it." said the child, laughing and kissing her mother, "you know shall come home with Mrs. Gilmore, and she told me she should come home ear- ly."
 Isabella came home about two o'clock in state of high excitement. She had been asked to dance by almost every gentleman in the room, and Mrs Gilmore had been be- set with entreaties to let her remain, and fla,tering beaux had talsiiied the hour of the night, to detain her, and in short, she had enough in that one evening" to turn Q half a dozen little heads Of ofiy the age of herown. hn xnln1n Tcohnlla heard from various companions all the flat. tering comments on her dress, appearance, manners, &c., which usually go the rounds with young girls after such occasions.- Nothing was now thought of but the next party. Il wish these cotillion parties were over," said Mrs. s. Yet she smiled when she heard :he praises of her daughters beauty and grace, and was half consoled for the want of interest which she saw coming over her, in all her old pursuits and occupations Like many other mothers, in similar circum. stances, she attempted 60 balance the extra excitement of the bewitching scenes into which she had thrown her daughter, by an extra measure of serious talk and good ad- vice.
 "My dear. you must not let your head get too full of this dancing-you must remember there are great many other more import ant things"
 Il don't intend to, indeed, mamma" said Isabella, as she took her place, with her school books beside her mother. After req ding some pages of her lesson in Natural Philosophy, she suddenly looked up" Oh, mamma, Mrs. Airy has new style of trim ming, just from Paris, and it would be beau- tiful for my dress, next week won't you go with me this afternoon and look at 1t"
 "Did you find that in your book :" said her mother.
 "Oh, no but thought would ask you while thought of it." replied :he child.
 "I am sorry to find you beginning to think so much of dress, Isabella," said inc mother, "at your age, the simpler young girl dres- ses the better"
 "I don't think so much of dress, mother ; but could not help thinking of this, because the last time was at dancing school every body was talking about 1t; and Madame Le Blanche recommended me to look at it she said it would increase the effec: of my ap- pearance so much"
 Madame Le Blanche is vain, trifiing woman, suppose" said Mrs. Selden. "l hope you will not be influenced by what she says; only sent you to learn 10 dance. and did not expect you to learn any thing else ot her so, now, put this whole thing out of your head, and hurry and get your lesson. for you know it is Saturday ,and there is your Sunday school lesson to be learned"
 Oh, nampa," said Isabella, hesitating, "I want to ask you about that. Don't you think I am getting almost too old to go to Sunday school? Indeed have thought so for some time. None of the girls l associate most with go 10 Sabbath school; and ] believe they think it quit odd in me. Ellen Gilmore asked me the other day, and when told her, she smiled, and looked as # she thought it