The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-05
H. BELL, Editor and Proprietor.

| oCifdhto W uo CfCi ttilug tIldt Is Necessary
about the house, so that there is no occa.
sion for my making display of housewife
ry excellence; and / wait on mamma if she
has headache, and hand papa his slippers
and newspapers, and find uncle Johns
spectacles for him twenty times day, inc
small matter that, and then
But after all, what is the object and pur-
of your lifep
Why, l havn't any. don't see how l
can have any-that is, / am made. Now,
you know Eve none of the fussing, baby
tending, herb-tea making recommendations
of aunt Sally, and divers others of the class
commonly called useful Indeed, to tell
the truth, think useful persons rather fus-
sy and stupid. They are just like the bone
set and horehound candy, very necessary
to be raised in garden, but not in the least
ornamental
And your charming young ladies', who
philosophize in kid slippers and French
! dresses, are the tulips and roses-very char
ming, and delightful, and sweet, but fit for
nothing on earth but parlor ornaments
Well, parlor ornaments are good in their
way said the young lady, coloring, and
looking little vexed.
SO you give up the point. then,' said the
gentleman, that is all you girls are good
for-just to amuse yourselves, amuse 9TH
ers, look pretty and be agreeable
We'll, and if we behave well to our pa.
rents, and are amiable in the family-I don't
know-and vet said Florence, signing,
have often had sort of vague idea of some.
thing higher that we might become-yet
really-what more than this is expected of
US? What else can we dor
Il used to read in old-fashioned novels.
about ladies visiting the sick and the poor
replied Edward. You remember Celebus
in Search of Wife ?
Yes, truly; that is to say, remember
the story, part of it, and the love scenes
but as for those everlasting conversations of
DIR. Barlow, Mr.. Stanley, and nobody knows
who else, | skipped those of course. But,
really, this visiting and tending the poor,
and all that, seems very well in a story,
where the lady goes into picturesque cot
tage half overgrown with honey -suckles,and
finds an emaciated, but still beautiful wo-
men, sitting propped up by pillows. But
| come to the downright matter Of fact, Of
poking about in all these vile, dirty alleys,
and entering little dark rooms, amid troops
of grinning children. and smelling Goldfish
and onions, and nobody knows what-dear
me, my benevolence always evaporates be-
fore get through. I'd rather pay any
body five dollars day to Go it for me than
to do it myself. The fact is, that have
neither fancy nor nerves for this kind of
thing
well, granting, then. that you can do
nothing for your fellow creatures, unless
you are to do it in the most genteel, COM
Portable picturesque manner possible,is there
not great field for woman like you. Flor
ence, in your influence over your associates?
With your talents for conversation. your
tact and self-possession, and lady-like gift
of SAYING any thing you choose, are you
not responsible, in some wise, for the inhu
ence you exert over those by whom You are
surrounded 2
Il never thought of it, replied Florence.
Now you remember the remark that Mr..
Fortesque made, the other evening, on the
religious service at church 2
yes, | do and thought then he was too
bad
And do not suppose there was one of
you ladies IN the room that did not think so
too; but yet the matter was passed over
with smiles, and with not single insinua.
ton that he had said any thing unpleasing
or disagreeabe.'
We'll, what could we do One does not
like to be rude, you knowl'
DO !-could you not, Florence, who have
always taken the lead in society. and who
have always been able to say and do what
you please-could you not have shown him
that those remarks were unpleasing to you,
as decidedly as you certainly would have
done if they had related 10 the character of
your father or brother? To my mind. a
woman of true moral feeling should feel
herself as much insulted when religion is
treated with contempt as if the contempt
were shownto herself. DO you not know
the power which is given you women to
awe and restrain us in your presence, and
to guard the sacredness of things which you
treat as holy? Believe me, Florence, that
| Fortesque. infidel as he is, would reverence
a woman with whom he dared not trife on
sacred sebjects.'
Florence rose from her seat with a heigh.
tened color, her dark eyes frightening
| through tears
Il am sure that what you say is just, cous-
in. and yet never thought of ii before, l
will am Determined to begin, after this,to
live with some better purpose than l have
done.'
And let me tell you, Florence, in star
ting new course, as in learning to walk.
taking the first step is every thing. Now,
have first step to propose to you
Well. cousin
well, you know, suppose. that among
your train of adorers, you number Colonel
Elliott
Florence smiled.
And perhaps you do not know, what is
certainly true, that among the most discer-
nIng and cool part of his friends, Elliot is
considered as lost man.
Good heavens Edward, what do YOU