Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-03-01
From tho United States Gszeue
MY FIRST PARTY; OR, THIRTY
YEARS AGO.
BY MRS N. SARGENT.

BY MRS N. SARGENT.
In taking a cursor, glance Of the past.
We are oIlentlmeS amused u. the recol
lection Of events whlsh once possessed
the power of causing US the most sensi-
BILE chagrln. How often, when we are
INDUCING in laugh over their reminis-
cence, do we expe, fence regret, that we
suffered ourselves TO be annoyed by
such every day occurrences, and won
der we allowed our feelings to be effect
cd by circumstances, in themselves so
very tritling; and yet youth may not be
said to be eXIempt from sorrow The
loss Of a favoritc bird, dn unforeseen
sarpointmen., the 'unmeritcI rebuke,
all, or any of these, will cause the unbid.
den tear TO flow, an1 create as severe q
pang as the real or lancied woes Of more
mature years.
About thirty years ago, in i pleasan.
town not more than "a hundred miles
from the city of New York, there fuo r.
ishel a selec, boarding school FOR youny
ladies', or which was member.
The principals, three sisters, were
from the goodly State Of the
land Of steady habits, AMI were d emed
competent IL all respects, to discharge
the duties of their responsible situation
The rules OF the seminary were very
strict and scrupulously enforced. The
boardcrs, however, thirty IN number.
were permitted t. associate with the
day scholars, and occasionally 10 min
gle with the other young ladies' of the
town, and not un!requcntly, when par
tlcu arly inyi'ed, to remain at their huu
SEES 10 tea.
These clvlIitlcs naturally cngendcred
desire In the buarders 10 rec!procate
their iavorS. and numbarless projects
were devised for effrctng our Object
At length, after much discussion, il was
agreed 20 ask the consent of the princi
pals for giving party.
la order 10 form n correct estimate.
OF the temerlty of such request, the
reader must reflect, this was al insritu-
ton signalized for It's austerity. That
boarding schools Of The present iay,and
those OF thirty years dgo,were of an en-
tire different character Then il was
not deemed requisite TO hold soirees and
give entertainments for the young with
Il view of a formation Of their manners.
Youth was held under strong subec' ion.
Solomon's precepts were then more IN
vogue; the ferule and rod were not spa
rngly applied; children were decreed
children, and instead Of indulgng in a
sick!y apprehension as 10 the part they
were to perform in ife's drama, they
were left more To lolloY NATURES die.
tates. Arose with the dawn, occupied
with stared number Of hours in the
pursuance Of Their studies; INDUCED in
the recrcdlions natural to their age, and
when the day ended, retired 10 their nj:
lows with hearts unsuIied by knowl.
edge OF the worlds vices, and conscien-
ces void orolf.Ace In those primitive
times, parties among the young were OF
rare occurrence; one such as the school
girl OF modern times is weekly in the
habit of attending would then have s,rv.
ed Tor life time. But 10 return.
A petition signed by all the members,
was despatched to the principals, by
curley headed little messenger, sig, iry.
ing the general wish, while all sat ner-
vously waiting a reply ;and after the ex
PIratlon OF some fifteen minues answer
was brought that the principals deeming
the request Of too serious a nature to be
complied with lightly; must take time
for rcfiec ion. That it would be neces-
sary 10 consult with the minister as 10
its proprieiy and if after mature deliber.
alton the request should be Judged expe
dent, 1t would be time enough to make
known the principals ultimate decision.
There was assuredly very little en-
couragement to be adduced from all this 4.
and as there was no positive denial
couched beneath the words we had lis
tened 10 with all the sanguineness Of
youth, we jumped 20 the conclusion at
once, that the party would be given, and
half wild with JOY, began discussing who
should be invited, hoV we would dress.
IN what manner the room should be ar.
ranged, the refreshments, &c.
Like most children, we depended upon
the well known indulgence Of our pa
rents and our guardians, for defrayinu
all expense, so that to US, there appeared
no further obstacle 10 be surmounted,
than the gaining consent Of the princi.
pals.
Two weeks Of interminable suspense
wore away. Every thing had gone on
with the same clock like regularity as
before, without word being said in ref.
ference 10 the party and ready 10 des
pair, we were abandoning every hope
OF success, when 20 our great relief, it.
was announced, that the Misses Of,
DESTROYS Of allowing the young ladies' Do
longing to their institution, all reasona
bic indulgence, granted them permission
Tor giving party, inviting the young
people Of both sexes, respectfully con,
nected, provided their parents sanction.