The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-01

Parks. She did not mention the subject !;
nevertheless she prepared herself for the
expected visit. In remembrance of the re-
puted very particular notions Of right and
p7ong of her new acquaintance, she brought
forth Mrs. FL. More's Practical Piety'-a
work given her by a pious aunt, but which,
for long period Of time, had not seen the
light of day-nnd quietly laid it, not on
the comfortable, as for family use, but
on her workable, as book for her own
special reading and improvement. In her
work basket, which was upon the table,was
placed beautiful pocket-bble, partly con-
cealed from view. Her morning dress might
have suited the correct taste of Partisan
belle. She wore delicate buff slippers /;
and to conceal tho hair-pins that bespoke
the preconcerted plan of tresses deliberately
dressed, she had on her head small and
highly becoming buff Grape cap, while the
hair which was visible was smoothly parted
on her forehead. Her arrangements for the
morning were completed in perfect silence,
and as the hour approached in which visl-
tiers might be expected, she busted herself,
with apparent carelessness. about some trl-
fle in her chamber.
DO you remember asked Diana, who
was just finishing her toilette, which was
less simple, but which had not cost half the
time of her sisters. DO you remember that
Willie and MIR. Parks are to call here this
morning, Lucretia 7
Yes, noD recollect that you said some
such thing last night; but what if they are 2
Why. nothing very particular; only |
didn't know but you might wish to make
some little PREPARATION
'And is a call from a couple Of gentlemen
so singular and important an event as to re-
quire special preparation ? asked Lucretia.
That is Just as one happens to think,
said Diana as she gave the finishing touch
to her morning dress by placing just burst
ing China rosebud in her hair; then, as she
turned from the mirror to leave the cham
Der, she,cast her eyes on her sister and ad-
ded-' but perceive by your attire that it
was unnecessary to refresh your mem ory.
In due time the expected visitors appear
cd, and made quite long call. They found
the ladies very agreeable, and made them
selves equally so. The stranger was par
ticularly pleased. Mrs. Berry struck him
as kind hearted, affectionate woman, Of
good common sense, and easy Manners
If there was anything not exactly pleasing.
It was her too great anxiety to please, and
some appearance of desire to show of her
daughters. This, Mr.. Parks very justly
thought extremely injudicious in all cases.
If daughters are truly excellent and inte-
resting, it will be known in due time, and
in more agreeable manner than by direct
display; if they are not, the effort is worse
than useless. In the present instance 1t
was quite unnecessary both of the sisters
pleased him-Diana by her play fulness and
vivacity, and Miss Berry by the smiling
composure with which she bore her sisters
sallies, were often directed against herself.
Ho thought her possessed of dignity and
decorum in an unusual degree. Both OF
the young ladies'. too, were very pretty
Miss Berry particularly so. He had noticed
her beauty on the previous evening but he
had often thought ladies beautiful, when
seen in full dress, at an evenings assembly,
in blaze of artificial light. who, the next
morning. endishabiLe, by the light of the
sun, were quite the reverse. Miss Berry,
on the contrary, was certainly far more at
tractive, if not more beautiful, in the retire
ment of home, and in her simple morning
dress, than she had been in the brilliant
party. Another thing pleased him. Mrs.
Berry occupied fine house, and the style
in which the rooms were furnished suited
his taste. There was no rivalry of toy
; shop in the variety of ornaments and pieces
: of antique China exhibited; nor Of BARRIERS
shop by the display of numberless prints
and caricatures on the centre. table. This
modern Improvement in furnishing houses,
! which many persons have adopted, Mr..
Parks considered either tacit confession
that they were unequal to entertaining theiI
guests by env intellectual effort, or an i'm
piled supposition that their guests were in.
capable of being so entertained. At Mrs
Berry's everything was elegant, but at the
same time useful.
, On taking leave Mr.. Parks was gratified
by receiving an invitation from Mrs. Berry
to call on them whenever it would give him
pleasure to do SO and it soon became hi:
, pleasure to call often. At few houses where
, he visited could he pass an hour or two Sc
r agreeably. True, Mrs. Berry did not please
him more BY fuller acquaintance he1
) excessive maternal love seemed to have de
eenel ated into selfshness; and few thing:
appeared to interest her in which her daugh
tiers were not directly concerned. Beside
her too evident anxiety TO display their &C
/ complishments annoyed him exceedingly
the more, as the young ladies themselve'
had too much good sense and good taste
10 fall in with the system. AS rare case
however, the daughters were more in
, teresting on account of this weakness IL
7 their mother, as it gave play to Diana's vi
, vacity, who laughed it off with the bes
grace imaginable, while Miss Berry only
, appeared more dignifed and retiring, iron
every maternal effort to bring her virtue:
l and requirements into notice. But tina
which pleased him most of all was the fact
that though he had seen the daughters evi
IDENTIFY mortified by this indicate habi
into which their mother had fallen, he haC