Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-09-06
From the Ladies' Magazine.
HELEN AND EDWARD;
OR AN EVENING AT HOME.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

| ley, WIN look anu tOHe Oh SURPRISE w nat
has come over the girP
Il don't know, but she says she's not GO
ing
Doesn't her ball dress fit 2
yes, beautifully.
| What is the matter, thenP
Indeed, ma, cannot tell. You had bet
ter 90 up and see her 1t is the strangest
notion in the world. Why, you couldn't
hire me TO stay at home
Mrs Lindley went up stairs, and entering
her daughters room, found her sitting on
the side of the bed, with beautiful ball
dress in her hand.
1T isn't possible, Helen, that you are not
going to this ball 2 she said.
Helen looked up with half serious, half
smiling expression on her face
I've been trying, for the last half hour
she replied, to decide whether / ought to
go, or stay at home. think, perhaps,
ought to remain at home
But what earthly reason can you have for
doing sol Don't you like your dressl
30, yes, very much. | think it beautiful
Doesn't it fit you?
AS well as any dress ever had
Are you not well T?
Very WELL
Then why no: go to the ball Ii will be
the largest and most fashionable of the sea-
son. You know that your father ard my
self are both going. We shall want to see
yon there, of course. Your father will re-
quire some very good reason for your alb
sence.'
Helen looked perplexed at her mothers
last remark
DO you think father will be displeased if
remain at homer she asked.
Il think he will, unless you can satisfy
him that your reason for doing so, is very
good one Nor shall feel that your are
doing right l wish all my children to act
under the government of sound judgment.
Impulse, or reasons not to be spoken of free
ly to their parents, should in no case influ-
ence their actions
Helen sat thoughtful for more than min
ute, and then said, her eyes growing dim as
she spoke,
Il wish to stay at home for Edwards sake
And why for his, my dear !!
He doesn't go to the ball you know
Because he is too young, and too back
ward. Yon couldn't hire him to go there.
But that is no reason why you should re-
main at home You would never partake Of
any social amusement, were this always to
influence you. Let him spend his evening
in reading. He must not expect his sisters
to deny themselves all recreation in which
he cannot or will not participate
He does not. l know he would not hear
to such thing as my staying at home on
his account
| PHhon hv stov
Because | feel that / ought to do So
This is the way have felt all day, whenever
| have thought Of going. If were to go
| know that 1 would not have a moments
enjoyment He need not know why re-
main at home. To tell him that did not
wish to go will satisfy his mind
i shall not urge the matter, Helen Mrs
Lindley said, after silence of some mo-
ments; you are old enough to Judge in a
matter of this kind for yourself You will
not find Edward disposed to sacrifice SO
much for YOU
of that do dot think, mother. or that
/ ought not to think
Perhaps not. Well, you may do as you
like. But don't know what your father
will say
Mrs Lindley then left the room.
| Edward Lndley was at the critical age Of
eighteen, that period when many young men,
especially those who have been blessed with
sisters would have enjoyed ball. But Ed
ward was shy, timid, and bashiul in company,
and could hardly ever be induced to go out
to parties with his sisters Still, he was IN
teligent for his years, and companionable.
His many good qualities endeared him to
his family, and drew forth from his sisters
towards him very tender regard.
Among his male friends were several a.
bout his own age, members of families with
whom his own was on friendly terms With
these he associated frequently, and with two
or three others quite intimately. For a
month or two, Helen noticed that one and
another of these young friends called every
now and then for Edward, and that he went
out with them and staid until bed time
But unless his sisters were from home, he
never went of his own accord. The fact of
his being out with these young men had,
from the first, troubled Helen, though the
reason of her feeling troubled she could not
tell Edward had good principles, and she
could not bring herself to entertain fears Of
any clearly defined evil. Still a sensation
of uneasiness was always produced when he
was from home in the evening.
But knowing that Edward would 90 out,
after they had all left, was the reason why
Helen did not wish TO attend the ball. The
first thought of this produced an unpleas-
ant sensation in her mind, which increased
the longer she debated the question OF GO
ing away, or remaining at home. Finally
she decided that she would not 90. This