Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-19

mothers are apt to do, contenting themselves
with being mere spectators.
When Mr.. Norton laid his head upon the
pillow, that night, it was long before he
could compose his mind TO sleep, so much
was he disturbed by the vision OF a pair of
blue eyes which danced before him, not 10
mention dark ringleis and old cloaks, which
mingled together IN strange confusion. He
began 10 think that he had found The object
he had been so long seeking, aud resolving
that he would call the next day at Mr.~Har-
woods, al last resigned himself 10 repose.
The next morning, Mrs. Hinton, in pur-
suance of the wise resolution she had made,
attired herselfto 90 out, and was waiting in
the parlor for her carriage. The beautiful
mantle lay on the sofa by her side, and she
was examining it, and making up her mind
that, after all, she could do without il, and
if she could that she ought to. AT this mo-
ment Caroline Howard, who was an inti-
mate friend, entered. Are you going out
so early T she exclaimed, on seeing Mrs.
Hinton ready dressed. i came in the hope
of seeing you al this hour, for / wished to
tell you that Stewart has some Of the lowell
est nantes you ever saw. ] was there yes
terday, and looked at them. They were
just opened, and the clerk assured me that
they we're the only ones imported, aud there
are but a dozen all together. | was afraid
they would all be sold, yet | did not dare TO
buy one before asking my mothers permits
sion, for father made such a fuss last week
about my buying this splendid silk, without
consulting him, that mother forbade my do
ing il again. | have been. all the morning,
teazing her to let me have one. and have at
last succeeded. So you must positively
come aud choose one too. But | declare
she continued, you have one already as
= her eyes fell upon the sofa, for she had
talked so volubly that she had not even
. . paused to look around her. But you will
come with me, will you not Mrs. Hinton
replied g%ravely, 4 am going to Stewards to
return this mantle, and | would advise you
my dear Caroline, if you had to teoze your
mother for leave to buy one. TO deny YOUR
|, self and crafty her by informing her that
: you have resolved TO do without il. Fifty
dollars is a great deal 10 spend in such an
: article OF dress. My husband told me this
morning that he was afraid he should be
> obliged to give up his carriage and horses,
his business is so much less profitable than
formerly. Now you know il is absolutely
necessary for his health that he should ride
a great deal, and | resolved to spend as lit
, tie as possible myself, that he might be able
a to enjoy his carriage Caroline sat without
[; speaking until Mrs. Hinton had concluded,
when she replied pettishiy, But you are
married, and It does not make so much diff
= ference to you how you dress Just see how
e becoming this is and she turned from the
> glass, at which she had been arranging the
mantle in graceful folds over her well shaped
figure, and Mrs. Hinton could not help ac-
: knowledging that it was very becoming in
q deed.
q Nevertheless she still attempted to per.
: suade her young friend to forego the pur-
chase, for she knew that Caroline's father
y was very much involved in debt, and il wa:
feared every day that he would stop payment.
although, as it appeared, like many othel
!, gentlemen who keep the state Of their affair.
\ a secret from those most interested in the
truth, his wife aud daughter were uuerl,
Ignorant of the circumstance. But sh,
found her argument Of no effect. Indeed
&c Caroline endeavored TO persuade Mrs Hin
:, ton herself to retain the velvet that she wa,
y about to carry back. But she had too mucl
strength of mind to be led away by her van
lily, when she knew that her decision wal
right, although she could not repress' a wo
70 manish feeling Of regret at the thought q
u resigning so becoming an article of appar
u Ell. Mrs Hinton was SO much grieyed anG
shocked at the sel6shness Of her young
~ friend that she thought she could never agaiI
feel toward her the same affection she hat
ID hitherto experienced. She made her con
'e fess that the fifty dollars her mother hat
"a given her, with which to purchase the wish
~ ed for mantle, was a sum that had been up
IN propriated TO a younger sister, that sh'
ne might take lessons in drawing, an art o
ne which she was passionaiely fond, and 70
s- which she had decided genius. She coul,
ut not forbear limiting to Caroline that a tim,
as might come when the talents Of her siste
he would be put in requisi,ion for more impor
'u tant purposes than those Of mere amuse
Re ment; hut her persuasions were lost upol
as the mind Of the t~houghtless and selfish girl
n and she saw her depart, with pain, to fdlf
II her intention.
re Mrs Hinton found no difficulty in return
ing the mantle, and after she had left III
i'd store she wondered how she could have bee
a so foolish as 10 suffer a moments uneasines
" on such a trifling subject. The words q
er Mr. Norton had made a deep impression up
n on her heart, and as she looked al the mu
of titude of poor, houseIess wretches VIII
throng Broadway, begging for charity, sh
nd felt how sinful it was to waste in extravt
gance that which would bring comfort an
lat happiness to sos many s%orrowful hearts,
lar When her husband returned to dinner, she
ad like q true hearted wife, made a confessio
of Of her folly ofthe day before, her repentance