The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-10-04

Tor month or tgo Helen noticed tina
enc and another of these young friends cal
. led every now and then Tor Edward, in III,
evening, and that he vent out with then
and stud until bed time. But unless hi
: sisters were from home, he never went O
hts own accord. The fact of his being on
with these young men, had, from the first
troubled Helen, though, the reuson Of be-
/ feeling troubled che could not Tell. Ed
ward had good principles, and she could 10
bring herself to entertain fears Of any clear
! y d. fined evil. Still nsatiou of ubeas
mess was always produced when he VA
from home ia the evening.
Her knowing that Edward would 90 ou'
after they had all left, was The reason Why
Helen did cot wish to attend the ball
The very Gtsi though, of this had produced
an unpleasant sensation in her mind, which
decreased the longer she debated The cues
Ton OF gong ewny, or remaining at home.
Finally, she decided thu, tho would moi 20.
This decision took place a,terthe interview
With her mo;her, which sas only half al
hour from the starting.
Edward knew nothing NJ the intention OF
his sister. He vas 10 bis oau room, dress
lng to 80 OUT and supposed, when 10 heard
the carriage drive from the door, that Hell
en- had gone With the other members Of the
lauiy. Ga descendng to the pailor, he
was surprised to find her auung by the cen
ire table, With book in her hand.
Helen is this you'll | thought you bad
gone 10 the ball. Ate you not well T. he
said quickly, aud with some surprise com
lns up 10 her side.
j ara 'efy well. brolhet,' she replied,
looking into his face Win smile Of si-lAs
y regard. :. Bur hayr concluded 10 stay
at home Ihls evening. sm gong 10 keep
you company
:" Are YOU, indeed! Right glad am |
Of u Though | am sorry sou have Dc
prised yourself Of tho pleasure Of this ball
which, believe, 10 10 b. q very brilliant
one. was Just golns out, because i! is so
dull at homo shen you are away"
:. | am not particularly desifious Of going
10 the bal So little SO, tina, The thoughts
OF ycur being Iell here all alouo bad suiii
cien influence over me 10 keep me away"
I" lud,ej! Well, must say you are
Kind" Edward returned w,h feeling. Tie
self sacrificing act Of bis sister bad touched
hin senably-
Both ila!en and her brother played well.
She open Tho harp and piano and he upon
The fate aud violin. Both sefe fond CT
muse, and pfaclised aud played ffeqlenily
together. Pa6 fef the evening vas speot in
ihts way, much 10 tho satisfaction of each.
Then an hour passed in reading aud CONVEX
sation, after which, music was again resor.
ted TO. Thus PASSED he time pleasantly
onil the hour Of retiring Game, when they
separated, both with an Internal feeling Of
pleasure more delightful Than they had ex
perienced for long time. Ii was nearly
three o'clock before Mr., aud Mrs. Lindey,
and The daughter who had accompanied
them 10 the ball, came home. ilours be.
fore. tho senses Of both Edwo,d aud Helen
had been locked 10 forgeliulncss.
Time passed on. Edward LndIey grew
up and became man Of sound principles
"a blessing to his family and society,"
He saw his sisters well married aud him.
self, finally, ted 10 The altar lovely mad
en-. She made htm truly happy husband.
On tho night Of bis wedding, as he sal be-
side Helen, he paused for some time, in the
mids, Of a pleasant conversation, thought,
fully. Al last he said
ID you remember, sister, the night you
sald at home fIon the ball 10 keep me com.
:. :, ,ame year. ago. Yes, Ire,
aa ',I y ~ y we'll, nov you have recall.
I Ind Oh sd r.
'ge,, !, ! 4. 7. q sipce thought, llclen,' he
u, Me-. .ss!srtf. !" thoi by the simple
aes bf1 Ssssaia ~ al home, vas the means
Of. = - y aseuclion.'
"Ii9ws ksa~'s be sister.
Il JUS, thea &ginnng 10 form an in
innate association with young men of my
own uge, nearly all of whom have since
turned out badly. | did 10, care a great
deal about tbcir company still liked SO
ciety and used TO DO With them frequently
especially when you aud Mary vent GU.
IN the evening. Ga the night Of the ball to
which YOU were going, these young men
had a supper, aud was 10 have been with
them. did not wish particularly 10 JOIN
them, but preferred doing 50 to remaining
nj homo alone. To find you, as did, so
unexpectedly, in the paror was an ag'eea
bio surprise indeed. | staid oil bone with
a new pleasure, which was heightened BY
the thought that II was your love for me
that bad made you deny yourself for my
qualification. We read together on that
evening, We played together, 90 talked of
many things. 10 your mind had never
before seen so much to inspire my own With /
high and puro thoughts. remembered
tho conversation of the young men with /
whom had been assoclaung, and 10 which
had taken pleasure, with something like dis
gust. 1t was low, sensual, and too much OF
/, was vio and demoraiaing. Never, from
tina, hour, did Join lhom. Ihotr way, ~
tho early stages Of lile's journey, saw to DO
downward, and downward |, has ever since
been tending. How often since have
thau uht of that mint in time sO lull trauuht