American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-16

her the care and attention which her deso'ate
condition required. She was sent to the best
schools, and no money was spared to render her
as accomplished as possible. They were also
DESTROYS that she should never feel the loss she
had sustained, and no parents could have been
more kind and afectionate than they. But the
remembrance of the "1oved and lost" was not
to be effaced from the mind of the young girl,
and though she loved her uncle and aunt
tenderiy and dorotedly, and was unspeak-
ably grateful to them for their unremitting
kindness, yet there were times when her lonely
condition pressed upon her heart, and rendered
her sad and thoughtful. She was very imagi-
native too, and more frequently lived in world
of her own creation than IN the busy world
around her. Strictly adhering to truth on all
occasions she never imagined the possibility Of
! others deviatng from it, and was as easily inn
posed on as a child. AS her uncle and aunt
received little company, she was brought up
i'll comparative seelusiOn, and when at the age
of II she entered society, she was ditfident and
retiring to degree that was painful to herself
Although highly intellectual and thoroughly
educated, she was so much afraid OF the sound
of her own voice, as to appear to great dsad-
vantage before strangers, it was only in the
presence of those she loved and valued, that
she could venture TO unfold the treasures of her
mind and heart. Her cousin Philip had been
and still was her constant companion, and TO
do him Justice, he endeavored as far as lay In
his power to prevent her extreme difhdence
from being remarked. But the attentions
which out of kindness he bestowed upon her
were liable to be misconstrued, and it was soon
whispered about that the cousins were engaged.
1t was of no use for Alice to insist that they
felt for each other only the affection of brother
and sister, her kind friends knew better than
she did, and persisted in having it otherwise
Perhaps they thought the sooner they persuad-
ed themselves and the young gentlemen of
their circle that the fair orphan was engaged
| the better, they would then have less cause to
fear her as rival.
Soon after her entrance into society she at
tracted the notice of a very agreeable and in
telligent young man, and their acquaintance
soon ripened into friendship. Mr. NJ
thought that of all the young ladies he had
seen, Alice was the sweetest, the gentlest, the
kindest, and that her mind was quite equal to
her person. AS for A lice, she thought no one
had ever eGualled Mr.. M. He was her
beau-ideal Of perfection. 1t was now time for
some Of her dear friends TO interfere. No SOON
er would that gentleman make his appearance
in company than one would whisper, "There's
Mr.. M, take care of your heart, ALICE" or
''lm afraid. Alice, cousin Philip will be cut
out" or some such impairment remark, bring
ing blush to the cheek of the difiident girl,
and causing her to feel embarrassed for the
evening. Others would take particular pains
to inform that gentleman that Alice and her
cousin were engaged. At first be listened
doubtingly, but when he reflected on her con-
strained and embarrassed manner, he began to
fear that the report was true, and that his at
tputiops Under tho ~ capc va bar ma in
although she felt compelled to treat him po-
litely. la this manner the winter passed. To-
wards spring he began to think seriously of
ending his suspense, by questioning the lady
! herself on the sub iect, which would certainly
have been the proper plan; but one of her init
mate friends having told him in confidence, to
tease him, suppose, that Alice was certainly
to be married 10 her cousin-that she had
charged her with being engaged, and that Alice
had not denied it, (Which was partly true, for
she had denied 1t so often that she was tired of
doing SO, and had pretended not to hear her
friend on that particular occasion.) Mr.. NJ,
| proud and sensitive, somewhat ditiident also,
thought it was not worth while to offer HIM
self on purpose to be refused and leaving the
city of P, went to the Western country,
where he purchased property, anlassed for
tune, and when time had sotened the memory
|
man, bat one every way inferior to his first
choice.
AS for Alice, she could not so soon forget
month after month passed away-year after
year rolled on, and still that gentle girl remain
ed single-musing on the departed. Perhaps
for time she hoped he would return; and when
that hope died away, she cherished his memory,
and treasured up with miser's care every me-
mortal of their fermer friendship. She might,
with truth, have adopted the language of "a po-
pular writer and exclaimed: 'How far inferior
is the living conversation of others to the bare
remembrance Of thee" But though she some
times felt lonely and desolate, she did not give
way to dependency; on the contrary, she ex-
erted herself to perform not only the duties re-
CURED of her by her kind relatives, but many
Others, which brought with them their own re-
ward; for a life of active benevolence is the
surest balm for wounded heart-yet it must
be confessed that her lot would have been far
different, and her life much happier, had it not
been for the unfortunate influence exercised
over her fate by the class of persons l have at
tempted to describe.