The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-26
From the Ladies National Magazine.
Won A N ID Los r.
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

s'I.ook-there goes George Alcott,
striding along like a pair of stills; his
arms, as usual, swinging up and down,
as those of windmill SAID Kate Ed
monds, as she sat at the window with
her elder sister.
Agnes was the very opposite of the
witty Kate, and she could scarcely
comprehend how her sister could speak
thus; for she knew Kate loved George
Alcott, if she loved any one. But Kate
had reputation for wit, which she had
won by saying sarcastic things Of her
acquaintance; and, moreover, she en-
loved a secret pleasure in concealng
her own opinions. To use her own
phrase, sit was nice to quiz lolksw
"How can you speak thus, Kate"
said her sister. "Mr. Alcott, though
tall, is not ungracelul, and, I'm afraid,it
YOU were to be criticised as severely
as you criticise him, even your nnmac-
ulate self would suffer-"
"He dare not try it," said Kate, pout-
ing her pretty lip.
1.He ,couM not" replied Agnes with
emphasis. "Realy, derr Ka;e, you do
yourself injustice by the sarcastic things
YOU say; people think you much worse
tempered than you are"
"And what if they do! | am sure !
am perfectly indifferent to their opin-
ion."
$50 you may be now. but you'll fin
by ndby, that these opinions have val
ue. Besides you do not usually mean
what you say. | know that George
Alcott is your favorite-nay! you can
not deceive me-you need not pout
and shake your head"
"WeIl, then-what if he isl Does
not that give me an especial right to
abuse him? 1t is one OF the privileges
Of our sex to make fun Of those we like
BEST
"Ah! Kate, that is afatal apprehen-
sion. If you would think twice you
would see how foolish thing you had
said; for if you abuse him before those
who know your real opinion, they will
laugh at your vain attempt to blind
them, while if you make fun Of him be-
fore strangers, you lower him in their
estimation"
"Pshaw! Now you would play the
logician," said Kate, jumping up and
running to the door. "You know, sis
ter, mind, when you begin to lecture |
begin to move-so good-by, my dear
little preacher" and with these words
the gay girl skipped down the entry.
Kate was always the careless, rat
Ting creature we have described her.
Gifted with high animal spirits, good
heart, warm impulses, and considerable
brilliancy of mind, she might have made
an almost iaultless being but Tor the
unhappy faculty she had imbibed, of
turning into ridicule every person and
thing she met with. Scarcely the
members Of her own family escaped
her witty tongue. We have seen that
even her favored lover suffered under
its lash. Indeed, as if to take revenge
for having lost her heart, Kate was es-
pecially severe on him who had won
it. The fact is, she was fond of mys-
tifying-or quizzing, as she called it
that she made it point to say things
of George which no lady could be sus-
pected Of saying against the man she
loved.
"Dear Kate" said Agnes again to
her, few days after the preceding con-
versation, "you really must curb your
propensity to satire. Did you notice
how Gorge colored, last evening, when
you made such fun Of him to his face;
and after his back was turned you said
things OF him that certainly will offend
him, if they ever come TO his ears"
aLet him get offended then," said
Kate, tossing her head. "He is too
sensitive and ought to be cured"
2. "Yet you would not cure flesh