Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-10-30
THE BIRD OF PARADISE.
OR, EMMA's FIRST FAULT.

"That is lovely ornament; let me have
the pleasure Of sending it home for you,
madam" said the obsequious shopman, hold.
ing up the tempting article, while Emma
Forster eyed i, wistiully--a fact, doubtless,
clearly perceived by the important vender.
mo, thank you, it is too elegant-that
is, it is not sutable--il is toogay-too-"
81 beg ten thousand pardons for differing
from you, madam; but, really, not suitable!
| never saw any lady whom i, would better
become. And, excuse me, madam, but do
me the favor to observe that, with this deli
cate satin have just had the honor Of sell.
ing you, the effect would be splendid. A
bird of paradise is an ornament equally
adapted for the hair or the bonnet; and
mono but ladies OF high taste appear in such
a decoration They have decidedly aris-
'ocratic appearance"
Poor Emma stood the very personifice.
ton OF irresolution-the bird OF paradise on
one side, with the envy it wonld excite in
the Smiths and the Browns Che latter par
ticularly. who were SO conceited, and al.
ways managed to outdress her wherever
they met;) and, on the other hand, the fear
Of her husbands displeasure, should she
venture 10 appear in so costly an orna.
ment.
1t is we'll said, however, that 'sshe who
celebrates is lost" for so it proved in The
present case. She gave hasty assen
when the shopman reiterated his request be
permitted TO put up the beautiful article;
and, paying the bill, she hurried out Of the
shop.
Arrived at home, she was much vexed to
find she had occupied so much time in shop
ping that she had scarcely allowed herself
sufficient time to prepare the tea before her
recent conhict--angry that she had been
guilty of such extravagance--and certain
OF mourning her husbands anger also, she
already began to pay dearly for the much
desired fnery, and 10 wish earnestly that
she had not seen 1t.
Tea being concluded, Mrs. Forster has.
tened to her bedroom, to complete the
dress in which she was 10 appear, on the
following evening, at ball given by
schoo.fellow on the occasion oil her recent
marriage, and at which the Smiths and the
Browns were expected to lie present.
On contemplating her late purchase, she
almost became reconciled 10 the anticipat
ted displeasure OF her husband, so beautiful
did it look, and when she rested the splen-
did little bird on her dark shining hair, she
thought Frederick could hardly grudge the
price it cost, 80 well did it become her;
and then, as the shopman had told her, it
had such an aristocrasic appearances; and
she was quite sure that no other lady Of the
party would have such thing.
Thus she endeavored to feel satisfied
with her conduct, and to stifle the voice OF
conscience which, however, would be
heard.
Some ladies may wonder that 80 small a
| matter as an ornament for the hair should
cause such disturbenne in the mind Of a
young and1 pretty woman-.and ono that
was ne wly.married, too; and, truth to speak,
TO fond and indulgent husband-but be it
known that Emma Foster had been trained
by wise and good mother, who had instill.
ed into the mind OF her child principles OF
recti,ude, and thus made it impossible for
her TO act wrong without knowing it, and,
consequently, without suffering the penal
ty Of eviLdoing.
Emma knew very we'll that her husbands
displeasure would not be occasioned by the
cost OF the bird OF paradise so much as by
the love OF finery and tendency to extrava
gance which the purchasing such an article
would betray; and several times during the
evening she was on the point OF making .
clean breast, and obtaining her husbands
sanction to wear the ornament; but fear o.
his anger, and dread lest he should forbid
her TO appear in it, withheld her.
Could she but get TO her friends house
without being seen by her husband, sh'
knew she would be safe, 40 Mr.. Forster
was to set of, in the evenings few mile
out Of town, and would not return till tn
following day, SO that he could not DO at tn
ball, but as he was always anxious 10 SCI