The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-23


| the solitude Of fmy chamber. magnifed
j my sufferipgs into those of martyrdom,
and accused Mr.. L---- of not preparing
me for the trials of my new situation.@
Yet even while reproached him in my
heart, was conscious of my injustice, and
felt that did not suffer alone. 1t was the
first time any other than words of kind
ness had passed between us, and it SEEM
I ed to me that,a barrier was beginning to
rise,' that wonld separate us forever
i When we again met, | tried to retain the
same cold manner and averted counte-
nance, but he came unaccompanied by my
ltormenter, and looked so detected and
pale, my petulance, my pride yielded to
the reign of better feelings. had even
the grace to make concessions, which
were received with such gratitude and
feeling, ! was melted into goodness, tran
sient, but sincere. Had aunt Debby re-
manned from us, all might yet have been
well; but after having visited awhile among
the parish, she returned; and her presence
choked the blossoms Of my good resolu
tons. | thought she never torgave the
offending epithet had given her in the
moment passion. 1t is far from my in
tention, in delineating peculiarities like
hers, to throw any opprobium on that class
of females, who from their isolated and un-
protected situation, are peculiarly suscep-
tible to the shafts of dniindness and ridi-
cule. | have known those whose infu-
ence seemed as diffusive as the sunshine
and as gentle as the dew; at whose ap-
|proach the ringlets of childhood would be
tossed gaily back, and the wan cheek of
the aged lighted up with Joy; who had de-
voted the glow of their youth and the
strength of their prime to acts of flial pity
and love, watching the waning fires Of life,
as the vestal virgins the flames of the altar.
Round such beings as these beatitudes
cluster; and yet the ban of unleeling levi
ty is passed upon the maiden sisterhood.
But wander from my path. 1t is not
their history / am writing, so much as my
own; which, however deficient in incident,
is not without its moral power. M l5ils
experienced one source of morti6ca-
ton, which ! have not mentioned; it may
even seem too Insignificant to be noted, and
yetiI was terribly grating to my aristocratic
feelings Some of our good parishioners
were in the habit of lavishlng attentions,
so repugnant to me, that did not hesitate
to refuse them; which afterwards learned, :,
gave great modification and displeasure.
) would willingly accept a basket of frag-
rant strawberries, or any of the elegant
bounties of nature; but when they offered
such plebeian gifts as shoulder of pork
or mutton, a sack of grain or potatoes, |
invariably returned my cold thanks and
declined the honor. Is it strange, that |
should become to them an object OF aver
sion, and that they should draw compari-
sons, humbling to me, between their idol
ICED minister and his naughty bride?
| My uncle and cousins made me visit,
not long after my rupture with aunt Debby,
which only served to render me more un-
happy. My uncle complained so much
Of my altered appearance, my faded bloom
and languid spirits, saw that it gave ex-
! quisite pain to Mr. l., while my
cousins, now in their, day of power, anu
sed themselves continually with the old
fashioned walls of the house, the obsolete
style of the furniture, and my hum drum
mode Of existence. Had possessed one
spark of heavenly fire, should have re-
sented all this as an insult to him whom |
had solemnly vowed to love and honor
These old fashioned walls should have
been sacred in my eyes. They were twice
hallowed-hallowed by the recollections
of departed excellence and the presence
of living holiness. Every leaf Of the mag
nifcent elms that overshadowed them,
should have been held sacred, for the
breath of morning and evening prayer had
been daily waited over them, up to the
mercy seat of heaven. ~
I returned with my uncle to the metrop-
oils. 1t is true, he protested that he would |
not, could not, leave me behind-and that |
change of scene was absolutely necessary
to the restoration of my bloom, and Mr..
II - gave his consent with apparent
cheerfulness and composure. But l knew
til felt that his heart bled at my willing
ness, my wish to be absent from him, so
soon after our marriage. He told me to
consult my own happiness, in the length of
my visit, and that he would endeavor to
find a JOY in solitude, in thinking Of mine.
"Oh!" said one ofmy cousins, with a loud
laugh, "you can never feel solitary, when
aunt Debby is-"l M
Behold me once more mid the scenes
congenial to my soul-a gay flower, sport
ing over the waves of fashion, thoughtlessl
of the caverns of death beneath. Again
the voice of fiattery fell melting on my ear:
and while listening to the syren, forgot
those mild admonishing accents, which
were always breathing Of heaven, or if II,
remember them at all, they came to my
memory like the grave rebuke of Milton's
Cherub-severe in their beauty. Yes, !
didremember them when | was alone; and |
there are hours when the gayest will feel !!
desolately alone. thought Of him in his |
neglected home; him from whom | was |
n n lf 49, LL r. - l. II