Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-04
ntisrclIa
THE BELLE OF THE BALL
ROOM.

1ul TilI EtSlut ilU-- Ou1f tiiiS OUCc, SISTER
mine; nay, will even kneel to you;' and
he bent, half playfully, half seriously, be-
fore her. Your dress will be my gift, and
will not, therefore, diminish your charity
fund: aud beside, if the influences of which
you have spoken do indeed haunt so allur-
ingly about a ballroom, should you not
seek to guard me from their power! You
will 90, will you notl For me-for mel
The Saviour, 200, whispered to the maid
en-: Decide for me, thou redeemed one
for me- But her spirit did not recognize
the tones, for of late it had been bewIder-
ed with earthly music.
She paused, however, and her brother
pressed kiss upon her thoughtful brow,
and waited her reply in silence.
Beware! swec: Helen Allston, beware
The sin is not lessened that the tempter is
so near to thee. Like the sparkle of the
red wine 10 the iuebriaie are the seductive
influences of the ballroom. Thy foot will
fail upon roses, bat they will be the roses of
this world, not those that bloom for eterni-
~. Thou wilt lose the fervour and purity
of thy love, the pronptness of thy obed-
ence, the consultations of thy trust. The
holy claim Of thy closet will become irk-
some to thee, aud thy power of resistance
will be diminished MANIFOLD, for this is the
first great temptation. But Helen viii not
beware While the warm kiss is on her
cheek, she lorgets her Saviour. The melo-
dy of that rich voice is dearer to her than
the pleading of gospel memories.
Two years previous to the scene descrlb-
ed, Helen Aston hoped she had passed
from death unto lie. For some time she
was exact in the discharge of social duties,
regular IN her closet exercises, ardent, yet
eqla5le in her love. Conscious of her
weakness, she diligently used all those aids
SO fitted to sustain and cheer. Day By day
she refunded her torch at the holy fire
which comes streaming onward to Us from
tie lumiaares Of the past-from Baxter,
Taylor, aud Flavel, and many compeer
whose name will live in the hearts, and lin
ger on the lips, Of the generations winch
are vet to come. She was alive 10 the pres
eut also. Upon her table, beautiful COM
mcntary upon the yet uuiultiled prophesies,
Law the records of missionary labour and
success. The esiug circle busted her nc
tive fingers, and the SabbatE-school kept
her affections warm, and rendered her
knowledge practical and thorough. Bat at
length the things of the world began InSen-
slbly to win upon her regard. She was the
child of wealth, and tlshlon spoke Of her
taste and elegance. She was very lovely,
and the voice Of llattery mingled with the
accents OF honest praise. She was agrecd-
bic in manner, sprghtly in conversation,
and she was couried and caressed. Sne
heard with more complacency reports from
IL, ~fas ta 81 ,,tar 90 trppnpnfed .H
noted nh more interest the eyer-shIiting
pageantry OF folly. Then she lessened her
charities, furnished her wardrobe more Law
ishly, and became less scrupulous IA the
disposal of her time. She formed acqualn-
tances among the light and frivolous, and
TO fit herself for intercourse with them,
sought the hooks they read, until others be-
came insipid.
Edward Alston was proud of his sister,
and loved her, too, almost to idolatry.
They had scarcely been separated from
childhood, and 1t was severe blow to him
when she stunned the amusements they had
so long shared together. lie admired, III
deed. the excellence of her second life, The
beauty of her aspirations, the holiness OF
her aims, but he felt deeply the want OF that
unity in hope and purpose which had exist
ed between them. He felt, at times, ndig-
nant, as if something had been taken from
himself Therefore he strove, by many
device, to lure her IN the path he was tread
ing He was sery selfish III tins, but I'M
onscious of it. He would have climbed
preclpices, traversed continents, braved the
ocean in It's wrath, to have rescued her from
physicl danger but, like many others
ko q, a e
the fearful lmportane of the result; did not
know that the Infinite alone could compute
the hazard Of the tempted one. Thus lar
had he succeeded, that she had consented
10 attend with him brilliant bail.
1t will be superb affair." lie said, half
aloud, as he walked down the street. The
music will be divine, too. And she used
10 be 50 fond OF dancing! Twas lovely
girl spoiled when the black-coated gentry
preached her into their notions. And yet
and yet-pshaw all cant all cant
What harm eau there be IN II And If
she does Withstand oil this, | will yield the
point that there Is somethlng-yeS, great
deal, IN her religion.
So musing, he proceeded to the shop of
Mrs. Croilon, the most fashionable dress
maker III the place, aud forget his moInen-
tary scrupies, IN d consultation as 10 the
proper materials for heiem's dress, which
was TO be d present from himself, and winch
he determined should be worthy her grace
and beauty.
The ball was over, and Helen stood in
her iestal costume before the ample mirror
in her chamber, holding in one hand white
kid glove she had just withdrawn. She had
indeed been the belle of the ball-room.-
Simplicity of life, and Joyous spirit, are
wonder-workers, and she was irreslstably
bright and fresh among the faded and hack
n,yed frequenters of heated assembly rooms.
The most delicate and intoxicating fiat;ery |
had been offered her, and Wherever she
turned, she met The glances of admiration.
Her brother, too had been proudly assIdu-
Gus, had followed her with his eyes 50 per-
petually as to seem scarcely conscious OF
the presence of another and there she