Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-10-04

:
bella Belgraye was the beauty OF
the district. Her step was such as a
dryad's might be supposed to be; her
eyes were as dazzling as the sun at noon
day /; her lips were fragrant as strawber-
ries, and twice as sweet; and her voice
sir, if you could have heard it. you
would have fancied that nightengale
had nestled in her throat, or that st. Ce-
ella herself was come down from heay.
en-. AT twenty, a man falls in love as
naturally as he takes to smoking !; and
he does both, suppose, TO prove him
self full-grown. Well, soon lost my
heart to Bella. Nor was my suit hope
less. am handsome yet as you see
don't laugh at me you young scapegrace
--and, Of course, was handsome at
twenty. / wrote poetry, too, which won
girls hearts then jus: as a moustache
does now; and had a pre- ,tys little for
tune SO was soon the accepted lover
of Bella. ssgef All
bella possessed but one fault--she
had deuce Of temper. Now, little
sharpness in a wife may occasionally be
very excellent, ,just.to spice the mono
tony of matrimony, as mustard spices
. beef but too much of it is as bad rs
spilling the contents Of whole peper-
box in your plate, when you had just Ia
a ken the last bit of what was nice on the
: table. Not that Bella was. what is cali
e ed quick-tempered-L often wish she
: had been-for it is better TO blow of sn-
e peIabundant steam now and then, than
IS to keep it screwed stubbofnly down, tilk
v some day, q grand explosion takes place,
q that sends everythingto kingdom come.
+ Unfortunately, Bella took offense easily,
/ land then nursed her wrath TO keepit
n warm She had been so much pelted
that nothing short Of abiect slavery on
the part Of a lover would suit heri and
faith, grew tired at last, as you shah
hear. t,..s..-- ~,
"One day had been singing 10 her
/ ballad she had asked me to write to
= some Of her music, when one Of her
! friends came ma dashing little cfea-
: ture she was-since great grandmoth-
Z er, my lad, with three hundred and fifty
!, ineal descendants, egad-and 1, as in
= duty bound, did my best to be agreeable.
" Scarcely, however, had the visiter gone,
: : when Bella, with face like a thunder
|. ! cloud, began, Mighty sociable yoG and
q Alice Green areP she said, Il suppose
= you're half in love with her stiIl9 al
e ways heard you were her devoted adni-
= rer.' pcs sho
q ?, az Now Bella said, don't be ieai.
. GUS fl7- ri
"Jeaiousp she exclaimed, stamping
= her little foot, while her eyes flashed
y fire; it is time TO be jealous. sir, when
= "a every pretty face you meet tempts You
Il a TO neglect me. But Pm not jealous-=
= I'm only ashamed of yOs. sir ZERO
= My dear, lovely creature i began
~ again, trying 10 take her hand. But She
% jerked it petIishly away. a
VI Don't dear me- she broke forth you
'o know you don't love me; you never
=, come here more than once a day, while
no Harry Saville, whom dismissed for yoS
le' more fool fused to be here firee
ne times day, and always dined with u.
us on Sundays --,s 9
ir- Il began to grow rediin the face,
en assure you, at being thus talked To bu
'as a / mastered my rage--you know I'm
ne meek man, it's because of that wa
ms chosen president of the Peace Society
us and said meekly, Bella, dear don't b
ior foolish! / love you better than aIlth
rest Of your sex put togetheri but 70
mustn't expect me toneglect, nay, insu
by my rudeness, every other woman
sx- meet. Once for alllet this be understoo
between u.s. st3 es>Msa
"Woman's rights were not yetthougE
m of my boy, and wives were expected I
= obey their husbands, as nature and scriy
tuIe command. deemed it high tim
5. for asserting nay prerogatiyes, and spoil
bn accordingly. 'YesP ! repeated, : yo
ris- are unjust; you ask too much my de-
and Bella s,1 b ei - ,
nIv She made no answer, but sat sullel
feel sulky. again attempted to take b.
hand, and, thinking had spoken tC
harshly. used a tone of mild persuasion
ira But she only replied yjerking her bar
an away, and removing her chair from m
fell expostulated with her; told her ho
be. idle was her jealousy; but, the mo
e of earnestly l defended myself, the faith
tle- she hitched her chair round, until 81
brought its back directly against that
nv mine. . ast So nrr
b It. 81 now gave up explanations and $
silent. Her pettishness began to op,
che my eyes. She had always been unre
d. sonably exacting; her vanity for ex
rosy ran head of possible attentions al
we'd the jealousy, thus unjnsthy entertaine
and yet continually smothered by her sull
and temper, was now finally come to cfis
; as As stole an occasional glance at her
first yer my shoulder, ! saw no longer a
aste beauty in that sulEy face. MYlove "