Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-03-06

poor Albina and her mother took turns i'm
watching at the window.
A! last Boyle was seen TO come up the
steps with handful of notes; and Albina,
regardless of all rule, ran 10 the front door
herself. They were cards for a party, but
not Mrs. Potts, and were intended for two
other ladies that lodged in the house.
Every time that Albina went out and came
home, she inquired anxiousIy Of all the SER
wants if no note had been left for her. Still
there was none. And her mother still in
sisted that he note must have come but had
been been mslaid afterwards, or that Boyle
had lost it in the street.
i Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day passed over, and still no invitation.-
Mrs. Marsden talked much of the careless
ness of servants, and had no doubt Of the ha-
bitual negligence of Messrs. Boyle, Shepard,
and other fashionable parlymen.' AIbina
was almost sick with hope deferred At
last when she came home OH Monday morn-
ing from Second-street, her mother met her
at the door with delighted face, and show
ed her the long desired note, which had just
been brought by Mrs. Potts own man. The
party was TO take place in two days; and so
great was now Albina's happiness, that she
scarcely felt the fatigue of searching The
shops for articles Of attire that were very ell
egant and yet not too expensive; and shop
ping with limited purse is certainly no
trif1ing exercise both of mind and body; so
also is the task of going round among fasl,-
ionabe mantua- makers in the hope of coax
ing one OF them 10 undertake a dress at
short notice.
Next morning, Mrs. Potts sent for AIbna
Immediately after breakfast, and told her
that as she knew her to be very clever at all
sorts of things, she wanted her to stay that
day and assist in the preparations for the
next. Mrs. Potts, like many other people,
who live in snowy houses and dress exlrav-
agan,ly, was very economical in servants
She gave such low wages that none would
come to her who could get places any where
else, and she kept them OH such limited al
lowance that none would stay with her who
were worth having.
Fools, are seldom consistent in their ex-
penditure. They generally Ito use homeIy
expresson) strain at gnats and swallow
cames.
About noon Albina having occasion TO con-
suit Mrs. Pots concerning something that
was 10 be done, found her in the front par
lor with Mrs. and Miss Montague. After
Albina had left the room Mrs. Montague said
TO Mrs. Potts-Is not that the girl that lives
with her mother at the place on the river |
forget what you call il 81 mean the niece
of the aunt
THAT is AIbina Marsden, replied Mrs.
Potts.
Yes pursued Mrs. Montague, tie peo.
pie that made SO great an exerlion to give
you sort of party, and honored Mr.. and
Miss Montague aud myself with invitations
'SEe's not to be here o.morrow night, |
hope : exclaimed Miss Montague.
Really replied Mrs. Potts, i could do no
less than ask her. The poor thing did her
very best to be civil 10 us all last summer.
'Oh " said Mrs. Montague, in the coun-
Try one is willing sometimes to take up with
such company as we should be very sorry to
acknowledge in town. You assured me
that your party tomorrow night would be
extremely recherchee. And as il is so early
in the season, you know that it is necessary
to be more particular now than at the close
of the campaign, when every one is tired of
parties and unwilling to get new evening
dresses lest they should be out Of fashion be-
fore they are wanted again. Excuse ME,
speak only from what have heard of Amer.
ican customs
am always particular about my parties,
said Mrs. Potts.
A word in your ear, continued Mrs. Mon
tague. Is it not impolitic, or rather are you
not afraid to bring forward so beautiful a girl
as this Miss Marsden on the very night of your
own daughters debnt,'
Mrs. Potts looked alarmed for moment, and
then recovering herself said, 6 have no fear Of
Miss Harriet Angelina Potts being thrown in
the shade by little country girl like this AL
bna Marsden is pretty enough, to be sure-ai
least, rather pretty-but then there is certain
style-a certain air which she of course-in
short, certain style
'As to what you call certain STYLE said
Mrs. Montague, Il don't exactly know what
you mean. If it signifies the air and manner Of
lady, this Miss Marsden has as much of it as
; any other American girl. To me they are all
nearly alike. Icannot distinguish those minute
shades of difference that you will make such a
point of. In my unpractised eyes the daugh-
tiers of your mechanics and shopkeepers look as
we'll and behave as we'll as the daughters OF
your lawyers and doctors, for find your nobil-
ity is chiefly made up of these two professions,
with the addition Of a few merchants; and you
call every one merchant that does not sell
his commodities by the single yard or the sim
gle quart
Mamma whispered Miss Montague, 6 il
that girl is to be here, l Idon't wish to come.
can't endure her.
Take my advice, continued Mrs. Montague
to Mrs. Potts, and put off this Miss Marsden.
If she was not SO strikingly handsome, she
might pass unnoticed in the crowd. But her
beauty will attract general observation, and
you will be obliged to tell exactly who she is,