The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-12-11

inc room, and, with Mrs. Richmond's COM
pliments, say we are impatient for his ar
rival.
Mrs. Richmond had seen Mr. Newhall
only once, and that was just before her
marriage. Her girlhood--and she was
scarcely beyond is sweetest freshness
had been as gay and lightsome as spring
bird, and about as joyous and as musical.
Mr.. Newhall had formed his opinion of the
betrothed wife of his dearest friend, from
seeing her one evening at party, where
she passed the widest and most reckless
hour of her whole life. The overflow of
her elastic spirit, aided by the impulse of
the occasion, had betrayed her into kind
of noisy, almost delirious, levity of conduct,
which was followed by long hours of bitter
regret and modification. Seeing her only
in such circumstances, Mr.. Newhall, with
his grave and perhaps severe standard be-
fore him, not very unnaturally concluded
her a very light-minded, undisciplined,
frolicsome girl, entirely destitute of that
calm and cultivated habit of mind which
he regarded as the very basis Of the peace
and loveliness of the domestic sanctuary.
And when he proposed visiting his friend
Richmond at his beautiful country resid-
ence, fancy painted the wife of his friend,
as merry, jesting, fun-loving girl, fascin-
ating in person and manners, and rich in
graceful accomplishments, but entirely
wanting in that sterling solidity of charac-
ter, and polish of soul, which constituted,
in his estimate, the legitimate charm of
womanhood. He expected to find dis
ordered house, overrun with gay and
thoughtless company, detected, discon-
tented, disappointed husband-in fine, the
detail of all that was undesirable in the
family arrangements of his old friend and
college companion He really sighed and
pitied him. Never were sighs and sympa-
thies so entirely wasted Never smiled
the angels on happier household !
Mrs. Richmond and Mr.. Newhall, meet
ing as they did with mutual prejudices,
were mutually disappointed, and most
agreeably so, in each other Instead of a
silent, censorious, fidgetty, old bachelor
Mrs. Richmond found in her visitor one of
the most polished, noble hearted, accom-
plished and companionable gentleman she
had ever met A single evening spent
with him obliterated every trace of the
prejudice she had entertained before bis
arrival and substituted the most profound
respect and admiration in the place of it.
Mr. Newhall had been for years of his
early life traveller, and always a deep
observer, and his conversation was brilliant
with intelligence, sparkling with the high
est order of talent, and racy with wit and
anecdote. Herself possessing a highly
cultivated mind, and keen and ready
perception, Mrs. Richmond cou d not do
otherwise than appreciate the society and
regard of such man, and with all her in
dependence of character, she became
thoroughly ambitious to eradicate the first
impression she had made on him, and to
win his esteem and friendship. She hardly
needed to make the cffort-for he had not
been day in her house, before the grace
and dignity with which she presided over
her family, the taste, rein ,ment and
quiet elegance in all her arrangements, and
the ease and vigor of intellect with which
she participated in conversation, convinced
him that he had been nursing hastily
formed opinion, unworthy of himself, and
unjust to her. There was depth and
value to her mind which he confessed to
himself he had stupidity overlooked, though
it was written on every feature of her face,
and if she had been unwisely giddy, the
effervescence of her gaiety had sottened
into the most cheerful, suniy spirited and
invigorating vivacity-spreading a per-
petual summer smile over her ,usehold !;
and he joyfully congratulated his friend,
that he had been the fortunate winner of
such royal prize.
When Mr.. Newhall had been her guest
about week, Mrs. Richmond sent invita-
tions to her acquaintances in the village
for party; and she was astonished to
find how very useful her incorrigiblc