Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-12-23

showed that the perform r knew wen how 1,
i give 10 music soul The tones that cams
forth we're not the simple ribrasions of 4 nj
steal chord, but expressions Of Affection eiiser
by her whose fingers woke the strings into
l harmony But if the preluding touches fsll
HltchinglY upon every ear, now exduisitely
sweet and thrilling was The voice that stole
out low and tremalous ats6rst. aud deepeh,
ed in volume and expression everv ,aas.,rY,l
until the whole rosm seemed filed w;tb mai
odg Every whisper was hashed, and eve
~ one bent forward almost brsathIessiy Il
listen. And when, at length, both roiee and
instrument we're hushed into silence, no en-
thusiastic expressions Of admiration we're
heard but only halfwhispered calculations
Of exquisite T sweet I beautiful = Then
came earnestly expressed wishes for another
aud auDther s3nsss sustil stlIu.2 listers: feeling
at length that many must be Kearfed with
their long continued occupation Of the nj.
ano, felt themselves compelled to decline
further Invitations to sing Ne one else ven.
tured to touch a key of the instrument du-
ring the evening.
Do pray, Mrs Lemmington, tell me Who
those girls are-Eam dying to know said
4 Mrs. Marygold, crossing the room to where
the person she addressed was seated with
Mrs. Florence and several -,other ladies' Of
distinction, and taking chair BY her side.
They arc only common people replied
Mrs. bennington, with affected indifference
Common people, my dear madam What
do you mean BY such an exprcssion2, said
Mrs. Florence in surprise, aud with some
thing Of indignation latent ID her tone
I'm sure their father, Mr. Clayton, is
nothing but teacher
Mr.. Clayton Surely those are no i
Claytons daughters 7 calculated Mrs. Ma.
rygold, in surprise
They certainly are, maain, replied Mrs
Florence in q quiet but firm voice, for she
Instantly perceived, from something 10 Mrs.
Marggold's Voice and manner, the reason
Why her friend hid alluded 70 them as com,
mon people.
Well, really,l am surprised that Mrs.
Harwool should have invited them 10 her
house, and introduced them into genteel
company II
Why so, Mrs Marygoldr
Because, as Mrs. bennington has just
said, theyare common people Their father
is nothing but schoollaaster.'
Il / have observed item rightly Mrs.
Florence said to this, 4 have discovered
them to be rather uncommon kind Of PEG
pie Almost any one can thrum ON the pi.
ano; but you will not find one in hundred
who can perform with such exquisite grace
and feeling as they can. For half an hour
this evening | sat charmed with their con.
yersation, and really instructed aid elevated
BY the sentiments they uttered | cannot
say as much for any other young ladies in
tTrTs-nUnc wIIo may NOT reTrry be cTassed
with common people ia the true acccptation
Of Tic term.
And take them Ell in all, added Mrs
Huntington with warmth, 'you will find
nothing common about them Look at their
dress see how perfect in neatness, in adap-
tatien Of colors and arrangement to complex
ion and shape, is everything about them.
Perhaps there will not be found single
young lady in the room, besides them, whose
dress does not show something not in keep
ing with good taste Take their manners,
Are they not graceful, gentle, and yet full Of
natures Gwn expression. In word, is
there any thing about them that is com
moa2'a
Nothing that my eye has detected re.
piled Mrs Florence.
Except their origin halfsnceringly re-
joined. Mrs Marygold
They were born Of woman was the grave
remark Can any Of US boast d higher ori-
ginp
There are various ranks among women,
Mrs Marygold said, firmly.
True. But
The rank is but the guinca's stamp,
Tie mans The gpld Tor a that
Mere position in society does not make any
Of us more or less true woman. i could
name YOU over dozen or moro in my circle
Of acquaintance, who move in what is called
the highest rank who, in all that truly con
stitutes q woman, are ineomparabiy below
Mrs Clayton; who, ifthrown with her among
perfect strangers, would beinstantly eclipsed,
Come then, Mrs Marygold, lay aside all
these false standards, aud estimate woman
more justly Let me, to begin, introduce
both yourself and Melinda to the young la
dies this evening You win be charmed with
them, know, AMI equally charmed with
their mother when you know her
No, ma am, replied Mrs Marygold. draw
ing herself up with diglfed air. 4 have
/ no wish to cultivate their acquaintance, OF
/ the acquaintance Of any persons in their sta
ton / am surprised that Mrs HARDWOOD
has not had. Afore consideration for ltcl
friends than tpeempel them to come in con
tact with such people
/ No replyswaSs made to this and thenex
remark OF Florence was about SOME
matter Of eAs1alinterest.
III Henry Florence has not been here for /;
week. said Mrs Marygold to her daughtei
Melinda. some two months after the periot
at which the conversation just noted had oc
cured. 1
No; and he used to csals almost every
! evening. II s-ssas IN Il III Y 4
w0sdcr what can be tho reason = Alrs
MarygoIH said, half aloud, half to herself
i but with evident feelings Of concern 81 3.
4 reason Of her concern and Melinda's disap
pointment arose from tho fact that both ha.
felt pretty sure Of securing Henry Florenc.
as 4 member Of the Marygold falnilY--susl
connection. from his standing ia society, be
ing especially desirable
At tho very time the young man was thu
alluded to BIZ BIrs MarygoId and her daugh
Ter. he sat conyersing with his mother upol
4 subject that seemed, from the expression
Of his countenance. to Be of much iateres
to him. W
aud sezyou do not feel inclined to fsvo
any preference oa my part towards Mis-
Maryeold Il lie said, looking steadily int
II = - - f.sa