Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-11-18

month or two al BIithdale, her animal spirits
waxed high, and kepl her pretty onstnn,ly
10 state of bubble and ferment, irnpeIing
her to far more bodily activity Than she had
yet strength to endure. She was very fond Of
playing with other girls out of doors. There
is hardly another sight in the world so pretty
as that of a company of young girls, almost
woman grown. at play, and so giving them
selves up to their airy impulse that their tip
toes hardly touches the ground.
Girls are incomparably wilder and more
effervescent than boys, more untamabIe, and
regardless of rule or limit, with an ever shift
ing variety, breaking continually into new
modes Of fun, yet with harmonious proprie-
~ through all. Their Steps, their voices,
appear free as the wind, but keeps conso-
nance with strain of music inaudible 10
us. Young men and boys, on the other hand.
play, according to recognized law, old, ira
dIionnry games, permitting no caprioIes Of
fancy. but with scope enough for the out
break of savage instincts. For, young or
old, in play or in earnest, man is prone to be
brute.
Especially is it delightful TO see vigorous
young girl run n race, will, her head thrown
back, her limbs moving more friskily than
they need, and an air between that of a bird
and n young colt. But PriscIla's peculiar
charm. in foot race, was the weakness and
irregularty with which she ran. Growing
up without exercise, except 10 her poor lit
tie fingers, she had never yet acquired per-
feet use of her legs. Setting buoyanlly forth,
therefore, as if no rival less swift than Alta
lanta could compete with her. she ran falter-
incly, and often tumbed on the grass. Such
an incident-lhough il seems too slight 10
brought the wafer into ones eyes, and lin
| gered in the memory after far greater joys
and sorrows were swept out OF il, rs antigua
ted trash. vPriscia's life, as bel,eld it, was
full OF trihes that affected me in just this
way.
When she had come to he quite at home
amorg us, used to fancy that Priscilla
played more pranks, and perpetrated more
mischief, than any other girl in Inc commu.
nifty. For example, Ponce heard Slas Fos-
Ter, in very gruff voice, threatening to rivet
three horse shoes round Priscilla's neck and
aud chain her TO post, because she, with
some other young people, had clambe up
on a load of hay, and caused 1t to slide off the
cart. How she made her peace | never
knew; but very soon afterwards saw old
Silas, with his brawny hands around Prlscil-
las waist, swinging her to and fro, and finally
derosting her on one of the oxen, to take her
first lessons in riding.
Her simple, careless, childish flow of spir-
lis often made me sad. She seemed TO me
like butterfly at play in Pickering bit ol
sunshine, and mstakng il for a broad and
eternal summer. We semetimas hold mirt
10 stricter accountability than sorrow; il
must show good cause, or the echo Of lis
laughter comes back dreariy. Priscilla
gayeiy moreover, was of a nature that show
ed me how delicate an instrument she was
aud what fragile harp-strngs were her nerves
touch, it would require but a stronger one to
burst them all asunder. Absurd as it might
be, Ired to reason with her, and persuade
her not TO be SO joyous, thinking that, if she
would draw less lavishly upon her fund Of
happiness, it would last the longer