Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-10-06
CHAPTER SECOND

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you thus utterly destitute of these charac- q
~teristics of the. sex before" q
"Ihave no objection to the admiration he {
to his eloquence oryouth, Ellen; this /!
1 frankly admit. But do you not know that ! !
thosewho have had opportunities Of investl- !
eating his private character pronounce him
callous to every feeling save that Ofambition! l
Sceptical in his views of human virtue and
irreverent in all his.ideas of supreme good
ness and power ? In contemplating traits
like these, l cannot help wishing he pos
sessed less talent for the promUlgation OF
such doctrines, and more of that lofty sense
Of rectitude he effects to despise."
"But think, Mary, of the position ne
occupies; the tributes paid by his country
to his genius the influence he exerts, the
homage he every where receives; and say
fit must not be Intoxicating to his soul;
Il delicious draught to his lips :?
eff he acknowledges the influence Of no
-1i-L-PvPu1u1 UPpTduse, IT.
certainly must be very dear to him. But
methinks that very position of which you
speak, should ever be an argument thun-
der-toned and powerful to hisspirit, awaken
ing all its energies for a careful study and
corresponding discrimination of wholesome
truths. The possession of a mind so high
ly endowed with the fearful power of lea
wing it's impress upon other minds immor-
tai in their destinies, should render him
thrillingly alive to the purity of the senti-
ments he entertains and the opinions he
advances"
"All great men have failings, and he
may not be exempt but were | a man, l
should labor for an elevation such as he
has attained and as a woman, my highest
dream OF ambition would be a union with
one 50 highly distinguished"
"Perhaps that viii be your lot, Ellen
who can say to the contrary? But | would
urge upon any one not to forget, in admi
ration Of his talents and position, the alb.
aouco of othor virtues so much more essen,
tial to the bliss of domestic life, and 81
much more necessary to retain the esteem
and affection Of woman's heart"
"No danger of yours being entangled
Mary you are always 50 very deliberat
and calm. | do believe you are destine,
for an old maid"
81 hope not, Ellen; for though | hav
not that holy horrorof the sisterhood whic.
many young girls entertain, | still frml
believe marriage, based upon true and PROF
or principles, affords the most rational stat
Of happiness within our reach"
"But do you think you will ever NEE
with that perfection you demand?e
"You mistake me, Ellen. [ neither d,
mand or expect perfection here. But
you had asked me instead, if expect
meet men moved but by a steady desire
act riqhtlv- undar oil oiros.uas
to carry out all those beautiful and SUI
lime requirements of scripture which we
intended first to pervade the heart az
therebys entering into all the motives al
purifying all the acts Of every day life,
should have answered without a moment
hesitation-I do. But whilst these no
aspirations are linked with human wea.
ness and defects, | dare not expect a pc
feet being"
81 am not so ambitious, Mary; or rat
or, it flows in such a widely different cha
mel, that | think | stand a chance of beil
quietly settled in life long before you lea
al those things you design knowing of
swain who aspires to your fair hand.
pity the poor fellow, from my soul. Al
i fear it will be a long time before one G
pass the ordeal of your scrutiny trumphal
ly."
"Perhaps so. Butynu had bette. sPs
your jests and attend to your toilet, sin
this evenings soiree given in honor of n
L%awrence's arrival is to be styled the pr
of the season."
"And | am to open the battery of /
charms against his hitherto invulneraI
heart, you might have added" she repli
gaily.
We will pass over the introductions viii
followed the fair girls descent into t
brilliant festive hall nor will we Inns
amid the fascinating meshcs of the fir
ton that evening commenced between t
talented Mr.. Lawrence and the wealthy a
accomplished Miss Ellen Howard, at /
fashionable watering place where the abe
conversation occurred. No prolonged
tail of the evening rides and moonlie
rambles of the poetry and sentiment
tending the progression of their acqua
lance, or the gossip and interest of t
many spectators who watched the dist
guished couple with so much anxiety, wol
ldtbuCl OuG tObd JlC IuUCuueu mOTdl OF
present sketch.
And here | would pause a moment, d
reader, to point out my object still mi
clearly. l would not dare to write out
love story, with no higher aim in view I'll
20 tickle the hayward fancy or please
youthful imagination. But from my hes
rs well as with my pen, | have inscriI
this to that portion of readers whoare you
blooming girls, destined, ~notwithstandi
all their pretty bushes to the contrary,
wives and mothers ; and with very ma
such there is no era in life looked to W
80 little proper thought as that other m
riage. Far be it from my intention
place an undue value upon intellect, II
vsn's noblest gift, when united with t
humility and exalted view of its respor
bilities which we believe it is its true .
vince to engender. Nor do 1 design r.
ing an objection for one moment to bea1
or wealth, when a~ssimilated, with the pr
or attributes of character. And. oh s