The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-01-08
THE NOVEL READER.

Caroline P. was an only child. and be
came member of our school when be-
| rween fifteen nnd sixteen years of age
Her parents, although sensible and religi-
aus people, often yielded their better judy
nent to the feelings and wishes of their
darlng child; indeed they could deny her
nmhing; and as she was really m amiahe
nd lovely girl, they fa,,ered themselves
hat indulgence had only benef'e her
s'My DEAR her mother would say, II
Wish YOU wmild not read SO many novels
I'm afraid THEY'RE not good for you, and |
really think it would be better for your
health, If YOU would take more exercise.
md learn to do bousework; there you sit
b 'nr after hour, poriDg over your books.
and locking so pale and thin; yonr grand
mother would cay, you had better be
sweeping and dnsting." Caroline's lip
curl, d little, for the heroines of her novels
were never known to sweep or dust. Cd
mother, jnst let me finish this, it is so IN
ieresting can't leave il now--and as for
he sweeping and dnsting, what do We
keep help for, il not to do such ,hings?'
But, Carrie, people say tha, novels are
very injurious" "Do you think am SO
very much iniured?" she said. coaxngi,
putting her arm about her mothers neck.
I'm not very bad, am :" The mother
could not resist her ahectionate manner
and winning ways, so the daughter con,in-
ued TO read her novels, nnd the sweeping
md dnsting were done b, Biddy. tf
d =. H.
tered on our bosrding-sc list, what
would she do? The only novels allowed
with us. were Plasin Enclid, Days Al.
gehra, Adams Latin Grammar, and those
Of similar nature. For some weeks mat
ters went on swimmingly; Caroline's les
cited, while her sweet face and gentle
manner, made her friends for her almost
immediately. But this could not last for
ever; she, who had for so long time made
her home in realm Of romance and fiction
could not live great while 10 world of
reality. The lack of her usual stimulus
had been supplied for time by the novel
| " other situation, and the new scenes and
characters about her; but these were got
ting to be an old story, and how should the
cravings Of her heated imagination and
diseased fancy be satisied!
"Where there's will there's way is
N old proverb, and in this case, the truth
/ Of i, WAS soon verified Caroline made
some acquaintances in the village, and
among the day scholars found one, with
tastes similar to her own. The two soon
became intimate, and this bosom friend
contrived to evade the regulations Of the
school, and vigilance Of the teachers, and
smuggled enough novels into Cnroline's
chamber, TO keep her busy the whole term.
But when could she read them? There
were recreation hours, but those were noi
half long enough; the evenings must be
given to study, and the lights were reqlr-
ed to be extinguished AT ten o'clock precise
"; and as for the mornings. they brought
their owl work, and could not be depended
upon At all for reading.
The hours far amusement and exercise
we're first taken, aud the languid step and
FILLING appetite soon showed at what Cost :;
bot in u li,,le ,ime the lessons ton hegao
| 1, langush; and then il was snid tia
Caroline P.'s health was SO poor she could
no, study, aud Tint she had already eXerted
herself too much. The Young ladies en-
treated her 10 j"in in their walks and ram
hles, bu, she said the fatigue would be too
much for her. and refusing all companion
ship, has,ened to lnsien herself into hel
room again, and sit down to her beloved
novels once more, One sin leads qulckl'
to another, and 50 il was now.
Caroline had naturally n frank and open
disposition, loving the ruth, and scornlne
iasehopd, hut her nveierate and blind de
votinn to the idol which she hid set NJ, ied
her often TO prevarication, I" false exped'
.nts, and 10 disnhedience to her teachers
Ipainest commands.
II was not long ere her lamp would De
religh,ed, after all else were asleep, and