Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-05-19
WI KNOW IT."

wore a long t,>iled coat and boots, (to
which the appurtei. ance of spurs was gen
orally addedj a mustache was quite visi-
BILE on my upper lip, and consciousness
Of ripe maturity never left my mind. l
was studying for the legal profession, but
at the time of which write, was spend
ing my summer vacation at my fathers
house in the country.
Though so manly, (almost soldier-like
as I fancied, in my appearance, my in
ner was by no means so stern as my outer
man. l loved my mother with childish
tenderness, and sooner than pain her pi-
Gus heart, unmurmuringly accompanied
her every Sunday TO the village church
to listen to long sermons of which could
not hear a word, for tho tremulous &C
cents Of the very aged minister, who con-
Quoted the services, were so faint as to be
inaudble where we sat. Though inCitsd
by love and duty to subject myself to this
weekly penance. (well deserved by my
weekly sins) my conscience yet did moi
prevent mo from Willing away the time
by such omusements as lay at hand-that
namely, of observing and spsculatiug on
the countcnances of my neighborS, an oc-
cupation of which was fond
The physiognomy which interested me
more than all others, was that of young
girl who sat not far from US, and was ac-
compNnied by an aged lady, probably her
grand mother-thc object of her ever
watchful care, This girls face, from first
eliciting my careless admiration, grad
ually absorbed my whole attention. 1t
was very beautiful, but apart from that, it
possessed the greatest possible interest for
me. Never had | seen countenance
which denoted so much SenSibility each
emotion of her mind plainly written upon
it. by its quick, delicate changes Moth
ing was wanting but the key of CORES
Ponding degree of senSibility in the be-
holder, to read her tender innocent soul
like an open book. For hours l gazed,
and spGculated on that fair young fase-I
thought how sad would be the lot of 50
sensitive a being, should fate unite her to
one who would not know how to read
Alright what was so delicately written, to
whom the varying expression OF that
awcct countcnancc would be but n blank
who should be able to see in it only its
coarscr part--bcauty of feature. There
was no end to the sweet reveries into
which those swift coming bushes led
me.
Sometimes, by chance, the fair object
otmy busy faucies would catch my eye, or,
without looking at me, seemed to know
or feel that | was gazing at her, and l
wickedly delighted in noting the blush
which dcepencd on her cheek till with
drew my eyes.
One Sunday. l happened in coming out
of church, to be close to my lovely neigh
bor--immsdiately behind her-my hand
actuall touched her unconscious garments.
felt an irresistible desire TO force her in
somo way to notice me-to speak to me
to occasion one Of those charming blush
es-anythinS-Iknew not what. In short,
like all impertinsnt coxcomb, as | was, l
stooDed forward, and with an insufferable
insoIence, which blush sow to rcmem-
Der, whispered in her ear
"You are very pretty !"
Never was i more sruprised, thai
when she calmly replied
al know it %
I was absolutely startled. 1 had eI-
pected silent, conscious blush--an indig-
n.nt rlance-anything rather than this
cool, "I know it,"
was puzzled, but had plenty of time
to turn the matter in my mind, for in
few days l returned to college. can
truly say it WAS the one problem, which
throughout the term, gave me most trou-
bic to solve, and cost me most thought.
Another year elapsed ere l returned
home, and again sat in the village church,
Ny personal appearance was, in the
meanwhile, somewhat altered l still
wore my mustuche, it is true, but my coat
tails, were not, or did not seem quite so
long, and had left off my spurs.
My mother and were early seated in
our pew, and impatiently waited the ar
rival of my lovely enigma. l tried to
prepare myself for disappointment al
have been thinking and dreaming about
an ideal" l said to myself" doubtless
when tho young lady herself appears all
my fine imaginings will vanish-there can
be no doubt my fancy has been playing
tricks with me, investing mere country
maiden with transcendGnt graces ant
charms" While was reasoning thu
with myself, the young lady appeared
leading her old relative with tender care
Worshipping an ideal" indeed my
most charming remembrance did not be
gin to do justice to the beautiful reality
A soul full of tenderness and sensibilitJ
seemed to have found fitting home in I
person and face of perfect loyeliness ant
grace.
She blushed when. looking round, sh,
Nhaneed 10 see mo, and again the plav O