Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-03-12
from Peterson's Magazine for March ]
81 Know It."
BY E. W. DEVICES.

At seventeen years of age / was more Of man
than | have ever been since. | wore long tailed
coat and boots, TO which an appurtenance ofspurs
was generally added) moustache was quite Wis
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 l
write was spending my summer vacation at my
fathers house in the country.
Though manly, (almost soder-like as I fan
cied, IN my appearance, my inner was by no
means as stern as my outer man. l loved my mo-
Their with childish tenderness and sooner than pain
her plouS heart, l. unmurmuringly accompanied
her every Sunday to the village church to listen to
long sermons OF which l could not hear a word,
for the tremendous accents of the very aged min
lister who conducted the services were so faint as
to be inaudible where we sat. Though melted by
love and duty to subject myself to this weekly pc
nance, (well deserved by my weekly sins, my
conscience yet did not prevent me from Willing a
way the time by such amusements as lay at hand
that, namely of observation and speculation on
the countenances of my neighbors, an occupation
of which l was fond
The physiogomy which interested me more than
all others was that of young girl who sat not far
from us, and who was accompanied by an aged la
dy, probably her grandmother-the object of her
ever-watchful care. This girls face, from first e.
Letting my careless admiration gradually absorbed
my whole attention. 1t was very beautiful, but a.
part of that it possessed the greatest possible inter
est for me. Never had | seen countenance
which denoted SO much senSibility; each motion o.
her mind was plainly written upon it, by its quick
delicate changes; nothing was wanted but the key
of corresponding degree of sensibility in the be
holder, to read her tender, innocent soul like ar
open book. For hours gazed, and specialized or
that fair young FACET thought how sad would be
the lot of SO sensitive being, should fate unite
her to one who would not know how to read arigh
what was so delicately written-to whom the va
rying expression of that sweet countenance woulG
be but blank-who should be able to see in it on
ly its coarser part-beauty of feature. There
was no end to the reveries into which those swift
coming bushes led me.
Sometimes, by chance, the fair object of my bu
sy tancles would catch my eye, or without looking
at me, seem to know or feel that I was gazing a
her, and l wickedly delighted in noting the blusl
which deepened on her cheek till withdrew m,
eyes.
i OnSunday, happened, in coming out of church
to be close to my lovely neighbor-mmediatel be
hind-my hand actually touched her unconsciou
garments. felt an irresistible desire to force he
in some way to notice me-to speak to her-to &C
cason one of those charming blushes-any thing
l knew not what. In short, like an impertnen
| coxcombe as I was, | stopped forward, and will
an insufferable insolence, which I blush now t.
remember, l whispered in her ear.
You are very prettyP p
Never was l more surprised, than when sh
calmly replied.
4 81 know it p
J was absolutely startled. I had expected 81
lent conscious blush-an indignant glance-any
thing rather than this cool, 81 know it,
was puzzled, but had plenty of time to turf
the matter in my.mind, for few days returned tt
college. can truely say it was the one problem
which throughout the term gave me most trouble
to solve and cost me the most thought.
/ Another year elapsed ere returned home, an,