Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-23
Written for the wheeling 1ntelllseneer.

ELISA.
There is nothing that affords me so much pleas
ure as an hour or two of the society of Elisa. 1t
cannot be because she sso beautiful; and yet hea-
ven knows, this may have its influence; for
..Beanty draws with single hair,''
but then have passed the period when the heart
waits not the sanction of the judgment, in such
matters, aud looks not beyond pretty face, aud
graceful figure for W hat may be masked by them,
whether of loveliness or deformity. But, if Iwere
blind, and could only hear ELISA talk, the effect
would be the same, and don't think, if were
deaf and could only see her, should be SO delight
ed: and the proof of it is, that, at this moment.
cannot tell the color of her eyes; whether hernose
is aquaiEe or Grecian; or, of her hair whether it
be black, or brown. Butwere you to ask me about
her voice, would tell you 1 could recognize it
among ten thousand; though to describe it or do
ju'tice to TIE language it utters would be too much
for me, unless should borrow from Milton and
quote from Comus. Perhaps you would like to
know what she talks about, and will be surprised
to hear she says nothing OF dress, or operas, or
balls, or scandal, and such like 'aGy topics; but
grows eloquent upon subjects which would be in
tellectual in mani and for which we have no
term, in a woman, tutthe general and insignificant
one of ethereal, which We very often use TO ex-
press what we cannot explain. But are thcre not
many lovely things we can n>ither explain nor de-
scribe? Fragrance, for instance; and harmony;
delightful emot ons; moral beauty, and the like
SO, if rank LISA and her accomplishments
among such indescribables, thinkI should doher
more Justice than if were to write about her for
an hour. anil fill two columns in her praise.
But why do write about her at all? Just be
cause would have many to resemble her; and
will tell them how tLey may do so. They should
love hone better than abroad; husband and chill
lren better than srangers;-iriends than tlaterers,
and be more soicitous of the love of dependents,
than the notice OF superiors. Not that they should
neglect any; for all have claims The objection
8 TO confoundirg them,-the difficulty, in giving
TO each their due. Now, EliSsa'S charity begins
at home Thought does not stop there; but this is,
evidently, the fountain whence flows all her be-
nevolence; and il you will trace up the streams
you will find their origin in pious, aud well order
ed practice in those sacred precincts, which de-
mond and receive her first cares, and where the
habit is formed of which she cannot divest her
self wien she goes, or looks beyond them. She
has made her own home happy, and beautiful,
and now, she will look on her meighbors, and they
put Sullllll6 uHu OLuSu up Wueu
they hear she is coming, for they know she would
rather see happy faces, and neatness, than formal
iy and parade. She measures not by wealth,
or we would hear of her being oftener in the man
sionS of the great than in the abodes of the low
ly; more Of the furniture of her house, and per-
son, than of the abundance of her heart, aud the
nature of Ler charities; and YET, she is perfectly
aware of her position, and so are Others; for we
nevr hear of her dep arturo from it, or of tres
pass on it. Have never observed how proper
dignity, like true delicacy, is seldom offended; and
that only the false of either complains Of encroach
ment7 1t is only iastidiousneSs and ahectalion
which are so often annoyed; because always dis
covered, and, like other pretention, rdiculed and
despised. ''The Lion,'' as Falstaff says, ''knows
the true PRINCE meaning thereby 10 eXalt him
self, but the converse of the proposition is appli-
cable 10 the consideration the vulgsreSt man pays
to the perfect Lady; or the most abandoned lib
ertne TO the truly delicate feniae. The King
The forest al the fee: of Una, is allegUry often
er in practice than the unobservant imagne; AMI
the influence of Omphate over HercuIts, though
fable in tact, is frequently truth in application.
We ''Lords of the Creation would make sad
mess Of IL, il we had not woman TO temper the i'll
gradients of winch it is composed, though The re be
some of the sex who only render item more Bit
er. But OF these are not such ELISA, whose
sweet smiles inspire hope, and whose soft voice
Soothcs, while her words encourage. l never fail
10 make her a visit, when the perplexitieS of life
put me out of conceit of it; ard never leave her
witho~t being reconciI d to a condition in which
she participates, and in which she enables me to
discover beauties and a:niabiies, l had never
befo.c suspected, OF apprecated. There are some
natures can give INFER ST and importance even to
TITLES; and as trifles for the most part, make up
the sum Of human txlSence, how deightful it
mast be 10 lave continually by our side, one on
W HON we can rely, i'll great ond extraordinary
emergencies, and who can yet strew our daily
paths with flowers, of which the inevitable tEorHs
II n II ndered harmless. they can hardly be
by human intercessi0n, shoTn Of much of heir
pu1Eency by her sweet influences. We admire,
think do, the philanthropy that stalks abroad,
that eadS subscription list, sure 10 meet the
public eye; or sends, by its hired agent, its aims
10 objects kind word, personal regard would
more have solaced, for these would have identified
them with ourselves, in nature, il not in cond-
ton, and taken from poverty its keenest pang, the
sense of abandon nent. But what is this 10 the
charity which pervades every Office in which wo-
man can minister to veal or woe, and, as wife,
mother, friend, and benefactress, fulfil the love-
" purposes of he. creation7
ELLENDALE, Va. W.BB.
Ohio State Stock Banks
COLUMBUS, Aug. 10, 1883