The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-12-21
But is he really SO bad 2

He stands just on the verge Florence-jus
where word fty spoken might turn him. H,
is noble creature, full of all SORTS of fine impulses
and feelings, the only son of mother who doatl
on him, the idozed brother of sisters who love hin
as YOU love your brothers. Florence, and he stand.
where word look-so they be of the righ
kind-may save him.
And why then do you not speak to him p sale
Florence.
Because l am not the best person, Flarence
There is another person who could do it better
one whom he admires, who stands in position
which forbids his feeling angry-a person, cousin,
whom have heard in gay moments say, that she
knew how to say anything she pleased without
offending anybody
%, Edward 2 said Florenee coioring, do noi
bring up my foolish speeches against me; and dc
not speak as if ought to interfere 10 this matter
for indeed cannot do it. never could 10 the
world; am certain that could not
.And so,' said Edward. you whom have
heard say SO many things which no one else could
say, or dared say-who have gone on with such
laughing assurance of your own powers of pleas
ing, shrink from trying that power when noble
and generous heart might be saved by it. You
have been willing to venture great deal for the
sake of amusing yourself, and winning admiration;
but you dare not say word for any high or mo-
be purpose. Do you see how you confirm what
said of the seIishness of you womenl
But you must remember, Edward, this is a
matter of great delicacy.'
That word delicacy is charming coyer-all in
these cases, Florence. Now, here is fine, noble,
spirited young man, away from his mother and
sisters, away from any family friend that might
care for him, tempted, betryed, almost to
Well, but cousin, what would you have me
do how would you have me do it 2 said Flor
ence earnestly.
You know that Fashion, who makes SO many
wrong turns, and so many absurd ones has at last
made one right one, and it is now fashionable
thing to sign the temperance pledge. Elliott him
self would be glad to do it, but he foolishly com
mitted himself against it in the onset, and now
feels bound to stand to his opinion. He has, too
been rather rudey assailed by some of the apostles
of the new state of things who did not understand
the peculiar points of his character; in short,
am afraid he will feel bound to go to destruction
for the sake of supporting his own opinion. Now
= l should undertake with him, he might offer to
shoot me but hardly think there is anything o
the sort to be apprehended in your case. Just try
your enchanting, and few words from you, saie
as woman knows how TO say them, might be his
salvation. But you will look cooy on, and see
him 90 to destruction, because you have too much
delicacy to make the effort, like the man tha
would not help his neghbor out of the water, be-
cause he had had the honor OF an introduction.
But. Edward, consider how peculiarly fastdi
GUS Elliott is-how jealous of any attempt to re.
strain and guide him.
And just for that reason it s that men of bis
acquaintance cannot do any thing with him. Bu
what are women made with SO much tact and
power of charming for, if it is not to do these very
things that we men cannot do? 1t is a delicate
matter-true and has not Heaven given to you
fine touch and nice eye for just such delicate
matters? Have you not seen, thousand times
that what might be resented as an impudent inter-
ference on the part of man, comes to US as fla.
tering expression cf interest. from the lips of q
woman. You have bewitched wise men into do
ing silly things before now try now, if you cant
bewitch foolish man into doing wise thing
Florence smiled archiy, but instantly grew more
Thoughtful.
We'll, COUSIN she said, { I will try. Though
think you are rather liberal in your Inscriptions o
power, yet can put the matter to the test of ex-
pertinent
Florence Elmore was, at the time we sreak Of
in her twentieth year. Born of one Of the veal
thest families in -, highly educated and ac-
compshed, idolized by her parents and brothers
she had entered society as oae born to command
With warm and impulsive feelings, and capabili-
ty for everything high and great she had hitherto
lived solely for her own amusement, and looked on
the whole brilliant circle by which she was sur
rounded, with all its various actors, as something
got up for her especial diversion. The idea of in
f1uencing any one, for better or worse, by any
thing she said or did, had never occurred to her.
The crowd of admirers of the other sex, who, as
matter of course, were always about her, she
regarded as SO many sources of diversion; but the
idea of feeling any sympathy with them as human
beings, or of making use of her power over them
for their improvement, was one that had never
entered her head. .-.-..-.-
Edward Ashton was an old bachelor cousin to
Florence, who having earned the title of oldity in
general society, availed himself of it to exercise
turn for telling the truth to the various young 10
dies oil his acquaintance especially to bis fair cous
IN Florence. We remark, by the by, that these
priviedged truth .telIers are quite necessary o.
life to young ladies' in the full tide OF society; and
we think it would be worth while for every dozer
of them to unite to keep person CT this kind or
salary, for the benefit of the whole; however, thai
is nothing to our present purpose we must return
to our fair heroine whom we left at the close o
the last conversation standing in deep reVerie by
the window.
1T is more than half true,' she said to herself
more than half Here am I, twenty two years
old and never have thought of anything never have
done anything, except to amuse and crafty my
self; no person-no object-nothiug hlgh-no hing
digrifed-nothing worth living for-only parlor
II