Spirit of the age., 1853-06-22


f the wealthiest farmer for mileSaround.-- |
ussy woman, whose ambition was to see her
daughter shine rs the belle of the neighbor-
hood. Her beauty and fine form were by all
acknowledged to be perfect. but she was
vain, artful and naughty, and admiration of
her person was all the homage she could elic-
it-while it could not be concealed her traits
Of mind were anything but enyiable.
"Lucy Watson, year younger, was affair
blue eyed girl, with golden ringlets, which
were the envy Of many an hieress. She was
the daughter Of respectable tradesman OF a
neighboring town, but who died when Lucy
was in her ninth year, leaving his affairs so
involved as to- take nearly all his effects TO
nav his liabilities. A small tract of land IN
this vicinity fell into Mrs. Watson's posses
sion by the death of her father, and she re-
moved to it, where she commenced farming
on a small scale, and with the assistance OF
an able.bodied man and hired girl she kept
things snug and was also able to lay up lit
tie for future wants But the cultivation OF
her daughters mind engrossed most OF her
thoughts and the training Of her principles
was by no means neglected. To fear God
and speak the truth were early instilled into
the principles of her ducation-and her truth
speaking eyes, and winning ways were each
day rcpaying this labor of love- Every NOR
ming before Lucy started to school her moth
er nicely combed her hair, each ringEet O
which would recoil with astonishingtenacity
MRS. Watson was proud of them as God, I
gift, and would by no means have her hail
dressed in any other manner. Both Of thes
girls were beauties in their way. 1t was glo
rious to look at Ellen in a moment of tri
=. cd Al
blood rush to her rich olive cheek, you woul
bo tempted to say" Baauti ful, most beau
tiful ;"'b but to return to the gentle and some
what saddened Lucy, whose exquisitely trans
parent complexionan and open, ingenious cour
tenance betrayed the slightest emotions {
her sensitive heart, you would involuntarll
exclaim-" lovely most lovely !"
Notwithstanding the contrast in the PEI
sons and dispositions Of these girls, they ha
generally been good friends, and might eve
have kept on the same footing, had not the
friendly intercourse been occasionally inte
rupted by Ellen's over-bearing taunts ar
pettv iealouses. One course which induce
this trait to develop itself was, thai thoue
Ellen's hair was glossy and Of the ravens hu
vet all the coaxing and care herself al
mother had bestowed on it could not get it
assume single ,wava. Believing that cur
was Lucy's chief attraction, she endeavored
persuade her to mar their beauty by ado
ting the braiding system, Ia fashion tn
much in vogue Ever failing in her pr
pose, she would part from Lucy in pet, b
usually met next morning on good terms.
To the same school went Henry Russell,
our Harry" as the students dubbed hin
and moro brave and generous youth nev
lived. Honorable and candid in the high'
degree, he detested art and treachery. Exc
ling in his studies and every manly sport,
vas the favorito Of both teacher and schOl;
and was chosen to arbitrate every little d
Gculty which occurred in the school that
not actually call for the masters decision
With those two girls he was an especial
vorite, and it was clear they were rivals.
vacillated between the queenly beauty oft
one, and the gentle charms of the other,
at length an incident, which though seemir
ly trivial in ITSELF left an impress not or
on him, but this place, as you shall prese
ly learn.