Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-10-18
But we are SO far distant, Mary

ly promise you that, il / am ever prompted
by my own feelings or the opinions of society
to take any doubtful step, that l will pause
long enough to learn your sentiments con-
corning it.
You are indeed giving me a novel, yet very
strong proof of your love. Mary but there
may be many circumstances TO prevent your
doing this
IF it is of such an imperative nature that
it must be decided upon without loss Of time,
of course / shall be bound to recognize the
emergency; but it must be not only impera-
tive in in its demands, but beyond my power
to control, if fail in doing what / have said.
Neither do / pledge myself always to be gov
erned by your views, Ally, unless convinced
of their superiority above my own but to
consult you because it will draw out my own
thoughts in its connection, as well as force
upon me time for calm and more mature re-
Fiction
'Then l will accept your promise, Mary;
but l have no fear that there will ever be oc-
casions to require its fulflment, for your own
convictions of right will not desert you in
your hour of need
Perhaps not but take this pledge, Ally
wear it for my sake'-and she placed asmall
ruby ring on her finger and never forget
when you look down upon it, that ! look to
20" 81 q friend nAd 1r.rrlskahi
= ~ VO0A ~ 0DA - N~b6 ~ OLeeAA@ ~8N J.
me a far moro aaedfullesson than that, even to
examine closely the influences that are about
nv own path, least in assuming to direct
others, | stray myself. And it shall be to
me a talisman, always bidding me remember
when doubtful points arise in my own mind,
that | am neither living for the present alone
nor adopting sentiments which will only IL
lume or darken my own spirits home; but
through the electric chain of influence will
] 1ro;Iorlu oHoo& oEborc fO- time ord o4ono.A- ,
Much more was said by the fair girls ere
they retired to their beds, butbeing u~nneces-
sary for the calculation of our story we pass
it over here. Neither linger we about their
early parting many of my fair readers, I
dare say, have experienced its anguish, or if
not, Imagination can supply all its painful
details. A little over two weeks the follow
ing letter was handed Alice from her friend
DEAR ALLY: Don't you find this being a young
lady a very pleasant, independent sort of a life p
No bells to ring one up apparently before you had
finished your first nap-no task of evermastering
dificulty-no f%rowning, fault finding teachers-no
stale bread to try the strength of your masticators,
nor rough dried collars to CRATE your poor neck as
1tlt had been mistaken for a nutmeg. Oh! l am
| sure If | only had you to enjoy it with me, Ishould
n be the happiest creature alive. / never was prepar-
ed, you know Ally, to enter the world doubling and
: fearing least every one l meet carried a hideous
Il dagger somewhere concealed about their person
oAO L ohl fCIJ SldO L u " y L COulu IDCu
y perceive half the truth and love that really exists
around me. You will smile and say have no right
4 to decide yet, but then | have eyes to see clear, and
8 ears to hear, and as an educated young lady sense
enough to understand, some of the simplest myste-
: ries OF the busy world. md so far, with but two ex-
u ceptions, | have no right to complain.
There you are again, with" two is quite a num-
Der for only as many weeks"-but then you remom-
d Der you sober ones tried to persuade me that every
IN man was almost a monster, and every woman a de-
signing %coquette, a heartless, fashionable or some
" thing very like to that I think l have come off
y admirably. True, one instance involved quite a
number of those 1 was beginning to place implicit
Id confidence in, but then allowances must be made for
DR. a thousand new thoughts and feelings of which we
Mt never dreamed before stepping into the charmed
n. circle Questionable life. l am so fearful sometimes
80 of forgetting your lessons, dear Ally. Every one
: seems to look upon mi as the same thoughtless
III creature that left home three years ago, and force
Vn the character upon me so mercilessly that at times l
VS. have to pause and think l am really eighteen, and
~ been blessed Wit ah Of the hestie f4emHgEeu Thought.
-; imprudeice and sfHfulness. And so then drape
=" the mantle of dignity about ny little body, as grace
X fully as I can, and make my next debut so firmly
IL fortified, l think that the most daring hand could
rat not disarrange one of its settled folds. l find my,
of self mistaken though for a word, or some light act
throws me off my guard and [ forget in a mOmen
m those startling figures 18-all your sage sentiments
Ally, and am a very child again, whilst reveling il
n,S the merriment it awoke. Then I go to work afresl
be and clasp a band very tightly around all my frivol
- ny u"A "OhASA II Guy NN6S SCNAA - ~ 6AAONSh
lys when suddenly an unseen hand has clipped tn
ION thread, and here they go, pell-mell like a broker
bandeau of pearls, excepting only their deicienc,
III purity anu my worA IS VI 70 oegLn agal1' y
III this SOLDERING myself down into dignity and proprie
ty? Goodness gracious, what a dolt l must be, 70
you they have been rung in my ears as far as remeu
Who brance extends. However, as the novelty of m
q To position wears off / hope to do better. For 20
~ must know / am not a young lady alone, but bein
VI the last one out, and only three others in the immt
20 ! date confines of our little village to ten presentabl
De young men (including one of fifty FIVE and anotht
NED f%Orty-two) of course ] am quite a belle, and wit
nay two new characters added to that of housekeeper
and support, any sensible person would wonder how
the keep my head from taking a whirigig from m
nsal shoulders to some MORE definitely desirable plac
l learned something somewhere about laws of gra
itation and atmospheric pressure, but l On not g
Ifm- ing to give them the credit. Not I, indeed. B
the the practical sense you labored so hard to ram baC
pies in every vacancy my Uranium contained hOweV
finding as little space as you did, If L should fit
hich the moon or take a tour among the stars dont" o
der very greatly.
Do confess now, Ally, you are dying with curio
aver ity to know what those two exceptions are of viii
nd I was inclined to complain in the commenceme
try of my letter. Well the very first cloudy event
after my return home, as 1 had just reconciled m
A. Il self to a lonely time (no beaux I mean) Dir. La
= - renee, the decided lion of our place, paid me
t in tro5nc;n. him and conyar:inr ! few mnments
y OF excused himself and continued his journey. | neI
who have spent a pleasanter evening. He was grace
noes in his manners, easy yet deferential in his adore
with fluent IN conversation, and with a well stored mi
mpi- u = !, no wTnueI q no2rs nlstea lnPetcSp.5iy
will sent when + sbonid nIease him to ask for NV ba,
Ally, Well. 1 was telling father and brother Ned h
eady delightfully."- time had passed, and what apure, m
woe, al, intelligent, upright character Ihad described
decd Lawrence to be, when Ned burst out in his lc
.a4L ANNOYING ha ha! ha asking in the same brea
" Did he swear any, Sis2" You can imagine h
So indignant 1 felt whilst l replied that, "a gentlen
as refined and intelligent as Mr.. L. could stoop
dear no such baseness.' Then you reformed him V
/, that suddenly continued Ned, for l never heard /
converse five minutes with men without profan
nnon and only a few hours before night l heard him
dulging in a fercer TRADE than usual Was
= ~ that too bad, Ally ? l was so provoked at first,
muSC it soon settled into sorrow, that such a man co
Onder so debase himself. And oh I do wish so much
'ou to were here to talk to him, and entreat him as
only can, to remember his responsibilities, his
your ents, his influence and the sacred obligations Il
Won possession imposes upon him. l am not frIvol
90 h. when l recall that evening, dear Alice, Tor II
my first lesson in my own ignorance and consequ
~ ana liability to err in the impressions / was most re
lships to receive.
Last night I attended my first party. 1t was
since a small one, not more than a dozen girls from
adjacent county, and a young lady visitor IN
place, a genuine F.. F. V. honored the occasion
that, - eaotanon Here vour Education proved
Ortant fective. Ally; for you never taught me the niece
nNnnN - - H. 1nn1n hnJ1En