The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-26
SECECT TALES.
Gbe Stanhal Hluuger;
OR, HINTS FOR HINTERS.


"A few years ago-no matter how ma
ny OF how few they might be, for the cir
cumstancs which am going to narrate
might have been equally likely to occur
at any time, or at any place-being de.
prived Of the beloved home in which l
had passed my earlier years, I retired in
to neighborhood with which was VIII ol-
ly unacquainted, and the inhabitants of
which were to me entire strangers. am
somewhat Of q social turn, also of san
guine temperament; and as Is natural to
q mind Of that stamp, had formed ma
ny very pleasant schemes for my future
life; and having heard that there was a
circle Of very agreeable society in the place
to which had several satisfactory letters
OF introduction, not few Of those schemes
were based on the valuable friendships
AMI pleasant acquaintance expected to
form. My comfortable cottage home was
situated in the outskirts Of a populous
town; and, pending the delivery Of the
aforesaid letters, / was very much interes-
ted in specuIating on the habits and char
acters o. the people met with in my
walks, and who hoped would in time be
among those friends concerning whom
had built many castles in the air.
am no gossip; indeed, I shrink from the
whole system Of busy y-bodying and scan.
dial 'mongering, and feel il to be a very just
remark that for every tale Of scandal that
is told, at least three persons are injured
namely, the speaker, the listener, and
the person spoken of. But there is diff.
ference between watching ones neighbors
with view TO find out their private con.
Germs for purposes Of tattle, anil that nat
ural interest with which we observe those
who are TO form our future associates, aud
with whom our home and social comforts
are to closely interviewer. Ii was with
this latter feeling, and with cordial de-
sire TO like and approve, that was watch
Ing my future friends and associates, and
amusing my rather speculative mind by
imagining n great deal about them, espe-
cialiy about some few individuals whose
appearance was particularly attractive,
when, TO my surprise, AMI no small pleas
ure, ] one morning encountered an old
sehoolmate, with whom, in early DAYS, /
had been closely intimate, sl h ugh since
that time We had seen little or nothing of
each other. Our pleasure in meeting wss
mutual; each lady gave the other most
atfectionate greeting; and in the course Of
our walk--for We instantly Joined compa-
ny, as in days Of yore, and gave ourselves
up 90 ehat--each communicated TO the
other the outline Of her history since we
last met My friend, Mrs. Frazer, had
married an officer in the army, aud dur
ing the time Of her married life bad lived
chiefly abroad. She .was now a widow.
and with son and two grown up dauph.
ters, had been for some years resident At
Morton, and was, In fact one of my near
eat neighbos. A cordial invitation to
join her and her girls at their tea. table
was given, and most willingly accepted
a dear young niece, who nad Just arrived
on visit 10 me. and had shared our ram
bic, being Of course included in the invita-.
ton.
The lovely morning had turned of into
\ pouring wet afternoon, but Lizzie and I
were not the least daunted, and with clogs,
cloaks, and umbrellas, sailed forth Just
before dusk on our expedition. The
bright sea-coal fire, with fine cracking
log Of wood on lis summit, and the pleas
ant and cheerful aspect Of everything
about ths abode Of my friend, were most
exhilarating after our dripping walk, and,
coupled w..ss .se warm AID ssEEss;;oss.s
welcome of Mrs. Frazer and her daugh-
terss made me rejoice that had not al
lowed the rain to prevent our visit. The
two girls-Agnes, who had been our co,n.
Panion in our mornings walk, fine and
intelligent girl Of about twenty; Grace.
whom had not before seen, graceful
and lovely girl,a year or 90 younger
were 20 attractive in their appearance, and
90 warm in their reception of my Lizzie.
that fell quite Ia love with them and
when placed IN luxurious easy-chair by
tae hreside. and In close proximity 10
tea-table well spread with ali those pleas
ant accompaniipents which belong TO that
meal IA houses where the inmates dine
early, l speedily began to feel myself quite
at home. and fell into siats Of high en-
ioymen., no doubt greatly enhanced by
the circumstances Of my having for some
previous weeks spent every evening IN sol-
ilude. As usual, took the FIRST oppors
tunisy that was offered me by q lively talk
which was being carried on BY the young
ones Of ao,ieing those around me. Mrs.
Frazer was, At eece saw, clever aud
shrewd woman, with . strong sense Of the
lndicfous, and considerable quickness IN
dstectipg absurdity OF inconsistsncy In
other, with little disposition to reserve Ia
exposing them. Aghcs's fac high fore
hsad, and the shoaghtfaI expression of her
Gear dark eyes. ind ested . mind Of . high
icte''scsaai spamp; and IN sweet Grace,
tavFs .5ss'.-5s y be combinailcn of Ihe
cha!acters Of the usoiLss sad sister, her
lively blue eyes catching sad rejecting