Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-13
"MAHIN & CLEMENS.
) The Ladies', Fair.

sCome, Edward, 1t will never dc for YOU
So hold back now; the girls expect us both. ,
well, can't help it, if they do,' replied
Edward Morton to his friend James Irwin.
"a burnt child breads the 6rs,' ga boon
Bat yhst win the girls think and say
Ahost yen? ssfn,S bsiiaJ ea ! q stof
saTsn sure / don't know, James. But let
stAsm, say what they please, Il prefer bearing
snia1, to- enduring what, were to 90, would
sbs nush worse - the consciousness Of hav-
ING done wrong.' sHi'no saegs
ssssYes, but you needn't spend more than
avs dollars. That is az deep as / intend
going s'''a - 81. 's" ..,t.
Double that sum Won't pay the damage
Is your pocket, know Edward replied,
smiling. But even five dollars is more
than ] would be justi6ed in throwing away.
nv salary is small, and my sister needs all
that can spare saT .iasn s3asauaa
.,fWsll, must 90 anyhow Irwin said,
gsily. The girls have asked me outright,
aad there 10 no getting of. would spend
three nonths'ssalafy rather than seem to be
afrsid Of my money
ssWe should be just before we are gene
rous, you know, said Morton. sYou cannot
s6ord TO 30 any better than can, James.
Your bill for clothes will come in before
long, and Mr.. Buckrnm is, you know, rather
tart when pay is not prompt
ssEiis bill 10 forty dollars, and Eve is moth.
ing to. that. ! am resolved not to spend
over. that sum-
'sssYenr good resolutions are, you know,
too easily broken. Ten or fifteen dollars
will not pay thognst, know, if you venture
upon the enchanted ground of ladies' fair.
st is enchanted ground, Edward, as
know to my borrow Irwin responded, in
agravsr tone. sBut there is no escape
the syrens have sung to me, and l cannot
keep away
Il am sorry for your weakness, James !;
for know yoaswill have cause to regret it.
Neither you nor can afford to come into
the atmosphere of fair
assThsy are bad places for shallow pock-
cts, Irwin rcmaytkd, in tone that indica-
tod . passing remembrance of former suffer-
ings.'.
Indeed they nre,' Edward replied. 81
cannot elf see hor the holding of them,
particularly in the way they are now too
commonly conducted, can be reconciled
with correct religions principles. Those
who attend at the tables seem to lose all
thoughts of feeling, propriety, good man
mrs, and justice, in the one idea of cocrc-
ing sales, ut enorm ous prices, of the useless
articles they have exposed TO view. ana
fally resolved, as an individual, that will
Tot in any Way encourage them. Nv oppo-
sition NAV he feeble, but still it shall 90
against them
swell, We'll, Edward, don't moralize any
longer about them, or shall get the blues.
Ile;Eho They are delightful places =
Such beautiful girls and all SO full of life
and good hulnor. 1t is good for the heart,
il not for the pocket, to be in one of them.'
Edward Morton was true to his frmness
Of character, and remained at home and
James Irwin was as true to his weakness Of
character, and went to the fair. He took
from his trunk.a Eve dollar note, resolving
in his mind that he would take no more,
and.thss put it out OF his power to throw
over that sum away. But something whis-
psrsd thai, after this were gone, he might
be placed in an unpleasant dilemma and
90, after moments hesita tion, he increas-
ed the sam to twenty, which covered the
whole amoun: of his available means and
HE next quarters salary would not become
due for two months.
Half an hour afterward he entered, with
gaily dressed young lady on his arm,
saloon brilliantly illuminated, in the most
fashionable street of Philadelphia, around
which we're arranged tables covered with
every variety Of things to tempt the eye.
Behind each table were from one to three
young ladies. than whom no experienced
shapkscper could have been more attentive
or eager to dispose Of their merchandise.
For . moment the gay scene, and the crowds
Of richly dressed and beautiful women con-
fussd the senses of Irwin but be was soon
called back 20 consciousness by thc excla-
nation Of show beautiful breaking, as it
wsrS, sPosssnsoaslyA from the lips Of the
young lady on his arm. He directed his at
tentisn to one Of the tables near which they
were passing, behind which stooa the most
lovely creature, it seemed to him, that he
had ever seen. Her eyes, that looked right
into his, were black and sparkled like liv-
Ing diamond. Her fair face was beautifully
~E L. Al = Il - - -