The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-26

to tell me so.ne little anecdotes of pas
days, with which If had been unpreiu
diced, should have been really mucl
amused, rather perversely withheld m,
interest, instead Of throwing my mind in
to the subjects which they brought for
ward, chilled them BY silence, made my
self rather repulsive, and put off for 8
time an intimacy which | afterward.
found was one well worthy of cultiva
ton.
1t was much the same with all the rest
of those who had been wounded by the
arrows Mrs. Frazer anil her daughters had
shot, and which had called forth by ask.
ing for hints about my neighbors.
General and Mrs. 1icher paid me Their
first visit the day after had received those
hints,and when the poor lady twitched ber
mouth in addition with her foot, | could
not help thinking Of her as Mrs. Twitcher;
and as few of the peculiarties, perhaps
folbles, of this good couple peeped out,
am ashamed to say that the effect of the
Frazers' satircal remarks were so strong
on my mind that allowed myself to bc
amused with a sort OF quizzing feeling, in
stead of gently trying whether there might
not lie some chord in the mind of one .r
the other Of them which might respond
to the touch Of kindly hand, and make
sweet mel~dy; and kept the conversa-
ton at low ebb, and suffered my visitors
to depart without discovering that be-
meath a rather unattractive exterior there
lay hidden hearts full of tender sympa-
'hies; that the gentleman was possessed
OF a fund of information which needed
but the touch Of a acongenial spirit to bring
it into use, aspirit ! had certainly not led
him to expect that he would find in me.
Mrs. Ticher's lameness, afterwards
learned, originated in an accident she had
encountered whilts following her husband
through scenes Of war and suffering, and
the twitchiug was spasmodic affection
resulting from the injury. How oft?n
have thought with shame on my fir I
interview with these good people!
1t was long ere called on Alice Hart
hand but when did soon found reason
70 suspect that the iusinuaiions against
her were wholly ssiihout foundation. The
little fibles OF manner which had been so
severely condemned certainly existed.-
There were too many "dearests" and "dar-
lings," Tut the poor child appeared to be a
genuine invalid, and most desirou. of be-
coming otherwise, using all means pre-
scribed for her recovery, and ready to own
with thankfulness all progress towards
that evidently desired end. She had been
for many years confined to her couch, but
her complaints were neuralgia and hence
arose the idea that she could shake them
off If she would, but that she liked to be
i'll. DIR. Lloyd was named, and the burst
Of affectionate gratitude which awaited
the mention of him, was such as to show
that had not been altogether mistaken
in my original view ofhis character. But
when | learned that this Zee loving man
had for seven long years watched over
this would-be invalid, bestowing on her
bis unvarying attention, coming, some
times for weeks together and at his bust.
est seasons, daily, or even twice day,
and his "all for love, and nothing for re.
ward;" and that though pressed aud urg-
ed repeatedly to accept some remunera-
ton, he had never been prevailed on to
take single lee during the whole of bis
attendance began, indeed, to feel how
unwisely had actediu allowing doubt
Of his worth to enter my mind.
1t was years before the wounds inHict-
ed on that gossipping evening were al
healed, years before fully discovered,
that though much Of what was said was
substantially true, yet from the mode in
which all that was faulty or foolish in each
character had been placed in prominent
position, everything good and bright had
been lost in obscurity, aud as totally false
an impression had been left on my mind
as If actual falsehoods had been stated.
My readers, lake warning by mel
have been stating facts, for these and sim
liar hints wee given me und the cir
cumstances described. IL you 90 into
new neighborhood never ask any one for
such hints and If any one should proffer
the doub.f .ful kindness, reject IL rs you
would a tempting fruit that you knew was
of poisonous quality. Ii is more than
probable that the Information you would
get would be sufficient to mar all your
future intercourse with your neighbors !;
but it is highly improbable that il would
help you TO steer clear ofaay one difficul.
" or inconvenience.