The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-14

" =" "S''"y PhJ Siciu in the town
Of Co., who was an old college mate and
crony of his, and by no means avcrse to so
eligible son-in-law. The fathers .ad dis
cussed the matter so often, over their after
dinner cups, that they came at length,to view
it rs quite settled, imagine, then, the aston
lshment Of Mr.. r., when, on incidentally
mentioning the plan to his son James
one day, instead of a ready acquicsccncc, it
met with plump rejection! In vain the
father coaxed, threatened and scoded-the
son was imPlacable. The damsel wns well
enough, 70 be sure, and the father rich
enough, but he didn't want her, and would
not marry her. o, the blindness of the ar
rant krave, Cupid o, the perverseness of
James r., to pass by the manifold attractions
ofa beautiful, proud, hearlless heiress, for
the homely charms of poor old Molly
Whites grand daughter. ~
~ young man of strange freaks-he'll
come over right by and by, surciy-I'll keep
an eye on him thought" muttered Mr.. r..
MS his son walked doggedIy out Of the room.
And, very truly, he did keep an eye on him;
for no sooner did he perceive the tendency
OF Jamcs's walks towarks the honcysuckle.
imbeded, whitewashcd cottage where dwealt
dame White, with her rosey checked, curley
headed granddaughter, when he despatched
him forthwith, Il summer with nv grand
father.
Poor James was little forlorn and rest
less mt first; but he was sensible fellow.
and soon came to the conclusion that Molly
Whites granddaughter was very silly, as
well as very pretty--a sort of painted doll,
about whom twas hardly worth while to
break his heart, or brave his fathers anger;
so the little damsel was dismissed forever,
with the burning of her first foolish letters.
Hers was lesson not unlearned By many
beautiful girl beauty is u priceless gin
TO woman. Its immunitics arc manifold.
We pass lightly over the foolish Jest and sill.
" rapartec, coming from its lips but, nh !,
how like pearls are the words of wisdom,
from the same polished source! Features
set in fnirest mould' are not its highest
ci"in.s, Lat the light that glows in soul-lt
eyes, aud the flush Of feeling that swcls up
from rightly trained heart. We stand mo-
ti"nlcss. gazing upon the polished perfection
of u statue; but the heart beats faster, and
tic pulse throbs before the warm glow and
life-like inspiration of n picture So di-
verse is the love awakened by SoulLess and
souI-lh beauty! "Am beautiful" asked a
proud, splcndid-looking girl, of poor wilt
ing, who had stopped TO gaze at her in the
street. "lIa, beautiful" was the reply "you
are very beautiful. Your skin is white and
polished like ivory; your brown eyes look
full of dreams; Your bearing is proud and
elegant; you are altogether beautiful and
cold as a statuc-and I'd rs soon wed one.
The lingering waits Of sentiment, in that
crazcd brain, had uttered Il truth. See then
to your heart, beautiful woman Let not
your wealth and intellect run to waste
These we'll cared for, who shall measure
your powers!
Meanwhile Mr.. r. ehucklcd over his
prudent forcthought, and cherished, hope.
fully as ever, his favorite plan He scarce
bcthought him that every valley, every wood
land, in the country,sar haunted by
young, gay, and laughing creatures,
With their hearts sunshine in their features,
Their sorcery the light-which dances
When the raised LID unveils it, glances,'
The most dangerous of all sprites to the
generous, true heart Of James r -, who
despised all meretncious show, loved true
worth, and had firmly determined never to
marry for money.
"Lead Us not into temptation" aays the
best Of books. How utterly regardless of
that holy injunction was Molly, when she
eoaxed Mary B., the pretty orphan
school-inistress, TO go flower hunting with
her in the WOODLAND, where the same artfUl
Molly was sure James II. would meet
her favorte. Impute no want of guile to
childhood, nor matchmaking wholly to man.
aging mammas, when such a joy or woe
freighted plan lay concealed beneath the
frank exterior Of juvenile yearsi
Well, Molly's wicked maneuvre succeed
Cd TO charm. The beautiful orphans art
lcssness, intelligence, and dependence, drew
at once upon James symPathies, and soon
won bis love. Then followed many hap
Py meeting in that green woodland, putual
vows of lasting love and fidelity; and, ond
summers evening, when .ae moon looked
down on the mown fields and early harvest
ing, there were bresthed in The old baunts
fearful good-byes, and promises Of speedy
meeting. Oh, those were happy evening
walks, from which the ofiicious Molly was
not always excluded.
How many afrisndship. aye. and how ma.
ny love, dates IL rise from one Of these
Wild rsmbIes They ars little oases, on
which We refresh our hearts in retrospect.
How many a Hossy sent, bow many shady
trce--could the lesf, or tiny po,al, whisper
Ne tale--would give ssoried page TO us.--
gor every hear, there isp haunted dell, or a