Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27


Westbrook was on the way, and Mrs. Under.
bill made haste TO complete the preparation
lit was only the day before the opening of
The meeting that she found time to 90 TO
town for the shawls and the other THINGS
which she felt as ifshe must have.
when 1t was supper time Charity said.
we must wait and keep it warm and nice
TOR our fotks-I wonder they don't cone.'
But Sophie and HELEN, who had been IRON
ing all day, and combing and curling for an
shour past, said, No, we will drink our tea /:
We are going over to Squire Meudeuboffs
to see whether bis newspaper savs anvtb;no
about Mr.. Westbrook' they drank tbe;s
lea and ate 50 much Of ths suppes, that Char
iolssd i nacSssary to prepSFc another.
which was an annoyance. for she had all
the milking to Go besides. last, however.
all was accomplished, for nothing is so true
as that there is a way where there is will
and listening at the window she heard the
wagon coming over the Hext hill, for she
had listened for it so often she knew the
sound as far as she could hear it-she ran
and opened the gate, awaited her mother
down and then carried the parcels and bas-
kets into the house-she was curious to see
her shawl, but when her mother said they
would not open them till the girls came she.
repressed her Curiosity and eontented herself
With looking at the new collars and ribbons.
none of which were for herself o, thew
would not be becoming to you,' said her
mother, and Charity had heard this SO often
that she could not help wondering how it
was that nothing was becoming to her-she
could see no way but that she was not made
to be dressed, as her sisters had often told
her.
There was new set of tea cups and sau-
GERS, new cofee-pot, and some other things
Tor the table, which she was told she might
wash and put in the closet, and so have an
opportunity ofadmirng as much as she chose.
And Mr.. and Mrs. UnderhHl sat down to
their nice warm supper as a matter of course,
and never once thought what good child
Charity had been, and was to them.
Presently the young girls came home from
Squire MendenhoFs ia high glee-there
was paragraph in his Newspaper about
Mr.. Westbrook which showed plainly that
he would arrive among them in the course
of the following day, and the meeting was
to commence at early candIe-light' in Squire
Mendenhof's barn, where Temporary pull.
pit and seats had been prepared, and where
a dozen lanterns were already hung up
against the low beams, for candles were not
to be used except in lanterns, for fear of ac-
cidents.
'Ain't they lovely! | wonder if ever
Mr.. Westbreok saw more beautiful shayls ?
examining tte
new things. And wrapping them about
their shoulders they walked across the room
admiring the fneness Of the embroidery and
the beautiful red Of the merino, and enjoy
ing by anticipation the triumph Of the pub
lie exhibition of them.
Charity. having finished the washing of
the dishes came in, and seeing the dazzling
red shawls Of her sisters enqured where hers
was.
Dear me 7 exclaimed the mother, in af-
fected surprise, you don't suppose | could
Guy all the shawls there Were in town, do
you? thought il was pretty well to be
able to bring home two,' and then if the
girls had fine shawls, they seemed to want
/ fine dresses TO wear with them, and so took
what money there was left, and bought them
each black silk dress, and that took all
l.
said they were all very pretty, but she could
not help feeling grieyed and wropged, and
when her evening work was done, cried her.
self to sleep.
The morning was beautiful, and the house
was early set in order for visitors, for the
general anxiety to see the great Mr. West
brook, would, it was expected. bring a good
many to the house of Mr. UnderhiIl; nor
was the expectancy deceitfnl. Shortly after
dinner visitors began to present themselves
and had nothing left TO complete their fell
city but the coming of Mr.. Westbrook, and
the appearing at church with him in the eve
) ning-which of them he would marry, hat
not been settled, but that he would not yer,
| much admire them was not to be though
) Of. All this time Charity was very bus,
in the ktchen-every body required all thei
/ daughters at home, SO that to procur
help was quite impossible. Mrs. Under
r hill, or one Of the most obliging Of her guests
: tied on an apron now and then, and lent
helping hand-but such help amounts t
], little, and the great bulk of the work fell t
s Charity.
It The door and windows of the parlor wer
], open, and the young people peeped int
e them-some, indeed, went into the yard an
d leaned over the fence in their anxiety to Sc
e the famous Mr.. Westbrook. Some suppose
lie that he would travel in a coach others, tha
20 he would be in an opened carriage, an
without hat, and one or two thought
ef not impossible that he night ride spirite
II horse, with gold bit, and stirrups I
ID gold to the saddle, and having one c
Is more attendants who should take the charg
,e Of his baggage but Notwithstanding theE
little disagreements, all positively kne
70 they should be able to recognize him aft
E off,
[coN CLUDED NEXT WEEK.