Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1855-03-15
Whole Number 768.

:, IDeautltuI halr, Wnlch was always parted anC
/: dressed styishly. | am inclined to think tina
| he used Macassar; and indeed there was
rumor rife with the boys that he poured az
If entire vial of that ambrosial liquor upon hii
d locks each day. Now, my hair was faxer
d and curly, and | was compelled to own
a suffered greatly in comparison with his.
d had serious thoughts of using har-dye
; and applied TO my mother for funds for the
n purchase thereof, but she said something
, about the progress Of Young America,
\ which al that time did not understand, and
= refused to assent to my plan Of amending
nature Poor woman she admired the color
q of my hair as it was, know; for my father,
when young, possessed locks Of the same
! sunny shade.
| attended another party, and among the
guests were Fanny and the black-eyed boy,
, who, by-the-bye, was rather attentive to a
young lady in yellow frock, whom con-
sidered handsome, but Fanny could mt bear
her.
Why did Fanny appear so very plain that
evening" Why could Mt her mother have
brushed that wisp out of her hair' Why was
that pretty apron so one-sided? 1t was
olC DO SO CuISlCoS VI uet
looks But the yellow frock! How very
beautiful she was, to be sure! ! spoke TO
her: she replied sweetly, and blushed. L.
There was no wisp in her hair and her apron
was adjusted to a charm. Why should /
devote myself so entirely to Fanny? Was
it not apparent that many of the prettiest
girls in the room were madly in love with
me- Could Mt choose for myself, and flrt
with any one of them? And was it required
that should be the bond-slaye of girl, of
whose affection | was assured in any event?
Certainly not If Fanny wished to retain
my love, she should take better care of her
hair, and, above all, not consider it as always
understood that entirely belonged to her
There was no engagement or understanding
between US yet. By George! was free,
hoped, and conld Of course pay my devotrs to
any young lady fancied.
Then what killing Irritation commenced
with the yellow frock! How coyly yet how
gratefully she received my advances, and
how exultingly gazed at Fanny! Poor
girl!-she sat with down-cast looks, and
hardly seemed to enjoy the games and sports
of the evening. began to feel grand and
hihSJ PhJ anu up UlluG w
60 over to her, and throw out word of
encouragement, after had assured myself
OF success with the yellow frock. When .he
suppef-hour arrived, | remarked to Fanny,
in quiet way, that had engaged to wait
upon yellow frock to the table, but should be
pleased to give her my disengaged arm
She looked up at me with trembling lip;
said she would not trouble me; she had other
resources, With smile Of superiority, but
with very unpleasant fee ling aboutthe throat,
| passed down 10 supper in as stately man
ner as could assume.
Fanny received at supper, and during the
balance Of the evening, the unremtted atteu.
lons of the black-eyed boy. How any young
lady could associate with such person,
could not, for the life Of me, conceive She
will regret this very much, thought |, in af-
ter-life, when he escapes from the State
prison, where he has been incarcerated for
forgery, and takes to the high seas as
pirate, and is captured, and is brought to
this port by a sloop-of-war, and is tried.
condemned, and hanged, and not in the
slightest way recommended to mercy, and
dies unrepentant, after an unsuccessful at
tempt TO stab the executloner with Spanish
dirk, which he has managed 10 conceal in
his long, dark hair She will regret very
much having had any communication with
him when this occurs; and it seemed a
probable train Of circumstances to my mind
at the time.
When the hour arrived for the breaking
up of the party, that scoundrel in embryo
bade an affectionate adieu TO Fanny, and
attended her to her carriage. She scarcely
deigned to glance at me, as she passed me
in the hall. Meantime lattered myself
that had made great impression upon the
yellow frock, and determined 10 know more
about her at any rate; but after ALL if tho
truth was told, left the house for home quite
unhappy.
| wept, am sure, after | retired, and
dreamed fearful dreams, and in the wild and
varied fances of my disturbed sumber, the
black-eyed boy lowered. pre-ominent in all
sorts of wickedness, like Satan in Paradise
Lost
1t required long and tedious weeks to re-
cover even small portion of my former
position in Fanny's heart, and she never
again had the same respect for me as before.
New loves came forward, and the gulf be-
tween US gradually widened. We both
formed other attachments, and in time they
also gave place to others. Sometimes, in my
boyish regret, would have given worlds if
she could have loved me as once she did, and
doubtless she entertained the same wish in
regard to me; but we both probably were
certain that it could never be so again.
|. is a phase of youthful life, but the moral
will apply 10 later years, We trampe the
flowers of friendship and love under our feet
sometimes from mere caprlce-and then in
the dark hours which come to every one, we
wish those same flowers were blooming.
brightly and freshly. in our hearts.
| saw Fanny in the street few weeks
since, with sturdy little blue-eyed fellow
Of boy; she smiled graciously, and gave
me a matron-like bow. | wonder if she
remembered how much we once loved each
other9