True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-22


recent loss of her Oldest son, and this ac-
counts for the impression of chastened
sorrow that her countenance wears when
in repose. Emma, the only daughter, is |
sixteen, but looks to be year older. She
is quite as tall as her mother, with slen-
der and elegant figure, and finely chiseled
features. Her delicate complexion is re-
level by large, dark eyes, full Of sensibil-
ity. She has a proiusion of glossy hair
of almost purple blackness--a rare tinge
and her cheek resembles more the leaf
of the magnolia blossom, than the rose
She is very beautiful, her smile peculiarly
so; with quiet grace, gentle and self
possessed, but rather wanting in animation.
Of the four boys, this could not be said
they were sprightly and good tempered,
with much refinement of manner. Wal.
ace, the oldest, was all animation and wide
awake to all that was going on, from the
heaviest business of the plantation, down
to the braids Of his sisters hair, which it
was his especial delight to see dressed by
the skillful hands of her maid lie was
an ardent admirer Of beauty, not so much
of the beautiful, as of beauty and Now
Charlse, fasten white rose here, or bring
that band little lower on the temple
could be heard in passing her dressing
room, where Wallace, standing in the door
= way admiringly contemplated his beloved
sister, who, book in hand, sat quite indiff-
ereut about the matter. Who blames the
love of beauty--the admiration for grace
Of manner! Not we. The only mistake
is to suppose that this beauty ID thing OF
form and coloring, merely. But we for
get the tea-table, with its steaning black
tea, delicious white biscuit, and well,but-
j tered wafies, with the ripe strawberries,
"smothered in cream," which Emma dis
I pensed with a bountiful hand. Tea over,
= we withdrew to the well-lightcd and ele-
gantly furnished parlor, where began such
: a flood of questionings and answers, con.
= cerning mutual friends in the city and out
: of it, that the evening had nearly passed,
before | could turn my attention to two
+ other visitors found there when l an.
y rived. .... IS ..,...
l. The first was a niece of Mrs. Morris
from o., young lady the same age as
l. Emma, but how unlike Catherine R., or
n "Cousin Kate" as the family called her,
S was lively, airy creature, light and bound
e ing as fawn, with wild, fanciful beauty
d in her bright, blue eyes, and in the play o.
If her pretty features. Her radiant mouth
h was a perfect Cupid's bow, and her sole
e occupation on this evening seemed to b.
e that of making others laugh, whether they
v would or not. The other was Mr.. Sci
n vyn of Washington, late from the Islanc
a. of Cuba. ,....
ir The son, Mrs. Morris had so recent,
t. lost, was the only child by her first marri
t. age. During his stay at college in a nor
is thcrn State, were sown the seeds of dis
of ease that developed itself with alarming
III rapid ty, soon after his return to his south
a ern home. After months of alternate hop
10 and despair, he was ordered to make triu
ID of the milder climate of Cuba. Mrs. Moi
'e ris accompanied him, taking Emma wit
is her from her boarding school in New Oh
is leans. While on the Island they becam
e, acquainted with an American family c
e. great responsibility. The acquaintanc
It. was productive of mutual pleasure, tn
as young people became almost inseparablt
re and the intimacy soon ripened into tn
h, warmest friendship, When Mrs. Morr
c. was obliged to return home, Edward seen
W ed to be improving. He was received il
to the family Of Mr. Selvyn as a son an
brother, for which their gratitude was onl
IT. equaled by their hopes. Those hope
Sc were soon to be destroyed. A few weel
let brought word OF his sudden demise, an
he they were but now recovering from tt
n blow. This much ! had known before, ;
ut also Of the kindness extended to the po,
nd invalid, who breathed his last under the
er hospitable roof The present Mr.. Selvy
,e- who had passed many years in Europ
", was the son of the friend in whose hou
*, Edward had died. He appeared to
ty about thirty-three years old and Of mi
tn ding height, with a remarkably fine hea
es- His black hair was soft aud curling; h
ice eyes, Of deep blue, were full Of feelin:
nd his teeth like ivory, His countenan
To bore the stamp Of intellect and mildne'
er. his department was exceedingly rein,