Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-05-17
FLIRTING,
AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

OUeu hlIcH 10 my youngest Dr0lher-''it will
never do-thiS flirting with all the Young
girls, and trihing with their guileless alIec.
tionS p'
My brother Jedediah was handsome Young
fellow. He had a fine person when his Sun.
day clothes were Oh clear black eve, and
red cheeks. He wore pair Of whskers al
eighteen. During vacations our village girls
were all in n tumult; all were anxious to
have the honor Of his altentionS-and many
an eye was closed, with a tear uRde. its lid,
after waiting the whole evening at the win
dow, with the expectation OF seeing Jedediah
ride up 10 The horse block. lie saw their sly
glances at him, as he stood of Sundsy in
the gallery at the church and led the choir
He knew that they thought him handsome
that he was aGmred-and he was fool enough
10 be fatered by such things. His plty
thought the party tedious where all ewes in
the room were not directed towards him.
He spent his vacation wholly with the girls;
riding with one, walking with another, and
Setting up with another. He made declara-
tion in garland OF flowers, and expressed
his alteration to every bright eye in The yil-
age with boquet of the sweetest and fresh
est roSebuds he could gather. As long as
their admiration had the charm ofnovelly, he
was all devotion, but when that was zone. he
fed away like surfeited bee, 10 some freSb.r
flower.
At the time Obed addressed him rs have
stated, we were sitting at the breakfast table.
Jedediah lad just returned from walk among
the hills with Isabel Johnson, one of the
sweetest girls in our village. As he came into
the room, he Snapt the dew out of his whisk
ers with high gee, and sung out al the top of
his voice:
al say, Absolom, thHt Bell Johnson is not
10 be sneezed at on damp day. She's
Q real Csullflower. What foOt She's got -
Didst ever SEE her dance, uncle Obcd? You'd
think her the shadow Of goss0mer, she's so
light. All, Absoltni, my boy such q tromp
as we have had Such flowers rs we gath.
cred Faith, every time she lrod her little
hoof upon the violetS, there came up such
cloud Of perfume, you would have thought
madame Flora was Lighting up every one Of
her incense burning altarS. But haIk We -
We stopped awhile upon the brink Of the
ledge Of old Chestnut Hill and looked down
nPon the waters as it tumbIed over the mil.
dam. Bell gazed at it, as if she saw ten
thousand little mi.ds dancing minutes upon
the bubbles. While she was looking, took
so-apd whispered in her ear, so. But un.
Gle Obei, NUNS the word--Bell and know
who's WHO"
1t W $ then uncle Obed spake. 'It won't
do, Jedediah," said he and his voice choked
with emotion as he spoke, at won't dol say!
All this may Le straw berries and cream 10
such crazy pate as yours. 1t may be fine
fun to win the heart Of such an innocent
thing as Bell Johnson, just 10 throw it away
1gan, like worthless orange aftci you have
all The juice out. But, mark my
words, Iededioh, have seen more DAYS Than
iou, and observed somewhat Of the WAYS by
which Providence brings his righteous ends
lbou.. Justice is sure Of foot, Jededah,
hoHgh Slow-mark that. And fnr every idle
word aud deed of Yours, there will be day Of
account here or elsewhere. 1t is true | have
Teen >ome'preciouS Scoundrels, in my day, die !
luelly in thelr beds, who deServ 10 die at |
he end OF the halter And the preacher !,
says there IS one event 10 all, both the right /
'ouS and the wicked But observe, my pref !
y fellow never knew graceleSs rogue that !
nfled with a wOman'S affections who did not
ever after find a bitter curse in his cup
Iudgmen. follows hard upon such misdeeds -
believe there is special woe denounced
lpon the wrech-and he might as We fly into
he region oi Infinite space, as 10 try to escape .
it..
"Leave of these wicked ways, then, Jede-
ilah, il you would pToSper-li you would live
o lie down without dreaming Of fire and
or would die without hearing the
wall Of broken hearted one kneIing IN your
ears. But let this motto be your guide, when
'ou go among the sweet innocent flowers
whom God has raised up here:
"Never excite eXpeclatlSns you do not in
end TO graliy ~
Here Uncle Obed's voice grew husky. lie
ook long and deep draught from his mug
'i cider, and then rose from the table and
walked OUT of the room.
As he closed the door behind him, Jcdediah
rev long breath, OUked at NE half mad
md half ashamed, and then conlemp,uousIy
Il
My foolish brother continued 10 frt with
ISABELLA, until her whole being was locked
lp in his Her friends cautioned her in vain
SHE WAS blind 10 the suggestions # her bet.
er judgment. AT length after he had com.
,Ieteiy trlumphed over her simple heart, he
et, her, and sought some other sweet flower
o blight Us he had done this.
Isabel bore his coldneSS awhile with oppa-
ent indifference. But the luslre gradually
eft hefeye, her cheeks grew pale aud thin,
nd her fine red lips 10 deadiiSe purple hue
he Compl0Ined TO none. She murmered not
galnst i'm. Her friends noticed that she
mingled less with the gay. 1t was evident,
lOwever, that the machinery Of her existence
vas gEadua lIy running down; and every day |,
vas expected 10 bring some story Of her sick
eSS or death. She mingled less with society,
nd spent her time when the weather would
ermit in wandering among the hills and for
sis.
One evening of pleasant day which she
penL away from home in this manner, her
aienS observed that she did not return al
er usual hour. They became alarmed and
ouSins parry of their neighborS they went
n pursuit of her. They Travelled. the fores.
nd thickrt for long while in vain. They
hou!ed heT name through the deep glens aud
lew their horns from the top Of the hills. -
Iut echo alone replied.
AT length about midnight, one Of the party
N his return, discovered her on the edge OF
gh ledge OF rocks, seated al the foot Of an
I beach, which hung far above the ptecipice.
lie ca He'd on her as soon as he discovered her.
he returned no answe. He thought she
night be asleep, and he clambered up the
ockS TO where she sat-
wered not. Then he touched her shoulder
nd gently shook her, and started back with
orror. She was dead cold and stiff; though
s she sat, she looked more like one enjoying
quiet Slumber. Her left arm rested oh tb9
rumk of the tree, and The fingers of her light
and were laid upo the letters of my broth