Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-19
CH0lCg LITERATURE.
From the Olive Branch.
THE TABLES TURNED.
BY MARTHA HAINEs BUTT

age and not tall In love. Dear me, what
host Of handsome beaux we have been
surrounded by lately I cant for the life
of me see how you could keep your heart.
when all the girls have lost theirs. There
are number Of captives in Cupid's prison.
It is mystery how you can have such per-
feet sway over your feelings"
"Suppose tell you I have none ?"
"Pshaw, that is not true; every one
has feelings of some kind, and 1 do not be-
lieve you are different from everybody else
in the world. Come, tell me honestly, are
you not in love p
No, not with any one, unless it be my
self"
dwell, T pity you"
"Then l do not pity myself; indeed, |
think | am one of the luckiest of creatures.
Why, when you are all sighing and crying
about the departure of your beaux, am
all gaiety, and have not tear to she'd"
"Then you are resolved, Fannie, to keep
clear of Cupid's darts 2"
"In truth I am. Why, my dear Lou,
I should think that you girls have seen
enough of late to give you quite distaste
for the beaux, See what time Clara
Payton had she was engaged to be mar
ried, the day was fixed and all, but when
papa was consulted he objected, would not
hear to such thing. Poor child, should
not wonder very much if they had to send
her to the lunatic asylum, after all. Ger
trude Lyons was such an admirer of Mr..
Merton; she thought he was desperately
in love with her, when behold, he just ac-
quainted her by note that he was only
flirting. There, is Kate Lane too, almost
desperate because Frank Tower has to 90
to sea on three years cruise. Dear me,
| would not be an officers wife-why, your
husband sometimes has to be gone for three
years during that time, of course his wife
is quite alone if she cares anything for him,
(and it is to be hoped she does she always
feels so gloomy and sad. Another instance
Laura Morris was left widow in less than
three months after she was married.
pity her so much-she looks well in mourn
ing, decidedly well that is not saying,
however, that she may be glad she has oc-
casion to wear mourning. [ really expect
to hear of her marrying soon again o,
dear there is no telling what women won t
do, now a-days."
"Let me assist you Il enumerating the
many calamities," said Lou with sarcas-
tic smile. You know Sidney James /;
well, he was carried home most cruelty
mangled the other day; what do you sup
pose must have been the feelings Of his wife ?
Notwithstanding all this, cannot see how
you can prevent yourself from falling in
love. do not believe you have any heart
at all.
Perhaps I have not, and do not Ia
ment it, either"
Never mind, ! will enjoy good laugh
over you some day; I know that you will
get married yet,
"There is no danger of that, I can tel
. you. do not believe in making trouble
for myself"
90, horrid the idea of being an ole
maid. l fancy | see you sitting in corn
er now, petting some tabby cat''
~ tell you Lou that an old maid is
many times underrated she is far more
| happy than the world thinks for"
Well, as for me, shall marry very
young"
7" So that you may repent at leisure"
go, nonsense, nonsense am an ad
! vocate for early marriages, any how.
!! suppose those who take it into their head.
! to marry young are willing to take all risks
any how, I am for one."
Louie, so you are in favor of early
! marriages-let me see believe you arr
only twenty-five today. Not married yet
either You had better keep very sharl
, look out. else you will be an old maid
) You know you have great antipathy 70
q that class of beings. Why is it you hav
f remained single SO long? I thought wheI
I returned from my tour to Europe tha
you must certainly be married"
I" I have thought better of the matter
(: Fannie, and have come to the conclusion
= that there is time enough yet"
J 81 see that you permitted yourself {
}. fall in love with too many at time, an
4 your love was not permanent enough.
assure you | have seen the folly of it Ion
t, ago."
Is Il presume you can tell me many
z story about your flirting and being pal
;. back in your own COIN"
,e "I have almost determined not to ma
). ry at ALL"
: That would be too unromantic. Yo
remember what you told me before wei
a. a to Europe. l have secret to tell yc
- ~ Lou-can you keep it p
Certainly"
W Well, l am to be married myself 500
st have changed my mind upon the subjec
When | came to the years of discretion
n. a found some one to suit my fancy. I ha,
u not the least doubt but what l stand {
;r much safer ground than if / had acted lii
" the rest of you. See how the tables ha
turned-who would have thought it?
ce here L am on the verge of marrying al
al you are so bitterly opposed to anything
5 !; the kind. A young lady should be We
n careful how she guards her heart till t
ut proper time, lest she might make mistak
ms The heart may sometimes get slightly RI
ne fed, that must not be mistaken for love-
nt' | always thought it bad policy to fall
on love with every person you see with han ?
e some face. You now applaud me for