Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-08-23
Nlistellolleolls
THE TORN SLEEVE.
by MARY ANS DODD.

"IRENE, my daughter! am astonished to
see even you, careless as y'u are, sitting at
tho piano in such disarray beg you wlldoG
that dress directly for a more Seemly haOlll-
ment'
80, mother, do not speak to me until have
nquered this difficult piece of music" re.
piled Irene; then, after few moments silence
she turned round with triumphant smile and
added: "There have it perfect now, MI
Cooper said it would require three hours prac-
tice, but have learned in one. Whit were
you saying, mother, about my torn sleeve!
caught il on the door knob, and sad rent i
made truly; bnt it is not worth while to
change it now, for am going on; after dinner
and canno. be at the trouble Of dressing twice
at is unla y.like, Irene, for you 10 appear
b .fnre your .ather and brothers IN such dress
whith, besides being rent, is, to say the least,
not nlean. | am continually troubled about
your careless habits, which, If not overcome,
will surely lead TO mOrtlfcSion and disgrace.
hear the bell OF the street door, and you
will have to open il, for have sent Susan cn
an erranJ, and must attend TO her baking while
she is gone have left it too long already.
"Well, don't care. 1t is some coal or
clam man suppose; or il II should he any Of
the girls connot f!ighten them, for they all
know hate to he starched up. There Is only
one person." size continued, talking TO her
self as her mother left the room, "ony one,
and that is Arthur Scott, whom | should be
ashamed 10 have see Int in this dShabile, he
is so particular, but thank fortune he is twen
.iy miles off, SO will e'en hurry 10 wait on
the bell"
Before we allow any one TO enter, our read.
erS shall lie favored with more particular i'll
IN tl,s n nbor aptp hnra
That Irene Willis was the most beautiful girl
in H., everybody sad and what every
body says must be true. That she was also
one ,f the most careless of her sex was no
less truism. Mrs. Willis who was pattern
for all mothers, had spared no pains TO eradi-
cate this weed which was sprlngng up With
her cherished blossom, but she was as yet un.
successful Irene was the only sister and she
had been the pet and playtbing Of four broth
erS. Her childish sports could not always have
been feminine, aud do not think 1t at all
wonderful, il she did grow up little wild and
Needless. Her mother had trusted sometimes
TO time; but time had as yet worked no won
ders, though it was high time he had.
1t is well We are unconscious OF what peo'
pie say and think about US, otherwise Arthur
would not have waited all this while at The
door so quietly, had he known Irene wa
thanking fortune tor the twenty miles she
thought lay betw cen them. Now Arthur was
promising young lawyer, and "wt II 10 do i
the worll"-exquisitely neat in his person
and faslidious in choice Of society, so that i
was whispered about among the sander-Ov
Ing goSSipS of IL tina: he surely wouI(
be an old bachelor. What worse fate coull
malice itself predicted for him? He had be
come acquainted with Irene while she wa
spending few days with cousin in M----
and was charmed with her beauty, intel
and viyacily. When she returned TO her home
he felt that The sunshine Of lille had departed
His Office all at once Seemed lonely, ant
blackstone and Coke upon Lttle,on had los
their power to charm. His copies OF briefs
deeds and wills commenced and ended will
name of Irene, and q wealthy heiress she nigh
have been, had she claimed all the goods ant
,cbai!les thus kindly conveyed 10 her. AT las
lie was forced 10 think that his business call
ed him 10 II; and now, after this lon
preamble, we will uncoSe the door that h,
may again behold the angel Of his fancy, tn
fauitless Irene. Her greeting was far fror
friendly, for how could she extend her han
graced with the torn sleeve ? ! he converse
ton was constrained and commonplace. New
er in her life had Irene looked and appeare
10 i'll, when she would have given worlds
have it otherwise. She would not play an
sing, though lie requested it, for she knew
would be impossible to command her voice @
refrain from tears, so great was her mortif
cation. The call was short, and as Arthl
left the house he mentally exclaimed:
"Why should seek perfection in woman
kind? o, Irene,l did not expect 10 find The
a slattern. Fare well, foreverw His bushes
he had any was soon forgotten, as he lie
II directly, and such change can
over him that his friends wondered what ha
happened TO poor Arthur.
When Mrs. Willis again entered the roo
Irene was In tears.
so, my dear mother, would that had give
ear to your kind counsel. l have seen OF
for the last time whose good opinion high
valued. Arthur Scott will never speak TO II
sgain-but will conquer my carelessnes
and make rnycelf worthy his friendship, OF
your love, my motherj will never more tfoub
you apd disgrace myself by sppenring in q