The Winchester weekly appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-07-26
SOPHIA NORTON's WAY OF
HEADING A CONSPIRACY AGAINST HER PEACE.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

The sex to which | have the honor O
belonging, has, from time immemorial
been accused Of being peculiarly subjec
to that compound of love and hate, of fol
ly and fury-that Lear of passions, the
weak, mad dupe of his own creations
Jealousy. In the name of the sisterhood
deny the charge, | fling it back on oul
accusers; for the lordly sexiti is, who yield
to the green eyed monster the most 10y.
al and ready obedience. Does any one
doubt the truth of this position?-let him
seat himself, with becoming resignation,
listen to my proof, and rise up convinced.
A rare girl was my schoolmate, Sophie
Norton, a charming, beautiful riddle
She was blonde, of the most delicate
description, with mild, tender, Lucy
Ashtonish sort of face, and ways so con
fdingly willing, | would defy flesh and
blood to Withstand them. And yet, this
angel in form and feature, this seeming
embodiment of all most exqusitely ethe
real and spiritual, was in truth the most
dashing, daring, for.naught, gypsy Of
a creature, dear reader, that ever took
your heart by stratagem, or carried it by
storm. She was admirably polite, how
ever, seldom showing both sides of her
character to the same persons, or class OF
persons. Our teachers praised her as a
model of propriety and loveliness, while
we adored her as the queen Of fun and
frolic, who led us into the widest and
most unheard. of.scrapes, and as skilfully
and triumphantly led us out.
On leaving school, Sophia spent few
months with friend in Philadelphia.
| cannot say that her visit caused any
great connection in right.angle. DOM
She was beautiful, exceedingly, but hers
was not the style Of loneliness to create a
Juror. She was very like ones summer
dream of sweetness and gentleness, yet
few people, beside poets, ever think OIL
falling in love with dream; and then,
she was not an heress.
AT last, as the Germans would say, she
met her destiny. Wishing to have her
miniature taken, young artist, Of con.
siderable promise, was selected by hel
friends. She found him quite ones idea
Of true votary Of the divine art; his light
est words, the tones Of his voice, showing
an ardent, earnest, enthusiastic temper
ament. His face would have been of al
most too lofty and severe beauty, were
it not for a smile Of child like archness
and amability always dancing attendance
on his lips. His form was finely proper
toned, but in my eye rather too petit fol
perfect manliness.
Well, Sophie soon saw, by woman's
marvellous intuition, that Mr.. J. Ran
dolph Richmond, Che wrote his name
thus, for fear of being called Jack) wa:
irretrievably in love-and with her owr
sweet self. Yet Sophia was sensible
girl, and kept her own heart with all dill
lgence. She liked the lad passing well
but in regarding his character she had one
chilling fear. 1t was, that his devotion
to painting arose not from sincere love
for the art, but from personal ambition
that passion which the world has baptiz
ed with praise, and christened with glo
rious name, but which is in truth only {
fiery, intense, and concentrated sci
fshness. So, she did not yield to wo
mans amiable weakness and love, be
cause she was loved did not let graft
tude lead her blindfold to the altar.
know, should put on gloves while hand
ling this dear pet fault Of my sex, Blu
my charming sisters, why are you grateful
Just bring your everyday tenderness
your patient, fond, worshipping, self-sac
rihcing love; and then place mans holiday
admiration, his fanciful, patronizing, ex
acting, doubling affection, in the opposite
scale, and see in what passion of hast'
they will go up. Thank a man for read
ing you FIVE Enacted acts from his drama
for writing an acrostic on your name; 70
asking an introduction to rival belle
for saying you arc surprisingly like hi'
maiden aunt-but never for the honor o
his preference. Be grateful to him for tn
offer of his handkerchief to hem, or hi
gloves to mend, but never for that Of hi
heart aud hand In love matters, flinl
away gratitude; tits but a charity sort o