The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-25
FORTUNE TELLING.

| was spending lew Gays Will my H0''
the Cumingses. in the country, last sumner,
when, one evening, in the midst OF terinc
,hnnder. storm. the door suddenly openee and
!, Gentleman entered, and apologized for hs IN
csremonious intrusion, by saying that his iorse
had become terrified at the lightning. an not
hing able 70 proceed, he had taken the hfrty
Fastening him under the sbed, while he solght
.af,ra aad, as it afterward turned out, NJ I'M
,s;IIiae society in the house. He was re- Ier
tall man, apparently about forty or fofy-6ve,
with thin dark hair, and quite gray wliskers,
and 6 very keen dark eve, which yet leaned
with a remarkable kindness, as he TOOL he seat
offered him by one of the young ladif
have thus introduced the stranger let me
n.w introduce the family. 1t consisdd of Mr..
Cummings and his wife and two lOvet daugh-
,ers-,be eldest dark haired, dark 8ed, and
sxceedinsly beautiful girl of eighteh years,
evidently moulded in her physical conf itution,
as in her mind, after the pattern q hf father.
The Younger of the two was IN all respects the
reverse of her sister. You would hsfdly sup
pose them to belong to the same family. She
was not. perhaps, less beautiful than Hr sister,
and for the wonderful mildness of her 9ep-blue
eve, aud her fair skin and light HAP, I'd ght per-
haps, with some, dispute the palm v th the other.
But il the face of the elder coull be seen a
strength of mind and a decision Of character
which is rarely found combined with 30 much
noble and queenly beauty as hers vas.
"You are wet, sir" said Mr.. Cunings, as he
looked at the garments of the strager.
"Oriy d tribe. sir. Il was ont in front of
your house that | was forced to alyht," was the
reply.
- an glad that you did so. sne feels less
Of thu terror Of such a storm inthe company
others
Should YOU not say awe ir? l think
terror is not the feeling which linking men
experience At such times. But have forgot
len to introduce myself My nam is Morris"
Doctor Morris?'
The same, sir
Il have heard of YOU often, Doctor; and
yOu will excuse me, as not intening to hatter
you, i say that have been anxious to make
your acquaintance. | have heaI much of you
tor the rear that have been living here; but
YOU 1--we at such distance, haze never been
able to meet YOU
II thank you, sir. | am not rhat men call
soc!able, and rarely seek the socnty of others.
pursue my profession here in th country in a
very quiet way aud have better and wider
reputation believe. for professional skill than
for social powers. Still 1 enjoy the society of
intelligent men, and am happy that accident
has thrown me in here to night"
"Will you not stay with us till morning,
Doctor Morris ?" asked Mrs. Cummings.
The Doctor looked at his watch. 1t was past
eieven, and there seemed no mitigation in the
storm.
I" If il viii be no inconvenience, Madam"
Not the least in the world, my dear sir"
We country doctors are accustomed to ma
king ourselves at home everywhere"
Let Us hope you will do so here" said Mr.
Camings.
I, shall be my own fault i. do not
The Doctors horse was stabbed, and, ate
the little hustle of preparation for his comfort
late as it was, we sat down as if it had bee
only the beginning of the evening, and wer
soon charmed-I ought to say entranced-b
The wonderful intelligence of our guest, and tn
orhsncy Of his conversation.
have witnessed such storms as this anon
he mountains OF Switzerland" he said, after
pause, produced by a sudden and near explC
sion of thunder.
You have been abroad, sir?"
q" spent eight years in travel, and in ths
..ne have visited every country where any cit
-en of the United States ever effected an entr]
save no disposition to be pioneer into III
explored regions, bat my fancy for the study
man and human character, Joined to a fondnes
70 see new places and new faces, led me, whe
young man, to be wanderev"
You are not old now
Not in years, sir; but in experience at
intercourse with men, and knowledge of then
am older than my years.
May ask you, Doctor Norris" said Min
the dsrk-eyed daughter, "if your intercour
with ueh has not led you to Judge of men
characters by their faces? We were talkir
on that subject Ehen you came in, and VI
arguing in favor of phgsiognomy.'
=" Do not try to forestall the Doctors opinio
Nina said Mr.. Cummings.
Not at ali, father. only hoped that Z
Doctors observation would enable him to he
me In my cause He says, Doctor, he could
soon believe IN palmistry as in physiognomy
And why not in both, my dear you
lady2"
We we're all surprised at such questic
ana asked In so serious a way by man
A we're beginning to look upon as a sort of l
man wonder, a16 Mr.. Cumipgs drew hims
up as If to make battle against such a prep
ferrous idea. But the Doctor continued.
Mark mel do not say believe in fortu,
Yelling, though do to a very great extent 10
other. But 40 an art, the former, think, is
the easiest to practice
Caui1gs
Certainly, Madam. In the former, y
nave to take IN the ever-chaRging and yaryi
expression OF the human face, under al {
cumstances and combine II with the quite
hypocritical-pesSaps the term is too stro
and | ought to say ar.;fcial-conduct of
individual, and arrive by roundabout road
your conclusions. 1t requires great skill, q
iong-continued and constant study of faces 9
actions. Men hide sleir motives in Il
: hearts, and in this false age of the world Il
\ are constantly striving 10 mould their faces
cover up tfeir thoughts. You must take tn
! at unguer6ed noments. -
| And'in fortsne-se llit G Nina inquired
foa have only the inch snging lines Of