True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-02-13
CHAPTER II.

they WeEe idT ou tuelI way W the souLheTn
land.
CHAPTER II.
"What have we here?" inquired the
stately Madam Lawrence, as she entered
the hall of her academy one Origt sum-
mer morning, where she Encountered e
group Of young ladies', chatting unt laugh
ing with rather more than the nlloue ole
quantity of noise. ga flock Of blactO,rds,
or nest of mngpies, I Judge" Anc the
lady smiled kindly as she received tle sal
utations Of her pupils.
"Pray excuse us, madam" answered the
pretty Carrie Denton; "we were rather
noisy; but Selome here is SO frightened Ot
the idea of being May Queen that we
could not help laughing at her, indeed. For
my purt," added the merry gifl, 81 should
be perfectly happy if'I deserved such an
honor, and only wish l had studied more,
as she has done, that l might relieve her
of her burden of laurels."
"She has done well, said Madam Law
renee, "and fully merits our APPROVAL"
Then turning to the blushing Selome, she
continued, "But the consciousness of well
doing is its best rewards it not, my
dear!"
"lt is, indeed, madam" replied the
maiden; and l would gladly be excused
from receiving any other than this, and your
own kind words"
"You are too timid, Miss Linwood,"
slnilingly remarked the teacher. "lTe
must overcome this. 1t is no such fearful
ordeal as you seem to imagine-this being
crowned May Queen and Carrie has just
told you now gladly she would accept the
honor. But come. young ladies'" she con-
tinued, "the sun is getting high, ind the
gentlemen will be here anon; so a.ry your
selves at once, and be in readiness to accom-
pany them"
Ashwood Academy was an old establish
ment, and in its most palmy days the fin
ishing school, from which graduated many
young ladies who afterwards shone us stofs
in the literary world, Oh bright luminG fies
in the circle of social life; from which
youth of no ordinary talent stepped forth
into the world without, who have since
figured largely on the stage OF existence,
and helped to administer the laws Of ne
tions.
Toll and application here never failed to
bring reward, not only in the lctual mount
of good gained, but in the vcfious sources
of amusement and qualification which the
teachers delighted to dispose tmong heir
pupils; for they were not it,n believers
in the somewhat antiqup,o .aeory thet
young people shoud be "rde i,.ppy; that
they are not yet men and uomen; anc tnat
pleasure and gayety ore as naiural o .hem
as sunlight and dew to the violet a1i tae
rose.
Flowers do not come with the name oil
Spring to our northern land; neither sces
the nymph bring balmy zephyrs md wGrm
sunbeams. March, April sEl My cone
and 60, with their snow storms, their frosts
their keen easterly winds anc driving "a ms
ero the first little blossom dares TO "a. .ss t:
tiny heud above the moss; but .ne saee1
breath of June soon lures then from theii
beds. and under its happy auspices New
England becomes garGen Of Eden, music
al with the songs of birds and bright witt
the radiance of perfect days.
IL was custom at Ashwood, and hat
been from time immemorial, for teachers
and pupils to hold picnic, in the month
of June, in the dark old woods that borde
: the shores of the lovely Lake Auburn, ant
there to crown with the roses of summer
her who, by diligent application to book
and ladylike department, ranked frs
among her associates as a scholar and ,
lady.
Selome Linwood had won the prize; DR.
Boyer himself had read her name at th'
head Of the listof deserving; Madam Law
renee had publicly announced the same Il
the young ladies; her almost sister, ELL
Carleton, had kissed her cheek. assurin.
her that she was as glad as If she hersel
had received it, and her old playfellow an,
schoolmate, Willis Cutler. had hurrie,
breathlessly down the green lane, to be tn
first to bear the tidings to his friend Mrs
Carleton.
And Selome was as happy as her younI
heart could wish. Not shadow hs,
clouded her page Of life sinCe the day
when Aunt Carleton promised to- be