Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-06

exquisitely now, when they change-as they
must, for change is the only immutable law Of
woman's nature--you have bitter enemy 10
possession Of every secret, the confdant of every
weakness and the world at large meanwhile,
is convinced that you have been trifing with a
young lady's Affections
is it we who always change!' retorted my
companion; 4 am sure not. You will not think
me vain If say it is my experience. / shall
never forget having once made the acquaintance
OF gentleman, much older than myself, whom
| liked and respected. was very young, and
| own that it fattered me 10 discover that per-
son Of his standing seemed to find pleasure in
my company. We became very intimate, and
in little while he proposed that we should
enter into solemn agreement TO be friends, as
the German students do. He chose books for
me TO read and sent his notes on the text writ
ten on the margin. At first they were philo-
sophical works; but very soon he brought me
poetry, and sometimes even novel. AT las;
he would send me nothing but flowers Can
you believe it, she continued, with sorrowfnl
simplicity, that, in spite of our express agree
ment in the beginning, he would become low
er =
Indeed believe il = said shuddernp si-
lently at the fate of this unhappy gentleman,
who in his declining years had fallen into the
young girls hands. How endearingly she must
have beguiled him on, step by step, to be low
er, and then what contempt she must have
secuted the abjec, victim from her presence, be-
cause he had approached her under the mask of
friendshp-the very mask which she had COM
PEELED the poor old fellow in the outset TO adopt
BY this time we had emerged from the long
avenue Of trees and passed into the broad moon
light which poured a sanity radiance upon
fair, innocent brow, and sparkled along her hair
with liquid CLEAN, wavering as it does upon
ripping water. She was of small statue, but
her shape was beautifully moulded and from
the slender waist upward, her form swayed with
every motion, like a water-lilly rocking on
wave.
There was in her every attitude and gesture
an unconscious appeal 10 the chiyalrc part of
ones nature; and she inspired that kind of lik-
ing, that temptation TO caress, which pet ami
NAL will excite by its mere sofincss and pretti-
ness.
~ "ouiu oC uo ouS NUntiUutu,
in a musing tone as though she were talking to
herself and the stars. Yes, the whole world
would be better and more pleasant to live in if
men and women were allowed 10 form friendships.
For my part, | sincerely believe that the intel
ligence of either sex can never be quite devel-
oped in its perfection without the influence of
the other.
i have Observed, said /, in those gentle
men who are distinguished favoriies, and much
in the society of your sex, very peculiar de-
velopement Of mind indeed
DO you not know, sir, that it is most unfair
and ii is really like a practical joke. 1t is
very polite way, l suspect, of saying that you
think me very foolish and at the same time you
lay kind Of trap for me, SO that may be de-
ceived by your grave tone, and confirm your
opinion by foolishly taking you to be in earnest
Is it not sol Irony is the weapon of an assas-
sin, if you will excuse the expression.
you are unquestionably in the right re-
Piled. quite crest-iallen in my astonishment at
finding my best sneer returned on my hands in
this way.
You must forgive me. | have a habit of
being ironcal now and then, but mean moth
ing disrespectful by ii believe me-
Il DO believe you. ! complain Of it because
it is generally so unmeaning 4; but that is little
harm compared with the pain it inhcts.
Her manner was sinsularly frank and gentle,
and the spirit which she so unex xpectedly betray-
ed left my mind in glow Of interest which
hours of sentimental conversation would not have
kindled. She deemed me, then, not worth the
pains Of a sisterly correction.
Il am in earnest ! said,' advancing the po-
sition that an unmxed friendship between the
sexes is impossible, morally and physically
You cannot make such heaven Of our earth
as it might be, SO long as there is marrying and
giving in marriage upon it whenever the lamb
shall safely associate with the wolf, man may
court the society of your sex without precau-
tion or apprehension.
'Or child play abou, the den of the cocka-
trice |! That, suppose, sir, is better simle tc
express the innocence of your sex and the sub
tlety Of mine =
'Ifony is the weapon of an assassin mur-
INJURED I.
She did not hear my faint retort.
you are not in earnest, Mr.. s.; but will
not suffer myself to be laughed out of my en-
thusiasm. know how entirely you are depend
ent on US for the refinement of manner whic,
is indispensable 10 you as gentlemen. There
you are absolutely at our mercy; even yo,
yourself will confess twill you not!'
Il will
But you are still more indebted 10 US, be
lieve, for that refinement of the mind which il
necessary TO make your abilities appear to III,
best advantage among men. We have il in ou
power, am sure to give the polish, which il
quite as essential to the brilliant use of your in
tellectual strength as it is TO the keenness of
sword. Where else, except in the society o
what Is called the softer SEX can you acquir,
the faculty of being alive TO the fainter impres
sions of beauty and poetry in life! Where els
can you learn how graceful thought may be
Look at the moonshine near the foot of tha
tree; how beautifully it Aickers upon the eart
among the shadows of quivering leaves s.
it is with the inspiration of poet it falls up
on his soul cold and monotonous as the unbroke
moonlight. We must come between him an
the source of his inspiration, and then-and on
ly then, recollect-will the light play and spark
la with life aad ka n nd e. eha nas