Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-12
Al16l1S1 199 a
The Coquette-

n OF Joh 3, to be sure !; but what was almost
as bad, Ephraim or Eph, as people called
him when they felt familiar-named so in
commemoration of his father and grandfath-
er before him, after an excellent old-fash-
ioned custom that has been the ruin of ma
ny an innocent child. Now if it had been
Brown, or white, or Green, or even Jones,
it might have been overlooked, but to be
Eph Smith, and rather young and unso-
phisticated at that, was more than sensis
tive fellow in love could bear. For Ephraim
had committed the indiscretion of falling
desperately in love with a bright particular
star, and seeking to wed it.
Poor Eph The money spent for oil and
ottar-of rose, the wonderful crayats he
sported, the tight boots he wore, and made
believe they didn't hurt him, the airs and
attitudes he practised before the glass, the
futtering of hope and despair he endured,
are they not within the experience of every
young swain in love? What need to reg
lister them here?
Miss Fanny Cutter had run through a
winter in town, and bethought herself of her
uncle's family whom she had not visited
since childhood, just as people were leav-
ing for Niagara and the Springs. In con-
sequence, aletter favored with jockey club,
and laden with some words, arrived at
E, announcing her intention of visi-
ting " Dear Aunt Mary" and was follow
ed the next saturday night by the young
lady herself.
All E. looked at DIR. Cutters pew,
next day, and some eyes stared in that di-
rection all through the service, quite as
tonished at the display of fashion The
bonnet was cloud of lace and ribbons
the silk dress is richer than anything in
town, except Mrs. Wizards satin; the
white kid gloves the smallest; the hand.
kerchief nearly all lace; the gold chain
and bracelets wonder, and the pustle Gil
was those days. beyond anything that had
been seen in town Inside the bonnet
there was very pretty face, and inside the
dress very pretty figure, and the gait tina
brought them down the church steps to th'
doctors old carryall, said as plainly al
manner could, " You don't see live bell'
from Boston every day, I know"
There was party at the doctors tn
next week-one Of those pleasant summe
parties in the country, when the window
are all opened, and everybody goes in an
out as they please among the blossomin
shrubs, where the table bears new, res
fruits and cream, and salads as crispy a
possible. But the wonder Of the party wa
Miss Cutter, in one of her evening dresss
"a plain silk, houpeed to the waist, wit
as much of the shoulders and arms visib
as decency would allow. She played an
sang, she danced and chatted and hirte
with the young gentlemen, and was tt
theme Of conversation for a week afterward
The girls thought her affected, vain sill
even, and quite rude; but the geutIeme
were completely dazzled. Six poor fellow
had no relish for food or sleep from tn
night; four began to write verses and we:
tight boots, and one, our hero Eph, Shove
all the symptoms in the most maligna
manner.
Eph's position as confidential clerk
the only merchant in town, gave him
entree in society that would have not tt
Grated widow Smiths son; for the wido
lived in poor house mile from tow
and had sold eggs, fruit and stockings
her own knitting, to give her only child
respectable education, and a start in t
world.
A simple, good women was Mrs. Smit
who conscientiously wore one bonnet a
black bombazine gown for twenty years, a
always went meekly into church, with
folded handkerchief and hymn book in
hand, and curtsied reverently towards t
deacon lady when she came down the al
"a simple, kind woman, with the fear
: God and the Squire's family before |
Ieyes, and was as innocent of all guile,
newly hatched chickens. Nobody co,
. make cool, yellow butter cakes with hs
nobody could fatten and dress poultry,
!, raise early peas and cucumbers and tor
: toes as well, or make an Indian puddi
a or pumpkin pie, or toe off stocking,
as we'll. But these were poor recomm
dations in the eyes of fashionable {
girl, and Eph was in continual torn
between his reverence and affection for
mother and his passion for the "bri
7 particular star"
y All the neignbors knew of Eph's 7
k dicament. How could they help knowil
le He put up salt for suguar, best brandy
IS molasses, boxes Of mustard for little sh
- - knitting needles for whalebones Ev
e. body laughed at him, and pitied him, WI
ID was quite as bad but Eph only though
ID his charmer, and wished that his mo,
h, could be persuaded to stay home from ch
60 during her stay in town. He laid him
out IN extraordinary copies of verses &
rowed) and terribly silly epistles on
edge paper, accompanied with bundle
1t candy, papers of peanuts, and bunche
of flowers, which went regularly to Dr.
ed ter's and were well laughed over by all
!. girls.
!. At lenghth the visit drew to close,
" clad in his tightest trousers, and shi
IN, hat, Eph made the last call upon his
se- SLAYER. Luckily, she was alone, and
x an awkard silence, broken by several
ars erable attempts at speech, the poor y
went down on his knees, and declared
mr. self.
The young lady waited till his rhar
was finished, and then very coolly told
not that, even if she cared for him, she 81
In not wish to connect herself with so "
person as his mother.
lng Poor Eph! He got up as graceful
IL possible, and was bowing himself out
pathetically, when his eyes fell on the
'alo of his pantiloons. Horror! In gettir
to attitude, he has split both legs acros