The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-02-25
The Pic-Nic

mind to stay away. A school teacher is ne
company for me-
The next step will be- said one of thu
Ting with u.s.
4 wonder who asked her?' inquired anoth
er one.
1 don't know replied Mary Howell, broth
er Frank told me-
AS she spoke the parlor door opened, and :
handsome young man, about five and twenty
entered, exclalming:
What is that you have to say about me:
Good day, ladies. heard my name as pass
ed through the hall, and l stepped in to see
what treason could be plotting So many pref
ty girls cannot get together without mischief
He laughed as he spoke, and his fair audi
tors laughed too; for Frank Howell was gen
eral favorlte, being as rich, amiable and talent
ed, as he was good looking.
I'VE are Rotting no treason replied the sis
ter, but wondered, who had invited Emily
Saunders to the picnic, tomorrow
1T was friend of mine, said Frank, promptly
'Who?'
say is, that like myself, he is one of the man
ayers, and has full authority to ask who lie
pleases. But what objection is there to Miss
Saunders?' ....
She is nothing but a school ol-teacher, re-
Piled his sister, contemptuously.
oh, that's it, is it? said Frank, and there
was bit of sarcasm in his tone, as he proceed
ed: "A school teacher is not refined enough, for
my fine, lady of a sister--is too ignorant, sup
pose, and can't converse as well as her com
Pan!ons. 1t is too late, sister, to prevent her
going; but can tell my friend the state of the
case, and, as he is desperately in love with Miss
Saunders, perhaps he won't regret being com
pelled to monopolise her himself. Of course,
none of you, suppose, will speak to her.
No, no., said several voices, whose owters
did not care to sink in Franks opinion, and who
saw that he was in part the champion of Miss
Saunders; no, no, that would be rude. We
will be civil to her, certainly
But she will not be welcome, said Frank
looking around the circle, that is plain to per-
celve. However, ladies, as the invitation has
been given, am to see that there is no dispo-
stlon to insult her It's rather, odd, though,
that IN this republican country, an amiabe
young lady is abandoned by her sex, because
the mislortunes of her family have compelled
her to teach school for livelihood
That's all very we'll for stump orator,
when he's canvassng to be elected to congress,
replied his sister, and you, a physician, have
an ambition that way, | suspect. Only don't
practice beforehand on us. You wouldn't Sc
rlously have us associate with girl who work
ed for her iving?'
And why nos?' said Frank, his fine eyes fass-
IN Is III f,r II,
work than a man? Ihonor the woman who sup
ports herself, if poor, far more than one who
becomes a tax relatIves.'
That sounds very grand said the sister,
with a sneer; but how a girl, who spends
her tlme In teaching, be either ompllShed or
refned?'
Very often,' replied Frank warmly, they
are tie most truly accomplished and refined of
their sex. Mrs. Judson, once Fanny Forester,
was school teacher, and who can question her
refinement, accomplishment, or worth? Hun
dreds Of others might be named Also The life
oil ldIeness in which most wealthy and fashion
able ladies indul &c, is not, allow me to say, half
as well calculated to develop the higher quail
ties CT your sex, as teaching school and suffer
Ing prlvaton. doubt if any body, man or wo-
man, is good for much, until they have been
proved, and strengthened by trials of life; and
the gosslplny, twadding existence of a fine lady
offers no such opportunities. My friend, think,
has chosen wisely to select se!f-sustained and
energetic yet refined and intelligent woman
like Miss Saunders. He will, when he marries,
have wife, and not plaything'
His hearers We're in CONSERVATION. Such SEN
tments they had never heard before urged so
hnl n Iy md
opinion, regretted that they had allowed their
to Miss Saunders to be seen Their
conversation grew tame; one by one, the fair
gosslps dropped off, and before long, Mary
Howell was left alone.
1t was just after sunrise on the following
that Emily Saunders stood before the
looking glass, in her small yet neat little cham
Der, completing her toilet for the pic mic. Her
dress was virgin white, and she was placing
IN her bosom a moss rose bud, the morning gift
OF her partner for the day, WHO was sitting be-
low. A blush was on her cheek, for it was
the first token she had received from the gen
tleman in question, and the modest girl, who
had never yet acknowledged to herself the pre-
ference she felt for him, was in futter of sur
prise and pleasure. Her agitation compelled
her foreman longer before the glass than she
had intended; but having finally composed her
spirits, she tripped lightly down.
All that Frank said the day before to her fa-
Vorwas more than borne out by the truth. Her
ather had been a merchant, and considered
'ich; but the dishonesty of others had ruined
1im, and soon after he died of broken heart
The mother was not long in following. In this
:risis Emily showed what heroic woman could
10. She resolved to support, by her own ex-
ruons, her little brother and herself and in this,
hough some cousins, her nearest relations, Of
cred her home, she knew the tender had
'een grudgingly made, and her spirit was too
Ugh to accept unwilling charity. Accordingly,
lavIng heard that the school Of Chestnut vii |
age was vacant, she applied for the situation,
eceved it, and removed from the city.
Though most Of those who had in prosperity
'rofessed to be friends, moved by narrow pre-
udlces. deserted her, there was one who did not. |
This, strange to say, was gentleman. He had
nown her when she was courted heiress, and
when he, comparative stranger in the city,
where he was pursuing his studies, had been
,uest courteousl y welcomed at her fathers
ouse. He was now successful physician, the
dol Of every circle in which he moved, but he
ad not forgot his old acquaintance. In fact