Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-05
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. THE CITY BELLE;
OR SIX MONTHS IN THE COUNTRY.
BIZ MRS. LYDIA J. PIERSoN.

"My dear Louiss, the doctor has Informed
your pa that be car prescribe nothing FUR
ther for you, except a Fix months residence
in the country, which, with proper care. he
says may greatly alleviate your symptoms.
We hsve consulted Oh the subject, andl have
concluded to write TO a relative of ours in
Lebanon county 20 know If she can accom-
modate and nurse yeu Your pa and | can
not possibly leave the city ut present, but
Sarah shall accompany you, as she is csre-
full and affectionate."
"Oh. ma, how can lire six months in
the country-sway from fashion, society and
all the elegsncies of ifet and with no other
companions than the rude, ignorant country
girls, Dear ma. canno, think of it; had
rather stay here and die"
This conversation took place between
Mrs. Henshaw and her invalid daughtar, in
one of the most elegantly furnished parlors
in Philadelphia. Mrs. Henshaw was lead
er of the fashionable circle, and her only
child, Louisa, had been a bel e from girl
hood But depression of spirits and bodily
.anpuor he'd for some time lain heavily over
her. and her health, had begun rapidly to
decline. Perhaps she could have explained
the cause of her illness, but she did not at
tempt it, and her effectionate mother deter
mined to lay apon her country relatives the
burden of which she was so heartily weary.
Il was to her own brother she had resolved
10 confide her child He was a wealthy
farmer, living on the veiy lands on which
she had passed her youth. Having been
adopted by a wealthy, childless aunt, she
married the rich and elegant Mr.. Henshaw,
and had utterly forgotten the home and
friends of her childhsod, until it became
necessary to take Louisa to the country, and
the utter impossibility Of leaving the city
awakened in her the idea of brother that
was once dear to her, But she spoke oi
him only ss relation, trusting that her
daughters pride would justify her caution.
LOUISE wept bitterly at the thought Of leav-
ing her parents, the city and her acquain-
tances, but Mr. Henseaw hsstened the pre-
o,rs,ious ar dthe invalid lady with her maid
were sent awsy, with an earnest charge to
avoid damp air and damp feet, and write if
she should grow worse. rd
It was the latter part of March when they
set out, but the weather was exceedingly
fine. Louisa wept until the carriage was
some miles from the city, and the sun high
in the clear heaven. Then she uncovered
her face and looked out of the carriage,
with the determination to see some hateful
or at least some unpleasant object. But
her ewes fell on neat, white dwellings, and
fair fields, with soft shade OF green on
every swell, relieving the brown ground.
work, and orchard trees standing in slightly
rows, while ths light winged songsters were
dsshing to and fro, and filling the air with
their sweet, chirpinf melody. "Ho~ beau
tifulr' she cried involuntsrily. She was al.
ready in love with the country.
Mrs. Henshaw received several brief let
tiers, stating that Louiss was contented, ant
her health was improving.
ST wonder how she can be contented,'
Mrs. Henshaw would exclaim ga girl like
Louisa, SO genteel, SO highly accomplished
90 very delicate and sensitive, to be con
tented with such ignorant, unpublished peo
ple! / suppose that she 10 amused at tn,
wonder and sdmiration of the country beau,
and bellies, and enjoys a sort of queenly