Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-11-13
Alas. that the serpent could glide be-
tween them! There we're rich hangings

Alas, that the serpent could glide be-
tween them There we're rich hangings
and splendid pictures-gorgeous carpets
and splendid furniture-light. and music,
and white-handed ease. Yet the fair
mistress of the mansion had a world.
weary look-the bane Of her life was the
serpent, which has stung many a poor
heart to death. We saw it in the wild
eyes, flushed face and trembling nerves of
her husband, when he came in and flung
himself down for a fevered, unrefreshing
rest after night Of reckless dissipation
and wine.
Verify are there sorpents in Eden.
True, many of them have not the mag
nitude and power Of the one first quoted
many of them are very small yet they
spoil thr vines, notwithstanding
sting and are gone. Little and swift and
wicked. nobody thinks Of hunting or
crushing them. We saw one this morning.
when in the street we met a youth in the
first flush and pride of manhood. -
straight. and vigorous and graceful; We
looked admiringly at the harmonious
union of strength and beauty.-Beauti.
full were his feet with boots,-free and
elastic the motions of his well-knit frame
in its adorning of neat and fitting gar
ments. Alas, as we passed him he
smothcred US with the villainous smoke
of bad cigar.-and we were prevented
from noting his excel encies further by
4 fit of coughing. Very many are there
of these little reptiles, which habit nur.
ses at last into venomous serpents
We hear their malicious hiss in angry
words.-in neighborhood quarrels, in
Sian erous whispers, in !he schoolroom.
in the church, and alas, in the homes of
our pleasant world.
Everywhere are there serpents in Eden.
The last time we felt the forked tongue
was this morning. The wound was small
but the ache is in it yet. Passing along
one OF our finest streets, our attention
was arrested by beautiful little girl.
who was playing in the garden of an
elegant and tasteful dwelling. She was
fair little creature with light eyes and
golden hair,its curls being unusually long
and abundant.-We walked more slowly,
to prolong the pleasure of looking'at her.
We confess to soft place in our heart
for little girls-and with pleased admi-
ration we we're noticing the changeful
shine which her hair caught from the sun j.,
when she observed us,-and we were
aware that our face sofened into great
smile, as she turned her pretty face to.
wards us. And then. oh, disenchant-
ment! instead Of gladdening our heart
with an answering smile, or that most
graceful and sweet Of all things-a child
laugh-she repaid our worship by toss
ing back her pretty head. and twisting
her face into the ugiest grimace we ever
beheld-a look almost Mephistophelian
in its malice and scorn, whereby her deli.
cate features were quite wrenched away
from their legitimate prettiness. and pre-
sented a most repulsive and distorted as
Ip2ct. We could not help start at the
instantaneous transformation-so weird,
so impish. so evil 1t hurt us, soul and
body-and we hurried away with sting
in our heart, and our faith even in little
girls somewhat shaken.
| OF truth there are serpents in Eden