The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-30
Surprised--why 80 ~

| iou reeollect the conversation that took place
on the subject the morning | was at your house ~
| ", yes! ] remember that Mr. Cunningham
was giving kind of dissertation on the superior
pleasure OF ones own chimney corner. Really, /
wsh ne did not love home quite so well; though
don't despair OF teaching him, by and by, to love
society"
"Can it be possible that you really regret your
husbands attachment TO homey" asked Mrs West
bury.
Yes, certainly, when il interferes with nv
going cut. man and his wife may enjoy enough
OF each Others society, and yet see something of
the world. At any rate, shall teach Ned that
AM not to be made u recluse tor any man."
" Have you no fears, my dear Mrs. Cunning
ham" said Mrs. Westbury, that your want of
conformity to your husbands taste will lessen your
influence over him." .- n
I" And of what use is this influence" asked Mrs
Cunningham I" unless IL be cxerted 10 obtain the
eBjoyments love-" 49,. 4. 4. .....E @.
so pray beware" said Mrs Wostbury, with
much feeling, beware lest you sacrifice your hap
pinsss for chimera Beware how you trite with
20 invaluable treasure the heart OF a hus-
band" .. ... ...m ".,'
"Pho--pho-how serious you are growing"
said Mrs. Cunningham. Actually warning and
exherting at twenty years ofage! What preacher
you will be by the time you forty! But now
be honest, and confess that you, yourself would
",
through stupid evening with Westbury."
Then to speak truth" said Julia, al should
prefer an evening at home to all the parties in the
world. Balls never attend, and do not think stu
pidity necessary, even with no other companion
than ones own husband" s...~ ~
" Then why do you attend parties, if you do not
like thsm?"
"Because Mr.. Westbury thinks it proper that
should" '...
And so you 60 to him, like miss to her papa
and mamma, to ask him what you must do" said
Mrs. Cunningham, laughing. "This is delightful,
truly. Bat for my part cannot see why l have
not as good right to expect Edward to conform
to my taste and wishes, as for me to conform to
his. And SO Westbsry makes you 60, whether
you like it or not?n
No, indeed" said Mrs. Westbury 81 never
expressed to him my aversion to going not wish
ing him to feel as if were making a great sacri-
fioc in complying with his wishes"
"Wel, this is pretty and dutiful, and delicate"
said Mrs Cunningham, laughing again. "But
don't set up for pattern wife, and if Edward and
get along as we'll as people in general, shall be
satisfied But to turn to something else How do
you like Miss Eldon?"
81 am not at all acquainted with her." said
Julia.
"You have met her several times" said Mrs.
Cunningham.
appearance is greatly in her favor; think her
very beautiful"
She is called 80, said Mrs. Cunning CHAM; "but
some how don't like her looks To tell the plain
truth, can't endure her. she is so vain and artful
and selfcomplacent."
81 have not the least acquaintance with her."
repeated Julia; "but IL were pity so loyelEa face
should not be accompanied by an amable heart.
Are you much acquainted with herr"
g Not narsnnaliy Indeed | nnyar cnuyaraad
with her for ten inmates in my life"
"Thsn you may be mistaken in thinking her
vain and artfu)," said Mrs. Westbury.
90, Eve seen enough to satisfy me fully as 10
that point" said Mrs. Cunningham. when Il
young lady exerts herself TO engross the attention
of newly married men, and when she looks 20 self
satisfied a. success, want nothing more. She. can
have no deicacy of feeling; she must be a CO.
quette Of the wsrst kind"
1t was now Mrs. Westbury's turn to change the
subject of conPersstion, and simply remarking-
That we should be extremely careful how we
Judge of character hastily" she asked some ques-
ton chat drove Miss Edon from Mrs. Cunning
haas mind Soon after the visitor departed and
Julia returned to her chamber.
In the evening vixen Mr.. Wcstbury came in, he
found Julia reading, but she Immediately laid
down her book, and resumed her work. She
thought il quite "a impolto to pursue the solitary
pleasure OF reading while her husband was sitting
by, as to have done so with any other companion;
and she knew no reason who he was not as much
cBtitsd TO civility as stranger, or common &c.
quaintanoc. It was not long before Mr.. Westbury
inquired "what book had engaged her attention"
1t was DR.. RusselPs Palestine.
alt is delightful work" said Julia. al have
lust read an extract from Chateaubrand, that
think one Of the most elegant passages ever met
with"
6. should Ike to hear it,, said Mr.. Westbury.
Jslia opened her book, and the passage lost none
Of it's beauty by her reading She read the fol-
lowing.
"WheR you travel in Judea the heart is at first
filed with profound melancholy. But when, pass
ing from solitude 10 solitude, boundless space
opens before you, this feeling wears of by de-
grsos and you experience a secret awe, which so
far from depressing the SOUL .imparts life, and
elevates the genius. Extraordinary appearances
every where proclaim a land teeming with mira
clcs The burning sun, the towering eagle, the
barren ig-tree all the poetry all the pictures Of
Scripture arc here. Every name commentaries
a mystery, every grotto announces prediction,
every hill re-echoes the accents Of prophet. God
himself has spoken in these regions, dried up
rivers, rent the rocks, and opened the grave. The
desert still appears mute with terror, and you
would imagine that il had never presumed to in
terrupt the silence since it heard the awful voice
Of the Eternal"
Julia closed the volume and Mr.. Westbury after
bestowing jus; praise on the extract she had read,
took up the work and proposed to read If she would
like. She thanked him, and an hour was very
pleasantly spent in this manner. little time was
occupsd in remarking on what had been read,
when, after short silence Mr.. Westbury inquired
of Julia, "whether she saw much OF Mrs. Cunning
ham
"Not great deal was Julia's answer.
"She' was hear this morning." said Mr. West
bury. "S She was, replied Julia.
"Doyou intend TO be intimate withher?" inquired
Mr. Westbury.
IL have no Intention about it :" said Julia
" but presume l never shall as fear our views
and tastss viii prove very dscordant.
'I am happy to hear you say So said Mr. west,
bury. 81 am not prepossessed in her favor; and
greatly doubt whether an intimacy with her would
be salutary Such a person as | conceive her
TO he should be nothing more than an acqualn'
tNnce."
Notking more was said on the subject, and Juls
wondered, though she did not ask, what had gwen
her husband 30 unfavorable an impression OIL MIS-
Csnninsham's cha acter The truth was he over
heard the conversation Of the morning, which he
weuld have frankly confessed to his wife, but fora
kind of deicacy to her feelings, as h had heard
hor renarka as well a. those Of Mrs Cunningham.
- -, r., :, vas not quite honorable to listen