True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-09-09
z Raglan, Editor and Proprietor.

naIne upon the wall
Fired with the thought, we began the
work, forbidding the Eousemaid TO desc.
crate the premises on peril Of her broom
and dust-pan.
The chamber was soon "swept and
garnished," then we replaced the books
upon their rosewood shelves, dragged a
huge easy chair beside the window, so
that the rays of the sun might fall upon
the royal purple of its velvet covering,
placed little prophyry vase in the hand
of the statue that occupied the corner of
the room, and another upon the center
taGle, in readiness for the flowers which
we were to gather in the morning. Re-
membering That Festus has said
"There's something in the shape of harps
AS though they had been made by music"
I placed my own beside the statue, with
wreath Of myrtle thrown carelessly over
its strings, and laid my pet writing-desk
upon the centre-table, with all its stores
of gilded, embossed and perfumed note
paper, fancy envelops, motto waters, and
above all, the gold pen, in the form of a
cross and crescent, which had been the
last gift of nv lover. Faithles that |
was But may the hearts of all true
lovers forgive me! The poet had posi-
lively turned my brain.
The sun was setting when we finished
our labor. The room was bathed in a
rich golden light. that hovered like glory
over the snowy curtains of the bed, gave
new beauty to the marble face of the
statue, and touched the strings of the harp
till they cleaned like chords of fire. The
effect was glorious, and if, TO our eyes,
the room looked so peacefully and tran
gully beautiful, how would the glorious
orbs of the poet revel in lis home.ike
aspec. ! Sally, the housemaid, stood
peeping in at the door, with open mouth
and astonished face, circulating, every
now and then,
"Well, if 1 ever see such pretty place
in all my born days l guess Mr.. Sim
mons'll think he's got into the Arabian
Nights !"
With sly laugh at SalIy's delight
and learning, we ran to change our dress
es and smooth our hair, and soon Joined
my guardian at tea.
He scrutinized us narrowly as we en-
tered, and muttered
"Humph ! | suppose you two fools
have been working yourselves to death
for that college boy. He isn't worth it,
girls, I'll tell YOU"
"Have you ever seen him :" queried
Louise.
Eyes"
90, pray tell us how he looks, and al |
about him /" chorused we, instanter.
II shan't do any such thing. You'll
see for yourselves, when he gets here, if
you don't explode with curiosity before
that time."
90, but guardy, now do tell us p
"Bah l won't. You'll enjoy it at all
the better if you wait, and l don't mean to
spoil my fun, can tell you."
And with these mystical words he de-
parted, leaving us to sing Sc ntimental
songs, play touching melodies on the pi-
ano, or read once more the poems we had
already learned by heart, and murmur
that Harrison Simmons had not placed q
finely executed portrait Of himself as a
frontispiece TO his volume.
"lf ever am well enough acquainted
with him." said Louise, that night, as we
fingered by the window in curl.papers
and dressing gowns, "I'll ask him for his
miniature, and wearit ever after on my
heart"
/ And with this consoling reflection
based on the uncertain future, we both
fell asleep.
The next morning, at ten o'clock, we
had finished breakfast, arranged the par
lor with our own hands, filled Che vases
in the poets room with fresh, fragrant
flowers, endured the railing of my guar
dian with all imaginable composure, ant
we're safely seated in our own room, en-
gagged in the important duties Of the toilet
The stage was expected precisely a
twelve. Our dinner hour was at two
but on this occasion, in consideration o.
the tired and hungry travellers, it was
changed to half past twelve. Louise ant
had, therefore, two hours to dress in
little enough time we thought it, too.-
For six months we had dressed exactly
alike, and it was not to be expected tina
we should relinquish the practice on thi
eventful day. So we chose our pet dresses
two Foulard silks, of the most beau.i
full shade Of blue, with ribbons and belt
to match; and tiny dress aprons, of stone
colored silk, trimmed with narrow blacl
velvet. 1t was summer, and the dresse
were made with low necks and snor
sleeves ; each wore bracelet claspe,
by the others miniature, and, to complet,
the whole, our hair, which happened Il
be of the same shade and texture, fell il
heavy ringlets over our shoulders, ant
was wreathed, in front, with clusters y
wood-violets and geranium leaves.
| I may as we'll confess the truth. w
were bent on captivating the poets eye
and heart.
"Do you think" said Louise. as she
balanced a bottle Of "Lubin's Extract o