Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-08-20

SUBSTITUTE for the yeettny addresses com
mon at thst period"
"That may be true, Mr.. Motley but ]
doubt whether the refinement Of which you
speak, has added anything to the sum total
of our happiness. AS far as l can judge,
it has brought with it much social incon.
venience and no little nonsense. 1t has
given rise to a thousand artificial wants
built up anti-social forms and ceremonies,
and undermined that basis of equality
which should know but one distinction
one line of separation, the good from the
bad-But l have no time to argue the
question with you During my absence,
Mr.. Motley, l want you to make Helen as
cheerful as possible. She is feeble and
detected but her mind is the seat of the
disease, and agreeable excitement is the
true remedy. Guard her from the painful
rumors that are afoat and encourage the
belief that her troubles will be Of short
duration, and will end in permanent good.
Mrs. Whitman and Miss Lee have promis-
ed to be her constant companions, and
within such a circle as you will all form,
the highest social enjoyment may be look
ed for. You know enough, sir, Of our
family secrets to be aware that I have
abundant cause for anxiety, and as my
stay in Winchester is uncertain, write
often that I may be apprised of everything
going on here-But I see the girls are
coming to meet us, so will trouble you
with no further Notwithstanding upon
your friendship and sound judgment for
the performance of all that may be
needed"
"What important business have you on
hand, gentlemen, that makes you both
look so grave?" Asked Helen, as she and
Jane joined them.
"The prospect of leaving such charming
companions makes Mr.. Berne look sad y
said Mr.. Motley; Gas for myself, l was
never serious in my life, though some
persons have mistaken the dignity of my
manner, and the stern repose of may
features, for gravity"
"Your glass deceives you, Mr.. Motley"
Helen answered; "for neither your man.
ners nor features make any such impress
sion upon others; and Miss Lee said, last
night, she was sure you do not belong to
the school of crying philosophers"
"And was that all Miss Lee could say
in my favor? l was in hopes l had made
favorable impression upon her, for |
tried to behave myself particularly well. -
"And you succeeded Mr.. Motley but
what Aim Lee thinks of you, do not
know, and would not tell you, if did, for
tale-telling is not very honorable. But if
you are very anxious to learn what she
thinks of you, will ask her to give me a
written opinion, which will exonerate me
from all responsibility.
"That is the idea, Mr.. Motley" said
Mr.. Berne, "and by way of giving her a
pretext for so doing, just send her the
document we were reading awhile ago"
"Have you forgotten your promise SO
soon, sir2" Asked Mr.. Motley.
"I have not violated it," was the reply;
'for did not promise never to allude to
it, but only not to say anything of its
contents"
"Tell us what it is uncle2" Asked
Jane. "Mr. Motley is such an incessant
teaze, that 1 would like to have it in my
power to retailiate"
~ will tell you Jane" Said Mr.. Motley
"I found Mr.. Berne, just now, reading
some very Aashy verses which he had writ
ten in praise of Mrs, Whitman's beauty
and when he found that he was detected
in the act he pretended that he had found
them, and accused me with having written
them to Miss Lee. To relieve him,
humored the joke, thinking he would say
nothing more about them. But since he
has mentioned the subject, 1 feel at liberty
to explain the whole affair"
"That tale will not do, Mr., Motley
Said Helen. "My father is too matter of
fact to write poetry, and if he wish to ad
dress Mrs. Whitman, he would make it {
business, placing it upon the footing with
any other contract"
"At my time of life, Helen" said hel
father, sit could only be viewed as bust
ness transaction; but to those who are ye
in the joyous season of youth, with all the
romance of inexperience about them
whose hopes have not been crushed b.
adversity, and whose day-dreams have no
been dispelled by the hard hand of reality
it appears in far different light. tt