Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-06
7 E R M s.:
q b Oitr Gittratur&.
Which was the Gentleman ?

"Charles wants me to 90 to the party
tomorrow night" said one lady to another,
as the two sat in comfortable parlor chat
ting and knitting.
"La! WELL why don't you go, dear ?"
asked Mrs. Lawrence. "Pm sure would
20 il Henry asked me; haven't been in
company ior such q long time, that really
think it would do me good"
That's just what Charley says, and he
told me Henry said he would take you, if
would GO"
la did hel why, he didn't say any
thing to me about it; to be sure III go ifI
you will. I'll just fix up my brown silk,
and put new ribbon on my cap; we are
old-fashioned folks, you know, and it won't
matter much how we dress"
~ might have gone often," said Mrs.
Adams, placidly smoothing the fold Of her
gown; "but somehow / never wanted to.
Charles is dreadful anxious that | should
see Miss Somebody, forget who, scme
one he has taken to great fancy to; and
/ think whoever Charles likes, must be a
little extra so am anxious, for worder,
to 90. Well, good morning; / put my
bread to risn' aud if don't hurry it will
be over the pans"
When henry came home to tea, he was
surprised and little disappointed to hear
his mother say that she would 90 with him
on the following evening. AS Mrs. Law
renee had said, both Of the mothers were
plain, old-fashioned people. They had
once been poor, both had been left widows,
but by much thrift and economy had man
aged to give their sons a good education,
and they were both now rising young men,
with a fortune in prospect. Both being
handsome, eloquent and fascinating, they
were much admired by the ladies, and it
was strange that they had arrived, one at
the age Of twenty-eight, and the other at
thirty, without selecting wives for them
selves.
The night of the party came; Henry
Lawrence surveyed his mother with crit
ica eve as she came down stairs, handker-
chief in hand, attred for the occasion.
"Havn't you better handkerchief than
that n he asked, when she spread it or
her lap, preparatory to adjusting her dress
cap in it to carry, that she might not ge
it jammed.
SsLa, YES, but this is the nicest," she re
piled II put that beautiful great piece o
lace around it purpose; why, don't yol
like it 2"
alt isn't gcnteel; haven't you got
smaller onel"
'La, yes; if you say so, I'll get one o
them little mites of things but this is NOR
to my taste"
"Well, we must start now; / shall b.
under the necessity Of leaving you for
while after you get there, as l have to g
for young lady. Are you ready"
"Oh, yes" said the cheerful old mother
81 shau't mind staying and looking at tn
folks asthey come in; it's natural for youn!
folks to like young folks" she said to heI
self as she went up stairs to get her bonne
aud shawl.
They walked nearly mile, the room
were Just lighted when they arrived. Hcr
nv put his mother in charge Of the lady
maid, and wished her to stay in the dres
inc room till he came after her; the
hiring an expensive carriage, he drove
quarter of a mile after a young lady
seventeen TO whom he had offered his c
cort Mrs. Lawrence sat contentedly cha
tingwith the waiting maid, while the CUES
came to unshawl, many of whom wonder'
who that queer old lady was.
Charles Adams came home to supp
that same night in high glee "Well, mot
er, do declarew he exclaimed, as the O
lady in a plain gray dress greeted him
the table "you do look so NICE what
pretty cap you've got and there-I mea
to buy you more stylish fan, but that
rather pretty if it is plain"
40, YES, this is good enough for an
woman" said his mother, smiling.
"Nothing is good enough for you, mo-
er, in my estimation" replied Char
drinking his tea-"are you all ready q
cause have sent for carriage and it '
be here in afew moments. You won't
iect, suppose, to riding with another la
the very one, by the by, am anxious
you to see
~ am all ready" said his mother, 81
inc. "and | shall be very happy to I
with vour friend is it far from here 2"
"Only half a mile" he replied, ris
from the table, "and there is the carria!
Henry Lawrence entered the beaut
parlors with his mother on his arm, wal
half sheepishly to the hostess and pre'
ted her, then looked her out a corner wi
she might sit, if possible, unnoticed,
where her old-fashioned sayings, and gu,
ungrammatical expressions would not
called out After seating her, he hur
away, ard again entered with dash
snowy girl, sparkling with jewels, W
he kept on his arm longer than etiqr
required, and to whom he never menti'
his mother, fearing her IDEAS Of gen