Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-01-28


! but to be admired, hattered, and caressed
While |, poor, dependent relatiye, am
compelled to administer to her vanity and
wait upon her caprices-oh if were only
rich and beautiful like Ellen. / would
willingly walk over burning ploughshares
/ to obtain the happiness that is in store for
! her tonight
While the repining Agnes followed Ellen,
| IN imagination, to scenes which appeared
to her fancy like the dazzling pictures de-
scribed in the Arabian Nights, let us enter
/ the ball room and follow the footsteps OF
her, whose favored lot led her through the
! enchanted land The hall was brilliantly
| lighted, the music was Of the most anima-
ting kind, airy forms foated on the gaze,
most elaborately and elegantly adorned,
and in the midst of these Ellen shone trans
/ cendent. Eor while, her enjoyment re-
! allied even the dreams Of Agnes Con
scious of being admired, she glided through
the dance, gracefully holding her flowing
drapery, smiling, blushing, coquetting and
flirting. Compliments were breathed con-
/ tinually into her ears. She was compared
to the sylphs, the graces, the muses., the
houris, and even TO the angels that inhabit
the celestial city. Yes; this daughter Of
fashion, this dcyotee Of pleasure, this vain
and thoughtless being, who lived without
God in the world, was told by fattering lips,
| that she rcsembled those pure and glorifed
! spirits which surround the throne Of the
! Most High, and sing the everlasting song
/ Of Moses and the Lamb-and she believed
| it. Perhaps some may assert that the
/ daughters Ut fashion are not always forget
/ ful of their God, for they are often heard
to call upon his great and holy name; in
moment of sudden astonishment OF passion,
and were a saint TO witness their uplifted
eyes and clasped hands, he might deem
them wrapt in an ecstacy OF devotion.
Ellen, in the midst of almost universal
| homage, began to feel dissatisfied and wea-
! ry. There was one who had been in the
I train Of her admirers, himself the star of
! fashion, who was evidently Offering incense
at a new shrine. a fair young stranger,
who seemed a novice in the splendid scene,
! drew him from her side, and from that mo-
ment the adulation OF others ceased to
charm. She danced more gayly, she laugh
/ Ell more loudly, - conceal the modification
and envy that was spreading through her
heart; but the triumph, the JOY was over
I She began to feel thousand Inconvenience,
Of whose existence she seemed previously
unconscious. Her feet ached from the
! iiehtness Of her slippers, her respiration
was difficult from the tiehtncss of her dress;
she was glad when the hour Of her depar-
tIre arrived. Warm from TIE exercise Of
! the dance, and painting from fatigue, she
stood few moments on the pavement,
waiting for some obstructons to be remov-
| Ell in the way Of the carriage. The ground
was covered with a sheet Of snow, which
had fallen during The evening, and made a
chill bed for her feet, so i'll defended from
the inclement season. The night air blew
damp and cold ON her neck and shoulders,
for her cloak was thrown loosely around
her, that her beauty might net be entirely
yelled, till the gaze ol' admiration was
| Withdrawn.
Agnes sat BY the lonely frcsidc, waiting
for the return Of Ellen. For while she
kept up cheerful blaze, and as she heard
the gust sweep by the windows, it remind
cd her that Ellen would probably come in
shiyoring with cold and reproach her, if
she did not find glowing hearth to well
come her. She applied fresh fuel, till,
lulled by the monotonous sound of the
wind, she fell asleep in her chair, nor wax
ed till the voice Of Ellen reused her from
her slumbers. A few dull embers were all
that was left of the fire, the candle gleam-
ed family beneath long, gloomy wick
everything looked cold and comfortless. 1t
was not long before poor Agnes could re-
call the cheering warmth. In the mean
time, Ellen poured upon her torrent of
reproaches, and tossing her cloak on chair,
declared she would never go to another
ball as long as she lived-she had been
tired to death, chilled to DEATH and now to
be vexed to death, by such astupid, selfish
creature as Agnes. 1t was too much for
human nature to endure Agnes bore it
all in silence, for she ate the bread of de-
pendence, and dared not express the bitter
feelings that rose to her lips. But she no
longer said in her heart happy, beautiful
Elem she wished her admirers could see
her as she then did, and be disenchanted
Take off this horrid dress cried Ellen,
pulling the roses from her hair, now un-
eurled by the damp, and hanging in long
straight tresses over her face. What d
contrast did she now present to the brilliant
figure which had left the chamber a few
hours before Her cheeks were pale, hel
eyes heavy, her limbs relaxed, her buoyant
| spirits gone. The terrible misfortune oi
. not having reigned an unriyalled belle
! completely overwhelmed her He, whose
admiration she most priced, had devoted
! himself to another, and she hated the fair
unconscious stranger, who had attracted
! him from his allegiance. The costly dress
which the mantuamaker had sat up al
? nirht To comnlete WAS thrown aside rs 8