The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-02
LOUIS @. CowAN, Editor & Proprietor.
N,ISyisMIn.ANE@Ys0
from the Lad.'s Book.
Art and Nature.
pr MRS. HARKrEr BEEcHEK STOWE.

week, so ! give you lair warning.
I "Wsruing 2" said Fanny Grey, looking
up from her embroidery, "what do you meal
by that, mamma 2"
"Now, that's just like you, Fanny" sal,
the elder sister, laughing, "you dear It'll,
simplicity, you never can understand any
thing unless It is stated as definitely ss th,
multiplication table,"
"But we need no warning in case o
cousin George, I'm sure" said Fanny.
Cousin George, to be sure-do you hear
the little innocent? said Isabella, the second
sister. "l suppose, Fanny, you never heard
that he has been visiting all the courts ol
Europe, seeing all the tine women-stone,
picture and real, that are to be found-such
an amateur and connoiaseur."
"Besides having received a fortune Of q
million or 50, said Emma. "l dare say now,
Fanny, you thought he was coming home
To make dandelioh chains, and play with
button balls, as you used to when he was q
boy.
aFanny will never take the world as il
is" said Mrs. Grey. | do believe she will
be child as long as she lives"
Mrs. Grey said this rs II she were sigh
ing over sone radical defect in the mind OF
her daughter, and the delicate cheek oi
Fanny showed tint somewhat deeper us
she spoke, and she went on with her en-
broidery in silence.
Mrs. Grey had been left by the death OF
her husband, cole guardian Of the three girls
whose names have appeared on the page.
She was an active, busy, ambitious woman,
one of the sort for whom nothing is ever
finished enough without few touches, and
ame ndations, and as such people always
make a mighty affair Of education, Mrs.
Grey had made il liie's enterprise to or
der, adjust and settle the characters Of her
daup hiers; and when we use the word
Character as Mrs. Grey understood il, we
mean to include face, figure, dress, accom-
plishments, as well as those more unessen-
tia items, mind and heart.
Mrs. Grey had determined that her daugh-
ters should be something altogether out OF
the common way, and accordingly she had
conducted the training OF the two eldest with
such zeal and effect that every trace Of an
original character was thoroughly educated
out OF them. All their opinions, feelings,
and actions, instead Of gushing naturally
fipm their, hearts were, according to the most
approved authority, diligently compared and
revised. Emma, the eldest, was an impos-
ing. snowy girl, OF some considerable talent,
and she had been assiduously trained To
make n sensation as woman Of ability and
intellect. Her mind had been filled with
information on all sorts OF subjects, much
faster than she had power TO digest or eni-
plny II 4. and tho S,-.lsiu wnicn ner AMBITIOUS
n.Uiner had set for her, being rather above
the range Of her abilities, there was con-
slant sensation Of effort in her keeping up
to il. In hearing her talk you we're con-
stantly reminded, III am woman Of intel
lec,-I am entirely above the ordinary level
of women !" aud on all subjects, she was 50
anxiously and lsboriously well and clrcun-
s,an,isliy informed, that II was enough TO
make ones headache TO hear her talk. lsa-
bella, the second daughter, was par excel
lence, a beauty tall, sparkling, Cleopatra
looking girl, whose rich color, dazzling eyes
and superb figure might have bid defiance
to art to furnish an extra charm; neverthe-
less, each grace had been rs indeia,igably
drilled and maneyred rs the members Of an
artillery company. Eyes, lips, eyelashes,
sculprured limbs, every intonation OF her
silyery voice had been studied, considered
and corrected, till even her fsstidious mother
could discern nothing that Was wanted.-
Then were added all the graces Of bellies
letires-all the approved rules OF being de-
lighted with music, painting and poetry,
and last Of all came the tour on the con,i-
nent, travelling being considered sor, Of
punice stone for rubbing down the varnish
aud giving the very last touch to character.
During the time that all this was going on
Miss Fanny, whom we now declare our
heroine, had been growing up in the quietude
Of her mothers country seat, aud growing
as girls are apt to, very much faster than
her mother imagined. She was fair, slen-
der girl, with a purity and simplicity Of ap-
sppeurs nee, which, II il be no, In itself beau
~, had all the best effect OF beauty, in In
teresting and engaging the heart.
She looked not 30 much beautiful as love-
able. Her character was in precious cores
pondence with her appearance; It's FIRST aud
chief element was feeling; and to this add
fancy, fervor, taste, enthusiasm, almost up
to the point Of genius, and Jus, common
sense enough TO keep all in order, and you
will have good idea OF the mind of Fanny
Grey.
Delightfully."- passed the days with Fanny
during the absence OF her mother-while
without thought OF rule or compass she sang
her own songs, painted flowers, and sketch
ed landscapes from nature, visited socially
oil over the village, whsre she was a great
fsvorite, ran about through the helds, over
fences, or in the woods with her little cot
tsge bonnet, and above oil, built her owr
castles in the air without anybody to helI
pull them down, which we think about the
hspplest circumstance In her situation.
But affi,rs wore very different aspect
when MIS-. Grey, with her daughters, return
ed ffom Europe, as full OF foreign tastes ant
notions a. people Of artificial character snS
make, generally do return.
Poor Fanny was deluged with torrent o
new ideas; she heard Of styles OF appear
anee, aud styles Of beauty. styles ofmanne'
aud styles Of conversstion--ihis that an
the other air-a general effect and par,icu
lar effect, and o. four hundred and fit
ways Of production and impression; in shot
u seemed to her that people ought to be
wonderful consequence to have 50 man
things to think and to say about the how an
why Of every action.
Ms. Grey, who had no manner Of dout
Of her ability to make q character, under
took the poin, with Fanny as sys,ematicall u
as one would undertake 10 make over On ol
dress. Poor Fan who bad On unconquenbl
aversion to trying on dresses, settling poin,
} in millinery, went through with most CT
emplary nieekness an entire transfornatio
TO all txicrnsls; but when Mrs. Grey se
herself to work upon her mind and tastes
and opinions, the matters became so'ne~ hs
. more ser'ous--ior the buoyant feelings an
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