Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-08-19
popnIar GaIes.
IFrom rhs Ladies Repository, for JaIy
"a PATCH ON THE KNEE AND
GLOVES ON"
PART I.
BY MRS H. c. GARDNER.

RAM l.
BusToN, Dec. 20, 1856
Dear Aunt Mary,-You need not urge me
SO earnestly TO remember my promise to
write often to you, for | have only been
waiting to get fairly established in my aunt
Auqusta's household, SO as to test my first
impressions before giving them to you,-
Y, u ask how like life in the cityt Life
in the city, as it might be with such facili-
ties for intellectual culture and qualification
as appear On every hand, should be delight
lul; but fashionable city life-at least the
poverty stricken phase of it that behold
lis, of all earthly existence, the most un-
bearable.
1t seems that we are genteel people, live
on a fashionable street. and in gentee! style.
| seem 20 see you open your eyes and ask
how il is possible to do this with the limited
income of my aunt. That it is not impos-
sble you will acknowledge before you have
finished this letter.
1t was on dismal wet evening that l
arrived here, not very cold for the last of
November, but one of those drizzling,
shivering days that make US appreciate the
bright glow of good fire. ] had travelled
two days and nights without stopping to
rest, only catching an occasional cat-nap
when overcome with fatigue; and when
bade farewell to the cars and entered the
carriage which was 10 convey me to my
aunt's house, was childish enough to weep
for Joy in anticipation of the warm welcome
that awaited me. forgot the coidly civil
letter that gave me permission to obey my
fathers dying wish, that, if unmarried,
should spend my eighteenth year under her
care, and also the funny hope that she had
expressed, that would for her daughters
sake, conceal the fact ol my being an heiress;
| only remember that she was dea: sister
to my father, as you, aunty, were to my
mother, and my heart throbbed with delight
as impatiently waited 20 be folded to her
heart.
But o: all evenings in the year | had
arrived On one sacred 10 the interests Of
fashionable party, and both my aunt and
cousins being dressed to 60 out, you see at
once that any thing like a cordial, heart
cheering hug was out of the question. One
glance assured me that it would be an i'm
possible achievement.
al am glad to see you, Margaret" said
my aunt, reaching the tips of her gloved
fingers to me, over an amplitude OF SIX lrt
that reminded me OF those enormous pump
kins that decorate our store-room at home,
whose stems they all seemed striving to
represent by a display of the smallest
waists | ever saw.
al am glad to see you, Margaret, repeat
ed both cousins in exactly the same tone
and care less, languid manner OF my aunt
"We did not expect you till Tomorrow
pursued my aunt; "you must have Travelled
very rapidly. am sorry that we have an
engagement this evening, but as you are to
stay with US it will make little difference
You will excuse u.s.
"You will excuse us,' repeated the two
echoes, to which replied in my most ac-
cemmodsting manner, 81 shall be very
happy to do so."
"Hannah will make you comfortable. -
There is the bell-cord when you wish to
summon her. Come, my dears, the carriage
10 waiting"
With another formal apology and three
farewell bows, all made after one pattern
they swept out OF the room, and by some
inexplicable process were all slowed into
one common-size carriage.