Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-12-09
ST CLAIRsvILLE OHIO, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 1858
4e9nlar Gdes.
From Godeys Ladys Book for October.I
NELLIE'S DIARY.
By BIRDIE RAE.
[coETIHUKD.l

By BIRDIE RAE
lcoETIHuKD.
NOVEMBER 30th.
Well, the eventful night is past / fee
too lazy to-day to do anything but recapi
tulste; but there is a delightful prospect o
future enjoyment. Mrs. Lansing's tonight
Mrs. Smiths tomorrow, Mrs. Jones, mex
day to dinner, and host OF other engage
ments: Oh, it is delightful! had gloriou
time. dressed early, and went down u
see if everything looked right. The whol.
house was brilliantly lighted, and the draw
1iBg-roem looked splendid The conseryaior,
opened into the parlor, and very pretty i
looked with the Chinese lanterns swinging
among the green leaves, the fountain play
ing, and Bob, the parrot, hopping about ant
jabbering as loudly as he could. Actually
as l passed, he sung out "Nsllie, Nellie
where is Charlie!" and when I turned to
scold him, he laughed ha, ha. ha! just like
| that delightful Mr.. Morton.
As ] entered the drawing-room, started
in amazement to see how well looked. Ny
dress was blue silk, with puffs of white
THULE over it, and l seemed as though !
were enveloped in bit of blue sky, jus, as
a feecy cloud was passing over it. Mamma
would only let me wear few pearls looped
il the back Of my hair; and while Mrs. Ma
son went into raptures over me, she only
observed, "Nellie looks WE'LL" Mrs. Mason
says that mamma has determined to rival
me. and that must not allov it. Indeed
l will not; if she throws down the gauntlet
to me, | will accept the challenge.
OF course all the world was there. Now,
l do not mean literally, but sour set"
There was Mrs. Tom Jones, who is so saw
fully respectable" Mrs. Dick White, Mr..
Dick White, and the three Miss Dick
Whites, who are so "oppressively fashion
able:" there was Mrs. Harry Harris, and
Mrs. Harris Henry, and the male appen-
dages of these two ladies': there was Miss
Sinclair. the great "blue-stocking," whom
everybody laughs at; the Russels, who are
30 o"magni6centlv aristocratic;" they declare
they are descended from the house of Bed
ford, and consequently they hold their aristo-
cratic noses high above the common herd.
They did not countenance mamma after she
married old Brown and his distillery; but
after that worthy's death. and mamma
sported out on his money, they lifted their
aristocratic eyeglasses 10 their aristocratic
eyes, and recognized once more their old
friend. Well, there were hosts of people; |
but will only mention Mrs. John Smith
and her ive daughters, all perfect fac-sin-
lies of each other, giggling, and laughing,
and leering at the young dandies, who were
arranged. like wax flowers, down the sides
Of the drawing-room, now stroking their |
bear1less chins, smoothing gently the six
hairs on their upper lips, draSing on and
off their pet "kids," and lisping out, in their
most approved drawl, every putty gwirl-
lots of tin-mind to put in for her."
"Ugh" exclaimed, as looked at them.
they we're host in themselves, and / did
not make of what use they were. except as
, set-of to the few real genuine men in the
.oom who were surrounding Mrs. Mason, or
'catte, ed here and there over the room.
'Ugh," the contemplate snobs!" | Won
Ter decent people can tolerate them.
Charles and I opened the bali, while
mamma had that delightful Mr.. Morton for
/ partner. What noble, 2roud-looking
nan he is! How spitefuI. mamma would
rot introduce US; but he is my ideal, and
IN determined to flirt with MIN, if nothing
Use. Oh, dear! danced, and laughed, and
lirted with every one; do think, at one
ime had dozen gentlemen round me,
md Charlie stood by, looking as black as
hunder.clo and the more gloomy he be-
anne the more daring was, until had al
most laughed myself sick, when stole off
o the conservatory. There was Mary Ian
ing, my particular friend; we were at
chool together; but she, being year older
han |, had come out last winter. She is q
.ay. houghtless, fashionable girl, and my
artcular chum.
"Nellie," she said. catching my hand, ais
. Eot delightful to watch them from herer'
"Charming." answered, "nnd am look
NC forward to glorious time"
"Nellie," said Mary, and her whole man
er changed, "when came out, was like
OIL, nearly wild with delight, but now it is
II hollow, and am heartily sick of it,"
Mary's blue eyes flashed, and ! thought
ow pretty she had become-for she was
ever considered beauty by us girls; yet
laughed in amazement as said, "You ,
ave changed; what has come over you!"
"Laugh, Nell. as much as you like; you
My know me as gay Mary Lansing; but ,
he past six months have changed me. !
Iellie, she continued do you see that tall, !
andsome gentleman talking TO your man. i,
,a!" ,
| looked, and ! confess was heartily i
shamsd to see how desp erately mamma ,
ras flirting; shaking her curls in the face -,
{ one very yourg dandy, 10 whom she had ;
,ush better given piece of cake and sent ,
ONE to bed; tapping Mr.. Morton on the q
run with her fan, then whispering behind I
to him in such girlish manner. How
~ face did burn! suppose ON an unso-
hsticated schoolgirl, and know nothing 8
bou, the ways Of the world, but one can
ot bear 10 see ones mamma flirting in !
hat manner, and not feel indignant. Mary \
,oksd at me searching!y as ! said, THAT t
, Mr.. Morton"
EYES," answered Mary, "and they say he .
engaged to your mamma; is it true" 4
IL do not know,''I answered; "but one q