Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-23

A Young Girl in Boys Clothes.

A young man made his appearance in Justic
Purdy's Office last evening, in company with
officer, whose very fair complexion and geners
petite appearance, at once attracted attention.
He had pretty face, q world ofbrown ringlett
melting blue eyes, and such winning llttl
mouth, with dimples at the corners, thai n
woman could have resisted falling in love wit
him on the spot-a circumstance that, to al
experienced eye, sharpened with long familiar
ity with feminine eccentricites, suggested doubt
of sexual identity y-suspicions that the prett
boy was no boy at all, but only a pretty girl il
/ bows clothes. With the doubt came the con.
| firmation in the account of the officer, VIII
stated that be arrested his prisoner at the in
stance of a boarding. house keeper on Randolph
street, named Mrs. Murray, who alleged tina
she was run away girl in boys clothes. Sh
was quite abashed at her detection and at tn
inouisitive eyes directed upon her, and, for SOM
time, declined to make any answer to the ques
tions put, except by spiteful little pouts, but sh
finally regained her temper, and gave an &C
count of herself, with many hesitations aud half
frightened glances at the listeners gathered a.
round. She said her name was Minnie Harris
and that she belonged in Canada, somewhere
near Woodstock, if anybody knows where tha
who had no appreciation of the troubles ofyounl
ladies of romantic character.
She had received tolerably good education
the principal element of which was an extensive
course of novel reading, from which she gathered
enlarged ideas of the sphere designed for the de-
velopment of young ladies in the bud. She
thought that washing dishes was the last thing
for heroine to engage in, and she thought some
of becoming heroine, and told her father so.-
He did not appreciate her romantic sentiments
and sent her to bed at suDdown for being OBJ
stinate and stalking trash, as he styled it,
She improved the time between sundown and
morning in reading Rinaldo Rinaldiio, by the
light of tallow dip. Being unacquainted with
the plot of this intensely interesting work, we
are unable to state its substance, but gathered
from her narrative that there was young lady
in it who ran away from home in boys clothes,
climbed over mountain, rolled up her sleeves
to fight big giant, but succeeded in subduiDg
him with q glance of her mild eye, and then
ferried herself across big sea, in dug ont, to
great city, where she had many charming and
successful adventures, and finally married rich.
Minnie awoke in the morning, with her blue
ewes suffused with tears at her hard fate, which
were not done away by the events of the day,
consisting, as they did, of several hours appli-
cation to the wash tub, in compliance with the
demands of her parents. Her mind was made
up that night to follow iu the footsteps OF the
brave and virtuous Geraldine. No more wash
tub for her-no more dishcloth to disturb her
romantic visions-no more drudgery to dash the
aspirations of her sentimental soul-all should
be novelty, adventure aud success. She would
go and teach school, sell dry goods, embroider
fancy work or engage in any other light diver
sion, until some rich gentleman came and threw
himself at her feet, offered to kill all her per-
secutors, and married her in halo of happi :
ness. 80
She went in the best suit of her youngest
brother aod arrived in Detroit couple OF weeks
ago. Here she found herself alone and friend
less among multitude of strangers, not one Of
whom cared O straw's value tor her welfare
What on earth to do she did not know, and in
despair she went to the boarding house, and
cried her eyes out during the first two or three
days after which she settled down in listles'
bewildered state OF mind, and made no effort
whatever to help herself. The consequence wa.
that sharp eyes soon discovered her secret, ane
she was speedily banded over to the police; 81
here she was, and that was her story, and al
she wanted was to get home. Glad enough wa
she to hear that she would be sent there by th'
first train in the morning. ng.-Detroit Free Press