Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-06
For the Spirit OF the Age.
Autobiography of a Handkerchief.
BY ANNIE GEORGE.


The first thing I can remember in my ex- :
istence, is occupying a place among others =
much like myself, in a fashionable dry-goods q
establishment in N. | say they were z
like me, but | always considered myself q lit /
tie superior to the rest. | looked anxiously :
in the faces of the ladies who daily thronged :
the store, whenever we were brought forward 6
for inspection. [ lay there sometime, and :
began to grow weary when at last one day i
when | felt overcome with ennui, a sweet +,
young lady with brown ringlets, hazel eyes, !,
and face all beaming with goodness, came and
asked for handkerchiefs. The box in which
| was, was handed out, and oh! how | longed
to have her buy me! ! had never taken such
a fancy to any other person. She tossed
them over, till seeing me, she exclaimed
"0h! is not this beautiful | will purchase
this~ and, with my heart of linen cambria
all bounding with JOY, | was nicely wrapped
in tissue paper, and she took me with her,
l was really afraid she would feel me tremble,
for l felt all in a SILVER (f you will allow the
expression) of happiness.
When nv new mistress reached home, she
exhibited me to her friends, and | became
quite vain, SO many praises were bestowed on
my quality, eth. was plaoea among other
handkerchiefs, away in my mistress drawer.
How they enVied me, my purity of complex
I ion My clear, pearly skin OH [ almost
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had time to become quite familiar with my
companions before [ was used, as several days
elasped ere that time. At last, one evening
= my mistress, all sparkling with beauty and
! brilliant attire, took me from my resting
place. and pouring on me a few drops OF
choice perfume, placed me in her pocket
Oh! how my companions envied me! How
happy I feltl I really adored my beautiful,
- sweet mistress. She attended a concert that
evening. I, of course, had never been to one
before, and [ futtered perceptibly. For oh!
the sweet strains of melody thrilled, aye, fill
ed my whole being. How could it be other
wise, when my gentle companion was herself
charmed, overpowered with the harmony. |
have accompanied her to other concerts Slice,
nd but have never felt, as | did then the power
is of the Divine Art" For weeks afterward,
ut. | tried, but in vain, to carol one song which
do then so moved me. I soon found myself a
al, great ~favorite with my mistress. She pos
sessed other handkerchiefs, more handsome,
On some would have supposed, than |, but she
he evidently thought me the neatest and pref
Ike, test, in which opinion | fully concurred with
uld her, as | generally did in every thing.
ave I attended with her, Divine service, listen
ed to the swelling organ, heard eloquent SER
the mons, and thrilling prayers. She felt all this,
for she was one of the people, one OF Gods
ter, chosen ones but ], sad to relate, did not |
watched the looks of admiration my mistress
excited, and gloried in her beauty. | also
old, wondered if those around me noticed my
the beauty, and was we'll repaid if any spoke to
ould my mistress in my praise. When this would
the occur, she would smile a sweet, tender, smile,
eyes and always said something pleasant. Oh!
tim loved her so dearly She was very tender
hich with me, too. Her own white hands softly
rubbed me through the snowy suds, and
nber ever pleased her by my appearance.
here We became quite lnSeparable. l haV
9th heard many a whispered sentence from nous
the tached lips, which she thought only know
rous to herself. | witnessed the lovely blushe
gar which mantled her cheek when he came, o
y at spoke some loving word. And | too, love
y in him because | thought some day he woul
noth=4hamx master. | could not but laugh to my
= as knew than any one would guess hon more fppr
to go saw.
ing; went with my mistress to many place
male She travelled occasionally, l always accon
lame, panied her, and was ever a cherished compal
and ion.
At last, she, with some other friends, col
cluded to accept an invitation to spend Il
noWn Christmas holidays in the country. But the
many could not leave before Christmas dav, as
Seo 70 was always celebrated IN the family, by a r
after union of all its members. | was greatly o
ICY of cited as the fine annroacbad not;oaJ =
tensiye nrenarations were made fnr . 1on,
an TO party, and by listening attentively, when
pre- had the opportunity, found I had by no mea
being seen all the family. The day was at leng
2rtant ushered in by the booming of the cannon, al
as soon the house was all astir. The compal
| god assembled in the drawing room whore ! ~
sweet zing coal fire spread heat and eheerfulne
or the thr0uoh the APARTMENT AZ woS nh - =
ough, hand of my mistress, | had a fine opportu
word ty to notice them. Oh # was q baont;4
time sioht the meetino toontbor of crob 60
woulo the tender smile, and softly spoken word
i, she welcome. The head of the family. nv m
lotner tress' father, was a noble looking old gent
7 luck man, straight and handsome, while the sill,
pre- ry hairs mingled lovingly with the raw
oancy locks of youth. He was a true gentlems
ng the courteous, Identified and hosnitable h =
lerally loved, and deeply reyereneed bv his child,
crea- and grandchildren, who, that day, cluster
TO one round the groaning table. And then /
line IN mother, how can | describe her? Oh! Re
. we only say, my darling mistress was consider
looks the counterpart of what she once was. S
Mt she was mild as the summers dew. And 90
e place ness and love emanated from her lips a
countenance, as the perfume from the mod
iog violet. She was all, aye, more than | can
and press, and l loved her very much. Then
being ters. lovely and good, were there hrothe
altered tall and manly, children, bright and beaut
ningly. as the opening rose buds aunts and cons
egan 10 mingled with the throng. "And all w
merry as a MARI e bell"
two On the morni,,g afe Christmas, we ST
Ixed up ted on our journey. |, being safely stoy
away in a corner of my mistress trunk, c
elVaole not say | very much enjoyedit it, for the trr
Ives OF was thrown heavily into the baggage car,
HISS. / felt very lonely. However, we were I'll
only a few hours. When they arrived at
int that first depot, they took a carriage and proc,
re mat ed to the house of the friend they were
asst as visit. They were welcomed very warml,
well TO The time passed rapidly and happily,
e beau many parties were given them. | was p
E assem- ent at one Of the first, and as / was ever
nat the ger to near and learn all I could, was co
dld] zant of quite a little romance, which m
present knew nothing about. There W
: reach very agreeable and worthy young man tn
l"mch who deeply loved a young lady. She
..lnable) been absent for some time from home. I
> green were engaged to be married, and Of cours
IN sucn was very happy and pleasant to be near
re been again. But the lady was capricious
on even naughty, and on this evening discarded
Though lover. Oh! | pitied him! he was so g
taking and loved her so. But | could but t
O prnha -