The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-18

the grace OF her mother tongue. She resem-
bles the Empress Eugene, and while a school
girl attracted the admiring gaze of Parisians,
and, from all the pictures / have seen of the
Empress, | am certain Miss B. is growing more
and more like her; and when in Washington
l always called her Eugene, from her wonder
full resemblance. On meeting her in the park,
we exchanged salutations, and / told her / was
ready to quarrel with Senior 0. for robbing us
OF our Empress Eugene. The Senior, seeing
her bow to me with pleased smile, asked her
what had said; whereupOn she repeated to
him my compliment in French, which won for
me gracious bow of acknowledgment from
him.
have now to tell you of those Bostonians
with whom we came into the village. l saw
them everywhere about, cordially received by
the elite of the guests, and, too, they had the
choicest of the men promenading with them on
the piazza. In the. ballroom, they usually
danced In the same set, and were careful to
enlist the two needed to make up set from
their acquaintance. They seemed to see me
sometimes, and to notice the gentlemen and
ladies who were speaking or walking with us.
AS they we're so constantly together, Dick
called them the We Six" 1t happened that,
last night, the Lancers being sgnalled by the
band, Dick and walked out, and, to our sur
prise, the awe Six joined us to make up the
set. Dick Strengthened himself up full half
inch, and | was exceedingly careful to wear a
polite inobservant air. They too walked through
the dance, all unconscious of our presence, and,
when we were under the necessity to touch
each others hands, we were as dainty of our
gloves as though we were touching tar, pitch,
or turpentine. So it went on till we came to
the figure where we were to make our courte-
sizes to our Uis-a-vis, when Miss A. touched her
partners arm and pointed to some one across
the hall, so that Dicks bow and my courtesy
We're not returned. O, it sight to see
Dick flush upi AS for me, | gave glance at
the gentleman that recalled him to his senses.
When we reached the next point of saluta-
ton, 1 turned my back upon my gentleman,
and he was taught that there could be two to
play at that rude game. On taking our seats,
MIR. ID. walked over to our old friend Col. NJ,
and, after some whispering between them, to
my surprise, Col. NJ. led Mr.. H. over to us, and
presented him, in very complimentary phrase,
both 10 Mr.. III. and ourselves. Dick was very
cold and l simply polite. COL M. instantly
retired, when Mr. H. said:
" have come to express my own deep re-
greet, and the apology of Miss A, that, on the
instant, seeing dear friend, just arrived, enter
the ballroom, our attention was arrested, and
we failed to return your courtesies. Will you
permit me to present to you Miss A., who wishes
to make her apology to your cousin and to
yourself"
Dick looked to me to reply; and though
did not believe word he said, yet, as it was
proper for me to answer, | bowed my acqui-
escence; whereupoa Mr.. H. brought up Miss
A. and Dick and | were introduced in due
form. invited her to seat beside me, while
Dick drew up seat near his for MIR. IL. Miss
A, addressing me, said:
Z" am glad any chance, even the one Just
happening, which has broken the ice, has made
us acquainted Do you know we all have ex-
iaS AahE asss e %fFf III
love with you in particular, and we have been
on the lookout to find mutual friend, by whom
we could be presented to you acceptably, and
it was only this evening we saw that Col M.
was known to yOu-and here we are Now,
if you will pardon me, and believe me incapa-
ble under any circumstances, of being want
ing in the most careful observance of the cour
tesles, not to say proprieties, OF ballroom, we
will be friends; and as you are new here,
| may help You to know who is whoa task
not easy as it will be in paradise, if there
be such place
thanked her. and told her / was indeed
novice, # there any mysteries around me.
L Knew OIL none, dreamed OF none.
All! well,i she replied, g will be your
Diabte BOite'er tomorrow, as we walk the
piazza"
She then turned to Dick, and Mr.. H. took a
seat near me /; and, wonderful to behold, while
/ was talking in monosyllables with Mr.. H.,
and in less than five minutes, / looked up to-
ward Dick, and this Gree all of the modern
time had already dispelled the cloud upon his
brow,
And smoohed the raven wing of Darkness I'LL he
smiled"
l was not a little vexed to see Dick so easily
manipulated out of all the anger which he whis-
pered to me while we we're completing the
dance, and in phrases / wouldn't think of re-
peating, though they did me world of good,
for they were very like the thoughts which
were yelling up out of my own wicked heart.
AS we sat thus, the fashionabes had been
waltzing, and Mr.. H. was bespeaking me for
the next quadrlle, when what does Dick do,
but rise with Miss A., and as | opened my
eyes in surprise, away they whirled down the
hall, and SO continued waltzing with the utmost
zest, and an abandon as hateful to me as it
seemed delightful to them.
Mr.. III. rose as the quadrille was called, and
offered me his hand, and Dick at the same in
slant rose and led out Miss A; and as the
in the most agreeable manner presented them
and you cannot conceive of anything more
graceful and cordial than their manners to-
ward during the dance that cold marble
polish was all gone, and nothing could be more
playful and witty than their conversation; so
that, in spite of my determination, formed TWEEN
ty minutes before, that / would cut these peo-
Pile dead, to the observation of all beholders, we
were the most joyous, laughing, gay set on the
floor Now this is the wonderful power these
people gain from long acquaintance with the
arts of society and now, while l write, though
my judgment rebels against my inclinations, l
am glad the We Six" from freak or other
wise, have adopted Dick and l into their set.
august 3.-This morning, as we were all
seated in the saloon, after breakfast, Colonel
NJ led up Aunt Martha" and presented her
to Aunt Jane and Dick and l. She is truly a
lady-like, motherly woman, of sixty, and made
herself very agreeable to Aunt Jane, notwith.
standing the prejudice she, an old Knickerbock.
err as she is, has to everything that comes from
Boston. The young ladies came one by one into
the saloon unattended, and were all presented to
Aunt Jane by their Aunt, who had before told OF
their family and little matters, which she very in
peniously brought in, honorable to her nieces, and
satisfactory to Aunt Jane that they were worthy
of being accepted as acquaintance In Saratoga,
even with our family, so renowned as we are
in the pages of Irving and his vertable history
of New Amsterdam. The young ladies formed
a circle in front of Aunt Jane, as she sat on a
sofa, and talked away with the greatest fuency
and with admirable sense, as l thought, in
which conversation Dick shone star of the
first magnitude, to the great admiration OF Miss
A., as l could see by the eager attention she
gave to all he said, and the desire she showed
to draw him out. When they had bowed, and
left us--taking Dick with them-Aunt Jane
returned with me to our rooms, and on her way