Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-08

AnatstamPs the color of our days" c
She was alone, and held in her hand a :
DOCK, but could not study. At length her :
was aroused by hearing her own
name spoken, coupled with no loving sounds :
or expressions. She could but listen, as ]
there was no escape save through the school ,
room; so she was compelled to STAY. and hear !
a conversation, of which the following is but !
a part. The speakers were Rosa, Agnes and !.
some others.
Il always considered Minnie Forest a vnl-
gar, young upstart, and now know it." said
Rosa, spitefully. 'Her father was nothing
but a common drunkard and gambler, and
nobody knows but he is now in some peni-
tentiary. ner mother, too, is not much bet
ter"
why, Rosa, how do you know these
things?' cried the girls. minnie is surely
not vulgar. | don't like her much myselfp
said Emma Selden, because she is a f~avorite
with Mrs Durand, but | think she is a good,
sweet girl, and would love her if she was
not such a f%ayorite. That is the only fault |
ever found in her"
"Oh! doubtless you might love her, Miss
Emma Selden, but I think too much Of my
self and position, to associate with a girl
whose mother ran aqody from her husband
nobody knows hop or tstth ech0m,'' replied
the wicked girl.
"You cannot mean that, Rosa. Mrs. For
est was treated with greatrespect every time
she visited here said tho girls. "Do you
know that she ran aUay, Rosa?"
"Yes, and can prove all I said. Mama
wrote me all about it, and | will tell you
A gentleman from F. informed her. He sad
Mr.. Forest was a drunkard and notorious
gambler, and that his wife was a weak, silly
Ur0nnan uyhn n n vya ~ f-oa, h;oo tol;.- -
child,-n0W the beautiful and ACCOMPLISHED
Mss Minnie Forest, "the Nightingale of the
GtenF' Mama babe me not to notice her
again, and never will. For my part, I'm
glad of it-for | despise the fawning, deceit
full creature; sneaking here among as, per-
sons OF oar staining. reckon she will find
the school too warm for her in the future
If she does not, it will not be my fault, gra-
cious knows!"
well, Rosa, I'm glad you're through at
last. | am sorry for Minnie, and am grieved
and surprised you should be so unkind. l
intend to go now and find her and show her
all the kindness | can. wish you would,
too. I'm sure it will do you no good to per-
secute the poor girl for that which is no fault
OF hers, fit be true even," said Emma, while
tears rose to her eyes.
"Ha! ha! hal" cried Rosa, HEmma Sell
den's turned Preacher. Go, Reverend Miss,
and comfort the afflicted sister. Be sure to
inform her of all | have said. | wish YOU
would. You could not please me more"
"Oh! isn't this dreadful?" cried the girls.
II wonder if Mrs. Durand will exclude hel
from the school. | thought this was a select
school, or | would not have come"
"lf she does not exclude her, | will leave
| will not be disgraced by remaining here will
cttah nharocforc oc AI;oo:o d. - IL -
nes Morton. II wonder what her ocer, vii
lie Harley, will say to this? Iguess he vii
jilt her readily enough. | hope he WILL
don't you, RosaY'
"lndeed, | do, [ know he will, or at leas
his proud father will make him do so. N
such creature as that girl will be admitted ir
to his aristocratic family" and the Taught
girl gave her head a toss, whilst a though
perhaps she might become the supplante1
Frightened her face for she .fdncied, q wi
not disgrace the word by saying loUed,o Wi
lie Harley.
All this time poor Minnie had sat stupefe
beneath this heavy blow of abuse and seal
dial. She, in her ignorance of her father
history, did not know how much or how Ii
tie of it was true, and it stunned her. b
when the last remarks were made, and ST
thought these things might change all b,
happiness into sorrow, she could bear r
more, and fell insensible to the floor. III
girls heard the fall, and ran. into the rooI
They were horror-stricken when they pc
ceived who it was lying there, and knew the
were the cause, All save Rosa and Agne
who remained aloof, g~lorying in the though
of the agony they had caused. just the
Mrs. Durand entered the room, and seeing Il
girls crowding into the ante-room, inquire
the cause.
Minnie Forest has tainted or is dead,
cannot tell which," replied Emma Selde
while her tears flowed freely, as she thoug
Of all that had passed; for she also had be,
e%nvious of the sweet girl, and now bitter
repented of it.
Leave her, girls, you will s~uffocate t
poor child. Give her to me, Emma. OPP
the window. Hand me a fan. Jennie, g
some water. Poor girl She has studied t
closely, and the day is very warm" L
kind teacher bathed her head, and as she S;
animation and consciousness returning, S
:. sale, -"Now girls, go quietly to your SCI
as If nothing had happened. must take /
home. Request Miss Joynes to take char
!, of the school while | am absent"
: "Minnie, my love! do you feel better?
: not get up-rest here. Are you sick, dear
> The poor girl looked bewilderingly il
r the face of her teacher, then burying her f
S in her bosom, wept long and bitterly. II
J. Mrs. Durand understood something had
CURED to distress her. She was aware t
Minnie was betrothed to Willie Harley, &
It thought Immediately her sorrow was fl
v that source. But she would not trou
$ her then by questioning, so after she beca
N calmer, Mrs. Drrand brought her bonnet
l. walked with her to DR.. Walton's. Allie
S. much distressed when told by Mrs. Dura
al all she herself knew. Minnie seemed cru
N ed entirely. She had not spoken a W
Y since she heard that cruel conversation
re When questioned, she looked bewildered
1T sad, but replied not a word. This gre;
lg distressed her kind friends. They preya
nv on her to lie down, and DR.. Walton admi
in tered a soothing draught, which compc
In her to sleep. But by degrees, a fever ros
,h her system, and before night she was ra,
in delirium.
d When Mrs. Durand returned home, SHE
quested those whom she recollected SET
re around Minnie, to remain after school
rs dismissed. She then asked them the c:
to Of Minnie's illness. At first all was quie
n None seemed disposed to speak. 1her
We Mrs. Durand repeated the question 4
his steruly than before, Emma Selden told he
nd that had occurred, not sparing herself,
RS, wept to think of her participation in thc
his fair. Great was the Indignation of thei
I'd. structress, when she learned all, and esI
I'd, ally against Rosa and Agnes. She had