The new era., 1860-08-02

uVSHNS Obu Is OI.
Several petitioners followed in rapid
succession, till. at length, mother ex-
pressed the hope that the very clothes
she wore, would not be demanded "to
go to the Shaker-ride. I" But last Of all
came Phoebe Brocklebank, to obtain for
herself, aunt Margaret's wrought lace
veil
Now, TO all the aforesaid borrowers,
she would not have hesitated to refuse
this demand; for in her estimation il
was not fitting" or proper to wear over
a rough-edged, straw bonnet, on cold
susfy day of the month of January, any
! thing better than veil of bcrege but
PhHbe Brocklebank' mother was her
own cousln-a kind, easy, good-natur, d
soul, who had bestowed upon her in
Vulnerable kindnesses, and not month
previously had given her fleece Of Me-
rina wool, which she was at this moncnt
spinning into arm, as finely aud fast as
possible.
"My black veil did you say, cousin
Phoebe 1t hasn't half the warmth Of
my green one, which | should prefer to
wear, if ] vas going
"Ma has nice green one, herself,
pertly replied Miss Phoebe 'but Lucin-
da Hunt was goingsto wear her mothers
black one, and was resolved not to be
outshone; so | teased ma to let me come
for yours told her would be careful
of it, as Of gold. ] knew you would
loan it, for you never refuse anything
and then ma is constantly making you
presents, you know "-and thus she
would have gone on, no doubt-for
Phoebe possessed the most voluble OF
tongues-had not aunt Margaret, with
many misgivings, for she knew Phe-
be's perfect heedlessness, drawn forth
from its favorite receptacle, the article
in question. Unwrapping it from the
tissue, she displayed it, in all its rich
beauty, perfectly uninjured-'' just as
good as new" Scarcely could she con-
ceal the shock she experienced, on wit
Messing the violence with which Phoebe
seized it threw it over her old hood,
parading up and down before the mirror,
in extacies at the effect it lent to her
beauty. 1t was sad day for aunt Mar
garet = that memorable day of the
"Shaker-ride Sadder still was she
on the following day, for her veil was
returned to her in ruins Phoebe came
with ii in her hand, her eyes brimlul of
tears, and her tongue, for once, refIs-
ing ntterance She was accompanied
by her another, who prefaced her ex-
plantations, by positively declaring this
to be the last time she should be coaxed |
from her duty, for the sake of admins
tering to fh@e's vanity.
1t appeared, that when but little more
than half the way home, the last horses
of the ad tandem, took fright, overturned
the sleigh, dislodging and burying in
the snow its occupants, dashed furiourly
past the other horses, who, frighteLe ed
in their turn, took TO their utmost speed
Amid this sudden com;notion, the mul
tiplied and velocifed jngIing of bells, the
shrill shrieks of frightened fair ones, the
incessant cries of "whoa, whoa by
the luckless swains, they came in con-
tact with another sleigh, that appeared
from the contrary direction, from which
It's master was instantly thrown, and in
some manner, for the how was unac-
the thiIl of the sleigh passed
through the veil Of aunt Margaret, as it
was breeze-blown about, utterly unre-
yarded by its now terrified wearer, who
with her unskillfuf gallant, soon found
herself flying over fences, and at length
landed upon a farmers wood-pile. No
serious detrlment, fortunately occurred,
except to the VEIL An immense por-
ion efthe interior was entirely separa-
ed and gone, becoming piaything for
he four winds, leaving torn. jagged
edges, and all the remaining portion so
drawn, distorted. and disfgured, as to |
be absolutely sight to behold Even
dear aunt Margaret. at first view Of the
wreck-that which had cost her the la
Dor Of SO many days and nights-cov-
cred her face with both hands, and sink
ing into chair, silently and powerfully
strove with great grief. while tears stole
put like liquid pearls from between her
ong and tremulous fingers. But this
was soon over. To her cousins assur-
ance that she should be repaid thous-