The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-27
Mistellar1eol1s.
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
by MISS c. NJ. sEpGwlck.

III MISS Y. Ne sbbuWNN'
was on q visit, not long since, to friend
of mine, who still in the unimpaired maturi'
ty of life, is surrounded by grown and grow
ing children. Her summer residence Is IN
the neighborhood of q thickly populated
village, and being q. 'most gracious laydle,
she Il sometimes rather over visited ny her
social ncighbors. We had one OF those oc-
curronccs, which in June, give such an out
door freshness and fragrance, and always
an indoor sccurity--a rainy day. Days oi
rural dissipation, of rides. drives, walks and
picnics had preceded it, aud an immense
batch of sewing had accumulated in my
friends work-basket She called us all
about her, and gave to each one an aPpro-
pirate task. took pile of stockings,
whose, 'window'd raggcdness' was to mo a
storicd record Of our scrambles through the
rocky beds of brooks and up the tangled
mountain side. On Clara devolyed the task
of hook and cycing,' Us she called it, little
Lilly was to replace the missing strings.
You are good for nothing ut the needle,
Annie, said her mother.
Least in mammals kingdom Of heaven,
interposcd Ammo Rcyburn, with an arch
smile.
The mother returned smile, rs she said,
you don't deserve for that, the pleasure i
had allotted to you; but il does not signify
peoplc seldom get their deserts in this world,
So, Miss Anne, you may read to us while we
work. There is Boswell's johnson on the
tablc-a delightful book for social reading.
Open it where you may, You cannot iail To
fall ON something agreeable
We were soon arranged for our morning &
business, and a lovclier household group than
the trite description of inatrons, 'fair, lat
and forty, indicated health produced by a
wise simplicity of living, by the most beneii.
cent disposition and the sweetest serenity oil
temper: and the forty was forty years OF
sunshine with only just 80 much OF c.ouds as
is necessary to keep irail human virtue alive
and vigorous. Mrs. Reyburn sat, generously
filling her commodious sewing chair, with
her huge work basket on the table before
her: Anne gracefully lounged on the sofa
with her book; and the younger girls, their
faces bright with thoughtless smiles, sat on
their low chairs with their pretty work-boxes
and sewing implements beside them. The
door opened into the garden, fresh and ilowery
in its young june beauty; the rain pattered
muscaly on the doorstep, and the sweet
briar, honey-suckle and mignonettc sent in
to us their exquisite odors. When the sky
Frightened for a moment. the robins swellcd
their throats; but the clouds, dropping down
the distant mountains side, insured the con-
tinuance of the mornings rain, and we be-
gan our business with that placid content
ment which comes of having no thought,
project. temptation or desire, beyond the
present moment.
Anne Rcyburn was Just nineteen. Hardly
any one saw her for the first time without
exclaiming, show like her mother J" and to
slight observation there was but little diiler-
ence but that of age-in the daughter the
feryid and startling charm Of morning-in
the mother, the more subdued beauty of the
advancing day but on study, Anne re-
yealcd feelings Of greater depth than her
mothers, and more impulsivc gush, liable
too find their way in moro uncertain and
more devious channels; character better
fitted to modify circumstances than to be
modified by them.
Nv friend influenced the formation OF her
children's characters rather by tho atmos-
pherc of affection and kindness with which
she surrounded herself, than by any direct
authority upon them. This is an admirable
and sufficient agent, with gentle and plant
materials. Anne has ono of those strong
characters, that must do for itself tho hardest
work of education; the training Of feeling,
the subduing of passion, tho maturing OF
reason must for itself fight the battle oil
life.
am tempted to draw Annc's character,
which scurious enough in these days OF
task-work education and regular training,
(dwarlin ng she calls it), but her portrait, in
all It's unframed luxuriancc, would fill more
than the space We have now assigned to other
matter, ~ we leave her to be guessed ut by a
few glimpses OF her heart through her
words.
She began to read TO us, but she read
rather dreamily. Her poetic eyes often
wandered to the mist floating over the noun
tains, and finally coming upon DIR. Johnson's
saving, that he believed marriages would be
full ms happy as they are, If matches were
made by the LORD chancellor, she threw down
the volume, saying, what detcstablc old
goose no is! What did he know about hap
py marriages. :, =, ;,
Doctor johnson an old gooscT said one
the Younger girls; well, Anne, ! wonder
what discovery you will make ncxt?
Il dare say. Clara, you would like q hus.
band of the chancellor's choosing, and would
take him with thank you, sir and, IL
YOU like him, sir, am sure SHALL Now
Heaven save me even from our dear chanccl-
lor Ms choosing husband for me-
And yet. Anne, said her mother, Il am
not sure that you would not in the end be
happier with husband of any wise mans
selection, than with one of your own choos-
ing.
'IIdon't care about the 'end,' mamma;
wish to be happy in the beginning
A light laugh, which Anne felt to be
against her, ran round the circle. She waited
till il was past, and then said, very earnestly,
you may all laugh; but there is not one Of
YOU, from Miss down to Lilly, that
would not think II disgrace to marry any
man but him of your hearts election
Certainly not, Anne,' replied her mother,
but YOU, NV dear child, presume, would
have that election decided by love alone
.Asuredly, for that alone influences the
heart. Reason and Judgment, which weigh
heavily in the lord ehancellor's balance, are
not ofa feathers weight in the hearts
scale
But utterly worthless as reason and judg-
ment are in themselves, Anne said Mrs.
Reyburn, with grave smile, may they not
be allowed to sanction or influence. or even
10 decide an insufficient love?'
No no,-oh no, mamma An insufficient
love Is no love ut all; is good for nothing
The man that Imarry must love with love
that doubts nothing, Tears nothing, hopes oil
things, and believes all things. The whole
wurid's favor would not advance him one jot
in nv affection, nor its disiayor throw one
shade over him.
THE whole world! That is talking in very
general terms; but supposea casc' III you
hada lover whom you liked extremely Out
did not love, according to your extravagant