Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-02
Gentle Girls.

We extract from the Philadelphia Bulletin the
following article, well expressed upon expressive
ly sweep topic for the perusal of our more gentle
readers, and concur with the writer that there is
nothing half SO sweet in lfe," half so beautiful,
half so delightful or loveable upon this rude num-
dane sphere as a genuine good and gentle girl
Not pretty. or dashing, or elegant girl but nice
tidy girl; one of those lovely lively, good-temper
ed good-hearted, sweet-hced amiable, neat, natty,
domestic, obedient, unselish creatures met within
the home circle, dlffusng around the ngleside the
influence of her goodness, like the perfume of some
modest flower just newly blown
"A nice girl is not the languishing beauty, drawl-
ing sofa, and discussing the last novel opera
nor the giraffelke creature sweeping majestically
through drawing room. The nice girl may not
even dance or play well, and knows nothing about
"using her eyes" or coquetting with fam She
never langushes; she's too active. She is not CIV
en- to "sensation" she is too busy. At the opera,
she is not in 'front.' showing her bare shoulders but
sits quiet and unobtrusve at the back of the box,
most likely In fact it is not often in such scenes
that we discover her. Home is her place.
Who rises betimes, and superintends the morning
meals? Who makes the toast and the tea, and
buttons the boys shirts and waters the flowers and
feeds the chickens and brghtens up the parlor and
the sittingroomp Is it the languisher, or the gi-
raffe. or the elegante? Not bit of it; it is the
nice girl. ...
Her unaided toilet is made in the shortest possible
time, yet how charmingly it is done, and how ee-
giant her neat dress and plain collar! What hearty
kisses she distributes among the family no pre-
senting of cheek or brow like the " fine girl" but
an audible smack, which says plainly, II love you
ever so much" If l ever coveted anything, it is
one Of the nice girls kisses
Breakfast over down into the kitchen to see about
dinner; and all day long she is up and down, al
ways doing, and always cheerful and light hearted.
She never ceases to be active and useful until the
day is gone when she will polka with the boys, and
sing old songs and play old tunes to her father for
hours together. She is perfect treasure, is the
" nice girl" When illness comes, it is she that
attends with unwearyng patience the sick chamber.
There is risk, no fatigue that she will not under
go no sacrifice that she win not make She is all
love- all devotion. I have often thought that il
would be happiness to be ILL., to be watched by such
loving eyes and tended by such fair hands.
One Of the most strongly marked characteristics
of "lce girl is tidiness and simplicity of dress-
She is invariably associated in my mind with a-high
frock, a plain collar, and the neatest Of neck rib
bops bound with the most modest little brooch in
the world. never knew mice girr' yet who
displayed profusion Of rings and bracelets, OF
who we're low dresses, or splendid bonnet
say again, there is nothing in the world half SC
beautiful, half so intrinsicay good as nice girl
She is the sweetest flower in the path of life
There others far more stately far more gorgeous
but these we merely admire as we go bN 1t is
where the daisy Crews that we lie down to rest