The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-02-06
How Eta Became an Old Maid.

her face scarlet and her eyes nStnctVeiy sought
the mirror which hung opposite; the reflection of the
thin wasted features framed therein, indeed bore but
little resemblance to the picture IN the big room; and
she glanced away out of the window, over the rolling
meadows and the waving green fields beyond the woods,
where the white pillars OF beautiful house glanced
through the Deep green foliage and her heart throbbed,
and her cheeks tngled and burned and her thoughts
flew backward to the golden hours when life not
! always empty dream, and romped just such
meadows as these and under the green OF such fine
old trees with oneno matter it was all gone, and she
only sighed for the happiness (which might have been
Tell US Eta, do tell Of what you were thinking just
now urged the eagerlttle ones creeping Closer
Fanny and Date will all stay and help you pare apples
all day, if you will only tell us"
Eta nodded an assent when the girls filed their pans
and drew near to listen, and she began:
I'm little sheltered nook, beyond the river, stood
the grey house, the roof steep, the
caves were low fretted here and there with broken
board and oosened single. Ny grandmother lived
there, all aone with deep wood and roaring waters all
around-but she was a sroAg-heaFted and courageous
woman and fetno fear; and little girl of nine years,
lived with her having companion but shaggycoaed
Newfoundland dog and blue and gray-streaked Nal
tese cat Sometimes talked with them, sometimes with
the calves and chickens in the barn yard Every rational
want was supplied every capricous whim indulged; my
grandmothers great round good natured face looked
pleasantly upon me, and she denied me nothing. She
taught me to read ana write 0urlitte store of volumes
consisted OF few tracts two pEayerbooks, unda large
brass clasped bible; these often grew lonely, and
nodded and my grandmother always prophesied luck
less future for My lack of Industry. Many girl my
age had her Quilts peiced and chests OF linen prepared
for the time when She should sumo the duties OF her
own household, begiuning, every good housewife
should, with stores Of plenty.
When was fifteen was sent away to school where
remained one year: then removed from our river
side home into pcasantcr negh5orhood, and taught
the village school, This a new phase in my life
and hailed it with joy loved tie sweet impulsvC
creatures With their bright rosy faces looking up TO
half in love- half in fear little regues who would turn
the world into playhouse fthey could; and itpuzzed
f many brave little fellow more to master the orthogra
phy of baseball, in the long column of spelling, thar
learn the skiliul Drcacie of the game the play
ground,
My grandmother was a strict church goer every Sun
dav, rain or shine found us IN our pew Some OF th
congregation plain old-lashioned people like our
selves others rastled up the aslcs in bright rick silks
opened the doors of cushioned carpeted pews and SAM
out of velvet and Outbound hymn books, aud rod
home in luxurious carriages Then they lived in beauti
u houses and had music and everything which render
home so pleasant. How often found myself loo!lin
down my shoes andhomely dress. Very Ofte
heard little of the sermon, and either did not hear 0
forgot the text. perhaps too much absorbed in admirln
the tnery Of some OF the congregation for which
generally received pretty severe reprllnaud with
extra leaf Of the shorter cltechsm for the mex
Thursday evening.
How prone is the human heart to evil. In the yer
place we went listen the teachings of our Divin
Master and pray for the protection and mercy of ou
heavenly Fasher-n the very house where only goo
and pure thoughts should fill our minds was painting
fostering cultvating the most hdeous of passionsenv
and covetousness; then ana there became proud an
lifted up; ambitious to be placed on equality wit
Y them; but pride and poverty are sorry companions, an
N am quite they brought but little comfort TO me.
Il was passonately lond Of flowers But our gOrde
was filed with vegetables and our fields with grain
s the sweet brght-tinted ceusers OF fragrance wei
~ plucked up by the roots aneung away useless el
= eumberers Of the soil But away in the neighborn
DO meadows and cool rcccsses o the wood found then
and placed them, fresh and cool, every morning,
DO the little porcelain upon the mantei-piece.
Every day on my way to school, | passed by jud2
~ Moores residence 1t like that handsome white Of
59 you glimmering through the tree Wonder. The
"a were naughty people and never Teuured into the gat
30 though onged for Of the beautiful flowers DO
90 derngt the terraced awD often stopping TO admire then
90 and wishing in my heart they could only he mine Or
J0 morning Lester the judges SON out o the ga
70 Just as passed it, in his hand he held few of Il
~ bright blossoms had coveted so long. must hay
=; gaZed wshfully at them, for he Immediately bade me
mr. pleasant good morning, at the same time handing
i the flowers With trembling eagcrness seized then
land felt my checks flush and burn, and the tears gu;
to my eyes as tried, somewhat awkwardIy, to than
him. He looked surprised, saying with much Warmt
i"Nevcr mind, you shall have bouquet every NOR
ing if you like; Lizzie is coming to school next wee
e. she is as bright herself Of these painted thing
r Myte sister, Miss Mills, warrantyol, vii! not org
you, if YOU love them So"
! told him in 4 few words, how grateful should b
and to hide my confusion, hurried away. His lit
sister Lizzie came to school after that every day 81
brought me fruit and flowers; knew who sent then
and could not help feeling how kind and thoughtful
was. Sometimes / met him in the green lane, and
would walk home with nc; often with Lizzie he wou
drop ia and speed the evening. Thus the summ(
n passed the autumn came and went-how happily ca
scarcely dare to think How often he would tell n
- Etta von are net like other girls Irespcct you MOI
than any woman living" and he would leave me pu
- zled and wondering why he should talk so.
How ever came to love that man willaiways renal
a mystery to me; how he ever tancied the little rust
with brown hair brown eyes, and sun-browned check
90 must ever remain secret in the cuious history
Jo hearts.
c People began to remark his coming it occasion,
some gossip among the busy ones; they shook the
heads whispering mysterously, No good brings Il
n scion of that naughty house to tive poor widows nut
often evil might belll the innocent girl who had new
= known the vices and aluremcns OF THIS world; and TN
! came with grave looks and sage words to give heed
solemn warnings of those experiepccdin in the wi
Iy dom of the world. Ialways thanked them politely,
fworshipped my idol as before.
Nv grandmother was showed, and never altogeth
liked his close attention to me; blaming hersefse
for encouraging the blind infatuatjon that might lei
me into miserable future; but when told her we we
to be married when the sweet May flowers would bic
he som again. she felt satisfied the wheel turned light
&C. and she sang fragment of old love song and cou
not help but join her with burst Of glad song too.
About this time relatives frem the city visited at t
udge's. They were middle-aged people, bringing wi
a. them an only daughter young girl OF accompls
u. ments and personal beauty.
as Lester followed her like shadow while
ly talked TO me his eye nvountariy wandered after hC
e She was the very embodiment aud grace; her compile
OF ion as white that Of refinement leaf with t
Is clear pink shining through and tiny slender fingers tn
had never come in contact with hardship and Labor