The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-01-07
BY.HARY BEowS.


Twenty years ago my aunt asked for the
privilege Of giving her name to the little
ugly mass Of flesh, blood and contortions,
and ! was dubbed Betsy Jane Herrick. ]
have been told was quite pretty child
when my face was s.raigh. tand taat was
like angels visits. for i was constantly in
a sqaalling attituGe.) Indeed, my mother
told me she never would have had the pa.
tienee 10 raise me fsLe had not thought ]
would make something when grown. i
have made something nothing more nor
less than a--Bioo Ie-. ! have the misfor-
tune al present, 10 he the only surviving
child. The others there were three ol
them being a degree e-osse- than my self
cried themselves 10 death-sail 10 have
died of fits.
When I arrived; a. my fifteenth year, nv
parents concluded that Betsy Jane needed
some polishing; and as farmer Jones was
about to send his Julia 10 boarding
school, il wAs decided that should also
have smattering Of fashionable school
training. / was already beginning to see
that my cognomen was Ar from being 20.
etical, so gave my name to the secretary
of the seminary as "B. Jennie Herrick.''-
That was enough to give an appre ciative
mind deep impression Of my importance.
Threeyears were spent IN conf aga.ing the
verb to loue, through French, German and
Latin, with other accompaniments Of mu-
sic, drawing and painting. l never studied
much, but my chum said ! always recited
at my turn so at the close OF my school.
life, I acquitted myself as q very good
scholar, though not at ali polished, for,
if wanted to laugh, it was loud enough to
awaken n moderate sleeper quarter of 8
mile away.
A year spent in traveling-a season in
looking at the different dresses in Saratoga
and Newport-a winter divided between
the Hub ofthe Universe" the"Pure City
and the "City OF "Drotherly Love-" The
las. year has been spent at home mostly
surrounded by fock Of lovers-lovers d
Squire Herrick's hospitality and lovers
Of nonsense, compounded and gilded with
fashion.
A little thing turns the tide in ones Life
sometimes. A little thing caused NE to look
inside OF my poor miserable life-as barren
of beauty as a desert, as useless and &im.
less as al idiots, as contemplate and de.
plorable as an offce-seeker's. II made me
sick of myself. My advantages had beeu
liberal, and my talents were Of no mean
order. And there had been, notwitLs:and-
ing an unceasing round Of heaux and par
ties, terrible expenditure Of money, and
all to no purpose. ] was disgusted with it.
II was wearing my life out l was grow
ing nervous, hysterical, had q poor Gppe-
tite, was troubled with that everlasting
complaint Of woman's, the headache. r oW
hated it all!
But what should do? I thought Of O
variety of employments, but it woclc need
time for the carrying out Of such plans.
wanted something immediate, for fear my
new resolutions might weaken. = had
been o man should have done as our best
and noblest have done-gone to the war. !
did the next thing-I went to war with
myself. My adorable lovers co1ld they
endure the trial to which their nerves were
to be subjected? They were but human,
and breeze Of sense might blow them
away. My first battle was witE my pa
rents next morning.
"I've request to make, father and
mother, and very much desire .ha. you
may grant it." My face flushed III over
at this. l could feel the blood tinsie at he
very finger ends.
what is it, Betsy janet" says father
"uas Will Hastings been making--? 2"
"No. Will Hastings has nothing to co
with it, nor any body's will bot my own.-.
'Iis just this: want you to diaIniss our
hired girl; there are only three OF us In ths
family, and really think We need ro
girl"
"But," interrupted my mother, s'do VI,
think your poor old mother wants TO Aiu
herself?s