The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-08-17
sAisrellaneons.
THE MANTLE OF BEAUTY.


II pity Margaret, she Is so plain
Certainly she Is very plain but then, she is
50 good
"GoOdness Is very well in iu own way but a
handsome face and a 6ne person will do more for
girl than goodness" " was the reply.
''ln worldly point Of view you mean p
The FIRST speaker did not answer this remark.
II suggested thoughts not wholly 10 agreement
with the sentiments Just uttered
The subject OF conversation was the youngest
Of three sisters. She was called homely by al
most every one yc, Il Is but fair 10 say that she
was too often seen as foil 10 her handsome sis
tiers, whose bright eyes, regular features, rich
eomplexions, and free graceful carriage, bad
won Tor them the appellation OF two beauties. y
Parents are not always wise and just. The
fact OF being father or n mother does not as q
matter Of course, liz person above his or her
natural weakness and defects Of character, or
change materially the old estimate OF men and
things. The mother Of these girls was very far
from being q wise woman, and quite as far from
being just towards her youngest child. The beauty
OF the two elder sisters she sought to increase by
all the available arts Of dress while the very
plainness aud coarseness Of attire which she deem
ed good enough for Margaret made the latter
feel homelier than she really was. Margaret,
not being an ornamental appendage ofthe house
hold, was made useful While ber sisters dfessed
and saw company she was at work, aud often for
them. She felt The unjust discrimination, and
often cried over !, when no one saw her, but
neither rebelled nor complained.
81 pity her she Is 90 plain" This was so often
said by those who saw Margaret In contrast with
her sisters. But II almost always happened, that
those who had any true knowledge with regard
to her character would answer-"But she Is 90
good"
There Is beauty in goodness That was her
compensation. lfihe outer garment was plain
the inner form and true substance Of her being
had symmetry and grace beyond what the flesh
puts on in is most envied perfection. The soul
10 n perpetual effort TO impress likeness Of It's
quality in the face 10 mould the features into
an image OF itself; u this law was in favor OF
Margaret, Il was against her sisters; for while
she was living in sslf-denial, both willing and
doing right In every relation, no matter how un-
pleasant they were cherishing pride, selfshness,
vanity, worldliness, envy and Immature.
The time came, a. years progressed, when IL
was no longer said ~ pity her. she Is so plain"
Not that any signs of beauty appeared in her face
but IL was no longer perceived as homely. She
did not appear in company as often as her gay
and brilliant sisters, who always had around them
circle OF admirers but when she appeared she
did not sit alone, as one nor so often from the
subject OF depreciating comparison. Persons who
bad kept sloof from her began 10 feel an atirac-
ton that drew them 10 her side aud many won
dered how Il was that they had been so slow in
discovering how greatly she was in some things
superior 10 her more snowy sisters.
There vas an atmosphere ofuanquiliiy about
Margaret which was felt iy every one who ap-
preached her The repose OF her manner did not
break up easily but TO right sentiments and
feelings she responded with a warmth Of exprts-
sion that veiled nothing OF insinceriiy la con-
versation where the subject was agreeable thought
would light up her countcnance and play il mani
fold changes II was singularly mobile to the
understanding TO emotions, never coneealing.
Time came when the two elder sisters found
themselves often less attractive in company than
the homely Margaret. Young men whose favor
they desired 10 win, were not unfrequently in
different 10 all their arts and Establishments and
yet were all attention TO their palmer sister.
II is not always that truth comes TO ears most
concerned 10 hearing Il. Friends and ncighbors
see and talk about our personal defects pecul-
arities, and hankering faults, though we see them
not and go on blindly indulging them TO our
loss and injury Margaret's two eldest sisters
still thought themselves beautiful, winning grace
ful beyond all comparison with their Cinderella
as once they had been vain and hoaTiless enough
10 call her. They did not recognize the fairy
work that, with slower than old fairy touches,
yet with more enduring magic, was transforming
her daily. But there were eyes that could see
while theirs were blind, and Il happened that
through the sense Of bearing iheyEained knowl-
edge OF wha, their sight had failed 10 give. The
eldest-her name was Cordelia-overheard the
following conversation. II was between two
young men with whom she had long been ac-
quainied.
"a used to think her beautiful. said one Of
them.
"Cordelia p said the other.
"Yes T. was the reply.
$50 did H." continued the other. Three or
four years ago, when she and her sister first came
out, with the girlish bloom upon them, Thought
them two Of the loveliest creaturers ! had ever
seen but somehow, they have been fading or
changing ever since"
THERE'S nothing In them, said the first spea-
ker.
''Not much" was the reply.
"They dress elegantly, and have a world Of
sprightly gossip and small talk but as TO cul-
ture Of the heart or intellect have failed 10 dis
cover the signs. ! was smitien with cordelia at
6rst-aetually In lore with her bright eyes and
fair faee-but go, over II long ago. Beauty is
very well in these love matters but sensible man
is apt 10 look little way beneath the surface 10
see what kind Of q foundation beauty is resting
upon. Girls OF this class are well enough TO
dance and iirt with but for the graver pur-
pose Of matrimony, none but knaves or fools ae-
"ThsIe are plenty Of knavs and fools shout, 4"
said the friend.
%, yea said the other, 'as witness the wretch
ed marriages that are constantly taking place.
There's fellow dancing attendance on Cordelia
now. that 10 just weak enough TO marry her a. q
Kind Of show-wlie. lie thinks her queenly OF
course u the event comes on there will be anolh.
or miserable couple added 10 the list. Both will
End themselves disappointed.
'By the way" said the other speaker, break.
Ing in upon bis friends homily, "what do you
think ofths palmer sister,
"Margare,q''
uYeah