The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-06-18
NUMBER Is.
how a young Lady Goes . Bed

Fanny DoWing, writing for the Land
we Love thus explains the mysterious
process by which young lady prepares
for bed. We rather like it:
Dismissing Mary, her foster sister and
maid, Miss Preston performed the task
of disrobing for the night, without other
assistance than that of her own nimbls
fingers.
First, the little lace collar and ribbon
were removed from the neck, and the
bright merino dress laid aside; next the
snowy skirts were lifted over the. head,
then spring touched in front Of the
rounded waist, when, with a clicking
metallic sound, down came the wide ex-
panse of crinoline, while Miss Charity
stepped out of It's steel circle consider
ably collapsed, but all the prettier. A
somewhat similar operation was repeated
and numerous springs and curls we're Set
in lively motion, and then with stretch
upward Of the plump white arms, and
long drawn sigh Of relief, off came the
little French railroad corsets, and the
dimpled shoulders of the wearer rose in
unrestricted freedom.
The snowy night-gown was now slip-
ped over the head, and its delicate frilla
daintily adjusted to the throat and wrists
Next the mirror was visited, and the
charming little naoues made at the bright
face it reflected, and then seizing the
brush, the girl proceeded to apply il to
her glossy curls until they shone like
satin.
Thence to the washstand, where teeth
white as cocoa nut meat were rubbed un-
til they cleaned still whittier, and the rosy
face dipped in the gilded basin of pure
cold water until it glowed with renewed
crimson. And then drawing low seat
close to the fire, the young girl laid one
pretty foot lightly on her knee and be-
gan to unlace the tiny boot which encased
it; in fey moments both little feet were
bare in their childish beauty and pressed
down on the hot bricks of tbe hearth,
while a careful measurement was made as
to the relative lengths of the big toe and
the next one to it, for in this important
difference depends the momentous ques-
tioI as to which of two shall rule in fu-
ture married life of the measurer; It
having been decreed by mysterious and
immutabls signs that should the greater
toe be the longer, the forthcoming lord
of the lady viii be her master as we'll.
while if the second has the pre-. eminencs
a similar fate is in store for herself, and
her only master will be her own sweet
will.
In the present instance, both OF the
soft pink toes were Of such sameness Of
length that the inference was sufficiently
clear that destiny decreed the married
life Of Miss Charity Preston should be .
scene of equalrights.
The young lady sat still and amused
herself by doing little prospecting in
The way Of gazing down into the Goals
glowing before her, and then taking her
Bible from its stand, she read the lesson
appointed for the evening, then knelt and
said her simple prayers. A puff of fra
grant breath from pair Of rosy lips, and
out went the candle, leaving the room
lighted only by the rich freight. Then
unbolting the door that Mandy, who
slept in her young mistress room. might
gain access, when it should please her
to leave the delights Of the kitchen, the
young girl turned back the soft blank
cts and snowy siests of her bed, made
the impress Of her rounded figure in its
downy depth, laid her innocent head up
on the tastefully trimmed pillow, and
went to her happy dreams.