Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-12-30

other pleasant things in and around the |
mansion. / dare say you are mere fortu-
nate than am, and so have been invited to
some Of those graceful entertainments where |
wealth and good taste have combined to
afford pleasure without dissipation-enjoy- |
ment without WEAKNESS.
Mr.. Slortcake, / am told, keeps almost
open house, and his numerous, friends are
always welcome. They ale not required to
be extremely ceremonious, unless on great
occasions, but the ease and absence of for
mality which prevail, develop the highest
courtesy and truest politeness. Nobody
says rude thing or does mean one, but
an amiable and genial spirit seems to per-
wade the entire atmosphere of the place.
Sometimes of cold winter night have
passed that hospitable mansion, and paused
in passing, to enjoy the feeling Of comfort
and warmth, awakened by the bright glow
cast from the windows upon the icy pave
ment or snowy street. A greater fascina-
tion, still, has taken hold upon me as ex-
quisite music has iloated ont upon the night
air. Lingering there little longer, gleelul
voices have sounded forth in animated con-
versation, aud merry laughter has testified
to the enjoyment of all within those stately
walls. If, with light and music, and mirth,
there has mingled subtle appeal to another
sense; ii, under the wintry sky, have been
conscious of a warm and fragrant vapor
compounded of the aroma Of coffee, the DO
quet of terrapins, and the smell Of fried oys-
tiers, confess have not thought it an en-
tirely discordant element. Ihavc even con-
sldered 1t appropriate and iudicious.
If, under all these attractions, | have felt
myself forming wish that also had been
invited to share those festivities, l have
stined the thought by congratulaling myself
that, although was overlooked, many 9th
ers had been allowed the privilege of admit
tance, and as / have hurried away TO my
own humble home have said, even aloud,
"Iappy is the city whose wealthy inhabl-
tants devote part Of their means and of theii
leisure to the cultivation of social graces,
and the promotion of social enjoyment; who
are the patrons of literature, music and art
who recognize the claims Of the intellect and
of taste, and with generous hearts and lib
eral hands make provision iortheir satisfac
ton, not merely in their own families, bu
in the entire community"
Now, although have never been in thu
house, except on the occasion when it wa
thrown open for public inspection, immedi
ately after complciion-and you often have
am nevertheless in possession OF som'
facts in regard to occurrences there, whicl
have probably never reached your cars
How got them is mystery, but | will tel
what they are-proyidcd it he kept dea
secret between you and me-.
You have remarked,--I know you have
one drawback to the delights Of the Shorl
cake mansion You understand me 10 re
fer to the disposition and behavior Of Alice
the youngest daughter. Isn't she pretty
Indeed, may say, she is beautiful, and
her enemies dispute it, why, you know W
cant help thinking that little prejudice ha
dlmmed their vision. You have stood o
the corner of Eighth and Market, havn
yo,,, and looked down to the Delaware SON
bright afternoon when the blue sky was n
ilected in the blue river, and each SCENE
smiling upon the other, and your heart gay
quick jump in your bosom at the surpassil
lovelincss of the sight! Alice's eyes are ju
like that. Don't you think so?
Then her hair-those tawny ringlets, di
brown in the shade, but sparkling gold
The sunlight. What nets they are for at
niiring glances.
AS for her features, nothing could be mo
regular, and altogether her appearance
bewitcling. And her dress Well dol
pretend to be able to describe that. If 81
is a triumph of nature, her costume is tr
ply of art.
Between you and me | am afraid s.
knows all this too well. have heard
whispered that that knowledge accounts
the supercilious stare that desaces her bea
tiful ewes, for the too conscious toss OF t
tawny- golden curls, for that peculiar, haug
ty step and bearing which have been
marked upon the street. Ii, with her 10y
illness and gracefulness, sweet simplicl
was mingled, if prizing her own advantag
and using them to the utmost, she look
= with no seorn upon those less favored
=. from her lofty height she stretched do'
helping hands, to aid with gentle firmn'
in bringing others upward-1 don't know
artly what was going to say, but she wo'
is be a living illustration of the poets lin
,ot ga thing of beauty is joy forever "
he On the contrary, however, she has bt
sh- tie ono ugly feature of the Shortcakc hou
q 7 the one dimness on the splendid testiyi
,ed held there. Her wit has been sarcasm,
NV mirth, ridicule She has watched out
;ns the intirmites and pecuiarities of her ia
.;r- er's guests, and made mock of them, ope
The when she dared, secretly when she
ia compelled. Secure in her own youth
,la beauty, she has deridcd the old and scor
lin the homely. The child of wealth and
any ury she mas looked WIN cohlelp' upon
ose poor, and with an insulting pity on the 81
site by-genteel If the whole truth were I
she has even been known to curl her lip
zen. disdain at her fathers very slight att
his ments in the French language, and to
nilv play extreme impatience at some old /
the ioned pronunciations on the part OF
1 IN mother.
the Just one year ago-Christmas Eve, o
SOW the nights in the world-the lights and
r Of sic and merry voices and all the other
do. things were in full force out West st
anne The retired carriage builder, as you
and aware, has great fondness for all
and honorcd festivals, and on such occasio
made very particular TO gather about him
d;nr one of the choice spirits of his acquaint'
r,sv The result, not unnaturally, is some'
incts curious People of widely different
zenith and experiences arc brought together
ten the social mixture might be incongr
,,ve but for that e-heartedness and gra
,s,en, tact which mark the host and hostess
, and by means of which each guest Is
aned his ease, and all are brought into naturs
pleasant relations 10 each other.
od The disturbing element already allu'
vol. as embodied in the graceful person OF
Shortcakc was however in unusual