Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-17
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY. DEC. II. 1863.


morse-but when what was once the pastiue
Of an hour becomes the pastime of life, the
conscience is cheated into the belief that
/ firtations are harmless, and unworthy ofthe
denuuciations Of even those who suffer.
Many maiden, laughing away regret,
leads her adorer further and further into
the domain of Loves rapturous kingdom,
weaving around him the soft network Of her
enchaniment, until, poor fool, he breathes
lotus-laden atmosphere; is deaf to all
sounds save the low, sweet song Of the sy.
ren, and his very soul drunk with the n.
toxieation of the melody He dreams the
ecstatic dream of reciprocated affection, and
wakes to find himself excluded from the
kingdom, deserted for new admirer, the
song which so enraptured him sunk to an
other listener, and something gone from his
life that, we're he to live thousand years
will never come back to it.
Shut out from his earthly paradise, per-
chance be seeks to drown his bitter disap-
poiniment in the excitement of perilous adj
venture; finally, it may be, having lost faith
in woman's truth, changing into that thing
male firt; whose business in life It's, per
haps without single written Of spoken VOW
Of love, simply By those delicate attentions
that cost so little but mean SO much, to win
the fresh, pure, trusting heart Of girl-to
toy with it as with token-and finally to
throw it back upon itself as something too
poor to keep teaching her, as he has been
taught, that there are other songs without
words besides those Of Mendelssohn's S" and
when her every sense is wrapt in the soft
music
"That gentlier on the spirit lies,
Than tired-eyelds upon tired eyes.
Suddenly stopping the soul satisfying
strains, and leaving her to carry about with
her heart that will feel an aching void until
the airs of heaven sweep over her weary
spirit, and, awakening answering chords,
make of her everlasting existence a harmo-
ny. Willis sang:
"Gye me sly Irritation,
Meath the light of a chandelier,
With music to fill up the pauses,
And nobody very near.
And well known is it that the atmosphere Of
parties, aided by the seductive aceompani-
menls of music, the feyerish dance, the bril-
liant toillettes, the generous wines, the
sparkle and mingled wit, wisdom, and folly
of conversation, and above all, the conspie-
nous display of beauty in woman, and grace
in man, quickens into active life this fascina-
ting source Of pleasure.
Nightly, words which. if honestly spoken
to hearts that listen because they love to
hear, would make life sweeter to two souls,
words and vows of love emptier than air are
listened to with kindling eye, and painting
bosom, and burning bushes and low-voic-
ed protestations, that seem to bear the very
soul of truth, but false as Cressids, thrill
many manly heart whose awakened love is
worse than useless
If these wicked firtations" we're ecufu-
ed to those who arc in maiden meditation
fancy free. and those who rejoice in bachelor
freedom, the unhappiness resulting there
from might be of less consequence but the
most careless observer cannot fail TO notice
that Airtations are as much, If, indeed, not
more INDUCED by those who, at the altar,
once promised to love, cherish, and cling to
one only through life.
BY those who thus belittle their true
manhood aud womanhood, in little while
1t comes to be considered
"a glorious proves, in sooth, with a word
To wound the trusting and tame the proud,
E en- as leaf by a breath is stirred,
A spray by dew-drop bowed.
And so the battle goes bravely through,
l EAnd hearts get hardened as tongues flow
free,
And swells the blazon, 1 conquer you,
Lest you should conquer me.
Fight on, brave souls, 'tis merry game,
Play on rosy lips, It's merry game,
Tourney for tourney, and life for life,
Weapons and lists the same.
Since language was framed but to hide the
thought,
moral as deep as the proverb DID,
Since daily the delicate miracles wrought,
Hourly the legend told
You'll surely own it an idle creed,
Frivolous, gallant, and fatherless maid,
That forbid, the victim to suffer and bleed,
For one vain hours parade.
You Il surely deny, by the evident token
Ofrophy on trophy won day by day,
That hearts may be broken, by light words
spoken,
Only for something TO say.