The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-28
ELISE'S VANITY.
BY w. NJ.

The vanity of the fair sex, it is said,
is of the same age as the sex itself. A
clever writer, in defending this trait of
the feminine character, said that it con-
stitates its greatest charm; that with
out it the other sex loses half its at
traction; and in support Of this theory
there is the old quaint story Of the Ger
man maiden--a history which is so ten
der and pretty that it is worth rescu-
ing from the forgotten legends of the
fatherland.
A maiden lived On the banks of the
Rhine with her father, the miller
Now, the maiden, whose name was
Elise, was not pretty, for she was cross
and fretful, she grieved for her own
lack of beauty, and thought that none
would ever care for her Oh account OF
the few graces nature had given her
so she did not try to please, and YET
her heart was very large and very kind
ly. She spent half her time in front OF
her looking glass, lamenting her plain
ness and thinking how impossible il
was that Carl would ever learn to love
her, while Gretchen, who was so fail
and pretty that she was called "The
Daughter of SPRING" dwelt near her.
Elise was not loved, for she had new
er tried to gain love. She always fan
cied that it would be in vain to endeav-
or to please, in vain to be kind, and
thoughtful, and loving. When nature
had SO sighted her, who could care
for her or think Of her, or be interest
ed in her?
"Ahw she sighed, one day, eff
could but have Gretchen's beauty,
should be the happiest girl in the IA
therland, for then should not fear my
rival; and Carl, sunny haired Carl
might love me-" "
But Carl never came near her now.
and only thought of her as cross and
fretful Elise, and wished Gretchen had
had less vanity with her pretty face
and a rather large heart in her slim
body.
One day-it was in the time of tho
vintage-Elise went down to the Rhine
to bring up water, and as she dipped
her pals in the clear ripples she saw
her own face reflected, and turned away
discontinued.
She sat down Oh a rocky stone ant
watched the sunlight playing on thu
castle hills and listened to tn,
| far off song of the workers in the vine
yards; and she thought of Carl, wht
was there, and of Gretchen, who wa
there also. "Ah, mel" she sighed
"what a gift is beauty ~
FTlisc," said voice, and looking up
she saw an old woman-a very old, de-
formed Notwithstanding near to her
''Elise," she said, 'I will tell you the
secret of beauty, and you shall obtain
| ttll tlitV SOu Aouo loI 81 iuuSu' 0>
home and never look in a giass-nevel
see the reflection of your own face il
the water; never once again gaze OF
your own features, and You will grow
pretty-so pretty that all will wondel
at the change, and Carl--Carl will learI
to love you"
ooh, 1 will never see my face agar
as long as I live-never, never!' sale
Elise. "But are you sure 2"
"Quite sure" replied the dame; "but
remember, if you once sec your owr
face, your ugliness will return. Now
go home and be light of heart, and ev.
cry day your lack of beauty will grow
less, and every day more love viii how.
er around YOU"
"But how shall l know how it i!
true if l may not see my face 7" ask
ed Elise.
"Can you not tell by the altered
manner of those around you 2" said tht
dame.
ooh, yes" said Elise; chow l vii
watch them J"
Elise went home with q new ant
1 L I 81 h., 1,v