Middletown transcript., 1871-03-18
T,iE BAcsnL0sss suasnlsa.
Written for tho Mi.ldlstown Transcript
ny sYSox

ny syxox.
Accustomed to society, mingling with
all kinds Of people ffom my boykood mn.
iii the age Of thirty. lie bccams irksome
and rather monotonomous when circum-
stances forced me to move from tho town
where life had passed 10 pleasantly. and
settle in the country. r''
From early youth msny leisure hours
were spent in the society Of ladies. but
lattcrly, isolated by the pressure Of events,
! was comparatively wcancd, and ever cx-
trcmcly difiidcnt. now avoided the sex.
remembering days past as dream. trca-
suring in mcmorys most sacred niche
the timcs Of moro cxuberant youth.
Living in a country, excluded measurably
from social interchange Of sentiment.
where society was virtually noncxistant.
my mind never brilliant, grew more dull.
and lost that vim acquired BY tho daily
cut and thrust, which sharpcns tho idcas
Of these who elbow their way with the
multitude.
cannot say that amy very pleasurable
emotions rose upPermost, whom | received
n letter informing me Of tho fact that .
party Of gay girls would visit us ut au
early day. Ny maiden sister thought it
strange, though all were related in some
manner,) that tiro could be found pos
scsscd Of such tcmcrity, and her cheeks
became more ashcn in hue, aud step even
nervous as the time approached. -.
Unfortunately few days before their
| IN al a..
vented my meeting them, compelling me
to deputc sable messenger to await the
trains arrival.
Mandeline. had retired, extra cxcrtions
preparatory to their reception together
with the excitement endangered by thoughts
Of their arrival, the break Of her daily
routine, had completely exhausted her.
and feeling really ill., she left me. to await
them, and tender her apologies
The night was very dark. with high
wind and drizziing rain prevailing. while
the hour had long passed by when my
fair guests were due. Generally wide
awake my lone vigil coniurcd the drowsy
god as sat so comfortably by glowing
crate in the old arm chair
How long | slumbcyed know not. for
the position in which found myself on
awakening asto.pded me-
A tall graceful girl knclt By nv side
with one white arm thrown carclcssly
round my neck, and felt her fragrant
breathe fan my face, while started be.
willeringly into the Depths of her mag
nifeeg. eyes humid With sympathy.
Just before me were her companiops.
one of noble presence and benign counte-
nance the other. gentle, mild her check
charmngly aglow with lifc's caruation,
Symrathe,ically cchoine tho words her
sister spakc.
"Oh. I'm so sorry cousin Ben. to end
you thus and her accents q. a,cd as
musically AS the chime of silver bells, and
her lips touched my brow ms ligh, as the
spring 1ephyr bnbbling my blood, coar-
sing it through vein and artery. closing
eye and locking mouth. with cxiatic thrill
The sound Of sweet voices in concert,
voices retaining the cadence trill, the
mcliilous pitch of youth, u,tcring words
of real feeling, was mystical to one who
hermi,-likc habituated to sameness Of face
and tone. remembered family time when
custom palled by familiarity, that which
now btguiled by its novelty.
The morning broke crisp and clear.
ushering as a,,endent beauties the glad
happy faces Of those who honored us by
their presence.
The old house woke to the Joyous laugh
ter Of youth. Young life infused its re.
juvinating power, quckenine the pulse
OF more mature age. and woman's iniui-
tion anticipated care. beguiling the mo-
mcn,s. bnnishing apathy
They bcamcd as stars, brilliant each
with peculiar glory all its own. Sattel-
lites of original lustrc. distinct. a study
unfathonlablc ye, not the less interesting
bccnsue Of their diversity
Fresh MS the mythical dcvotcs from the
fount Of youth no wonder :" cousin Ben
was translated to an immaginary cline by
the infectious hilarity Of their presence.
They formed groups. adding every
available person, chance visitor, or neigh
Dor. winning the reluctant by charm Of
manner. and measuring the acutcncss Of
their woman's wit. with the obtrusencss Of
their masculine partners in innocent and
harmless play
Old Sam. and afflicted and illitcrate neigh
Dor, who would occasionally drop in to
see me came at the right time. II was
fun for him, but greater far for them, they
banished his bnshfuincss by their fairy
arts and made him enjoy himsclfin in spite
Of his rcticcncc.
Mandeline threw back the counts Of
time aud stood up for the palm of grace
and loyelincss, n brave competitor once
again. The witching charm Of earlier
days was caugh, as it reccdcd, and youths
bcaming smile played hide and seek on
his lip and eye, gathering focus Of no
mean power, laughing TO scorn tho lines
Of care
The trio How shall dcs scribc them
for they stand before me now ns vivid and
vinsovne "a vcstcve1av Rwl n,et1ov twhts