The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-03-25
From the Illustrated Household Magazine.I
Julia Louise.


As from the acorn rises the lofty and
majestic oak, which furnishes nations
their navies. and covers the broad sea
with fabrics that live amid its waters and
deride their mighty turmoil when the
tempest has lashed them into fury, and
they seem to rise from their slumbers as
stern arbitrators between life and death
so, from the most insignificant events
are results frequently produced which
furnish matter for the chronicler, spread
the blight of desolation upon the domes-
tic hearth, scatter far and wide the seeds
of misery, infuse the leaven of destruc-
ton into the prosperity of nations, and
dash from their brows the crowns of
kings.
| was one evening at friends house,
where a juvenile party had congregated; i;
and while they were actively engaged in
the merriment of blind mans buff, an old
woman was said to be at the door who
would tell the ladies fortunes for trihe
The game was instantly stopped, and the
young people begged that the prophecies
might be admitted. Among the merry
group here assembled, was a fine, hand
some girl, in her nineteenth year, niece
OF the gentleman in whose house the
juvenile party were assembled. She was
the eldest of the company-ior was a
mere casual visitor-which consisted ex-
clusively OF young persons, forming lit
tie knot OF school-iellows.
After some demur on the part of my
friend, and rather warm expostulations
on mine. they were finally overruled, the
pythoness was admitted. She was very
dirty old woman, and seemed to have de
rived whatever inspiration she might
possess from the spirit of the public
houses, for the aroma OF gin-that bane
of vulgar life-eXhaled from her throat,
bronzed and scraggy from without, with
so strong perfume, as at once to settle
the question OF her spiritual predictions.
Her modes of divination were various ::
chiromancy, geomancy, and cards, were
severally employed to work out the
prophecies of this bbacious sibyl. Having
received sixpence from each girl, she be-
gan to givesthem some account of their
future lives, to which they each listened
as the voice of an oracle. Upon my ridi-
culing the affected prescience of the
stranger, Julia Louise the young lady to
whom | have just alluded as if ashamed
of being thought so credulous as her com
panions, expressed her unqualified disbe-
lief in all such predictions. As she spoke,
the bedlam eyed her with lurid scowl,
that caused the blood instantly to recede
from the girls cheek, but ashamed at
having exhibited any symptoms of alarm,
she quickly rallied, and affected to re-
ceive the vaccinations Of the prophecies
with perfect incredulity.
The old woman told, in succession, the
fortunes OF the younger friends, to whom
she promised wealth, IAN auspIcious union,
and perfect happiness, until she came to
II1lia Of har r
ly with forced smile, as the hag adj
vanced to pronounce the secrets of the
future. The pythoness bent her dim
eyes upon the fair girl with solemn
stare, pursuing her withered brows into
lnnumerable wrinkles, and drawing down
the corners of her mouth with lugubri-
Gus expression Of prophetic wisdom.
Let me look at your left hand" The
girl raised it-her fingers trembled, and
the impostor saw at once that she was not
only believed, but feared.
There are dark shadows crossing these
lines They are traversed too-there is
much disappointment for thee, lady The
characters of 10y now fade before my
sight; the black writhing of wo comes
over them, and blots them out"
Poor Julia grew deadly pale; her breath
became thick and short; yet, by reso-
lutte effort, she cast off her terror, gave a
feeble, but forced smile. and babe her
tormentor proceed.
Perceiving the effect which the reve1a-
tions of her pretended inspiration pro-
duced, she said, STOPPING her head over
the girls hand, and assuming a still more
omnibus expression Lady, you are en-
gagged to be married, but the spectres of
disappointment surround the bridal bed ;
you will never be led to the altar by the
hand of lover; you will pine in secret,
but never wed. Listen! You are fond Of
the brute tribe; you will never caress
another of the dumb creation-never-it
is the voice of destiny. There is more
misery still. You have derided the
prophecies, but you will believe what
she has said to your bane; you will fear
her henceforth, and eXpiate your belief
with scalding tears You will shun your
companions; you will reject the food that
nourishes you; pining will wear you to a
shadow; your home will be dungeon,
without its darkness, but with all its
borror; and you will lose your wits,
lady
Seeing that the distressed girl was now
becoming painfully agitated, | desired
the crone to desist; but she had worked
her victim to that pitch of mental excite
ment that defies resistance. The struggle
had been maintained with determined
energy; the spirit, however, became at
last overmastered. and Julia Louise sank
senseless on the floor.
By this time the. fortune-t teller had
quilted the room, grinning scornfully at
the effect produced by her pretended
predictions. 1t was q long time before
we could succeed in restoring the af
frighted girl to her senses; and when she