Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-30
AUNT HANNAH.


And wide bonnet-you would guess it at the
distance OF mile;
WI her little sprigs Of smilax, and her laven-
der and lilses,
Snowy napkins and big basket, and serenely
simple smile.
sbe is just = little queer and few gentlsfolk,
Ifear,
In their drawing-room would welcome that
beniguant, beamipg face;
And the truth is, old Aunt Hsnpah's rather
antiquated manners
In some fashionable circles would seem ssdiy
out Of place.
Yet there's something quite refined in her
manners and her mind,
As you presently discover; and 'tis we'll
enough to know,
Everything thst now 30 odd 10 In the bonnet
and the bodice
Was the very height Of fashion five and forty
years ago.
She was then reigning belle; and I've heard
old ladies tell
How at all the balls and parties Hannah
Amsden took the lead;
Perfe,s bloom and maiden sweetness Lily grace
of rare completeness,
Though the stalk stands rather stifly now the
flower has gone to seed.
She had all that love could give, all that
makes it sweet to live
Fond caresses, jewels, dresses; and with
eloquent appeal
Many proud and rich sdorer kpelt-in meta
phor-before her;
Metaphorically only does your modern lover
kneel.
II she needed, twas because in their worship,
theie applause,
Her perfection was reelected, and pleasing
musio heard;
But she suffered them no nearer than her gold
iuch or her mirror;
AMI rhe hardly hsld them dearer than her
p:er-sla.s or her bird.
But at last there came a day when sho gayo
.s ~ her heart away
II that rightly be called giving which is
neither choice nor will,
But q charm, q fascination, and wild sweet
exultation-
All the fresh young life outgoing in strange
s' ecstatic thrill
At . city bail. by chance, she first met bis
ardent glance. ..-.-.
He was either young nor handsome, but a
man of subtle parts,
With an eye of such expression as your lover
b. profession
Finds sn excellent possession whom he goes
a-huntiog hearts.
1t could trouble, it could burn aud when first
he ohanced to turn
That fine glance on Hannah Amsden, It lit
upwith swift DEERE.
With sudden dilation, and radiant sdmira-
ton,
And shot down her souls deep heaven like
= meteor trailing fire. -
How was aay one to know that those eyes had
looked just so
On hundred other women, with gaze as
bright and strange?
There are men who change their passions even
oftener than their fashions,
Aud the best of loving always, to their mind,
is still to change.
Nay, it was not base decsit; his own conquest
seemed complete
They we're soon afisnoed lovers and her
- :. opening life was filed
With tue flush Of fame-iit fancies, mornings
rosy-hued romsnces,
All the dews of hope and rapture loves de.
icioas dawn dist cd.
Home the country maiden went and busy
summer spent
Al in bridal preparations, blissful troubles,
happy woes;
Fitting dresses filing presses, little CROSSES
and distresses-
Those preliminary prickles to thu hymsneal
rose.
Never since ths world began, course Of true
love smoother ran;
Not an eddy of dissension, nor the ripple Of
q n doubt. s.s.
All the neighbors and relations came with kind
congratulations,
And hundred invitations to the wedding
All the preparations tbrived, AMI the wedding
a. day arrived
Pleased but pens We moved the mother; and
the father with smile
Broad ard genial a. the summer, gave a vel
come to each conner;
All things turned on golden hinges; all went
merry for q while.
And the lovely bride, srrayed all in laces and
brocade,
Orange blossoms in her tresses (strsnge as
nov the story seems),
Quite enchanting and enchanted, in ber cham
Der blushed AID painted,
And but one thing now was wanted to fulill
her darling dreams.
For the clergyman was there, to unite the
happy pair,
And the guests were al assembled, and the
company sat dumb;
Aud the banquet was belated, and the maid
was still minated,
And the wedding waited, waited, for a coach
that did not come.
Then few began to sneer, and . horror and a