Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-08

IL u
cultivate that high health which so
develops and enhances her physical
beauty that no accessories are
needed, and even the hideous sun
bonnet cannot quite hide it.
| am sure if the most blase of /
city gentlemen had come upon our
neighbor's daughter Fanny, as /
came upon her one day, his heart
would have felt warm for moment, |
Just as l have described her above, |
but with the sun-bonnet thrown on
the ground, she stood in the luxu-
rant far spreading forest, in lis
tening attitude, with head appraised.
Being a woman, was allowed to
come quite near, but then lifting
her hand she motioned me to be
quiet.
We were so still that l heard
little brook near by as it rippled on;
a wild thrush in the distance began
his interrupted music; squirrels
leaped and looked from the over
arching trees, and a little golden
lizard flashed out again upon a rock
where he was used to sun himself.
These were fitting surroundings
for Fanny, as she stood there in her
radiant beauty like a wood nymph
of old legends, and yet with that
delicate refinement OF face and
physique which seems peculiar to
American girls.
| knew this was in appearance
only, and half felt inclined to wish
that she was mute as well as charm
ing, but Fanny opened her lips:
Howdy, neighbor, howdy
Reckon you was a gwine to our
house, wa'ant ye ?"
Z" Yes, Fanny; / have brought a
crotchet needle and some thread, as
you wished me to teach you to knit
collars"
"Lawsy sake! Hev ye? Reckon
thatll be mizzible nizel Pears like
It'll be powerful heap o work.
Reckon I'd a mighty sight ruther
We wouldn't take sech a powerful
heap o. trouble jest for me, nohowP'
(In a very drawing tone).
go, you can soon learn. But,
Fanny, what were you listening to
just now,"
"Reckon / was trying to hear
the tink Of old Bindle's bell. Don't
you tell marin I'd strayed so ful
from home-reckon l lowed to run
back mighty quick eff I'd seen any
men coming"
We walked on, Fanny ahead oI
: me, stepping with the free, firm
! gait Of a woman never trammeled
! by tight clothing, and l was agair
| silently admiring, when she sud
denly turned with:
"Reckon you'd best hold up th,
tail'of your gown; theirs a power
l full lot o ticks in the woodsw
Oh romancel If only Fam,
: would never speak, At the tabl
she ate with her knife-but SO di,
all the others. Her younger sister
, , were growing up as beautiful, a
l simple, as unlearned as hersel
They all could read, and had al
/, Eye.like craving for knowledge
u they frequently piled me with quel
tions concerning New York, 18th
0 great city," but / could not answe
, truly-my reputation for trut
y would have been sacrificed; SO
!; tried to adapt my information
u their understandings, and was ofte
II much mortified at my i'll success
D | am glad now that | never gay
. them any account of the life that
! fashionable lady lives in New Yor
8 thought it unkind to unsett
y their ideas concerning the who
j duty of women-to marry, rear
u large family of children, cook, bak
s. spin, knit, weave and sew, an
L "tend preachin'" when the circu
ic rider came to their neighborhood-
and bring up their daughters to d
4 the same.
d This was my beautiful Fanny
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