The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1877-12-25

I
".Oh dear, mother. why will yoa
be- so foolish about me ? No fear of my
taking cold
You cannot 20, Adele, dear, unless
with some better protection than THIS
cobwcb scari,' said the mother firmly,
The young girl, with Il Slight expires
son Of iupatiencc trippcd back 10 her
chamber. ard in few moments returned
with the shawl, which her mother drew
carefully about Ter. Yet, scarcely was
The thoueh'lcss young creature in the
carriage that awaited her ere the shawl
was pushed back from her shoulders.
and the fresh, humid night air suffered
to Laihc her neck. Wien she entered
TIE tall room there was brighter flush
On her checks than usual, and sho vas
conscious cf an unpleasant sensation be.
low ihs ti.roa, pi, This was but slight.
however.
1T was three O'clock when Adele left
the gay ballroom to return home For
at leas, four hours Of the time since her
entrance. she had dauced in the hot and
crowded apartment.
Draw your shawl closer around you,
said her lover, as he assisted her into
the carriage. a slight rain was falling
and the uir was coming from the east.
"Oh, how cool and pleasant" murmur-
ed the lair creature, as she leaned her
head from the carriage window and let
the moist atmosphere strike upon her
neck. "Iow refreshing. | thought
several iim's that | should faint in that
sutIrcuting crowded ROOM"
The shawl vas thrown from her neck
and shoulders aud for quarter Of an
hour she rode. thus unprotected, until
sliglt shudier creeping over her frame
warned her to replace the SHAWL. and
even to draw it tightly around her;
but it did uo;, nov, impart the warmth
-he sought
Do you wonder that on tie next
morning. Adele had fever, aud pains in
The side and breast. or, that when the
doctor came, he discovered the existence
of considerable inflammation Of the
lungs?
4 week cf sciious illness, and two
weeks Of convalS,ceDce. Then, setting
at nought i'll the gentle renoniiranceS
OF her mother, Adele went out Tor q
promenade with some vouag compan-
ions, wearing very thin shoes, although
from recent rains, the pavcmcnts were
damp. 1t was over three months ere
she was able to appear abroad again;
ana months longer before the roses
b;oomed on her checks as Of old.
At seventeen Adele became wife;
and before her eighteenth summer
b:.b, was laid on her bosom.
She is to- ycuns TO marry urged
the pnic. anxious uoiher of this fragile
girl. "Wai, year or two, until boih
mind and body have gained full ma
turi,y."
But the arden, young lover could
not wait; aud Adele was quite as impa-
t;ent for the wedding day. TO the VOL
ccs Of reason and prudence, they were
! alike deaf.
~ gay round of parties followed the
marriage. Night after night the iair
Young bride. too thinly clad for expo
sure to the sharp air OF a severe winter,
went forth to meet her friends. Late
hours, stimulating food and drink. ex-
cessiye fatigue. aud colds, wrought upon
her ,heir sad fleets; and ere the honey
neon was fairly over, She was in the
hands Of the physician.
"When Adele appeared abroad, alter
the birth OF her first chiid, some OF her
friends hardly knew her, 50 sadly was
she changed. Never again did tie
roses of health come back to her cheeks
except when flushed by the fatal hectic.
Never again did she enjoy an hour $
freedom from iassitudl aud pain. Yet,
strange to tell, she took scarcely any
better care Of her health than before
her marriage. You saw her at balls, ut
concerts. at lha opera, aud all iashiona-
BE assemblies, exposing herself to colds.
and crcouutering fatigue that invacia.
bly, brought on poins or rrCsiration OF
strength.
".A few years more, and the curtain
falls upon The drama of life. That the
acts aud scenes were 80 many, was the
greatest cause Of wonder; not that the
curtain fails SO soon. Adele Melbourne
cut the thread Of her own existence. ~
"Mrs. Melbourne re- exclaimed our
attentive listener; surely it is not OF
her hat you have been speakipg?'
Yes. Of Mrs. Melbourne, whose
wasted form has just been carried forth.
1t would have have been miracle had
life been further extended
a long silence was followed by a
deeply drawn .igh.
Yes, YES, see it all the mystery is
solved, There is no dark providence
here. Ah. how many ike her are daily
cut down in the very flower Of life cut
down ere half their work is done -
lit is a mrlancholy fact" We replied,
that the whole average Of life III this
country is diminished by suicidal dis
regard Of the plaiucst laws Of health
aud this sad dc!ect-ve ought to say
eriirinai--is ehargcablc more upon youl
Z ;han our own. i gives one heart
;. a ,hil.k If ihn nnilv drnihs c!