Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-05-14

I've prouy rlrl, having hoon n love with
himi nni a. t1 company. Whenever tha talk
grow serious. Hinnt. a8 by natural right,
began ~ Geak freely nnd spoke Often with
great succiea
10 wiz impossible 10 Withstand tho igvor's
enirnniim, and ~ little Mr. Brent, divided
between unnasines and satisfaction, fearing
q rppulse, and yct not without hops " now
wholly fegaining bis footing In The widows
lively house, introduced bis son b. the
ladies. All four wore in The drawing room
when the gentlemen were announced, and
young Brent was sufficiently master Of
himself not to bctray any preference for
one daughter before another. lndeed, he
rather ayOided Sophia, talked more and moro
freely with Caroline and Sibyl; and so few
and shy we're the glances he cast at her he
worshiped, that four pair of female eyes did
not, In a quarter Of an hour, detect him as
lover. Caroline rather liked his converse
ton, which was a trife bOokish; but Sibyl
pronounced him awkward and bashful.
Sophia said nothing, from which one might
have fancied that she thought the more; but
it Is certain that, as yet, she had not recog-
nized a lover.
Young Brent left the house enchanted. He
was ready to say, like the dazzled queen of
the East, that the half had not been told him.
Sophia Temple did, indeed, look very lovely
that morning, and as her face was in a most
particular sense a face Of expression, no por-
trait could do her justice. The young lover
flew off in an ecstasy of praise. Was ever a
true picture of womanhoOd seen before? Was
not Sophia the living presentation of that
image Of sense and sensibility which hovers
around every mans fancy, as the likeness Of
the true woman, but which seldom takes form
and feature-once or twice in a generation
perhaps! l pardon the lads raptures. AMI
in her face that afternoon there twas a delight
full harmony of expression, sweetness and
seriousness, animation with a suspicion Of
humor, and a sort Of tender sadness predomi.
mating over all the rest. Is not the highest
beauty always touched with Sadness
The worthy mother, who never lost a
chance of instructing her daughters, and
e~liciting their opinions for correction, asked
them what they thought of their new &C.
quaintance.
Dull" replied sibyl, finishing him of
with one word, imperially delivered.
"What do you say, C~arolineg"
"Oh, not dull, certainly" answers Mis-
Bookworm; 1--WE talked about astronomy"
"Don't mistake the drawing room for the
library, Car" remarked her mother briskly.
Learned talk is very affected. Be as well
educated as you please, but don't seem so.
Now, Sophia, what did you think of young
Mr.. Brent|
II had hardly formed an opinion, mamma
"You should have done so, Sophia.
Never be l~istless. And now, girls, shall ]
tell you my opinion''
"Do, mammal" the three exclaimed. For
mamma was always racy and pungent and
instructive, especially in her PROFESSIONAL
moods.
HE is a little sheepish, and he wants not
only confidence, but manner as well. A few
remarks from some observing lady friend,
such as"
yourself, mammaw Car cried.
"Well, dear, let us say myself, then. It
would do him a world of good. He is a dill
igent young fellow, and would soon improve
If he could be got to give his mind to it.
Those quiet, retiring young men have often a
great deal in them, and remember, girls, that
if they do not Shine at the times or in the
ways in which ordinary men of the world
do, still they are sometimes brilliant and
effective where men of mere manner and
accomplishments quite fail. Don't be preju-
diced, even by sheepishness, Sibyl; all
is not LONELINESS that seems so. And Caro-
line, my love, do give up that bad habit of
trying to talk what you call sense; you have
plenty of attractions without that. And,
Sophia, when shall teach you not to be so
listless; appear so if you please, for 1 admit
it gives you a charming look at times; but
still, have your wits about you. 1 assure
you, dear, at your age, if a young fellow had
been ten minutes in the room l could have
told you everything about him, down to the
color of his eyelashes, and no one ever called
me a starer. 1t was observation, dear, moth
ing more. Now do observe. Girls" she said
in conclusion, with an air of earnest appeal,
"when shall | make you women of the world?'
Vigilant, energetic, g~ood-humored, there
she stood with her delicate daughters around
her, training for society and conquest and
applause with as much patience and enthu-
siasm as though she had been a religious
superior making spiritual pupils ready for an
eternal state. But shrewd little Mrs. Temple
well knew how feeting her world was.
what a pity it lasts so short a time!" she
would often say. But that is not our doing.
Let us make the most of it while we can"