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About A Friend of the family. (Savannah, Ga.) 1849-1??? | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1850)
VOLUME 11. li’lerteii THB bridge op sighs. EV TIIOS. HOOD. it Drowned ! drowned !! ” —hamlet. One more unfortunate, Weary of breath, Rashly importunate, Gone to her death ! Take her up tenderly, Gift her with care ; fashion’d so slenderly, Young, and so fair ! Rook at her garments Clinging like cerements, Whilst the wave constantly Drips from her clothing, Take her up instantly, Loving, not loathing. Touch her not scornfully, Think of her mournfully, Gently and humanly; Not of the stains of her, All that remains of her Now, is pure womanly. Make no deep scrutiny Into her mutiny, Rash and undutiful; Past all dishonor, Death has left on her Only the beautiful. Still, for all slips of hers, One of Eve’s family— Wipe those poor lips of hers Oozing so clammily. Loop up her tresses £-c iped from the comb. Her fair auburn tresses ; Whilst wonderment guesses Whore was her home ? Who was her father ? Who was her mother ? Ilad she a sister ? Had she a brother? Or was there a dearer one Still, an 1 a nearer one Yet, than all other ? Alas ! for the rarity Os Christian charity Under the sun ! Oil! it was pitiful! Near a whole city full, Home she had none. Sisterly, brotherly, Fatherly, motherly, Feelings had changed ; Love, by harsh evidence, fin-own from its eminence ; Even God’s providence Seeming estranged. Where the lamps quiver So fur in the river, With many a light From window and casement. From garret to basement, She stood, with amazement, Houseless by night. The bleak wind of March Hade her tremble and shiver ; But not the dark arch, Or the black fhAving river ; Had from life’s history. Glad to Death's mystery, Swift to be hurl’d— Anywhere, anywhere Out of the world ! In she plunged boldly, No matter how coldly file rough river ran, Over the brink of it, dicture it—think of it, Dissolute Man ! Due n it, drink of it fhen, if y OU can I lake her up tenderly, Lilt her with care ; lashion’d so slenderly, and so fair! O'e her limbs frigidly •'hiffeu too rigidly, Decently— kindly, ° n oothand compose them ; And her eyes, close them, { so bliudly ! D"eadfully staring 1 ’ rough muddy impurity, when with the daring Dast look of despairing I ixed on futurity. IVrishing gloomily, Spurred by contumely, Cold inhumanity, Burning insanity, Into her rest.— Cross her hands humbly, As if praying dumbly Over her breast! her weakness, er **\\ behavior, rj( l leaving with meekness, sins to her Saviour ! flmtfii tii titrrntnrt, gtirmr nnii 51rt, tljt fm if Cniiprnnirt, ‘m SHfimfy, 3)taiiri| (Original CnU. THE BRIDAL PARTY. BY MISS S. A. STUART. “ A little nonsense now and then, Is relished by the best of men.” “Do ILirry request that obedient wife of yours It) tell us that conclu sion to her country frolic she com menced. She is determined not to treat us as company at all, hut just let’s us amuse ourselves as we can.” “ 1 declare Virge, Mr. Waltham ought to see how prettily you can affect a pout. ‘ Let's us amuse our selves!’ ” repeated Mrs. Anderson, mimicking her cousin, ‘f What did you expect when you came to Home wood ? You were surely not so un conscienahle as to expect me to amuse you, when these two pests take up all mv time. Do pray Har ry, senior, don’t begin to lengthen your phiz to ‘ dignity mark,’ for 1 assure you, ‘ my heart is broke in lircly,’ as Ann M’Carthy would say 7 , in my endeavors to keep you in smiles.” “ You make no allowance for the hearty laughs, Carry,” said Anna, “ for Harry has to utter more than one ha ! ha! through the day when you begin.” “ All ! yes, Miss Anna, I am easi ly flattered, as you may suppose. — Why arc you so anxious to hear about the narty. 1 am certain it * will he tiresome enough. If you had been there I grant you would have laughed ; but to hear it rela ted, makes it altogether different.” “Do Carry oblige us, for the :1s have made me curious to hear it.— I’ll undertake to keep Harry quiet.” “ That I’ll defy you to do, for if you give him everything within your reach, he will set up a squawl for the moon, as a plaything. Call Bet, and lei her take him.” “ The Bridal Party ■ Well! we devoted one day to rest from the fa tigues of the Wedding, before we setoff, for Mr. Warren’s to dine and dance. It was a horrid day 7 , and Clicsnut Grove was seven long miles off. The rain came pouring down, as if the heavens were a sieve; and so we packed up our finery, and left the trunks io follow, in Mr. Harrison’s carriage, which was to bring up the rear of our cor luge. 1 rode in Mr. Warren’s close carri age, and we started about eleven in the morning, as we wished to arrive, and make our toilettes, before the company came. What a vain hope ! Weddings were scarce articles, in that neighborhood ; and every one, who had an invite, was there ; and some whom Mr. Warren had not honored, so far. I heard one man tell him, during the evening. “1 didn’t get your notice, Squire ; hut I came without, thinking you’d forgot it, and would be sorry arter wards.” “Tis an ill wind that blows no body good.” Mr. Plopely was laid up with a severe toothache, and could not come in the rain. We passed through a room pretty well filled to reach the chamber up stairs, to which they conducted us. Mr. Harrison’s carriage was not in sight, and as it contained our trunks, we could only arrange pur hair, and then sit down to await patiently its advent. In the meantime the door open ing—’twas anew house, and the locksmiths, had not been there— gave admittance to one —then came a group of three—then more stalked into the room, where we sat wrap ped in our shawls, till there was no longer, any seats. Helen and I, occupied one ottoman. Mrs. Mer ton —Helen’s aunt —and two of the bride’s maids, leaned against the bed; and to cap the climax, not SAVANNAH, GA, SATURDAY, MAY 13. tsW one of the intruders were known to our party. W hat a grotesque set they looked, in their w edding finerv. Not one of them, I will venture to say, had even seen the outskirts of a town, hut had undoubtedly vegeta ted their whole lives, in the “piney woods.” One of them, a strapping, buxom girl, with a magnificent head of hair, wore, (April though it was) a dark green moxislin —one of those execrable robes., that were in vo^ue O some years since—trimmed with Lisle edging; and the tremendous knot of hay coloured hair, rested on the nape of her neck ; — whilst the comb which sustained it was tastily festooned by some strings of coral. She was a real beauty that givl; hut a slim one who sat on the edge of the chair nearest the door, flour ishing for dear life, a handkerchief trimmed with cotton lacc, heat her, as the saying goes “ all hollow .” If the damsel with the green dress had much hair, she of the handkerchief had little, and that little was drawn hack so tightly that it was fully evi dent. she had made her prepara tions before hand, to see all that was to he seen by keeping her ey’es wide open. “ Who on earth are these people, Helen ? ” I whispered. “ Indeed, Carry’, you know as much as myself. I really do not think they have names, but sprang out of the earth to grace* my wed ding.” O “ Well, I shall consider it mv du -7 J tv, as first lady in waiting, to make myself acquainted with their ti tles.” “ Do not, for mercy sake, Carry, ask them a question, for I know I shall laugh. Look at Aunt, she is red in the face already, as she sees them staring at you and I so sol emnly, as if it were a funeral in stead of a wedding.” o “ Nevertheless I shall amuse my self, whilst waiting for the trunks. You need not even smile, if y 7 ou don’t wish.” And composing mv features into a becoming gravity I commenced looking “cotton handkerchief ” di rectly in the face. “lam a stranger here, ma’am, and as I am one of the waiters, and wish to know the present company’, will you , who I think must enjoy that happiness, introduce them to me ? ‘’ “ Yes, miss,” said she, clearing her throat, and drawing herself up into the perpendicular,without even winking, “ Mv name is Betsey, and this here one,” laying her claw on her neighbor, “is sister Nancy ; and that one there is brother Mose’s wife ; and that gal you sees sitting yanderis my tother sister Silly.” I acknowledged one and all ol these introductions, and then ari sing said, “ Allow me, Miss Bet sey to introduce you and the com pany generally’, to the bride, Airs. Warren.” Such a hohing ot heads !It seemed as if they had all turned into Chi nese mandarins, and I looked close ly at “ green dress” thinking to see her knot of hair tumble down. — When this performance was over, and I was enjoying the agonised state into which I had thrown the bride, Mrs. Merton and the rest. Miss Betsey broke the silence : “ Well ! I does say T ANARUS, for a city lady, you is the sociablest I ever seed. I’m ’mazin glad y r ou is come, and will talk to us all, for we was sitting like a jpassel of mumclmnces afore. ’Ain’t you sister Nancy and brother Mose’s wife ?” “ Sartinly r . I’m agreeable and likes to see others so. You comes from far parts from this, don’t -you Miss ? ” said the matron. “ Ves, a good distance. Like yourself I a] way’s endeavor to make m vsell agreeable.” Here our trunks arriving broke into this exchange of civilities.’ It was quite impossible for u$ to dress before this gaping crowd ; So on the strength of my 7 popularity’, 1 said, with ray most winning smile, “ May we beg of you ladies to go into the other chamber, whilst we change our dresses. Then I shall have to trouble you again Miss Betsey 7 , to introduce me to some more of the company, as you seem to be well acquainted and to have many relations here.” “N es Miss, Daddy is here ; and brother Mose—this woman’s hus band—and lots more of my kin, and I’ll make you acquainted with them.” They all walked into the next room, and from the loud chattering of their tongues, I was sure they were discussing us well. “ What are they talking about Lucy 7 ? ” asked I, of Helen’s maid, who had just come from thence. “ They 7 ses you is the most beau tifulest young ladv, they ever seed in their horn days ; and wonders if that are y’our own curls or a wig you has on. That hard-faced one y 7 ou was talking to, say’s she ’dares ’tis your own hair, and that she likes y r ou ’mazingly.” We were soon dressed, and I went to the head of the stairs to see if I could see Mrs. or Mr. Har rison. when I espied Charley - More ton. The opportunity was too good to be lost. It <vas the most difficult thing in the world for him to suppress a laugh, when anything ridiculous struck him, and so, I beckoned him up tome. “What is it?” queried he, as he reached my r resting place. “ Dont you wish to he introduced to some ladies, who scetn to he strangers. — All young ladies too,” said 1 without a smile. “Certainly, if y r ou will trouble yourself to introduce me. But I thought I knew every one in the neighborhood. “ I do not think you know these J at all events, or I should have heard y r ou speak of them :so I will pre sent you now.” I took his arm ; and I could see him drawing his face down into his company look, as I glanced slyly at him, from the comer of my eye. “ Miss Betsey 7 , allow me to intro duce Mr. More ton who is desirous of becoming acquainted with y r ou. And Miss Nancy 7 Miss Sidy— Brother Mose’s wife—Mr. More ton ” Charley had to bow becomingly, to all these ladies; and ’twas a choice morsel, to watch him as he struggled with the laugh, whilst I, leaning on his arm, stood talking, the better to enjoy his torture ; he unable for his life to utter one word. I released him, however from this purgatory by going with him in search of Mrs. Harrison, but in the ante chamber, I encountered Ed mund Browne, who stopped with me a most lovely boquet of tea roses, so master Charley had to speed on alone to do my bidding, whilst 1 ac nscepted Mr. Browne's arm, whilst returning my thanks, and waiting for the bride and her party. Miss Betsey 7 and her troop, 1 sup pose, missed me about this time, and now came lumbering down stairs. One after another did I introduce to my elegant and fastidious beau; whose affectation had to fly for the once, as he bowed to them. An old man with a pair of grey whiskers, but hale looking withal, and who really resembled a wolf, came on the scene at this epoch. “ Hi! gals, whar have you been ? I’ve been sarching all round the lot arteryou. ‘•Daddy,” said Miss Betsey, “ This young lady wishes to become acquainted with you.” ‘‘ How are you, inarm,” said he, as he held out his hand, “ 1 hope I sees you in prime health and sperils. “Thank }ou, I am quite well. Mr. Browne, Daddy,” said I, deter mined he also should shake hands. We'We re introduced as we entered, to the company, and shortly after wards dinner was announced. Os course, there were many tables, and I am happy to tell you I saw noth ing more of my new friends, Miss 8., and her kin ; for 1 had begun to tire ot them. I believe the old man got angry at the fashion of standing to cat, and therefore withdrew with his rose-buds. Dancing commenced at six o’clock, and continued till late at night, and I need hardly tell you I had acquiesced very readily to Mr. Browne’s and Charley More ton’s proposition to make the same en gagement with them as before. “Did you see or hear anything about that queer man Griffin, at the party,” said Anna. “Oh yes! I must tell you some thing about him. He was one who certainly went in for the good tilings at a feast. He also hovered about on the outskirts of the dancers to pass his opinion. “ Who is that they keeps calling ‘Miss Marg’rat,’ ” said he of some of his associates, “ I wish I could see her. 1 aint heard tell of nothing but Miss Marg’rat, amongst you fel lows. Whar is she ? “ You can’t see her from here, but she is sitting in that corner where you see Bill Martin* and the other youngsters standing. “ Well, I am for a saunter round I bar to take a squint at her myself.” So he accordingly stuck his hands in his pockets lo make him look in dependent and careless, and walked very leisurely around where the country belle was sitting with her circle of beaux, eating sugar kisses, and reading the “ sweet verses.” — Peeping over the shoulder of one of the young men, he exclaimed quite loud enough to be heard by those around: “ Miss Marg’rat! fore my Gad ! ’tis Peg Allen they’re been making all this fuss about. Why bowdye, Peg? I am glad to see }’ou here, looking so spruce. Whar did you get all these fine things, I never seed O O J you buy ’em.” Certainly, Peg was as much elec trified as we all were ; but the poor creature was somewhat oxcusable, as he had been “ imbibing ” all the afternoon. He left soon after this. We returned next morning to Mr. Harrison’s accompanied by the trim beaux for a visit for some days, “ to ate the fragments,” as Miss Ann laughingly declared. And this is all I have to say of the Bridal Party. “Did any of the beaux come home with you, Carry ?” said Yirge. “ Ask Harry.” “She was very anxious for that Mr. Browne to do so, but mv coming for her, made it unnecessary for him to take that trouble.” “ You had better say that your black looks was enough to scare any body out of their wits. I am cer tain they all thought ’twas the old gentleman himself, who was about to fiy off with me. “I will only say, that when the servant announced, me a young lady whom I do not think it necessary to name, flew into the parlor, saying Dear Harry* I am so glad you have come P “Pshaw! dont believe him girls. I never said so, in my life, Look out Virgy—ls not that Mr. Walt ham’s buggy driving up the avenue ? Do, Harry, go down and receive him.” The Home of Taste . —How easy to be neat —to be clean. How easy to arrange the rooms with the most graceful propriety ! llow easy it is to invest o.ur houses with the tru est elegance ! Elegance resides not whh the upholsterer or .the dra per ; it is not put up with the hang ings and curtains; it is not the mo saics, the carpetings, the rosewood, the mahogany, the candelabra, or the marble ornaments ; it exists in the spirit presiding over the cham bers of the dwelling. Content ment must always be most grace ful : it sheds serenity over the scene of its abode ; it transforms a waste into a garden. The hon e lightened by these intimations of a nobler and brighter life, may be wanting in much which the discon tented desire ; hut toils inhabitants it will be a palace, far outvying the oriental in brilliancy and glory. Married Life. —If WP consider carefully the condition of a married man, and that of an old bachelor, we shall see how little reason the latter has to congratulate himself that he has never been “caught.”— The married man has someone to think of all his little comforts; to sympathise alike in his adversity and in his prosperity ; to soothe his iljr humor when he D annoyed; to amuse him when he is dull; and to nur. e him when he is ill; but who cares for an old bachelor ?- unless, indeed, he should chance to he rich, and then he is surrounded by cour tiers, all eager to please him—but with what hope ?—only that they may benefit by his death, A Nolle Boy . —A touching inci dent occurred recently at a steam boat sinking, in the Missouri river, near St. Louis. Among the persons who were swept overboard, were a woman, and a boy about twelve vcars'of age, A man on the steam ■j O er seeing the hoy buffeting the w aves just beyond the boat, threw him a rope and called on him to take hold of it. The little fellow replied : “Never mind me —1 can swum — save mamma.” They were both rescued. Such a boy in now-a-days of selfishness, should swell his pa rents hearts with pride. Led Astray. — A good story was recently told at a Temperance meet ing in New’ Hampshire. A stranger came up to’ a Washingtonian with the enquiry : “Can you tell me where I ean get any thing to drink ?” “ Oh, yes,” said the other, “ follow me.” The man followed him through two or three streets, till he began to be discouraged. “ How much farther shall I go?” said he. “ Only a few steps further,” said the Wasqing'onian, “ there is the pump” The man turned about and moved his boots, Commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge, and fox, and squirrel, and mole. You can not recall the spoken word—you cannot wipe out the f< ot track, you cannot draw up the ladder, so as to leave no inlet or clew. Always some damning circumstance trans pires. The law’s and substances of nature, water, snow, wind, gravita* tion become penalties to the thief* — R, TV. Emerson. NUMBER n.
