THE LADIES' FRIEND.
{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
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Pastoretta was the daughter OF plain
country gentleman, whose independent cir.
cumstances enabled him to give her liberal
advantages. She passed through all the
common forms of education. and no expense
was spared to accomplish her mind and per-
son.


But her parents, though kind and indui-
gent, were illiterate. and gave her entirely
into the hands of her teachers, not pretend
ing to dictate in what way she should be
TAUGHT. or how her studies should be arrang-
ed. In the management OF her scieutlhc
pursuits, the too common error prevailed.
Every study calculated to elevate her mind
and abstract her from Standardization, was
enforced upon her as task, to which she
must submit, because such knowledge as 1t
would furnish was fashionable; as rezuard
for accomplishing such tasks, she was al
lowed to read romances. novels, and that
captivating kind of poetry which heats the
imagination, but never mends the heart
She abounded in feeling and in sentiment;
but it was that feeling and that sentiment
which centres in self. 1t was easy and de-
liphtful to recline on bed of roses, and melt
in tender anguish over dying insect; but
carry Pastoretta into sick room where
poverty and sickness are united; bid her
watch dying friend bid her perform those
Offices which the weakness attendant upon
long sickness and confinement require, and
she becomes impatient, her nerves are at
fected, her delicate frame is exhausted, and
every pretencc is laid hold ofthat can ex-
cusc her attendance, OIL free her from care.
Yet had you told Pastoretta she was desti-
tute of sensiblity. she would have thought
you barbarous. She had been indulged in
light reading till her mind was too much en-
ervated to bear the discipline OF reason; and
as soon as she was freed from the restraints
of school, all high pursuits were thrown
by, and she was careful to cherish those de-
iightful emotions only which she found lux
uriantly described by the poet and the nov-
elist When brought down by unprosper-
GUS fortune to the gross realities of life, des-
pair and suicide ensued.


The restraints of parental authority. mild
as it was, early became irksome; and Pasto-
retta determined by marrying to become her
ewn mistress. A husband she was sure,
could not oppose the wishes pf.a wife like
her. She promised herself a lifs of rap
ture, and believed that all distress would
cease when once freed from a Eother's eau
tons and fathers advice, which she eyss
considered as the offspring ofprudcry, pre-:
judce and affection. and treated with open
csntempt by acting in direct opposition.