From the Ladies Maguzine. AN OLD MAID.


 Miss Atherton, Mr. Burton,' said Mrs Carvill, as she led forward the lady whom she had met at the door, and embraced with an at1ectiOnate warmth that could moi be mistaken for commonplace courtesy.- The smile of welcome is not like that of poIiteness, and it must be novice who is deceived in such matters. Mr. Burton ad- mlred Mrs. Carvill's taste and honored her judgment, and respected her sincerity and he saw she loved Miss Atherton; but how any mortal could love an old maid was, to him, matter of astonishment. Had she only been called Mrs. he would have seen at once in her countenance that kind ness of expression which tells the tale of the devoted wife, and affectionate mother, and all the soft charities oflife-buta Hiss. who had evidently lived her ten lusters, twas associated in his mind and feelings with all the disagrceable peculiarities of tempera- ment and character ever displayed by poor human nature.

 Do you not think Miss Atherton ve- ry elegant woman ? asked Mrs. Carvill, as the first named lady departed.

 Burton assented, for he was too polite to disagree with. lady, and respecting her friend too-but there was an expression in his eye which Mrs. Carvill understood- she needed it not, but continued-s Miss Atherton is my beau ideal of female excel Ience, and l am always exacting of my friends the same homage to her virtues. hope you will trust me as voucher till you are acquainted with her, and then she will need no eulogist.'

 And yet notwithstanding her perfec- lions, she has, it seems, lived only for her. self, and wasted her sweetness on the des- ert air.

 A very gentlemanly manner of express ing your dislike of all old maid said Mrs. Carvill, smiling.

 Mir. Burton returned the smile, as he re- piled: 1 have, confess, an aversion to the whole tribe of antiqua,cd maidens not doubting, however, that there may be amiable and intelligent ladies among them. You will ask my reasons-well, it seems to my mind impossible they can possess the true, feminine virtues and graces of char acter in the perfection they would have done had they been married, and of course initiated into the performance of social and

  ities and affections of their own sweet home. think they must be egotsts, be- cause they have had no expressing object of love that would make them forget seif- and they must be discontented too, from that constitution of our nature which makes US invest the unattained, and especially the unattainable, with extraordinary attrac- these feelings, sel6shness and will make them envious, suspi- cious and ll-natured. l do not include Miss A,herton in this picture-she is your friend, aud said there were excep- tions; but I own my interest in her is not increased by the circumstance of finding her single lady,

 Mrs. Carvill did not rerly to these O. pinions ofher guest. She knew such were entertained by most men, and that they never would be altered by the arguments of woman. It is strange lady will arr gue-she never convnces a man by argu- ments addressed to his reason; but she may by appeals to his feelings, to his heart. Nor need she think this course at all de- rogatory to the character of her influence, or to the truths she would impress. It is more important to the cause of virtue and public morals that mems feelings and afiec- tions should be kept right and pure, than that they should be logically convinced of the importance of goodness and purity.

 Mrs. Carvill changed the subject of con- versation-the last new poem was discuss ed. the transition to the sister art, painting, was easy. and then lithography seemed to glide in as natural as the ghost in Hamlet illustrated in the story of Bernardo" l have lately obtained Photographic picture that think tolerable,' observed the lady, at tile same time producing from her port folio the piece in question. 'This draw iug.' continued Mrs. c. has to my taste charm more divine than beauty-it has truth. It is no ideal representation but record of flial devotion and love. was acquainted with the originals, and have often seen Calista thus kneeling to help on her fathers shoe, for he was man of many infirmities, and more fears. 'The grasshopper shall be burden,' is a melan' choly but striking description of the im- beetle feelings of the aged. Among other weaknesses they usually have dread o strange attendants, and q querulous impa' tience when such would assist them. Thi. old gentleman was afflicted with the gou in his feet, and the approach of servant to put on his shoe would have been tor. ture yet he would sit with folded hands | and that look of quiet and trusting aban.