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Article THE BEAUTIFUL HAND. Page 1 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Beautiful Hand.
THE BEAUTIFUL HAND .
SOME years since , Avhen I Avas a very giddy young man , I joined a travelling party from Montreal to go as far as Washington City , the Capital of the United States . From this point , my companions continued their tour , ancl I returned again with all the rapidity of American steamers toAvards Montreal . The stages and steamers along m } ' route had their arrivals and departures so arranged , that travellers had the fair prospect of losing no more time , in their transit , than Avas requisite to step from out of one into the other . Buton the present
, occasion , an accident happening to the engine of the Vessel Avhich was " galloping over the Avater , " —to use the expression of a passenger , —our arrival at New York Avas delayed until after the morning boats on the North River had departed . I was , therefore , compelled , with extreme reluctance , to remain some ten or tAvelve hours in this City . I went immediately to the boarding-house at which our party had staid Avliile there ; and after taking possession of an apartment , and dressing , found
myself precisely in that state of mind under which every thing one does , or thinks of doing , is positively irksome . It Avas in the latter part of the Autumn , ancl one of those hazy and beautiful clays peculiar to the " Indian Summer , " as the Americans term this mild and dry season . I strayed out in search of any thing to fill up the time . After passing some distance in BroadAvay , through Avhich all the moving things in NeAV York seemed to be pouring themselves , I bent my Avay into a more retired part of the toiA'n . Walking along a Avell-lmilt quiet street , in Avhich I AAMS gazing about at the passengers on the footway , .. the . children ancl floAvers in the Avindows , I saAV at a
AvindoAV of a very respectable looking bouse , the bead of a lady resting upon her hand , in such a position , hoAvever , as to hide the face , while . it displayed the hand to the greatest advantage . It Avas snowy Avhite , and AA ' ith the dark hair for its back-ground , I could distinguish its delicate and exquisite form . I love a beautiful band , because nothing surpasses , or indeed comes up to , its easy , delicious gracefulness ; besides , a perfectly delicate ancl beautiful hand almost invariably indi-There
cates a corresponding symmetrical person . are , too , such sweet associations A \ 'ith its soft ancl gentle touch . But this hand exceeded all the hands of my previous admiration , and started up in my imagination a p icture of surpassing loveliness;—not only of form , but of mind , accomplishments , temper , manners , affections , in a word , all that a young romantic man adores in Avoman . I felt strongly , I knew not Avh y , that this Avas the being my fancy had deli g hted to paint as the object to 1
Avhom my existence Avas to be devoted . But then , perhaps , she was already pledged—perhaps , already married . The new thought distressed me . TAVO gentlemen came out of the house , and as they lingered a moment at the door , and I did not wish to communicate to them the object of my position on the opposite foot-AVay , I Avalkecl on . ' I devised and dismissed a hundred expedients b y which I mi g ht ascertain something respecting my ideal beauty . At length I returned
to the house , crossed over the street , and Avent boldly up to the door ; though , to confess the Avhole truth , my heart beat most audibly . On my rinsing , a servant came , and I asked : " Is Mr . Field within ?" "Field , Sir ? " replied the man . "Yes , is Mr . Field Avithin ? "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Beautiful Hand.
THE BEAUTIFUL HAND .
SOME years since , Avhen I Avas a very giddy young man , I joined a travelling party from Montreal to go as far as Washington City , the Capital of the United States . From this point , my companions continued their tour , ancl I returned again with all the rapidity of American steamers toAvards Montreal . The stages and steamers along m } ' route had their arrivals and departures so arranged , that travellers had the fair prospect of losing no more time , in their transit , than Avas requisite to step from out of one into the other . Buton the present
, occasion , an accident happening to the engine of the Vessel Avhich was " galloping over the Avater , " —to use the expression of a passenger , —our arrival at New York Avas delayed until after the morning boats on the North River had departed . I was , therefore , compelled , with extreme reluctance , to remain some ten or tAvelve hours in this City . I went immediately to the boarding-house at which our party had staid Avliile there ; and after taking possession of an apartment , and dressing , found
myself precisely in that state of mind under which every thing one does , or thinks of doing , is positively irksome . It Avas in the latter part of the Autumn , ancl one of those hazy and beautiful clays peculiar to the " Indian Summer , " as the Americans term this mild and dry season . I strayed out in search of any thing to fill up the time . After passing some distance in BroadAvay , through Avhich all the moving things in NeAV York seemed to be pouring themselves , I bent my Avay into a more retired part of the toiA'n . Walking along a Avell-lmilt quiet street , in Avhich I AAMS gazing about at the passengers on the footway , .. the . children ancl floAvers in the Avindows , I saAV at a
AvindoAV of a very respectable looking bouse , the bead of a lady resting upon her hand , in such a position , hoAvever , as to hide the face , while . it displayed the hand to the greatest advantage . It Avas snowy Avhite , and AA ' ith the dark hair for its back-ground , I could distinguish its delicate and exquisite form . I love a beautiful band , because nothing surpasses , or indeed comes up to , its easy , delicious gracefulness ; besides , a perfectly delicate ancl beautiful hand almost invariably indi-There
cates a corresponding symmetrical person . are , too , such sweet associations A \ 'ith its soft ancl gentle touch . But this hand exceeded all the hands of my previous admiration , and started up in my imagination a p icture of surpassing loveliness;—not only of form , but of mind , accomplishments , temper , manners , affections , in a word , all that a young romantic man adores in Avoman . I felt strongly , I knew not Avh y , that this Avas the being my fancy had deli g hted to paint as the object to 1
Avhom my existence Avas to be devoted . But then , perhaps , she was already pledged—perhaps , already married . The new thought distressed me . TAVO gentlemen came out of the house , and as they lingered a moment at the door , and I did not wish to communicate to them the object of my position on the opposite foot-AVay , I Avalkecl on . ' I devised and dismissed a hundred expedients b y which I mi g ht ascertain something respecting my ideal beauty . At length I returned
to the house , crossed over the street , and Avent boldly up to the door ; though , to confess the Avhole truth , my heart beat most audibly . On my rinsing , a servant came , and I asked : " Is Mr . Field within ?" "Field , Sir ? " replied the man . "Yes , is Mr . Field Avithin ? "