THE YOUTHS CABINET.

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The Talisman;
OR, GRANDMAMA HOARYHEAD’S STORY.

ov have sometimes
wondered, my dear
children, that I
should prize a sim-
Y ple hair necklace,
\** more than all the
BN) ent FeO, treasures of my cab-
: inet. I remember

with what admira-
tion you always look up-
on the silver goblet, with
its antique carving; the
jeweled watch, with its
CG: massive chain; the casket of
gems, and miniatures; but
with all their beauties, none

" of these are as precious to
me, as the little band of hair, which so
long ago encircled my throat. My own
dear mother, many years ago, clasped it
as_a, talisman, upon the neck of her err-
ing daughter. You have heatd of
charms, and spells, worn by the super-
stitious in times of danger and pestilence.
The aborigines of America, and many
other savage nations, put great faith in
them, but the talisman which I so much
prize, is unlike any of their potent
charms. In my early childhood, I was
liable ;.to attacks of a most dangerous
kind. These attacks caused my dear
parents great anxiety, particularly my
beloved mother, in whose presence the
disease more often exhibited itself, and
gave her hours of discomfort and suffer-
ing. I shudder when I think what
might have been the consequence to my-
self and others, had not this disease
been eradicated. You will cease to
wonder at the value the necklace pos-

> ay €

sesses in my eyes, when I tell you the
influence it had in dissipating this mal-
ady, which, like an eastern sirocco, was
blighting and withering the greenness
and beauty of my chilthood. When I
tell you also, that this disease baffled all
medica! skill, and became each day more
violent, and after every attack more
fixed, you will understand why I think
the necklace as precious as Aladdin’s
lamp, or Fortunatus’ w ishing-cap. Yes,
more precious, for what could they pro-
cure as valuable as the reminiscences of
my life, when freed from this direful
complaint ; or what would I give, in ex-
change for the memories of the golden
spring of my youth, the glorious sum-
mer of my womanhood, or even the calm,
serene autumn of my peaceful old age?
Life now would indeed be “dark and
unlovely,” and the future devoid of the
hopes which cheer me, had not my gen-
tle mother and her talisman, effected a
permanent cure. I regret to see, that
notwithstanding the various improve-
ments of this wise generation, and the
wonderful inventions of “this glorious
and progressive age,” this malady sti!l
rages, and like the baneful Upas, with
its poisonous influences, destroys the
happiness of many homes. With the
hope that I may do something toward
exterminating this disease, and to aid
those who are endeavoring to drive it
from their hearts and homes, I am will-
ing to give the history . of my unhappy
days, when I was under its sad influence,

This disease has various symptoms and
features, and develops differently. Gen-
erally, the attacks at first are slight,