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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20493-8.txt b/20493-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcd8fc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20493-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4009 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories and Sketches, by Harriet S. Caswell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories and Sketches + +Author: Harriet S. Caswell + +Release Date: January 31, 2007 [EBook #20493] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES AND SKETCHES *** + + + + +This text was produced from images generously +made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical +Microreproductions, Michael Lockey, Susan Skinner and the +Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at +http://dp.rastko.net + + + + + + + + + +STORIES AND SKETCHES + +BY + +H.S. CASWELL, + +AUTHOR OF ERNEST HARWOOD, CLARA ROSCOM, OR +THE PATH OF DUTY, &C. + + +MONTREAL: +PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. + +1872 + + + +CONTENTS. + + +TERRY DOLAN 5 + +THE FAITHFUL WIFE 15 + +EMMA ASHTON 24 + +THOUGHTS ON AUTUMN 47 + +WANDERING DAVY 50 + +LOOKING ON THE DARK SIDE 57 + +EDWARD BARTON 62 + +THE WEARY AT REST 71 + +THE RAINY AFTERNOON 75 + +THE STUDENT'S DREAM 85 + +UNCLE EPHRAIM 88 + +STORY OF A LOG CABIN 93 + +HAZEL-BROOK FARM 106 + +OLD RUFUS 127 + +THE DIAMOND RING 135 + +THE UNFORTUNATE MAN 146 + +THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE 150 + +ARTHUR SINCLAIR 154 + +THE SNOW STORM 173 + +THE NEW YEAR 177 + + + + +TERRY DOLAN. + + +Some years since circumstances caused me to spend the summer months in +a farming district, a few miles from the village of E., and it was there +I met with Terry Dolan. He had a short time previous come over from +Ireland, and was engaged as a sort of chore boy by Mr. L., in whose +family I resided during my stay in the neighborhood. This Terry was the +oddest being with whom I ever chanced to meet. Would that I could +describe him!--but most of us, I believe, occasionally meet with people, +whom we find to be indescribable, and Terry was one of those. He called +himself sixteen years of age; but, excepting that he was low of stature, +you would about as soon have taken him for sixty, as sixteen. His +countenance looked anything but youthful, and there was altogether a +sort of queer, ancient look about him which caused him to appear very +remarkable. When he first came to reside with Mr. L. the boys in the +neighborhood nicknamed him "The little Old Man," but they soon learned +by experience that their wisest plan was to place a safe distance +between Terry and themselves before applying that name to him, for the +implied taunt regarding his peculiar appearance enraged him beyond +measure. Whenever he entered the room, specially if he ventured a +remark--and no matter how serious you might have been a moment +before--the laugh would come, do your best to repress it. When I first +became an inmate with the family, I was too often inclined to laugh at +the oddities of Terry--and I believe a much graver person than I was at +that time would have done the same--but after a time, when I learned +something of his past life, I regarded him with a feeling of pity, +although to avoid laughing at him, at times, were next to impossible. + +One evening in midsummer I found him seated alone upon the piazza, with +a most dejected countenance. Taking a seat by his side I enquired why he +looked so sad;--his eyes filled with tears as he replied--"its of ould +Ireland I'm thinkin' to-night, sure." I had never before seen Terry look +sober, and I felt a deep sympathy for the homesick boy. I asked him how +it happened that he left all his friends in Ireland and came to this +country alone. From his reply I learned that his mother died when he was +only ten years old, and, also, that his father soon after married a +second wife, who, to use Terry's own words, "bate him unmercifully." +"It's a wonder," said he, "that iver I lived to grow up, at all, at all, +wid all the batins I got from that cruel woman, and all the times she +sint me to bed widout iver a bite uv supper, bad luck to her and the +like uv her!" He did live, however, but he certainly did not grow up to +be very tall. "Times grew worse an' worse for me at home," continued he, +"and a quare time I had of it till I was fourteen years of age, when one +day says I to mesilf, 'flesh and blood can bear it no longer,' and I ran +away to the city uv Dublin where an aunt by me mother's side lived. Me +aunt was a poor woman, but she gave a warm welcim to her sister's +motherless boy; she trated me kindly and allowed me to share her home, +although she could ill afford it, till I got a place as sarvant in a +gintleman's family. As for my father, he niver throubled his head about +me any more; indade I think he was glad to be rid uv me, an' all by +manes of that wicked woman. It was near two years afther I lift home +that I took the notion of going to Ameriky; me aunt advised me against +going, but, whin she saw that me mind was set on it, she consinted, and +did her best, poor woman, to sind me away lookin' dacent and +respectable. I niver saw me father or me stepmother agin. I had no wish +to see her; but, although I knew me father no longer loved me, I had +still some natral-like feelin's for him; but, as I had runaway from +home, I durst not go back, an' so I lift Ireland widout a sight uv him. +But I _could_ not lave it foriver, as it might be, widout one more sight +uv me mother's grave. I rached the small village where me father lived +about nightfall, and lodged in the house uv a kind neighbor who +befrinded me, an he promised, at my earnest wish, to say nothing to any +one uv my visit. Early in the morning, before any one was astir in the +village, I stole away to the churchyard where they buried me mother. I +knelt down, I did, an' kissed the sods which covered her grave, an' +prayed that the blessin' which she pronounced before she died, wid her +hand restin' on me head, might follow me wheriver I might go." The boy +took from his pocket a small parcel, carefully inclosed in a paper, +which he handed to me, saying: "I gathered these shamrocks from off me +mothers grave, before I lift it forever." + +My own eyes; grew moist as I gazed upon the now withered shamrock leaves +which the poor boy prized so highly. Would that they had proved as a +talisman to guard him from evil! I listened with much interest to +Terry's story till our conversation was suddenly interrupted by Mr. ---- +calling him, in no very gentle tones, to go and drive home the cows from +the far pasture. To reach this pasture he must needs pass through about +a quarter of a mile of thick woods. He had a great dread of walking +alone in the woods, which his imagination filled with wild animals. When +he returned that evening he seemed very much terrified, and, when +questioned as to the cause, he replied that he "had met a wild baste in +the woods, and was kilt entirely wid the fright uv it." + +We endeavoured to gain from him a description of the animal he had seen, +but for some time were unable. "What color was the animal?" enquired +Mrs. ----, "Indade Ma'am an' its jist the color uv a dog he was," +answered Terry. This reply was greeted with a burst of laughter from all +present, at which he was highly offended. In order to pacify him I said, +"we would not laugh at you, Terry, only that dogs are of so many +different colors that we are as much in the dark as ever regarding the +color of the animal you saw." "Well thin," replied he, "if you must +know, he was a dirthy brown, the varmint, that he was." From what we +could learn from him we were led to suppose that he had met with one of +those harmless little creatures, called the "Woodchuck," which his +nervous terror aided by the deepening twilight, had magnified into a +formidable wild beast. + +A few evenings after, two or three friends of the family chanced to +call; and in course of conversation some one mentioned an encampment of +Indians, who had recently located themselves in our vicinity, for the +purpose of gathering material for the manufacture of baskets, and other +works of Indian handicraft. Terry had never seen an Indian, and +curiosity, not unmixed with fear, was excited in his mind, when he +learned that a number of those dark people were within three miles of +us. He asked many questions regarding their personal appearance, habits, +&c. It was evident that he entertained some very comical ideas upon the +subject. After sitting for a time silent, he suddenly enquired, "Do they +ate pratees like other people?" A lady, present, in order to impose upon +his credulity, replied, "Indeed Terry they not only eat potates, but +they sometimes eat people." His countenance expressed much alarm, as he +replied, "Faix thin, but I'll kape out o'their way." After a short time +he began to suspect they were making game of him, and applied to me for +information, saying, "Tell me, sir, if what Mrs ---- says is true?" "Do +not be alarmed, Terry," I replied, "for if you live till the Indians eat +you, you will look even older than you now do." + +This allusion to his ancient appearance was very mischievous on my part, +and I regretted it a moment after; but he was so much pleased to learn +that he had nothing to fear from the Indians that he readily forgave me +for alluding to a subject upon which he was usually very sensitive. I +remember taking a walk one afternoon during the haymaking season to the +field where Terry was at work. Mr. ---- had driven to the village with +the farm horses, leaving Terry to draw in hay with a rheumatic old +animal that was well nigh unfit for use. But as the hay was in good +condition for getting in, and the sky betokened rain, he told Terry, +upon leaving home, to accomplish as much as possible, during his +absence, and he would, if the rain kept off, draw in the remainder upon +his return. As I drew nigh I spied Terry perched upon the top of a load +of hay holding the reins, and urging forward the horse, in the ascent of +a very steep hill. First, he tried coaxing, and as that proved of little +avail, he next tried the effect of a few vigorous strokes with a long +switch which he carried in his hand. When the poor old horse had dragged +the heavy load about half way up the hill, he seemed incapable of +further exertion, and horse, cart, Terry and all began a rapid backward +descent down the hill. + +Here the boy's patience gave way entirely. "Musha thin, bad luck to ye +for one harse," said he as he applied the switch with renewed energy. +Just then I arrived within speaking distance and said, "Do you think, +Terry, you would be any better off if you had two of them." "Not if they +were both like this one," answered he. I advised Terry to come down from +his elevated position, and not add his weight to the load drawn by the +overburdened animal. He followed my advice, and when with some +difficulty we had checked the descending motion of the cart-wheels, we +took a fair start, and the summit of the hill was finally gained. + +"Its often," said Terry, "that I've seen a horse draw a cart, but I +niver before saw a cart drawing a horse." There was one trait in the +character of the boy which pleased me much; he was very grateful for +any little act of kindness. He often got into difficulties with the +family, owing to his rashness and want of consideration, and I often +succeeded in smoothing down for him many rough places in his daily path; +and when he observed that I interested myself in his behalf, his +gratitude knew no bounds. I believe he would have made almost any +sacrifice to please me. He surprised me one day by saying suddenly, +"Don't I wish you'd only be tuck sick." "Why, Terry," replied I, "I am +surprised indeed, that you should wish evil to me." "Indade thin," +answered he, "its not for evil that I wish it, but for your good, jist +to let ye see how tinderly I would take care uv ye." I thanked him for +his kind intentions, saying that I was very willing to take the will for +the deed in this case, and had no wish to test his kindness by a fit of +sickness. + +He came in one evening fatigued with a hard day's work, and retired +early to bed. His sleeping apartment adjoined the sitting-room. I had +several letters to write which occupied me till a late hour; the family +had all retired. I finished writing just as the clock struck twelve. At +that moment, I was almost startled by Terry's voice singing in a very +high key. My first thought was that he had gone suddenly crazy. With a +light in my hand I stepped softly into the room, to find Terry sitting +up in bed and singing at the top of his voice, a song in the "Native +Irish Tongue." By this time he had roused every one in the house; and +others of the family entered the room. By the pauses which he made, we +knew when he reached the end of each verse. He sang several verses; at +the time I knew how many, but am unable now to recall the exact number. +He must surely have been a sound sleeper, or the loud laughter which +filled the room would have waked him, for the scene was ludicrous in the +extreme: Terry sitting up in bed, sound asleep, at the hour of midnight, +and singing, with a loud voice and very earnest manner, to an audience +who were unable to understand one word of the song. At the close of the +last verse he lay quietly down, all unconscious of the Musical +Entertainment he had given. The next morning some of the family began +teasing him about the song he had sung in his sleep. He was loth to +believe them, and as usual, enquired of me if they were telling him the +truth. "I'll believe whatever you say," said he, "for its you that niver +toult me a lie yet." "You may believe them this time," said I, "for you +certainly did sing a song. The air was very fine, and I have no doubt +the words were equally so, if we could only have understood them." + +"Well thin," replied he, "but I niver heard more than that; and if I +raaly did sing, I may as well tell yee's how it happint. I dramed, ye +see, that I was at a ball in Ireland, an' I thought that about twelve +o'clock we got tired wid dancin and sated ourselves on the binches +which were ranged round the walls uv the room, and ache one was to sing +a song in their turn, an' its I that thought my turn had come for sure." +"Well Terry," said I, "you hit upon the time exact at any rate, for it +was just twelve o'clock when you favoured us with the song." + +Soon after this time I left the neighborhood, and removed to some +distance. Terry remained for considerable time with the same family; +after a time I learned that he had obtained employment in a distant +village. The next tidings I heard of him was that he had been implicated +in a petty robbery, and had run away. His impulsive disposition rendered +him very easy of persuasion, for either good or evil; and he seldom +paused to consider the consequences of any act. From what I could learn +of the matter it seemed he had been enticed into the affair by some +designing fellows, who judged that, owing to his simplicity, he would be +well adapted to carry out their wicked plans; and, when suspicion was +excited, they managed in some way to throw all the blame upon Terry, +who, fearing an arrest, fled no one knew whither. Many years have passed +since I saw or heard of Terry Dolan, but often, as memory recalls past +scenes and those who participated in them, I think of him, and wonder if +he is yet among the living, and, if so, in what quarter of the world he +has fixed his abode. + + + + +THE FAITHFUL WIFE. + + +It was a mild and beautiful evening in the early autumn. Mrs. Harland +is alone in her home; she is seated by a table upon which burns a shaded +lamp, and is busily occupied with her needle. She has been five years a +wife; her countenance is still youthful, and might be termed beautiful, +but for the look of care and anxiety so plainly depicted thereon. She +had once been happy, but with her now happiness is but a memory of the +past. When quite young she had been united in marriage to William +Harland, and with him removed to the City of R., where they have since +resided. He was employed as bookkeeper in a large mercantile house, and +his salary was sufficient to afford them a comfortable support,--whence +then the change that has thus blighted their bright prospects, and +clouded the brow of that fair young wife with care? It is an unpleasant +truth, but it must be told. Her husband has become addicted to the use +of strong drink, not an occasional tippler, but a confirmed and habitual +drunkard. His natural disposition was gay and social, and he began by +taking an occasional glass with his friends--more for sociability than +for any love of the beverage. His wife often admonished him of the +danger of tampering with the deadly vice of intemperance, but he only +laughed at what he termed her idle fears. Well had it been for them both +had the fears of his wife proved groundless! It is needless for me to +follow him in his downward path, till we find him reduced to the level +of the common drunkard. Some three months previous to the time when our +story opens his employers were forced to dismiss him, as they could no +longer employ him with any degree of safety to their business. It was +fortunate for Mrs. Harland that the dwelling they occupied belonged to +her in her own right--it had been given her by her father at the period +of her marriage--so that notwithstanding the dissipated habits of the +husband and father they still possessed a home, although many of the +comforts of former days had disappeared before the blighting influence +of the demon of intemperance. After being dismissed by his employers Mr. +Harland seemed to lose all respect for himself, as well as for his wife +and children, and, but for the unceasing toil of the patient mother, his +children might have often asked for bread in vain. + +So low had he now fallen that almost every evening found him in some low +haunt of drunkenness and dissipation; and often upon returning to his +home he would assail his gentle wife with harsh and unfeeling language. +Many there were who advised Mrs. Harland to return with her children to +her parents, who were in affluent circumstances, but she still cherished +the hope that he would yet reform. "I pray daily for my erring husband," +she would often say, "and I feel an assurance that, sooner or later, my +prayers will be answered; and I cannot feel it my duty to forsake him." +But on this evening, as she sits thus alone, her mind is filled with +thoughts of the past, which she cannot help contrasting with the +miserable present, till her reverie is interrupted by the sound of +approaching footsteps, which she soon recognizes as those of her +husband; she is much surprised--for it is long, very long, since he has +returned to his home at so early an hour--and, as he enters the room, +her surprise increases when she perceives that he is perfectly sober. As +he met her wondering gaze a kind expression rested upon his countenance, +and he addressed her saying: "I do not wonder at your astonishment, dear +Mary, when I call to mind my past misconduct. I have been a fiend in +human shape thus to ill-treat and neglect the best of wives; but I have +made a resolve, 'God helping' me, that it shall be so no longer." +Seating himself by her side, he continued: "If you will listen to me, +Mary, I will tell you what caused me to form this resolution. When I +went out this evening I at once made my way to the public house, where I +have spent so much of my time and money. Money, I had none, and, worse +than this, was owing the landlord a heavy bill. Of late he had assailed +me with duns every time I entered the house; but so craving was the +appetite for drink that each returning evening still found me among the +loungers in the bar-room, trusting to my chance of meeting with some +companion who would call for a treat. It so happened that to-night none +of my cronies were present. When the landlord found that I was still +unable to settle the 'old score,' as he termed it, he abused me in no +measured terms; but I still lingered in sight of the coveted beverage; +and knowing my inability to obtain it my appetite increased in +proportion. At length, I approached the bar, and begged him to trust me +for one more glass of brandy. I will not wound your ears by repeating +his reply; and he concluded by ordering me from the house, telling me +also never to enter it again till I was able to settle the long score +already against me. The fact that I had been turned from the door, +together with his taunting language, stung me almost to madness. I +strolled along, scarce knowing or caring whither, till I found myself +beyond the limits of the city; and seating myself by the roadside I +gazed in silent abstraction over the moonlit landscape; and as I sat +thus I fell into a deep reverie. Memory carried me back to my youthful +days, when everything was bright with joyous hope and youthful ambition. +I recalled the time when I wooed you from your pleasant country home, +and led you to the altar, a fair young bride, and there pledged myself +before God and man to love, honour and cherish you, till death should us +part. Suddenly, as if uttered by an audible voice, I seemed to hear the +words 'William Harland, how have you kept your vows?' At that moment I +seemed to suddenly awake to a full sense of my fallen and degraded +position. What madness, thought I, has possessed me all this time, thus +to ruin myself and those dear to me? And for what? for the mere +indulgence of a debasing appetite. I rose to my feet, and my step grew +light with my new-formed resolution, that I _would_ break the slavish +fetters that had so long held me captive; and now, my dear wife, if you +can, forgive the past and aid me in my resolutions for amendment there +is hope for me yet." Mrs. Harland was only too happy to forgive her +erring but now truly penitent husband; but she trembled for the future, +knowing how often he had formerly made like resolutions, but to break +them. She endeavoured, however, to be hopeful, and to encourage him by +every means which affection could devise. + +Through the influence of friends, his former employers were induced to +give him another trial. He had many severe struggles with himself ere he +could refrain from again joining his dissipated companions; but his +watchful wife would almost every evening form some little plan of her +own for his amusement, that he might learn to love his home. In a short +time their prospects for the future grew brighter, his wife began to +smile again; and his children, instead of fleeing from his approach, as +they had formerly done, now met him upon his return home with loving +caresses and lively prattle. Some six months after this happy change, +Mrs. Harland one evening noticed that her husband seemed very much +downcast and dejected. After tea, she tried vainly to interest him in +conversation. + +He had a certain nervous restlessness in his manner, which always +troubled her, knowing, as she did, that it was caused by the cravings of +that appetite for strong drink, which at times still returned with +almost overwhelming force. About eight o'clock he took down his hat +preparatory to going out. She questioned him as to where he was going, +but could obtain no satisfactory reply; her heart sank within her; but +she was aware that remonstrance would be useless. She remained for a few +moments, after he left the house, in deep thought, then suddenly rising +she exclaimed aloud, "I will at least make one effort to save him." She +well knew that should he take but one glass, all his former resolves +would be as nothing. As she gained the street she observed her husband a +short distance in advance of her, and walking hastily she soon overtook +him, being careful to keep on the opposite side of the street, that she +might be unobserved by him. She had formed no definite purpose in her +mind; she only felt that she must endeavor to save him by some means. As +they drew nigh the turn of the street she saw two or three of his former +associates join him, and one of them addressed him, saying, "Come on, +Harland; I thought you would get enough of the cold water system. Come +on, and I'll stand treat to welcome you back among your old friends." +For a moment he paused as if irresolute; then his wife grew sick at +heart, as she saw him follow his companions into a drinking saloon near +at hand. Mrs. Harland was by nature a delicate and retiring woman; for a +moment she paused; dare she go further? Her irresolution was but +momentary, for the momentous consequences at stake gave her a fictitious +courage. She quickly approached the door, which at that moment some one +in the act of leaving the house threw wide open, and she gained a view +of her husband in the act of raising a glass to his lips; but ere he had +tasted its fiery contents it was dashed from his hand, and the shattered +fragments scattered upon the floor. Mr. Harland, supposing it the act of +one of his half-drunken companions, turned with an angry exclamation +upon his lips; but the expression of anger upon his countenance suddenly +gave place to one of shame and humiliation when he saw his wife standing +before him, pale but resolute. In a subdued voice he addressed her, +saying, "Mary, how came you here?" "Do not blame me, William," she +replied; "for I could not see you again go astray without, at least, +making an effort to save you. And now will you not return with me to +your home?" The other occupants of the room had thus far remained silent +since the entrance of Mrs. Harland; but when they saw that Mr. Harland +was about to leave the house by her request, they began taunting him +with his want of spirit in being thus ruled by a woman. One of them, who +was already half drunk, staggered toward him, saying, "I'd just like to +see my old woman follerin' me round in this way. I'll be bound I'd teach +her a lesson she would'nt forget in a hurry," Many similar remarks were +made by one and another present. The peculiar circumstances in which +Mrs. Harland found herself placed gave her a degree of fortitude, of +which upon ordinary occasions she would have found herself incapable. +Raising her hand with an imperative gesture she said in a firm voice: +"Back tempters, hinder not my husband from following the dictates of his +better nature." For a few moments there was silence in the room, till +one of the company, more drunken and insolent than the others, exclaimed +in a loud, derisive voice; "Zounds, madam, but you would make a capital +actress, specially on the tragedy parts; you should seek an engagement +upon the stage." Mr. Harland's eyes flashed angrily as he listened to +the insulting words addressed to his wife, and, turning to the man who +had spoken, he addressed him, saying, in a decided tone of voice: "I +wish to have no harsh language in this room while my wife is present, +but I warn each one of you to address no more insulting language to +her." The manner in which Mr. Harland addressed them, together with the +gentle and lady-like appearance of his wife had the effect to shame them +into silence. His voice was very tender as he again addressed his wife, +saying, "Come Mary I will accompany you home--this is no place for you." +When they gained the street the unnatural courage which had sustained +Mrs. Harland gave way, and she would have fallen to the earth, but for +the supporting arm of her husband. For a few moments they walked on in +silence, when Mr. Harland said, in a voice choked with emotion, "You +have been my good angel, Mary, for your hand it was which saved me from +violating a solemn oath; but I now feel an assurance that I have broken +the tempter's chains forever." I am happy to add that from this hour he +gained a complete victory over the evil habit which well-nigh had proved +his ruin; and in after years, when peace and prosperity again smiled +upon them, he often called to mind the evening when his affectionate and +devoted wife, by her watchful love, saved him from ruin, and perchance +from the drunkard's grave. + + + + +EMMA ASHTON. + + +It was a sad day for Emma Ashton, when, with her widowed mother, she +turned from her father's new-made grave, and again entered their +desolate home. None but those who have experienced a like sorrow can +fully understand their grief as they entered their now lonely home, +where a short time since they had been so happy. But the ways of +Providence are, to our feeble vision, often dark and incomprehensible, +and the only way by which we can reconcile ourselves to many trials +which we are called to endure is by remembering that there is a "need +be" for every sorrow which falls to our lot, in the journey of life. +Emma was an only child and had been the idol of her father's heart, and +no marvel if the world, to her, looked dark and dreary when he was +removed by death. Added to the grief occasioned by their bereavement, +the mother and daughter had yet another cause for anxiety and +disquietude, for the home where they had dwelt for so many years in the +enjoyment of uninterrupted happiness was now no longer theirs. Since +quite a young man, Mr. Ashton had held the position of overseer, in a +large manufactory in the village of W. Owing to his sober and +industrious habits he had saved money sufficient to enable him, at the +period of his marriage, to purchase a neat and tasteful home, to which +he removed with his young wife. He still continued his industry, and +began in a small way to accumulate money, when, unfortunately, he was +persuaded by one whom he thought a friend to sign bank-notes with him to +a large amount; but, ere the notes became due, the man he had obliged +left the country, and he was unable to gain any trace of him, and was +soon called upon to meet the claim. Bank-notes must be paid, and to +raise money to meet the claim he was forced to mortgage his house for +nearly its full value. His health failed; and for two years previous to +his death he was unable to attend to his business. The term of the +mortgage was five years, which time expired soon after his death. During +the few last weeks of his life his mind was very much disturbed +regarding the destitute condition in which he must leave his beloved +wife and daughter; for he was too well acquainted with the man who held +the claim to expect any lenity to his family when it should become due, +and he was sensible that the hour of his own death was fast approaching. +His wife tried to cheer him by hopeful words, saying: "Should it please +our Heavenly Father to remove you, fear not that He will fail to care +for the fatherless and widow." A short time before his death a sweet +peace and hopeful trust settled over his spirit, and the religion he had +sought in health afforded him a firm support in the hour of death. When +all was over, and the mother and daughter found themselves left alone, +their fortitude well-nigh forsook them, and they felt almost like +yielding to a hopeless sorrow. Emma was at this time but fifteen years +of age, possessed of much personal beauty, and also a very amiable and +affectionate disposition. Since the age of six years she had attended +school, and made rapid progress in her various studies till the sad +period of her father's death. As Mr. Ashton had foreseen, Mr. Tompkins, +the man who held the mortgage, soon called upon the widow, informing her +that the time had already expired, and, unless she found herself able to +meet the claim, her dwelling was legally his property; but, as a great +favor, he granted her permission to occupy the house till she could make +some arrangement concerning the future, giving her, however, distinctly +to understand, that he wished to take possession as soon as she could +find another home. Mrs. Ashton thanked him for the consideration he had +shown her, little as it was, telling him she would as soon as possible +seek another home, however humble it might be; and Mr. Tompkins departed +with a polite bow and a bland smile upon his countenance, well pleased +that he had got the matter settled with so little difficulty. I presume +he never once paused to think of the grief-stricken widow and her +fatherless daughter, whom he was about to render homeless. Money had so +long been his idol that tender and benevolent emotions were well-nigh +extinguished in his world-hardened heart. For a long time after Mr. +Tompkins left the house Mrs. Ashton remained in deep thought. There are, +dear reader, dark periods in the lives of most of us, when, turn which +way we will, we find ourselves surrounded, as by a thick hedge, with +difficulties and troubles from which we see no escape. + +At such periods it is good for us to call to mind the fact, that the +darkest cloud often has a silver lining, and that if we discharged, to +the best of our ability, our duties for the time being, the cloud, +sooner or later, will be reversed, and display its bright side to our +troubled view. The time had now arrived, when Mrs. Ashton must come to +some decision regarding the future. She had no friends to whom she could +turn for aid or counsel in this season of trial. When quite young she +had emigrated from England with her parents and one sister, and settled +in Eastern Canada. About the time of her marriage and removal to W. her +parents, with her sister, removed to one of the Western States; and it +may be the knowledge that she must rely solely upon herself enabled her +to meet her trials with more fortitude than might have been expected. +Some fifty miles from W. was the large and thriving village of Rockford, +and thither Mrs. Ashton at length decided to remove. One reason for +this decision was the excellent institution for the education of young +ladies, which was there located. She was very anxious that her daughter +should obtain a good education, but was sorely puzzled as to raising the +money needful for defraying her expenses. There were a few debts due her +husband at the time of his death; these she collected with little +difficulty. Their dwelling had been handsomely furnished, and she +decided to sell the furniture, as she could easily, upon their arrival +at Rockford, purchase what articles were necessary for furnishing their +new home, which must, of necessity, be humble. One article she felt they +must retain if possible, and that was the piano given her by her father +at the period of her marriage. She did at first entertain the idea of +parting with it, thinking how far the money it would bring would go in +defraying the expenses attendant upon Emma's education, but upon second +consideration, she resolved that they would not part with her father's +parting gift to her, unless compelled to do so by actual want; and so +when their old home was broken up the piano was carefully packed and +forwarded to Rockford. The home where they had resided so long was very +dear to them, and it would have grieved them, to leave it at any time; +but to leave at the glad season of spring, when the trees which shaded +their dwelling were beginning to put forth their leaves, and the flowers +which adorned their garden were bursting into bloom, seemed to them +doubly sad. But their preparations for removal were finally completed, +and they left their home followed by the good wishes of many who had +long known and loved them. Upon their arrival at Rockford, Mrs. Ashton +hired a cheap tenement in a respectable locality, which she furnished in +a plain but decent manner. When they became settled in their new home +they had still in hand money sufficient to secure them from immediate +want, but as Mrs. Ashton wished Emma to enter at once upon her studies, +she was very anxious to devise some means of earning money to meet +necessary expenses. There was one family residing in Rockford with whom +Mrs. Ashton had several years before been intimately acquainted: their +name was Lebaron, and they had at one time resided in the same village +with the Ashtons. Mr. Lebaron had opened a store upon removing to +Rockford; the world had smiled upon him, and he was now considered one +of the most wealthy and influential men in the village. + +It has been often said that "prosperity hardens the heart of man," but +if such is the case in general, Mr. Lebaron proved an exception to the +general rule. He had heard with much sorrow of the death of Mr. Ashton, +and also of the other misfortunes which had overtaken the family; and no +sooner did he learn of the arrival of the widow and daughter in +Rockford, than, accompanied by his wife, he hastened to call upon them, +to renew their former acquaintance, and in a delicate and considerate +manner to enquire if he could assist them in any way? Mrs. Ashton +thanked them for their kindness, saying that although in no immediate +need of assistance, yet she would be very thankful if they would assist +her in obtaining employment. "If such is the case," replied Mrs. +Lebaron, "I can easily secure you employment, as I am acquainted with +many ladies who give out work, and will gladly use my influence in your +favor." "You will confer a favour upon me by so doing," replied Mrs. +Ashton, "for I must rely upon my labor for a support for the future." +Through the influence of these kind friends Mrs. Ashton soon obtained an +abundant supply of work; and, when she became somewhat acquainted with +the people of Rockford, her gentle and unobtrusive manner gained her +many warm friends. Agreeable to her mother's wishes, Emma soon became a +pupil in the seminary for young ladies, which was at that time under the +direction of Miss Hinton, a lady who possessed uncommon abilities as a +teacher, and was also aided by several competent assistants. Mrs. +Lebaron had two daughters attending the institution at the time, and +this circumstance, in a great measure, relieved Emma from the feeling of +diffidence she might have experienced in entering a large school a +stranger to both teachers and pupils; but her modest and unassuming +manners, added to her diligence in study, soon caused her to become a +general favorite with her teachers. In schools, as well as other places, +we often meet with those who are inclined to be jealous of merit +superior to their own, and the seminary at Rockford was no exception in +this matter. Her teachers were guilty of no unjust partiality; true, +they oftener commended her than some other members of her class, but not +oftener than her punctual attendance, perfect recitations, and correct +deportment generally, justified them in doing. But it soon became +evident that, if Emma was a favourite with her teachers, she was far +from being such with many members of her class. At the time she entered +school Miss Hinton found, after examining her in her various studies, +that her attainments were already superior to those of several young +ladies who had been for some time members of the school. Among the +pupils who at the time attended the institution was a Miss Carlton, from +the distant city of H. She was the petted and only child of wealthy +parents; and, as is often the case, her disposition, which, under proper +training, might have been amiable, had been spoiled by unwise indulgence +on the part of her parents. Her capacity for learning was not good; she +was also sadly wanting in application, and, at the time Emma entered the +school, although Miss Carlton had attended for more than a year, her +progress in study was far from being satisfactory to her teachers. She +was at much pains to inform her classmates of her wealth and position, +seeming to entertain the idea that this would cover every defect. Owing +to Emma's superior attainments, compared with her own, she soon learned +to regard her with a feeling of absolute dislike, which she took little +pains to conceal; and many were the petty annoyances she endured from +the vain and haughty Julia Carlton. She soon learned that Emma was poor, +and that her mother toiled early and late to defray the expenses of her +education; and more than once she threw out hints regarding this fact, +among the other pupils, even in hearing of Emma; and, as often as +opportunity offered, she slighted the unoffending girl, and treated her +with all the rudeness of which she was capable. "Let those who wish +associate with Miss Ashton," she would often say to her companions; "but +I am thankful that I have been better taught at home than to make a +companion of a girl whose mother is obliged to take in sewing to pay her +school bills." These and other remarks equally malicious were daily made +by Miss Carlton; and I am sorry that she soon found others in the school +who were weak enough to be influenced by her also to treat Emma with +coldness and contempt. Emma could not long fail to notice the many +slights, both direct and indirect, which she endured from many members +of the school, and she taxed her memory to recall any act by which she +might have given offence; but, finding herself unable to recollect any +thing on her part which could have offended any member of the school, +she was not a little puzzled to account for the rudeness with which she +was treated. It happened one day that during recess she remained at her +desk in the school-room to complete an unfinished French exercise. +Several of her companions soon after entered the adjoining recitation +room, and, as they were not aware of her proximity, she became an +unwilling listener to a conversation which pained her deeply. As Sarah +Lebaron entered the room one of the girls addressed her, saying:--"When +you first introduced Miss Ashton among us, I supposed her to be at least +a companionable girl, but I have lately been informed that she resides +in a cheap tenement, and, farther, that her mother takes in sewing, and, +if such is the case, I wish to cultivate no further acquaintance with +her." "But then," added another girl, "Miss Hinton thinks her almost a +saint, and sets her up as a model for us all; if there's any thing I do +detest, it's these model girls, and I don't believe she's half as fond +of study as she pretends; and, in my opinion, its only to hear the +commendations of the teachers that she applies herself with such +diligence; but Miss Hinton is so taken with her meek face and lady-like +manners that she places her above us all, and, I suppose, we must +submit, for as the old song says: + + 'What can't be cured must be endured.' + +"Well, I for one shall try some method of cure, before I put up with +much more of her impudence and assumption," chimed in the amiable Miss +Carlton; "pay attention now, girls," continued she, "while I take my +place in the class like Emma Ashton;" and separating herself from her +companions, she crossed the room to one of the class-seats, with such a +ludicrous air of meekness and decorum, that the girls were almost +convulsed with laughter. Starting up and tossing her book from her hand +she exclaimed, "It is so disgusting to see a girl in _her_ position put +on such airs." Miss Lebaron had not before spoken, but, when at length +there was silence, she addressed her companions, saying, "if no other +young lady present has any further remarks to make, I will myself say a +few words if you will listen to me. I must say, I am surprised at the +unkindness, even rudeness, which many of you have exhibited towards Miss +Ashton. If she is poor it is death, and other misfortunes, which have +caused her to become so; and this circumstance should excite your +sympathy, but surely not your contempt and ridicule. Poor as she is, she +is my friend, and I am proud to claim her as such. As to her being +companionable that is a matter of taste; I shall continue to follow +mine, and each young lady present is at liberty to do the same; but be +assured that unless you can furnish some more satisfactory reason for +your disparaging remarks than you have yet done, they will bear no +weight with me." With much irony in her voice Miss Carlton replied, +"Really, Miss Lebaron, I am unable to reply to your very able defence of +your charming friend, and will only say that I shall avail myself of the +liberty you have kindly granted us, for each to follow her own taste in +the choice of associates, and avoid Miss Ashton as much as possible." +"As you please," replied Miss Lebaron, "it is a matter of perfect +indifference to me;" and just then the school bell put an end to further +conversation. As may be easily supposed, the delicate and sensitive +spirit of Emma was deeply wounded by the above conversation; and it was +with much difficulty that she maintained her composure for the remaining +portion of the day. For once her lessons were imperfect; and with a +heavy heart she returned to her home. That evening she, for the first +time, mentioned to her mother the daily annoyances she suffered from her +companions at school; and concluded by relating the conversation she had +that day chanced to overhear. Mrs. Ashton could not feel otherwise than +grieved; but as much as possible she concealed the feeling from her +daughter. "My dear Emma," she replied, "their unkind words can do you no +real harm; although they may render you unhappy for the time being. But +keep the even tenor of your way; and they will, probably, after a time +become ashamed of their folly. Should they make any further remarks +regarding my laboring to give you an education, you may tell them that +I esteem it at one of my chief blessings that I have health granted me +so to do." Time passed on; and the invariable kindness with which Emma +treated her classmates finally gained her several warm friends; and some +of them even apologised for their past unkindness. Miss Carlton still +regarded her with a feeling of enmity and dislike; but as Emma seemed +not to notice the many annoyances she experienced she was at length +forced to desist, although the same resentful feeling remained in her +heart. When Emma left the seminary, after attending it for four years, +her departure was deeply regretted by both teachers and pupils. As she +had pursued her studies in a very systematic manner, she had acquired, +before leaving school, a thoroughly good education, which she intended +turning to account by teaching. Miss Carlton also left school at the +same time to return to her elegant home in the city of H. It was +fortunate for her that she was not obliged, as was Emma, to teach as a +means of support; for, notwithstanding the unwearied pains of her +teachers, her education, when she left school, was very superficial. +Emma soon obtained a situation as teacher in a small village some twenty +miles from Rockford, where she remained for two years. During her +absence, her mother, to avoid being left alone, received as boarders two +or three young ladies who attended school in the village. Emma's +success as a teacher became so well known that she was at length offered +a high salary to accept of the position of assistant teacher in an +academy in the city of H., the same city where Miss Carlton resided. As +the salary offered was very liberal, she decided to accept of the +position, and as situation was likely to prove a permanent one she was +very anxious that her mother should accompany her; and after some +deliberation upon the subject, Mrs. Ashton consented, thinking they +would both much happier together than otherwise. Emma proved quite as +successful in this her second situation as in the first; and owing to +her position as teacher she soon formed acquaintance with several +families of cultivated tastes and high respectability. She often +received invitations to parties; but her tastes were quiet, and she +usually preferred spending her evenings with her mother in the quiet of +their own home, to mingling in scenes of mirth and gaiety; and it was +only upon a few occasions that she attended parties, that her friends +might not think her unsocial. At one of these parties she chanced to +meet her former schoolmate, Miss Carlton, whose only sign of recognition +was a very formal bow. This gave her no uneasiness; she cherished no +malice towards Miss Carlton; but her ideas and tastes so widely differed +from her own that she did not covet her friendship, even had she been +inclined to grant it her. Meanwhile, with the widow and her daughter, +time passed happily away. Emma's salary was more than sufficient for +their support, and they were happy in the society of each other. There +was one family, by the name of Milford, who had treated them with much +kindness since their residence in the city. Mrs. Milford at first placed +two little girls under Emma's instruction, and thus began an +acquaintance which soon ripened into intimate friendship; for, although +occupying a position of wealth and influence, Mrs. Milford was one of +the few who place "mind above matter," and respected true worth wherever +she met with it. Her eldest daughter, having finished her education at a +distant boarding school, returned home about the same time her two +sisters were placed in charge of Emma; and the little girls were so +eloquent in their praises of their teacher, that their elder sister +became interested, and decided to call upon her at her home; and the +lady-like appearance of both mother and daughter, together with the +appearance of good taste which their home exhibited, strongly interested +her in their favor. + +Some six months previous to the period of which I am writing a young +physician from the Upper Province located himself in the city of H. for +the practice of his profession. According to common report, he was +wealthy, and the study of a profession had with him been a matter not of +necessity but of choice. Owing to his pleasing manners, as well as his +reputed wealth, he soon became an object of much interest to many of +the match-making mammas and marriageable young ladies of the city of H. +He was soon favored with numerous invitations to attend parties, where +he formed acquaintance with most of the young people in the fashionable +circles of the city; and he soon became a general favorite in society. +Among others, he attended a large party given by the Carltons, and by +this means became acquainted with the family. He had called +occasionally, and during one of those calls Mrs. Carlton very feelingly +lamented that her daughter was often obliged to forego the pleasure of +attending concerts, lectures and other places of public amusement for +want of a suitable escort; and courtesy to the family would of course +allow him to do no less than offer to become her attendant upon such +occasions. Mrs. Carlton, however, put a very different construction upon +these slight attentions, and already looked upon him as her future +son-in-law. When Dr. Winthrop had resided for about a year in the city, +the Milfords also gave a large party, and Miss Ashton was included among +their guests. The party was a brilliant affair, for the Milfords were a +family of wealth and high social position. The young physician was among +their guests; and Miss Carlton managed some way or other to claim his +attention most of the evening. There was the usual amount of small talk, +common to such occasions; about the usual number of young ladies were +invited to sing and play, and, as usual, they were either out of +practice or were afflicted with "bad colds." But it so happened that +several young ladies who at the first begged to be excused, after much +persuasion allowed themselves to be conducted to the piano, and played +till it was evident from the manner of many that the music had become an +infliction instead of a pleasure. When after a time Miss Ashton was +invited to play, she took the vacant seat at the piano without any of +the usual apologies; and began playing the prelude to a much admired +song of the day; and before she reached the close of the first verse +there was a hush through the room, and the countenance of each evinced +the pleasure with which they listened to her performance. As she rose +from the instrument Dr. Winthrop addressed Miss Carlton, saying: "Can +you inform me who is that young lady? I never met her before; but she +has favored us with the first real music I have listened to this +evening." The young physician was not wanting in politeness, and he +certainly must have forgotten that Miss Carlton occupied the seat at the +piano a short time before. That young lady colored with anger as she +replied: "Her name is Miss Ashton, and I understand she is engaged as an +assistant teacher in one of the Academies in the city." "It is +singular," replied Dr. Winthrop, "that I have never before met her at +any of the numerous parties I have attended during the past year." +"There is nothing very singular in that," replied Miss Carlton, "for I +presume she is not often invited to fashionable parties, and I suppose +it is owing to Mrs. Milford's two little girls being her pupils that we +find her among their guests; but as you seem so much interested, I will +tell you all I know of the _person_ in question. When I attended school +in Rockford, Miss Ashton was a pupil in the same institution; but, when +I learned that her mother, who is a widow, took in sewing, to pay her +school bills, I did not care to cultivate her acquaintance. She left +school about the same time with myself, and I heard no more of her till +she obtained a situation in this city." "Pardon me," replied the young +physician; "but I see nothing in what you have stated that is in the +least disparaging to the young lady; and I should be much pleased to +make her acquaintance." "Our ideas slightly vary, in these matters," +replied Miss Carlton, with a haughty toss of her head; "but I will not +detain you from seeking the introduction for which you seem so anxious. +I am sorry I cannot oblige you by introducing you myself; but as I did +not associate with her when at school, I am still leas inclined to do so +at the present time; I hope, however, you may find her an agreeable +acquaintance;" and with a haughty manner she swept from his side in +quest of companions whose tastes were more congenial. Dr. Winthrop +obtained the desired introduction; and if Miss Carlton indulged the +hope that he would find Miss Ashton an agreeable acquaintance, there was +soon a fair prospect that her wishes would be realized; for the marked +attention which Dr. Winthrop paid the lovely and engaging Miss Ashton +soon formed the chief topic of conversation among the circle of their +acquaintances. For once, public rumor was correct. Dr. Winthrop was very +wealthy; but when a mere youth he had a decided taste for the study of +medicine; and his parents allowed him to follow the bent of his own +inclinations, in fitting himself for a profession for which he +entertained so strong a liking. He had an uncle residing in a distant +city, who was also a physician of high reputation, and, after passing +through the necessary course of study, he had practiced his profession +for two years under the direction of his uncle, before removing to the +city of H. Up to the time when we introduced him to the reader matrimony +was a subject to which he had never given a serious thought, and until +he met with Miss Ashton he had never felt any personal interest in the +matter. From what I have already said the reader will not be surprised +to learn that the acquaintance begun at Mrs. Milford's party terminated +in a matrimonial engagement; with the free consent of all who had a +right to a voice in the matter. When the matter became known it caused +quite a sensation in the circles in which Dr. Winthrop had moved since +his residence in the city; but, happily for him, he was possessed of +too independent a spirit to suffer any annoyance from any malicious +remarks which chanced to reach his ears. When Miss Carlton first learned +of the engagement, she indulged in a long fit of spiteful tears, to the +imminent risk of appearing with red eyes at the forthcoming evening +party. In due time the marriage took place; and the young physician and +his lovely bride set out on their wedding tour amid the congratulations +and good wishes of many true friends. After their departure Mrs. Carlton +remarked to several of her 'dear friends' "that she had long since +discovered that Dr. Winthrop was not possessed of refined tastes; and +for her part she thought Miss Ashton much better suited to be his wife +than many others which she could name." Had the doctor been present to +express his sentiments regarding this matter, they would in all +probability have exactly agreed with those already expressed by Mrs. +Carlton. During their wedding tour, which occupied several weeks, they +visited many places of note, both in Canada and the United States. Upon +their return to the city Dr. Winthrop purchased an elegant house in a +central location, which he furnished in a style justified by his +abundant means; and with his wife and her mother removed thither. + +In conclusion, we will again bestow a passing glance upon this happy +family after the lapse of some twenty years. We find Dr. Winthrop now +past the meridian of life, surrounded by an interesting family of sons +and daughters, whom he is endeavoring to train for spheres of usefulness +in this life, as well as for happiness in the "life to come." His +graceful and dignified wife still gladdens his heart and home. Time has +dealt very gently with her; she is quite as good and almost as beautiful +as when we last saw her twenty years ago. The two eldest of their family +are boys, and this is their last year in College. Mrs. Winthrop has thus +far attended herself to the education of her two daughters. Along with +many other useful lessons, she often seeks to impress upon their minds +the sin and folly of treating with contempt and scorn those who may be +less favored than themselves in a worldly point of view; and to impress +the lesson more strongly upon their young minds, she has more than once +spoken to them of her own early history, and of the trials to which she +was subject in her youthful days. But what of Mrs. Ashton? She still +lives; although her once active form is beginning to bow beneath the +weight of years, and her hair has grown silvery white. This year Dr. +Winthrop has completed his preparations for leaving the city after more +than twenty years close application to his profession. He resolved to +remove with his family to some quiet country village, which would afford +sufficient practice to prevent time from hanging heavily upon his hands; +but he now felt quite willing to resign his fatiguing and extensive +practice in the city. When he first formed the idea of seeking a +country home, he enquired of his wife, if she had any choice regarding a +location. "If it meets your wishes," replied she, "no other place would +please me so well as the village of W, the home of my childhood and +youth, and where my dear father is buried." He soon after made a journey +to W, and was so much pleased with the thriving appearance of the +village, and the industry and sobriety of the inhabitants, that he +decided to seek there a home. Before he left his home, his wife +requested him, should he decide upon removing to W, if possible to +re-purchase their old home, knowing how much this would please her now +aged mother. The purchase was soon completed, and ere he left the +village the old house was in the hands of workmen, with his instructions +as to improvements and repairs. Mrs. Ashton was very happy when she +learned that they were to return to W. "I have been happy here," said +she, "but I shall be still happier there." In a short time they removed +from the city to take possession of the "dear old home" in W, now +enlarged and adorned in various ways; but the same clear brook still +flowed at the foot of the garden, and the same trees, only that they +were older, and their branches had grown more wide spreading, shaded the +dwelling. As they passed beneath the shade of those well-remembered +trees, Mrs. Winthrop addressed her mother, saying, "Do you remember, +mamma, how sad we felt the morning we left our home so many years ago, +and we little thought it would ever again be ours." Mrs. Ashton gazed +fondly upon her daughter and the blooming children at her side, as she +replied in the language of the Psalmist, "I have been young and now am +old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging +bread." + + + + +THOUGHTS ON AUTUMN. + + +Again has the season of Autumn arrived. The stated changes of the +seasons serve as monitors to remind us of the flight of time; and upon +such occasions the most unthinking can hardly avoid pausing to reflect +upon the past, the present, and the probable future. Autumn has been +properly styled the "Sabbath of the year." Its scenes are adapted to +awaken sober and profitable reflection; and the voice with which it +appeals to our reflective powers is deserving of regard. This season is +suggestive of thoughts and feelings which are not called forth by any +other; standing, as it were, a pause between life and death; holding in +its lap the consummate fruits of the earth, which are culled by the hand +of prudence and judgment, some to be garnered in the treasury of useful +things, while others are allowed to return to their primitive elements. +When spring comes smiling o'er the earth, she breathes on the ice-bound +waters, and they flow anew. Frost and snow retreat before her advancing +footsteps. The earth is clothed with verdure, and the trees put forth +their leaves. Again, a few short months, and where has all this beauty +fled? The trees stand firm as before; but, with every passing breeze, a +portion of their once green leaves now fall to the ground. We behold the +bright flowers, which beautify the earth, open their rich petals, shed +their fragrance on the breeze, and then droop and perish. Sad emblem of +the perishing nature of all things earthly. May we not behold in the +fading vegetation, and the falling leaves of autumn, a true type of +human life? Truly "we all do fade as a leaf." Life at the best is but a +shadow that passes quickly away. Why then this love of gain, this thirst +for fame and distinction? Let us approach yonder church-yard and there +seek for distinction. There we may behold marble tablets cold as the +clay which rests beneath them: their varied inscriptions of youth, +beauty, age, ambition, pride and vanity, are all here brought to one +common level, like the leaves which in autumn fall to the earth, not one +pre-eminent over another. The inspired writers exhibit the frailty of +man by comparing him to the grass and the flowers withering and dying +under the progress and vicissitudes of the year; and with the return of +autumn we may behold in the external appearance of nature the changes to +which the sacred penman refers, when he says, "So is man. His days are +as grass; as a flower of the field so he flourisheth. For the wind +passeth over it and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no +more." Autumn too, is the season of storms. Let this remind us of the +storms of life. Scattered around us, are the wrecks of the tempests +which have beaten upon others, and we cannot expect always ourselves to +be exempt. Autumn is also the season of preparation for winter. Let us +remember that the winter of death is at hand, and let us be impressed +with the importance of making preparation for its approach. Let us then, +as we look upon the changed face of nature, take home the lesson which +it teaches; and, while we consider the perishable nature of all things +pertaining to this life, may we learn to prepare for another and a +happier state of being. + + + + +WANDERING DAVY. + + +It was while I was spending a few days in the dwelling of Mr. C., a +Scottish immigrant, that he received a long letter from his friends in +Scotland. After perusing the letter he addressed his wife, saying: "So +auld Davy's gone at last." "Puir man," replied Mrs. C. "If he's dead let +us hope that he has found that rest and peace which has been so long +denied him in this life." "And who was old Davy? may I enquire," said I, +addressing Mr. C. "Ay, man," he replied, "tis a sad story; but when my +work is by for the night, I'll tell ye a' that I ken o' the life o' Davy +Stuart." I was then young and very imaginative; and a story of any kind +possessed much interest for me; and the thought that the story of Old +Davy was to be a true one, rendered it doubly interesting; so I almost +counted the hours of the remaining portion of the day; and when evening +came I was not slow to remind Mr. C. of his promise. Accordingly he +related to me the following particulars of the life of David Stuart; +which I give, as nearly as possible, in his own words; for it seems to +me that the story would lose half its interest were I to render it +otherwise. + +"Davy Stuart was an aul' man when I was a wee boy at the school. I had +aye been used wi' him; for he often bided wi' us for days thegither; and +while a boy I gave little heed to his odd ways an' wanderin' mode o' +life; for he was very kind to mysel' an' a younger brither, an' we +thought muckle o' him; but when we had grown up to manhood my father +tell'd us what had changed Davy Stuart from a usefu' an' active man to +the puir demented body he then was. He was born in a small parish in the +south of Scotland, o' respectable honest parents, who spared nae pains +as he grew up to instruct him in his duty to baith God an' man. At quite +an early age he was sent to the parish school; where he remained maist +o' the time till he reached the age o' fourteen years. At that time he +was apprenticed to learn the trade o' a shoemaker, in a distant town. It +wad seem that he served his time faithfully, an' gained a thorough +knowledge o' his trade. Upon leaving his master, after paying a short +visit to his native parish, he gie'd awa' to the City of Glasgow, to +begin the warld for himself. He continued steady and industrious, and +was prospered accordingly; and at the age o' twenty-five he had saved +considerable money. It was about this time, that he was married to a +worthy young woman, to whom he had been long deeply attached. They had +but one bairn, a fine boy, who was the delight o' his father's heart, +and I hae heard it said by they who kenn'd them at the time, that a +bonnier or mair winsome hoy could'na hae been found in the city, than +wee Geordie Stuart. Time gied on till Geordie was near twelve year aul', +when it began to be talked o' among Mr. Stuart's friends that he was +becoming owre fond o' drink. How the habit was first formed naebody +could tell; but certain it was, that during the past year he had been +often seen the war o' drink. His wife, puir body, admonished an' +entreated him to break awa' frae the sinfu' habit, and he often, when +moved by her tears, made resolutions o' amendment, which were broken +maist as soon as made; an' it was during a longer season o' sobriety +than was usual wi' him, that his wife thinkin' if he was once awa' frae +the great city he would be less in the way o' temptation, persuaded him +to leave Glasgow an' remove to the sma' village o' Mill-Burn, a little +way frae the farm which my father rented. + +"I well mind, said my father, o' the time when they first cam' among us, +an' how kin' was a' the neebors, to his pale sad-lookin' wife and the +bonny light-hearted Geordie, who was owre young at the time, to realize +to its fu' extent the sad habit into which his father had fa'n. When Mr. +Stuart first came to our village he again took up his aul' habits o' +industry, an' for a long time would'na taste drink ava; but when the +excitement o' the sudden change had worn off, his aul' likin' for strong +drink cam' back wi' fu' force, an' he, puir weak man, had'na the +strength o' mind to withstand it. He soon became even war than before; +his money was a' gane, he did'na work, so what was there but poverty for +his wife an' child. But it is useless for me to linger o'er the sad +story. When they had lived at Mill-Burn a little better than a twelve +month; his wife died, the neebors said o' a broken heart. A wee while +afore her death she ca'd Davy to her bed-side, an' once mair talked lang +an' earnestly to him o' the evil habit which had gotten sic a hold o' +him, an' begged him for the sake o' their dear Geordie, who; she +reminded him, would soon be left without a mither to care for him, to +make still anither effort to free himself frae the deadly habit. I +believe Davy was sincere when he promised the dyin' woman that he wad +gie up drink. Wi' a' his faults, he had tenderly loved his wife, an' I +hae nae doubt fully intended keepin' the promise he made her. For a lang +time after her death, he was ne'er seen to enter a public house ava', +an' again he applied himsel' to his wark wi' much industry. After the +death o' Mrs. Stuart Geordie an' his father bided a' their lane. Their +house was on the ither side o' the burn which crossed the high-road, a +wee bit out o' the village. Time gie'd on for some time wi' them in this +way. Davy continued sober and industrious, an' the neebors began to hae +hopes that he had gotten the better o' his evil habit; he had ne'er been +kenned to taste strong drink o' ony kin' sin' the death o' his wife. +One evening after he an' Geordie had ta'en their suppers, he made +himsel' ready to gang out, saying to Geordie that he was gaun' doon to +the village for a wee while, and that he was to bide i' the house an' he +would'na be lang awa'. The hours wore awa' till ten o'clock, an' he +had'na cam' hame. It was aye supposed that the boy, becoming uneasy at +his father's lang stay, had set out to look for him, when by some +mishap, it will ne'er be kenned what way, he lost his footin', an' fell +frae the end o' the narrow brig which crossed the burn. The burn was'na +large, but a heavy rain had lately fa'n, an' there was aye a deep bit at +one end o' the brig. He had fa'n head first into the water in sic a way +that he could'na possibly won 'oot. It was a clear moonlicht night, an' +when Davy reached the brig, the first thing he saw was his ain son lyin +i' the water. I hae often been told that a sudden shock o' ony kind will +sober a drunken man. It was sae wi' Davy; for the first neebor who, +hearin' his cries for assistance, ran to the spot, found him standin i' +the middle o' the brig, perfectly sober, wi' the drooned boy in his +arms; although it was weel kenned that he was quite drunk when he left +the village. Every means was used for the recovery o' the boy, but it +was a' useless, he was quite deed an' caul'. "Ah," said Davy, when +tell'd by the doctor that the boy was indeed dead, "my punishment is +greater than I can bear." Geordie had aye been as "the apple o' his +een"; never had he been kenned to ill use the boy, even when under the +influence o' drink; and the shock was too much for his reason. Many +wondered at his calmness a' the while the body lay i' the house afore +the burial--but it was the calmness o' despair; he just seemed like ane +turned to stane. The first thing that roused him was the sound o' the +first earth that fell on puir Geordie's coffin. He gie'd ae bitter +groan, an' wad' hae fa'n to the earth had'na a kind neebor supported +him. His mind wandered frae that hour; he was aye harmless, but the +light o' reason never cam' back to his tortured mind. Sometimes he wad +sit for hours by Geordie's grave, an' fancy that he talked wi' him. On +these occasions nothing wad induce him to leave the grave till some +ither fancy attracted his mind. As I hae before said he was never +outrageous, but seemed most o' the time, when silent, to be in deep +thought; but his reason was quite gone, and the doctors allowed that his +case was beyond cure. Many questioned them as to whether it were safe to +allow him his liberty, lest he might do some deed o' violence; but they +gave it as their opinion that his disease was'na at a' likely to tak' +that turn wi' him, an' so he was left to wander on. He never bided verra +lang in a place, but wandered frae house to house through a' the +country-side: and every one treated him wi' kindness. The sight o' a +bonny fair-haired boy aye gave him muckle pleasure, an' he wad whiles +hae the idea that Geordie had cam' back to him. From the day o' +Geordie's death to that o' his ain', which took place a month sine, he +was ne'er kenned to taste strong drink; he could'na bear even the sight +o' it. He lived to a verra great age, an' for many years they who did'na +ken the story o' his early life ha'e ca'd him Wanderin' Davy. I hae noo +tell'd you his story," said Mr. C. addressing me; "an' I hope it may +prove a warnin' to you an' ithers o' the awfu' evils o' intemperance; +an' I think it's high time my story was finished, for I see by the clock +that it's growin' unco late." When the evening psalm had been sung, Mr. +C. read a portion of the Scriptures and offered the usual nightly +prayer, and soon after we all sought repose; but it was long ere I +slept. The story I had listened to still floated through my mind, and +when sleep at length closed my eyes it was to dream of "Wandering Davy," +and the poor drowned boy. + + + + +LOOKING ON THE DARK SIDE. + + +It is an old but true saying, that "troubles come soon enough without +meeting them half way." But I think my friend Mrs. Talbot had never +chanced to hear this saying, old as it is; for she was extremely prone +at all times to look only upon the dark side, and this habit was a +source of much trouble to herself as well as her family. Mr. Talbot +might properly have been called a well-to-do farmer. They were +surrounded by an intelligent and interesting family; and a stranger, in +taking a passing view of their home and its surroundings, would have +been strongly inclined to think that happiness and contentment might be +found beneath their roof; but a short sojourn in the dwelling alluded to +would certainly have dispelled the illusion. This Mrs. Talbot was +possessed of a most unhappy disposition. She seemed to entertain the +idea that the whole world was in league to render her miserable. It has +often struck me with surprise, that a person surrounded with so much to +render life happy should indulge in so discontented and repining a +temper as did Mrs. Talbot. She was famous for dwelling at length upon +her trials, as often as she could obtain a listener; and when I first +became acquainted with her I really regarded her with a feeling of pity; +but after a time I mentally decided that the greater part of her +grievances existed only in her own imagination. She spent a large +portion of her time in deploring the sins of the whole world in general, +and of her own family and immediate neighbors in particular; while she +looked upon herself as having almost, if not quite, attained to +perfection. + +I recollect calling one day upon Mr. Talbot; he was of a very social +disposition, and we engaged for a short time in a lively conversation. +Mrs. Talbot was present, and, strange to tell, once actually laughed at +some amusing remark made by her husband. He soon after left the room, +and her countenance resumed its usual doleful expression as she +addressed me, saying, "I wish I could have any hopes of Mr. Talbot; but +I am afraid the last state of that man will be worse than the first." I +questioned her as to her meaning; and she went on to tell me that her +husband had once made a profession of religion; but she feared he was +then in a "backslidden state," as she termed it. I know not how this +matter might have been; but during my acquaintance with Mr. Talbot I +never observed any thing in his conduct which to me seemed inconsistent +with a profession of religion. He certainly excelled his wife in one +thing, and that was christian charity; for he was seldom if ever heard +to speak of the shortcomings of others. It is quite possible that he +thought his wife said enough upon the subject to suffice for both. Mrs. +Talbot made a point of visiting her neighbors, if she chanced to hear of +their meeting with any trouble or misfortune. The reason she gave for so +doing was that she might sympathize with them; and if sickness invaded a +household Mrs. Talbot was sure to be there; but I used often to think +that her friends must look upon her as one of "Job's comforters," for no +sickness was so severe, no misfortune so great, that she did not +prophesy something worse still. According to her own ideas she was often +favored with warnings of sickness and misfortune both to her own family +and others. She was also a famous believer in dreams; and often +entertained her friends at the breakfast table by relating her dreams of +the previous night. I remember meeting with her upon one occasion, when +it struck me that her countenance wore a look of unusual solemnity, even +for her, so much so, that I enquired the cause, "Ah!" said she, "we are +to have sickness, perhaps death, in our family very soon; for only last +night I dreamed I saw a white horse coming toward our house upon the +full gallop; and to dream of a white horse is a sure sign of sickness, +and the faster the horse seems in our dream to be approaching us the +sooner the sickness will come." Her husband often remonstrated with her +upon the folly of indulging in these idle fancies. I remember a reply +he once made to some of her gloomy forebodings "I think the best way is +for each one to discharge their duty in the different relations of life; +and leave the future in the hands of an All-wise Providence." "That is +always the way with you," was her reply. "You have grown heedless and +careless with your love of the world; but you will perhaps think of my +warnings when too late." Before meeting with Mrs. Talbot I had often +heard the remark that none were so cheerful as the true Christian; but I +soon saw that her views must be widely different. A hearty laugh she +seemed to regard as almost a crime. A cheerful laugh upon any occasion +would cause her to shake her head in a rueful manner, and denounce it as +untimely mirth. Upon one occasion she went to hear a preacher that had +lately arrived in the neighboring village. This same preacher was +remarkable for drawing dismal pictures, and was very severe in his +denunciations, while he quite forgot to offer a word of encouragement to +the humble seeker after good. Upon the Sabbath in question Mrs. Talbot +returned from church, and seated herself at the dinner table with a +countenance of moot woeful solemnity. Her husband at length enquired, +how she had enjoyed the sermon. "O!" replied she, "he is a preacher +after my own heart, and his sermon explained all my views clearly." +"Indeed," replied Mr. Talbot, "he must have a wonderful flow of +language to have handled so extensive a subject, in the usual time +allotted to a sermon." His answer displeased her very much. Among her +other gloomy forebodings she always seemed sure of the fact that Mr. +Talbot would survive her; and she replied: "That is always the way. You +make light of every thing I say; and I only hope you won't have all +these things to repent of when I shall be no more." Mr. Talbot seemed +sorry he had wounded her feelings, and replied: "We shall both live our +appointed time, and it is not for us to decide which of us will be first +removed." The last time I saw Mrs. Talbot she was indulging in her +anticipation of some coming calamity. I have learned from various +sources, that since I last saw her she has met _real_ afflictions of a +very trying nature, even to the most hopeful; and it may be that the +presence of real troubles have put to flight many which were only +imaginary; and she may by this time have learned to be thankful for +whatever of blessings may yet be left her in her path through life. + + + + +EDWARD BARTON. + + +My schoolmate Edward Barton, or 'Ned,' as he was usually called by the +boys, was such an odd character in his way, that I trust my readers will +pardon me for introducing him to their notice. His father was a +physician in a distant village, and was justly esteemed among the +residents of the place. He had an extensive practice both in the village +and surrounding country, and his time was very much occupied; and as Ned +grew up he proved a source of constant anxiety to his father, who, being +unable to keep him under his own eye, at length decided to send him to +reside with some relatives in a farming district some twenty miles from +his home. Ned's disposition was a singular compound of good and evil, +and his conduct depended, in a great measure, upon the companions he +associated with. He was easily persuaded, and often during his father's +frequent and lengthened absences from home he played truant from school, +and associated with the worst boys in the village. I well remember the +morning he first entered our school. He was then about twelve years of +age; but owing to his carelessness and inattention, he had made but +slight progress in study. I learned afterward that he had so long borne +the names of "dunce" and "blockhead" in the school he attended in his +own village that he supposed himself to be really such, and made up his +mind that it was useless for him to try to be anything else: and I think +when our teacher first called him up for examination he was inclined to +be of the same opinion. The teacher first addressed him by saying, "How +far have you advanced in reading, my boy?" "Don't know, sir, never +thought any thing about how far I've been." "Well, at least," replied +the master, "you can tell me the names of the books you have studied, in +reading and spelling." "Oh, yes," replied the boy. "I've been clean +through 'Webster's Elementary and the Progressive Reader.'" "Can you +tell me the subject of any of your lessons?" "I can just remember one +story, about a dog that was crossing a river on a plank with a piece of +meat in his mouth, and when he saw his shadder in the water, made a +spring at it, and dropped the meat which he held in his mouth, and it +was at once carried away by the current." "Well," said the teacher, "as +you remember the story so well, you can perhaps tell me what lesson we +can learn from this fable." "I thought," replied the boy, "when I read +the story, that the best way is to hold on to what we are sure of, and +not grab after a shadder and lose the whole." "Your idea is certainly a +correct one," said the master, "and now we will turn to some other +branch of study; can you cipher?" "Don't know, I never tried," replied +the boy, with the greatest coolness imaginable. "Well," replied the +teacher, "we will, after a time, see how you succeed, when you _do_ try. +Can you tell me what the study of Geography teaches us?" "O," said the +boy, "geography tells all about the world, the folks who live in it, and +'most everything else." The master then asked him some questions +regarding the divisions of land and water, and for a short time he +answered with some degree of correctness. At length, while referring to +the divisions of water, the master said, "Can you tell me what is a +strait?" This question seemed a "puzzler" to him, and for some moments +he looked downward as if studying the matter; when the question was +repeated in rather a sharp tone, it seemed he thought it wiser to give +an answer of some kind than none at all, and he replied: "When a river +runs in a straight course, we call it straight, and when it twists and +winds about, we call it crooked." "A river is not a strait," replied the +teacher with the manner of one who prayed for patience. "Well! at any +rate," said the boy, "straight is straight, and crooked is crooked, and +that is all I know about it." It was evident from the teacher's manner +that he was half inclined to think the boy was endeavoring to impose +upon him by feigning ignorance; and he dismissed him to his seat for +the time being, thinking, no doubt, that he had met with a case out of +the common order of school experience. It seems that the boy had never +before attended school with punctuality, and it required a long time, to +teach him to observe anything like system, either in his conduct or +studies. Our teacher, though very firm, was mild and judicious in his +government; and, thinking that possibly Ned's disposition had been +injured by former harshness at school, resolved to avoid inflicting +corporal punishment as long as possible; and try upon him the effect of +kindness and mild persuasion. He had one very annoying habit, and that +was he would very seldom give a satisfactory answer if suddenly asked a +direct question, and often his reply would be very absurd, sometimes +bordering on downright impudence. The master noticed one afternoon, +after calling the boys from their play at recess, that Ned had not +entered the school-room with the others. Stepping to the door, he found +him seated very composedly in the yard, working busily upon a toy he was +fashioning with a knife from a piece of wood. "Why do you remain +outside, Edward, after the other boys are called in?" said the master. +"Cos I did'nt come in, sir," replied Ned, without looking up, or even +pausing in his employment This was too much for the patience of any one; +and seizing him by the arm the master drew him into a small room which +adjoined the school-room; and bestowed upon him, what Ned afterward +confidentially informed us, was "a regular old-fashioned thrashing." I +was not aware till then that the style of using the rod was liable to +change, but it would seem that Ned thought otherwise; and if his screams +upon this occasion were taken as proof in the matter, I should be +inclined to think the old-fashioned method very effective. The whipping +which Ned received created quite a sensation among us boys, for it was +not often that Mr. S. used the rod; We began to have our fears that as +he had got his "hand in," more of us might share the fate of poor Ned. +In a very serious conversation which we held upon the matter, on our way +home that evening, some of us asked Ned why he screamed so loud. "I +thought," said he, "if I hollered pretty well, he would think he'd +licked me enough and stop; but I don't see what great harm I did any +way. He asked why I stayed out; and I said, cos I did't go in, and I am +sure I could'nt give a better reason than that." Time passed on, and by +degrees Ned dropped many of his odd ways; and began to make tolerable +progress in study; but still much patience and forbearance was necessary +on the part of the teacher. He had the same habit of frequently giving +absurd answers in his class, as well as upon other occasions; but after +a time his stupid answers were much less frequent, and Mr. S. began to +indulge the hope that he would soon overcome the habit entirely. When +he had attended school for about six months, as was the custom two or +three times a year, we passed under what to the school boys was an +"awful review" in presence of those awe-inspiring personages, termed in +those days the school-trustees, and any other friends of the school, who +might chance to be present. We all, even to the teacher, had our fears +lest Ned (who had not yet entirely discontinued the practice) should +give some of his comical answers when questioned by our visitors; but +the day came, and with it the school-trustees and a number of other +friends. The classes were first examined in reading and spelling; and +Ned acquitted himself much better than we had dared to hope; and we +began to think he might pass the afternoon without making any serious +blunder. After the reading and spelling lessons, the class was summoned +for examination in Geography. Elated by his success in reading and +spelling, Ned took his place with a pompous consequential manner, as if +expecting to win countless laurels for his proficiency. He got along +very well till some one put the question, "What may the Island of +Australia properly be called on account of its vast size?" "One of the +Pyramids," answered Ned, in a loud confident voice. The gentleman who +was questioning us looked astounded, and there fell an awkward silence, +which only was broken by the half-smothered laughter of the others in +the class. The teacher, wishing to get over the matter in some way, at +length said, "I am surprised, Edward, that you should give so senseless +an answer to so simple a question." Now, one very striking peculiarity +in Ned's character was his unwillingness to acknowledge himself in the +wrong, however ridiculous his answer might be; and he was disposed to +argue his point upon this occasion. "Any way," said he, "the Pyramids +are large, and so is Australia; and I thought it might sometimes be +called a pyramid for convenience of description." The idea of Ned +entering into an argument with the trustees of the school struck the +rest of the boys as so extremely ludicrous, that our long pent-up mirth +found vent in a burst of laughter through the whole class, and no one +present had the heart to chide us; for it was with intense difficulty +that the elderly gentlemen maintained their own gravity. The teacher was +obliged to exercise his authority before Ned could be silenced; and the +remaining part of the examination proved rather a failure. I know not +how it happened, but from that day there was a marked improvement in +Edward Barton, in every respect. He attended the school for two years; +and when he left us it was to accompany his parents to one of the far +Western States. His father had relatives residing in the west, and had +received from them such glowing accounts of the country, that he decided +upon removing thither. Any one who saw Ned when he left us would almost +have failed to recognize him as the same boy who entered the school two +years previous. Mr. S. was his friend as well as his teacher; and during +the second year of his stay took a deep interest in him; he had +thoroughly studied his disposition, and learned to bear with his faults, +and under his judicious management Ned began really to make good +progress in study. We had all become attached to him, and were all sorry +when he left us. He was much elated with the prospect of his journey to +the West; and talked much of the wonders he expected to behold on his +way thither. He came one day at the noon-hour to collect his books and +bid us good-bye, his father having come to take him home for a short +time before setting out on their journey. The boys were all on the +play-ground when he entered the school-room to bid his teacher good-bye. +When he came out he looked very sober, and there was a suspicious +moisture in his eyes which very much resembled tears. Instead of the +usual noisy mirth on the play-ground there was almost complete silence, +while Ned shook hands with us one by one, saying, "he would tell us all +the wonders of the Western World when he came back." Years have rolled +by with their various changes since that day; he has never yet returned; +and I have only heard from him two or three times during the time. My +last tidings were, that he was married and settled down to a life of +industry upon a fine farm, in his western home; but I sometimes, when I +think of him, even yet wonder, if he has learned the difference between +the "Pyramids of Egypt" and the "Island Continent of Australia." + + + + +THE WEARY AT REST. + + +The weary at rest. This idea was very strongly impressed upon my mind +by a funeral which I once attended in the distant village of C. It was +that of a very aged woman, whom I had often heard mentioned as one who +had been subjected for many years to bodily suffering in no ordinary +degree. I had never seen her, but was acquainted with many who visited +her frequently; and I became interested from hearing her so often spoken +of as a bright example of patience and resignation under affliction; and +I was accustomed to enquire for her as often as I had opportunity. Owing +to a rheumatic affection of her limbs, she had, as I was informed, been +unable, for several years, to rise from her bed without assistance, and +much of the time experienced severe pain. I was informed by her friends +that through her protracted period of suffering she was never heard to +utter a complaining or repining word, but was found daily in a calm, +even cheerful frame of mind. After a time I left the village and +returned to my home. Returning thither to visit some relatives after the +lapse of a few months, I met with a friend, soon after my arrival, who +informed me of the death of old Mrs. H., which had taken place the day +previous. Two days later I joined the large numbers who assembled to pay +their last tribute of respect to one of the oldest residents of their +village. As is usual upon funeral occasions, the coffin was placed in +front of the pulpit, and a large number occupied the front pews which +were appropriated to the friends of the deceased. In those pews were +seated men in whose hair the silver threads were beginning to mingle, +and women who were themselves mothers of families, who all met around +the coffin of their aged mother. Childhood, youth and middle age was all +represented in that company of mourners. Their pastor, Mr. M., delivered +a very appropriate discourse from the words. "Blessed are the dead who +die in the Lord." In the course of his sermon he took occasion to +remark, that a funeral discourse should apply to the living--not the +dead. I had before listened to different sermons from this same text; +but I never listened to a more searching application of the words than +upon this occasion. + +Near the close of his sermon, he said: "I presume many of you are aware +that I deem it unnecessary as well as unwise, on occasions of this kind, +for a minister to dwell at length, upon the life and character of the +deceased, for, as I have before said, our duty is with the living; but +upon the present occasion, I think I may with propriety say, that we see +before us the lifeless remains of one who has 'died in the Lord.' I +have been for many years acquainted with our aged sister now departed, +and have ever regarded her as an humble and earnest christian. I have +frequently visited her during her lengthened period of suffering; and +have felt deeply humbled for my own want of resignation to the ills of +life, when I observed the exemplary manner with which this aged woman +bore her sufferings, which at times were very severe; and more than +this, I stood by her dying bed, which I can truly say presented a +foretaste of heavenly triumph." + +At the close of the service permission was given for any one who was +desirous of so doing to look upon the "corpse," and with many others I +drew nigh the coffin. I had been told that the habitual expression of +her countenance was one of pain, and I was surprised by the calm and +peaceful expression which rested upon the face of the dead. There was no +sign of past suffering visible; and the idea of perfect rest was +conveyed to my mind, as I gazed upon her now lifeless features. When the +strangers had all retired the relatives and near friends drew nigh to +take their last sad look of the aged one who in life had been so dear to +them. It seemed that her age and utter helplessness had all the more +endeared her to her children and other friends; and many of them wept +audibly as they retired from the coffin. As the coffin was borne from +the church, the choir sung in subdued tones, accompanied by the solemn +notes of the organ, the beautiful hymn commencing with the lines. + + "Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, + Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb; + The Saviour hath passed through its portals before thee, + And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom." + +When the long procession reached the church yard, the coffin was lowered +to its final resting place, and the Burial Service was read by their +pastor, and most of the company departed to their homes. I know not how +it was, but, although a stranger to the deceased, I was among the few +who lingered till the grave was filled up. That funeral impressed me +deeply; and has often since recurred to my mind, amid the cares and +turmoil of after life. + + + + +THE RAINY AFTERNOON. + + +"It's too bad," exclaimed Harry Knights, as he turned from the window, +where for the last ten minutes he had been silently watching the heavy +drops of rain as they pattered against the glass. "It's too bad," +repeated he, "we can have no out-of-door play this afternoon;" and as he +spoke his face wore a most rueful expression. I was one among a number +of Harry's school-mates who had gone to spend the day at the farm of Mr. +Knights, Harry's father. The eldest of our number was not more than +fourteen; and for a long time we had looked forward to this day with +many bright anticipations of fun and enjoyment. The important day at +length arrived, and so early did we set out upon our excursion that we +reached Harry's home before eight o'clock in the morning. We spent the +forenoon in rambling over the farm, searching out every nook and corner +which possessed any interest to our boyish minds. Accompanied by Harry +we visited all his favourite haunts--which included a fine stream of +water, where there was an abundance of fish; also a ledge of rocks +which contained a curious sort of cave, formed by a wide aperture in the +rocks; and, last, though "not least," a pond of water which, owing to +its extreme beauty of appearance, Harry had named the "Enchanted Pond." +He had said so much to us regarding the uncommon beauty of this spot +that some of the boys, myself among the number, had often been inclined +to ridicule him; but when we came within view of it, I for one ceased to +wonder at his admiration; for, before nor since, I never looked upon so +lovely a scene. The pond was situated upon the back portion of the farm, +in a clearing which had been made by a settler who had occupied the land +for some years before it was purchased by Mr. Knights. The form of the +pond was entirely circular, and it was surrounded by a green field, in +which had been left standing, here and there, some fine old trees to add +to the effect. I remember when I first gained a view of the spot, it +reminded me of a surface of polished silver, bordered with emeralds. As +we drew nigh we could see that its smooth waters were thickly dotted +with the pure blossoms of the pond-lily. I have never since visited the +spot, but the view I obtained of it that day, now so long ago, is still +vividly present to my mind. By the time we again reached the farm-house +the dinner-hour had arrived; and our long continued exercise in the open +air had so much improved our appetites that we did ample justice to the +good things set before us. Dinner being over we observed, what had +before escaped our notice, that the sky was becoming overcast with dark +clouds, and soon a heavy rain began to fall, which put an end to all our +plans of out-of-door enjoyment for the afternoon. As I mentioned at the +beginning, Harry was very much disappointed, for outside sports were his +especial delight; and for a time his face looked almost as dark and +forbidding as the sky itself. We tried to cheer him up, saying we would +have some quiet games in the large dining-room, and we did succeed in +getting him to join us; but somehow or other our games afforded us no +enjoyment, and the question, "what shall we do with ourselves?" began to +pass from one to the other among the group of eager, restless boys. +"Would you like me to tell you a story, boys?" enquired Harry's mother, +after observing for a time our vain attempts at enjoyment. Mrs. Knights +was a lady of high culture, and possessed the happy faculty of rendering +herself an agreeable companion to either the young or old; and more than +one pair of eyes grew bright with pleased anticipation, when she +proposed telling us a story; and, of course, we as eagerly assented to +her proposal. Seating herself our midst, she took up a piece of +needlework, saying, "I can always talk best, when my hands an employed," +and began as follows: + +"I suppose none of you, perhaps not even my own Harry is aware that my +home has not always been in Canada; but I will now inform you that the +days of my childhood and youth were passed in a pretty town near the +base of the Alleghany Mountains in the State of Virginia. I will not +pause at present to give you any further particulars regarding my own +early years, as the story I am about to relate is concerning one of my +schoolmates who was a few years older than myself. The Pastor of the +Church in the small village where my parents resided had but one son; +and, when quite a little girl, I remember him as one of the elder pupils +in the school I attended. I was too young at that time to pay much +attention to passing events, but I afterward learned that, even then, +his conduct was a source of much anxiety and sorrow to his parents, his +ready talent, great vivacity, and love of amusement continually led him +into mischief and caused him to be disliked by many of their neighbors. +It was in vain that the villages complained, in vain that his father +admonished and his mother wept; still the orchards were robbed, the +turkeys chased into the woods, and the logs of wood in the fireplaces +often burst into fragments by concealed powder. Time passed on, till he +reached the age of sixteen years, when, spurning the restraints of home, +the erring boy left his father's house and became a wanderer, no one +knew whither; but it was rumored that reaching a sea-port town he had +entered a merchant vessel bound upon a whaling voyage for three years. +During the last year of his stay at home his conduct had been very +rebellious, and his father almost looked upon him as given over to a +reprobate mind. After his departure, his father was seldom heard to +mention his name, but his friends observed that his hair fast grew +white, and upon his brow rested an expression of constant grief and +anxiety. He was a man that seldom spoke of his own troubles to any one, +but it was plain to be seen that his erring boy was never absent from +his thoughts, and there was a feeling and pathos in his voice when he +addressed his congregation, especially the younger portion of it, which +had never been noticed before. It was his custom upon the first sabbath +evening in each month to deliver an address to the youth of his flock +and it was noticed that his appeals had never been so earnest before, as +after the departure of his son; but he seldom, if ever, mentioned his +name, not even to his grief-stricken wife. Our pastor was not what could +be properly styled an old man, but it was thought that his grief, like a +canker-worm, sapped the fountains of life, his bodily health became +impaired, his vigor of mind departed, and, ere he had seen sixty years, +death removed him from earth, to a home of happiness in Heaven. The +widow was now bereft of both husband and child. She was comforted +concerning her departed husband, knowing that it was well with him; but +she sorrowed continually for her absent boy; and often, during the +lonely hours of night, as the moaning of the winds fell upon her ear, +she would start from her sleepless pillow and utter a prayer for her +poor boy who might even then be tossing on the restless ocean, or +perhaps wrecked upon a dangerous coast. She was a woman of good +education, and much power of thought, and she at length found a partial +relief from her sorrow by writing small works for publication. But how +is it all this time with the wandering "Prodigal?" Nine years have +passed away since he left his home, when an agent for the sale of books +for a large publishing house was spending a few days in one of the large +cities of the west. During his stay in the place, his business as agent +often led him into public places, and on several occasions he noticed a +young man that attracted his attention. There was nothing prepossessing +in his appearance; on the contrary he bore the marks of dissipation in +his countenance; his clothing was old and soiled, and once or twice he +saw him when partially intoxicated. The agent was a middle-aged man, and +was a close observer of those with whom he came in contact, and somehow +or other he felt a strange interest in this young man for which he could +not account; and meeting him so frequently, he determined to speak to +him. As a pretext for accosting him he offered to sell him some books, +although he had no hopes of success. The young man regarded him with +visible surprise, when he enquired if he would not like to purchase a +book. "I have no money to spend for books," replied the man, yet as if +unable to resist the impulse, he leaned over the table, on which the +agent had placed several books, and began looking them over; and finally +selecting one, enquired the price, and paid for it. They soon after +parted, and the agent thought they should probably meet no more, as he +expected soon to leave the city. He returned to the hotel where he +boarded, and after tea seated himself on the piazza, to enjoy the cool +evening air; when the same young man suddenly approached him, and +grasping his hand said in a voice choked with emotion: "Tell me, Sir, +where, O where did you get that book?" This young man was the erring but +still loved son of the Virginian widow, who for these long dreary years +had roamed over the earth, unfriended and unaided, vainly imagining his +own arm sufficient towards the ills of life. He had wandered here from +the coasts of the Pacific, where he had been wrecked; his money was +nearly gone, and his health had become impaired by hardship and exposure +as well as his dissipated course of life. As he afterwards said, he had +no intention of reading the book when he purchased it, merely out of +civility to the stranger who accosted him so kindly, but after the agent +left him he opened the book, and a cold dew broke out upon his forehead, +for on the title-page he read the name of his _mother_ as the author. +Her thoughts were continually upon her lost son, and in her mind's eye +she often traced his downward career. She imagined him worn and weary, +his days spent in unsatisfying folly; and his moments of reflection +embittered by remorse; unconsciously, in writing this little book she +had drawn from her own feelings and addressed one in this situation. She +pointed to him the falseness of the world, and bade him judge of the +fidelity of the picture by his own experience; and she taught him the +way of return to the paths of peace. And thus it was that the little +book which the wretched young man had selected--one would say so +accidentally, others, so Providentially,-proved the means of his return +from the paths of sin and folly to those of sobriety and usefulness. He +soon told his story to his attentive listener, and informed him of the +relationship he bore to the author of the book he had purchased. As he +concluded, he said, "Oh, my mother, why did I leave you to become the +hopeless being I am?" "Not hopeless," replied his companion in gentle +tones, "you have youth on your side and may yet be a useful and happy +man. I now understand the unaccountable interest which I felt in you +when meeting you on several occasions before I spoke to you, and I feel +that Providence directed me in the matter." The agent stayed two days +longer in the city, and then departed; the young man with him, for with +the promptitude of his nature, to resolve was to act. He directed his +course toward Virginia, the star of hope leading him on, and finally +approached his native village. No words are adequate to describe the +meeting between the lonely widow and her long lost, but now returning +and penitent son. When informed that his father had been for some years +dead, the shock to him was great, overpowering, but he uttered no +repining word. "I could not," said he, "expect the happiness of meeting +both my parents again after causing them so much sorrow, and let me be +humbly thankful that it is allowed me to cheer the declining years of my +aged mother." "I well remember," said Mrs. Knights, "the return of the +young man to his home, it was but a short time before I left Virginia, +but I have been informed by friends, still residing there, that he was +for several years the staff and support of his mother, of whom it might +be said, "her last days were her best days." After the death of his +mother, as he had no living tie to bind him to the spot, he removed to +another section of country, where he married and is now a useful and +respected member of society. "And now boys," said Mrs. Knights, "allow +me in conclusion to say to you all as one, as you value your own +well-being in time and eternity, be sure that you honour and obey your +parents, think of what the end of this young man might have been, and +shun his example. But I see that the hour for tea is near at hand; and +for a time I will leave you to amuse yourselves, while I assist in +preparing your tea; and if you have been interested in my story, I may +tell you another when you next pass a rainy afternoon at our house." We +all thanked the kind lady for the interesting story, and I for one very +much hoped that the next day we chanced to pass at Mrs. Knights' farm, +would prove to be rainy in the afternoon. + + + + +THE STUDENTS DREAM. + + +Arthur Wilton had been for several years a student; but he was one of +the plodding sort, who make but slow progress. The principal barrier to +his improvement arose from one defect in his character; and that was the +habit in which he constantly indulged, of deploring the past, without +making any very strong efforts toward amendment in the future. He was +one evening seated in his room; a ponderous volume lay open, on his +study-table; and for a time he vainly tried to fix his attention +thereon, till finally he closed the book; and leaning back in his chair, +his brows contracted, and the lines about his mouth grew tense, as if +his thoughts were anything but pleasing. As usual he was bemoaning his +misspent hours. + +"Ah," said he, speaking in soliloquy, "they are gone never more to +return. The careless happy days of childhood, the sunny period of youth, +and the aspiring dreams of mature manhood. I once indulged in many +ambitious dreams of fame, and these dreams have never been realised. +Many with whom I set out on equal ground have outstripped me in the +race of life, and here am I alone. Many who were once my inferiors have +nearly overtaken me, and doubtless they too will soon pass me by. What I +very much prize is a true friend, and yet no friend approaches with a +word of sympathy or encouragement; would that some would counsel me, as +to how I may better my condition." Thus far had Arthur Wilton proceeded +in his soliloquy, when his eyelids were weighed down by drowsiness, and +he soon sank into a deep slumber. In his dream an aged man, with a most +mild and venerable countenance stood before him, who, addressing him by +name, said; "Thy heart is full of sorrow; but if you will listen to, and +profit by my words, your sorrow shall be turned into joy. You have been +grieving over the hours which have been run to waste, without pausing to +reflect, that while you have been occupied with these unavailing +regrets, another hour has glided away past your recall forever; and will +be added to your already lengthened list of opportunities misimproved. +You grieve that your name is not placed on the lists of fame. Cease from +thy fruitless longings. Discharge faithfully your present duties, and if +you merit fame it will certainly be awarded you. You also complain that +no friend is near you. Have you ever truly sought a friend, by the +unwearied exercise of those affections, and in the performance of those +numberless offices of kindness by which alone friendship is secured and +perpetuated? + + 'All like the _purchase, few_ the _price_ will pay'; + +"And this makes friends such miracles below. + +"Hast thou hoped for the society of the wise and good? Then with +diligence and untiring zeal you should seek to fit yourself for such +companionship. Have your early companions got before you in the race of +life; and yet you remain at ease, dreaming over the past. Awake, young +man, ere yet your day is done; and address yourself to your work with +renewed energy, look forward to your future instead of brooding over the +past, and be assured you will acquire wisdom, friends and every other +needful blessing." With these words the aged man disappeared and the +student awoke. His fire had gone out and his lamp burned but dimly. He +rose, replenished his fire, trimmed his lamp, and resumed his studies +with ardour. This dream was not lost upon Arthur Wilton. Instead of now +wasting his time in regrets for the past, he looked forward with a stead +purpose of improvement, and from that period no harder student was to be +found in the college; and he finally graduated with high honours. In +after years he often related this dream to those of his acquaintances +whom he thought in danger of falling into the same habit to which he +himself had been so prone in his youthful days. + + + + +UNCLE EPHRAIM. + + +For years, when a child, I used daily to pass the dwelling of Uncle +Ephraim, on my way to and from school. He was not my uncle; indeed he +bore no relationship whatever to me, but Uncle Ephraim was the familiar +appellation by which he was known by all the school-boys in the +vicinity. He was among the oldest residents in that section, and +although a very eccentric person, was much respected by all his +neighbours. How plainly do I yet remember him, after the lapse of so +many years. His tall figure, shoulders that slightly stooped, his florid +complexion, clear blue eyes, and hair bleached by the frosts of time to +snowy whiteness. The farm on which he resided had improved under the +hand of industry, till since my earliest recollection, it was in a state +of high cultivation. His dwelling was an old-fashioned structure, placed +a little back from the main road, and almost hidden from view by thick +trees. In an open space, a little to one side, was the draw-well with +its long pole and sweep; and I have often thought that I have never +since tasted such water as we used to draw from that well, at we used +often to linger for a few moments in Uncle Ephraim's yard on our return +from school during the hot summer afternoons. He must have been fond of +children; for he was a great favourite among the boys, and he often gave +us permission to gather fruit from the trees in the garden, provided we +broke none of his prescribed rules. But the unlucky urchin who +transgressed against a command, forfeited his good opinion from +henceforth; and durst no more be seen upon his premises. I happened to +be among the fortunate number who retained his approbation and good-will +during all our acquaintance. + +It was from Uncle Ephraim I received the first money I could call my +own. In those days school-boys were not supplied very liberally with +pocket money, and when on one occasion I rendered him some slight +service, for which he bestowed upon me a piece of money, I felt myself +rich indeed, and the possession of as many hundreds now would fail to +afford me the same pleasure as did the few cents which made up the value +of the coin. + +Like all others, he had his failings and weak points; but he had also +many very estimable traits of character. Among his failings very strong +prejudices were most noticeable, and if for any reason he became +prejudiced against one, he could never after see any good whatever in +them. He also possessed rather an unforgiving temper when injured by any +one. But on the other hand he was a friend to the poor; and seldom sent +the beggar empty-handed from his door. He also gave largely to the +support of the gospel, as well as to benevolent institutions. One very +noticeable and oftentimes laughable peculiarity was his proneness to +charge every thing that went wrong to the state of the weather. I think +it was more from a habit of speech than from any wish to be +unreasonable. I remember one day passing a field when he was trying to +catch a horse that, to all appearance had no idea of being captured. He +tried various methods of coaxing him into the halter, and several times +nearly succeeded, but just when he thought himself sure of him, the +animal would gallop off in another direction. Out of all patience, he at +length exclaimed. "What does possess that critter to act so to-day?" +then glancing at the sky, which at the time happened to be overcast by +dull murky clouds, he said; "It must be the weather." I chanced one day +to be present when Uncle Ephraim was busily occupied in making some +arithmetical calculations regarding his farm-products. The result not +proving satisfactory he handed his slate to a friend for inspection, and +it was soon discovered that he had made a very considerable error in his +calculation. When the error was pointed out to him, he looked up with a +perplexed countenance, saying; "It is the weather: nothing else would +have caused me to make such a blunder." His son happened to marry +against his wishes, so much so, that he had the ceremony performed +without his father's knowledge, who afterwards, making a virtue of +necessity, wisely made the best of the matter. On learning that his son +was actually married without his knowledge the only remark he made was +this: "What could have induced Ben to cut up such a caper as to go and +get married without my leave; it must have been the weather, nothing +else," and as if he had settled the question to his own satisfaction he +was never heard to allude to the matter again. Years passed away, till +one day the tidings reached us that Uncle Ephraim was dangerously ill. +He grew rapidly worse, and it was soon evident that his days on earth +would soon be numbered. I have a very distinct recollection of stealing +quietly in, to look upon him as he lay on his dying bed; of the tears I +shed when I gazed upon his fearfully changed features. He was even then +past speaking or recognizing one from another; and before another sun +rose he had passed from among the living. I obtained permission to go in +once more and look upon him as he lay shrouded for the grave. I was then +a child of ten years, but even at that early age I had not that morbid +terror of looking upon death, so common among children. With my own +hands, I folded back the napkin which covered his face, and gazed upon +his aged, but now serene countenance. There was nothing in his +appearance to inspire terror, and for a moment I placed my hand on his +cold brow. He had ever been very kind to me, and I regarded him with +much affection, and the tears coursed freely down my cheeks when I +looked my last upon his familiar countenance now lifeless and sealed in +death. I have forgotten his exact age, but I know it exceeded seventy +years. It so happened that I did not attend his funeral; but he was +followed to the grave by a large number of friends and neighbours, many +of whom still live to cherish his memory. + + + + +[1]STORY OF A LOG CABIN. + + +It was a dreary day in autumn. Like the fate which attends us all, the +foliage had assumed the paleness of death; and the winds, cold and damp, +were sighing among the branches of the trees, and causing every other +feeling rather than that of comfort. Four others and myself had been out +hunting during the day, and we returned at nightfall tired and hungry to +our camp. The shades of night were fast gathering around us; but being +protected by our camp with a blazing fire in front, we soon succeeded in +cooking some of the game we had shot during the day; and as we ate, the +old hunters who were my companions grew garrulous, and in turn related +their numerous adventures. "You have lived in Dayton for some time," +said an old hunter, addressing one of his companions. "Have you ever +seen during your rambles the remains of a log cabin about two miles down +the Miami Canal? I recollect it well, but there is a mystery attached to +those ruins which no one living can solve. The oldest settlers found +that cabin there; and it _then_ appeared in such a dilapidated state as +to justify the belief that it had been built many years previous." "Do +you know anything about it?" I eagerly asked. "I know all about it," +replied the old hunter; "for I assisted in building it, and occupied it +for several years, during the trapping season. That cabin," he +continued, as a shade passed over his features, "has been the scene of +carnage and bloodshed. But why wake up old feelings--let them sleep, let +them sleep;" and the veteran drew his brawny hand over his eyes. All the +curiosity of my nature was roused; and the old men seated by his side +gazed upon him enquiringly, and put themselves in a listening attitude. +The speaker observing this, sat silent for a few moments, as if +collecting his thoughts; and then related the following tale: + +"There has come a mighty change over the face of this country since the +time when I first emigrated here. The spot where now stand your +prettiest towns and villages, was then a howling wilderness. Instead of +the tinkling of the cow-bells and the merry whistle of the farmer-boy as +he calls his herd to the fold, might be heard the wild cry of the +panther, the howl of the wolf; and the equally appalling yell of the +aborigines. These were "times to try men's souls;" and it was then the +heart of oak and the sinews of iron which commanded respect. Let me +describe to you some scenes in which such men were the actors; scenes +which called forth all the energy of man's nature; and in the depths of +this western wilderness, many hundreds of Alexanders and Cæsars, who +have never been heard of. At the time I emigrated to Ohio the deadly +hatred of the red men toward the whites had reached its acme. The rifle, +the tomahawk and the scalping knife were daily at work; and men, women +and children daily fell victims to this sanguinary spirit. In this state +I found things when I reached the small village opposite the month of +Licking river, and now the great city of Cincinnati. Here in this great +temple of nature man has taken up his abode, and all that he could wish +responds to his touch. The fields and meadows yield their produce, and +unmolested by the red man whom he had usurped, he enjoys the bounties of +a beneficent Creator. And where is the red man? Where is he! Like wax +before the flame he has melted away from before the white man, leaving +him no legacy save that courageous daring which will live in song long +after their last remnant shall have passed away. At the time when I +first stepped upon these grounds the red man still grasped the sceptre +which has since been wrenched from his hand. They saw the throne of +their fathers beginning to totter. Their realm had attracted the +cupidity of a race of strangers, and with maddening despair, they +grasped their falling power; and daily grew more desperate as they +became more endangered. I among the rest had now a view of this +exuberant west, this great valley of the Hesperides; and I determined to +assist in extirpating the red man, and to usurp the land of his fathers. +Among the men who were at the village, I found one who for magnanimity +and undaunted courage merits a wreath which should hang high in the +temple of fame, and yet like hundreds of others, he has passed away +unhonored, unsung. His name was Ralph Watts, a sturdy Virginian, with a +heart surpassing all which has been said of Virginia's sons, in those +qualities, which ennoble the man; and possessing a courage indomitable, +and a frame calculated in every way to fulfil whatever his daring spirit +suggested. Such was Ralph Watts. I had only been in the town a few days, +when Ralph and I contracted an intimacy which ended only with his death. +I was passing the small inn of the town, when a tall man, with a hunting +shirt and leggins on stepped out and laying his hand on my shoulder +said: "Stranger, they say you have just come among us, and that you are +poor; come along. I have got just five dollars, no man shall ever say +that Ralph Watts passed a moneyless man, without sharing with him the +contents of his pocket--come along." Ralph and I soon became inseparable +friends. His joys as well as his sorrows were mine; in a word, we shared +each others sympathies; and this leads me to the scene of the log +cabin. We often hunted together, and while on our last expedition, took +an oath of friendship which should end only with death--and how soon was +it to end. We left the infant Cincinnati one summer morning at the +rising of the sun, and with our guns on our shoulders, and our pouches +well supplied with ammunition, we struck into the deep wilderness, +trusting to our own stout hearts, and woodscraft for our food and +safety. We journeyed merrily along, whiling away the hours in recounting +to each other those trivial incidents of our lives which might be +interesting, or in singing snatches of song and listening to its solemn +echo as it reverberated among the tall trees of the forest. Towards +evening we reached our first camping ground--a spot near where the town +of Sharon now stands. Here we pitched our tent, built our fire, cooked +our suppers, and prepared to pass away the evening as comfortably as two +hunters possibly could. All at once the deep stillness which reigned +around us was broken by a low cry similar to that of a panther. We both +ceased speaking and listened attentively, when the cry was repeated +still nearer, as if the arrival was rapidly advancing upon us; and thus +the cry was repeated, again and again, till its shrillness seemed not +more than a hundred yards distant, when the voice changed to that of a +yell, whose tones were so familiar to the ear of my companion as to +exert quite a visible effect upon his actions. We both sprang to our +feet and seizing our guns, stood ready to fire at a moment's warning, +"Halloo!" cried a deep voice, just outside our camp, but instead of +answering it we nerved ourselves for a desperate encounter, feeling +assured that several Indians were lurking outside our tent. "Halloo! +white brudder, come out," cried the same voice in broken English. We +consulted for a moment and finally decided to trust, for once, to Indian +faith. Ralph first stepped forth and demanded in no very amiable voice; +"what was wanting." "Come out white brudder," was the answer. After +assuring ourselves that there was but one person near we walked forward +and found a large Indian sitting by the fire, both hands spread before +the flame to protect his eyes from the light, that his keen gaze might +rest unmolested upon us. As soon as he saw us a writhing grin spread +over his painted features, and rising he offered us each his hand in a +very friendly manner. The Indian drew from his belt a large pipe, +gaudily painted, and from which depended a profusion of wampum, beads, +and eagles' feathers. He lighted the pipe, and after taking a whiff, +passed it to Ralph, who following his example passed it to me. After +taking a puff I handed it to the Indian, who replaced it in his belt. +This very important ceremony being finished, the Indian made known his +business. After bestowing a thousand anathemas upon his red brethren, he +informed us that he had left the red man forever, and was willing to +join his white brothers, and to wage an exterminating warfare against +his own kindred. We strove to extort from him the cause of this +ebullition of passion, but he only shook his head in reply to our +questions, and uttered a guttural "ough," We at first suspected him of +some treacherous plot; but there was such an air of candor and +earnestness in the communication he now made, that we threw aside all +suspicion and confided in him. He stated that there was a large party of +Indians in our rear, who had been tracking us for several hours; and +that it was their intention early in the morning to surround us, and +take us prisoners for victims at the stake, "but," said he, "if my white +brudder will follow his red brudder he will lead him safe." We instantly +signified our willingness to trust ourselves to his guidance, and +shouldering our blankets and guns, we left our camp, and followed our +guide due north at a rapid gait. For several miles we strode through the +thick woods, every moment scratching our faces and tearing our clothing, +with the thick tangled brush through which we had to pass, but +considering this of minor importance we hurried on in silence, save when +we intruded too near the nest of the nocturnal king of the forest, when +a wild hoot made us start and involuntarily grasp our rifles. "Sit on +this log and eat," said our red guide. Finding our appetites sharpened +by vigorous exercise, we sat on the log and commenced our repast, when +our guide suddenly sprang from his seat, and with a hideous yell bolted +into the forest and was soon lost to our sight. This conduct instantly +roused our fear; and with one accord we sprang to our feet. We gazed +around. Turn which way we would, the grim visage of a painted warrior +met our terrified gaze, with his tomahawk in one hand, and his rifle in +the other. "Perfidious villain," exclaimed Ralph, "and this is an +Indian's faith." An Indian of gigantic size, dressed in all the gaudy +trappings of a chief, now strode, towards us. Ralph raised his gun, and +closed his eye as the sight of the weapon sought the warrior's breast. +"Don't shoot, and you will be treated friendly," cried the savage in +good English. "So long as I live," said Ralph, "I'll never put faith +again in an Indian's word." The gun went off, and the savage, with an +unearthly cry, bounded high in the air, and fell upon his face a corpse. +A scream as if ten thousand furies had been suddenly turned loose upon +the earth, rang around us; and ere we could start ten steps on our +flight, we were seized by our savage foes, and like the light barque +when, borne on the surface of the angry waves, were we borne equally +endangered upon the shoulders of these maddened men. We were thrown upon +the earth, our hands and feet were bound till the cords were almost +hidden in the flesh; and then with the fury of madmen they commenced +beating us with clubs, when another chief, who appeared to be of higher +standing than the one who had just lost his life, rushed into the +crowd, hurling the excited warriors to the right and left in his +progress, and mounting upon a log he harangued them for a few moments +with a loud voice. They at once desisted, perhaps reconciled by the +prospect of soon seeing us burnt at the stake. We were carried to their +encampment, where we were still left bound, with two sentinels stationed +to guard us. In this painful state we remained all day, when towards +evening another company of warriors arrived, and then vigorous +preparations were made for burning us. A stake was planted in the +ground, and painted a variety of fantastic colors; the brush was piled +around it at a proper distance; and every other necessary arrangement +made; while we sat looking on, subject to the continual epithets of an +old squaw, whose most consoling remarks were: "How will white man like +to eat fire," and then she would break out into a screeching laugh, +which sounded perfectly hideous. A cold chill pervaded my frame as I +gazed upon these ominous signs of death; but how often is our misery but +the prelude of joy. At the moment that these horrid preparations were +finished, a bright flash of lightning shattered a tall hickory, nearby; +and then the earth was deluged with rain. The Indians sought the +shelter, but left us beneath the fury of the storm, where we remained +for several hours; but seeing that it increased rather than diminished, +they forced us into a small log hut and leaving a man to guard us, +bolted the door firmly and left us for the night. What were our +reflections when left alone? Your imagination must supply an answer. But +we did not entirely gave way to despondency. We were young and robust, +and our spirits were not easily subdued. Instead of becoming +disheartened our approaching fate emboldened us, and by looks, whose +expression made known our minds to each other, we resolved to effect our +escape or be slain in striving for it. Anything was preferable to the +fiery torture which awaited us. Our guard proved just the man we wanted, +for, having during the evening indulged rather freely in drinking +whiskey, he soon sank into a profound slumber. Long and anxiously had we +watched the man, and now our wishes were consummated. I contrived with +much exertion to draw my knife from my pocket, and commenced sawing at +the tough thong which confined my wrist. My heart beat high with joy, +and already we felt that we were free, when the guard sneezed, opened +his eyes, rolled them round the room, and discovered that he had been +asleep. I slipped the knife into my pocket without his notice, and he +discovered nothing to rouse his suspicions, although he regarded us +closely for a long time. He finally sat down, lit his pipe and commenced +smoking. After puffing away for half an hour, which seemed to drag by +with the tediousness of a week, he laid his tomahawk (which contains +the pipe) by his side, and after nodding for some time he again +stretched himself upon the rough floor, and soon his deep snoring fell +upon our ears. O! what music was that sound to us. I again drew the +knife from my pocket, and with desperation freed my hands, and in one +minute more Ralph stood like myself a free man. With the stealthy tread +of a cat we reached the door, softly slid back the bolt, and once more +we stood in the open air. The rain had ceased, the clouds had swept by, +and the full moon pale and high in the heavens threw her light upon the +tree tops, bathing them in liquid silver. Silently but rapidly we +bounded through the forest, our fears of pursuit urging us onward; and +by daylight were within twelve miles of the log cabin whose history I am +telling. At that time there dwelt in that cabin, with his family, a +trapper by the name of Daniel Roe. When we reached there we found Roe at +home, to whom we recounted our adventure. He only laughed at our fears +that the Indians might track us thus far, and we finally listened to his +laughing remarks and concluded to rest in his cabin for several days. We +heaped folly upon folly; for instead of putting the house in a state of +defence, and preserving as much silence as possible we commenced trying +our skill by shooting at a mark. We continued this exercise through the +afternoon, partook of a hearty supper, chatted till bed-time, and then +retired. Ralph soon fell sound asleep, but I could not; I felt a +presentiment of approaching danger; still there were no visible signs of +it, yet I could not shake off a peculiar nervousness which agitated me. +I lay still for some time listening to the deep and regular breathing of +Ralph, and ever and anon as an owl screamed I would start, despite the +familiarity of the cry. Just as I turned in my bed, and was trying to +compose myself for sleep, I heard a cry very similar to the hoot of an +owl; still there was something about the sound which did not sound +right. My heart commenced beating rapidly and a sweat started from my +brow. I rose softly and looked through the chinks of the logs, but there +was nothing to be seen. I listened attentively for at least an hour; but +heard no sound to confirm my fears; and finally ashamed of my own +nervousness, I could not call it _cowardice_, I slipped into bed, +determined to sleep if possible. But soon I heard that same sound on the +still air. I rose, dressed myself, but still I could see no form like +that of an Indian. Just as I was on the point of abandoning my fears as +idle and childish, I cast my eyes through an aperture between the logs; +and saw the dusky forms of several Indians moving about the yard. I +sprang to the bedside and awoke Ralph, and in a few moments more, Roe, +Ralph and myself, stood with ready guns, waiting for a chance to shoot. +A shot passing through one of the savages, told the rest they were +discovered; and now a regular firing began. The Indians simultaneously +uttered a fiendish shout, such as no person can imagine who has not +heard the Indian war-scream; and then brandishing their tomahawks rushed +upon the house and began hewing at the door. In a moment we were all +down stairs, and our fire became so fatal they were forced to retire +several times; but with desperate courage they returned to the attack. I +never experienced the feeling of utter despair but once in my life; and +that was then. Roe came running down stairs (whither he had gone for +more ammunition) and with a face white from terror, informed us that the +ammunition was expended. Here we were, surrounded by a host of savages, +fastened in a small house, with nothing to defend ourselves, and the +helpless women and children under the roof. "Let us open the door, and +decide the contest hand to hand," said Ralph Watts. 'O! my family, my +wife and children,' groaned Daniel Roe, 'let us defend the house to the +last.' And with nerves strung like iron, and hearts swelled to +desperation, we waited in silence for the savages to hew their way +through the door. The work was soon over, the savages uttered one +deafening yell as the door gave way; and clubbing our guns we wielded +them with giant energy. The dark forms of the savages crowded the +door-way, their eyes glared madly at us, and their painted features +working into a hundred malignant and fiendish expressions, which, +together with their horrid yells, and the more heart-rending cries of +women and children, all formed a scene of the most harrowing +description. The battle was soon over. By some mishap I was hurled head +foremost out of the door; but so intent were the savages upon the battle +within, that they did not once notice me, as they rushed forward to the +scene of action. Seeing that all was lost, and that to remain would only +be throwing away my life uselessly, I sprang to my feet and slipping +around the corner of the house I made my way over the old +fortification[2] and soon left the noise far behind me. Much has been +written and said of grief, but how little do we know of its poignant +nature, till we suffer the loss of some dear friend. 'Tis when we behold +an object of deep affection lying passive and dead--but a thing of clay +unconscious of the pain it gives, that we feel _that_ sorrow, which +language is too feeble to express. I found it so, when upon returning to +the cabin a few hours afterward, I found the dead bodies of all my +friends mutilated and weltering in their blood. Around the body of poor +Ralph lay six Indians, with their skulls beat in; his gun furnishing +evidence, by its mutilated state, of the force with which he had used +it. My story is soon finished. As the tears streamed from my eyes, I +dug a grave where I deposited the remains of my friends, and after +placing a large stone above their resting-place, I departed, wishing +never to return to the spot again, and I never have." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] I lately came across this sketch in an old Magazine, bearing the +date of 1842, and thinking others might be as much interested by it as I +was myself, I transcribed it in an abridged form to the pages of this +volume. + +[2] Near the spot where the cabin stands are the remains of immense +works, but by whom and when built will forever remain hidden. + + + + +HAZEL-BROOK FARM. + + +Robert Ainslie, with his family, emigrated from Scotland about the year +of 1843, and settled upon a new farm in the backwoods, in the township +of R. in Eastern Canada. I can say but little regarding his early life, +but have been informed that he was the eldest of quite a large family of +sons and daughters; and also that he was a dutiful son as well as a kind +and affectionate brother. It seems that he married quite early in life, +and at that period he tended a small farm adjoining the one occupied by +his father. The utmost harmony existed between the two families, and +they lived in the daily interchange of those little offices of love and +kindness which render friends so dear to each other. Several years +glided by in this happy manner, but reverses at length came; and Robert +formed the plan of emigrating to America. But when he saw how much his +parents were grieved by the thought of his seeking a home on the other +side of the Atlantic, he forbore to talk further of the matter, and +decided to remain at home for another year at least. That year however +proved a very unfortunate one; his crops were scanty; and toward the +spring he met with some severe losses, by a distemper which broke out +among his farm stock. As the season advanced, he became so disheartened +by his gloomy prospects, that he decided to carry out his former plan of +emigrating to Canada; where he hoped by persevering industry to secure a +comfortable home for himself, and those dear to him. He had little +difficulty in persuading his wife to accompany him, as her parents, with +her two brothers and one sister, had emigrated some two years previous. +It was more difficult however for him to persuade his father and mother +that his decision was a wise one. "If ye maun leave us," said his +mother, "can ye no seek anither hame nearer han' an' no gang awa across +the water to yon' wild place they ca' Canada?" "We maun try to be +reasonable, woman," said his father, "but I canna deny that the thought +o' our first born son gaun sae far awa gie's me a sair heart." It was +equally hard for the son to bid farewell to the land of his birth, and +of a thousand endearing ties; but prudence whispered that now was his +time to go, while he had youth and health, to meet the hardships that +often fall to the lot of the emigrant. When his parents saw how much his +mind was set upon it they ceased to oppose his wishes, and with his wife +and children, he soon joined the large numbers who, at that period, were +leaving the British, for the Canadian shores. + +As may be readily supposed, the parting between the two families was a +very sad one; but the last adieus were finally exchanged, and the poor +emigrants were borne away on the billows of the Atlantic. During the +first few days of their voyage they all, with the exception of their +youngest child, suffered much from sea-sickness. This child was a little +girl about three years old; and it seemed singular to them, that she +should escape the sickness, from which nearly all the passengers +suffered, more or less. They soon recovered; the weather was fine, and +many of their fellow passengers were very agreeable companions, and they +began really to enjoy the voyage. But this happy state of things was but +of short duration. Their little girl, wee Susie, as they called her, was +seized with illness. They felt but little anxiety at the first, thinking +it but as light indisposition from which she would soon recover; but +when day after day passed away with no visible change for the better +they became alarmed, and summoned the physician, who pronounced her +disease a kind of slow fever, which he said often attacked those who +escaped the sea-sickness. He told the anxious parents not to be alarmed, +as he hoped soon to succeed in checking the disease. But with all the +physician's skill, aided by the unceasing attention of her fond parents, +the sad truth that wee Susie was to die soon became evident. When the +sorrowing parents became sensible that their child must die, they +prayed earnestly that her life might be prolonged till they should +reach the land. But for some wise reason their prayer was not granted; +and when their voyage was but little more than half accomplished she +died, and they were forced to consign her loved form to a watery grave. +The lovely prattling child had been a general favourite with all on +board, and her sudden death cast a gloom over the minds of all. Words +would fail me to describe the grief of the parents and the two +affectionate little brothers when they realised that "wee Susie" was +indeed gone, and that they could never enjoy even the melancholy +satisfaction of beholding her resting-place. Mr. Ainslie's domestic +affections were very strong, and to him the blow was terrible. He now +deeply regretted removing his family from their Scottish home, +entertaining the idea, that had they not undertaken this journey their +child might have been spared; and he wrote bitter things against himself +for the step he had taken. Deep as was the mother's grief, she was +forced to place a restraint upon it that she might comfort her almost +heart broken husband. Upon one occasion, in reply to some of his self +upbraidings, she said, "I think, Robert, you're owre hard on yoursel' +now, when ye tak the blame o' puir Susie's death; ye surely canna think +itherwise than the dear bairn's time had come; an' had we bided at hame +it would ha' been a' the same; for we dinna leeve an' dee by chance, and +the bounds o' our lives are set by Him who kens a' things." These +consoling words from his sympathising wife tended to lighten, in some +measure, the burden of sorrow which oppressed his heart. The weather +during the latter part of their voyage was stormy and uncomfortable, and +they were truly glad when they at length reached the Canadian port. At +the city of Montreal they parted with all those who had been their +fellow passengers, as all except themselves were bound for the Upper +Province, while they intended joining their friends in Lower Canada. + +In the days of which I am speaking the emigrants' journey from the city +of Montreal to the townships was toilsome in the extreme; and the same +journey, which is now accomplished in a few hours by railway, was then +the work of several days; and the only mode of conveyance for themselves +and their luggage, were the horse-carts hired for the occasion. But +their fatiguing journey was at length terminated; and they arrived +safely at the bush settlement in R., where the friends of Mrs. Ainslie +resided. That now thriving and prosperous settlement was then in its +infancy, and possessed but few external attractions to the newcomer; for +at the period when Mrs. Ainslie's parents settled there it was an +unbroken wilderness. It is needless for me to add that the wayworn +travellers met with a joyous welcome from the friends who had been long +anxiously looking for their arrival. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were overjoyed +to meet again their daughter, from whom they had been so long separated +by the deep roll of the ocean; and almost their first enquiry was for +the "wee lassie," who when they left Scotland was less than a twelve +month old. Mr. Ainslie was unable to reply, and looked toward his wife +as if beseeching her to answer to their enquiry. She understood the mute +appeal, and composing herself by a strong effort said: "My dear father +an' mither, a great grief has o'erta'en us sin' we left hame', an' our +hearts are wellnigh broken; we buried wee Susie in the caul waters o' +the ocean." She endeavoured to relate to them the particulars of the +child's death; but her feelings overcame her, and for some moments they +could only weep together. When Mr. Miller was able to command his voice +he said, "God is good, my children, an' overrules a' things for our +good, let us bow before him in prayer;" and when they rose from their +knees, they felt calmed and comforted, by the soothing influence of +prayer. With the two boys, Geordie and Willie, fatigue soon got the +better of their joy at meeting with their friends, and they were soon +enjoying the sound sleep of healthful childhood; but with the elder +members of the family, so much was there to hear and to tell that the +hour was very late when they separated to seek repose. Mr. Ainslie +decided upon purchasing a lot of land, lying some two miles north of the +farm occupied by Mr. Miller. Although it was covered with a dense +forest, its location pleased him, and the soil was excellent, and he +looked forward to the time when he might there provide a pleasant home. +They arrived at R. on the first of July. There were beside Mr. Miller +but three other families in the settlement; but they were all very kind +to the newly arrived strangers, and they assisted Mr. Ainslie in various +ways while he effected a small clearing upon his newly purchased farm. +They also lent him a willing hand in the erection of a small log house, +to which he removed his family in the fall; Mrs. Ainslie and the +children having remained with her parents during the summer; and kind as +their friends had been, they were truly glad when they found themselves +again settled in a home of their own, however humble. They were people +of devoted piety, and they did not neglect to erect the family altar the +first night they rested beneath the lowly roof of their forest home. I +could not, were I desirous of so doing, give a detailed account of the +trials and hardships they endured during the first few years of their +residence in the bush; but they doubtless experienced their share of the +privations and discouragements which fall to the lot of the first +settlers of a new section of country. The first winter they passed in +their new home was one of unusual severity for even the rigorous climate +of Eastern Canada, and poor Mrs. Ainslie often during that winter +regretted the willingness with which she bade adieu to her early home, +to take up her abode in the dreary wilderness. They found the winter +season very trying indeed, living as they did two miles from any +neighbour; and the only road to the dwelling of a neighbour was a +foot-track through the blazed trees, and the road such as it was, was +too seldom trodden during the deep snows of winter, to render the +footmarks discernible for any length of time. Their stores had all to be +purchased at the nearest village, which was distant some seven miles, +and Mr. Ainslie often found it very difficult to make his way through +the deep snows which blocked up the roads, and to endure the biting +frost and piercing winds on his journeys to and from the village. In +after years when they had learned to feel a deep interest in the growth +of the settlement, they often looked back with a smile to the +"homesickness" which oppressed their hearts, while struggling with the +first hardships of life in the bush. Mr. Ainslie and his family, +notwithstanding their many privations, enjoyed uninterrupted health +through the winter, and before the arrival of spring they already felt a +growing interest in their new home. Mrs. Ainslie regarded the labours of +the workmen with much attention during the winter, while they felled the +trees which had covered nearly ten acres of their farm. As each tree +fell to the ground it opened a wider space in the forest and afforded a +broader view of the blue sky. A stream of water, which in many places +would have been termed a river, but which there only bore the name of +Hazel-Brook, flowed near their dwelling, and as the spring advanced, the +belt of forest which concealed it from view having been felled, she +gained a view of its sparkling waters when the warm showers and genial +rays of the sun loosened them from their icy fetters; and she often +afterward remarked that the view of those clear waters was the first +thing which tended to reconcile her to a home in the forest. With the +coming of spring their "life in the woods," began in earnest. When the +earth was relieved of its snowy mantle, the fallen trunks of the trees, +with piles of brush-wood were scattered in every direction about their +dwelling. But the fallow was burned as soon as it was considered +sufficiently dry, the blackened logs were piled in heaps, and the ground +was prepared for its first crop of grain. The green blades soon sprang +up and covered the ground, where a short time before was only to be seen +the unsightly fallow or the remains of the partially consumed logs. + +It was a long time before Mr. and Mrs. Ainslie became reconciled to the +change in their circumstances, when they exchanged the comforts and +conveniences of their home beyond the sea, for the log cabin in the +wilderness. Cut off as they were from the privileges of society to which +they had been accustomed from childhood, they felt keenly the want of a +place of worship, with each returning Sabbath; and next to this, the +want of a school for their two boys; for taken as a people the Scotch +are intelligent; and we rarely meet with a Scotchman, even among the +poorer classes, who has not obtained a tolerable education. And the +careful parents felt much anxiety when they beheld their children +debarred from the advantages of education; but to remedy the want as +much as lay in their power, they devoted the greater part of what little +leisure time they could command to the instruction of their boys. They +had been regular attendants at their own parish church in the old +country; and very sensibly they felt the want, as Sabbath after Sabbath, +passed away, with no service to mark it from other days. "It just +seems," said Mr. Ainslie, "that sin' we cam' to America we ha'e nae +Sabbath ava." In order to meet the want in some measure, he proposed to +the few neighbours which there formed the settlement, that they should +assemble at one house, on each Sabbath afternoon, and listen to the +reading of a sermon by some one present. "I think it our duty," said he, +"to show our respect to the Sabbath-day by assembling ourselves +together, and uniting in worship to the best, o' our ability. I ha'e +among my books a collection o' sermons by different divines, an' I am +verra willin' to tak' my turn in the readin' o' ane, an' I'm sure you +should a' be agreeable to do the same." His proposal met with the hearty +approval of all his neighbours, and for some years each Sabbath +afternoon saw most of the neighbours collected together for the best +mode of worship within their reach. The bush settlements at this period +were much infected by bears, and they often proved very destructive to +the crop of the early settler, and also a cause of no little fear. I +believe the instances have been rare when a bear has been known to +attack a person, although it has happened in some cases; but the +immigrant has so often listened to exaggerated accounts regarding the +wild animals of America, that those who settle in a new section of +country find it difficult to get rid of their fears. On one occasion +when the Sabbath meeting met at Mr. Ainslie's house, Mrs. Ainslie urged +her mother to remain and partake of some refreshment before setting out +on her walk homeward. "Na, na'" replied the old lady, "I maun e'en gang +while I ha'e company, I dinna expec' to leeve muckle longer at ony rate, +but wouldna' like to be eaten by the bears;" and for several years the +one who ventured alone to the house of a neighbour after dark was looked +upon as possessing more courage than prudence. But although the settlers +often came across these animals, on the bush-road, I never heard of one +being attacked by them. An old man upon one occasion returning in the +evening from the house of a friends, and carrying in his hand a +torchlight composed of bark from the cedar tree, suddenly met a large +bear in the thick woods. Being asked if he was not frightened, he +replied, "Deed I think the bear was 'maist frightened o' the twa', for +he just stood up on his twa hind legs, and glowered at me for a wee +while till I waved the torch light toward him, when he gi' an awfu' +snort, and ran into the woods as fast's ever he was able, an' I cam awa' +hame no a bit the war, an' I think I'll never be sae' muckle feared +about bears again." But these early settlers certainly found these +animals very troublesome from their frequent depredations upon their +fields of grain, and they often spent a large portion of the night +watching for them, prepared to give them battle, but it was not often +they saw one on these occasions, for these animals are very cunning, and +seem at once to know when they are watched. It sometimes also happened +that during the early period of this settlement people lost their way in +the bush while going from one house to another. A woman once set out to +go to the house of a neighbour who lived about a mile distant. Supposing +herself on the right path she walked onward, till thinking the way +rather long she stopped and gazed earnestly around her, and became +terrified as she noticed that the trees and rocks, and every other +surrounding object had a strange unfamiliar look; and she knew at once +that she had taken a wrong path. + +Becoming much alarmed she endeavoured to retrace her steps, but after +walking a long time would often return to the spot from which she set +out. She left home about ten o'clock in the forenoon, and her friends, +alarmed at her long stay, called together some of their neighbours and +set out to look for her, knowing that she must have lost her way in the +forest. They continued their search through the afternoon, sounding +horns, hallooing, and calling her name, as they hurried through the +tangled underbrush, and other obstructions, and at sunset they returned +to procure torches with which to continue their search through the +night; her friends were almost beside themselves with terror, and all +the stories they had heard or read of people being devoured by wild +animals rushed across their minds. But just when they had collected +nearly every settler in the vicinity, and were preparing their torches +to continue the search, the woman arrived safely at home, with no +further injury than being thoroughly frightened, and very much fatigued. +She stated that she had walked constantly, from the time when she became +aware she was lost, and that she was so much bewildered that she at the +first did not know their own clearing, till some familiar object +attracted her attention. As the neighbours were going to their homes, +after the woman's return, they were, naturally enough, talking of the +matter, regarding it as a cause of deep thankfulness that no harm had +befallen her. Mr. G., one of the number, although a very kind hearted +man, had an odd dry manner of speaking which often provoked a laugh. It +so happened that the woman who was lost was very small, her stature +being much below the medium height. Laughter was far enough from the +mind of any one, till old Mr. G., who had not before made a remark, +suddenly said, "sic a wee body as you should never attemp' to gang awa' +her lane through the bush without a bell hanged aboot her neck to let +people ken where to find her in case she should gang off the richt +road." This was too much for the gravity of any one; and the stillness +of the summer night was broken by a burst of hearty laughter from the +whole company; and the old man made the matter little better, when the +laugh had subsided, by saying in a very grave manner, "well, after a' I +think it would be a verra wise-like precaution wi' sic a wee bit body as +her." Time passed on; other settlers located themselves in the vicinity, +and the settlement soon began to wear a prosperous appearance. As soon +as circumstances allowed, a school-house was erected, which, if rude to +structure, answered the purpose very well. For some time the school was +only kept open during the summer and autumn, as the long distance and +deep snows forbade the attendance of young children during the winter +season. They had as yet no public worship, except the Sabbath meetings +before mentioned, which were now held in the schoolhouse for the +greater convenience of the settlers. Mr. Ainslie was a man of much +industry; and although his home was for some years two miles from any +neighbour, it soon wore a pleasing appearance. The most pleasing feature +in the scene was the beautiful stream of water which ran near his +dwelling, and after which he named his farm. In five years from the time +when he first settled in the bush, he exchanged his rude log house for a +comfortable and convenient framed dwelling, with a well-kept garden in +front, and near his house were left standing some fine shade-trees which +added much to the beauty of the place. In process of time, the excellent +quality of the soil in that range of lots attracted others to locate +themselves in the vicinity; and Hazel-Brook farm soon formed the centre +of a fast growing neighbourhood. Two sons and another daughter had been +added to Mr. Ainslie's family during this time; and the birth of the +little girl was an occasion of much joy to all the family. They had +never forgotten "wee Susie," and all the love which they bore to her +memory was lavished upon this second daughter in the family. The elder +brothers were anxious to bestow the name of their lost favourite, upon +their infant sister, but the parents objected, having rather a dislike +to the practice, so common, of bestowing upon a child a name that had +belonged to the dead; and so the little girl was named Jennette, after +her grandmother, Mrs. Miller. About this time old Mr. Miller died. He +was an old man, "full of days," having seen nearly eighty years of life. +He had ever been a man of strong constitution and robust health, and his +last illness was very short; and from the first he was confident that he +should never recover. When he first addressed his family upon the +subject they were overwhelmed with grief. "Dinna greet for me," said he +in a calm and hopeful voice, "I ha'e already leeved ayont the period +allotted to the life o' man; I ha'e striven in my ain imperfect way to +do my duty in this life, an' I am thankfu' that I am able to say that I +dinna fear death; and I feel that when I dee I shall gang hame to the +house o' a mercifu' Father." So peaceful was his departure, that +although surrounded by his mourning friends, they were unable to tell +the exact moment of his death, like a wearied child that sleeps, he +quietly passed away. They had no burial ground in the settlement, and he +was laid to rest several miles from his home. His family, with the +exception of one son, had all married and removed to homes of their own +some time previous to his death; and to this son was assigned the happy +task of watching over the declining years of his widowed mother. Mr. +Miller, as a dying injunction, charged this son never to neglect his +mother in her old age, and most sacredly did he observe the dying wishes +of his father. Mrs. Miller was also of advanced age. For three years +longer she lingered, and was then laid to rest beside her departed +husband. + +Twenty years have passed away since we introduced Robert Ainsley with +his family to the reader. Let us pay a parting visit to Hazel-Brook farm +and note the changes which these twenty years have effected. The forest +has melted away before the hand of steady industry, and we pass by +cultivated fields on our way to the farm of Mr. Ainslie. The clearings +have extended till very few trees obstruct our view as we gaze over the +farms of the numerous settlers, which are now separated by fences +instead of forest trees. But the loveliest spot of all is Hazel-Brook +farm. The farm-house of Robert Ainslie, enlarged and remodelled +according to his increased means, is painted a pure white, and very +pleasant it looks to the eye, through the branches of the shade-trees +which nearly surround it. The clear waters of Hazel-Brook are as bright +and sparkling as ever. The banks near the dwelling are still fringed +with trees and various kinds of shrubs; but farther up the stream all +obstructions have been cleared away, and the sound of a saw-mill falls +upon the ear. Let us enter the dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Ainslie, although +now no longer young, evince by their cheerful countenance that they yet +retain both mental and bodily vigor. As yet their children all remain at +home, as the boys find ample employment upon the farm, and at the mill; +while Jennette assists her mother in the labours of the household. For +many years the setting sun has rested upon the gleaming spire of the +neat and substantial church erected by the settlers; and now upon the +Sabbath day, instead of listening to a sermon read by a neighbour, they +listen to the regular preaching of the gospel, and each one according to +his means contributes to the support of their minister. It was Mr. +Ainslie who first incited the settlers to exert themselves in the +erection of a suitable place for worship. Some of his neighbours at the +first were not inclined to favour the idea, thinking the neighbourhood +too poor for the undertaking. But he did not suffer himself to become +discouraged, and after considerable delay the frame of the building was +erected. When the building was once begun, they all seemed to work with +a will, and to the utmost of their ability. Those who were unable to +give money brought contributions of lumber, boards, shingles, &c., +besides giving their own labour freely to the work; and in a short time +the work had so far advanced that they were able to occupy the building +as a place of worship, although in an unfinished state. But the +contributions were continued year after year, till at length they were +privileged to worship in a church which they could call their own. Mr. +Ainslie was a man of talents and education, superior to most of the +early settlers in that section, and it was his counsel, administered in +a spirit of friendship and brotherly kindness, which worked many +improvements and effected many changes for the better as the years +rolled by. As we turn away with a parting glance at the pleasing scene, +we cannot help mentally saying,--surely the residents in this vicinity +owe much to Robert Ainslie for the interest he has ever taken in the +prosperity and improvements of the place, and long may both he and they +live to enjoy the fruit of their united labours. + + + + +OLD RUFUS. + + +The memory of Old Rufus is so closely connected with the days of my +childhood that I cannot refrain from indulging in a few recollections of +him. The name of Old Rufus was not applied to him from any want of +respect; but it was owing to his advanced age, and long residence in our +vicinity, that he received this appellation. His name was Rufus Dudley. +I remember him as an old man when I was a very young child; and his +residence in the neighbourhood dated back to a period many years +previous to the time of which I speak. He was born in the state of New +York, where he resided during the early portion of his life, and where +he married. His wife died before his removal to Canada. When he first +came to the Province he located himself in a town a few miles from the +Village of C., where he married a second time. When first he removed to +R, he was for some years employed in a saw-mill and earned a comfortable +support for his family. My knowledge of his early residence in R. is +indefinite, as he had lived there for many years previous to my +recollection, and all I know concerning the matter is what I have heard +spoken of at different times by my parents and other old residents of +the place. It would seem however that his second marriage was, for him, +very unfortunate, for to use his own words, "he never afterward had any +peace of his life." I have been informed that his wife was possessed of +a pleasing person and manners, but added to this she also possessed a +most dreadful temper; which when roused sometimes rendered her insane +for the time being; and finally some trouble arose between them which +ended in a separation for life. They had two grown-up daughters at the +time of their separation, who accompanied their mother to a town at +considerable distance from their former home. In a short time the +daughters married and removed to homes of their own. Their mother +removed to one of the Eastern States. She survived her husband for +several years, but she is now also dead. Soon after he became separated +from his family Old Rufus gave up the saw-mill and removed to a small +log house, upon a piece of land to which he possessed some kind of +claim, and from that time till his death, lived entirely alone. He +managed to cultivate a small portion of the land, which supplied him +with provisions, and he at times followed the trade of a cooper, to eke +out his slender means. His family troubles had broken his spirits, and +destroyed his ambition, and for years he lived a lonely dispirited man. +He was possessed of sound common sense and had also received a tolerable +education, to which was added a large stock of what might be properly +termed general information; and I have often since wondered how he could +have reconciled himself to the seemingly aimless and useless life which +he led for so many years. But in our intercourse with men, we often meet +with characters who are a sore puzzle to us; and old Rufus was one of +those. When quite young I have often laughed at a circumstance I have +heard related regarding the violent temper of his wife; but indeed it +was no laughing matter. It seems that in some instances she gave vent to +her anger by something more weighty than words. Old Rufus one day +entered the house of a neighbor with marks of blows on his face, and was +asked the cause. He never spoke of his wife's faults if he could avoid +it; but on this occasion he sat for a moment as though considering what +reply to make, and finally said: "O! there is not much the matter with +my face any way, only Polly and I had a little brush this morning." I +know not how serious the matter was, but Old Rufus certainly came off +second in the encounter. This aged man is so deeply connected with the +early scenes of my home life that I yet cherish a tender regard for his +memory; although the flowers of many summers have scattered their +blossoms, and the snows of many winters have descended upon his grave. +He was on familiar terms with almost every family in the neighbourhood, +and every one made him welcome to a place at their table, or a night's +lodging as the case might be; and I well remember the attention with +which I used to listen to his conversation during the long winter +evenings, when, as was often the case, he passed a night in our +dwelling. I recollect one time when the sight of Old Rufus was very +welcome to me. When about nine years of age, I accompanied my brothers +to the Sugar bush one afternoon in spring; and during a long continued +run of the sap from the maple trees it was often necessary to keep the +sugar kettles boiling through the night to prevent waste. On the +afternoon in question, my brothers intended remaining over night in the +bush, and I obtained permission to stay with them, thinking it would be +something funny to sleep in a shanty in the woods. The sugar-bush was +about two miles from our dwelling, and I was much elated by the prospect +of being allowed to assist in the labors of sugar-making. My brothers +laughingly remarked that I would probably have enough of the woods, and +be willing to return home when night came, but I thought otherwise. +During the afternoon I assisted in tending the huge fires, and the +singing of the birds, and the chippering of the squirrels as they hopped +in the branches of the tall trees, delighted me, and the hours passed +swiftly by, till the sun went down behind the trees and the shades of +evening began to gather about us. As the darkness increased, I began to +think the sugar-bush not the most desirable place in the world, in which +to pass the night, and all the stories I had ever heard of bears, +wolves, and other wild animals rushed across my mind, and filled me with +terror. I would have given the world, had it been at my disposal, to +have been safely at home; and it was only the dread of being laughed at, +which prevented me from begging my brothers to take me there. And when +darkness had entirely settled over the earth, and the night-owls set up +their discordant screams, my fears reached a climax. I had never before +listened to their hideous noise, and had not the slightest idea of what +it was. I had often heard old hunters speak of a wild animal, called the +catamount, which they allowed had been seen in the Canadian forests +during the early settlement of the country. I had heard this animal +described as being of large size, and possessing such strength and +agility, as enabled then to spring from the boughs of one tree to those +of another without touching the ground, and at such times their savage +cries were such as to fill the heart of the boldest hunter with terror. +I shall never forget the laugh which my grown-up brothers enjoyed at my +expense, when trembling with terror, I enquired if they thought a +catamount was not approaching among the tree-tops. "Do not be alarmed," +said they, "for the noises which frighten you so much proceeds from +nothing more formidable than owls." Their answer, however, did not +satisfy me, and I kept a sharp look-out among the branches of the +surrounding trees lest the dreaded monster should descend upon as +unawares. Old Rufus was boiling sap, half a mile from us, and it was a +joyful moment to me, when he suddenly approached us out of the darkness, +saying, "Well, boys, don't you want company? I have got my sap all +boiled in, and as I felt kinder lonesome, I thought I would come across, +and sleep by your shanty fire." The old man enquired why I seemed so +much terrified, and my brothers told him that I would persist in calling +a screech-owl, a catamount. Old Rufus did not often laugh, but he +laughed heartily on this occasion, and truly it was no wonder, and when +he corroborated what my brothers had already told me, I decided that +what he said must be true. His presence at once gave me a feeling of +protection and security, and creeping close to his side on the cedar +boughs which formed our bed, while the immense fire blazed in front of +our tent, I soon forgot my childish fears, in a sound sleep which +remained unbroken till the morning sun was shining brightly above the +trees. But it was long before I heard the last of the night I spent in +the bush; and as often as my brothers wished to tease me, they would +enquire if I had lately heard the cries of a catamount? Time passed on +till I grew up, and leaving the paternal home went forth, to make my own +way in the world. Old Rufus still resided in R. When a child I used to +fancy that he would never seem older than he had appeared since my +earliest recollection of him; but about the time I left home there was a +very observable change in his appearance. I noticed that his walk was +slow and feeble, and his form was bending beneath the weight of years, +and his hair was becoming white by the frosts of time. I occasionally +visited my parents, and during these visits I frequently met with my old +friend; and it was evident that he was fast failing, and was fast losing +his hold of life. He still resided alone, much against the wishes of his +neighbours, but his old habits still clung to him. I removed to a longer +distance and visited my early home less frequently. Returning to R., +after a longer absence than usual, I learned that the health of Old +Rufus had so much failed, that the neighbours, deeming it unsafe for him +to remain longer alone, at length persuaded him to remove to the house +of a neighbour, where each one contributed toward his support. His mind +had become weak as well as his body; indeed he had become almost a child +again, and it was but a short time that he required the kind attentions +which all his old neighbours bestowed upon him. I remained at home for +several weeks, and ere I left, I followed the remains of Old Rufus to +the grave. I have stood by many a grave of both kindred and stranger; +never before or since have I seen one laid in the grave without the +presence of some relative; but no one stood by his grave who bore to him +the least relationship. It was on a mild Sabbath afternoon in midsummer +that we laid him to rest in the burial ground of R.; and if none of his +kindred stood by to shed the tear of natural affection, there was many a +cheek wet with the tear of sensibility when the coffin was lowered to +its silent abode. I am unable to state his exact age, but I am certain +that it considerably exceeded eighty years; and from what I can +recollect of his life, I have a strong hope, that death opened to him a +blessed immortality beyond the grave. + + + + +THE DIAMOND RING. + + +"And has it indeed come to this," said Mrs. Harris, addressing her +daughter Ellen, "must I part with my mother's last gift to obtain +bread?" Mrs. Harris, as she spoke, held in her hand a costly diamond +ring, and the tears gathered in her eyes, as the rays of light falling +upon the brilliants caused them to glow like liquid fire. This costly +ornament would have struck the beholder as strangely out of place in the +possession of this poor widow, in that scantily furnished room; but a +few words regarding the past history of Mrs. Harris and her daughter +will explain their present circumstances. Mrs. Harris was born and +educated in England, and when quite young was employed as governess in a +gentleman's family. Circumstances at length caused the family with whom +she resided to cross the Atlantic and take up their abode in the ancient +city of Quebec. The young governess had no remaining ties to bind her to +England. Her parents had been dead for many years; she had no sisters, +and her only brother, soon after the death of their parents, went to +seek his fortune in the gold regions of California. Some years had +passed since she heard any tidings from him, and she feared he was no +longer among the living, and when the family with whom she had so long +resided left England for America, they persuaded her to accompany them. +In process of time she was married to a wealthy merchant, and removed to +Western Canada. Their union was a very happy one, and for some years, +they lived in the enjoyment of worldly prosperity and happiness. But it +often happens that sad and unlooked-for reverses succeed a season of +long continued prosperity; and it was so in this case. I am not aware +that Mr. Harris's failure in business was brought about through any +imprudence on his part; but was owing to severe and unexpected losses. +He had entered into various speculations, which bid fair to prove +profitable, but which proved a complete failure, and one stroke of ill +fortune followed another in rapid succession, till the day of utter ruin +came. He gave up every thing; even his house and furniture was +sacrificed to meet the clamorous demands of his hard-hearted creditors; +and his family was thus suddenly reduced from a state of ease and +affluence to absolute poverty. Mr. Harris possessed a very proud spirit, +and his nature was sensitive, and he could not endure the humiliation of +remaining where they had formerly been so happy. He knew the world +sufficiently well to be aware that they would now meet with coldness and +neglect even from those who had formerly been proud of their notice, +and shrank from the trial, and with the small amount he had been able to +secure out of the general wreck, he removed to the city of Toronto, some +three hundred miles from their former home. They had but little money +remaining when they reached the city, and Mr. Harris felt the necessity +of at once seeking some employment, for a stranger destitute of money in +a large city is in no enviable position. For some time he was +unsuccessful in every application he made for employment, and he was +glad at length to accept the situation of copyist in a Lawyer's Office, +till something better might offer. His salary barely sufficed for their +support, yet they were thankful even for that. His constitution had +never been robust, and the anxiety of mind under which he labored told +severely upon his health. He exerted himself to the utmost, but his +health failed rapidly; he was soon obliged to give up work, and in a +little more than a year from the time of their removal to Toronto, he +died, leaving his wife and daughter friendless and destitute. Their +situation was extremely sad, when thus left alone; they had made no +acquaintances during the year they had resided in the city, and had no +friend to whom they could apply for aid; after paying her husband's +funeral expenses, Mrs. Harris found herself well-nigh destitute of +money, and she felt the urgent necessity of exerting herself to obtain +employment by which they at least might earn a subsistence. The widow +and her daughter found much difficulty at first in obtaining employment. +Some to whom they applied had no work; others did not give out work to +strangers; and for several days Mrs. Harris returned weary and +desponding to her home, after spending a large portion of the day in the +disagreable task of seeking employment from strangers; but after a time +she succeeded in obtaining employment, and as their work proved +satisfactory they had soon an ample supply; but just when their +prospects were beginning to brighten Mrs. Harris was visited by a severe +illness. They had been able to lay by a small sum previous to her +illness, and it was well they had done so, for during her sickness she +required almost the constant attention of her daughter, which deprived +them of any means of support; but after several weeks of severe illness +she began slowly to recover, and this brings us to the time where our +story opens. The ring which Mrs. Harris held in her hand, had been for +many, many years an heir-loom in the English family to which she +belonged. To her it was the dying gift of her mother, and the thoughts +of parting with it cost her a bitter pang. But she had no friends to +whom she might apply for aid; and to a refined and sensitive nature, +almost anything else is preferable to seeking charity from strangers. +The ring was the only article of value which she retained, and sore as +was the trial, she saw no other way of meeting their present wants, +than by disposing of this her only relic of former affluence and +happiness; and she trusted, that by the time the money which the sale of +the ring would bring should be expended, they would be again able to +resume their employment. With a heavy heart Ellen Harris set out to +dispose of this cherished memento. She remembered an extensive jewelry +shop, which she had often passed, as she carried home parcels of work, +and thither she made her way. The shop-keeper was an elderly man with +daughters of his own, and he had so often noticed this pale sad-looking +young girl as she passed his window, that he recognized her countenance +the moment she entered the shop; and when in a low timid voice she +enquired if he would purchase the ring, he was satisfied that he was +correct in his former conjecture, that she belonged to a family of +former wealth and respectability. But young as she was there was a +certain reserve and dignity in her manner, which forbade any questions +on his part. The man had for many years carried on a lucrative business +in his line, and he was now wealthy; and knowing that he could afford to +wait till the ring should find a purchaser he had no fears of losing +money on so valuable an article; and, as is not often the case in such +transactions, he paid her a fair price for the ring, although less than +its real value. Ellen returned, much elated by her success; the money +she had received for the ring seemed to them in their present +circumstances a small fortune. "Little did once I think" said the widow, +as she carefully counted the bank-notes, "that a few paltry pounds would +ever seem of so much value to me; but perhaps it is well that we should +sometimes experience the want of money, that we may learn how to make a +proper use of it, and be more helpful to those less favoured than +ourselves." The money they obtained more than sufficed for their +support, till Mrs. Harris so far recovered, as to allow them again to +resume their employment. They now had no difficulty in obtaining work, +and although obliged to toil early and late, they became cheerful and +contented; although they could not but feel the change in their +circumstances, and often contrast the happy past, with their present lot +of labor and toil. + +The shopkeeper burnished up the setting of the diamonds and placed the +ring among many others in the show-case upon his counter. But so +expensive an ornament as this does not always find a ready purchaser, +and for some months it remained unsold. One afternoon a gentleman +entered the shop to make some trifling purchase, and, as the shopkeeper +happened to be engaged with a customer, he remained standing at the +counter, till he should be at leisure, and his eye wandered carelessly +over the articles in the show-case. Suddenly he started, changed +countenance, and when the shopkeeper came forward to attend to him he +said in a voice of suppressed eagerness, "will you allow me to examine +that ring," pointing as he spoke to the diamond ring sold by Ellen +Harris. "Certainly Sir, certainly," said the obliging shop-keeper, who, +hoping that the ring had at last found a purchaser, immediately placed +it in his hand for inspection. The gentleman turned the ring in his +hand, and carefully examined the sparking diamonds as well as the +antique setting: and when he observed the initials, engraved upon the +inside, he grew pale as marble, and hurriedly addressed the astonished +shopkeeper saying, "In the name of pity, tell me where you obtained this +ring?" "I am very willing to inform you," said the man "how this ring +came into my possession. Several months ago a young girl, of very +delicate and lady-like appearance, brought this ring here and desired me +to purchase it. She seemed very anxious to dispose of the ornament, and, +thinking I could easily sell it again, I paid her a fair price and took +the ring, and that is all I can tell you about the matter." "You do not +know the lady's name?" said the gentleman anxiously. "I do not," replied +the man, "but I have frequently seen her pass in the street. The +circumstance of her selling me this valuable ring caused me to notice +her particularly, and I recognised her countenance ever after." "Name +your price for the ring," said the gentleman,--"I must purchase it at any +price; and the next thing, I must, if possible, find the lady who +brought it here, I have seen this ring before, and that is all I wish +to say of the matter at present; but is there no way in which you can +assist me in obtaining an interview with this young lady?" "I have no +knowledge of her name or residence; but if you were in my shop when she +chanced to pass here I could easily point her out to you in the street." +"You may think my conduct somewhat strange," said the gentleman, "but +believe me my reasons for seeking an interview with this young lady are +most important, and if you can point her out to me in the street I will +endeavour to learn her residence, as that will be something gained." +Before the gentleman left the shop he paid for the ring, and placed it +in his pocket. For several days, he frequented the shop of the jeweller +with the hope of gaining a view of the lady. At length one morning the +shop-keeper suddenly directed his attention to a lady passing in the +street, saying, "there, Sir, is the young lady from whom I purchased the +ring." He waited to hear no more, but, stepping hastily into the street, +followed the lady at a respectful distance; but never losing sight of +her for a moment till she entered her home two streets distant from the +shop of the jeweller. He approached the door and rang the bell; The door +was opened by the same young lady, whose manner exhibited not a little +embarrassment, when she beheld a total stranger; and he began to feel +himself in an awkward position. He was at a loss how to address her +till, recollecting that he must explain his visit in some way, he said: +"Pardon the intrusion of a stranger; but, by your permission, I would +like to enter the house, and have a word of conversation with you." The +young girl regarded the man earnestly for a moment; but his manner was +so gentlemanly and deferential that she could do no less than invite him +to enter the little sitting-room where her mother was at work, and ask +him to be seated. He bowed to Mrs. Harris on entering the room, then +seating himself he addressed the young lady saying. "The peculiar +circumstances in which I am placed must serve as my apology for asking +you a question which you may consider impertinent. Are you the young +lady who, some months since, sold a diamond ring to a jeweller on +Grafton street?" Mrs. Harris raised her eyes to the stranger's face; and +the proud English blood which flowed in her veins mantled her cheek as +she replied, "Before I permit my daughter to answer the questions of a +stranger, you will be so kind as explain your right to question." The +stranger sprang from his seat at the sound of her voice, and exclaimed +in a voice tremulous from emotion, "don't you know me Elisa, I am your +long lost brother George." The reader will, doubtless, be better able to +imagine the scene which followed than I am to describe it. Everything +was soon explained, many letters had been sent which never reached their +destination; he knew not that his sister had left England, and after +writing again and again and receiving no reply, he ceased altogether +from writing. During the first years of his sojourn in California, he +was unfortunate, and was several times brought to the brink of the grave +by sickness. After a time fortune smiled upon his efforts, till he at +length grew immensely rich, and finally left the burning skies of +California to return to England. He landed at New York and intended, +after visiting the Canadas, to sail for England. The brother and sister +had parted in their early youth, and it is no wonder that they failed to +recognise each other when each had passed middle age. The brother was +most changed of the two. His complexion had grown very dark, and he had +such a foreign look that, when convinced of the fact, Mrs. Harris could +hardly believe him to be one and the same with the stripling brother +from whom she parted in England so many years ago. He was, of course, +not aware of his sister's marriage, and he listened with sorrow to the +story of her bereavement and other misfortune. "You must now place a +double value upon our family ring," said he, as he replaced the lost +treasure upon his sister's hand; "for it is this diamond ring which has +restored to each other the brother and sister which otherwise might +never have met again on earth. And now both you and your daughter most +prepare for a voyage to dear old England. You need have no anxiety for +the future; I have enough for us all and you shall want no more." Before +leaving the City, accompanied by her brother, Mrs. Harris visited the +grave of her husband; and the generous brother attended to the erection +of a suitable tomb-stone, as the widow had before been unable to meet +the expenses of it. Passing through the Upper Province they reached +Montreal, whence they sailed for England. After a prosperous voyage they +found themselves amid the familiar scenes of their childhood, where they +still live in the enjoyment of as much happiness as usually falls to the +lot of mortals. + + + + +THE UNFORTUNATE MAN. + + +On a sultry afternoon in midsummer I was walking on a lonely, +unfrequented road in the Township of S. My mind was busily occupied, and +I paid little attention to surrounding objects till a hollow, unnatural +voice addressed me saying: "Look up my friend, and behold the +unfortunate man." I raised my eyes suddenly, and, verily, the appearance +of the being before me justified his self-bestowed appellation--the +unfortunate man. I will do my best to describe him, although I am +satisfied that my description will fall far short of the reality. He was +uncommonly tall, and one thing which added much to the oddity of his +appearance was the inequality of length in his legs, one being shorter +by several inches than the other, and, to make up for the deficiency, he +wore on the short leg a boot with a very high heel. He seemed to be past +middle age, his complexion was sallow and unhealthy, he was squint-eyed, +and his hair, which had once been of a reddish hue, was then a grizzly +gray. Taken all together he was a strange looking object, and I soon +perceived that his mind wandered. At first I felt inclined to hurry +onward as quickly as possible, but, as he seemed harmless and inclined +to talk to me, I lingered for a few moments to listen to him. "I do not +wonder," said he, "that you look upon me with pity, for it is a sad +thing for one to be crazy." Surprised to find him so sensible of his own +situation, I said: As you seem so well aware that you are crazy, perhaps +you can inform me what caused you to become so. "Oh yes," replied he, "I +can soon tell you that: first my father died, then my mother, and soon +after my only sister hung herself to the limb of a tree with a skein of +worsted yarn; and last, and worst of all, my wife, Dorcas Jane, drowned +herself in Otter Creek." Wondering if there was any truth in this +horrible story, or if it was only the creation of his own diseased mind, +I said, merely to see what he would say next, "What caused your wife to +drown herself; was she crazy too?" "Oh, no," replied he, "she was not +crazy, but she was worse than that; for she was jealous of me, although +I am sure she had no cause." The idea of any one being jealous of the +being before me was so ridiculous that it was with the utmost difficulty +that I refrained from laughter; but, fearing to offend the crazy man, I +maintained my gravity by a strong effort. When he had finished the story +of his misfortunes, he came close to me and said, in slow measured +tones: "And now do you think it any wonder that I went raving distracted +crazy?" "Indeed I do not," said I; "many a one has gone crazy for less +cause." Thinking he might be hungry, I told him I would direct him to a +farm-house, where he would be sure to obtain his supper. "No," replied +he, "this is not one of my hungry days; I find so many who will give me +nothing to eat that when I get the offer of a meal I always eat whether +I am hungry or not, and I have been in luck to-day, for I have eaten +five meals since morning; and now I must lose no more time, for I have +important business with the Governor of Canada and must reach Quebec +to-morrow." I regarded the poor crazy being with a feeling of pity, as +he walked wearily onward, and even the high-heeled boot did not conceal +a painful limp in his gait. But I had not seen the last of him yet. Some +six months after, as I was visiting a friend who lived several miles +distant, who should walk in, about eight o'clock in the evening, but the +"unfortunate man." There had been a slight shower of rain, but not +enough to account for the drenched state of his clothing. "How did you +get so wet?" enquired Mr. ---- "O," replied he, "I was crossing a brook +upon a log, and I slipped off into the water; and it rained on me at the +same time, and between the two, I got a pretty smart ducking." They +brought him some dry clothing, and dried his wet garments by the kitchen +fire, and kindly allowed him to remain for the night. For several years, +this man passed through S. as often as two or three times during each +year. He became so well known in the vicinity, that any one freely gave +him a meal, or a night's lodging as often as he sought it. Every time he +came along his mind was occupied by some new fancy, which seemed to him +to be of the utmost importance, and to require prompt attention. He +arrived in S. one bitter cold night in the depth of winter, and remained +for the night with a family who had ever treated him kindly, and with +whom he had often lodged before. He set out early the next morning to +proceed (as he said) on his way to Nova Scotia. Years have passed away, +but the "unfortunate man" has never since been seen in the vicinity. It +was feared by some that he had perished in the snow; as there were some +very severe storms soon after he left S; but nothing was ever learned to +confirm the suspicion. According to his own statement he belonged to the +state of Vermont, but, from his speech, he was evidently not an +American. Several years have passed away since his last visit to S. and +it is more than probable that he is no longer among the living. + + + + +THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE. + + +I lately visited the timeworn building where for a lengthened period, +during my early years, I studied the rudiments of education; and what a +host of almost forgotten memories of the past came thronging back upon +my mind, as I stood alone--in that well remembered room. I seemed again +to hear the hum of youthful voices as they learned or recited their +daily tasks, and, as memory recalled the years that had passed since we +used there to assemble, I could not avoid saying mentally: "My +schoolmates, where are they?" Even that thought called to mind an +amusing story related by a much loved companion who for a time formed +one of our number. + +He was older than most of the other boys, and was a general favourite +with all. He was famous for relating funny stories, of which he had a +never-failing supply; and when the day was too stormy to allow of +out-of-door sports, during the noon hour, we used to gather around the +large stove which stood in the centre of the room and coax H.M. to tell +us stories. The story which recurred to my mind was of a poor Irishman, +who, in describing a visit which he paid to the home of his childhood +after a long absence, said: "At the sober hour of twilight, I entered +the lonely and desarted home uv me forefathers, an' as I gazed about the +silent walls, I said, 'me fathers, where are they?' an' did not echo +answer, 'Is that you Pathrick O'Flannigan, sure?'" + +I was in no mood for laughter, and yet I could not repress a smile, as +memory recalled the comical voice and inimitable gestures with which +young H.M. related the story. He was beloved by us all, and when he left +school we parted from him with real sorrow. As I walked around, and +looked upon the worn and defaced desks, I observed the initials of many +once familiar names, which many years before had been formed with a +knife, which were not so much obliterated but I could easily decipher +the well known letters. That desk in the corner was occupied by two +brothers who when they grew up removed to one of the Eastern States, +where they enlisted as soldiers in the war between the North and South. +One of the brothers received his death-wound on the battlefield. In a +foreign hospital he lingered in much suffering for a brief period, when +he died and was buried, far from his home and kindred. The younger +brother was naturally of a tender constitution and was unable to endure +the hardships and privations of a soldier's life. His health failed him, +and he returned to his friends, who had left their Canadian home, and +removed to the State of Massachusetts; but all that the most skilful +physicians could do, aided by the most watchful care of his tender +mother, failed to check the ravages of disease. Consumption had marked +him for its prey, and he died a few months after leaving the army; and, +as his friends wept on his grave, they could see with their mind's eye +another nameless grave in a far-away Southern State, where slept the +other son and brother. The desk on my left hand was occupied by a youth, +who has been for many years toiling for gold in California; and I have +learned that he has grown very rich. I often wonder if, in his eager +pursuit after riches, in that far-off clime, he ever thinks of the +little brown school-house by the butternut trees, and of the smiling +eager group who used daily to meet there. One large family of brothers +and sisters, who attended this school for several years, afterward +removed, with their parents, to one of the Western States, and years +have passed away since I heard of them; but along with many others they +were recalled to mind by my visit to the old School-House. + +On the opposite side of the room is the range of desks which were +occupied by the girls, and I could almost fancy that I again saw the +same lively, restless group who filled those desks in the days of +long-ago. Again I saw the bright smile which was often hidden from the +searching eye of our teacher, behind the covers of the well-worn +spelling-book, again I saw the mischievous glances, and heard the +smothered laughter when the attention of the teacher was required in +some other part of the room. But these happy, careless days of childhood +are gone never to return. Were I inclined, I could trace the +after-history of most of the companions whom I used daily to meet in +this school-room. With many of them "life's history" is done, and they +sleep peacefully in the grave. Others have gone forth to the duties of +life; some far distant, others near their paternal homes. Many of the +number have been successful in life, and prospered in their +undertakings, while others have met with disappointment and misfortune. +It seemed somewhat singular to me that, as I stood alone in that room +(after the lapse of so many years), I could recollect, by name, each +companion I used to meet there; yet so it was, and it seemed but as +yesterday since we used daily to assemble there; and when I reflected +for a moment on the many changes to which I have been subjected since +that period I could hardly realize that I was one and the same. I +lingered long at the old School-House, for I expected never to behold it +again, having been informed that it was shortly to give place to a +building of a larger size, and of more modern structure. + + + + +ARTHUR SINCLAIR. + + +For several hours we had endured the jolting of the lumbering +stage-coach over a rough hilly road which led through a portion of the +State of New Hampshire; and, as the darkness of night gathered around +us, I, as well as my fellow-travellers, began to manifest impatience to +arrive at our stopping-place for the night; and we felt strongly +inclined to find fault with the slow motion of the tired horses, which +drew the heavily-loaded vehicle. Thinking it as well to know the worst +at once, I asked the driver "what time we might expect to reach our +destination for the night?" "It will be midnight at the least, perhaps +later," replied he. This news was not very cheering to the weary +travellers who filled the coach; and I almost regretted having asked the +question. The roughness of the roads, together with the crowded state of +the vehicle, made it impossible for any one to sleep, and it became an +important question how we should pass away the tedious hours. A +proposition was at length made, that some one of the passengers should +relate a story for the entertainment of the others. This proposal met +with the hearty approval of all, as a means of making our toilsome +journey seem shorter; and the question of who should relate the story +was very soon agitated. There was among the passengers one old gentleman +of a very pleasant and venerable appearance, and judging from his +countenance that he possessed intelligence, as well as experience, we +respectfully invited him to relate a story for our entertainment. "I am +not at all skilled in story-telling," replied the old gentleman, "but, +as a means of passing away the tedious hours of the uncomfortable ride, +I will relate some circumstances which took place many years since, and +which also have a connection with my present journey, although the +narrative may not possess much interest for uninterested strangers." We +all placed ourselves in a listening attitude, and the old man began as +follows: "I was born in the town of Littleton in this state, and when a +boy, I had one schoolmate, whom I could have loved no better had he been +a brother. His name was Arthur Sinclair. And the affectionate intimacy +which existed between us for many years, is yet, to me, a green spot in +the waste of memory. I was about twelve years of age, when Arthur's +parents came to reside in Littleton. That now large and thriving village +then contained but a few houses, and when the Sinclairs became our +neighbours, we soon formed a very pleasing acquaintance. I was an only +child, and had never been much given to making companions of the +neighbouring boys of my own age; but from the first, I felt strongly +attracted toward Arthur Sinclair. He was two years younger than myself. +At the time when I first met him, he was the most perfect specimen of +childish beauty I ever saw, and added to this he possessed a most +winning and affectionate disposition, and in a short time we became +almost inseparable companions. My nature was distant and reserved, but +if once I made a friend, my affection for him was deep and abiding. We +occupied the same desk in the village school, and often conned our daily +lessons from the same book, and out of school hours, shared the same +sports; and I remember once hearing our teacher laughingly remark to my +parents, that he believed, should he find it necessary to correct one of +us, the other would beg to share the punishment. Notwithstanding the +strong friendship between us, our dispositions were very unlike. From a +child I was prone to fits of depression, while Arthur on the other hand +possessed such a never failing flow of animal spirits, as rendered him +at all times a very agreeable companion; and it may be that the +dissimilarity of our natures attracted us all the more strongly to each +other; be that as it may the same close intimacy subsisted between us +till we reached the years of early manhood. The only fault I could ever +see in Arthur was that of being too easily persuaded by others, without +pausing to think for himself; and being the elder of the two, and of a +reflective cast of mind, as we grew up, I often had misgivings for him +when he should go forth from his home, and mingle with the world at +large. The intimacy between us allowed me to speak freely to him, and I +after reminded him of the necessity of watchfulness and consideration, +when he should go forth alone to make his way in a selfish and unfeeling +world. + +"He used to make light of what he termed my "croaking" and say I need +have no fears for him; and I believe he spoke from the sincerity of his +good intentions; he thought all others as sincere and open-hearted as +himself, and happy had it been for him if he had found them so. Arthur +received a very good business education, and when he reached the age of +twenty-one, obtained the situation of book-keeper in an extensive +mercantile house in the city of Boston. There was a young girl in our +village to whom Arthur had been fondly attached since the days of his +boyhood, and I need scarcely say the attachment was reciprocal, and that +before he left home he placed the engagement ring upon her finger, +naming no very distant period when he hoped to replace it by the wedding +ring. Belinda Merril was worthy in every way of his affection, and loved +him with all the sincerity of a pure and guileless heart. I almost +wonder that the shadows which were even then gathering in what to them +had ever been a summer sky, did not cast a chill over her heart. In due +time Arthur went to the city. I could not help my fears, lest his +pleasing manners and love of company should attract to him those who +would lead him into evil; but I strove to banish them, and hope for the +best. Our pastor, an old man, who had known Arthur from his childhood, +called upon him, previous to his departure from home, and without +wearying him with a long list of rules and regulations regarding his +future conduct, spoke to him as friend speaks to friend, and in a +judicious manner administered some very good advice to the youth, who +was almost as dear to him as his own son. The young man listened +attentively to the words of his faithful friend and sincerely thanked +him for the advice which he well knew was prompted by affection. During +the first year of his residence in the city, we wrote very frequently to +each other, and the tone of his letters indicated the same pure +principles which had ever governed his actions. Time passed on, and +by-and-bye, I could not fail to notice the change in the style of his +letters. He spoke much of the many agreeable acquaintances he had +formed, and of the amusements of the city, and was warm in his +commendations of the Theatre. My heart often misgave me as I perused his +letters, and I mentally wondered where all this was to end? After a two +years' absence, he returned to spend a few weeks at home in Littleton, +but he seemed so unlike my former friend, that I could hardly feel at +ease in his society. He never once alluded to any incidents of our +school days, as he used formerly so frequently to do, and objects of +former interest possessed none for him now. He called Littleton a +"terribly stupid place," and seemed anxiously to look forward to his +return to Boston. "Surely," said I to him one evening as we were engaged +in conversation, "Littleton must still contain one attraction for you +yet." He appeared not to comprehend my meaning, but I well knew his +ignorance was only feigned. But when he saw that I was not to be put off +in that way, he said with a tone of assumed indifference, "O! if it is +Belinda Merril you are talking about, I have to say that she is no +longer an object of interest to me." "Is it possible, Arthur," said I, +"that you mean what you say; surely an absence of two years has not +caused you to forget the love you have borne Miss Merril from childhood. +I am very much surprised to hear you speak in this manner." A flush of +anger, at my plain reply, rose to his cheek, and he answered in a tone +of displeasure: "I may as well tell you first as last, my ideas have +undergone a change. I did once think I loved Belinda Merril, but that +was before I had seen the world, and now the idea to me is absurd of +introducing this awkward country girl as my wife among my acquaintances +in the city of Boston. I once had a sort of liking for the girl, but I +care no longer for her, and the sooner I break with her the better, and +I guess she won't break her heart about me." "I hope not indeed," I +replied, "but I must be allowed to say that I consider your conduct +unmanly and dishonourable, and I would advise you, before proceeding +further, to pause and reflect whether it is really your heart which +dictates your actions, or only a foolish fancy." Knowing how deeply Miss +Merril was attached to Arthur, I hoped he would reconsider the matter, +and I said as much to him; but all I could say was of no avail, and that +very evening he called and, requesting an interview with his betrothed, +informed her that, as his sentiments toward her had changed, he presumed +she would be willing to release him from their former engagement. +Instantly Miss Merril drew from her finger the ring he had placed there +two years before, and said, as she placed it in his hand, "I have long +been sensible of the change in your sentiments, and am truly glad that +you have at last spoken plainly. From this hour you may consider +yourself entirely free, and you have my best wishes for your future +happiness and prosperity," and, bidding him a kind good-evening, the +young lady left the apartment. Her spirit was deeply wounded, but she +possessed too much good sense to be utterly cast down for the +wrong-doing of another. Whatever were Arthur's feelings after he had +taken this step, he spoke of them to no one. I never again mentioned the +subject to him, but, knowing him as I did, I could see that he was far +from being satisfied with his own conduct, and he departed for the city +some weeks sooner than he had at first intended. Owing to the friendly +feeling I had ever cherished for him, I could not help a feeling of +anxiety after his departure, for I feared that all was not right with +him. He did not entirely cease from writing to me; but his letters were +not frequent, and they were very brief and formal--very unlike the +former brotherly communications which used to pass between us. A year +passed away. I obtained a situation nearly a hundred miles from home. I +had heard nothing from Arthur for a long time, and, amid my own cares, +he recurred to my mind with less frequency than formerly; yet often +after the business of the day was over, and my mind was at leisure, +memory would recall Arthur Sinclair to my mind with a pained sort of +interest. About six months after I left home I was surprised by +receiving from Mr. Sinclair a hastily written letter, requesting me, if +possible, to lose no time in hastening to Littleton, stating also that +he was obliged to take a journey to Boston on business which vitally +concerned Arthur, and he wished me to accompany him. He closed by +requesting me to mention the letter I had received from him to no one, +saying that he knew me and my regard for Arthur sufficiently well to +trust me in the matter. My fears were instantly alive for Arthur, and I +feared that some misfortune to him was hidden behind this veil of +secresy; and I soon found that my fears were well founded. I set out at +once for Littleton, and upon arriving there, I proceeded directly to the +residence of Mr. Sinclair. When he met me at the door I was struck by +the change in his countenance; he appeared as if ten years had been +added to his age since I last saw him, six months ago. He waited not for +me to make any inquiries, but, motioning me into a private apartment, he +closed the door, and, seating himself by my side, said in a hoarse +voice: "I may as well tell you the worst at once: my son, and also your +once dear friend, Arthur, is a thief, and, but for the lenity and +consideration of his employer, before this time would have been lodged +within the walls of a prison." I made no reply, but gazed upon him in +silent astonishment and horror. When he became more composed, he +informed me that he had lately received a letter from Mr. Worthing +(Arthur's employer) informing him that he had detected Arthur in the +crime of stealing money from the safe, to quite a large amount. In +giving the particulars of the unfortunate circumstance, he further +stated, for some time past he had missed different sums of money, but +was unable to attach suspicion to any one; "and, although," said he, "I +have been for some time fearful that your son was associating with evil +companions, I never once dreamed that he would be guilty of the crime of +stealing, till I lately missed bank-notes from the safe, to quite a +large amount, having upon them some peculiar marks which rendered them +easy to be identified. For some time the disappearance of those notes +was a mystery, and I was beginning to despair of detecting the guilty +one, when I obtained proof positive that your unfortunate son parted +with those identical notes in a noted gambling saloon in the city; and, +as I have also learned that he has spent money freely of late, I have no +longer any doubt that it is he who has stolen the other sums I have +lost. Out of regard to you and your family I have kept the matter +perfectly quiet; indeed, I never informed the parties who told me of his +losing the notes at the gaming-table that there was anything wrong about +it. I have not mentioned the matter to your son, and shall not do so +till I see or hear from you. I presume you will be willing to make good +to me the money I have lost. Of course I cannot much longer retain your +son in my employ, but he _must_ not be utterly ruined by this affair +being made public. I would advise you to come at once to Boston, and we +will arrange matters in the best possible manner, and no one but +ourselves need know anything of the sad affair; let him return with you +for a time to his home, and I trust the lesson will not be lost upon +him. When he first came to the city, I am positive that he was an +honourable and pure-minded young man, but evil companions have led him +astray, and we must try and save him from ruin." + +"I had never seen Mr. Worthing, but I at once felt much respect for him, +for the lenity and discretion he had shown in the matter. To no one but +his own family and myself did Mr. Sinclair reveal the contents of that +letter; but the very evening after my arrival in Littleton we set out on +our journey to Boston, and, upon arriving there, we proceeded at once to +the residence of Mr. Worthing, where we learned all the particulars of +Arthur's guilt. Mr. Worthing stated that he had ever entertained a very +high opinion of Arthur, and, when he missed various sums of money in a +most unaccountable manner, he never thought of fixing suspicion upon +him, till circumstances came to his knowledge which left no room for +doubt; but, owing to the high regard he entertained for his parents, +with whom he had (years since) been intimately acquainted, he said +nothing to the young man of the proofs of his dishonesty, which had come +to his knowledge, and still retained him in his employ till he could +communicate with his father, that they together might devise some means +of preventing the affair from becoming public. After Mr. Sinclair had +listened to the plain statement of the affair by Mr. Worthing, he +requested him as nearly as possible to give him an estimate of the +amount of money he had lost. He did so, and Mr. Sinclair immediately +placed an equivalent sum in his hands, saying: "I am glad to be able so +far to undo the wrong of which my son has been guilty," All this time +Arthur knew nothing of our arrival in the city; but when his father +dispatched a message, requesting him to meet him at the house of his +employer, he was very soon in our presence. I hope I may never again +witness another meeting like that one, between the father and son. When +charged with the crime, Arthur at first made a feeble attempt at denial, +till finding the strong proofs against him, he owned all with shame and +humiliation of countenance. The stern grief of Mr. Sinclair was +something fearful to witness. "How _could_ you," said he, addressing +Arthur, "commit so base a deed? Tell me, my son, in what duty I have +failed in your early training? I endeavored to instil into your mind +principles of honor and integrity, and to enforce the same by setting +before you a good example. If I have failed in any duty to you, it was +through ignorance, and may God forgive me if I have been guilty of any +neglect in your education." + +"Trembling with suppressed emotion Arthur replied: "You are blameless, my +father; on me alone must rest my sin, for had I obeyed your kind +counsels, and those of my dearest friend, (pointing to me) I should +never have been the guilty wretch I am to-day." Turning to me, he said: +"Many a time within the last few months have I called to mind the +lightness with which I laughed away your fears for my safety, when I +left home for the city. O! that I had listened to your friendly +warning, and followed the path which you pointed out for me. When I +first came to the great city, I was charmed with the novelty of its +never ceasing scenes of amusement and pleasure. I began by mingling with +company, and participating in amusements, which, to say the least of +them, were questionable; and I soon found my salary inadequate to meet +my fast increasing wants for money; and, as many an unfortunate youth +has done before, I began the vice of gambling with the hope of being one +of the lucky ones. My tempters, no doubt, understood their business, and +at first allowed me to win from them considerable sums of money; till, +elated with my success, I began playing for higher stakes, and when I +lost them, I grew desperate, and it was then that I began adding the sin +of theft to the no less heinous one of gambling. But it is no use now to +talk of the past; my character is blasted, and all I wish is to die and +hide my guilt in the grave, and yet I am ill prepared to die." He became +so much excited, that we endeavored to soothe him by kind and +encouraging words. His father bade him amend his conduct for the future, +and he would freely forgive and forget the past. In my pity for my early +friend, I almost forgot the wrong he had done, and thought only of the +loved companion of my boyhood and youth. I cannot describe my feelings, +as I gazed upon the shame-stricken young man, whom I had so often +caressed in the days of our boyish affection and confidence. Little did +I then think I should ever behold him thus. The utmost secrecy was +observed by all parties; and it was decided that we would remain for the +night with Mr. Worthing, and, accompanied by Arthur, set out early the +next morning on our homeward journey. But it was ordered otherwise. The +next morning Arthur was raving in the delirium of brain fever, brought +on doubtless by the mental torture he had endured. Mr. Sinclair +dispatched a message, informing his wife of Arthur's illness, and three +days later she stood by the bed-side of her son. For several days the +fever raged. We allowed no strangers to watch by him, for in his +delirium his mind dwelt continually upon the past, and no one but +ourselves must listen to his words. Mr. Worthing was very kind, and +shared the care of the poor young man with his parents and myself. At +length came the crisis of his disorder. "Now," said the physician, "for +a few hours, his life will hang, as it were, upon a thread. If the +powers of life are not too far exhausted by the disease he may rally, +but I have many fears, for he is brought very low. All the encouragement +I dare offer is, that while there is life there is hope." He sank into a +deep slumber, and I took my place to watch by him during the night. Mr. +Worthing persuaded his parents to seek a few hours rest, as they were +worn out with fatigue and anxiety; and exacting from me a promise that I +would summon them if the least change for the worse should take place, +they retired, and I was left to watch alone by my friend. All I could +do, was to watch and wait, as the hours passed wearily on. A little +before midnight the physician softly entered, and stood with me at his +bed-side; soon after he languidly opened his eyes, and in a whisper he +pronounced my name. As I leaned over him, and eagerly scanned his +countenance, I perceived that the delirium of fever was gone. The +physician, fearing the effect upon him of the least excitement, made a +motion to me enjoining silence, and mixing a quieting cordial, held it +to his lips. He eagerly quaffed the cooling draught, and again fell into +a quiet slumber. "Now," said the physician, "I have a faint hope that he +may recover, but he is so weak that any excitement would prove fatal; +all depends upon keeping him perfectly quiet for the next few hours." +The doctor departed and again I was left alone to watch over his +slumber. Before morning, anxiety brought Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair to the +room, to learn if there had been any change. In a whisper I informed +them of the favorable symptoms he had evinced upon waking, and persuaded +them again to retire from the apartment. When Arthur again awoke, the +favorable symptoms still continued, and the physician entertained strong +hopes of his recovery. By degrees he was allowed to converse for a few +moments at a time. It seemed to him, he said, as though he had awakened +from a frightful dream; and he begged to know how long he had been ill, +and what had happened during the time. We were all very cautious to say +nothing to excite him; and by degrees as his mind grew stronger, +everything came back clearly to his mind, his father's visit, and the +circumstances which had brought him to the city. It is needless for me +to dwell upon the long period, while he lay helpless as an infant, +watched over by his fond mother, who felt that he had almost been given +back from the dead. But he continued slowly to recover, and being unable +to remain longer, I left his parents with him, and returned to my home +in Littleton, and soon after went back to my employer. Mr. and Mrs. +Sinclair remained with Arthur till he was able to bear the journey to +Littleton, and it was to them a happy day, when they arrived safely at +their home, accompanied by their son, who seemed to them almost as one +restored from the dead. The unfortunate circumstances connected with +Arthur's illness, were a secret locked in the bosoms of the few faithful +friends to whom it was known. Arthur arose from that bed of sickness a +changed man, and it was ever after to him a matter of wonder how he +could have been so far led astray, and he felt the most unbounded +gratitude to Mr. Worthing, for the kindness and consideration he had +shown him. His father did quite an extensive business as a merchant in +Littleton, and as Arthur became stronger he assisted in the store; and +after a time his father gave him a partnership in the business, which +rendered his again leaving home unnecessary. A correspondence, varied +occasionally by friendly visits, was kept up between the Sinclairs and +the family of Mr. Worthing; for Arthur never could forget the debt of +gratitude he owed his former employer. I have little more to tell, and I +will bring my long and I fear somewhat tedious story to a close, by +relating one more event in the life of my friend. I resided at quite a +long distance from Littleton, and some two years after Arthur's return +home, I was surprised by receiving an invitation from him to act as +groomsman at his wedding, and the bride was to be Miss Merril. I know +not exactly how the reconciliation took place. But I understood that +Arthur first sought an interview with the young lady, and humbly +acknowledged the wrong of which he had been guilty, saying, what was +indeed true, that he had ever loved her, and he knew not what +infatuation influenced him in his former conduct. Many censured Miss +Merril for her want of spirit, as they termed it, in again receiving his +addresses, but I was too well pleased by this happy termination of the +affair to censure any one connected with it. The wedding-day was a happy +one to those most deeply concerned, and such being the case, the opinion +of others was of little consequence; and the clouds which had for a time +darkened their sky, left no shadow upon the sunshine of their wedded +life. Arthur and his father were prospered in their business, and for +many years they all lived happily together. In process of time his +parents died, and Arthur soon after sold out his share in the business +to a younger brother, as he had received a tempting offer to remove to +Boston, and enter into partnership with Mr. Worthing's son, as the old +gentleman had some time before resigned any active share in the +business. When Arthur learned their wishes he was very anxious to return +to them; "For," said he, "it is to Mr. Worthing I owe my salvation from +disgrace and ruin." For many years he has carried on a lucrative +business with the son of his former employer and friend. An interesting +family of sons and daughters have grown up around him, and I may with +truth call them a happy family. Old Mr. Worthing has been for some years +dead; and his earthly remains quietly repose amid the peaceful shades of +Mount Auburn. My own life has been a busy one, and twenty years have +passed away since I met with Arthur Sinclair; but the object of this +journey is to visit my early friend, who as well as myself is now an old +man." As the old gentleman finished the story, to which we had all +listened with much interest, we arrived at our stopping-place for the +night, and fatigued with the day's journey, we were soon conducted to +our several apartments. The next morning we parted with the kind old +man, as his onward route lay in another direction, but I could not help +following him in thought, and picturing the joyous meeting between +himself and his early friend Arthur Sinclair. + + + + +THE SNOW STORM. + + +The event I am about to relate, happened many years ago; but I have +often heard it mentioned by those to whom all the circumstances were +well known; and when listening to this story, I have often thought that +there is enough of interest attached to many events which took place +during the period of the early settlement of that portion of Eastern +Canada which borders on the River St. Francis, to fill volumes, were +they recorded. + +The morning had been clear and pleasant, but early in the afternoon the +sky became overcast with dark clouds, and for several hours the snow +fell unceasingly, and now the darkness of night was added to the gloomy +scene. As the night set in, the snow continued to fall in a thick +shower, and a strong easterly wind arose, which filled the air with one +blinding cloud of drifting snow; and the lights in the scattered +habitations, in the then primitive settlement of D. could scarcely be +distinguished amid the thick darkness. It was a fearful night to be +abroad upon that lonely and almost impassible road; and Mrs. W. fully +realized the peril to which her husband was exposed on that inclement +night. He had set out that morning, on foot, to visit a friend, who +resided at a distance of several miles, intending to return to his home +at an early hour in the evening. It was a lonely road over which he had +to pass; the habitations were few and far between, and as the storm +increased with the approach of night. Mrs. W. strongly hoped that her +husband had been persuaded to pass the night with his friend; for she +feared that, had he been overtaken by the darkness of night, he would +perish in the storm; and the poor woman was in a state of painful +anxiety and suspense. The supper-table was spread, but Mrs. W. was +unable to taste food; and, giving the children their suppers, she +awaited with intense anxiety the return of her husband. The storm +increased till it was evident that it was one of unusual severity, even +for the rigorous climate of Canada, and, as the wind shook the windows +of their dwelling, the children often exclaimed in tones of terror: "O! +what will become of poor father if he is out in this storm." Bye-and-bye +the tired children fell asleep, and Mrs. W. was left alone by her +fireside. She endeavoured to quiet her fears by thinking him safe in the +house of his friend, but she could not drive away the thought that he +had set out upon his return home, and she feared, if such was the case, +he had met his death in that pitiless storm. She was two miles from any +neighbour, surrounded by her family of young children; so all she could +do was to wait and watch as the hours wore on. Sleep was out of the +question, and the dawn of day found her still keeping her lonely vigil. +As the Sun rose the wind calmed, but the thick drifts of snow rendered +it impossible for her to leave the house, and she watched anxiously if +any one might chances to pass, to whom she could apply for assistance in +gaining tidings of her husband. Alas! her fears of the previous night +were but too well founded. He _had_ perished in the storm. His friend +tried his utmost to persuade him to remain for the night when the storm +began, but he was anxious to return to his home, fearing the anxiety of +his family: and he left his friend's house about four o'clock in the +afternoon. The weather was intensely cold, as well as stormy, and, owing +to the depth of snow which had already fallen, he could make but slow +progress, and, when overtaken by darkness and the increasing tempest, +benumbed with cold, and blinded by the whirling drifts of snow, he sank +down by the road side to die, and the suspense of his wife was at length +relieved by the painful certainty of his fate. + +About noon on the day succeeding the storm, as Dr S. was slowly urging +his horse onward, in order to Visit a patient who resided in the +vicinity, he observed some object lying almost concealed in the snow. +Stopping his horse, he left his sleigh to examine it, and was +horrorstruck to find it the body of a man. Thinking that, possibly, +life was not extinct, he took the body into his sleigh, and made all +possible haste to the nearest dwelling, where every means was used for +the recovery of Mr. W.; but all was of no avail, he was frozen to death. +It was the kind physician himself who first bore the sad tidings to Mrs. +W. When the lifeless body of the husband and father was borne to his own +dwelling, I have heard the scene described by those who witnessed it, as +most heart-rending. On the day of his burial the settlers in the +vicinity came from a long distance to pay their last tribute of respect +to one who had been much esteemed as a friend and neighbour. The widow +of Mr. W. is still living, but she now is of a very advanced age. His +children grew up and settled in various places, and the elder ones among +them retained a distinct recollection of the sad death of their father. + + + + +THE NEW YEAR. + + +Another year has just glided away, and it seems but as yesterday that we +stood at its threshold, and looked forward over its then seemingly +lengthened way, and fancy was busy with many plans and projects for +future happiness and delight. We looked forward through the whole border +of its months, weeks, days, and hours, and life grew bright with pleased +anticipation. The year has now passed away, and how few, very few, of +all our bright hopes have been realized. With how many of us have +unexpected and unwished for events taken the place of those to which we +looked forward with so much delight. + +As the hours and moments of the past year have slowly glided into the +ocean of the past, they have borne with them the treasures of many a +fond heart. The sun shines as brightly as ever, the moon and stars still +look placidly down upon the sleeping earth, and life is the same as it +has ever been; but for these their work is over, and they have done with +time. As I sat watching the fast gathering shadows over the last night +of the old year, I fell into a sort of waking dream, and I seemed to +hear the slow measured tread of one wearily approaching. Turning my eyes +in the direction of the approaching footsteps. I beheld the form of a +very aged man; his countenance appeared somewhat familiar, yet it was +furrowed by many wrinkles, and on his once high and beautiful forehead +were the deep lines of corroding care and anxiety. His step was slow and +heavy, and he leaned for support on his now well-nigh failing staff. He +bore the marks of extreme feebleness, and gazed forward with a manner of +timidity and uncertainty, and on his changeful countenance was expressed +all the multitudinous emotions of the human breast. His garments had +once been white and shining, but they were now stained and darkened by +travel, and portions of them trailed in the dust. As he drew nigh I +observed that the carried in his hand a closely written scroll, on which +was recorded the events of the past year. As I gazed upon the record, I +read of life begun, and of death in every circumstance and condition of +mortal being, of happiness and misery, of love and hate, of good and +evil,--all mingling their different results in that graphic record; and +I trembled as my own name met my view, with the long list of +opportunities for good unimproved, together with the many sins, both of +omission and commission, of which I had been guilty during the past +year; but there was nothing left out,--the events in the life of every +individual member of the human family were there all recorded in +legible characters. As the midnight hour struck, the aged, man who +typified the old year faded from my view, and, almost before I was aware +of the change, youth and beauty, stood smiling before me. The old year +gone, the new year had begun. His robes where white and glistening, his +voice was mirthful, and his step buoyant; health and vigor braced his +limbs. He too, bare in his hand a scroll, but white as the unsullied +snow; not a line was yet traced upon its pure surface except the title, +Record of 1872. I gazed on its fresh and gladsome visage with mingled +emotions of sorrow and joy, and I breathed my prayer for forgiveness, +for the follies and sins of the departed year. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories and Sketches, by Harriet S. 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Caswell. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories and Sketches, by Harriet S. Caswell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories and Sketches + +Author: Harriet S. Caswell + +Release Date: January 31, 2007 [EBook #20493] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES AND SKETCHES *** + + + + +This text was produced from images generously +made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical +Microreproductions, Michael Lockey, Susan Skinner and the +Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at +http://dp.rastko.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 1]</span></p> + + + + +<h1>STORIES AND SKETCHES</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>H.S. CASWELL,</h2> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF ERNEST HARWOOD, CLARA ROSCOM, OR +THE PATH OF DUTY, &C.</p> + + +<p class="center">MONTREAL:<br /> +PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET.</p> + +<p class="center">1872 +</p><p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 2]</span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 3]</span></p> + + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#TERRY_DOLAN">Terry Dolan</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_FAITHFUL_WIFE">The Faithful Wife</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#EMMA_ASHTON">Emma Ashton</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THOUGHTS_ON_AUTUMN">Thoughts on Autumn</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#WANDERING_DAVY">Wandering Davy</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#LOOKING_ON_THE_DARK_SIDE">Looking on the Dark Side</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#EDWARD_BARTON">Edward Barton</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_WEARY_AT_REST">The Weary at Rest</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_RAINY_AFTERNOON">The Rainy Afternoon</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_STUDENTS_DREAM">The Student's Dream</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#UNCLE_EPHRAIM">Uncle Ephraim</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#STORY_OF_A_LOG_CABIN">Story of a Log Cabin</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#HAZEL-BROOK_FARM">Hazel-Brook Farm</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#OLD_RUFUS">Old Rufus</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_DIAMOND_RING">The Diamond Ring</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_UNFORTUNATE_MAN">The Unfortunate Man</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_OLD_SCHOOLHOUSE">The Old Schoolhouse</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#ARTHUR_SINCLAIR">Arthur Sinclair</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_SNOW_STORM">The Snow Storm</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_NEW_YEAR">The New Year</a></span></td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 4]</span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 5]</span></p> +<h2><a name="TERRY_DOLAN" id="TERRY_DOLAN"></a>TERRY DOLAN.</h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 136px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-001.png" width="136" height="138" alt="S" title="" /> +</div><p>ome years since circumstances caused me to spend the +summer months in a farming district, a few miles from the village of E., +and it was there I met with Terry Dolan. He had a short time previous +come over from Ireland, and was engaged as a sort of chore boy by Mr. +L., in whose family I resided during my stay in the neighborhood. This +Terry was the oddest being with whom I ever chanced to meet. Would that +I could describe him!—but most of us, I believe, occasionally meet with +people, whom we find to be indescribable, and Terry was one of those. He +called himself sixteen years of age; but, excepting that he was low of +stature, you would about as soon have taken him for sixty, as sixteen. +His countenance looked anything but youthful, and there was altogether a +sort of queer, ancient look about him which caused him to appear very +remarkable. When he first came to reside with Mr. L. the boys in the +neighborhood nicknamed him "The little Old Man," but they soon learned +by experience that their wisest plan was to place a safe distance +between Terry and <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 6]</span>themselves before applying that name to him, for the +implied taunt regarding his peculiar appearance enraged him beyond +measure. Whenever he entered the room, specially if he ventured a +remark—and no matter how serious you might have been a moment +before—the laugh would come, do your best to repress it. When I first +became an inmate with the family, I was too often inclined to laugh at +the oddities of Terry—and I believe a much graver person than I was at +that time would have done the same—but after a time, when I learned +something of his past life, I regarded him with a feeling of pity, +although to avoid laughing at him, at times, were next to impossible.</p> + +<p>One evening in midsummer I found him seated alone upon the piazza, with +a most dejected countenance. Taking a seat by his side I enquired why he +looked so sad;—his eyes filled with tears as he replied—"its of ould +Ireland I'm thinkin' to-night, sure." I had never before seen Terry look +sober, and I felt a deep sympathy for the homesick boy. I asked him how +it happened that he left all his friends in Ireland and came to this +country alone. From his reply I learned that his mother died when he was +only ten years old, and, also, that his father soon after married a +second wife, who, to use Terry's own words, "bate him unmercifully." +"It's a wonder," said he, "that iver I lived to grow up, at all, at all, +wid all the batins I got from that cruel woman, and all the times she +sint <a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 7]</span>me to bed widout iver a bite uv supper, bad luck to her and the +like uv her!" He did live, however, but he certainly did not grow up to +be very tall. "Times grew worse an' worse for me at home," continued he, +"and a quare time I had of it till I was fourteen years of age, when one +day says I to mesilf, 'flesh and blood can bear it no longer,' and I ran +away to the city uv Dublin where an aunt by me mother's side lived. Me +aunt was a poor woman, but she gave a warm welcim to her sister's +motherless boy; she trated me kindly and allowed me to share her home, +although she could ill afford it, till I got a place as sarvant in a +gintleman's family. As for my father, he niver throubled his head about +me any more; indade I think he was glad to be rid uv me, an' all by +manes of that wicked woman. It was near two years afther I lift home +that I took the notion of going to Ameriky; me aunt advised me against +going, but, whin she saw that me mind was set on it, she consinted, and +did her best, poor woman, to sind me away lookin' dacent and +respectable. I niver saw me father or me stepmother agin. I had no wish +to see her; but, although I knew me father no longer loved me, I had +still some natral-like feelin's for him; but, as I had runaway from +home, I durst not go back, an' so I lift Ireland widout a sight uv him. +But I <i>could</i> not lave it foriver, as it might be, widout one more sight +uv me mother's grave. I rached the small village where me father lived +about nightfall, and <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 8]</span>lodged in the house uv a kind neighbor who +befrinded me, an he promised, at my earnest wish, to say nothing to any +one uv my visit. Early in the morning, before any one was astir in the +village, I stole away to the churchyard where they buried me mother. I +knelt down, I did, an' kissed the sods which covered her grave, an' +prayed that the blessin' which she pronounced before she died, wid her +hand restin' on me head, might follow me wheriver I might go." The boy +took from his pocket a small parcel, carefully inclosed in a paper, +which he handed to me, saying: "I gathered these shamrocks from off me +mothers grave, before I lift it forever."</p> + +<p>My own eyes; grew moist as I gazed upon the now withered shamrock leaves +which the poor boy prized so highly. Would that they had proved as a +talisman to guard him from evil! I listened with much interest to +Terry's story till our conversation was suddenly interrupted by Mr. —— +calling him, in no very gentle tones, to go and drive home the cows from +the far pasture. To reach this pasture he must needs pass through about +a quarter of a mile of thick woods. He had a great dread of walking +alone in the woods, which his imagination filled with wild animals. When +he returned that evening he seemed very much terrified, and, when +questioned as to the cause, he replied that he "had met a wild baste in +the woods, and was kilt entirely wid the fright uv it."</p><p><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p>We endeavoured to gain from him a description of the animal he had seen, +but for some time were unable. "What color was the animal?" enquired +Mrs. ——, "Indade Ma'am an' its jist the color uv a dog he was," +answered Terry. This reply was greeted with a burst of laughter from all +present, at which he was highly offended. In order to pacify him I said, +"we would not laugh at you, Terry, only that dogs are of so many +different colors that we are as much in the dark as ever regarding the +color of the animal you saw." "Well thin," replied he, "if you must +know, he was a dirthy brown, the varmint, that he was." From what we +could learn from him we were led to suppose that he had met with one of +those harmless little creatures, called the "Woodchuck," which his +nervous terror aided by the deepening twilight, had magnified into a +formidable wild beast.</p> + +<p>A few evenings after, two or three friends of the family chanced to +call; and in course of conversation some one mentioned an encampment of +Indians, who had recently located themselves in our vicinity, for the +purpose of gathering material for the manufacture of baskets, and other +works of Indian handicraft. Terry had never seen an Indian, and +curiosity, not unmixed with fear, was excited in his mind, when he +learned that a number of those dark people were within three miles of +us. He asked many questions regarding their personal appearance, habits, +&c. It <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 10]</span>was evident that he entertained some very comical ideas upon the +subject. After sitting for a time silent, he suddenly enquired, "Do they +ate pratees like other people?" A lady, present, in order to impose upon +his credulity, replied, "Indeed Terry they not only eat potates, but +they sometimes eat people." His countenance expressed much alarm, as he +replied, "Faix thin, but I'll kape out o'their way." After a short time +he began to suspect they were making game of him, and applied to me for +information, saying, "Tell me, sir, if what Mrs —— says is true?" "Do +not be alarmed, Terry," I replied, "for if you live till the Indians eat +you, you will look even older than you now do."</p> + +<p>This allusion to his ancient appearance was very mischievous on my part, +and I regretted it a moment after; but he was so much pleased to learn +that he had nothing to fear from the Indians that he readily forgave me +for alluding to a subject upon which he was usually very sensitive. I +remember taking a walk one afternoon during the haymaking season to the +field where Terry was at work. Mr. —— had driven to the village with +the farm horses, leaving Terry to draw in hay with a rheumatic old +animal that was well nigh unfit for use. But as the hay was in good +condition for getting in, and the sky betokened rain, he told Terry, +upon leaving home, to accomplish as much as possible, during his +absence, and he would, if <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 11]</span>the rain kept off, draw in the remainder upon +his return. As I drew nigh I spied Terry perched upon the top of a load +of hay holding the reins, and urging forward the horse, in the ascent of +a very steep hill. First, he tried coaxing, and as that proved of little +avail, he next tried the effect of a few vigorous strokes with a long +switch which he carried in his hand. When the poor old horse had dragged +the heavy load about half way up the hill, he seemed incapable of +further exertion, and horse, cart, Terry and all began a rapid backward +descent down the hill.</p> + +<p>Here the boy's patience gave way entirely. "Musha thin, bad luck to ye +for one harse," said he as he applied the switch with renewed energy. +Just then I arrived within speaking distance and said, "Do you think, +Terry, you would be any better off if you had two of them." "Not if they +were both like this one," answered he. I advised Terry to come down from +his elevated position, and not add his weight to the load drawn by the +overburdened animal. He followed my advice, and when with some +difficulty we had checked the descending motion of the cart-wheels, we +took a fair start, and the summit of the hill was finally gained.</p> + +<p>"Its often," said Terry, "that I've seen a horse draw a cart, but I +niver before saw a cart drawing a horse." There was one trait in the +character of the boy which pleased me much; he was very grateful for +<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 12]</span>any little act of kindness. He often got into difficulties with the +family, owing to his rashness and want of consideration, and I often +succeeded in smoothing down for him many rough places in his daily path; +and when he observed that I interested myself in his behalf, his +gratitude knew no bounds. I believe he would have made almost any +sacrifice to please me. He surprised me one day by saying suddenly, +"Don't I wish you'd only be tuck sick." "Why, Terry," replied I, "I am +surprised indeed, that you should wish evil to me." "Indade thin," +answered he, "its not for evil that I wish it, but for your good, jist +to let ye see how tinderly I would take care uv ye." I thanked him for +his kind intentions, saying that I was very willing to take the will for +the deed in this case, and had no wish to test his kindness by a fit of +sickness.</p> + +<p>He came in one evening fatigued with a hard day's work, and retired +early to bed. His sleeping apartment adjoined the sitting-room. I had +several letters to write which occupied me till a late hour; the family +had all retired. I finished writing just as the clock struck twelve. At +that moment, I was almost startled by Terry's voice singing in a very +high key. My first thought was that he had gone suddenly crazy. With a +light in my hand I stepped softly into the room, to find Terry sitting +up in bed and singing at the top of his voice, a song in the "Native +Irish Tongue." By <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 13]</span>this time he had roused every one in the house; and +others of the family entered the room. By the pauses which he made, we +knew when he reached the end of each verse. He sang several verses; at +the time I knew how many, but am unable now to recall the exact number. +He must surely have been a sound sleeper, or the loud laughter which +filled the room would have waked him, for the scene was ludicrous in the +extreme: Terry sitting up in bed, sound asleep, at the hour of midnight, +and singing, with a loud voice and very earnest manner, to an audience +who were unable to understand one word of the song. At the close of the +last verse he lay quietly down, all unconscious of the Musical +Entertainment he had given. The next morning some of the family began +teasing him about the song he had sung in his sleep. He was loth to +believe them, and as usual, enquired of me if they were telling him the +truth. "I'll believe whatever you say," said he, "for its you that niver +toult me a lie yet." "You may believe them this time," said I, "for you +certainly did sing a song. The air was very fine, and I have no doubt +the words were equally so, if we could only have understood them."</p> + +<p>"Well thin," replied he, "but I niver heard more than that; and if I +raaly did sing, I may as well tell yee's how it happint. I dramed, ye +see, that I was at a ball in Ireland, an' I thought that about twelve +o'clock we got tired wid dancin and sated ourselves <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 14]</span>on the binches +which were ranged round the walls uv the room, and ache one was to sing +a song in their turn, an' its I that thought my turn had come for sure." +"Well Terry," said I, "you hit upon the time exact at any rate, for it +was just twelve o'clock when you favoured us with the song."</p> + +<p>Soon after this time I left the neighborhood, and removed to some +distance. Terry remained for considerable time with the same family; +after a time I learned that he had obtained employment in a distant +village. The next tidings I heard of him was that he had been implicated +in a petty robbery, and had run away. His impulsive disposition rendered +him very easy of persuasion, for either good or evil; and he seldom +paused to consider the consequences of any act. From what I could learn +of the matter it seemed he had been enticed into the affair by some +designing fellows, who judged that, owing to his simplicity, he would be +well adapted to carry out their wicked plans; and, when suspicion was +excited, they managed in some way to throw all the blame upon Terry, +who, fearing an arrest, fled no one knew whither. Many years have passed +since I saw or heard of Terry Dolan, but often, as memory recalls past +scenes and those who participated in them, I think of him, and wonder if +he is yet among the living, and, if so, in what quarter of the world he +has fixed his abode.</p><p><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 15]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FAITHFUL_WIFE" id="THE_FAITHFUL_WIFE"></a>THE FAITHFUL WIFE.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p>t was a mild and beautiful evening in the early autumn. +Mrs. Harland is alone in her home; she is seated by a table upon which +burns a shaded lamp, and is busily occupied with her needle. She has +been five years a wife; her countenance is still youthful, and might be +termed beautiful, but for the look of care and anxiety so plainly +depicted thereon. She had once been happy, but with her now happiness is +but a memory of the past. When quite young she had been united in +marriage to William Harland, and with him removed to the City of R., +where they have since resided. He was employed as bookkeeper in a large +mercantile house, and his salary was sufficient to afford them a +comfortable support,—whence then the change that has thus blighted +their bright prospects, and clouded the brow of that fair young wife +with care? It is an unpleasant truth, but it must be told. Her husband +has become addicted to the use of strong drink, not an occasional +tippler, but a confirmed and habitual drunkard. His natural disposition +was gay and social, and he began <a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 16]</span>by taking an occasional glass with his +friends—more for sociability than for any love of the beverage. His +wife often admonished him of the danger of tampering with the deadly +vice of intemperance, but he only laughed at what he termed her idle +fears. Well had it been for them both had the fears of his wife proved +groundless! It is needless for me to follow him in his downward path, +till we find him reduced to the level of the common drunkard. Some three +months previous to the time when our story opens his employers were +forced to dismiss him, as they could no longer employ him with any +degree of safety to their business. It was fortunate for Mrs. Harland +that the dwelling they occupied belonged to her in her own right—it had +been given her by her father at the period of her marriage—so that +notwithstanding the dissipated habits of the husband and father they +still possessed a home, although many of the comforts of former days had +disappeared before the blighting influence of the demon of intemperance. +After being dismissed by his employers Mr. Harland seemed to lose all +respect for himself, as well as for his wife and children, and, but for +the unceasing toil of the patient mother, his children might have often +asked for bread in vain.</p> + +<p>So low had he now fallen that almost every evening found him in some low +haunt of drunkenness and dissipation; and often upon returning to his +home he would assail his gentle wife with harsh and unfeeling language.<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 17]</span> +Many there were who advised Mrs. Harland to return with her children to +her parents, who were in affluent circumstances, but she still cherished +the hope that he would yet reform. "I pray daily for my erring husband," +she would often say, "and I feel an assurance that, sooner or later, my +prayers will be answered; and I cannot feel it my duty to forsake him." +But on this evening, as she sits thus alone, her mind is filled with +thoughts of the past, which she cannot help contrasting with the +miserable present, till her reverie is interrupted by the sound of +approaching footsteps, which she soon recognizes as those of her +husband; she is much surprised—for it is long, very long, since he has +returned to his home at so early an hour—and, as he enters the room, +her surprise increases when she perceives that he is perfectly sober. As +he met her wondering gaze a kind expression rested upon his countenance, +and he addressed her saying: "I do not wonder at your astonishment, dear +Mary, when I call to mind my past misconduct. I have been a fiend in +human shape thus to ill-treat and neglect the best of wives; but I have +made a resolve, 'God helping' me, that it shall be so no longer." +Seating himself by her side, he continued: "If you will listen to me, +Mary, I will tell you what caused me to form this resolution. When I +went out this evening I at once made my way to the public house, where I +have spent so much of my time and money. Money, I had <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 18]</span>none, and, worse +than this, was owing the landlord a heavy bill. Of late he had assailed +me with duns every time I entered the house; but so craving was the +appetite for drink that each returning evening still found me among the +loungers in the bar-room, trusting to my chance of meeting with some +companion who would call for a treat. It so happened that to-night none +of my cronies were present. When the landlord found that I was still +unable to settle the 'old score,' as he termed it, he abused me in no +measured terms; but I still lingered in sight of the coveted beverage; +and knowing my inability to obtain it my appetite increased in +proportion. At length, I approached the bar, and begged him to trust me +for one more glass of brandy. I will not wound your ears by repeating +his reply; and he concluded by ordering me from the house, telling me +also never to enter it again till I was able to settle the long score +already against me. The fact that I had been turned from the door, +together with his taunting language, stung me almost to madness. I +strolled along, scarce knowing or caring whither, till I found myself +beyond the limits of the city; and seating myself by the roadside I +gazed in silent abstraction over the moonlit landscape; and as I sat +thus I fell into a deep reverie. Memory carried me back to my youthful +days, when everything was bright with joyous hope and youthful ambition. +I recalled the time when<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 19]</span> I wooed you from your pleasant country home, +and led you to the altar, a fair young bride, and there pledged myself +before God and man to love, honour and cherish you, till death should us +part. Suddenly, as if uttered by an audible voice, I seemed to hear the +words 'William Harland, how have you kept your vows?' At that moment I +seemed to suddenly awake to a full sense of my fallen and degraded +position. What madness, thought I, has possessed me all this time, thus +to ruin myself and those dear to me? And for what? for the mere +indulgence of a debasing appetite. I rose to my feet, and my step grew +light with my new-formed resolution, that I <i>would</i> break the slavish +fetters that had so long held me captive; and now, my dear wife, if you +can, forgive the past and aid me in my resolutions for amendment there +is hope for me yet." Mrs. Harland was only too happy to forgive her +erring but now truly penitent husband; but she trembled for the future, +knowing how often he had formerly made like resolutions, but to break +them. She endeavoured, however, to be hopeful, and to encourage him by +every means which affection could devise.</p> + +<p>Through the influence of friends, his former employers were induced to +give him another trial. He had many severe struggles with himself ere he +could refrain from again joining his dissipated companions; but his +watchful wife would almost every evening form some little plan of her +own for his amusement, that he <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 20]</span>might learn to love his home. In a short +time their prospects for the future grew brighter, his wife began to +smile again; and his children, instead of fleeing from his approach, as +they had formerly done, now met him upon his return home with loving +caresses and lively prattle. Some six months after this happy change, +Mrs. Harland one evening noticed that her husband seemed very much +downcast and dejected. After tea, she tried vainly to interest him in +conversation.</p> + +<p>He had a certain nervous restlessness in his manner, which always +troubled her, knowing, as she did, that it was caused by the cravings of +that appetite for strong drink, which at times still returned with +almost overwhelming force. About eight o'clock he took down his hat +preparatory to going out. She questioned him as to where he was going, +but could obtain no satisfactory reply; her heart sank within her; but +she was aware that remonstrance would be useless. She remained for a few +moments, after he left the house, in deep thought, then suddenly rising +she exclaimed aloud, "I will at least make one effort to save him." She +well knew that should he take but one glass, all his former resolves +would be as nothing. As she gained the street she observed her husband a +short distance in advance of her, and walking hastily she soon overtook +him, being careful to keep on the opposite side of the street, that she +might be unobserved <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 21]</span>by him. She had formed no definite purpose in her +mind; she only felt that she must endeavor to save him by some means. As +they drew nigh the turn of the street she saw two or three of his former +associates join him, and one of them addressed him, saying, "Come on, +Harland; I thought you would get enough of the cold water system. Come +on, and I'll stand treat to welcome you back among your old friends." +For a moment he paused as if irresolute; then his wife grew sick at +heart, as she saw him follow his companions into a drinking saloon near +at hand. Mrs. Harland was by nature a delicate and retiring woman; for a +moment she paused; dare she go further? Her irresolution was but +momentary, for the momentous consequences at stake gave her a fictitious +courage. She quickly approached the door, which at that moment some one +in the act of leaving the house threw wide open, and she gained a view +of her husband in the act of raising a glass to his lips; but ere he had +tasted its fiery contents it was dashed from his hand, and the shattered +fragments scattered upon the floor. Mr. Harland, supposing it the act of +one of his half-drunken companions, turned with an angry exclamation +upon his lips; but the expression of anger upon his countenance suddenly +gave place to one of shame and humiliation when he saw his wife standing +before him, pale but resolute. In a subdued voice he addressed her, +saying, "Mary, how came you here?" "Do <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 22]</span>not blame me, William," she +replied; "for I could not see you again go astray without, at least, +making an effort to save you. And now will you not return with me to +your home?" The other occupants of the room had thus far remained silent +since the entrance of Mrs. Harland; but when they saw that Mr. Harland +was about to leave the house by her request, they began taunting him +with his want of spirit in being thus ruled by a woman. One of them, who +was already half drunk, staggered toward him, saying, "I'd just like to +see my old woman follerin' me round in this way. I'll be bound I'd teach +her a lesson she would'nt forget in a hurry," Many similar remarks were +made by one and another present. The peculiar circumstances in which +Mrs. Harland found herself placed gave her a degree of fortitude, of +which upon ordinary occasions she would have found herself incapable. +Raising her hand with an imperative gesture she said in a firm voice: +"Back tempters, hinder not my husband from following the dictates of his +better nature." For a few moments there was silence in the room, till +one of the company, more drunken and insolent than the others, exclaimed +in a loud, derisive voice; "Zounds, madam, but you would make a capital +actress, specially on the tragedy parts; you should seek an engagement +upon the stage." Mr. Harland's eyes flashed angrily as he listened to +the insulting words addressed to his wife, <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 23]</span>and, turning to the man who +had spoken, he addressed him, saying, in a decided tone of voice: "I +wish to have no harsh language in this room while my wife is present, +but I warn each one of you to address no more insulting language to +her." The manner in which Mr. Harland addressed them, together with the +gentle and lady-like appearance of his wife had the effect to shame them +into silence. His voice was very tender as he again addressed his wife, +saying, "Come Mary I will accompany you home—this is no place for you." +When they gained the street the unnatural courage which had sustained +Mrs. Harland gave way, and she would have fallen to the earth, but for +the supporting arm of her husband. For a few moments they walked on in +silence, when Mr. Harland said, in a voice choked with emotion, "You +have been my good angel, Mary, for your hand it was which saved me from +violating a solemn oath; but I now feel an assurance that I have broken +the tempter's chains forever." I am happy to add that from this hour he +gained a complete victory over the evil habit which well-nigh had proved +his ruin; and in after years, when peace and prosperity again smiled +upon them, he often called to mind the evening when his affectionate and +devoted wife, by her watchful love, saved him from ruin, and perchance +from the drunkard's grave.</p><p><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 24]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="EMMA_ASHTON" id="EMMA_ASHTON"></a>EMMA ASHTON.</h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p>t was a sad day for Emma Ashton, when, with her widowed +mother, she turned from her father's new-made grave, and again entered +their desolate home. None but those who have experienced a like sorrow +can fully understand their grief as they entered their now lonely home, +where a short time since they had been so happy. But the ways of +Providence are, to our feeble vision, often dark and incomprehensible, +and the only way by which we can reconcile ourselves to many trials +which we are called to endure is by remembering that there is a "need +be" for every sorrow which falls to our lot, in the journey of life. +Emma was an only child and had been the idol of her father's heart, and +no marvel if the world, to her, looked dark and dreary when he was +removed by death. Added to the grief occasioned by their bereavement, +the mother and daughter had yet another cause for anxiety and +disquietude, for the home where they had dwelt for so many years in the +enjoyment of uninterrupted happiness was now no longer theirs. Since +quite a young man, Mr. Ashton <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 25]</span>had held the position of overseer, in a +large manufactory in the village of W. Owing to his sober and +industrious habits he had saved money sufficient to enable him, at the +period of his marriage, to purchase a neat and tasteful home, to which +he removed with his young wife. He still continued his industry, and +began in a small way to accumulate money, when, unfortunately, he was +persuaded by one whom he thought a friend to sign bank-notes with him to +a large amount; but, ere the notes became due, the man he had obliged +left the country, and he was unable to gain any trace of him, and was +soon called upon to meet the claim. Bank-notes must be paid, and to +raise money to meet the claim he was forced to mortgage his house for +nearly its full value. His health failed; and for two years previous to +his death he was unable to attend to his business. The term of the +mortgage was five years, which time expired soon after his death. During +the few last weeks of his life his mind was very much disturbed +regarding the destitute condition in which he must leave his beloved +wife and daughter; for he was too well acquainted with the man who held +the claim to expect any lenity to his family when it should become due, +and he was sensible that the hour of his own death was fast approaching. +His wife tried to cheer him by hopeful words, saying: "Should it please +our Heavenly Father to remove you, fear not that He will fail to care +for the fatherless and <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 26]</span>widow." A short time before his death a sweet +peace and hopeful trust settled over his spirit, and the religion he had +sought in health afforded him a firm support in the hour of death. When +all was over, and the mother and daughter found themselves left alone, +their fortitude well-nigh forsook them, and they felt almost like +yielding to a hopeless sorrow. Emma was at this time but fifteen years +of age, possessed of much personal beauty, and also a very amiable and +affectionate disposition. Since the age of six years she had attended +school, and made rapid progress in her various studies till the sad +period of her father's death. As Mr. Ashton had foreseen, Mr. Tompkins, +the man who held the mortgage, soon called upon the widow, informing her +that the time had already expired, and, unless she found herself able to +meet the claim, her dwelling was legally his property; but, as a great +favor, he granted her permission to occupy the house till she could make +some arrangement concerning the future, giving her, however, distinctly +to understand, that he wished to take possession as soon as she could +find another home. Mrs. Ashton thanked him for the consideration he had +shown her, little as it was, telling him she would as soon as possible +seek another home, however humble it might be; and Mr. Tompkins departed +with a polite bow and a bland smile upon his countenance, well pleased +that he had got the matter settled with so little difficulty. I presume +he never <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 27]</span>once paused to think of the grief-stricken widow and her +fatherless daughter, whom he was about to render homeless. Money had so +long been his idol that tender and benevolent emotions were well-nigh +extinguished in his world-hardened heart. For a long time after Mr. +Tompkins left the house Mrs. Ashton remained in deep thought. There are, +dear reader, dark periods in the lives of most of us, when, turn which +way we will, we find ourselves surrounded, as by a thick hedge, with +difficulties and troubles from which we see no escape.</p> + +<p>At such periods it is good for us to call to mind the fact, that the +darkest cloud often has a silver lining, and that if we discharged, to +the best of our ability, our duties for the time being, the cloud, +sooner or later, will be reversed, and display its bright side to our +troubled view. The time had now arrived, when Mrs. Ashton must come to +some decision regarding the future. She had no friends to whom she could +turn for aid or counsel in this season of trial. When quite young she +had emigrated from England with her parents and one sister, and settled +in Eastern Canada. About the time of her marriage and removal to W. her +parents, with her sister, removed to one of the Western States; and it +may be the knowledge that she must rely solely upon herself enabled her +to meet her trials with more fortitude than might have been expected. +Some fifty miles from W. was the large and thriving village of Rockford, +and thither Mrs. Ashton <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 28]</span>at length decided to remove. One reason for +this decision was the excellent institution for the education of young +ladies, which was there located. She was very anxious that her daughter +should obtain a good education, but was sorely puzzled as to raising the +money needful for defraying her expenses. There were a few debts due her +husband at the time of his death; these she collected with little +difficulty. Their dwelling had been handsomely furnished, and she +decided to sell the furniture, as she could easily, upon their arrival +at Rockford, purchase what articles were necessary for furnishing their +new home, which must, of necessity, be humble. One article she felt they +must retain if possible, and that was the piano given her by her father +at the period of her marriage. She did at first entertain the idea of +parting with it, thinking how far the money it would bring would go in +defraying the expenses attendant upon Emma's education, but upon second +consideration, she resolved that they would not part with her father's +parting gift to her, unless compelled to do so by actual want; and so +when their old home was broken up the piano was carefully packed and +forwarded to Rockford. The home where they had resided so long was very +dear to them, and it would have grieved them, to leave it at any time; +but to leave at the glad season of spring, when the trees which shaded +their dwelling were beginning to put forth their leaves, and the flowers +which adorned <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 29]</span>their garden were bursting into bloom, seemed to them +doubly sad. But their preparations for removal were finally completed, +and they left their home followed by the good wishes of many who had +long known and loved them. Upon their arrival at Rockford, Mrs. Ashton +hired a cheap tenement in a respectable locality, which she furnished in +a plain but decent manner. When they became settled in their new home +they had still in hand money sufficient to secure them from immediate +want, but as Mrs. Ashton wished Emma to enter at once upon her studies, +she was very anxious to devise some means of earning money to meet +necessary expenses. There was one family residing in Rockford with whom +Mrs. Ashton had several years before been intimately acquainted: their +name was Lebaron, and they had at one time resided in the same village +with the Ashtons. Mr. Lebaron had opened a store upon removing to +Rockford; the world had smiled upon him, and he was now considered one +of the most wealthy and influential men in the village.</p> + +<p>It has been often said that "prosperity hardens the heart of man," but +if such is the case in general, Mr. Lebaron proved an exception to the +general rule. He had heard with much sorrow of the death of Mr. Ashton, +and also of the other misfortunes which had overtaken the family; and no +sooner did he learn of the arrival of the widow and daughter in +Rockford, than, accompanied by his wife, he hastened to call <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 30]</span>upon them, +to renew their former acquaintance, and in a delicate and considerate +manner to enquire if he could assist them in any way? Mrs. Ashton +thanked them for their kindness, saying that although in no immediate +need of assistance, yet she would be very thankful if they would assist +her in obtaining employment. "If such is the case," replied Mrs. +Lebaron, "I can easily secure you employment, as I am acquainted with +many ladies who give out work, and will gladly use my influence in your +favor." "You will confer a favour upon me by so doing," replied Mrs. +Ashton, "for I must rely upon my labor for a support for the future." +Through the influence of these kind friends Mrs. Ashton soon obtained an +abundant supply of work; and, when she became somewhat acquainted with +the people of Rockford, her gentle and unobtrusive manner gained her +many warm friends. Agreeable to her mother's wishes, Emma soon became a +pupil in the seminary for young ladies, which was at that time under the +direction of Miss Hinton, a lady who possessed uncommon abilities as a +teacher, and was also aided by several competent assistants. Mrs. +Lebaron had two daughters attending the institution at the time, and +this circumstance, in a great measure, relieved Emma from the feeling of +diffidence she might have experienced in entering a large school a +stranger to both teachers and pupils; but her modest and unassuming +manners, added to <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 31]</span>her diligence in study, soon caused her to become a +general favorite with her teachers. In schools, as well as other places, +we often meet with those who are inclined to be jealous of merit +superior to their own, and the seminary at Rockford was no exception in +this matter. Her teachers were guilty of no unjust partiality; true, +they oftener commended her than some other members of her class, but not +oftener than her punctual attendance, perfect recitations, and correct +deportment generally, justified them in doing. But it soon became +evident that, if Emma was a favourite with her teachers, she was far +from being such with many members of her class. At the time she entered +school Miss Hinton found, after examining her in her various studies, +that her attainments were already superior to those of several young +ladies who had been for some time members of the school. Among the +pupils who at the time attended the institution was a Miss Carlton, from +the distant city of H. She was the petted and only child of wealthy +parents; and, as is often the case, her disposition, which, under proper +training, might have been amiable, had been spoiled by unwise indulgence +on the part of her parents. Her capacity for learning was not good; she +was also sadly wanting in application, and, at the time Emma entered the +school, although Miss Carlton had attended for more than a year, her +progress in study was far from being satisfactory to her teachers. She +<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 32]</span>was at much pains to inform her classmates of her wealth and position, +seeming to entertain the idea that this would cover every defect. Owing +to Emma's superior attainments, compared with her own, she soon learned +to regard her with a feeling of absolute dislike, which she took little +pains to conceal; and many were the petty annoyances she endured from +the vain and haughty Julia Carlton. She soon learned that Emma was poor, +and that her mother toiled early and late to defray the expenses of her +education; and more than once she threw out hints regarding this fact, +among the other pupils, even in hearing of Emma; and, as often as +opportunity offered, she slighted the unoffending girl, and treated her +with all the rudeness of which she was capable. "Let those who wish +associate with Miss Ashton," she would often say to her companions; "but +I am thankful that I have been better taught at home than to make a +companion of a girl whose mother is obliged to take in sewing to pay her +school bills." These and other remarks equally malicious were daily made +by Miss Carlton; and I am sorry that she soon found others in the school +who were weak enough to be influenced by her also to treat Emma with +coldness and contempt. Emma could not long fail to notice the many +slights, both direct and indirect, which she endured from many members +of the school, and she taxed her memory to recall any act by which she +<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 33]</span>might have given offence; but, finding herself unable to recollect any +thing on her part which could have offended any member of the school, +she was not a little puzzled to account for the rudeness with which she +was treated. It happened one day that during recess she remained at her +desk in the school-room to complete an unfinished French exercise. +Several of her companions soon after entered the adjoining recitation +room, and, as they were not aware of her proximity, she became an +unwilling listener to a conversation which pained her deeply. As Sarah +Lebaron entered the room one of the girls addressed her, saying:—"When +you first introduced Miss Ashton among us, I supposed her to be at least +a companionable girl, but I have lately been informed that she resides +in a cheap tenement, and, farther, that her mother takes in sewing, and, +if such is the case, I wish to cultivate no further acquaintance with +her." "But then," added another girl, "Miss Hinton thinks her almost a +saint, and sets her up as a model for us all; if there's any thing I do +detest, it's these model girls, and I don't believe she's half as fond +of study as she pretends; and, in my opinion, its only to hear the +commendations of the teachers that she applies herself with such +diligence; but Miss Hinton is so taken with her meek face and lady-like +manners that she places her above us all, and, I suppose, we must +submit, for as the old song says:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'What can't be cured must be endured.'<br /></span> +</div></div><p><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p>"Well, I for one shall try some method of cure, before I put up with +much more of her impudence and assumption," chimed in the amiable Miss +Carlton; "pay attention now, girls," continued she, "while I take my +place in the class like Emma Ashton;" and separating herself from her +companions, she crossed the room to one of the class-seats, with such a +ludicrous air of meekness and decorum, that the girls were almost +convulsed with laughter. Starting up and tossing her book from her hand +she exclaimed, "It is so disgusting to see a girl in <i>her</i> position put +on such airs." Miss Lebaron had not before spoken, but, when at length +there was silence, she addressed her companions, saying, "if no other +young lady present has any further remarks to make, I will myself say a +few words if you will listen to me. I must say, I am surprised at the +unkindness, even rudeness, which many of you have exhibited towards Miss +Ashton. If she is poor it is death, and other misfortunes, which have +caused her to become so; and this circumstance should excite your +sympathy, but surely not your contempt and ridicule. Poor as she is, she +is my friend, and I am proud to claim her as such. As to her being +companionable that is a matter of taste; I shall continue to follow +mine, and each young lady present is at liberty to do the same; but be +assured that unless you can furnish some more satisfactory reason for +your disparaging remarks than you have yet done, they will bear no +<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 35]</span>weight with me." With much irony in her voice Miss Carlton replied, +"Really, Miss Lebaron, I am unable to reply to your very able defence of +your charming friend, and will only say that I shall avail myself of the +liberty you have kindly granted us, for each to follow her own taste in +the choice of associates, and avoid Miss Ashton as much as possible." +"As you please," replied Miss Lebaron, "it is a matter of perfect +indifference to me;" and just then the school bell put an end to further +conversation. As may be easily supposed, the delicate and sensitive +spirit of Emma was deeply wounded by the above conversation; and it was +with much difficulty that she maintained her composure for the remaining +portion of the day. For once her lessons were imperfect; and with a +heavy heart she returned to her home. That evening she, for the first +time, mentioned to her mother the daily annoyances she suffered from her +companions at school; and concluded by relating the conversation she had +that day chanced to overhear. Mrs. Ashton could not feel otherwise than +grieved; but as much as possible she concealed the feeling from her +daughter. "My dear Emma," she replied, "their unkind words can do you no +real harm; although they may render you unhappy for the time being. But +keep the even tenor of your way; and they will, probably, after a time +become ashamed of their folly. Should they make any further remarks +regarding my laboring to <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 36]</span>give you an education, you may tell them that +I esteem it at one of my chief blessings that I have health granted me +so to do." Time passed on; and the invariable kindness with which Emma +treated her classmates finally gained her several warm friends; and some +of them even apologised for their past unkindness. Miss Carlton still +regarded her with a feeling of enmity and dislike; but as Emma seemed +not to notice the many annoyances she experienced she was at length +forced to desist, although the same resentful feeling remained in her +heart. When Emma left the seminary, after attending it for four years, +her departure was deeply regretted by both teachers and pupils. As she +had pursued her studies in a very systematic manner, she had acquired, +before leaving school, a thoroughly good education, which she intended +turning to account by teaching. Miss Carlton also left school at the +same time to return to her elegant home in the city of H. It was +fortunate for her that she was not obliged, as was Emma, to teach as a +means of support; for, notwithstanding the unwearied pains of her +teachers, her education, when she left school, was very superficial. +Emma soon obtained a situation as teacher in a small village some twenty +miles from Rockford, where she remained for two years. During her +absence, her mother, to avoid being left alone, received as boarders two +or three young ladies who attended school in the <a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 37]</span>village. Emma's +success as a teacher became so well known that she was at length offered +a high salary to accept of the position of assistant teacher in an +academy in the city of H., the same city where Miss Carlton resided. As +the salary offered was very liberal, she decided to accept of the +position, and as situation was likely to prove a permanent one she was +very anxious that her mother should accompany her; and after some +deliberation upon the subject, Mrs. Ashton consented, thinking they +would both much happier together than otherwise. Emma proved quite as +successful in this her second situation as in the first; and owing to +her position as teacher she soon formed acquaintance with several +families of cultivated tastes and high respectability. She often +received invitations to parties; but her tastes were quiet, and she +usually preferred spending her evenings with her mother in the quiet of +their own home, to mingling in scenes of mirth and gaiety; and it was +only upon a few occasions that she attended parties, that her friends +might not think her unsocial. At one of these parties she chanced to +meet her former schoolmate, Miss Carlton, whose only sign of recognition +was a very formal bow. This gave her no uneasiness; she cherished no +malice towards Miss Carlton; but her ideas and tastes so widely differed +from her own that she did not covet her friendship, even had she been +inclined to grant it her. Meanwhile, with the <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 38]</span>widow and her daughter, +time passed happily away. Emma's salary was more than sufficient for +their support, and they were happy in the society of each other. There +was one family, by the name of Milford, who had treated them with much +kindness since their residence in the city. Mrs. Milford at first placed +two little girls under Emma's instruction, and thus began an +acquaintance which soon ripened into intimate friendship; for, although +occupying a position of wealth and influence, Mrs. Milford was one of +the few who place "mind above matter," and respected true worth wherever +she met with it. Her eldest daughter, having finished her education at a +distant boarding school, returned home about the same time her two +sisters were placed in charge of Emma; and the little girls were so +eloquent in their praises of their teacher, that their elder sister +became interested, and decided to call upon her at her home; and the +lady-like appearance of both mother and daughter, together with the +appearance of good taste which their home exhibited, strongly interested +her in their favor.</p> + +<p>Some six months previous to the period of which I am writing a young +physician from the Upper Province located himself in the city of H. for +the practice of his profession. According to common report, he was +wealthy, and the study of a profession had with him been a matter not of +necessity but of choice. Owing to his pleasing manners, as well as his +reputed wealth, he <a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 39]</span>soon became an object of much interest to many of +the match-making mammas and marriageable young ladies of the city of H. +He was soon favored with numerous invitations to attend parties, where +he formed acquaintance with most of the young people in the fashionable +circles of the city; and he soon became a general favorite in society. +Among others, he attended a large party given by the Carltons, and by +this means became acquainted with the family. He had called +occasionally, and during one of those calls Mrs. Carlton very feelingly +lamented that her daughter was often obliged to forego the pleasure of +attending concerts, lectures and other places of public amusement for +want of a suitable escort; and courtesy to the family would of course +allow him to do no less than offer to become her attendant upon such +occasions. Mrs. Carlton, however, put a very different construction upon +these slight attentions, and already looked upon him as her future +son-in-law. When Dr. Winthrop had resided for about a year in the city, +the Milfords also gave a large party, and Miss Ashton was included among +their guests. The party was a brilliant affair, for the Milfords were a +family of wealth and high social position. The young physician was among +their guests; and Miss Carlton managed some way or other to claim his +attention most of the evening. There was the usual amount of small talk, +common to such occasions; about the usual number of <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 40]</span>young ladies were +invited to sing and play, and, as usual, they were either out of +practice or were afflicted with "bad colds." But it so happened that +several young ladies who at the first begged to be excused, after much +persuasion allowed themselves to be conducted to the piano, and played +till it was evident from the manner of many that the music had become an +infliction instead of a pleasure. When after a time Miss Ashton was +invited to play, she took the vacant seat at the piano without any of +the usual apologies; and began playing the prelude to a much admired +song of the day; and before she reached the close of the first verse +there was a hush through the room, and the countenance of each evinced +the pleasure with which they listened to her performance. As she rose +from the instrument Dr. Winthrop addressed Miss Carlton, saying: "Can +you inform me who is that young lady? I never met her before; but she +has favored us with the first real music I have listened to this +evening." The young physician was not wanting in politeness, and he +certainly must have forgotten that Miss Carlton occupied the seat at the +piano a short time before. That young lady colored with anger as she +replied: "Her name is Miss Ashton, and I understand she is engaged as an +assistant teacher in one of the Academies in the city." "It is +singular," replied Dr. Winthrop, "that I have never before met her at +any of the numerous parties I have attended during <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 41]</span>the past year." +"There is nothing very singular in that," replied Miss Carlton, "for I +presume she is not often invited to fashionable parties, and I suppose +it is owing to Mrs. Milford's two little girls being her pupils that we +find her among their guests; but as you seem so much interested, I will +tell you all I know of the <i>person</i> in question. When I attended school +in Rockford, Miss Ashton was a pupil in the same institution; but, when +I learned that her mother, who is a widow, took in sewing, to pay her +school bills, I did not care to cultivate her acquaintance. She left +school about the same time with myself, and I heard no more of her till +she obtained a situation in this city." "Pardon me," replied the young +physician; "but I see nothing in what you have stated that is in the +least disparaging to the young lady; and I should be much pleased to +make her acquaintance." "Our ideas slightly vary, in these matters," +replied Miss Carlton, with a haughty toss of her head; "but I will not +detain you from seeking the introduction for which you seem so anxious. +I am sorry I cannot oblige you by introducing you myself; but as I did +not associate with her when at school, I am still leas inclined to do so +at the present time; I hope, however, you may find her an agreeable +acquaintance;" and with a haughty manner she swept from his side in +quest of companions whose tastes were more congenial. Dr. Winthrop +obtained the desired introduction; and if Miss Carlton <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 42]</span>indulged the +hope that he would find Miss Ashton an agreeable acquaintance, there was +soon a fair prospect that her wishes would be realized; for the marked +attention which Dr. Winthrop paid the lovely and engaging Miss Ashton +soon formed the chief topic of conversation among the circle of their +acquaintances. For once, public rumor was correct. Dr. Winthrop was very +wealthy; but when a mere youth he had a decided taste for the study of +medicine; and his parents allowed him to follow the bent of his own +inclinations, in fitting himself for a profession for which he +entertained so strong a liking. He had an uncle residing in a distant +city, who was also a physician of high reputation, and, after passing +through the necessary course of study, he had practiced his profession +for two years under the direction of his uncle, before removing to the +city of H. Up to the time when we introduced him to the reader matrimony +was a subject to which he had never given a serious thought, and until +he met with Miss Ashton he had never felt any personal interest in the +matter. From what I have already said the reader will not be surprised +to learn that the acquaintance begun at Mrs. Milford's party terminated +in a matrimonial engagement; with the free consent of all who had a +right to a voice in the matter. When the matter became known it caused +quite a sensation in the circles in which Dr. Winthrop had moved since +his residence in the city; but, happily <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 43]</span>for him, he was possessed of +too independent a spirit to suffer any annoyance from any malicious +remarks which chanced to reach his ears. When Miss Carlton first learned +of the engagement, she indulged in a long fit of spiteful tears, to the +imminent risk of appearing with red eyes at the forthcoming evening +party. In due time the marriage took place; and the young physician and +his lovely bride set out on their wedding tour amid the congratulations +and good wishes of many true friends. After their departure Mrs. Carlton +remarked to several of her 'dear friends' "that she had long since +discovered that Dr. Winthrop was not possessed of refined tastes; and +for her part she thought Miss Ashton much better suited to be his wife +than many others which she could name." Had the doctor been present to +express his sentiments regarding this matter, they would in all +probability have exactly agreed with those already expressed by Mrs. +Carlton. During their wedding tour, which occupied several weeks, they +visited many places of note, both in Canada and the United States. Upon +their return to the city Dr. Winthrop purchased an elegant house in a +central location, which he furnished in a style justified by his +abundant means; and with his wife and her mother removed thither.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, we will again bestow a passing glance upon this happy +family after the lapse of some twenty years. We find Dr. Winthrop now +past the meridian of <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 44]</span>life, surrounded by an interesting family of sons +and daughters, whom he is endeavoring to train for spheres of usefulness +in this life, as well as for happiness in the "life to come." His +graceful and dignified wife still gladdens his heart and home. Time has +dealt very gently with her; she is quite as good and almost as beautiful +as when we last saw her twenty years ago. The two eldest of their family +are boys, and this is their last year in College. Mrs. Winthrop has thus +far attended herself to the education of her two daughters. Along with +many other useful lessons, she often seeks to impress upon their minds +the sin and folly of treating with contempt and scorn those who may be +less favored than themselves in a worldly point of view; and to impress +the lesson more strongly upon their young minds, she has more than once +spoken to them of her own early history, and of the trials to which she +was subject in her youthful days. But what of Mrs. Ashton? She still +lives; although her once active form is beginning to bow beneath the +weight of years, and her hair has grown silvery white. This year Dr. +Winthrop has completed his preparations for leaving the city after more +than twenty years close application to his profession. He resolved to +remove with his family to some quiet country village, which would afford +sufficient practice to prevent time from hanging heavily upon his hands; +but he now felt quite willing to resign his fatiguing and extensive +<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 45]</span>practice in the city. When he first formed the idea of seeking a +country home, he enquired of his wife, if she had any choice regarding a +location. "If it meets your wishes," replied she, "no other place would +please me so well as the village of W, the home of my childhood and +youth, and where my dear father is buried." He soon after made a journey +to W, and was so much pleased with the thriving appearance of the +village, and the industry and sobriety of the inhabitants, that he +decided to seek there a home. Before he left his home, his wife +requested him, should he decide upon removing to W, if possible to +re-purchase their old home, knowing how much this would please her now +aged mother. The purchase was soon completed, and ere he left the +village the old house was in the hands of workmen, with his instructions +as to improvements and repairs. Mrs. Ashton was very happy when she +learned that they were to return to W. "I have been happy here," said +she, "but I shall be still happier there." In a short time they removed +from the city to take possession of the "dear old home" in W, now +enlarged and adorned in various ways; but the same clear brook still +flowed at the foot of the garden, and the same trees, only that they +were older, and their branches had grown more wide spreading, shaded the +dwelling. As they passed beneath the shade of those well-remembered +trees, Mrs. Winthrop addressed her mother, saying, "Do you remem<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 46]</span>ber, +mamma, how sad we felt the morning we left our home so many years ago, +and we little thought it would ever again be ours." Mrs. Ashton gazed +fondly upon her daughter and the blooming children at her side, as she +replied in the language of the Psalmist, "I have been young and now am +old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging +bread."</p><p><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 47]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THOUGHTS_ON_AUTUMN" id="THOUGHTS_ON_AUTUMN"></a>THOUGHTS ON AUTUMN.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 141px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-003.png" width="141" height="141" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><p>gain has the season of Autumn arrived. The stated +changes of the seasons serve as monitors to remind us of the flight of +time; and upon such occasions the most unthinking can hardly avoid +pausing to reflect upon the past, the present, and the probable future. +Autumn has been properly styled the "Sabbath of the year." Its scenes +are adapted to awaken sober and profitable reflection; and the voice +with which it appeals to our reflective powers is deserving of regard. +This season is suggestive of thoughts and feelings which are not called +forth by any other; standing, as it were, a pause between life and +death; holding in its lap the consummate fruits of the earth, which are +culled by the hand of prudence and judgment, some to be garnered in the +treasury of useful things, while others are allowed to return to their +primitive elements. When spring comes smiling o'er the earth, she +breathes on the ice-bound waters, and they flow anew. Frost and snow +retreat before her advancing footsteps. The earth is clothed with +verdure, and the trees put forth their <a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 48]</span>leaves. Again, a few short +months, and where has all this beauty fled? The trees stand firm as +before; but, with every passing breeze, a portion of their once green +leaves now fall to the ground. We behold the bright flowers, which +beautify the earth, open their rich petals, shed their fragrance on the +breeze, and then droop and perish. Sad emblem of the perishing nature of +all things earthly. May we not behold in the fading vegetation, and the +falling leaves of autumn, a true type of human life? Truly "we all do +fade as a leaf." Life at the best is but a shadow that passes quickly +away. Why then this love of gain, this thirst for fame and distinction? +Let us approach yonder church-yard and there seek for distinction. There +we may behold marble tablets cold as the clay which rests beneath them: +their varied inscriptions of youth, beauty, age, ambition, pride and +vanity, are all here brought to one common level, like the leaves which +in autumn fall to the earth, not one pre-eminent over another. The +inspired writers exhibit the frailty of man by comparing him to the +grass and the flowers withering and dying under the progress and +vicissitudes of the year; and with the return of autumn we may behold in +the external appearance of nature the changes to which the sacred penman +refers, when he says, "So is man. His days are as grass; as a flower of +the field so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is +gone; and the place thereof <a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 49]</span>shall know it no more." Autumn too, is the +season of storms. Let this remind us of the storms of life. Scattered +around us, are the wrecks of the tempests which have beaten upon others, +and we cannot expect always ourselves to be exempt. Autumn is also the +season of preparation for winter. Let us remember that the winter of +death is at hand, and let us be impressed with the importance of making +preparation for its approach. Let us then, as we look upon the changed +face of nature, take home the lesson which it teaches; and, while we +consider the perishable nature of all things pertaining to this life, +may we learn to prepare for another and a happier state of being.</p><p><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 50]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="WANDERING_DAVY" id="WANDERING_DAVY"></a>WANDERING DAVY.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p>t was while I was spending a few days in the dwelling of +Mr. C., a Scottish immigrant, that he received a long letter from his +friends in Scotland. After perusing the letter he addressed his wife, +saying: "So auld Davy's gone at last." "Puir man," replied Mrs. C. "If +he's dead let us hope that he has found that rest and peace which has +been so long denied him in this life." "And who was old Davy? may I +enquire," said I, addressing Mr. C. "Ay, man," he replied, "tis a sad +story; but when my work is by for the night, I'll tell ye a' that I ken +o' the life o' Davy Stuart." I was then young and very imaginative; and +a story of any kind possessed much interest for me; and the thought that +the story of Old Davy was to be a true one, rendered it doubly +interesting; so I almost counted the hours of the remaining portion of +the day; and when evening came I was not slow to remind Mr. C. of his +promise. Accordingly he related to me the following particulars of the +life of David Stuart; which I give, as nearly as possible, in his own +words; for it seems to me that the story would lose half its interest +were I to render it otherwise.</p><p><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<p>"Davy Stuart was an aul' man when I was a wee boy at the school. I had +aye been used wi' him; for he often bided wi' us for days thegither; and +while a boy I gave little heed to his odd ways an' wanderin' mode o' +life; for he was very kind to mysel' an' a younger brither, an' we +thought muckle o' him; but when we had grown up to manhood my father +tell'd us what had changed Davy Stuart from a usefu' an' active man to +the puir demented body he then was. He was born in a small parish in the +south of Scotland, o' respectable honest parents, who spared nae pains +as he grew up to instruct him in his duty to baith God an' man. At quite +an early age he was sent to the parish school; where he remained maist +o' the time till he reached the age o' fourteen years. At that time he +was apprenticed to learn the trade o' a shoemaker, in a distant town. It +wad seem that he served his time faithfully, an' gained a thorough +knowledge o' his trade. Upon leaving his master, after paying a short +visit to his native parish, he gie'd awa' to the City of Glasgow, to +begin the warld for himself. He continued steady and industrious, and +was prospered accordingly; and at the age o' twenty-five he had saved +considerable money. It was about this time, that he was married to a +worthy young woman, to whom he had been long deeply attached. They had +but one bairn, a fine boy, who was the delight o' his father's heart, +and I hae heard it said by they who kenn'd them <a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 52]</span>at the time, that a +bonnier or mair winsome hoy could'na hae been found in the city, than +wee Geordie Stuart. Time gied on till Geordie was near twelve year aul', +when it began to be talked o' among Mr. Stuart's friends that he was +becoming owre fond o' drink. How the habit was first formed naebody +could tell; but certain it was, that during the past year he had been +often seen the war o' drink. His wife, puir body, admonished an' +entreated him to break awa' frae the sinfu' habit, and he often, when +moved by her tears, made resolutions o' amendment, which were broken +maist as soon as made; an' it was during a longer season o' sobriety +than was usual wi' him, that his wife thinkin' if he was once awa' frae +the great city he would be less in the way o' temptation, persuaded him +to leave Glasgow an' remove to the sma' village o' Mill-Burn, a little +way frae the farm which my father rented.</p> + +<p>"I well mind, said my father, o' the time when they first cam' among us, +an' how kin' was a' the neebors, to his pale sad-lookin' wife and the +bonny light-hearted Geordie, who was owre young at the time, to realize +to its fu' extent the sad habit into which his father had fa'n. When Mr. +Stuart first came to our village he again took up his aul' habits o' +industry, an' for a long time would'na taste drink ava; but when the +excitement o' the sudden change had worn off, his aul' likin' for strong +drink cam' back wi' fu' force, an' he, <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 53]</span>puir weak man, had'na the +strength o' mind to withstand it. He soon became even war than before; +his money was a' gane, he did'na work, so what was there but poverty for +his wife an' child. But it is useless for me to linger o'er the sad +story. When they had lived at Mill-Burn a little better than a twelve +month; his wife died, the neebors said o' a broken heart. A wee while +afore her death she ca'd Davy to her bed-side, an' once mair talked lang +an' earnestly to him o' the evil habit which had gotten sic a hold o' +him, an' begged him for the sake o' their dear Geordie, who; she +reminded him, would soon be left without a mither to care for him, to +make still anither effort to free himself frae the deadly habit. I +believe Davy was sincere when he promised the dyin' woman that he wad +gie up drink. Wi' a' his faults, he had tenderly loved his wife, an' I +hae nae doubt fully intended keepin' the promise he made her. For a lang +time after her death, he was ne'er seen to enter a public house ava', +an' again he applied himsel' to his wark wi' much industry. After the +death o' Mrs. Stuart Geordie an' his father bided a' their lane. Their +house was on the ither side o' the burn which crossed the high-road, a +wee bit out o' the village. Time gie'd on for some time wi' them in this +way. Davy continued sober and industrious, an' the neebors began to hae +hopes that he had gotten the better o' his evil habit; he had ne'er been +kenned to taste strong <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 54]</span>drink o' ony kin' sin' the death o' his wife. +One evening after he an' Geordie had ta'en their suppers, he made +himsel' ready to gang out, saying to Geordie that he was gaun' doon to +the village for a wee while, and that he was to bide i' the house an' he +would'na be lang awa'. The hours wore awa' till ten o'clock, an' he +had'na cam' hame. It was aye supposed that the boy, becoming uneasy at +his father's lang stay, had set out to look for him, when by some +mishap, it will ne'er be kenned what way, he lost his footin', an' fell +frae the end o' the narrow brig which crossed the burn. The burn was'na +large, but a heavy rain had lately fa'n, an' there was aye a deep bit at +one end o' the brig. He had fa'n head first into the water in sic a way +that he could'na possibly won 'oot. It was a clear moonlicht night, an' +when Davy reached the brig, the first thing he saw was his ain son lyin +i' the water. I hae often been told that a sudden shock o' ony kind will +sober a drunken man. It was sae wi' Davy; for the first neebor who, +hearin' his cries for assistance, ran to the spot, found him standin i' +the middle o' the brig, perfectly sober, wi' the drooned boy in his +arms; although it was weel kenned that he was quite drunk when he left +the village. Every means was used for the recovery o' the boy, but it +was a' useless, he was quite deed an' caul'. "Ah," said Davy, when +tell'd by the doctor that the boy was indeed dead, "my punishment is +greater than I can bear." Geordie had <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 55]</span>aye been as "the apple o' his +een"; never had he been kenned to ill use the boy, even when under the +influence o' drink; and the shock was too much for his reason. Many +wondered at his calmness a' the while the body lay i' the house afore +the burial—but it was the calmness o' despair; he just seemed like ane +turned to stane. The first thing that roused him was the sound o' the +first earth that fell on puir Geordie's coffin. He gie'd ae bitter +groan, an' wad' hae fa'n to the earth had'na a kind neebor supported +him. His mind wandered frae that hour; he was aye harmless, but the +light o' reason never cam' back to his tortured mind. Sometimes he wad +sit for hours by Geordie's grave, an' fancy that he talked wi' him. On +these occasions nothing wad induce him to leave the grave till some +ither fancy attracted his mind. As I hae before said he was never +outrageous, but seemed most o' the time, when silent, to be in deep +thought; but his reason was quite gone, and the doctors allowed that his +case was beyond cure. Many questioned them as to whether it were safe to +allow him his liberty, lest he might do some deed o' violence; but they +gave it as their opinion that his disease was'na at a' likely to tak' +that turn wi' him, an' so he was left to wander on. He never bided verra +lang in a place, but wandered frae house to house through a' the +country-side: and every one treated him wi' kindness. The sight o' a +bonny fair-haired boy aye gave him muckle pleasure, an' he <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 56]</span>wad whiles +hae the idea that Geordie had cam' back to him. From the day o' +Geordie's death to that o' his ain', which took place a month sine, he +was ne'er kenned to taste strong drink; he could'na bear even the sight +o' it. He lived to a verra great age, an' for many years they who did'na +ken the story o' his early life ha'e ca'd him Wanderin' Davy. I hae noo +tell'd you his story," said Mr. C. addressing me; "an' I hope it may +prove a warnin' to you an' ithers o' the awfu' evils o' intemperance; +an' I think it's high time my story was finished, for I see by the clock +that it's growin' unco late." When the evening psalm had been sung, Mr. +C. read a portion of the Scriptures and offered the usual nightly +prayer, and soon after we all sought repose; but it was long ere I +slept. The story I had listened to still floated through my mind, and +when sleep at length closed my eyes it was to dream of "Wandering Davy," +and the poor drowned boy.</p><p><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 57]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LOOKING_ON_THE_DARK_SIDE" id="LOOKING_ON_THE_DARK_SIDE"></a>LOOKING ON THE DARK SIDE.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p>t is an old but true saying, that "troubles come soon +enough without meeting them half way." But I think my friend Mrs. Talbot +had never chanced to hear this saying, old as it is; for she was +extremely prone at all times to look only upon the dark side, and this +habit was a source of much trouble to herself as well as her family. Mr. +Talbot might properly have been called a well-to-do farmer. They were +surrounded by an intelligent and interesting family; and a stranger, in +taking a passing view of their home and its surroundings, would have +been strongly inclined to think that happiness and contentment might be +found beneath their roof; but a short sojourn in the dwelling alluded to +would certainly have dispelled the illusion. This Mrs. Talbot was +possessed of a most unhappy disposition. She seemed to entertain the +idea that the whole world was in league to render her miserable. It has +often struck me with surprise, that a person surrounded with so much to +render life happy should indulge in so discontented and repining a +temper as did Mrs. Talbot. She <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 58]</span>was famous for dwelling at length upon +her trials, as often as she could obtain a listener; and when I first +became acquainted with her I really regarded her with a feeling of pity; +but after a time I mentally decided that the greater part of her +grievances existed only in her own imagination. She spent a large +portion of her time in deploring the sins of the whole world in general, +and of her own family and immediate neighbors in particular; while she +looked upon herself as having almost, if not quite, attained to +perfection.</p> + +<p>I recollect calling one day upon Mr. Talbot; he was of a very social +disposition, and we engaged for a short time in a lively conversation. +Mrs. Talbot was present, and, strange to tell, once actually laughed at +some amusing remark made by her husband. He soon after left the room, +and her countenance resumed its usual doleful expression as she +addressed me, saying, "I wish I could have any hopes of Mr. Talbot; but +I am afraid the last state of that man will be worse than the first." I +questioned her as to her meaning; and she went on to tell me that her +husband had once made a profession of religion; but she feared he was +then in a "backslidden state," as she termed it. I know not how this +matter might have been; but during my acquaintance with Mr. Talbot I +never observed any thing in his conduct which to me seemed inconsistent +with a profession of religion. He certainly excelled his wife in one +thing, and that was christian charity; <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 59]</span>for he was seldom if ever heard +to speak of the shortcomings of others. It is quite possible that he +thought his wife said enough upon the subject to suffice for both. Mrs. +Talbot made a point of visiting her neighbors, if she chanced to hear of +their meeting with any trouble or misfortune. The reason she gave for so +doing was that she might sympathize with them; and if sickness invaded a +household Mrs. Talbot was sure to be there; but I used often to think +that her friends must look upon her as one of "Job's comforters," for no +sickness was so severe, no misfortune so great, that she did not +prophesy something worse still. According to her own ideas she was often +favored with warnings of sickness and misfortune both to her own family +and others. She was also a famous believer in dreams; and often +entertained her friends at the breakfast table by relating her dreams of +the previous night. I remember meeting with her upon one occasion, when +it struck me that her countenance wore a look of unusual solemnity, even +for her, so much so, that I enquired the cause, "Ah!" said she, "we are +to have sickness, perhaps death, in our family very soon; for only last +night I dreamed I saw a white horse coming toward our house upon the +full gallop; and to dream of a white horse is a sure sign of sickness, +and the faster the horse seems in our dream to be approaching us the +sooner the sickness will come." Her husband often remonstrated with her +upon the <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 60]</span>folly of indulging in these idle fancies. I remember a reply +he once made to some of her gloomy forebodings "I think the best way is +for each one to discharge their duty in the different relations of life; +and leave the future in the hands of an All-wise Providence." "That is +always the way with you," was her reply. "You have grown heedless and +careless with your love of the world; but you will perhaps think of my +warnings when too late." Before meeting with Mrs. Talbot I had often +heard the remark that none were so cheerful as the true Christian; but I +soon saw that her views must be widely different. A hearty laugh she +seemed to regard as almost a crime. A cheerful laugh upon any occasion +would cause her to shake her head in a rueful manner, and denounce it as +untimely mirth. Upon one occasion she went to hear a preacher that had +lately arrived in the neighboring village. This same preacher was +remarkable for drawing dismal pictures, and was very severe in his +denunciations, while he quite forgot to offer a word of encouragement to +the humble seeker after good. Upon the Sabbath in question Mrs. Talbot +returned from church, and seated herself at the dinner table with a +countenance of moot woeful solemnity. Her husband at length enquired, +how she had enjoyed the sermon. "O!" replied she, "he is a preacher +after my own heart, and his sermon explained all my views clearly." +"Indeed," replied Mr. Talbot, "he must have a won<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 61]</span>derful flow of +language to have handled so extensive a subject, in the usual time +allotted to a sermon." His answer displeased her very much. Among her +other gloomy forebodings she always seemed sure of the fact that Mr. +Talbot would survive her; and she replied: "That is always the way. You +make light of every thing I say; and I only hope you won't have all +these things to repent of when I shall be no more." Mr. Talbot seemed +sorry he had wounded her feelings, and replied: "We shall both live our +appointed time, and it is not for us to decide which of us will be first +removed." The last time I saw Mrs. Talbot she was indulging in her +anticipation of some coming calamity. I have learned from various +sources, that since I last saw her she has met <i>real</i> afflictions of a +very trying nature, even to the most hopeful; and it may be that the +presence of real troubles have put to flight many which were only +imaginary; and she may by this time have learned to be thankful for +whatever of blessings may yet be left her in her path through life.</p><p><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 62]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="EDWARD_BARTON" id="EDWARD_BARTON"></a>EDWARD BARTON.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 144px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-004.png" width="144" height="139" alt="M" title="" /> +</div><p>y schoolmate Edward Barton, or 'Ned,' as he was usually called by the +boys, was such an odd character in his way, that I trust my readers will +pardon me for introducing him to their notice. His father was a +physician in a distant village, and was justly esteemed among the +residents of the place. He had an extensive practice both in the village +and surrounding country, and his time was very much occupied; and as Ned +grew up he proved a source of constant anxiety to his father, who, being +unable to keep him under his own eye, at length decided to send him to +reside with some relatives in a farming district some twenty miles from +his home. Ned's disposition was a singular compound of good and evil, +and his conduct depended, in a great measure, upon the companions he +associated with. He was easily persuaded, and often during his father's +frequent and lengthened absences from home he played truant from school, +and associated with the worst boys in the village. I well remember the +morning he first entered our school. He was then about twelve years of +age; <a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 63]</span>but owing to his carelessness and inattention, he had made but +slight progress in study. I learned afterward that he had so long borne +the names of "dunce" and "blockhead" in the school he attended in his +own village that he supposed himself to be really such, and made up his +mind that it was useless for him to try to be anything else: and I think +when our teacher first called him up for examination he was inclined to +be of the same opinion. The teacher first addressed him by saying, "How +far have you advanced in reading, my boy?" "Don't know, sir, never +thought any thing about how far I've been." "Well, at least," replied +the master, "you can tell me the names of the books you have studied, in +reading and spelling." "Oh, yes," replied the boy. "I've been clean +through 'Webster's Elementary and the Progressive Reader.'" "Can you +tell me the subject of any of your lessons?" "I can just remember one +story, about a dog that was crossing a river on a plank with a piece of +meat in his mouth, and when he saw his shadder in the water, made a +spring at it, and dropped the meat which he held in his mouth, and it +was at once carried away by the current." "Well," said the teacher, "as +you remember the story so well, you can perhaps tell me what lesson we +can learn from this fable." "I thought," replied the boy, "when I read +the story, that the best way is to hold on to what we are sure of, and +not grab after a shadder and lose the whole." "Your idea is certainly <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 64]</span>a +correct one," said the master, "and now we will turn to some other +branch of study; can you cipher?" "Don't know, I never tried," replied +the boy, with the greatest coolness imaginable. "Well," replied the +teacher, "we will, after a time, see how you succeed, when you <i>do</i> try. +Can you tell me what the study of Geography teaches us?" "O," said the +boy, "geography tells all about the world, the folks who live in it, and +'most everything else." The master then asked him some questions +regarding the divisions of land and water, and for a short time he +answered with some degree of correctness. At length, while referring to +the divisions of water, the master said, "Can you tell me what is a +strait?" This question seemed a "puzzler" to him, and for some moments +he looked downward as if studying the matter; when the question was +repeated in rather a sharp tone, it seemed he thought it wiser to give +an answer of some kind than none at all, and he replied: "When a river +runs in a straight course, we call it straight, and when it twists and +winds about, we call it crooked." "A river is not a strait," replied the +teacher with the manner of one who prayed for patience. "Well! at any +rate," said the boy, "straight is straight, and crooked is crooked, and +that is all I know about it." It was evident from the teacher's manner +that he was half inclined to think the boy was endeavoring to impose +upon him by feigning ignorance; and he dismissed him <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 65]</span>to his seat for +the time being, thinking, no doubt, that he had met with a case out of +the common order of school experience. It seems that the boy had never +before attended school with punctuality, and it required a long time, to +teach him to observe anything like system, either in his conduct or +studies. Our teacher, though very firm, was mild and judicious in his +government; and, thinking that possibly Ned's disposition had been +injured by former harshness at school, resolved to avoid inflicting +corporal punishment as long as possible; and try upon him the effect of +kindness and mild persuasion. He had one very annoying habit, and that +was he would very seldom give a satisfactory answer if suddenly asked a +direct question, and often his reply would be very absurd, sometimes +bordering on downright impudence. The master noticed one afternoon, +after calling the boys from their play at recess, that Ned had not +entered the school-room with the others. Stepping to the door, he found +him seated very composedly in the yard, working busily upon a toy he was +fashioning with a knife from a piece of wood. "Why do you remain +outside, Edward, after the other boys are called in?" said the master. +"Cos I did'nt come in, sir," replied Ned, without looking up, or even +pausing in his employment This was too much for the patience of any one; +and seizing him by the arm the master drew him into a small room which +adjoined the school-<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 66]</span>room; and bestowed upon him, what Ned afterward +confidentially informed us, was "a regular old-fashioned thrashing." I +was not aware till then that the style of using the rod was liable to +change, but it would seem that Ned thought otherwise; and if his screams +upon this occasion were taken as proof in the matter, I should be +inclined to think the old-fashioned method very effective. The whipping +which Ned received created quite a sensation among us boys, for it was +not often that Mr. S. used the rod; We began to have our fears that as +he had got his "hand in," more of us might share the fate of poor Ned. +In a very serious conversation which we held upon the matter, on our way +home that evening, some of us asked Ned why he screamed so loud. "I +thought," said he, "if I hollered pretty well, he would think he'd +licked me enough and stop; but I don't see what great harm I did any +way. He asked why I stayed out; and I said, cos I did't go in, and I am +sure I could'nt give a better reason than that." Time passed on, and by +degrees Ned dropped many of his odd ways; and began to make tolerable +progress in study; but still much patience and forbearance was necessary +on the part of the teacher. He had the same habit of frequently giving +absurd answers in his class, as well as upon other occasions; but after +a time his stupid answers were much less frequent, and Mr. S. began to +indulge the hope that he would soon overcome the <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 67]</span>habit entirely. When +he had attended school for about six months, as was the custom two or +three times a year, we passed under what to the school boys was an +"awful review" in presence of those awe-inspiring personages, termed in +those days the school-trustees, and any other friends of the school, who +might chance to be present. We all, even to the teacher, had our fears +lest Ned (who had not yet entirely discontinued the practice) should +give some of his comical answers when questioned by our visitors; but +the day came, and with it the school-trustees and a number of other +friends. The classes were first examined in reading and spelling; and +Ned acquitted himself much better than we had dared to hope; and we +began to think he might pass the afternoon without making any serious +blunder. After the reading and spelling lessons, the class was summoned +for examination in Geography. Elated by his success in reading and +spelling, Ned took his place with a pompous consequential manner, as if +expecting to win countless laurels for his proficiency. He got along +very well till some one put the question, "What may the Island of +Australia properly be called on account of its vast size?" "One of the +Pyramids," answered Ned, in a loud confident voice. The gentleman who +was questioning us looked astounded, and there fell an awkward silence, +which only was broken by the half-smothered laughter of the others in +the class. The teacher, <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 68]</span>wishing to get over the matter in some way, at +length said, "I am surprised, Edward, that you should give so senseless +an answer to so simple a question." Now, one very striking peculiarity +in Ned's character was his unwillingness to acknowledge himself in the +wrong, however ridiculous his answer might be; and he was disposed to +argue his point upon this occasion. "Any way," said he, "the Pyramids +are large, and so is Australia; and I thought it might sometimes be +called a pyramid for convenience of description." The idea of Ned +entering into an argument with the trustees of the school struck the +rest of the boys as so extremely ludicrous, that our long pent-up mirth +found vent in a burst of laughter through the whole class, and no one +present had the heart to chide us; for it was with intense difficulty +that the elderly gentlemen maintained their own gravity. The teacher was +obliged to exercise his authority before Ned could be silenced; and the +remaining part of the examination proved rather a failure. I know not +how it happened, but from that day there was a marked improvement in +Edward Barton, in every respect. He attended the school for two years; +and when he left us it was to accompany his parents to one of the far +Western States. His father had relatives residing in the west, and had +received from them such glowing accounts of the country, that he decided +upon removing thither. Any one who saw Ned when he left us would almost +<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 69]</span>have failed to recognize him as the same boy who entered the school two +years previous. Mr. S. was his friend as well as his teacher; and during +the second year of his stay took a deep interest in him; he had +thoroughly studied his disposition, and learned to bear with his faults, +and under his judicious management Ned began really to make good +progress in study. We had all become attached to him, and were all sorry +when he left us. He was much elated with the prospect of his journey to +the West; and talked much of the wonders he expected to behold on his +way thither. He came one day at the noon-hour to collect his books and +bid us good-bye, his father having come to take him home for a short +time before setting out on their journey. The boys were all on the +play-ground when he entered the school-room to bid his teacher good-bye. +When he came out he looked very sober, and there was a suspicious +moisture in his eyes which very much resembled tears. Instead of the +usual noisy mirth on the play-ground there was almost complete silence, +while Ned shook hands with us one by one, saying, "he would tell us all +the wonders of the Western World when he came back." Years have rolled +by with their various changes since that day; he has never yet returned; +and I have only heard from him two or three times during the time. My +last tidings were, that he was married and settled down to a life of +industry upon a fine farm, in his <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 70]</span>western home; but I sometimes, when I +think of him, even yet wonder, if he has learned the difference between +the "Pyramids of Egypt" and the "Island Continent of Australia."</p><p><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 71]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_WEARY_AT_REST" id="THE_WEARY_AT_REST"></a>THE WEARY AT REST.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 189px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-005.png" width="189" height="180" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><p>he weary at rest. This idea was very strongly impressed +upon my mind by a funeral which I once attended in the distant village +of C. It was that of a very aged woman, whom I had often heard mentioned +as one who had been subjected for many years to bodily suffering in no +ordinary degree. I had never seen her, but was acquainted with many who +visited her frequently; and I became interested from hearing her so +often spoken of as a bright example of patience and resignation under +affliction; and I was accustomed to enquire for her as often as I had +opportunity. Owing to a rheumatic affection of her limbs, she had, as I +was informed, been unable, for several years, to rise from her bed +without assistance, and much of the time experienced severe pain. I was +informed by her friends that through her protracted period of suffering +she was never heard to utter a complaining or repining word, but was +found daily in a calm, even cheerful frame of mind. After a time I left +the village and returned to my home. Returning thither to visit some +relatives after the lapse of a few months, I met <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 72]</span>with a friend, soon +after my arrival, who informed me of the death of old Mrs. H., which had +taken place the day previous. Two days later I joined the large numbers +who assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to one of the oldest +residents of their village. As is usual upon funeral occasions, the +coffin was placed in front of the pulpit, and a large number occupied +the front pews which were appropriated to the friends of the deceased. +In those pews were seated men in whose hair the silver threads were +beginning to mingle, and women who were themselves mothers of families, +who all met around the coffin of their aged mother. Childhood, youth and +middle age was all represented in that company of mourners. Their +pastor, Mr. M., delivered a very appropriate discourse from the words. +"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." In the course of his sermon +he took occasion to remark, that a funeral discourse should apply to the +living—not the dead. I had before listened to different sermons from +this same text; but I never listened to a more searching application of +the words than upon this occasion.</p> + +<p>Near the close of his sermon, he said: "I presume many of you are aware +that I deem it unnecessary as well as unwise, on occasions of this kind, +for a minister to dwell at length, upon the life and character of the +deceased, for, as I have before said, our duty is with the living; but +upon the present occasion, I think I may with propriety say, that we see +before us the <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 73]</span>lifeless remains of one who has 'died in the Lord.' I +have been for many years acquainted with our aged sister now departed, +and have ever regarded her as an humble and earnest christian. I have +frequently visited her during her lengthened period of suffering; and +have felt deeply humbled for my own want of resignation to the ills of +life, when I observed the exemplary manner with which this aged woman +bore her sufferings, which at times were very severe; and more than +this, I stood by her dying bed, which I can truly say presented a +foretaste of heavenly triumph."</p> + +<p>At the close of the service permission was given for any one who was +desirous of so doing to look upon the "corpse," and with many others I +drew nigh the coffin. I had been told that the habitual expression of +her countenance was one of pain, and I was surprised by the calm and +peaceful expression which rested upon the face of the dead. There was no +sign of past suffering visible; and the idea of perfect rest was +conveyed to my mind, as I gazed upon her now lifeless features. When the +strangers had all retired the relatives and near friends drew nigh to +take their last sad look of the aged one who in life had been so dear to +them. It seemed that her age and utter helplessness had all the more +endeared her to her children and other friends; and many of them wept +audibly as they retired from the coffin. As the coffin was borne from +the church, the choir sung in subdued <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 74]</span>tones, accompanied by the solemn +notes of the organ, the beautiful hymn commencing with the lines.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Saviour hath passed through its portals before thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>When the long procession reached the church yard, the coffin was lowered +to its final resting place, and the Burial Service was read by their +pastor, and most of the company departed to their homes. I know not how +it was, but, although a stranger to the deceased, I was among the few +who lingered till the grave was filled up. That funeral impressed me +deeply; and has often since recurred to my mind, amid the cares and +turmoil of after life.</p><p><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 75]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_RAINY_AFTERNOON" id="THE_RAINY_AFTERNOON"></a>THE RAINY AFTERNOON.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p>t's too bad," exclaimed Harry Knights, as he turned +from the window, where for the last ten minutes he had been silently +watching the heavy drops of rain as they pattered against the glass. +"It's too bad," repeated he, "we can have no out-of-door play this +afternoon;" and as he spoke his face wore a most rueful expression. I +was one among a number of Harry's school-mates who had gone to spend the +day at the farm of Mr. Knights, Harry's father. The eldest of our number +was not more than fourteen; and for a long time we had looked forward to +this day with many bright anticipations of fun and enjoyment. The +important day at length arrived, and so early did we set out upon our +excursion that we reached Harry's home before eight o'clock in the +morning. We spent the forenoon in rambling over the farm, searching out +every nook and corner which possessed any interest to our boyish minds. +Accompanied by Harry we visited all his favourite haunts—which included +a fine stream of water, where there was an abundance of fish; also a +<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 76]</span>ledge of rocks which contained a curious sort of cave, formed by a wide +aperture in the rocks; and, last, though "not least," a pond of water +which, owing to its extreme beauty of appearance, Harry had named the +"Enchanted Pond." He had said so much to us regarding the uncommon +beauty of this spot that some of the boys, myself among the number, had +often been inclined to ridicule him; but when we came within view of it, +I for one ceased to wonder at his admiration; for, before nor since, I +never looked upon so lovely a scene. The pond was situated upon the back +portion of the farm, in a clearing which had been made by a settler who +had occupied the land for some years before it was purchased by Mr. +Knights. The form of the pond was entirely circular, and it was +surrounded by a green field, in which had been left standing, here and +there, some fine old trees to add to the effect. I remember when I first +gained a view of the spot, it reminded me of a surface of polished +silver, bordered with emeralds. As we drew nigh we could see that its +smooth waters were thickly dotted with the pure blossoms of the +pond-lily. I have never since visited the spot, but the view I obtained +of it that day, now so long ago, is still vividly present to my mind. By +the time we again reached the farm-house the dinner-hour had arrived; +and our long continued exercise in the open air had so much improved our +appetites that we did ample justice to the good <a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 77]</span>things set before us. +Dinner being over we observed, what had before escaped our notice, that +the sky was becoming overcast with dark clouds, and soon a heavy rain +began to fall, which put an end to all our plans of out-of-door +enjoyment for the afternoon. As I mentioned at the beginning, Harry was +very much disappointed, for outside sports were his especial delight; +and for a time his face looked almost as dark and forbidding as the sky +itself. We tried to cheer him up, saying we would have some quiet games +in the large dining-room, and we did succeed in getting him to join us; +but somehow or other our games afforded us no enjoyment, and the +question, "what shall we do with ourselves?" began to pass from one to +the other among the group of eager, restless boys. "Would you like me to +tell you a story, boys?" enquired Harry's mother, after observing for a +time our vain attempts at enjoyment. Mrs. Knights was a lady of high +culture, and possessed the happy faculty of rendering herself an +agreeable companion to either the young or old; and more than one pair +of eyes grew bright with pleased anticipation, when she proposed telling +us a story; and, of course, we as eagerly assented to her proposal. +Seating herself our midst, she took up a piece of needlework, saying, "I +can always talk best, when my hands an employed," and began as follows:</p> + +<p>"I suppose none of you, perhaps not even my own<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 78]</span> Harry is aware that my +home has not always been in Canada; but I will now inform you that the +days of my childhood and youth were passed in a pretty town near the +base of the Alleghany Mountains in the State of Virginia. I will not +pause at present to give you any further particulars regarding my own +early years, as the story I am about to relate is concerning one of my +schoolmates who was a few years older than myself. The Pastor of the +Church in the small village where my parents resided had but one son; +and, when quite a little girl, I remember him as one of the elder pupils +in the school I attended. I was too young at that time to pay much +attention to passing events, but I afterward learned that, even then, +his conduct was a source of much anxiety and sorrow to his parents, his +ready talent, great vivacity, and love of amusement continually led him +into mischief and caused him to be disliked by many of their neighbors. +It was in vain that the villages complained, in vain that his father +admonished and his mother wept; still the orchards were robbed, the +turkeys chased into the woods, and the logs of wood in the fireplaces +often burst into fragments by concealed powder. Time passed on, till he +reached the age of sixteen years, when, spurning the restraints of home, +the erring boy left his father's house and became a wanderer, no one +knew whither; but it was rumored that reaching a sea-port town he had +entered a merchant vessel bound upon a whaling voyage for three <a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 79]</span>years. +During the last year of his stay at home his conduct had been very +rebellious, and his father almost looked upon him as given over to a +reprobate mind. After his departure, his father was seldom heard to +mention his name, but his friends observed that his hair fast grew +white, and upon his brow rested an expression of constant grief and +anxiety. He was a man that seldom spoke of his own troubles to any one, +but it was plain to be seen that his erring boy was never absent from +his thoughts, and there was a feeling and pathos in his voice when he +addressed his congregation, especially the younger portion of it, which +had never been noticed before. It was his custom upon the first sabbath +evening in each month to deliver an address to the youth of his flock +and it was noticed that his appeals had never been so earnest before, as +after the departure of his son; but he seldom, if ever, mentioned his +name, not even to his grief-stricken wife. Our pastor was not what could +be properly styled an old man, but it was thought that his grief, like a +canker-worm, sapped the fountains of life, his bodily health became +impaired, his vigor of mind departed, and, ere he had seen sixty years, +death removed him from earth, to a home of happiness in Heaven. The +widow was now bereft of both husband and child. She was comforted +concerning her departed husband, knowing that it was well with him; but +she sorrowed continually for her absent boy; and often, during the +lonely hours of <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 80]</span>night, as the moaning of the winds fell upon her ear, +she would start from her sleepless pillow and utter a prayer for her +poor boy who might even then be tossing on the restless ocean, or +perhaps wrecked upon a dangerous coast. She was a woman of good +education, and much power of thought, and she at length found a partial +relief from her sorrow by writing small works for publication. But how +is it all this time with the wandering "Prodigal?" Nine years have +passed away since he left his home, when an agent for the sale of books +for a large publishing house was spending a few days in one of the large +cities of the west. During his stay in the place, his business as agent +often led him into public places, and on several occasions he noticed a +young man that attracted his attention. There was nothing prepossessing +in his appearance; on the contrary he bore the marks of dissipation in +his countenance; his clothing was old and soiled, and once or twice he +saw him when partially intoxicated. The agent was a middle-aged man, and +was a close observer of those with whom he came in contact, and somehow +or other he felt a strange interest in this young man for which he could +not account; and meeting him so frequently, he determined to speak to +him. As a pretext for accosting him he offered to sell him some books, +although he had no hopes of success. The young man regarded him with +visible surprise, when he enquired if he would not like to purchase a +book.<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 81]</span> "I have no money to spend for books," replied the man, yet as if +unable to resist the impulse, he leaned over the table, on which the +agent had placed several books, and began looking them over; and finally +selecting one, enquired the price, and paid for it. They soon after +parted, and the agent thought they should probably meet no more, as he +expected soon to leave the city. He returned to the hotel where he +boarded, and after tea seated himself on the piazza, to enjoy the cool +evening air; when the same young man suddenly approached him, and +grasping his hand said in a voice choked with emotion: "Tell me, Sir, +where, O where did you get that book?" This young man was the erring but +still loved son of the Virginian widow, who for these long dreary years +had roamed over the earth, unfriended and unaided, vainly imagining his +own arm sufficient towards the ills of life. He had wandered here from +the coasts of the Pacific, where he had been wrecked; his money was +nearly gone, and his health had become impaired by hardship and exposure +as well as his dissipated course of life. As he afterwards said, he had +no intention of reading the book when he purchased it, merely out of +civility to the stranger who accosted him so kindly, but after the agent +left him he opened the book, and a cold dew broke out upon his forehead, +for on the title-page he read the name of his <i>mother</i> as the author. +Her thoughts were continually upon her lost son, and in her <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 82]</span>mind's eye +she often traced his downward career. She imagined him worn and weary, +his days spent in unsatisfying folly; and his moments of reflection +embittered by remorse; unconsciously, in writing this little book she +had drawn from her own feelings and addressed one in this situation. She +pointed to him the falseness of the world, and bade him judge of the +fidelity of the picture by his own experience; and she taught him the +way of return to the paths of peace. And thus it was that the little +book which the wretched young man had selected—one would say so +accidentally, others, so Providentially,—proved the means of his return +from the paths of sin and folly to those of sobriety and usefulness. He soon told his story to +his attentive listener and informed him of the relationship he bore to the author +of the book he had purchased. As he concluded, he said, "Oh, my mother, +why did I leave you to become the hopeless being I am?" "Not hopeless," +replied his companion in gentle tones, "you have youth on your side and +may yet be a useful and happy man. I now understand the unaccountable +interest which I felt in you when meeting you on several occasions +before I spoke to you, and I feel that Providence directed me in the +matter." The agent stayed two days longer in the city, and then +departed; the young man with him, for with the promptitude of his +nature, to resolve was to act. He directed his course toward Virginia, +the star of hope leading him on, and finally <a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 83]</span>approached his native +village. No words are adequate to describe the meeting between the +lonely widow and her long lost, but now returning and penitent son. When +informed that his father had been for some years dead, the shock to him +was great, overpowering, but he uttered no repining word. "I could not," +said he, "expect the happiness of meeting both my parents again after +causing them so much sorrow, and let me be humbly thankful that it is +allowed me to cheer the declining years of my aged mother." "I well +remember," said Mrs. Knights, "the return of the young man to his home, +it was but a short time before I left Virginia, but I have been informed +by friends, still residing there, that he was for several years the +staff and support of his mother, of whom it might be said, "her last +days were her best days." After the death of his mother, as he had no +living tie to bind him to the spot, he removed to another section of +country, where he married and is now a useful and respected member of +society. "And now boys," said Mrs. Knights, "allow me in conclusion to +say to you all as one, as you value your own well-being in time and +eternity, be sure that you honour and obey your parents, think of what +the end of this young man might have been, and shun his example. But I +see that the hour for tea is near at hand; and for a time I will leave +you to amuse yourselves, while I assist in preparing your tea; and if +you have been interested in my story, I may tell you <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 84]</span>another when you +next pass a rainy afternoon at our house." We all thanked the kind lady +for the interesting story, and I for one very much hoped that the next +day we chanced to pass at Mrs. Knights' farm, would prove to be rainy in +the afternoon.</p><p><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 85]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_STUDENTS_DREAM" id="THE_STUDENTS_DREAM"></a>THE STUDENTS DREAM.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 141px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-003.png" width="141" height="141" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><p>rthur Wilton had been for several years a student; but +he was one of the plodding sort, who make but slow progress. The +principal barrier to his improvement arose from one defect in his +character; and that was the habit in which he constantly indulged, of +deploring the past, without making any very strong efforts toward +amendment in the future. He was one evening seated in his room; a +ponderous volume lay open, on his study-table; and for a time he vainly +tried to fix his attention thereon, till finally he closed the book; and +leaning back in his chair, his brows contracted, and the lines about his +mouth grew tense, as if his thoughts were anything but pleasing. As +usual he was bemoaning his misspent hours.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said he, speaking in soliloquy, "they are gone never more to +return. The careless happy days of childhood, the sunny period of youth, +and the aspiring dreams of mature manhood. I once indulged in many +ambitious dreams of fame, and these dreams have never been realised. +Many with whom I set out <a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 86]</span>on equal ground have outstripped me in the +race of life, and here am I alone. Many who were once my inferiors have +nearly overtaken me, and doubtless they too will soon pass me by. What I +very much prize is a true friend, and yet no friend approaches with a +word of sympathy or encouragement; would that some would counsel me, as +to how I may better my condition." Thus far had Arthur Wilton proceeded +in his soliloquy, when his eyelids were weighed down by drowsiness, and +he soon sank into a deep slumber. In his dream an aged man, with a most +mild and venerable countenance stood before him, who, addressing him by +name, said; "Thy heart is full of sorrow; but if you will listen to, and +profit by my words, your sorrow shall be turned into joy. You have been +grieving over the hours which have been run to waste, without pausing to +reflect, that while you have been occupied with these unavailing +regrets, another hour has glided away past your recall forever; and will +be added to your already lengthened list of opportunities misimproved. +You grieve that your name is not placed on the lists of fame. Cease from +thy fruitless longings. Discharge faithfully your present duties, and if +you merit fame it will certainly be awarded you. You also complain that +no friend is near you. Have you ever truly sought a friend, by the +unwearied exercise of those affections, and in the performance of those +numberless offices of kindness by which alone friendship is secured and +perpetuated?</p><p><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 87]</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'All like the <i>purchase, few</i> the <i>price</i> will pay';<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"And this makes friends such miracles below.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou hoped for the society of the wise and good? Then with +diligence and untiring zeal you should seek to fit yourself for such +companionship. Have your early companions got before you in the race of +life; and yet you remain at ease, dreaming over the past. Awake, young +man, ere yet your day is done; and address yourself to your work with +renewed energy, look forward to your future instead of brooding over the +past, and be assured you will acquire wisdom, friends and every other +needful blessing." With these words the aged man disappeared and the +student awoke. His fire had gone out and his lamp burned but dimly. He +rose, replenished his fire, trimmed his lamp, and resumed his studies +with ardour. This dream was not lost upon Arthur Wilton. Instead of now +wasting his time in regrets for the past, he looked forward with a stead +purpose of improvement, and from that period no harder student was to be +found in the college; and he finally graduated with high honours. In +after years he often related this dream to those of his acquaintances +whom he thought in danger of falling into the same habit to which he +himself had been so prone in his youthful days.</p><p><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 88]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="UNCLE_EPHRAIM" id="UNCLE_EPHRAIM"></a>UNCLE EPHRAIM.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 142px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-006.png" width="142" height="141" alt="F" title="" /> +</div><p>or years, when a child, I used daily to pass the +dwelling of Uncle Ephraim, on my way to and from school. He was not my +uncle; indeed he bore no relationship whatever to me, but Uncle Ephraim +was the familiar appellation by which he was known by all the +school-boys in the vicinity. He was among the oldest residents in that +section, and although a very eccentric person, was much respected by all +his neighbours. How plainly do I yet remember him, after the lapse of so +many years. His tall figure, shoulders that slightly stooped, his florid +complexion, clear blue eyes, and hair bleached by the frosts of time to +snowy whiteness. The farm on which he resided had improved under the +hand of industry, till since my earliest recollection, it was in a state +of high cultivation. His dwelling was an old-fashioned structure, placed +a little back from the main road, and almost hidden from view by thick +trees. In an open space, a little to one side, was the draw-well with +its long pole and sweep; and I have often thought that I <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 89]</span>have never +since tasted such water as we used to draw from that well, at we used +often to linger for a few moments in Uncle Ephraim's yard on our return +from school during the hot summer afternoons. He must have been fond of +children; for he was a great favourite among the boys, and he often gave +us permission to gather fruit from the trees in the garden, provided we +broke none of his prescribed rules. But the unlucky urchin who +transgressed against a command, forfeited his good opinion from +henceforth; and durst no more be seen upon his premises. I happened to +be among the fortunate number who retained his approbation and good-will +during all our acquaintance.</p> + +<p>It was from Uncle Ephraim I received the first money I could call my +own. In those days school-boys were not supplied very liberally with +pocket money, and when on one occasion I rendered him some slight +service, for which he bestowed upon me a piece of money, I felt myself +rich indeed, and the possession of as many hundreds now would fail to +afford me the same pleasure as did the few cents which made up the value +of the coin.</p> + +<p>Like all others, he had his failings and weak points; but he had also +many very estimable traits of character. Among his failings very strong +prejudices were most noticeable, and if for any reason he became +prejudiced against one, he could never after see any good what<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 90]</span>ever in +them. He also possessed rather an unforgiving temper when injured by any +one. But on the other hand he was a friend to the poor; and seldom sent +the beggar empty-handed from his door. He also gave largely to the +support of the gospel, as well as to benevolent institutions. One very +noticeable and oftentimes laughable peculiarity was his proneness to +charge every thing that went wrong to the state of the weather. I think +it was more from a habit of speech than from any wish to be +unreasonable. I remember one day passing a field when he was trying to +catch a horse that, to all appearance had no idea of being captured. He +tried various methods of coaxing him into the halter, and several times +nearly succeeded, but just when he thought himself sure of him, the +animal would gallop off in another direction. Out of all patience, he at +length exclaimed. "What does possess that critter to act so to-day?" +then glancing at the sky, which at the time happened to be overcast by +dull murky clouds, he said; "It must be the weather." I chanced one day +to be present when Uncle Ephraim was busily occupied in making some +arithmetical calculations regarding his farm-products. The result not +proving satisfactory he handed his slate to a friend for inspection, and +it was soon discovered that he had made a very considerable error in his +calculation. When the error was pointed out to him, he looked up with a +perplexed countenance, <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 91]</span>saying; "It is the weather: nothing else would +have caused me to make such a blunder." His son happened to marry +against his wishes, so much so, that he had the ceremony performed +without his father's knowledge, who afterwards, making a virtue of +necessity, wisely made the best of the matter. On learning that his son +was actually married without his knowledge the only remark he made was +this: "What could have induced Ben to cut up such a caper as to go and +get married without my leave; it must have been the weather, nothing +else," and as if he had settled the question to his own satisfaction he +was never heard to allude to the matter again. Years passed away, till +one day the tidings reached us that Uncle Ephraim was dangerously ill. +He grew rapidly worse, and it was soon evident that his days on earth +would soon be numbered. I have a very distinct recollection of stealing +quietly in, to look upon him as he lay on his dying bed; of the tears I +shed when I gazed upon his fearfully changed features. He was even then +past speaking or recognizing one from another; and before another sun +rose he had passed from among the living. I obtained permission to go in +once more and look upon him as he lay shrouded for the grave. I was then +a child of ten years, but even at that early age I had not that morbid +terror of looking upon death, so common among children. With my own +hands, I folded back the napkin which covered <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 92]</span>his face, and gazed upon +his aged, but now serene countenance. There was nothing in his +appearance to inspire terror, and for a moment I placed my hand on his +cold brow. He had ever been very kind to me, and I regarded him with +much affection, and the tears coursed freely down my cheeks when I +looked my last upon his familiar countenance now lifeless and sealed in +death. I have forgotten his exact age, but I know it exceeded seventy +years. It so happened that I did not attend his funeral; but he was +followed to the grave by a large number of friends and neighbours, many +of whom still live to cherish his memory.</p><p><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 93]</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> <a name="STORY_OF_A_LOG_CABIN" id="STORY_OF_A_LOG_CABIN"></a>STORY OF A LOG CABIN.</h2> + + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p>t was a dreary day in autumn. Like the fate which +attends us all, the foliage had assumed the paleness of death; and the +winds, cold and damp, were sighing among the branches of the trees, and +causing every other feeling rather than that of comfort. Four others and +myself had been out hunting during the day, and we returned at nightfall +tired and hungry to our camp. The shades of night were fast gathering +around us; but being protected by our camp with a blazing fire in front, +we soon succeeded in cooking some of the game we had shot during the +day; and as we ate, the old hunters who were my companions grew +garrulous, and in turn related their numerous adventures. "You have +lived in Dayton for some time," said an old hunter, addressing one of +his companions. "Have you ever seen during your rambles the remains of a +log cabin about two miles down the Miami Canal? I recollect it well, but +there is a mystery attached to those ruins which no one living <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 94]</span>can +solve. The oldest settlers found that cabin there; and it <i>then</i> +appeared in such a dilapidated state as to justify the belief that it +had been built many years previous." "Do you know anything about it?" I +eagerly asked. "I know all about it," replied the old hunter; "for I +assisted in building it, and occupied it for several years, during the +trapping season. That cabin," he continued, as a shade passed over his +features, "has been the scene of carnage and bloodshed. But why wake up +old feelings—let them sleep, let them sleep;" and the veteran drew his +brawny hand over his eyes. All the curiosity of my nature was roused; +and the old men seated by his side gazed upon him enquiringly, and put +themselves in a listening attitude. The speaker observing this, sat +silent for a few moments, as if collecting his thoughts; and then +related the following tale:</p> + +<p>"There has come a mighty change over the face of this country since the +time when I first emigrated here. The spot where now stand your +prettiest towns and villages, was then a howling wilderness. Instead of +the tinkling of the cow-bells and the merry whistle of the farmer-boy as +he calls his herd to the fold, might be heard the wild cry of the +panther, the howl of the wolf; and the equally appalling yell of the +aborigines. These were "times to try men's souls;" and it was then the +heart of oak and the sinews of iron which commanded respect. Let me +describe to <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 95]</span>you some scenes in which such men were the actors; scenes +which called forth all the energy of man's nature; and in the depths of +this western wilderness, many hundreds of Alexanders and Cæsars, who +have never been heard of. At the time I emigrated to Ohio the deadly +hatred of the red men toward the whites had reached its acme. The rifle, +the tomahawk and the scalping knife were daily at work; and men, women +and children daily fell victims to this sanguinary spirit. In this state +I found things when I reached the small village opposite the month of +Licking river, and now the great city of Cincinnati. Here in this great +temple of nature man has taken up his abode, and all that he could wish +responds to his touch. The fields and meadows yield their produce, and +unmolested by the red man whom he had usurped, he enjoys the bounties of +a beneficent Creator. And where is the red man? Where is he! Like wax +before the flame he has melted away from before the white man, leaving +him no legacy save that courageous daring which will live in song long +after their last remnant shall have passed away. At the time when I +first stepped upon these grounds the red man still grasped the sceptre +which has since been wrenched from his hand. They saw the throne of +their fathers beginning to totter. Their realm had attracted the +cupidity of a race of strangers, and with maddening despair, they +grasped their falling power; and daily <a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 96]</span>grew more desperate as they +became more endangered. I among the rest had now a view of this +exuberant west, this great valley of the Hesperides; and I determined to +assist in extirpating the red man, and to usurp the land of his fathers. +Among the men who were at the village, I found one who for magnanimity +and undaunted courage merits a wreath which should hang high in the +temple of fame, and yet like hundreds of others, he has passed away +unhonored, unsung. His name was Ralph Watts, a sturdy Virginian, with a +heart surpassing all which has been said of Virginia's sons, in those +qualities, which ennoble the man; and possessing a courage indomitable, +and a frame calculated in every way to fulfil whatever his daring spirit +suggested. Such was Ralph Watts. I had only been in the town a few days, +when Ralph and I contracted an intimacy which ended only with his death. +I was passing the small inn of the town, when a tall man, with a hunting +shirt and leggins on stepped out and laying his hand on my shoulder +said: "Stranger, they say you have just come among us, and that you are +poor; come along. I have got just five dollars, no man shall ever say +that Ralph Watts passed a moneyless man, without sharing with him the +contents of his pocket—come along." Ralph and I soon became inseparable +friends. His joys as well as his sorrows were mine; in a word, we shared +each others sympathies; and this leads me to the scene of <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 97]</span>the log +cabin. We often hunted together, and while on our last expedition, took +an oath of friendship which should end only with death—and how soon was +it to end. We left the infant Cincinnati one summer morning at the +rising of the sun, and with our guns on our shoulders, and our pouches +well supplied with ammunition, we struck into the deep wilderness, +trusting to our own stout hearts, and woodscraft for our food and +safety. We journeyed merrily along, whiling away the hours in recounting +to each other those trivial incidents of our lives which might be +interesting, or in singing snatches of song and listening to its solemn +echo as it reverberated among the tall trees of the forest. Towards +evening we reached our first camping ground—a spot near where the town +of Sharon now stands. Here we pitched our tent, built our fire, cooked +our suppers, and prepared to pass away the evening as comfortably as two +hunters possibly could. All at once the deep stillness which reigned +around us was broken by a low cry similar to that of a panther. We both +ceased speaking and listened attentively, when the cry was repeated +still nearer, as if the arrival was rapidly advancing upon us; and thus +the cry was repeated, again and again, till its shrillness seemed not +more than a hundred yards distant, when the voice changed to that of a +yell, whose tones were so familiar to the ear of my companion as to +exert quite a visible effect upon his actions. We both <a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 98]</span>sprang to our +feet and seizing our guns, stood ready to fire at a moment's warning, +"Halloo!" cried a deep voice, just outside our camp, but instead of +answering it we nerved ourselves for a desperate encounter, feeling +assured that several Indians were lurking outside our tent. "Halloo! +white brudder, come out," cried the same voice in broken English. We +consulted for a moment and finally decided to trust, for once, to Indian +faith. Ralph first stepped forth and demanded in no very amiable voice; +"what was wanting." "Come out white brudder," was the answer. After +assuring ourselves that there was but one person near we walked forward +and found a large Indian sitting by the fire, both hands spread before +the flame to protect his eyes from the light, that his keen gaze might +rest unmolested upon us. As soon as he saw us a writhing grin spread +over his painted features, and rising he offered us each his hand in a +very friendly manner. The Indian drew from his belt a large pipe, +gaudily painted, and from which depended a profusion of wampum, beads, +and eagles' feathers. He lighted the pipe, and after taking a whiff, +passed it to Ralph, who following his example passed it to me. After +taking a puff I handed it to the Indian, who replaced it in his belt. +This very important ceremony being finished, the Indian made known his +business. After bestowing a thousand anathemas upon his red brethren, he +informed us that he had left the red man forever, <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 99]</span>and was willing to +join his white brothers, and to wage an exterminating warfare against +his own kindred. We strove to extort from him the cause of this +ebullition of passion, but he only shook his head in reply to our +questions, and uttered a guttural "ough," We at first suspected him of +some treacherous plot; but there was such an air of candor and +earnestness in the communication he now made, that we threw aside all +suspicion and confided in him. He stated that there was a large party of +Indians in our rear, who had been tracking us for several hours; and +that it was their intention early in the morning to surround us, and +take us prisoners for victims at the stake, "but," said he, "if my white +brudder will follow his red brudder he will lead him safe." We instantly +signified our willingness to trust ourselves to his guidance, and +shouldering our blankets and guns, we left our camp, and followed our +guide due north at a rapid gait. For several miles we strode through the +thick woods, every moment scratching our faces and tearing our clothing, +with the thick tangled brush through which we had to pass, but +considering this of minor importance we hurried on in silence, save when +we intruded too near the nest of the nocturnal king of the forest, when +a wild hoot made us start and involuntarily grasp our rifles. "Sit on +this log and eat," said our red guide. Finding our appetites sharpened +by vigorous exercise, we sat on the log and commenced our <a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 100]</span>repast, when +our guide suddenly sprang from his seat, and with a hideous yell bolted +into the forest and was soon lost to our sight. This conduct instantly +roused our fear; and with one accord we sprang to our feet. We gazed +around. Turn which way we would, the grim visage of a painted warrior +met our terrified gaze, with his tomahawk in one hand, and his rifle in +the other. "Perfidious villain," exclaimed Ralph, "and this is an +Indian's faith." An Indian of gigantic size, dressed in all the gaudy +trappings of a chief, now strode, towards us. Ralph raised his gun, and +closed his eye as the sight of the weapon sought the warrior's breast. +"Don't shoot, and you will be treated friendly," cried the savage in +good English. "So long as I live," said Ralph, "I'll never put faith +again in an Indian's word." The gun went off, and the savage, with an +unearthly cry, bounded high in the air, and fell upon his face a corpse. +A scream as if ten thousand furies had been suddenly turned loose upon +the earth, rang around us; and ere we could start ten steps on our +flight, we were seized by our savage foes, and like the light barque +when, borne on the surface of the angry waves, were we borne equally +endangered upon the shoulders of these maddened men. We were thrown upon +the earth, our hands and feet were bound till the cords were almost +hidden in the flesh; and then with the fury of madmen they commenced +beating us with clubs, when another chief, who appeared to be of higher +<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 101]</span>standing than the one who had just lost his life, rushed into the +crowd, hurling the excited warriors to the right and left in his +progress, and mounting upon a log he harangued them for a few moments +with a loud voice. They at once desisted, perhaps reconciled by the +prospect of soon seeing us burnt at the stake. We were carried to their +encampment, where we were still left bound, with two sentinels stationed +to guard us. In this painful state we remained all day, when towards +evening another company of warriors arrived, and then vigorous +preparations were made for burning us. A stake was planted in the +ground, and painted a variety of fantastic colors; the brush was piled +around it at a proper distance; and every other necessary arrangement +made; while we sat looking on, subject to the continual epithets of an +old squaw, whose most consoling remarks were: "How will white man like +to eat fire," and then she would break out into a screeching laugh, +which sounded perfectly hideous. A cold chill pervaded my frame as I +gazed upon these ominous signs of death; but how often is our misery but +the prelude of joy. At the moment that these horrid preparations were +finished, a bright flash of lightning shattered a tall hickory, nearby; +and then the earth was deluged with rain. The Indians sought the +shelter, but left us beneath the fury of the storm, where we remained +for several hours; but seeing that it increased rather than diminished, +<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 102]</span>they forced us into a small log hut and leaving a man to guard us, +bolted the door firmly and left us for the night. What were our +reflections when left alone? Your imagination must supply an answer. But +we did not entirely gave way to despondency. We were young and robust, +and our spirits were not easily subdued. Instead of becoming +disheartened our approaching fate emboldened us, and by looks, whose +expression made known our minds to each other, we resolved to effect our +escape or be slain in striving for it. Anything was preferable to the +fiery torture which awaited us. Our guard proved just the man we wanted, +for, having during the evening indulged rather freely in drinking +whiskey, he soon sank into a profound slumber. Long and anxiously had we +watched the man, and now our wishes were consummated. I contrived with +much exertion to draw my knife from my pocket, and commenced sawing at +the tough thong which confined my wrist. My heart beat high with joy, +and already we felt that we were free, when the guard sneezed, opened +his eyes, rolled them round the room, and discovered that he had been +asleep. I slipped the knife into my pocket without his notice, and he +discovered nothing to rouse his suspicions, although he regarded us +closely for a long time. He finally sat down, lit his pipe and commenced +smoking. After puffing away for half an hour, which seemed to drag by +with the tediousness of a <a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 103]</span>week, he laid his tomahawk (which contains +the pipe) by his side, and after nodding for some time he again +stretched himself upon the rough floor, and soon his deep snoring fell +upon our ears. O! what music was that sound to us. I again drew the +knife from my pocket, and with desperation freed my hands, and in one +minute more Ralph stood like myself a free man. With the stealthy tread +of a cat we reached the door, softly slid back the bolt, and once more +we stood in the open air. The rain had ceased, the clouds had swept by, +and the full moon pale and high in the heavens threw her light upon the +tree tops, bathing them in liquid silver. Silently but rapidly we +bounded through the forest, our fears of pursuit urging us onward; and +by daylight were within twelve miles of the log cabin whose history I am +telling. At that time there dwelt in that cabin, with his family, a +trapper by the name of Daniel Roe. When we reached there we found Roe at +home, to whom we recounted our adventure. He only laughed at our fears +that the Indians might track us thus far, and we finally listened to his +laughing remarks and concluded to rest in his cabin for several days. We +heaped folly upon folly; for instead of putting the house in a state of +defence, and preserving as much silence as possible we commenced trying +our skill by shooting at a mark. We continued this exercise through the +afternoon, partook of a hearty supper, chatted till bed-time, and <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 104]</span>then +retired. Ralph soon fell sound asleep, but I could not; I felt a +presentiment of approaching danger; still there were no visible signs of +it, yet I could not shake off a peculiar nervousness which agitated me. +I lay still for some time listening to the deep and regular breathing of +Ralph, and ever and anon as an owl screamed I would start, despite the +familiarity of the cry. Just as I turned in my bed, and was trying to +compose myself for sleep, I heard a cry very similar to the hoot of an +owl; still there was something about the sound which did not sound +right. My heart commenced beating rapidly and a sweat started from my +brow. I rose softly and looked through the chinks of the logs, but there +was nothing to be seen. I listened attentively for at least an hour; but +heard no sound to confirm my fears; and finally ashamed of my own +nervousness, I could not call it <i>cowardice</i>, I slipped into bed, +determined to sleep if possible. But soon I heard that same sound on the +still air. I rose, dressed myself, but still I could see no form like +that of an Indian. Just as I was on the point of abandoning my fears as +idle and childish, I cast my eyes through an aperture between the logs; +and saw the dusky forms of several Indians moving about the yard. I +sprang to the bedside and awoke Ralph, and in a few moments more, Roe, +Ralph and myself, stood with ready guns, waiting for a chance to shoot. +A shot passing through one of the savages, told the rest they <a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 105]</span>were +discovered; and now a regular firing began. The Indians simultaneously +uttered a fiendish shout, such as no person can imagine who has not +heard the Indian war-scream; and then brandishing their tomahawks rushed +upon the house and began hewing at the door. In a moment we were all +down stairs, and our fire became so fatal they were forced to retire +several times; but with desperate courage they returned to the attack. I +never experienced the feeling of utter despair but once in my life; and +that was then. Roe came running down stairs (whither he had gone for +more ammunition) and with a face white from terror, informed us that the +ammunition was expended. Here we were, surrounded by a host of savages, +fastened in a small house, with nothing to defend ourselves, and the +helpless women and children under the roof. "Let us open the door, and +decide the contest hand to hand," said Ralph Watts. 'O! my family, my +wife and children,' groaned Daniel Roe, 'let us defend the house to the +last.' And with nerves strung like iron, and hearts swelled to +desperation, we waited in silence for the savages to hew their way +through the door. The work was soon over, the savages uttered one +deafening yell as the door gave way; and clubbing our guns we wielded +them with giant energy. The dark forms of the savages crowded the +door-way, their eyes glared madly at us, and their painted features +working into a hundred malignant and <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 106]</span>fiendish expressions, which, +together with their horrid yells, and the more heart-rending cries of +women and children, all formed a scene of the most harrowing +description. The battle was soon over. By some mishap I was hurled head +foremost out of the door; but so intent were the savages upon the battle +within, that they did not once notice me, as they rushed forward to the +scene of action. Seeing that all was lost, and that to remain would only +be throwing away my life uselessly, I sprang to my feet and slipping +around the corner of the house I made my way over the old +fortification<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> and soon left the noise far behind me. Much has been +written and said of grief, but how little do we know of its poignant +nature, till we suffer the loss of some dear friend. 'Tis when we behold +an object of deep affection lying passive and dead—but a thing of clay +unconscious of the pain it gives, that we feel <i>that</i> sorrow, which +language is too feeble to express. I found it so, when upon returning to +the cabin a few hours afterward, I found the dead bodies of all my +friends mutilated and weltering in their blood. Around the body of poor +Ralph lay six Indians, with their skulls beat in; his gun furnishing +evidence, by its mutilated state, of the force with which he had used +it. My story is soon <a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 107]</span>finished. As the tears streamed from my eyes, I +dug a grave where I deposited the remains of my friends, and after +placing a large stone above their resting-place, I departed, wishing +never to return to the spot again, and I never have."</p><p><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 108]</span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I lately came across this sketch in an old Magazine, +bearing the date of 1842, and thinking others might be as much +interested by it as I was myself, I transcribed it in an abridged form +to the pages of this volume.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Near the spot where the cabin stands are the remains of +immense works, but by whom and when built will forever remain hidden.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HAZEL-BROOK_FARM" id="HAZEL-BROOK_FARM"></a>HAZEL-BROOK FARM.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 144px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-007.png" width="144" height="138" alt="R" title="" /> +</div><p>obert Ainslie, with his family, emigrated from Scotland +about the year of 1843, and settled upon a new farm in the backwoods, in +the township of R. in Eastern Canada. I can say but little regarding his +early life, but have been informed that he was the eldest of quite a +large family of sons and daughters; and also that he was a dutiful son +as well as a kind and affectionate brother. It seems that he married +quite early in life, and at that period he tended a small farm adjoining +the one occupied by his father. The utmost harmony existed between the +two families, and they lived in the daily interchange of those little +offices of love and kindness which render friends so dear to each other. +Several years glided by in this happy manner, but reverses at length +came; and Robert formed the plan of emigrating to America. But when he +saw how much his parents were grieved by the thought of his seeking a +home on the other side of the Atlantic, he forbore to talk further of +the matter, and decided to remain at home for another year at least. +That year however <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 109]</span>proved a very unfortunate one; his crops were scanty; +and toward the spring he met with some severe losses, by a distemper +which broke out among his farm stock. As the season advanced, he became +so disheartened by his gloomy prospects, that he decided to carry out +his former plan of emigrating to Canada; where he hoped by persevering +industry to secure a comfortable home for himself, and those dear to +him. He had little difficulty in persuading his wife to accompany him, +as her parents, with her two brothers and one sister, had emigrated some +two years previous. It was more difficult however for him to persuade +his father and mother that his decision was a wise one. "If ye maun +leave us," said his mother, "can ye no seek anither hame nearer han' an' +no gang awa across the water to yon' wild place they ca' Canada?" "We +maun try to be reasonable, woman," said his father, "but I canna deny +that the thought o' our first born son gaun sae far awa gie's me a sair +heart." It was equally hard for the son to bid farewell to the land of +his birth, and of a thousand endearing ties; but prudence whispered that +now was his time to go, while he had youth and health, to meet the +hardships that often fall to the lot of the emigrant. When his parents +saw how much his mind was set upon it they ceased to oppose his wishes, +and with his wife and children, he soon joined the large numbers who, at +that period, were leaving the British, for the Canadian shores.</p><p><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>As may be readily supposed, the parting between the two families was a +very sad one; but the last adieus were finally exchanged, and the poor +emigrants were borne away on the billows of the Atlantic. During the +first few days of their voyage they all, with the exception of their +youngest child, suffered much from sea-sickness. This child was a little +girl about three years old; and it seemed singular to them, that she +should escape the sickness, from which nearly all the passengers +suffered, more or less. They soon recovered; the weather was fine, and +many of their fellow passengers were very agreeable companions, and they +began really to enjoy the voyage. But this happy state of things was but +of short duration. Their little girl, wee Susie, as they called her, was +seized with illness. They felt but little anxiety at the first, thinking +it but as light indisposition from which she would soon recover; but +when day after day passed away with no visible change for the better +they became alarmed, and summoned the physician, who pronounced her +disease a kind of slow fever, which he said often attacked those who +escaped the sea-sickness. He told the anxious parents not to be alarmed, +as he hoped soon to succeed in checking the disease. But with all the +physician's skill, aided by the unceasing attention of her fond parents, +the sad truth that wee Susie was to die soon became evident. When the +sorrowing parents became sensible that their child must die, they +<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 111]</span>prayed earnestly that her life might be prolonged till they should +reach the land. But for some wise reason their prayer was not granted; +and when their voyage was but little more than half accomplished she +died, and they were forced to consign her loved form to a watery grave. +The lovely prattling child had been a general favourite with all on +board, and her sudden death cast a gloom over the minds of all. Words +would fail me to describe the grief of the parents and the two +affectionate little brothers when they realised that "wee Susie" was +indeed gone, and that they could never enjoy even the melancholy +satisfaction of beholding her resting-place. Mr. Ainslie's domestic +affections were very strong, and to him the blow was terrible. He now +deeply regretted removing his family from their Scottish home, +entertaining the idea, that had they not undertaken this journey their +child might have been spared; and he wrote bitter things against himself +for the step he had taken. Deep as was the mother's grief, she was +forced to place a restraint upon it that she might comfort her almost +heart broken husband. Upon one occasion, in reply to some of his self +upbraidings, she said, "I think, Robert, you're owre hard on yoursel' +now, when ye tak the blame o' puir Susie's death; ye surely canna think +itherwise than the dear bairn's time had come; an' had we bided at hame +it would ha' been a' the same; for we dinna leeve an' dee by chance, and +the <a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 112]</span>bounds o' our lives are set by Him who kens a' things." These +consoling words from his sympathising wife tended to lighten, in some +measure, the burden of sorrow which oppressed his heart. The weather +during the latter part of their voyage was stormy and uncomfortable, and +they were truly glad when they at length reached the Canadian port. At +the city of Montreal they parted with all those who had been their +fellow passengers, as all except themselves were bound for the Upper +Province, while they intended joining their friends in Lower Canada.</p> + +<p>In the days of which I am speaking the emigrants' journey from the city +of Montreal to the townships was toilsome in the extreme; and the same +journey, which is now accomplished in a few hours by railway, was then +the work of several days; and the only mode of conveyance for themselves +and their luggage, were the horse-carts hired for the occasion. But +their fatiguing journey was at length terminated; and they arrived +safely at the bush settlement in R., where the friends of Mrs. Ainslie +resided. That now thriving and prosperous settlement was then in its +infancy, and possessed but few external attractions to the newcomer; for +at the period when Mrs. Ainslie's parents settled there it was an +unbroken wilderness. It is needless for me to add that the wayworn +travellers met with a joyous welcome from the friends who had been long +anxiously looking for their arrival. Mr. and<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 113]</span> Mrs. Miller were overjoyed +to meet again their daughter, from whom they had been so long separated +by the deep roll of the ocean; and almost their first enquiry was for +the "wee lassie," who when they left Scotland was less than a twelve +month old. Mr. Ainslie was unable to reply, and looked toward his wife +as if beseeching her to answer to their enquiry. She understood the mute +appeal, and composing herself by a strong effort said: "My dear father +an' mither, a great grief has o'erta'en us sin' we left hame', an' our +hearts are wellnigh broken; we buried wee Susie in the caul waters o' +the ocean." She endeavoured to relate to them the particulars of the +child's death; but her feelings overcame her, and for some moments they +could only weep together. When Mr. Miller was able to command his voice +he said, "God is good, my children, an' overrules a' things for our +good, let us bow before him in prayer;" and when they rose from their +knees, they felt calmed and comforted, by the soothing influence of +prayer. With the two boys, Geordie and Willie, fatigue soon got the +better of their joy at meeting with their friends, and they were soon +enjoying the sound sleep of healthful childhood; but with the elder +members of the family, so much was there to hear and to tell that the +hour was very late when they separated to seek repose. Mr. Ainslie +decided upon purchasing a lot of land, lying some two miles north of the +farm occupied by Mr. Miller.<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 114]</span> Although it was covered with a dense +forest, its location pleased him, and the soil was excellent, and he +looked forward to the time when he might there provide a pleasant home. +They arrived at R. on the first of July. There were beside Mr. Miller +but three other families in the settlement; but they were all very kind +to the newly arrived strangers, and they assisted Mr. Ainslie in various +ways while he effected a small clearing upon his newly purchased farm. +They also lent him a willing hand in the erection of a small log house, +to which he removed his family in the fall; Mrs. Ainslie and the +children having remained with her parents during the summer; and kind as +their friends had been, they were truly glad when they found themselves +again settled in a home of their own, however humble. They were people +of devoted piety, and they did not neglect to erect the family altar the +first night they rested beneath the lowly roof of their forest home. I +could not, were I desirous of so doing, give a detailed account of the +trials and hardships they endured during the first few years of their +residence in the bush; but they doubtless experienced their share of the +privations and discouragements which fall to the lot of the first +settlers of a new section of country. The first winter they passed in +their new home was one of unusual severity for even the rigorous climate +of Eastern Canada, and poor Mrs. Ainslie often during that winter +regretted the willingness with <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 115]</span>which she bade adieu to her early home, +to take up her abode in the dreary wilderness. They found the winter +season very trying indeed, living as they did two miles from any +neighbour; and the only road to the dwelling of a neighbour was a +foot-track through the blazed trees, and the road such as it was, was +too seldom trodden during the deep snows of winter, to render the +footmarks discernible for any length of time. Their stores had all to be +purchased at the nearest village, which was distant some seven miles, +and Mr. Ainslie often found it very difficult to make his way through +the deep snows which blocked up the roads, and to endure the biting +frost and piercing winds on his journeys to and from the village. In +after years when they had learned to feel a deep interest in the growth +of the settlement, they often looked back with a smile to the +"homesickness" which oppressed their hearts, while struggling with the +first hardships of life in the bush. Mr. Ainslie and his family, +notwithstanding their many privations, enjoyed uninterrupted health +through the winter, and before the arrival of spring they already felt a +growing interest in their new home. Mrs. Ainslie regarded the labours of +the workmen with much attention during the winter, while they felled the +trees which had covered nearly ten acres of their farm. As each tree +fell to the ground it opened a wider space in the forest and afforded a +broader view of the blue sky. A stream of <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 116]</span>water, which in many places +would have been termed a river, but which there only bore the name of +Hazel-Brook, flowed near their dwelling, and as the spring advanced, the +belt of forest which concealed it from view having been felled, she +gained a view of its sparkling waters when the warm showers and genial +rays of the sun loosened them from their icy fetters; and she often +afterward remarked that the view of those clear waters was the first +thing which tended to reconcile her to a home in the forest. With the +coming of spring their "life in the woods," began in earnest. When the +earth was relieved of its snowy mantle, the fallen trunks of the trees, +with piles of brush-wood were scattered in every direction about their +dwelling. But the fallow was burned as soon as it was considered +sufficiently dry, the blackened logs were piled in heaps, and the ground +was prepared for its first crop of grain. The green blades soon sprang +up and covered the ground, where a short time before was only to be seen +the unsightly fallow or the remains of the partially consumed logs.</p> + +<p>It was a long time before Mr. and Mrs. Ainslie became reconciled to the +change in their circumstances, when they exchanged the comforts and +conveniences of their home beyond the sea, for the log cabin in the +wilderness. Cut off as they were from the privileges of society to which +they had been accustomed from childhood, they felt keenly the want of <a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 117]</span>a +place of worship, with each returning Sabbath; and next to this, the +want of a school for their two boys; for taken as a people the Scotch +are intelligent; and we rarely meet with a Scotchman, even among the +poorer classes, who has not obtained a tolerable education. And the +careful parents felt much anxiety when they beheld their children +debarred from the advantages of education; but to remedy the want as +much as lay in their power, they devoted the greater part of what little +leisure time they could command to the instruction of their boys. They +had been regular attendants at their own parish church in the old +country; and very sensibly they felt the want, as Sabbath after Sabbath, +passed away, with no service to mark it from other days. "It just +seems," said Mr. Ainslie, "that sin' we cam' to America we ha'e nae +Sabbath ava." In order to meet the want in some measure, he proposed to +the few neighbours which there formed the settlement, that they should +assemble at one house, on each Sabbath afternoon, and listen to the +reading of a sermon by some one present. "I think it our duty," said he, +"to show our respect to the Sabbath-day by assembling ourselves +together, and uniting in worship to the best, o' our ability. I ha'e +among my books a collection o' sermons by different divines, an' I am +verra willin' to tak' my turn in the readin' o' ane, an' I'm sure you +should a' be agreeable to do the same." His proposal met with the hearty +<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 118]</span>approval of all his neighbours, and for some years each Sabbath +afternoon saw most of the neighbours collected together for the best +mode of worship within their reach. The bush settlements at this period +were much infected by bears, and they often proved very destructive to +the crop of the early settler, and also a cause of no little fear. I +believe the instances have been rare when a bear has been known to +attack a person, although it has happened in some cases; but the +immigrant has so often listened to exaggerated accounts regarding the +wild animals of America, that those who settle in a new section of +country find it difficult to get rid of their fears. On one occasion +when the Sabbath meeting met at Mr. Ainslie's house, Mrs. Ainslie urged +her mother to remain and partake of some refreshment before setting out +on her walk homeward. "Na, na'" replied the old lady, "I maun e'en gang +while I ha'e company, I dinna expec' to leeve muckle longer at ony rate, +but wouldna' like to be eaten by the bears;" and for several years the +one who ventured alone to the house of a neighbour after dark was looked +upon as possessing more courage than prudence. But although the settlers +often came across these animals, on the bush-road, I never heard of one +being attacked by them. An old man upon one occasion returning in the +evening from the house of a friends, and carrying in his hand a +torchlight composed of bark from the cedar tree, suddenly <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 119]</span>met a large +bear in the thick woods. Being asked if he was not frightened, he +replied, "Deed I think the bear was 'maist frightened o' the twa', for +he just stood up on his twa hind legs, and glowered at me for a wee +while till I waved the torch light toward him, when he gi' an awfu' +snort, and ran into the woods as fast's ever he was able, an' I cam awa' +hame no a bit the war, an' I think I'll never be sae' muckle feared +about bears again." But these early settlers certainly found these +animals very troublesome from their frequent depredations upon their +fields of grain, and they often spent a large portion of the night +watching for them, prepared to give them battle, but it was not often +they saw one on these occasions, for these animals are very cunning, and +seem at once to know when they are watched. It sometimes also happened +that during the early period of this settlement people lost their way in +the bush while going from one house to another. A woman once set out to +go to the house of a neighbour who lived about a mile distant. Supposing +herself on the right path she walked onward, till thinking the way +rather long she stopped and gazed earnestly around her, and became +terrified as she noticed that the trees and rocks, and every other +surrounding object had a strange unfamiliar look; and she knew at once +that she had taken a wrong path.</p> + +<p>Becoming much alarmed she endeavoured to retrace <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 120]</span>her steps, but after +walking a long time would often return to the spot from which she set +out. She left home about ten o'clock in the forenoon, and her friends, +alarmed at her long stay, called together some of their neighbours and +set out to look for her, knowing that she must have lost her way in the +forest. They continued their search through the afternoon, sounding +horns, hallooing, and calling her name, as they hurried through the +tangled underbrush, and other obstructions, and at sunset they returned +to procure torches with which to continue their search through the +night; her friends were almost beside themselves with terror, and all +the stories they had heard or read of people being devoured by wild +animals rushed across their minds. But just when they had collected +nearly every settler in the vicinity, and were preparing their torches +to continue the search, the woman arrived safely at home, with no +further injury than being thoroughly frightened, and very much fatigued. +She stated that she had walked constantly, from the time when she became +aware she was lost, and that she was so much bewildered that she at the +first did not know their own clearing, till some familiar object +attracted her attention. As the neighbours were going to their homes, +after the woman's return, they were, naturally enough, talking of the +matter, regarding it as a cause of deep thankfulness that no harm had +befallen her. Mr. G., one of the number, although a <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 121]</span>very kind hearted +man, had an odd dry manner of speaking which often provoked a laugh. It +so happened that the woman who was lost was very small, her stature +being much below the medium height. Laughter was far enough from the +mind of any one, till old Mr. G., who had not before made a remark, +suddenly said, "sic a wee body as you should never attemp' to gang awa' +her lane through the bush without a bell hanged aboot her neck to let +people ken where to find her in case she should gang off the richt +road." This was too much for the gravity of any one; and the stillness +of the summer night was broken by a burst of hearty laughter from the +whole company; and the old man made the matter little better, when the +laugh had subsided, by saying in a very grave manner, "well, after a' I +think it would be a verra wise-like precaution wi' sic a wee bit body as +her." Time passed on; other settlers located themselves in the vicinity, +and the settlement soon began to wear a prosperous appearance. As soon +as circumstances allowed, a school-house was erected, which, if rude to +structure, answered the purpose very well. For some time the school was +only kept open during the summer and autumn, as the long distance and +deep snows forbade the attendance of young children during the winter +season. They had as yet no public worship, except the Sabbath meetings +before mentioned, which were now held in the schoolhouse for the +<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 122]</span>greater convenience of the settlers. Mr. Ainslie was a man of much +industry; and although his home was for some years two miles from any +neighbour, it soon wore a pleasing appearance. The most pleasing feature +in the scene was the beautiful stream of water which ran near his +dwelling, and after which he named his farm. In five years from the time +when he first settled in the bush, he exchanged his rude log house for a +comfortable and convenient framed dwelling, with a well-kept garden in +front, and near his house were left standing some fine shade-trees which +added much to the beauty of the place. In process of time, the excellent +quality of the soil in that range of lots attracted others to locate +themselves in the vicinity; and Hazel-Brook farm soon formed the centre +of a fast growing neighbourhood. Two sons and another daughter had been +added to Mr. Ainslie's family during this time; and the birth of the +little girl was an occasion of much joy to all the family. They had +never forgotten "wee Susie," and all the love which they bore to her +memory was lavished upon this second daughter in the family. The elder +brothers were anxious to bestow the name of their lost favourite, upon +their infant sister, but the parents objected, having rather a dislike +to the practice, so common, of bestowing upon a child a name that had +belonged to the dead; and so the little girl was named Jennette, after +her grandmother, Mrs. Miller. About this time <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 123]</span>old Mr. Miller died. He +was an old man, "full of days," having seen nearly eighty years of life. +He had ever been a man of strong constitution and robust health, and his +last illness was very short; and from the first he was confident that he +should never recover. When he first addressed his family upon the +subject they were overwhelmed with grief. "Dinna greet for me," said he +in a calm and hopeful voice, "I ha'e already leeved ayont the period +allotted to the life o' man; I ha'e striven in my ain imperfect way to +do my duty in this life, an' I am thankfu' that I am able to say that I +dinna fear death; and I feel that when I dee I shall gang hame to the +house o' a mercifu' Father." So peaceful was his departure, that +although surrounded by his mourning friends, they were unable to tell +the exact moment of his death, like a wearied child that sleeps, he +quietly passed away. They had no burial ground in the settlement, and he +was laid to rest several miles from his home. His family, with the +exception of one son, had all married and removed to homes of their own +some time previous to his death; and to this son was assigned the happy +task of watching over the declining years of his widowed mother. Mr. +Miller, as a dying injunction, charged this son never to neglect his +mother in her old age, and most sacredly did he observe the dying wishes +of his father. Mrs. Miller was also of advanced age. For three years +longer she lingered, and was then laid to rest beside her departed +husband.</p><p><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 124]</span></p> + +<p>Twenty years have passed away since we introduced Robert Ainsley with +his family to the reader. Let us pay a parting visit to Hazel-Brook farm +and note the changes which these twenty years have effected. The forest +has melted away before the hand of steady industry, and we pass by +cultivated fields on our way to the farm of Mr. Ainslie. The clearings +have extended till very few trees obstruct our view as we gaze over the +farms of the numerous settlers, which are now separated by fences +instead of forest trees. But the loveliest spot of all is Hazel-Brook +farm. The farm-house of Robert Ainslie, enlarged and remodelled +according to his increased means, is painted a pure white, and very +pleasant it looks to the eye, through the branches of the shade-trees +which nearly surround it. The clear waters of Hazel-Brook are as bright +and sparkling as ever. The banks near the dwelling are still fringed +with trees and various kinds of shrubs; but farther up the stream all +obstructions have been cleared away, and the sound of a saw-mill falls +upon the ear. Let us enter the dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Ainslie, although +now no longer young, evince by their cheerful countenance that they yet +retain both mental and bodily vigor. As yet their children all remain at +home, as the boys find ample employment upon the farm, and at the mill; +while Jennette assists her mother in the labours of the household. For +many years the setting sun has rested upon the gleaming spire of <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 125]</span>the +neat and substantial church erected by the settlers; and now upon the +Sabbath day, instead of listening to a sermon read by a neighbour, they +listen to the regular preaching of the gospel, and each one according to +his means contributes to the support of their minister. It was Mr. +Ainslie who first incited the settlers to exert themselves in the +erection of a suitable place for worship. Some of his neighbours at the +first were not inclined to favour the idea, thinking the neighbourhood +too poor for the undertaking. But he did not suffer himself to become +discouraged, and after considerable delay the frame of the building was +erected. When the building was once begun, they all seemed to work with +a will, and to the utmost of their ability. Those who were unable to +give money brought contributions of lumber, boards, shingles, &c., +besides giving their own labour freely to the work; and in a short time +the work had so far advanced that they were able to occupy the building +as a place of worship, although in an unfinished state. But the +contributions were continued year after year, till at length they were +privileged to worship in a church which they could call their own. Mr. +Ainslie was a man of talents and education, superior to most of the +early settlers in that section, and it was his counsel, administered in +a spirit of friendship and brotherly kindness, which worked many +improvements and effected many changes for the better as the years +rolled by. As we turn <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 126]</span>away with a parting glance at the pleasing scene, +we cannot help mentally saying,—surely the residents in this vicinity +owe much to Robert Ainslie for the interest he has ever taken in the +prosperity and improvements of the place, and long may both he and they +live to enjoy the fruit of their united labours.</p><p><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 127]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="OLD_RUFUS" id="OLD_RUFUS"></a>OLD RUFUS.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 189px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-005.png" width="189" height="180" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><p>he memory of Old Rufus is so closely connected with the +days of my childhood that I cannot refrain from indulging in a few +recollections of him. The name of Old Rufus was not applied to him from +any want of respect; but it was owing to his advanced age, and long +residence in our vicinity, that he received this appellation. His name +was Rufus Dudley. I remember him as an old man when I was a very young +child; and his residence in the neighbourhood dated back to a period +many years previous to the time of which I speak. He was born in the +state of New York, where he resided during the early portion of his +life, and where he married. His wife died before his removal to Canada. +When he first came to the Province he located himself in a town a few +miles from the Village of C., where he married a second time. When first +he removed to R, he was for some years employed in a saw-mill and earned +a comfortable support for his family. My knowledge of his early +residence in R. is indefinite, as he had lived there for many years +previous to my recol<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 128]</span>lection, and all I know concerning the matter is +what I have heard spoken of at different times by my parents and other +old residents of the place. It would seem however that his second +marriage was, for him, very unfortunate, for to use his own words, "he +never afterward had any peace of his life." I have been informed that +his wife was possessed of a pleasing person and manners, but added to +this she also possessed a most dreadful temper; which when roused +sometimes rendered her insane for the time being; and finally some +trouble arose between them which ended in a separation for life. They +had two grown-up daughters at the time of their separation, who +accompanied their mother to a town at considerable distance from their +former home. In a short time the daughters married and removed to homes +of their own. Their mother removed to one of the Eastern States. She +survived her husband for several years, but she is now also dead. Soon +after he became separated from his family Old Rufus gave up the saw-mill +and removed to a small log house, upon a piece of land to which he +possessed some kind of claim, and from that time till his death, lived +entirely alone. He managed to cultivate a small portion of the land, +which supplied him with provisions, and he at times followed the trade +of a cooper, to eke out his slender means. His family troubles had +broken his spirits, and destroyed his ambition, and for years he lived a +lonely <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 129]</span>dispirited man. He was possessed of sound common sense and had +also received a tolerable education, to which was added a large stock of +what might be properly termed general information; and I have often +since wondered how he could have reconciled himself to the seemingly +aimless and useless life which he led for so many years. But in our +intercourse with men, we often meet with characters who are a sore +puzzle to us; and old Rufus was one of those. When quite young I have +often laughed at a circumstance I have heard related regarding the +violent temper of his wife; but indeed it was no laughing matter. It +seems that in some instances she gave vent to her anger by something +more weighty than words. Old Rufus one day entered the house of a +neighbor with marks of blows on his face, and was asked the cause. He +never spoke of his wife's faults if he could avoid it; but on this +occasion he sat for a moment as though considering what reply to make, +and finally said: "O! there is not much the matter with my face any way, +only Polly and I had a little brush this morning." I know not how +serious the matter was, but Old Rufus certainly came off second in the +encounter. This aged man is so deeply connected with the early scenes of +my home life that I yet cherish a tender regard for his memory; although +the flowers of many summers have scattered their blossoms, and the snows +of many winters have descended upon his grave. He was on familiar terms +<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 130]</span>with almost every family in the neighbourhood, and every one made him +welcome to a place at their table, or a night's lodging as the case +might be; and I well remember the attention with which I used to listen +to his conversation during the long winter evenings, when, as was often +the case, he passed a night in our dwelling. I recollect one time when +the sight of Old Rufus was very welcome to me. When about nine years of +age, I accompanied my brothers to the Sugar bush one afternoon in +spring; and during a long continued run of the sap from the maple trees +it was often necessary to keep the sugar kettles boiling through the +night to prevent waste. On the afternoon in question, my brothers +intended remaining over night in the bush, and I obtained permission to +stay with them, thinking it would be something funny to sleep in a +shanty in the woods. The sugar-bush was about two miles from our +dwelling, and I was much elated by the prospect of being allowed to +assist in the labors of sugar-making. My brothers laughingly remarked +that I would probably have enough of the woods, and be willing to return +home when night came, but I thought otherwise. During the afternoon I +assisted in tending the huge fires, and the singing of the birds, and +the chippering of the squirrels as they hopped in the branches of the +tall trees, delighted me, and the hours passed swiftly by, till the sun +went down behind the trees and the shades of evening began to gather +about us. As the <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 131]</span>darkness increased, I began to think the sugar-bush +not the most desirable place in the world, in which to pass the night, +and all the stories I had ever heard of bears, wolves, and other wild +animals rushed across my mind, and filled me with terror. I would have +given the world, had it been at my disposal, to have been safely at +home; and it was only the dread of being laughed at, which prevented me +from begging my brothers to take me there. And when darkness had +entirely settled over the earth, and the night-owls set up their +discordant screams, my fears reached a climax. I had never before +listened to their hideous noise, and had not the slightest idea of what +it was. I had often heard old hunters speak of a wild animal, called the +catamount, which they allowed had been seen in the Canadian forests +during the early settlement of the country. I had heard this animal +described as being of large size, and possessing such strength and +agility, as enabled then to spring from the boughs of one tree to those +of another without touching the ground, and at such times their savage +cries were such as to fill the heart of the boldest hunter with terror. +I shall never forget the laugh which my grown-up brothers enjoyed at my +expense, when trembling with terror, I enquired if they thought a +catamount was not approaching among the tree-tops. "Do not be alarmed," +said they, "for the noises which frighten you so much proceeds from +nothing more formidable than <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 132]</span>owls." Their answer, however, did not +satisfy me, and I kept a sharp look-out among the branches of the +surrounding trees lest the dreaded monster should descend upon as +unawares. Old Rufus was boiling sap, half a mile from us, and it was a +joyful moment to me, when he suddenly approached us out of the darkness, +saying, "Well, boys, don't you want company? I have got my sap all +boiled in, and as I felt kinder lonesome, I thought I would come across, +and sleep by your shanty fire." The old man enquired why I seemed so +much terrified, and my brothers told him that I would persist in calling +a screech-owl, a catamount. Old Rufus did not often laugh, but he +laughed heartily on this occasion, and truly it was no wonder, and when +he corroborated what my brothers had already told me, I decided that +what he said must be true. His presence at once gave me a feeling of +protection and security, and creeping close to his side on the cedar +boughs which formed our bed, while the immense fire blazed in front of +our tent, I soon forgot my childish fears, in a sound sleep which +remained unbroken till the morning sun was shining brightly above the +trees. But it was long before I heard the last of the night I spent in +the bush; and as often as my brothers wished to tease me, they would +enquire if I had lately heard the cries of a catamount? Time passed on +till I grew up, and leaving the paternal home went forth, to make my own +way in the world.<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 133]</span> Old Rufus still resided in R. When a child I used to +fancy that he would never seem older than he had appeared since my +earliest recollection of him; but about the time I left home there was a +very observable change in his appearance. I noticed that his walk was +slow and feeble, and his form was bending beneath the weight of years, +and his hair was becoming white by the frosts of time. I occasionally +visited my parents, and during these visits I frequently met with my old +friend; and it was evident that he was fast failing, and was fast losing +his hold of life. He still resided alone, much against the wishes of his +neighbours, but his old habits still clung to him. I removed to a longer +distance and visited my early home less frequently. Returning to R., +after a longer absence than usual, I learned that the health of Old +Rufus had so much failed, that the neighbours, deeming it unsafe for him +to remain longer alone, at length persuaded him to remove to the house +of a neighbour, where each one contributed toward his support. His mind +had become weak as well as his body; indeed he had become almost a child +again, and it was but a short time that he required the kind attentions +which all his old neighbours bestowed upon him. I remained at home for +several weeks, and ere I left, I followed the remains of Old Rufus to +the grave. I have stood by many a grave of both kindred and stranger; +never before or since have I seen one <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 134]</span>laid in the grave without the +presence of some relative; but no one stood by his grave who bore to him +the least relationship. It was on a mild Sabbath afternoon in midsummer +that we laid him to rest in the burial ground of R.; and if none of his +kindred stood by to shed the tear of natural affection, there was many a +cheek wet with the tear of sensibility when the coffin was lowered to +its silent abode. I am unable to state his exact age, but I am certain +that it considerably exceeded eighty years; and from what I can +recollect of his life, I have a strong hope, that death opened to him a +blessed immortality beyond the grave.</p><p><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 135]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DIAMOND_RING" id="THE_DIAMOND_RING"></a>THE DIAMOND RING.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 141px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-003.png" width="141" height="141" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><p>nd has it indeed come to this," said Mrs. Harris, +addressing her daughter Ellen, "must I part with my mother's last gift +to obtain bread?" Mrs. Harris, as she spoke, held in her hand a costly +diamond ring, and the tears gathered in her eyes, as the rays of light +falling upon the brilliants caused them to glow like liquid fire. This +costly ornament would have struck the beholder as strangely out of place +in the possession of this poor widow, in that scantily furnished room; +but a few words regarding the past history of Mrs. Harris and her +daughter will explain their present circumstances. Mrs. Harris was born +and educated in England, and when quite young was employed as governess +in a gentleman's family. Circumstances at length caused the family with +whom she resided to cross the Atlantic and take up their abode in the +ancient city of Quebec. The young governess had no remaining ties to +bind her to England. Her parents had been dead for many years; she had +no sisters, and her only brother, soon after the death of their parents, +went to seek his fortune in <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 136]</span>the gold regions of California. Some years +had passed since she heard any tidings from him, and she feared he was +no longer among the living, and when the family with whom she had so +long resided left England for America, they persuaded her to accompany +them. In process of time she was married to a wealthy merchant, and +removed to Western Canada. Their union was a very happy one, and for +some years, they lived in the enjoyment of worldly prosperity and +happiness. But it often happens that sad and unlooked-for reverses +succeed a season of long continued prosperity; and it was so in this +case. I am not aware that Mr. Harris's failure in business was brought +about through any imprudence on his part; but was owing to severe and +unexpected losses. He had entered into various speculations, which bid +fair to prove profitable, but which proved a complete failure, and one +stroke of ill fortune followed another in rapid succession, till the day +of utter ruin came. He gave up every thing; even his house and furniture +was sacrificed to meet the clamorous demands of his hard-hearted +creditors; and his family was thus suddenly reduced from a state of ease +and affluence to absolute poverty. Mr. Harris possessed a very proud +spirit, and his nature was sensitive, and he could not endure the +humiliation of remaining where they had formerly been so happy. He knew +the world sufficiently well to be aware that they would now meet with +coldness and neglect even <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 137]</span>from those who had formerly been proud of +their notice, and shrank from the trial, and with the small amount he +had been able to secure out of the general wreck, he removed to the city +of Toronto, some three hundred miles from their former home. They had +but little money remaining when they reached the city, and Mr. Harris +felt the necessity of at once seeking some employment, for a stranger +destitute of money in a large city is in no enviable position. For some +time he was unsuccessful in every application he made for employment, +and he was glad at length to accept the situation of copyist in a +Lawyer's Office, till something better might offer. His salary barely +sufficed for their support, yet they were thankful even for that. His +constitution had never been robust, and the anxiety of mind under which +he labored told severely upon his health. He exerted himself to the +utmost, but his health failed rapidly; he was soon obliged to give up +work, and in a little more than a year from the time of their removal to +Toronto, he died, leaving his wife and daughter friendless and +destitute. Their situation was extremely sad, when thus left alone; they +had made no acquaintances during the year they had resided in the city, +and had no friend to whom they could apply for aid; after paying her +husband's funeral expenses, Mrs. Harris found herself well-nigh +destitute of money, and she felt the urgent necessity of exerting +herself to obtain employment by which <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 138]</span>they at least might earn a +subsistence. The widow and her daughter found much difficulty at first +in obtaining employment. Some to whom they applied had no work; others +did not give out work to strangers; and for several days Mrs. Harris +returned weary and desponding to her home, after spending a large +portion of the day in the disagreable task of seeking employment from +strangers; but after a time she succeeded in obtaining employment, and +as their work proved satisfactory they had soon an ample supply; but +just when their prospects were beginning to brighten Mrs. Harris was +visited by a severe illness. They had been able to lay by a small sum +previous to her illness, and it was well they had done so, for during +her sickness she required almost the constant attention of her daughter, +which deprived them of any means of support; but after several weeks of +severe illness she began slowly to recover, and this brings us to the +time where our story opens. The ring which Mrs. Harris held in her hand, +had been for many, many years an heir-loom in the English family to +which she belonged. To her it was the dying gift of her mother, and the +thoughts of parting with it cost her a bitter pang. But she had no +friends to whom she might apply for aid; and to a refined and sensitive +nature, almost anything else is preferable to seeking charity from +strangers. The ring was the only article of value which she retained, +and sore as was the trial, <a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 139]</span>she saw no other way of meeting their +present wants, than by disposing of this her only relic of former +affluence and happiness; and she trusted, that by the time the money +which the sale of the ring would bring should be expended, they would be +again able to resume their employment. With a heavy heart Ellen Harris +set out to dispose of this cherished memento. She remembered an +extensive jewelry shop, which she had often passed, as she carried home +parcels of work, and thither she made her way. The shop-keeper was an +elderly man with daughters of his own, and he had so often noticed this +pale sad-looking young girl as she passed his window, that he recognized +her countenance the moment she entered the shop; and when in a low timid +voice she enquired if he would purchase the ring, he was satisfied that +he was correct in his former conjecture, that she belonged to a family +of former wealth and respectability. But young as she was there was a +certain reserve and dignity in her manner, which forbade any questions +on his part. The man had for many years carried on a lucrative business +in his line, and he was now wealthy; and knowing that he could afford to +wait till the ring should find a purchaser he had no fears of losing +money on so valuable an article; and, as is not often the case in such +transactions, he paid her a fair price for the ring, although less than +its real value. Ellen returned, much elated by her success; the money +she had received for the <a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 140]</span>ring seemed to them in their present +circumstances a small fortune. "Little did once I think" said the widow, +as she carefully counted the bank-notes, "that a few paltry pounds would +ever seem of so much value to me; but perhaps it is well that we should +sometimes experience the want of money, that we may learn how to make a +proper use of it, and be more helpful to those less favoured than +ourselves." The money they obtained more than sufficed for their +support, till Mrs. Harris so far recovered, as to allow them again to +resume their employment. They now had no difficulty in obtaining work, +and although obliged to toil early and late, they became cheerful and +contented; although they could not but feel the change in their +circumstances, and often contrast the happy past, with their present lot +of labor and toil.</p> + +<p>The shopkeeper burnished up the setting of the diamonds and placed the +ring among many others in the show-case upon his counter. But so +expensive an ornament as this does not always find a ready purchaser, +and for some months it remained unsold. One afternoon a gentleman +entered the shop to make some trifling purchase, and, as the shopkeeper +happened to be engaged with a customer, he remained standing at the +counter, till he should be at leisure, and his eye wandered carelessly +over the articles in the show-case. Suddenly he started, changed +countenance, and when the shopkeeper came forward to attend to him he +<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 141]</span>said in a voice of suppressed eagerness, "will you allow me to examine +that ring," pointing as he spoke to the diamond ring sold by Ellen +Harris. "Certainly Sir, certainly," said the obliging shop-keeper, who, +hoping that the ring had at last found a purchaser, immediately placed +it in his hand for inspection. The gentleman turned the ring in his +hand, and carefully examined the sparking diamonds as well as the +antique setting: and when he observed the initials, engraved upon the +inside, he grew pale as marble, and hurriedly addressed the astonished +shopkeeper saying, "In the name of pity, tell me where you obtained this +ring?" "I am very willing to inform you," said the man "how this ring +came into my possession. Several months ago a young girl, of very +delicate and lady-like appearance, brought this ring here and desired me +to purchase it. She seemed very anxious to dispose of the ornament, and, +thinking I could easily sell it again, I paid her a fair price and took +the ring, and that is all I can tell you about the matter." "You do not +know the lady's name?" said the gentleman anxiously. "I do not," replied +the man, "but I have frequently seen her pass in the street. The +circumstance of her selling me this valuable ring caused me to notice +her particularly, and I recognised her countenance ever after." "Name +your price for the ring," said the gentleman,—"I must purchase it at any +price; and the next thing, I must, if possible, find the lady who +brought it here,<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 142]</span> I have seen this ring before, and that is all I wish +to say of the matter at present; but is there no way in which you can +assist me in obtaining an interview with this young lady?" "I have no +knowledge of her name or residence; but if you were in my shop when she +chanced to pass here I could easily point her out to you in the street." +"You may think my conduct somewhat strange," said the gentleman, "but +believe me my reasons for seeking an interview with this young lady are +most important, and if you can point her out to me in the street I will +endeavour to learn her residence, as that will be something gained." +Before the gentleman left the shop he paid for the ring, and placed it +in his pocket. For several days, he frequented the shop of the jeweller +with the hope of gaining a view of the lady. At length one morning the +shop-keeper suddenly directed his attention to a lady passing in the +street, saying, "there, Sir, is the young lady from whom I purchased the +ring." He waited to hear no more, but, stepping hastily into the street, +followed the lady at a respectful distance; but never losing sight of +her for a moment till she entered her home two streets distant from the +shop of the jeweller. He approached the door and rang the bell; The door +was opened by the same young lady, whose manner exhibited not a little +embarrassment, when she beheld a total stranger; and he began to feel +himself in an awkward position. He was at a loss how <a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 143]</span>to address her +till, recollecting that he must explain his visit in some way, he said: +"Pardon the intrusion of a stranger; but, by your permission, I would +like to enter the house, and have a word of conversation with you." The +young girl regarded the man earnestly for a moment; but his manner was +so gentlemanly and deferential that she could do no less than invite him +to enter the little sitting-room where her mother was at work, and ask +him to be seated. He bowed to Mrs. Harris on entering the room, then +seating himself he addressed the young lady saying. "The peculiar +circumstances in which I am placed must serve as my apology for asking +you a question which you may consider impertinent. Are you the young +lady who, some months since, sold a diamond ring to a jeweller on +Grafton street?" Mrs. Harris raised her eyes to the stranger's face; and +the proud English blood which flowed in her veins mantled her cheek as +she replied, "Before I permit my daughter to answer the questions of a +stranger, you will be so kind as explain your right to question." The +stranger sprang from his seat at the sound of her voice, and exclaimed +in a voice tremulous from emotion, "don't you know me Elisa, I am your +long lost brother George." The reader will, doubtless, be better able to +imagine the scene which followed than I am to describe it. Everything +was soon explained, many letters had been sent which never reached their +destination; he knew not <a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 144]</span>that his sister had left England, and after +writing again and again and receiving no reply, he ceased altogether +from writing. During the first years of his sojourn in California, he +was unfortunate, and was several times brought to the brink of the grave +by sickness. After a time fortune smiled upon his efforts, till he at +length grew immensely rich, and finally left the burning skies of +California to return to England. He landed at New York and intended, +after visiting the Canadas, to sail for England. The brother and sister +had parted in their early youth, and it is no wonder that they failed to +recognise each other when each had passed middle age. The brother was +most changed of the two. His complexion had grown very dark, and he had +such a foreign look that, when convinced of the fact, Mrs. Harris could +hardly believe him to be one and the same with the stripling brother +from whom she parted in England so many years ago. He was, of course, +not aware of his sister's marriage, and he listened with sorrow to the +story of her bereavement and other misfortune. "You must now place a +double value upon our family ring," said he, as he replaced the lost +treasure upon his sister's hand; "for it is this diamond ring which has +restored to each other the brother and sister which otherwise might +never have met again on earth. And now both you and your daughter most +prepare for a voyage to dear old England. You need have no anxiety for +the <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 145]</span>future; I have enough for us all and you shall want no more." Before +leaving the City, accompanied by her brother, Mrs. Harris visited the +grave of her husband; and the generous brother attended to the erection +of a suitable tomb-stone, as the widow had before been unable to meet +the expenses of it. Passing through the Upper Province they reached +Montreal, whence they sailed for England. After a prosperous voyage they +found themselves amid the familiar scenes of their childhood, where they +still live in the enjoyment of as much happiness as usually falls to the +lot of mortals.</p><p><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 146]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_UNFORTUNATE_MAN" id="THE_UNFORTUNATE_MAN"></a>THE UNFORTUNATE MAN.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 140px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-008.png" width="140" height="136" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><p>n a sultry afternoon in midsummer I was walking on a +lonely, unfrequented road in the Township of S. My mind was busily +occupied, and I paid little attention to surrounding objects till a +hollow, unnatural voice addressed me saying: "Look up my friend, and +behold the unfortunate man." I raised my eyes suddenly, and, verily, the +appearance of the being before me justified his self-bestowed +appellation—the unfortunate man. I will do my best to describe him, +although I am satisfied that my description will fall far short of the +reality. He was uncommonly tall, and one thing which added much to the +oddity of his appearance was the inequality of length in his legs, one +being shorter by several inches than the other, and, to make up for the +deficiency, he wore on the short leg a boot with a very high heel. He +seemed to be past middle age, his complexion was sallow and unhealthy, +he was squint-eyed, and his hair, which had once been of a reddish hue, +was then a grizzly gray. Taken all together he was a strange looking +object, and I soon perceived that his mind wandered.<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 147]</span> At first I felt +inclined to hurry onward as quickly as possible, but, as he seemed +harmless and inclined to talk to me, I lingered for a few moments to +listen to him. "I do not wonder," said he, "that you look upon me with +pity, for it is a sad thing for one to be crazy." Surprised to find him +so sensible of his own situation, I said: As you seem so well aware that +you are crazy, perhaps you can inform me what caused you to become so. +"Oh yes," replied he, "I can soon tell you that: first my father died, +then my mother, and soon after my only sister hung herself to the limb +of a tree with a skein of worsted yarn; and last, and worst of all, my +wife, Dorcas Jane, drowned herself in Otter Creek." Wondering if there +was any truth in this horrible story, or if it was only the creation of +his own diseased mind, I said, merely to see what he would say next, +"What caused your wife to drown herself; was she crazy too?" "Oh, no," +replied he, "she was not crazy, but she was worse than that; for she was +jealous of me, although I am sure she had no cause." The idea of any one +being jealous of the being before me was so ridiculous that it was with +the utmost difficulty that I refrained from laughter; but, fearing to +offend the crazy man, I maintained my gravity by a strong effort. When +he had finished the story of his misfortunes, he came close to me and +said, in slow measured tones: "And now do you think it any wonder that I +went raving distracted crazy?" "Indeed I do <a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 148]</span>not," said I; "many a one +has gone crazy for less cause." Thinking he might be hungry, I told him +I would direct him to a farm-house, where he would be sure to obtain his +supper. "No," replied he, "this is not one of my hungry days; I find so +many who will give me nothing to eat that when I get the offer of a meal +I always eat whether I am hungry or not, and I have been in luck to-day, +for I have eaten five meals since morning; and now I must lose no more +time, for I have important business with the Governor of Canada and must +reach Quebec to-morrow." I regarded the poor crazy being with a feeling +of pity, as he walked wearily onward, and even the high-heeled boot did +not conceal a painful limp in his gait. But I had not seen the last of +him yet. Some six months after, as I was visiting a friend who lived +several miles distant, who should walk in, about eight o'clock in the +evening, but the "unfortunate man." There had been a slight shower of +rain, but not enough to account for the drenched state of his clothing. +"How did you get so wet?" enquired Mr. —— "O," replied he, "I was +crossing a brook upon a log, and I slipped off into the water; and it +rained on me at the same time, and between the two, I got a pretty smart +ducking." They brought him some dry clothing, and dried his wet garments +by the kitchen fire, and kindly allowed him to remain for the night. For +several years, this man passed through S. as often as two or three times +during each year. He became so well <a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 149]</span>known in the vicinity, that any one +freely gave him a meal, or a night's lodging as often as he sought it. +Every time he came along his mind was occupied by some new fancy, which +seemed to him to be of the utmost importance, and to require prompt +attention. He arrived in S. one bitter cold night in the depth of +winter, and remained for the night with a family who had ever treated +him kindly, and with whom he had often lodged before. He set out early +the next morning to proceed (as he said) on his way to Nova Scotia. +Years have passed away, but the "unfortunate man" has never since been +seen in the vicinity. It was feared by some that he had perished in the +snow; as there were some very severe storms soon after he left S; but +nothing was ever learned to confirm the suspicion. According to his own +statement he belonged to the state of Vermont, but, from his speech, he +was evidently not an American. Several years have passed away since his +last visit to S. and it is more than probable that he is no longer among +the living.</p><p><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 150]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_OLD_SCHOOLHOUSE" id="THE_OLD_SCHOOLHOUSE"></a>THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-002.png" width="132" height="131" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><p> lately visited the timeworn building where for a +lengthened period, during my early years, I studied the rudiments of +education; and what a host of almost forgotten memories of the past came +thronging back upon my mind, as I stood alone—in that well remembered +room. I seemed again to hear the hum of youthful voices as they learned +or recited their daily tasks, and, as memory recalled the years that had +passed since we used there to assemble, I could not avoid saying +mentally: "My schoolmates, where are they?" Even that thought called to +mind an amusing story related by a much loved companion who for a time +formed one of our number.</p> + +<p>He was older than most of the other boys, and was a general favourite +with all. He was famous for relating funny stories, of which he had a +never-failing supply; and when the day was too stormy to allow of +out-of-door sports, during the noon hour, we used to gather around the +large stove which stood in the centre of the room and coax H.M. to tell +us stories. The story which recurred to my mind was of <a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 151]</span>a poor Irishman, +who, in describing a visit which he paid to the home of his childhood +after a long absence, said: "At the sober hour of twilight, I entered +the lonely and desarted home uv me forefathers, an' as I gazed about the +silent walls, I said, 'me fathers, where are they?' an' did not echo +answer, 'Is that you Pathrick O'Flannigan, sure?'"</p> + +<p>I was in no mood for laughter, and yet I could not repress a smile, as +memory recalled the comical voice and inimitable gestures with which +young H.M. related the story. He was beloved by us all, and when he left +school we parted from him with real sorrow. As I walked around, and +looked upon the worn and defaced desks, I observed the initials of many +once familiar names, which many years before had been formed with a +knife, which were not so much obliterated but I could easily decipher +the well known letters. That desk in the corner was occupied by two +brothers who when they grew up removed to one of the Eastern States, +where they enlisted as soldiers in the war between the North and South. +One of the brothers received his death-wound on the battlefield. In a +foreign hospital he lingered in much suffering for a brief period, when +he died and was buried, far from his home and kindred. The younger +brother was naturally of a tender constitution and was unable to endure +the hardships and privations of a soldier's life. His health failed him, +and he returned <a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 152]</span>to his friends, who had left their Canadian home, and +removed to the State of Massachusetts; but all that the most skilful +physicians could do, aided by the most watchful care of his tender +mother, failed to check the ravages of disease. Consumption had marked +him for its prey, and he died a few months after leaving the army; and, +as his friends wept on his grave, they could see with their mind's eye +another nameless grave in a far-away Southern State, where slept the +other son and brother. The desk on my left hand was occupied by a youth, +who has been for many years toiling for gold in California; and I have +learned that he has grown very rich. I often wonder if, in his eager +pursuit after riches, in that far-off clime, he ever thinks of the +little brown school-house by the butternut trees, and of the smiling +eager group who used daily to meet there. One large family of brothers +and sisters, who attended this school for several years, afterward +removed, with their parents, to one of the Western States, and years +have passed away since I heard of them; but along with many others they +were recalled to mind by my visit to the old School-House.</p> + +<p>On the opposite side of the room is the range of desks which were +occupied by the girls, and I could almost fancy that I again saw the +same lively, restless group who filled those desks in the days of +long-ago. Again I saw the bright smile which was often hidden <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 153]</span>from the +searching eye of our teacher, behind the covers of the well-worn +spelling-book, again I saw the mischievous glances, and heard the +smothered laughter when the attention of the teacher was required in +some other part of the room. But these happy, careless days of childhood +are gone never to return. Were I inclined, I could trace the +after-history of most of the companions whom I used daily to meet in +this school-room. With many of them "life's history" is done, and they +sleep peacefully in the grave. Others have gone forth to the duties of +life; some far distant, others near their paternal homes. Many of the +number have been successful in life, and prospered in their +undertakings, while others have met with disappointment and misfortune. +It seemed somewhat singular to me that, as I stood alone in that room +(after the lapse of so many years), I could recollect, by name, each +companion I used to meet there; yet so it was, and it seemed but as +yesterday since we used daily to assemble there; and when I reflected +for a moment on the many changes to which I have been subjected since +that period I could hardly realize that I was one and the same. I +lingered long at the old School-House, for I expected never to behold it +again, having been informed that it was shortly to give place to a +building of a larger size, and of more modern structure.</p><p><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 154]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ARTHUR_SINCLAIR" id="ARTHUR_SINCLAIR"></a>ARTHUR SINCLAIR.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 142px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-006.png" width="142" height="141" alt="F" title="" /> +</div><p>or several hours we had endured the jolting of the +lumbering stage-coach over a rough hilly road which led through a +portion of the State of New Hampshire; and, as the darkness of night +gathered around us, I, as well as my fellow-travellers, began to +manifest impatience to arrive at our stopping-place for the night; and +we felt strongly inclined to find fault with the slow motion of the +tired horses, which drew the heavily-loaded vehicle. Thinking it as well +to know the worst at once, I asked the driver "what time we might expect +to reach our destination for the night?" "It will be midnight at the +least, perhaps later," replied he. This news was not very cheering to +the weary travellers who filled the coach; and I almost regretted having +asked the question. The roughness of the roads, together with the +crowded state of the vehicle, made it impossible for any one to sleep, +and it became an important question how we should pass away the tedious +hours. A proposition was at length made, that some one of the passengers +should relate a story for the entertainment of the others. This proposal +met with the hearty approval of <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 155]</span>all, as a means of making our toilsome +journey seem shorter; and the question of who should relate the story +was very soon agitated. There was among the passengers one old gentleman +of a very pleasant and venerable appearance, and judging from his +countenance that he possessed intelligence, as well as experience, we +respectfully invited him to relate a story for our entertainment. "I am +not at all skilled in story-telling," replied the old gentleman, "but, +as a means of passing away the tedious hours of the uncomfortable ride, +I will relate some circumstances which took place many years since, and +which also have a connection with my present journey, although the +narrative may not possess much interest for uninterested strangers." We +all placed ourselves in a listening attitude, and the old man began as +follows: "I was born in the town of Littleton in this state, and when a +boy, I had one schoolmate, whom I could have loved no better had he been +a brother. His name was Arthur Sinclair. And the affectionate intimacy +which existed between us for many years, is yet, to me, a green spot in +the waste of memory. I was about twelve years of age, when Arthur's +parents came to reside in Littleton. That now large and thriving village +then contained but a few houses, and when the Sinclairs became our +neighbours, we soon formed a very pleasing acquaintance. I was an only +child, and had never been much given to making companions of the +neighbouring boys of my <a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 156]</span>own age; but from the first, I felt strongly +attracted toward Arthur Sinclair. He was two years younger than myself. +At the time when I first met him, he was the most perfect specimen of +childish beauty I ever saw, and added to this he possessed a most +winning and affectionate disposition, and in a short time we became +almost inseparable companions. My nature was distant and reserved, but +if once I made a friend, my affection for him was deep and abiding. We +occupied the same desk in the village school, and often conned our daily +lessons from the same book, and out of school hours, shared the same +sports; and I remember once hearing our teacher laughingly remark to my +parents, that he believed, should he find it necessary to correct one of +us, the other would beg to share the punishment. Notwithstanding the +strong friendship between us, our dispositions were very unlike. From a +child I was prone to fits of depression, while Arthur on the other hand +possessed such a never failing flow of animal spirits, as rendered him +at all times a very agreeable companion; and it may be that the +dissimilarity of our natures attracted us all the more strongly to each +other; be that as it may the same close intimacy subsisted between us +till we reached the years of early manhood. The only fault I could ever +see in Arthur was that of being too easily persuaded by others, without +pausing to think for himself; and being the elder of the two, and of a +<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 157]</span>reflective cast of mind, as we grew up, I often had misgivings for him +when he should go forth from his home, and mingle with the world at +large. The intimacy between us allowed me to speak freely to him, and I +after reminded him of the necessity of watchfulness and consideration, +when he should go forth alone to make his way in a selfish and unfeeling +world.</p> + +<p>"He used to make light of what he termed my "croaking" and say I need +have no fears for him; and I believe he spoke from the sincerity of his +good intentions; he thought all others as sincere and open-hearted as +himself, and happy had it been for him if he had found them so. Arthur +received a very good business education, and when he reached the age of +twenty-one, obtained the situation of book-keeper in an extensive +mercantile house in the city of Boston. There was a young girl in our +village to whom Arthur had been fondly attached since the days of his +boyhood, and I need scarcely say the attachment was reciprocal, and that +before he left home he placed the engagement ring upon her finger, +naming no very distant period when he hoped to replace it by the wedding +ring. Belinda Merril was worthy in every way of his affection, and loved +him with all the sincerity of a pure and guileless heart. I almost +wonder that the shadows which were even then gathering in what to them +had ever been a summer sky, did not <a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 158]</span>cast a chill over her heart. In due +time Arthur went to the city. I could not help my fears, lest his +pleasing manners and love of company should attract to him those who +would lead him into evil; but I strove to banish them, and hope for the +best. Our pastor, an old man, who had known Arthur from his childhood, +called upon him, previous to his departure from home, and without +wearying him with a long list of rules and regulations regarding his +future conduct, spoke to him as friend speaks to friend, and in a +judicious manner administered some very good advice to the youth, who +was almost as dear to him as his own son. The young man listened +attentively to the words of his faithful friend and sincerely thanked +him for the advice which he well knew was prompted by affection. During +the first year of his residence in the city, we wrote very frequently to +each other, and the tone of his letters indicated the same pure +principles which had ever governed his actions. Time passed on, and +by-and-bye, I could not fail to notice the change in the style of his +letters. He spoke much of the many agreeable acquaintances he had +formed, and of the amusements of the city, and was warm in his +commendations of the Theatre. My heart often misgave me as I perused his +letters, and I mentally wondered where all this was to end? After a two +years' absence, he returned to spend a few weeks at home in Littleton, +but he seemed so unlike my former <a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 159]</span>friend, that I could hardly feel at +ease in his society. He never once alluded to any incidents of our +school days, as he used formerly so frequently to do, and objects of +former interest possessed none for him now. He called Littleton a +"terribly stupid place," and seemed anxiously to look forward to his +return to Boston. "Surely," said I to him one evening as we were engaged +in conversation, "Littleton must still contain one attraction for you +yet." He appeared not to comprehend my meaning, but I well knew his +ignorance was only feigned. But when he saw that I was not to be put off +in that way, he said with a tone of assumed indifference, "O! if it is +Belinda Merril you are talking about, I have to say that she is no +longer an object of interest to me." "Is it possible, Arthur," said I, +"that you mean what you say; surely an absence of two years has not +caused you to forget the love you have borne Miss Merril from childhood. +I am very much surprised to hear you speak in this manner." A flush of +anger, at my plain reply, rose to his cheek, and he answered in a tone +of displeasure: "I may as well tell you first as last, my ideas have +undergone a change. I did once think I loved Belinda Merril, but that +was before I had seen the world, and now the idea to me is absurd of +introducing this awkward country girl as my wife among my acquaintances +in the city of Boston. I once had a sort of liking for the girl, but I +care no longer for her, and the sooner I <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 160]</span>break with her the better, and +I guess she won't break her heart about me." "I hope not indeed," I +replied, "but I must be allowed to say that I consider your conduct +unmanly and dishonourable, and I would advise you, before proceeding +further, to pause and reflect whether it is really your heart which +dictates your actions, or only a foolish fancy." Knowing how deeply Miss +Merril was attached to Arthur, I hoped he would reconsider the matter, +and I said as much to him; but all I could say was of no avail, and that +very evening he called and, requesting an interview with his betrothed, +informed her that, as his sentiments toward her had changed, he presumed +she would be willing to release him from their former engagement. +Instantly Miss Merril drew from her finger the ring he had placed there +two years before, and said, as she placed it in his hand, "I have long +been sensible of the change in your sentiments, and am truly glad that +you have at last spoken plainly. From this hour you may consider +yourself entirely free, and you have my best wishes for your future +happiness and prosperity," and, bidding him a kind good-evening, the +young lady left the apartment. Her spirit was deeply wounded, but she +possessed too much good sense to be utterly cast down for the +wrong-doing of another. Whatever were Arthur's feelings after he had +taken this step, he spoke of them to no one. I never again mentioned the +subject to him, but, knowing <a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 161]</span>him as I did, I could see that he was far +from being satisfied with his own conduct, and he departed for the city +some weeks sooner than he had at first intended. Owing to the friendly +feeling I had ever cherished for him, I could not help a feeling of +anxiety after his departure, for I feared that all was not right with +him. He did not entirely cease from writing to me; but his letters were +not frequent, and they were very brief and formal—very unlike the +former brotherly communications which used to pass between us. A year +passed away. I obtained a situation nearly a hundred miles from home. I +had heard nothing from Arthur for a long time, and, amid my own cares, +he recurred to my mind with less frequency than formerly; yet often +after the business of the day was over, and my mind was at leisure, +memory would recall Arthur Sinclair to my mind with a pained sort of +interest. About six months after I left home I was surprised by +receiving from Mr. Sinclair a hastily written letter, requesting me, if +possible, to lose no time in hastening to Littleton, stating also that +he was obliged to take a journey to Boston on business which vitally +concerned Arthur, and he wished me to accompany him. He closed by +requesting me to mention the letter I had received from him to no one, +saying that he knew me and my regard for Arthur sufficiently well to +trust me in the matter. My fears were instantly alive for Arthur, and I +feared that some misfortune to him was <a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 162]</span>hidden behind this veil of +secresy; and I soon found that my fears were well founded. I set out at +once for Littleton, and upon arriving there, I proceeded directly to the +residence of Mr. Sinclair. When he met me at the door I was struck by +the change in his countenance; he appeared as if ten years had been +added to his age since I last saw him, six months ago. He waited not for +me to make any inquiries, but, motioning me into a private apartment, he +closed the door, and, seating himself by my side, said in a hoarse +voice: "I may as well tell you the worst at once: my son, and also your +once dear friend, Arthur, is a thief, and, but for the lenity and +consideration of his employer, before this time would have been lodged +within the walls of a prison." I made no reply, but gazed upon him in +silent astonishment and horror. When he became more composed, he +informed me that he had lately received a letter from Mr. Worthing +(Arthur's employer) informing him that he had detected Arthur in the +crime of stealing money from the safe, to quite a large amount. In +giving the particulars of the unfortunate circumstance, he further +stated, for some time past he had missed different sums of money, but +was unable to attach suspicion to any one; "and, although," said he, "I +have been for some time fearful that your son was associating with evil +companions, I never once dreamed that he would be guilty of the crime of +stealing, till I lately missed bank-notes from <a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 163]</span>the safe, to quite a +large amount, having upon them some peculiar marks which rendered them +easy to be identified. For some time the disappearance of those notes +was a mystery, and I was beginning to despair of detecting the guilty +one, when I obtained proof positive that your unfortunate son parted +with those identical notes in a noted gambling saloon in the city; and, +as I have also learned that he has spent money freely of late, I have no +longer any doubt that it is he who has stolen the other sums I have +lost. Out of regard to you and your family I have kept the matter +perfectly quiet; indeed, I never informed the parties who told me of his +losing the notes at the gaming-table that there was anything wrong about +it. I have not mentioned the matter to your son, and shall not do so +till I see or hear from you. I presume you will be willing to make good +to me the money I have lost. Of course I cannot much longer retain your +son in my employ, but he <i>must</i> not be utterly ruined by this affair +being made public. I would advise you to come at once to Boston, and we +will arrange matters in the best possible manner, and no one but +ourselves need know anything of the sad affair; let him return with you +for a time to his home, and I trust the lesson will not be lost upon +him. When he first came to the city, I am positive that he was an +honourable and pure-minded young man, but evil companions have led him +astray, and we must try and save him from ruin."</p><p><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 164]</span></p> + +<p>"I had never seen Mr. Worthing, but I at once felt much respect for him, +for the lenity and discretion he had shown in the matter. To no one but +his own family and myself did Mr. Sinclair reveal the contents of that +letter; but the very evening after my arrival in Littleton we set out on +our journey to Boston, and, upon arriving there, we proceeded at once to +the residence of Mr. Worthing, where we learned all the particulars of +Arthur's guilt. Mr. Worthing stated that he had ever entertained a very +high opinion of Arthur, and, when he missed various sums of money in a +most unaccountable manner, he never thought of fixing suspicion upon +him, till circumstances came to his knowledge which left no room for +doubt; but, owing to the high regard he entertained for his parents, +with whom he had (years since) been intimately acquainted, he said +nothing to the young man of the proofs of his dishonesty, which had come +to his knowledge, and still retained him in his employ till he could +communicate with his father, that they together might devise some means +of preventing the affair from becoming public. After Mr. Sinclair had +listened to the plain statement of the affair by Mr. Worthing, he +requested him as nearly as possible to give him an estimate of the +amount of money he had lost. He did so, and Mr. Sinclair immediately +placed an equivalent sum in his hands, saying: "I am glad to be able so +far to undo the wrong of which my son has been guilty,"<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 165]</span> All this time +Arthur knew nothing of our arrival in the city; but when his father +dispatched a message, requesting him to meet him at the house of his +employer, he was very soon in our presence. I hope I may never again +witness another meeting like that one, between the father and son. When +charged with the crime, Arthur at first made a feeble attempt at denial, +till finding the strong proofs against him, he owned all with shame and +humiliation of countenance. The stern grief of Mr. Sinclair was +something fearful to witness. "How <i>could</i> you," said he, addressing +Arthur, "commit so base a deed? Tell me, my son, in what duty I have +failed in your early training? I endeavored to instil into your mind +principles of honor and integrity, and to enforce the same by setting +before you a good example. If I have failed in any duty to you, it was +through ignorance, and may God forgive me if I have been guilty of any +neglect in your education."</p> + +<p>"Trembling with suppressed emotion Arthur replied: "You are blameless, my +father; on me alone must rest my sin, for had I obeyed your kind +counsels, and those of my dearest friend, (pointing to me) I should +never have been the guilty wretch I am to-day." Turning to me, he said: +"Many a time within the last few months have I called to mind the +lightness with which I laughed away your fears for my safety, when I +left home for the city. O! that I had listened <a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 166]</span>to your friendly +warning, and followed the path which you pointed out for me. When I +first came to the great city, I was charmed with the novelty of its +never ceasing scenes of amusement and pleasure. I began by mingling with +company, and participating in amusements, which, to say the least of +them, were questionable; and I soon found my salary inadequate to meet +my fast increasing wants for money; and, as many an unfortunate youth +has done before, I began the vice of gambling with the hope of being one +of the lucky ones. My tempters, no doubt, understood their business, and +at first allowed me to win from them considerable sums of money; till, +elated with my success, I began playing for higher stakes, and when I +lost them, I grew desperate, and it was then that I began adding the sin +of theft to the no less heinous one of gambling. But it is no use now to +talk of the past; my character is blasted, and all I wish is to die and +hide my guilt in the grave, and yet I am ill prepared to die." He became +so much excited, that we endeavored to soothe him by kind and +encouraging words. His father bade him amend his conduct for the future, +and he would freely forgive and forget the past. In my pity for my early +friend, I almost forgot the wrong he had done, and thought only of the +loved companion of my boyhood and youth. I cannot describe my feelings, +as I gazed upon the shame-stricken young man, whom I had so often +caressed in the days <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 167]</span>of our boyish affection and confidence. Little did +I then think I should ever behold him thus. The utmost secrecy was +observed by all parties; and it was decided that we would remain for the +night with Mr. Worthing, and, accompanied by Arthur, set out early the +next morning on our homeward journey. But it was ordered otherwise. The +next morning Arthur was raving in the delirium of brain fever, brought +on doubtless by the mental torture he had endured. Mr. Sinclair +dispatched a message, informing his wife of Arthur's illness, and three +days later she stood by the bed-side of her son. For several days the +fever raged. We allowed no strangers to watch by him, for in his +delirium his mind dwelt continually upon the past, and no one but +ourselves must listen to his words. Mr. Worthing was very kind, and +shared the care of the poor young man with his parents and myself. At +length came the crisis of his disorder. "Now," said the physician, "for +a few hours, his life will hang, as it were, upon a thread. If the +powers of life are not too far exhausted by the disease he may rally, +but I have many fears, for he is brought very low. All the encouragement +I dare offer is, that while there is life there is hope." He sank into a +deep slumber, and I took my place to watch by him during the night. Mr. +Worthing persuaded his parents to seek a few hours rest, as they were +worn out with fatigue and anxiety; and exacting from me a promise that I +would <a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 168]</span>summon them if the least change for the worse should take place, +they retired, and I was left to watch alone by my friend. All I could +do, was to watch and wait, as the hours passed wearily on. A little +before midnight the physician softly entered, and stood with me at his +bed-side; soon after he languidly opened his eyes, and in a whisper he +pronounced my name. As I leaned over him, and eagerly scanned his +countenance, I perceived that the delirium of fever was gone. The +physician, fearing the effect upon him of the least excitement, made a +motion to me enjoining silence, and mixing a quieting cordial, held it +to his lips. He eagerly quaffed the cooling draught, and again fell into +a quiet slumber. "Now," said the physician, "I have a faint hope that he +may recover, but he is so weak that any excitement would prove fatal; +all depends upon keeping him perfectly quiet for the next few hours." +The doctor departed and again I was left alone to watch over his +slumber. Before morning, anxiety brought Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair to the +room, to learn if there had been any change. In a whisper I informed +them of the favorable symptoms he had evinced upon waking, and persuaded +them again to retire from the apartment. When Arthur again awoke, the +favorable symptoms still continued, and the physician entertained strong +hopes of his recovery. By degrees he was allowed to converse for a few +moments at a time. It seemed to him, he said, as though he had awakened +<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 169]</span>from a frightful dream; and he begged to know how long he had been ill, +and what had happened during the time. We were all very cautious to say +nothing to excite him; and by degrees as his mind grew stronger, +everything came back clearly to his mind, his father's visit, and the +circumstances which had brought him to the city. It is needless for me +to dwell upon the long period, while he lay helpless as an infant, +watched over by his fond mother, who felt that he had almost been given +back from the dead. But he continued slowly to recover, and being unable +to remain longer, I left his parents with him, and returned to my home +in Littleton, and soon after went back to my employer. Mr. and Mrs. +Sinclair remained with Arthur till he was able to bear the journey to +Littleton, and it was to them a happy day, when they arrived safely at +their home, accompanied by their son, who seemed to them almost as one +restored from the dead. The unfortunate circumstances connected with +Arthur's illness, were a secret locked in the bosoms of the few faithful +friends to whom it was known. Arthur arose from that bed of sickness a +changed man, and it was ever after to him a matter of wonder how he +could have been so far led astray, and he felt the most unbounded +gratitude to Mr. Worthing, for the kindness and consideration he had +shown him. His father did quite an extensive business as a merchant in +Littleton, and as Arthur became stronger he <a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 170]</span>assisted in the store; and +after a time his father gave him a partnership in the business, which +rendered his again leaving home unnecessary. A correspondence, varied +occasionally by friendly visits, was kept up between the Sinclairs and +the family of Mr. Worthing; for Arthur never could forget the debt of +gratitude he owed his former employer. I have little more to tell, and I +will bring my long and I fear somewhat tedious story to a close, by +relating one more event in the life of my friend. I resided at quite a +long distance from Littleton, and some two years after Arthur's return +home, I was surprised by receiving an invitation from him to act as +groomsman at his wedding, and the bride was to be Miss Merril. I know +not exactly how the reconciliation took place. But I understood that +Arthur first sought an interview with the young lady, and humbly +acknowledged the wrong of which he had been guilty, saying, what was +indeed true, that he had ever loved her, and he knew not what +infatuation influenced him in his former conduct. Many censured Miss +Merril for her want of spirit, as they termed it, in again receiving his +addresses, but I was too well pleased by this happy termination of the +affair to censure any one connected with it. The wedding-day was a happy +one to those most deeply concerned, and such being the case, the opinion +of others was of little consequence; and the clouds which had for a time +darkened their sky, left no shadow upon the sunshine <a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 171]</span>of their wedded +life. Arthur and his father were prospered in their business, and for +many years they all lived happily together. In process of time his +parents died, and Arthur soon after sold out his share in the business +to a younger brother, as he had received a tempting offer to remove to +Boston, and enter into partnership with Mr. Worthing's son, as the old +gentleman had some time before resigned any active share in the +business. When Arthur learned their wishes he was very anxious to return +to them; "For," said he, "it is to Mr. Worthing I owe my salvation from +disgrace and ruin." For many years he has carried on a lucrative +business with the son of his former employer and friend. An interesting +family of sons and daughters have grown up around him, and I may with +truth call them a happy family. Old Mr. Worthing has been for some years +dead; and his earthly remains quietly repose amid the peaceful shades of +Mount Auburn. My own life has been a busy one, and twenty years have +passed away since I met with Arthur Sinclair; but the object of this +journey is to visit my early friend, who as well as myself is now an old +man." As the old gentleman finished the story, to which we had all +listened with much interest, we arrived at our stopping-place for the +night, and fatigued with the day's journey, we were soon conducted to +our several apartments. The next morning we parted with the kind old +man, as his onward route <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 172]</span>lay in another direction, but I could not help +following him in thought, and picturing the joyous meeting between +himself and his early friend Arthur Sinclair.</p><p><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 173]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SNOW_STORM" id="THE_SNOW_STORM"></a>THE SNOW STORM.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 189px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-005.png" width="189" height="180" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><p>he event I am about to relate, happened many years ago; +but I have often heard it mentioned by those to whom all the +circumstances were well known; and when listening to this story, I have +often thought that there is enough of interest attached to many events +which took place during the period of the early settlement of that +portion of Eastern Canada which borders on the River St. Francis, to +fill volumes, were they recorded.</p> + +<p>The morning had been clear and pleasant, but early in the afternoon the +sky became overcast with dark clouds, and for several hours the snow +fell unceasingly, and now the darkness of night was added to the gloomy +scene. As the night set in, the snow continued to fall in a thick +shower, and a strong easterly wind arose, which filled the air with one +blinding cloud of drifting snow; and the lights in the scattered +habitations, in the then primitive settlement of D. could scarcely be +distinguished amid the thick darkness. It was a fearful night to be +abroad upon that lonely and almost impassible road; and Mrs. W. fully +realized the peril to which her husband was <a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 174]</span>exposed on that inclement +night. He had set out that morning, on foot, to visit a friend, who +resided at a distance of several miles, intending to return to his home +at an early hour in the evening. It was a lonely road over which he had +to pass; the habitations were few and far between, and as the storm +increased with the approach of night. Mrs. W. strongly hoped that her +husband had been persuaded to pass the night with his friend; for she +feared that, had he been overtaken by the darkness of night, he would +perish in the storm; and the poor woman was in a state of painful +anxiety and suspense. The supper-table was spread, but Mrs. W. was +unable to taste food; and, giving the children their suppers, she +awaited with intense anxiety the return of her husband. The storm +increased till it was evident that it was one of unusual severity, even +for the rigorous climate of Canada, and, as the wind shook the windows +of their dwelling, the children often exclaimed in tones of terror: "O! +what will become of poor father if he is out in this storm." Bye-and-bye +the tired children fell asleep, and Mrs. W. was left alone by her +fireside. She endeavoured to quiet her fears by thinking him safe in the +house of his friend, but she could not drive away the thought that he +had set out upon his return home, and she feared, if such was the case, +he had met his death in that pitiless storm. She was two miles from any +neighbour, surrounded by her family <a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 175]</span>of young children; so all she could +do was to wait and watch as the hours wore on. Sleep was out of the +question, and the dawn of day found her still keeping her lonely vigil. +As the Sun rose the wind calmed, but the thick drifts of snow rendered +it impossible for her to leave the house, and she watched anxiously if +any one might chances to pass, to whom she could apply for assistance in +gaining tidings of her husband. Alas! her fears of the previous night +were but too well founded. He <i>had</i> perished in the storm. His friend +tried his utmost to persuade him to remain for the night when the storm +began, but he was anxious to return to his home, fearing the anxiety of +his family: and he left his friend's house about four o'clock in the +afternoon. The weather was intensely cold, as well as stormy, and, owing +to the depth of snow which had already fallen, he could make but slow +progress, and, when overtaken by darkness and the increasing tempest, +benumbed with cold, and blinded by the whirling drifts of snow, he sank +down by the road side to die, and the suspense of his wife was at length +relieved by the painful certainty of his fate.</p> + +<p>About noon on the day succeeding the storm, as Dr S. was slowly urging +his horse onward, in order to Visit a patient who resided in the +vicinity, he observed some object lying almost concealed in the snow. +Stopping his horse, he left his sleigh to examine it, and was +horrorstruck to find it the body of a man.<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 176]</span> Thinking that, possibly, +life was not extinct, he took the body into his sleigh, and made all +possible haste to the nearest dwelling, where every means was used for +the recovery of Mr. W.; but all was of no avail, he was frozen to death. +It was the kind physician himself who first bore the sad tidings to Mrs. +W. When the lifeless body of the husband and father was borne to his own +dwelling, I have heard the scene described by those who witnessed it, as +most heart-rending. On the day of his burial the settlers in the +vicinity came from a long distance to pay their last tribute of respect +to one who had been much esteemed as a friend and neighbour. The widow +of Mr. W. is still living, but she now is of a very advanced age. His +children grew up and settled in various places, and the elder ones among +them retained a distinct recollection of the sad death of their father.</p><p><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 177]</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NEW_YEAR" id="THE_NEW_YEAR"></a>THE NEW YEAR.</h2> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 141px;"> +<img src="./images/illus-003.png" width="141" height="141" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><p>nother year has just glided away, and it seems but as +yesterday that we stood at its threshold, and looked forward over its +then seemingly lengthened way, and fancy was busy with many plans and +projects for future happiness and delight. We looked forward through the +whole border of its months, weeks, days, and hours, and life grew bright +with pleased anticipation. The year has now passed away, and how few, +very few, of all our bright hopes have been realized. With how many of +us have unexpected and unwished for events taken the place of those to +which we looked forward with so much delight.</p> + +<p>As the hours and moments of the past year have slowly glided into the +ocean of the past, they have borne with them the treasures of many a +fond heart. The sun shines as brightly as ever, the moon and stars still +look placidly down upon the sleeping earth, and life is the same as it +has ever been; but for these their work is over, and they have done with +time. As I sat watching the fast gathering shadows over the last night +of the old year, I fell into a sort of waking <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 178]</span>dream, and I seemed to +hear the slow measured tread of one wearily approaching. Turning my eyes +in the direction of the approaching footsteps. I beheld the form of a +very aged man; his countenance appeared somewhat familiar, yet it was +furrowed by many wrinkles, and on his once high and beautiful forehead +were the deep lines of corroding care and anxiety. His step was slow and +heavy, and he leaned for support on his now well-nigh failing staff. He +bore the marks of extreme feebleness, and gazed forward with a manner of +timidity and uncertainty, and on his changeful countenance was expressed +all the multitudinous emotions of the human breast. His garments had +once been white and shining, but they were now stained and darkened by +travel, and portions of them trailed in the dust. As he drew nigh I +observed that the carried in his hand a closely written scroll, on which +was recorded the events of the past year. As I gazed upon the record, I +read of life begun, and of death in every circumstance and condition of +mortal being, of happiness and misery, of love and hate, of good and +evil,—all mingling their different results in that graphic record; and +I trembled as my own name met my view, with the long list of +opportunities for good unimproved, together with the many sins, both of +omission and commission, of which I had been guilty during the past +year; but there was nothing left out,—the events in the life of every +individual mem<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 179]</span>ber of the human family were there all recorded in +legible characters. As the midnight hour struck, the aged, man who +typified the old year faded from my view, and, almost before I was aware +of the change, youth and beauty, stood smiling before me. The old year +gone, the new year had begun. His robes where white and glistening, his +voice was mirthful, and his step buoyant; health and vigor braced his +limbs. He too, bare in his hand a scroll, but white as the unsullied +snow; not a line was yet traced upon its pure surface except the title, +Record of 1872. I gazed on its fresh and gladsome visage with mingled +emotions of sorrow and joy, and I breathed my prayer for forgiveness, +for the follies and sins of the departed year.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories and Sketches, by Harriet S. Caswell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES AND SKETCHES *** + +***** This file should be named 20493-h.htm or 20493-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/4/9/20493/ + +Produced by This text was produced from images generously +made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical +Microreproductions, Michael Lockey, Susan Skinner and the +Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at +http://dp.rastko.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Caswell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories and Sketches + +Author: Harriet S. Caswell + +Release Date: January 31, 2007 [EBook #20493] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES AND SKETCHES *** + + + + +This text was produced from images generously +made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical +Microreproductions, Michael Lockey, Susan Skinner and the +Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at +http://dp.rastko.net + + + + + + + + + +STORIES AND SKETCHES + +BY + +H.S. CASWELL, + +AUTHOR OF ERNEST HARWOOD, CLARA ROSCOM, OR +THE PATH OF DUTY, &C. + + +MONTREAL: +PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. + +1872 + + + +CONTENTS. + + +TERRY DOLAN 5 + +THE FAITHFUL WIFE 15 + +EMMA ASHTON 24 + +THOUGHTS ON AUTUMN 47 + +WANDERING DAVY 50 + +LOOKING ON THE DARK SIDE 57 + +EDWARD BARTON 62 + +THE WEARY AT REST 71 + +THE RAINY AFTERNOON 75 + +THE STUDENT'S DREAM 85 + +UNCLE EPHRAIM 88 + +STORY OF A LOG CABIN 93 + +HAZEL-BROOK FARM 106 + +OLD RUFUS 127 + +THE DIAMOND RING 135 + +THE UNFORTUNATE MAN 146 + +THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE 150 + +ARTHUR SINCLAIR 154 + +THE SNOW STORM 173 + +THE NEW YEAR 177 + + + + +TERRY DOLAN. + + +Some years since circumstances caused me to spend the summer months in +a farming district, a few miles from the village of E., and it was there +I met with Terry Dolan. He had a short time previous come over from +Ireland, and was engaged as a sort of chore boy by Mr. L., in whose +family I resided during my stay in the neighborhood. This Terry was the +oddest being with whom I ever chanced to meet. Would that I could +describe him!--but most of us, I believe, occasionally meet with people, +whom we find to be indescribable, and Terry was one of those. He called +himself sixteen years of age; but, excepting that he was low of stature, +you would about as soon have taken him for sixty, as sixteen. His +countenance looked anything but youthful, and there was altogether a +sort of queer, ancient look about him which caused him to appear very +remarkable. When he first came to reside with Mr. L. the boys in the +neighborhood nicknamed him "The little Old Man," but they soon learned +by experience that their wisest plan was to place a safe distance +between Terry and themselves before applying that name to him, for the +implied taunt regarding his peculiar appearance enraged him beyond +measure. Whenever he entered the room, specially if he ventured a +remark--and no matter how serious you might have been a moment +before--the laugh would come, do your best to repress it. When I first +became an inmate with the family, I was too often inclined to laugh at +the oddities of Terry--and I believe a much graver person than I was at +that time would have done the same--but after a time, when I learned +something of his past life, I regarded him with a feeling of pity, +although to avoid laughing at him, at times, were next to impossible. + +One evening in midsummer I found him seated alone upon the piazza, with +a most dejected countenance. Taking a seat by his side I enquired why he +looked so sad;--his eyes filled with tears as he replied--"its of ould +Ireland I'm thinkin' to-night, sure." I had never before seen Terry look +sober, and I felt a deep sympathy for the homesick boy. I asked him how +it happened that he left all his friends in Ireland and came to this +country alone. From his reply I learned that his mother died when he was +only ten years old, and, also, that his father soon after married a +second wife, who, to use Terry's own words, "bate him unmercifully." +"It's a wonder," said he, "that iver I lived to grow up, at all, at all, +wid all the batins I got from that cruel woman, and all the times she +sint me to bed widout iver a bite uv supper, bad luck to her and the +like uv her!" He did live, however, but he certainly did not grow up to +be very tall. "Times grew worse an' worse for me at home," continued he, +"and a quare time I had of it till I was fourteen years of age, when one +day says I to mesilf, 'flesh and blood can bear it no longer,' and I ran +away to the city uv Dublin where an aunt by me mother's side lived. Me +aunt was a poor woman, but she gave a warm welcim to her sister's +motherless boy; she trated me kindly and allowed me to share her home, +although she could ill afford it, till I got a place as sarvant in a +gintleman's family. As for my father, he niver throubled his head about +me any more; indade I think he was glad to be rid uv me, an' all by +manes of that wicked woman. It was near two years afther I lift home +that I took the notion of going to Ameriky; me aunt advised me against +going, but, whin she saw that me mind was set on it, she consinted, and +did her best, poor woman, to sind me away lookin' dacent and +respectable. I niver saw me father or me stepmother agin. I had no wish +to see her; but, although I knew me father no longer loved me, I had +still some natral-like feelin's for him; but, as I had runaway from +home, I durst not go back, an' so I lift Ireland widout a sight uv him. +But I _could_ not lave it foriver, as it might be, widout one more sight +uv me mother's grave. I rached the small village where me father lived +about nightfall, and lodged in the house uv a kind neighbor who +befrinded me, an he promised, at my earnest wish, to say nothing to any +one uv my visit. Early in the morning, before any one was astir in the +village, I stole away to the churchyard where they buried me mother. I +knelt down, I did, an' kissed the sods which covered her grave, an' +prayed that the blessin' which she pronounced before she died, wid her +hand restin' on me head, might follow me wheriver I might go." The boy +took from his pocket a small parcel, carefully inclosed in a paper, +which he handed to me, saying: "I gathered these shamrocks from off me +mothers grave, before I lift it forever." + +My own eyes; grew moist as I gazed upon the now withered shamrock leaves +which the poor boy prized so highly. Would that they had proved as a +talisman to guard him from evil! I listened with much interest to +Terry's story till our conversation was suddenly interrupted by Mr. ---- +calling him, in no very gentle tones, to go and drive home the cows from +the far pasture. To reach this pasture he must needs pass through about +a quarter of a mile of thick woods. He had a great dread of walking +alone in the woods, which his imagination filled with wild animals. When +he returned that evening he seemed very much terrified, and, when +questioned as to the cause, he replied that he "had met a wild baste in +the woods, and was kilt entirely wid the fright uv it." + +We endeavoured to gain from him a description of the animal he had seen, +but for some time were unable. "What color was the animal?" enquired +Mrs. ----, "Indade Ma'am an' its jist the color uv a dog he was," +answered Terry. This reply was greeted with a burst of laughter from all +present, at which he was highly offended. In order to pacify him I said, +"we would not laugh at you, Terry, only that dogs are of so many +different colors that we are as much in the dark as ever regarding the +color of the animal you saw." "Well thin," replied he, "if you must +know, he was a dirthy brown, the varmint, that he was." From what we +could learn from him we were led to suppose that he had met with one of +those harmless little creatures, called the "Woodchuck," which his +nervous terror aided by the deepening twilight, had magnified into a +formidable wild beast. + +A few evenings after, two or three friends of the family chanced to +call; and in course of conversation some one mentioned an encampment of +Indians, who had recently located themselves in our vicinity, for the +purpose of gathering material for the manufacture of baskets, and other +works of Indian handicraft. Terry had never seen an Indian, and +curiosity, not unmixed with fear, was excited in his mind, when he +learned that a number of those dark people were within three miles of +us. He asked many questions regarding their personal appearance, habits, +&c. It was evident that he entertained some very comical ideas upon the +subject. After sitting for a time silent, he suddenly enquired, "Do they +ate pratees like other people?" A lady, present, in order to impose upon +his credulity, replied, "Indeed Terry they not only eat potates, but +they sometimes eat people." His countenance expressed much alarm, as he +replied, "Faix thin, but I'll kape out o'their way." After a short time +he began to suspect they were making game of him, and applied to me for +information, saying, "Tell me, sir, if what Mrs ---- says is true?" "Do +not be alarmed, Terry," I replied, "for if you live till the Indians eat +you, you will look even older than you now do." + +This allusion to his ancient appearance was very mischievous on my part, +and I regretted it a moment after; but he was so much pleased to learn +that he had nothing to fear from the Indians that he readily forgave me +for alluding to a subject upon which he was usually very sensitive. I +remember taking a walk one afternoon during the haymaking season to the +field where Terry was at work. Mr. ---- had driven to the village with +the farm horses, leaving Terry to draw in hay with a rheumatic old +animal that was well nigh unfit for use. But as the hay was in good +condition for getting in, and the sky betokened rain, he told Terry, +upon leaving home, to accomplish as much as possible, during his +absence, and he would, if the rain kept off, draw in the remainder upon +his return. As I drew nigh I spied Terry perched upon the top of a load +of hay holding the reins, and urging forward the horse, in the ascent of +a very steep hill. First, he tried coaxing, and as that proved of little +avail, he next tried the effect of a few vigorous strokes with a long +switch which he carried in his hand. When the poor old horse had dragged +the heavy load about half way up the hill, he seemed incapable of +further exertion, and horse, cart, Terry and all began a rapid backward +descent down the hill. + +Here the boy's patience gave way entirely. "Musha thin, bad luck to ye +for one harse," said he as he applied the switch with renewed energy. +Just then I arrived within speaking distance and said, "Do you think, +Terry, you would be any better off if you had two of them." "Not if they +were both like this one," answered he. I advised Terry to come down from +his elevated position, and not add his weight to the load drawn by the +overburdened animal. He followed my advice, and when with some +difficulty we had checked the descending motion of the cart-wheels, we +took a fair start, and the summit of the hill was finally gained. + +"Its often," said Terry, "that I've seen a horse draw a cart, but I +niver before saw a cart drawing a horse." There was one trait in the +character of the boy which pleased me much; he was very grateful for +any little act of kindness. He often got into difficulties with the +family, owing to his rashness and want of consideration, and I often +succeeded in smoothing down for him many rough places in his daily path; +and when he observed that I interested myself in his behalf, his +gratitude knew no bounds. I believe he would have made almost any +sacrifice to please me. He surprised me one day by saying suddenly, +"Don't I wish you'd only be tuck sick." "Why, Terry," replied I, "I am +surprised indeed, that you should wish evil to me." "Indade thin," +answered he, "its not for evil that I wish it, but for your good, jist +to let ye see how tinderly I would take care uv ye." I thanked him for +his kind intentions, saying that I was very willing to take the will for +the deed in this case, and had no wish to test his kindness by a fit of +sickness. + +He came in one evening fatigued with a hard day's work, and retired +early to bed. His sleeping apartment adjoined the sitting-room. I had +several letters to write which occupied me till a late hour; the family +had all retired. I finished writing just as the clock struck twelve. At +that moment, I was almost startled by Terry's voice singing in a very +high key. My first thought was that he had gone suddenly crazy. With a +light in my hand I stepped softly into the room, to find Terry sitting +up in bed and singing at the top of his voice, a song in the "Native +Irish Tongue." By this time he had roused every one in the house; and +others of the family entered the room. By the pauses which he made, we +knew when he reached the end of each verse. He sang several verses; at +the time I knew how many, but am unable now to recall the exact number. +He must surely have been a sound sleeper, or the loud laughter which +filled the room would have waked him, for the scene was ludicrous in the +extreme: Terry sitting up in bed, sound asleep, at the hour of midnight, +and singing, with a loud voice and very earnest manner, to an audience +who were unable to understand one word of the song. At the close of the +last verse he lay quietly down, all unconscious of the Musical +Entertainment he had given. The next morning some of the family began +teasing him about the song he had sung in his sleep. He was loth to +believe them, and as usual, enquired of me if they were telling him the +truth. "I'll believe whatever you say," said he, "for its you that niver +toult me a lie yet." "You may believe them this time," said I, "for you +certainly did sing a song. The air was very fine, and I have no doubt +the words were equally so, if we could only have understood them." + +"Well thin," replied he, "but I niver heard more than that; and if I +raaly did sing, I may as well tell yee's how it happint. I dramed, ye +see, that I was at a ball in Ireland, an' I thought that about twelve +o'clock we got tired wid dancin and sated ourselves on the binches +which were ranged round the walls uv the room, and ache one was to sing +a song in their turn, an' its I that thought my turn had come for sure." +"Well Terry," said I, "you hit upon the time exact at any rate, for it +was just twelve o'clock when you favoured us with the song." + +Soon after this time I left the neighborhood, and removed to some +distance. Terry remained for considerable time with the same family; +after a time I learned that he had obtained employment in a distant +village. The next tidings I heard of him was that he had been implicated +in a petty robbery, and had run away. His impulsive disposition rendered +him very easy of persuasion, for either good or evil; and he seldom +paused to consider the consequences of any act. From what I could learn +of the matter it seemed he had been enticed into the affair by some +designing fellows, who judged that, owing to his simplicity, he would be +well adapted to carry out their wicked plans; and, when suspicion was +excited, they managed in some way to throw all the blame upon Terry, +who, fearing an arrest, fled no one knew whither. Many years have passed +since I saw or heard of Terry Dolan, but often, as memory recalls past +scenes and those who participated in them, I think of him, and wonder if +he is yet among the living, and, if so, in what quarter of the world he +has fixed his abode. + + + + +THE FAITHFUL WIFE. + + +It was a mild and beautiful evening in the early autumn. Mrs. Harland +is alone in her home; she is seated by a table upon which burns a shaded +lamp, and is busily occupied with her needle. She has been five years a +wife; her countenance is still youthful, and might be termed beautiful, +but for the look of care and anxiety so plainly depicted thereon. She +had once been happy, but with her now happiness is but a memory of the +past. When quite young she had been united in marriage to William +Harland, and with him removed to the City of R., where they have since +resided. He was employed as bookkeeper in a large mercantile house, and +his salary was sufficient to afford them a comfortable support,--whence +then the change that has thus blighted their bright prospects, and +clouded the brow of that fair young wife with care? It is an unpleasant +truth, but it must be told. Her husband has become addicted to the use +of strong drink, not an occasional tippler, but a confirmed and habitual +drunkard. His natural disposition was gay and social, and he began by +taking an occasional glass with his friends--more for sociability than +for any love of the beverage. His wife often admonished him of the +danger of tampering with the deadly vice of intemperance, but he only +laughed at what he termed her idle fears. Well had it been for them both +had the fears of his wife proved groundless! It is needless for me to +follow him in his downward path, till we find him reduced to the level +of the common drunkard. Some three months previous to the time when our +story opens his employers were forced to dismiss him, as they could no +longer employ him with any degree of safety to their business. It was +fortunate for Mrs. Harland that the dwelling they occupied belonged to +her in her own right--it had been given her by her father at the period +of her marriage--so that notwithstanding the dissipated habits of the +husband and father they still possessed a home, although many of the +comforts of former days had disappeared before the blighting influence +of the demon of intemperance. After being dismissed by his employers Mr. +Harland seemed to lose all respect for himself, as well as for his wife +and children, and, but for the unceasing toil of the patient mother, his +children might have often asked for bread in vain. + +So low had he now fallen that almost every evening found him in some low +haunt of drunkenness and dissipation; and often upon returning to his +home he would assail his gentle wife with harsh and unfeeling language. +Many there were who advised Mrs. Harland to return with her children to +her parents, who were in affluent circumstances, but she still cherished +the hope that he would yet reform. "I pray daily for my erring husband," +she would often say, "and I feel an assurance that, sooner or later, my +prayers will be answered; and I cannot feel it my duty to forsake him." +But on this evening, as she sits thus alone, her mind is filled with +thoughts of the past, which she cannot help contrasting with the +miserable present, till her reverie is interrupted by the sound of +approaching footsteps, which she soon recognizes as those of her +husband; she is much surprised--for it is long, very long, since he has +returned to his home at so early an hour--and, as he enters the room, +her surprise increases when she perceives that he is perfectly sober. As +he met her wondering gaze a kind expression rested upon his countenance, +and he addressed her saying: "I do not wonder at your astonishment, dear +Mary, when I call to mind my past misconduct. I have been a fiend in +human shape thus to ill-treat and neglect the best of wives; but I have +made a resolve, 'God helping' me, that it shall be so no longer." +Seating himself by her side, he continued: "If you will listen to me, +Mary, I will tell you what caused me to form this resolution. When I +went out this evening I at once made my way to the public house, where I +have spent so much of my time and money. Money, I had none, and, worse +than this, was owing the landlord a heavy bill. Of late he had assailed +me with duns every time I entered the house; but so craving was the +appetite for drink that each returning evening still found me among the +loungers in the bar-room, trusting to my chance of meeting with some +companion who would call for a treat. It so happened that to-night none +of my cronies were present. When the landlord found that I was still +unable to settle the 'old score,' as he termed it, he abused me in no +measured terms; but I still lingered in sight of the coveted beverage; +and knowing my inability to obtain it my appetite increased in +proportion. At length, I approached the bar, and begged him to trust me +for one more glass of brandy. I will not wound your ears by repeating +his reply; and he concluded by ordering me from the house, telling me +also never to enter it again till I was able to settle the long score +already against me. The fact that I had been turned from the door, +together with his taunting language, stung me almost to madness. I +strolled along, scarce knowing or caring whither, till I found myself +beyond the limits of the city; and seating myself by the roadside I +gazed in silent abstraction over the moonlit landscape; and as I sat +thus I fell into a deep reverie. Memory carried me back to my youthful +days, when everything was bright with joyous hope and youthful ambition. +I recalled the time when I wooed you from your pleasant country home, +and led you to the altar, a fair young bride, and there pledged myself +before God and man to love, honour and cherish you, till death should us +part. Suddenly, as if uttered by an audible voice, I seemed to hear the +words 'William Harland, how have you kept your vows?' At that moment I +seemed to suddenly awake to a full sense of my fallen and degraded +position. What madness, thought I, has possessed me all this time, thus +to ruin myself and those dear to me? And for what? for the mere +indulgence of a debasing appetite. I rose to my feet, and my step grew +light with my new-formed resolution, that I _would_ break the slavish +fetters that had so long held me captive; and now, my dear wife, if you +can, forgive the past and aid me in my resolutions for amendment there +is hope for me yet." Mrs. Harland was only too happy to forgive her +erring but now truly penitent husband; but she trembled for the future, +knowing how often he had formerly made like resolutions, but to break +them. She endeavoured, however, to be hopeful, and to encourage him by +every means which affection could devise. + +Through the influence of friends, his former employers were induced to +give him another trial. He had many severe struggles with himself ere he +could refrain from again joining his dissipated companions; but his +watchful wife would almost every evening form some little plan of her +own for his amusement, that he might learn to love his home. In a short +time their prospects for the future grew brighter, his wife began to +smile again; and his children, instead of fleeing from his approach, as +they had formerly done, now met him upon his return home with loving +caresses and lively prattle. Some six months after this happy change, +Mrs. Harland one evening noticed that her husband seemed very much +downcast and dejected. After tea, she tried vainly to interest him in +conversation. + +He had a certain nervous restlessness in his manner, which always +troubled her, knowing, as she did, that it was caused by the cravings of +that appetite for strong drink, which at times still returned with +almost overwhelming force. About eight o'clock he took down his hat +preparatory to going out. She questioned him as to where he was going, +but could obtain no satisfactory reply; her heart sank within her; but +she was aware that remonstrance would be useless. She remained for a few +moments, after he left the house, in deep thought, then suddenly rising +she exclaimed aloud, "I will at least make one effort to save him." She +well knew that should he take but one glass, all his former resolves +would be as nothing. As she gained the street she observed her husband a +short distance in advance of her, and walking hastily she soon overtook +him, being careful to keep on the opposite side of the street, that she +might be unobserved by him. She had formed no definite purpose in her +mind; she only felt that she must endeavor to save him by some means. As +they drew nigh the turn of the street she saw two or three of his former +associates join him, and one of them addressed him, saying, "Come on, +Harland; I thought you would get enough of the cold water system. Come +on, and I'll stand treat to welcome you back among your old friends." +For a moment he paused as if irresolute; then his wife grew sick at +heart, as she saw him follow his companions into a drinking saloon near +at hand. Mrs. Harland was by nature a delicate and retiring woman; for a +moment she paused; dare she go further? Her irresolution was but +momentary, for the momentous consequences at stake gave her a fictitious +courage. She quickly approached the door, which at that moment some one +in the act of leaving the house threw wide open, and she gained a view +of her husband in the act of raising a glass to his lips; but ere he had +tasted its fiery contents it was dashed from his hand, and the shattered +fragments scattered upon the floor. Mr. Harland, supposing it the act of +one of his half-drunken companions, turned with an angry exclamation +upon his lips; but the expression of anger upon his countenance suddenly +gave place to one of shame and humiliation when he saw his wife standing +before him, pale but resolute. In a subdued voice he addressed her, +saying, "Mary, how came you here?" "Do not blame me, William," she +replied; "for I could not see you again go astray without, at least, +making an effort to save you. And now will you not return with me to +your home?" The other occupants of the room had thus far remained silent +since the entrance of Mrs. Harland; but when they saw that Mr. Harland +was about to leave the house by her request, they began taunting him +with his want of spirit in being thus ruled by a woman. One of them, who +was already half drunk, staggered toward him, saying, "I'd just like to +see my old woman follerin' me round in this way. I'll be bound I'd teach +her a lesson she would'nt forget in a hurry," Many similar remarks were +made by one and another present. The peculiar circumstances in which +Mrs. Harland found herself placed gave her a degree of fortitude, of +which upon ordinary occasions she would have found herself incapable. +Raising her hand with an imperative gesture she said in a firm voice: +"Back tempters, hinder not my husband from following the dictates of his +better nature." For a few moments there was silence in the room, till +one of the company, more drunken and insolent than the others, exclaimed +in a loud, derisive voice; "Zounds, madam, but you would make a capital +actress, specially on the tragedy parts; you should seek an engagement +upon the stage." Mr. Harland's eyes flashed angrily as he listened to +the insulting words addressed to his wife, and, turning to the man who +had spoken, he addressed him, saying, in a decided tone of voice: "I +wish to have no harsh language in this room while my wife is present, +but I warn each one of you to address no more insulting language to +her." The manner in which Mr. Harland addressed them, together with the +gentle and lady-like appearance of his wife had the effect to shame them +into silence. His voice was very tender as he again addressed his wife, +saying, "Come Mary I will accompany you home--this is no place for you." +When they gained the street the unnatural courage which had sustained +Mrs. Harland gave way, and she would have fallen to the earth, but for +the supporting arm of her husband. For a few moments they walked on in +silence, when Mr. Harland said, in a voice choked with emotion, "You +have been my good angel, Mary, for your hand it was which saved me from +violating a solemn oath; but I now feel an assurance that I have broken +the tempter's chains forever." I am happy to add that from this hour he +gained a complete victory over the evil habit which well-nigh had proved +his ruin; and in after years, when peace and prosperity again smiled +upon them, he often called to mind the evening when his affectionate and +devoted wife, by her watchful love, saved him from ruin, and perchance +from the drunkard's grave. + + + + +EMMA ASHTON. + + +It was a sad day for Emma Ashton, when, with her widowed mother, she +turned from her father's new-made grave, and again entered their +desolate home. None but those who have experienced a like sorrow can +fully understand their grief as they entered their now lonely home, +where a short time since they had been so happy. But the ways of +Providence are, to our feeble vision, often dark and incomprehensible, +and the only way by which we can reconcile ourselves to many trials +which we are called to endure is by remembering that there is a "need +be" for every sorrow which falls to our lot, in the journey of life. +Emma was an only child and had been the idol of her father's heart, and +no marvel if the world, to her, looked dark and dreary when he was +removed by death. Added to the grief occasioned by their bereavement, +the mother and daughter had yet another cause for anxiety and +disquietude, for the home where they had dwelt for so many years in the +enjoyment of uninterrupted happiness was now no longer theirs. Since +quite a young man, Mr. Ashton had held the position of overseer, in a +large manufactory in the village of W. Owing to his sober and +industrious habits he had saved money sufficient to enable him, at the +period of his marriage, to purchase a neat and tasteful home, to which +he removed with his young wife. He still continued his industry, and +began in a small way to accumulate money, when, unfortunately, he was +persuaded by one whom he thought a friend to sign bank-notes with him to +a large amount; but, ere the notes became due, the man he had obliged +left the country, and he was unable to gain any trace of him, and was +soon called upon to meet the claim. Bank-notes must be paid, and to +raise money to meet the claim he was forced to mortgage his house for +nearly its full value. His health failed; and for two years previous to +his death he was unable to attend to his business. The term of the +mortgage was five years, which time expired soon after his death. During +the few last weeks of his life his mind was very much disturbed +regarding the destitute condition in which he must leave his beloved +wife and daughter; for he was too well acquainted with the man who held +the claim to expect any lenity to his family when it should become due, +and he was sensible that the hour of his own death was fast approaching. +His wife tried to cheer him by hopeful words, saying: "Should it please +our Heavenly Father to remove you, fear not that He will fail to care +for the fatherless and widow." A short time before his death a sweet +peace and hopeful trust settled over his spirit, and the religion he had +sought in health afforded him a firm support in the hour of death. When +all was over, and the mother and daughter found themselves left alone, +their fortitude well-nigh forsook them, and they felt almost like +yielding to a hopeless sorrow. Emma was at this time but fifteen years +of age, possessed of much personal beauty, and also a very amiable and +affectionate disposition. Since the age of six years she had attended +school, and made rapid progress in her various studies till the sad +period of her father's death. As Mr. Ashton had foreseen, Mr. Tompkins, +the man who held the mortgage, soon called upon the widow, informing her +that the time had already expired, and, unless she found herself able to +meet the claim, her dwelling was legally his property; but, as a great +favor, he granted her permission to occupy the house till she could make +some arrangement concerning the future, giving her, however, distinctly +to understand, that he wished to take possession as soon as she could +find another home. Mrs. Ashton thanked him for the consideration he had +shown her, little as it was, telling him she would as soon as possible +seek another home, however humble it might be; and Mr. Tompkins departed +with a polite bow and a bland smile upon his countenance, well pleased +that he had got the matter settled with so little difficulty. I presume +he never once paused to think of the grief-stricken widow and her +fatherless daughter, whom he was about to render homeless. Money had so +long been his idol that tender and benevolent emotions were well-nigh +extinguished in his world-hardened heart. For a long time after Mr. +Tompkins left the house Mrs. Ashton remained in deep thought. There are, +dear reader, dark periods in the lives of most of us, when, turn which +way we will, we find ourselves surrounded, as by a thick hedge, with +difficulties and troubles from which we see no escape. + +At such periods it is good for us to call to mind the fact, that the +darkest cloud often has a silver lining, and that if we discharged, to +the best of our ability, our duties for the time being, the cloud, +sooner or later, will be reversed, and display its bright side to our +troubled view. The time had now arrived, when Mrs. Ashton must come to +some decision regarding the future. She had no friends to whom she could +turn for aid or counsel in this season of trial. When quite young she +had emigrated from England with her parents and one sister, and settled +in Eastern Canada. About the time of her marriage and removal to W. her +parents, with her sister, removed to one of the Western States; and it +may be the knowledge that she must rely solely upon herself enabled her +to meet her trials with more fortitude than might have been expected. +Some fifty miles from W. was the large and thriving village of Rockford, +and thither Mrs. Ashton at length decided to remove. One reason for +this decision was the excellent institution for the education of young +ladies, which was there located. She was very anxious that her daughter +should obtain a good education, but was sorely puzzled as to raising the +money needful for defraying her expenses. There were a few debts due her +husband at the time of his death; these she collected with little +difficulty. Their dwelling had been handsomely furnished, and she +decided to sell the furniture, as she could easily, upon their arrival +at Rockford, purchase what articles were necessary for furnishing their +new home, which must, of necessity, be humble. One article she felt they +must retain if possible, and that was the piano given her by her father +at the period of her marriage. She did at first entertain the idea of +parting with it, thinking how far the money it would bring would go in +defraying the expenses attendant upon Emma's education, but upon second +consideration, she resolved that they would not part with her father's +parting gift to her, unless compelled to do so by actual want; and so +when their old home was broken up the piano was carefully packed and +forwarded to Rockford. The home where they had resided so long was very +dear to them, and it would have grieved them, to leave it at any time; +but to leave at the glad season of spring, when the trees which shaded +their dwelling were beginning to put forth their leaves, and the flowers +which adorned their garden were bursting into bloom, seemed to them +doubly sad. But their preparations for removal were finally completed, +and they left their home followed by the good wishes of many who had +long known and loved them. Upon their arrival at Rockford, Mrs. Ashton +hired a cheap tenement in a respectable locality, which she furnished in +a plain but decent manner. When they became settled in their new home +they had still in hand money sufficient to secure them from immediate +want, but as Mrs. Ashton wished Emma to enter at once upon her studies, +she was very anxious to devise some means of earning money to meet +necessary expenses. There was one family residing in Rockford with whom +Mrs. Ashton had several years before been intimately acquainted: their +name was Lebaron, and they had at one time resided in the same village +with the Ashtons. Mr. Lebaron had opened a store upon removing to +Rockford; the world had smiled upon him, and he was now considered one +of the most wealthy and influential men in the village. + +It has been often said that "prosperity hardens the heart of man," but +if such is the case in general, Mr. Lebaron proved an exception to the +general rule. He had heard with much sorrow of the death of Mr. Ashton, +and also of the other misfortunes which had overtaken the family; and no +sooner did he learn of the arrival of the widow and daughter in +Rockford, than, accompanied by his wife, he hastened to call upon them, +to renew their former acquaintance, and in a delicate and considerate +manner to enquire if he could assist them in any way? Mrs. Ashton +thanked them for their kindness, saying that although in no immediate +need of assistance, yet she would be very thankful if they would assist +her in obtaining employment. "If such is the case," replied Mrs. +Lebaron, "I can easily secure you employment, as I am acquainted with +many ladies who give out work, and will gladly use my influence in your +favor." "You will confer a favour upon me by so doing," replied Mrs. +Ashton, "for I must rely upon my labor for a support for the future." +Through the influence of these kind friends Mrs. Ashton soon obtained an +abundant supply of work; and, when she became somewhat acquainted with +the people of Rockford, her gentle and unobtrusive manner gained her +many warm friends. Agreeable to her mother's wishes, Emma soon became a +pupil in the seminary for young ladies, which was at that time under the +direction of Miss Hinton, a lady who possessed uncommon abilities as a +teacher, and was also aided by several competent assistants. Mrs. +Lebaron had two daughters attending the institution at the time, and +this circumstance, in a great measure, relieved Emma from the feeling of +diffidence she might have experienced in entering a large school a +stranger to both teachers and pupils; but her modest and unassuming +manners, added to her diligence in study, soon caused her to become a +general favorite with her teachers. In schools, as well as other places, +we often meet with those who are inclined to be jealous of merit +superior to their own, and the seminary at Rockford was no exception in +this matter. Her teachers were guilty of no unjust partiality; true, +they oftener commended her than some other members of her class, but not +oftener than her punctual attendance, perfect recitations, and correct +deportment generally, justified them in doing. But it soon became +evident that, if Emma was a favourite with her teachers, she was far +from being such with many members of her class. At the time she entered +school Miss Hinton found, after examining her in her various studies, +that her attainments were already superior to those of several young +ladies who had been for some time members of the school. Among the +pupils who at the time attended the institution was a Miss Carlton, from +the distant city of H. She was the petted and only child of wealthy +parents; and, as is often the case, her disposition, which, under proper +training, might have been amiable, had been spoiled by unwise indulgence +on the part of her parents. Her capacity for learning was not good; she +was also sadly wanting in application, and, at the time Emma entered the +school, although Miss Carlton had attended for more than a year, her +progress in study was far from being satisfactory to her teachers. She +was at much pains to inform her classmates of her wealth and position, +seeming to entertain the idea that this would cover every defect. Owing +to Emma's superior attainments, compared with her own, she soon learned +to regard her with a feeling of absolute dislike, which she took little +pains to conceal; and many were the petty annoyances she endured from +the vain and haughty Julia Carlton. She soon learned that Emma was poor, +and that her mother toiled early and late to defray the expenses of her +education; and more than once she threw out hints regarding this fact, +among the other pupils, even in hearing of Emma; and, as often as +opportunity offered, she slighted the unoffending girl, and treated her +with all the rudeness of which she was capable. "Let those who wish +associate with Miss Ashton," she would often say to her companions; "but +I am thankful that I have been better taught at home than to make a +companion of a girl whose mother is obliged to take in sewing to pay her +school bills." These and other remarks equally malicious were daily made +by Miss Carlton; and I am sorry that she soon found others in the school +who were weak enough to be influenced by her also to treat Emma with +coldness and contempt. Emma could not long fail to notice the many +slights, both direct and indirect, which she endured from many members +of the school, and she taxed her memory to recall any act by which she +might have given offence; but, finding herself unable to recollect any +thing on her part which could have offended any member of the school, +she was not a little puzzled to account for the rudeness with which she +was treated. It happened one day that during recess she remained at her +desk in the school-room to complete an unfinished French exercise. +Several of her companions soon after entered the adjoining recitation +room, and, as they were not aware of her proximity, she became an +unwilling listener to a conversation which pained her deeply. As Sarah +Lebaron entered the room one of the girls addressed her, saying:--"When +you first introduced Miss Ashton among us, I supposed her to be at least +a companionable girl, but I have lately been informed that she resides +in a cheap tenement, and, farther, that her mother takes in sewing, and, +if such is the case, I wish to cultivate no further acquaintance with +her." "But then," added another girl, "Miss Hinton thinks her almost a +saint, and sets her up as a model for us all; if there's any thing I do +detest, it's these model girls, and I don't believe she's half as fond +of study as she pretends; and, in my opinion, its only to hear the +commendations of the teachers that she applies herself with such +diligence; but Miss Hinton is so taken with her meek face and lady-like +manners that she places her above us all, and, I suppose, we must +submit, for as the old song says: + + 'What can't be cured must be endured.' + +"Well, I for one shall try some method of cure, before I put up with +much more of her impudence and assumption," chimed in the amiable Miss +Carlton; "pay attention now, girls," continued she, "while I take my +place in the class like Emma Ashton;" and separating herself from her +companions, she crossed the room to one of the class-seats, with such a +ludicrous air of meekness and decorum, that the girls were almost +convulsed with laughter. Starting up and tossing her book from her hand +she exclaimed, "It is so disgusting to see a girl in _her_ position put +on such airs." Miss Lebaron had not before spoken, but, when at length +there was silence, she addressed her companions, saying, "if no other +young lady present has any further remarks to make, I will myself say a +few words if you will listen to me. I must say, I am surprised at the +unkindness, even rudeness, which many of you have exhibited towards Miss +Ashton. If she is poor it is death, and other misfortunes, which have +caused her to become so; and this circumstance should excite your +sympathy, but surely not your contempt and ridicule. Poor as she is, she +is my friend, and I am proud to claim her as such. As to her being +companionable that is a matter of taste; I shall continue to follow +mine, and each young lady present is at liberty to do the same; but be +assured that unless you can furnish some more satisfactory reason for +your disparaging remarks than you have yet done, they will bear no +weight with me." With much irony in her voice Miss Carlton replied, +"Really, Miss Lebaron, I am unable to reply to your very able defence of +your charming friend, and will only say that I shall avail myself of the +liberty you have kindly granted us, for each to follow her own taste in +the choice of associates, and avoid Miss Ashton as much as possible." +"As you please," replied Miss Lebaron, "it is a matter of perfect +indifference to me;" and just then the school bell put an end to further +conversation. As may be easily supposed, the delicate and sensitive +spirit of Emma was deeply wounded by the above conversation; and it was +with much difficulty that she maintained her composure for the remaining +portion of the day. For once her lessons were imperfect; and with a +heavy heart she returned to her home. That evening she, for the first +time, mentioned to her mother the daily annoyances she suffered from her +companions at school; and concluded by relating the conversation she had +that day chanced to overhear. Mrs. Ashton could not feel otherwise than +grieved; but as much as possible she concealed the feeling from her +daughter. "My dear Emma," she replied, "their unkind words can do you no +real harm; although they may render you unhappy for the time being. But +keep the even tenor of your way; and they will, probably, after a time +become ashamed of their folly. Should they make any further remarks +regarding my laboring to give you an education, you may tell them that +I esteem it at one of my chief blessings that I have health granted me +so to do." Time passed on; and the invariable kindness with which Emma +treated her classmates finally gained her several warm friends; and some +of them even apologised for their past unkindness. Miss Carlton still +regarded her with a feeling of enmity and dislike; but as Emma seemed +not to notice the many annoyances she experienced she was at length +forced to desist, although the same resentful feeling remained in her +heart. When Emma left the seminary, after attending it for four years, +her departure was deeply regretted by both teachers and pupils. As she +had pursued her studies in a very systematic manner, she had acquired, +before leaving school, a thoroughly good education, which she intended +turning to account by teaching. Miss Carlton also left school at the +same time to return to her elegant home in the city of H. It was +fortunate for her that she was not obliged, as was Emma, to teach as a +means of support; for, notwithstanding the unwearied pains of her +teachers, her education, when she left school, was very superficial. +Emma soon obtained a situation as teacher in a small village some twenty +miles from Rockford, where she remained for two years. During her +absence, her mother, to avoid being left alone, received as boarders two +or three young ladies who attended school in the village. Emma's +success as a teacher became so well known that she was at length offered +a high salary to accept of the position of assistant teacher in an +academy in the city of H., the same city where Miss Carlton resided. As +the salary offered was very liberal, she decided to accept of the +position, and as situation was likely to prove a permanent one she was +very anxious that her mother should accompany her; and after some +deliberation upon the subject, Mrs. Ashton consented, thinking they +would both much happier together than otherwise. Emma proved quite as +successful in this her second situation as in the first; and owing to +her position as teacher she soon formed acquaintance with several +families of cultivated tastes and high respectability. She often +received invitations to parties; but her tastes were quiet, and she +usually preferred spending her evenings with her mother in the quiet of +their own home, to mingling in scenes of mirth and gaiety; and it was +only upon a few occasions that she attended parties, that her friends +might not think her unsocial. At one of these parties she chanced to +meet her former schoolmate, Miss Carlton, whose only sign of recognition +was a very formal bow. This gave her no uneasiness; she cherished no +malice towards Miss Carlton; but her ideas and tastes so widely differed +from her own that she did not covet her friendship, even had she been +inclined to grant it her. Meanwhile, with the widow and her daughter, +time passed happily away. Emma's salary was more than sufficient for +their support, and they were happy in the society of each other. There +was one family, by the name of Milford, who had treated them with much +kindness since their residence in the city. Mrs. Milford at first placed +two little girls under Emma's instruction, and thus began an +acquaintance which soon ripened into intimate friendship; for, although +occupying a position of wealth and influence, Mrs. Milford was one of +the few who place "mind above matter," and respected true worth wherever +she met with it. Her eldest daughter, having finished her education at a +distant boarding school, returned home about the same time her two +sisters were placed in charge of Emma; and the little girls were so +eloquent in their praises of their teacher, that their elder sister +became interested, and decided to call upon her at her home; and the +lady-like appearance of both mother and daughter, together with the +appearance of good taste which their home exhibited, strongly interested +her in their favor. + +Some six months previous to the period of which I am writing a young +physician from the Upper Province located himself in the city of H. for +the practice of his profession. According to common report, he was +wealthy, and the study of a profession had with him been a matter not of +necessity but of choice. Owing to his pleasing manners, as well as his +reputed wealth, he soon became an object of much interest to many of +the match-making mammas and marriageable young ladies of the city of H. +He was soon favored with numerous invitations to attend parties, where +he formed acquaintance with most of the young people in the fashionable +circles of the city; and he soon became a general favorite in society. +Among others, he attended a large party given by the Carltons, and by +this means became acquainted with the family. He had called +occasionally, and during one of those calls Mrs. Carlton very feelingly +lamented that her daughter was often obliged to forego the pleasure of +attending concerts, lectures and other places of public amusement for +want of a suitable escort; and courtesy to the family would of course +allow him to do no less than offer to become her attendant upon such +occasions. Mrs. Carlton, however, put a very different construction upon +these slight attentions, and already looked upon him as her future +son-in-law. When Dr. Winthrop had resided for about a year in the city, +the Milfords also gave a large party, and Miss Ashton was included among +their guests. The party was a brilliant affair, for the Milfords were a +family of wealth and high social position. The young physician was among +their guests; and Miss Carlton managed some way or other to claim his +attention most of the evening. There was the usual amount of small talk, +common to such occasions; about the usual number of young ladies were +invited to sing and play, and, as usual, they were either out of +practice or were afflicted with "bad colds." But it so happened that +several young ladies who at the first begged to be excused, after much +persuasion allowed themselves to be conducted to the piano, and played +till it was evident from the manner of many that the music had become an +infliction instead of a pleasure. When after a time Miss Ashton was +invited to play, she took the vacant seat at the piano without any of +the usual apologies; and began playing the prelude to a much admired +song of the day; and before she reached the close of the first verse +there was a hush through the room, and the countenance of each evinced +the pleasure with which they listened to her performance. As she rose +from the instrument Dr. Winthrop addressed Miss Carlton, saying: "Can +you inform me who is that young lady? I never met her before; but she +has favored us with the first real music I have listened to this +evening." The young physician was not wanting in politeness, and he +certainly must have forgotten that Miss Carlton occupied the seat at the +piano a short time before. That young lady colored with anger as she +replied: "Her name is Miss Ashton, and I understand she is engaged as an +assistant teacher in one of the Academies in the city." "It is +singular," replied Dr. Winthrop, "that I have never before met her at +any of the numerous parties I have attended during the past year." +"There is nothing very singular in that," replied Miss Carlton, "for I +presume she is not often invited to fashionable parties, and I suppose +it is owing to Mrs. Milford's two little girls being her pupils that we +find her among their guests; but as you seem so much interested, I will +tell you all I know of the _person_ in question. When I attended school +in Rockford, Miss Ashton was a pupil in the same institution; but, when +I learned that her mother, who is a widow, took in sewing, to pay her +school bills, I did not care to cultivate her acquaintance. She left +school about the same time with myself, and I heard no more of her till +she obtained a situation in this city." "Pardon me," replied the young +physician; "but I see nothing in what you have stated that is in the +least disparaging to the young lady; and I should be much pleased to +make her acquaintance." "Our ideas slightly vary, in these matters," +replied Miss Carlton, with a haughty toss of her head; "but I will not +detain you from seeking the introduction for which you seem so anxious. +I am sorry I cannot oblige you by introducing you myself; but as I did +not associate with her when at school, I am still leas inclined to do so +at the present time; I hope, however, you may find her an agreeable +acquaintance;" and with a haughty manner she swept from his side in +quest of companions whose tastes were more congenial. Dr. Winthrop +obtained the desired introduction; and if Miss Carlton indulged the +hope that he would find Miss Ashton an agreeable acquaintance, there was +soon a fair prospect that her wishes would be realized; for the marked +attention which Dr. Winthrop paid the lovely and engaging Miss Ashton +soon formed the chief topic of conversation among the circle of their +acquaintances. For once, public rumor was correct. Dr. Winthrop was very +wealthy; but when a mere youth he had a decided taste for the study of +medicine; and his parents allowed him to follow the bent of his own +inclinations, in fitting himself for a profession for which he +entertained so strong a liking. He had an uncle residing in a distant +city, who was also a physician of high reputation, and, after passing +through the necessary course of study, he had practiced his profession +for two years under the direction of his uncle, before removing to the +city of H. Up to the time when we introduced him to the reader matrimony +was a subject to which he had never given a serious thought, and until +he met with Miss Ashton he had never felt any personal interest in the +matter. From what I have already said the reader will not be surprised +to learn that the acquaintance begun at Mrs. Milford's party terminated +in a matrimonial engagement; with the free consent of all who had a +right to a voice in the matter. When the matter became known it caused +quite a sensation in the circles in which Dr. Winthrop had moved since +his residence in the city; but, happily for him, he was possessed of +too independent a spirit to suffer any annoyance from any malicious +remarks which chanced to reach his ears. When Miss Carlton first learned +of the engagement, she indulged in a long fit of spiteful tears, to the +imminent risk of appearing with red eyes at the forthcoming evening +party. In due time the marriage took place; and the young physician and +his lovely bride set out on their wedding tour amid the congratulations +and good wishes of many true friends. After their departure Mrs. Carlton +remarked to several of her 'dear friends' "that she had long since +discovered that Dr. Winthrop was not possessed of refined tastes; and +for her part she thought Miss Ashton much better suited to be his wife +than many others which she could name." Had the doctor been present to +express his sentiments regarding this matter, they would in all +probability have exactly agreed with those already expressed by Mrs. +Carlton. During their wedding tour, which occupied several weeks, they +visited many places of note, both in Canada and the United States. Upon +their return to the city Dr. Winthrop purchased an elegant house in a +central location, which he furnished in a style justified by his +abundant means; and with his wife and her mother removed thither. + +In conclusion, we will again bestow a passing glance upon this happy +family after the lapse of some twenty years. We find Dr. Winthrop now +past the meridian of life, surrounded by an interesting family of sons +and daughters, whom he is endeavoring to train for spheres of usefulness +in this life, as well as for happiness in the "life to come." His +graceful and dignified wife still gladdens his heart and home. Time has +dealt very gently with her; she is quite as good and almost as beautiful +as when we last saw her twenty years ago. The two eldest of their family +are boys, and this is their last year in College. Mrs. Winthrop has thus +far attended herself to the education of her two daughters. Along with +many other useful lessons, she often seeks to impress upon their minds +the sin and folly of treating with contempt and scorn those who may be +less favored than themselves in a worldly point of view; and to impress +the lesson more strongly upon their young minds, she has more than once +spoken to them of her own early history, and of the trials to which she +was subject in her youthful days. But what of Mrs. Ashton? She still +lives; although her once active form is beginning to bow beneath the +weight of years, and her hair has grown silvery white. This year Dr. +Winthrop has completed his preparations for leaving the city after more +than twenty years close application to his profession. He resolved to +remove with his family to some quiet country village, which would afford +sufficient practice to prevent time from hanging heavily upon his hands; +but he now felt quite willing to resign his fatiguing and extensive +practice in the city. When he first formed the idea of seeking a +country home, he enquired of his wife, if she had any choice regarding a +location. "If it meets your wishes," replied she, "no other place would +please me so well as the village of W, the home of my childhood and +youth, and where my dear father is buried." He soon after made a journey +to W, and was so much pleased with the thriving appearance of the +village, and the industry and sobriety of the inhabitants, that he +decided to seek there a home. Before he left his home, his wife +requested him, should he decide upon removing to W, if possible to +re-purchase their old home, knowing how much this would please her now +aged mother. The purchase was soon completed, and ere he left the +village the old house was in the hands of workmen, with his instructions +as to improvements and repairs. Mrs. Ashton was very happy when she +learned that they were to return to W. "I have been happy here," said +she, "but I shall be still happier there." In a short time they removed +from the city to take possession of the "dear old home" in W, now +enlarged and adorned in various ways; but the same clear brook still +flowed at the foot of the garden, and the same trees, only that they +were older, and their branches had grown more wide spreading, shaded the +dwelling. As they passed beneath the shade of those well-remembered +trees, Mrs. Winthrop addressed her mother, saying, "Do you remember, +mamma, how sad we felt the morning we left our home so many years ago, +and we little thought it would ever again be ours." Mrs. Ashton gazed +fondly upon her daughter and the blooming children at her side, as she +replied in the language of the Psalmist, "I have been young and now am +old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging +bread." + + + + +THOUGHTS ON AUTUMN. + + +Again has the season of Autumn arrived. The stated changes of the +seasons serve as monitors to remind us of the flight of time; and upon +such occasions the most unthinking can hardly avoid pausing to reflect +upon the past, the present, and the probable future. Autumn has been +properly styled the "Sabbath of the year." Its scenes are adapted to +awaken sober and profitable reflection; and the voice with which it +appeals to our reflective powers is deserving of regard. This season is +suggestive of thoughts and feelings which are not called forth by any +other; standing, as it were, a pause between life and death; holding in +its lap the consummate fruits of the earth, which are culled by the hand +of prudence and judgment, some to be garnered in the treasury of useful +things, while others are allowed to return to their primitive elements. +When spring comes smiling o'er the earth, she breathes on the ice-bound +waters, and they flow anew. Frost and snow retreat before her advancing +footsteps. The earth is clothed with verdure, and the trees put forth +their leaves. Again, a few short months, and where has all this beauty +fled? The trees stand firm as before; but, with every passing breeze, a +portion of their once green leaves now fall to the ground. We behold the +bright flowers, which beautify the earth, open their rich petals, shed +their fragrance on the breeze, and then droop and perish. Sad emblem of +the perishing nature of all things earthly. May we not behold in the +fading vegetation, and the falling leaves of autumn, a true type of +human life? Truly "we all do fade as a leaf." Life at the best is but a +shadow that passes quickly away. Why then this love of gain, this thirst +for fame and distinction? Let us approach yonder church-yard and there +seek for distinction. There we may behold marble tablets cold as the +clay which rests beneath them: their varied inscriptions of youth, +beauty, age, ambition, pride and vanity, are all here brought to one +common level, like the leaves which in autumn fall to the earth, not one +pre-eminent over another. The inspired writers exhibit the frailty of +man by comparing him to the grass and the flowers withering and dying +under the progress and vicissitudes of the year; and with the return of +autumn we may behold in the external appearance of nature the changes to +which the sacred penman refers, when he says, "So is man. His days are +as grass; as a flower of the field so he flourisheth. For the wind +passeth over it and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no +more." Autumn too, is the season of storms. Let this remind us of the +storms of life. Scattered around us, are the wrecks of the tempests +which have beaten upon others, and we cannot expect always ourselves to +be exempt. Autumn is also the season of preparation for winter. Let us +remember that the winter of death is at hand, and let us be impressed +with the importance of making preparation for its approach. Let us then, +as we look upon the changed face of nature, take home the lesson which +it teaches; and, while we consider the perishable nature of all things +pertaining to this life, may we learn to prepare for another and a +happier state of being. + + + + +WANDERING DAVY. + + +It was while I was spending a few days in the dwelling of Mr. C., a +Scottish immigrant, that he received a long letter from his friends in +Scotland. After perusing the letter he addressed his wife, saying: "So +auld Davy's gone at last." "Puir man," replied Mrs. C. "If he's dead let +us hope that he has found that rest and peace which has been so long +denied him in this life." "And who was old Davy? may I enquire," said I, +addressing Mr. C. "Ay, man," he replied, "tis a sad story; but when my +work is by for the night, I'll tell ye a' that I ken o' the life o' Davy +Stuart." I was then young and very imaginative; and a story of any kind +possessed much interest for me; and the thought that the story of Old +Davy was to be a true one, rendered it doubly interesting; so I almost +counted the hours of the remaining portion of the day; and when evening +came I was not slow to remind Mr. C. of his promise. Accordingly he +related to me the following particulars of the life of David Stuart; +which I give, as nearly as possible, in his own words; for it seems to +me that the story would lose half its interest were I to render it +otherwise. + +"Davy Stuart was an aul' man when I was a wee boy at the school. I had +aye been used wi' him; for he often bided wi' us for days thegither; and +while a boy I gave little heed to his odd ways an' wanderin' mode o' +life; for he was very kind to mysel' an' a younger brither, an' we +thought muckle o' him; but when we had grown up to manhood my father +tell'd us what had changed Davy Stuart from a usefu' an' active man to +the puir demented body he then was. He was born in a small parish in the +south of Scotland, o' respectable honest parents, who spared nae pains +as he grew up to instruct him in his duty to baith God an' man. At quite +an early age he was sent to the parish school; where he remained maist +o' the time till he reached the age o' fourteen years. At that time he +was apprenticed to learn the trade o' a shoemaker, in a distant town. It +wad seem that he served his time faithfully, an' gained a thorough +knowledge o' his trade. Upon leaving his master, after paying a short +visit to his native parish, he gie'd awa' to the City of Glasgow, to +begin the warld for himself. He continued steady and industrious, and +was prospered accordingly; and at the age o' twenty-five he had saved +considerable money. It was about this time, that he was married to a +worthy young woman, to whom he had been long deeply attached. They had +but one bairn, a fine boy, who was the delight o' his father's heart, +and I hae heard it said by they who kenn'd them at the time, that a +bonnier or mair winsome hoy could'na hae been found in the city, than +wee Geordie Stuart. Time gied on till Geordie was near twelve year aul', +when it began to be talked o' among Mr. Stuart's friends that he was +becoming owre fond o' drink. How the habit was first formed naebody +could tell; but certain it was, that during the past year he had been +often seen the war o' drink. His wife, puir body, admonished an' +entreated him to break awa' frae the sinfu' habit, and he often, when +moved by her tears, made resolutions o' amendment, which were broken +maist as soon as made; an' it was during a longer season o' sobriety +than was usual wi' him, that his wife thinkin' if he was once awa' frae +the great city he would be less in the way o' temptation, persuaded him +to leave Glasgow an' remove to the sma' village o' Mill-Burn, a little +way frae the farm which my father rented. + +"I well mind, said my father, o' the time when they first cam' among us, +an' how kin' was a' the neebors, to his pale sad-lookin' wife and the +bonny light-hearted Geordie, who was owre young at the time, to realize +to its fu' extent the sad habit into which his father had fa'n. When Mr. +Stuart first came to our village he again took up his aul' habits o' +industry, an' for a long time would'na taste drink ava; but when the +excitement o' the sudden change had worn off, his aul' likin' for strong +drink cam' back wi' fu' force, an' he, puir weak man, had'na the +strength o' mind to withstand it. He soon became even war than before; +his money was a' gane, he did'na work, so what was there but poverty for +his wife an' child. But it is useless for me to linger o'er the sad +story. When they had lived at Mill-Burn a little better than a twelve +month; his wife died, the neebors said o' a broken heart. A wee while +afore her death she ca'd Davy to her bed-side, an' once mair talked lang +an' earnestly to him o' the evil habit which had gotten sic a hold o' +him, an' begged him for the sake o' their dear Geordie, who; she +reminded him, would soon be left without a mither to care for him, to +make still anither effort to free himself frae the deadly habit. I +believe Davy was sincere when he promised the dyin' woman that he wad +gie up drink. Wi' a' his faults, he had tenderly loved his wife, an' I +hae nae doubt fully intended keepin' the promise he made her. For a lang +time after her death, he was ne'er seen to enter a public house ava', +an' again he applied himsel' to his wark wi' much industry. After the +death o' Mrs. Stuart Geordie an' his father bided a' their lane. Their +house was on the ither side o' the burn which crossed the high-road, a +wee bit out o' the village. Time gie'd on for some time wi' them in this +way. Davy continued sober and industrious, an' the neebors began to hae +hopes that he had gotten the better o' his evil habit; he had ne'er been +kenned to taste strong drink o' ony kin' sin' the death o' his wife. +One evening after he an' Geordie had ta'en their suppers, he made +himsel' ready to gang out, saying to Geordie that he was gaun' doon to +the village for a wee while, and that he was to bide i' the house an' he +would'na be lang awa'. The hours wore awa' till ten o'clock, an' he +had'na cam' hame. It was aye supposed that the boy, becoming uneasy at +his father's lang stay, had set out to look for him, when by some +mishap, it will ne'er be kenned what way, he lost his footin', an' fell +frae the end o' the narrow brig which crossed the burn. The burn was'na +large, but a heavy rain had lately fa'n, an' there was aye a deep bit at +one end o' the brig. He had fa'n head first into the water in sic a way +that he could'na possibly won 'oot. It was a clear moonlicht night, an' +when Davy reached the brig, the first thing he saw was his ain son lyin +i' the water. I hae often been told that a sudden shock o' ony kind will +sober a drunken man. It was sae wi' Davy; for the first neebor who, +hearin' his cries for assistance, ran to the spot, found him standin i' +the middle o' the brig, perfectly sober, wi' the drooned boy in his +arms; although it was weel kenned that he was quite drunk when he left +the village. Every means was used for the recovery o' the boy, but it +was a' useless, he was quite deed an' caul'. "Ah," said Davy, when +tell'd by the doctor that the boy was indeed dead, "my punishment is +greater than I can bear." Geordie had aye been as "the apple o' his +een"; never had he been kenned to ill use the boy, even when under the +influence o' drink; and the shock was too much for his reason. Many +wondered at his calmness a' the while the body lay i' the house afore +the burial--but it was the calmness o' despair; he just seemed like ane +turned to stane. The first thing that roused him was the sound o' the +first earth that fell on puir Geordie's coffin. He gie'd ae bitter +groan, an' wad' hae fa'n to the earth had'na a kind neebor supported +him. His mind wandered frae that hour; he was aye harmless, but the +light o' reason never cam' back to his tortured mind. Sometimes he wad +sit for hours by Geordie's grave, an' fancy that he talked wi' him. On +these occasions nothing wad induce him to leave the grave till some +ither fancy attracted his mind. As I hae before said he was never +outrageous, but seemed most o' the time, when silent, to be in deep +thought; but his reason was quite gone, and the doctors allowed that his +case was beyond cure. Many questioned them as to whether it were safe to +allow him his liberty, lest he might do some deed o' violence; but they +gave it as their opinion that his disease was'na at a' likely to tak' +that turn wi' him, an' so he was left to wander on. He never bided verra +lang in a place, but wandered frae house to house through a' the +country-side: and every one treated him wi' kindness. The sight o' a +bonny fair-haired boy aye gave him muckle pleasure, an' he wad whiles +hae the idea that Geordie had cam' back to him. From the day o' +Geordie's death to that o' his ain', which took place a month sine, he +was ne'er kenned to taste strong drink; he could'na bear even the sight +o' it. He lived to a verra great age, an' for many years they who did'na +ken the story o' his early life ha'e ca'd him Wanderin' Davy. I hae noo +tell'd you his story," said Mr. C. addressing me; "an' I hope it may +prove a warnin' to you an' ithers o' the awfu' evils o' intemperance; +an' I think it's high time my story was finished, for I see by the clock +that it's growin' unco late." When the evening psalm had been sung, Mr. +C. read a portion of the Scriptures and offered the usual nightly +prayer, and soon after we all sought repose; but it was long ere I +slept. The story I had listened to still floated through my mind, and +when sleep at length closed my eyes it was to dream of "Wandering Davy," +and the poor drowned boy. + + + + +LOOKING ON THE DARK SIDE. + + +It is an old but true saying, that "troubles come soon enough without +meeting them half way." But I think my friend Mrs. Talbot had never +chanced to hear this saying, old as it is; for she was extremely prone +at all times to look only upon the dark side, and this habit was a +source of much trouble to herself as well as her family. Mr. Talbot +might properly have been called a well-to-do farmer. They were +surrounded by an intelligent and interesting family; and a stranger, in +taking a passing view of their home and its surroundings, would have +been strongly inclined to think that happiness and contentment might be +found beneath their roof; but a short sojourn in the dwelling alluded to +would certainly have dispelled the illusion. This Mrs. Talbot was +possessed of a most unhappy disposition. She seemed to entertain the +idea that the whole world was in league to render her miserable. It has +often struck me with surprise, that a person surrounded with so much to +render life happy should indulge in so discontented and repining a +temper as did Mrs. Talbot. She was famous for dwelling at length upon +her trials, as often as she could obtain a listener; and when I first +became acquainted with her I really regarded her with a feeling of pity; +but after a time I mentally decided that the greater part of her +grievances existed only in her own imagination. She spent a large +portion of her time in deploring the sins of the whole world in general, +and of her own family and immediate neighbors in particular; while she +looked upon herself as having almost, if not quite, attained to +perfection. + +I recollect calling one day upon Mr. Talbot; he was of a very social +disposition, and we engaged for a short time in a lively conversation. +Mrs. Talbot was present, and, strange to tell, once actually laughed at +some amusing remark made by her husband. He soon after left the room, +and her countenance resumed its usual doleful expression as she +addressed me, saying, "I wish I could have any hopes of Mr. Talbot; but +I am afraid the last state of that man will be worse than the first." I +questioned her as to her meaning; and she went on to tell me that her +husband had once made a profession of religion; but she feared he was +then in a "backslidden state," as she termed it. I know not how this +matter might have been; but during my acquaintance with Mr. Talbot I +never observed any thing in his conduct which to me seemed inconsistent +with a profession of religion. He certainly excelled his wife in one +thing, and that was christian charity; for he was seldom if ever heard +to speak of the shortcomings of others. It is quite possible that he +thought his wife said enough upon the subject to suffice for both. Mrs. +Talbot made a point of visiting her neighbors, if she chanced to hear of +their meeting with any trouble or misfortune. The reason she gave for so +doing was that she might sympathize with them; and if sickness invaded a +household Mrs. Talbot was sure to be there; but I used often to think +that her friends must look upon her as one of "Job's comforters," for no +sickness was so severe, no misfortune so great, that she did not +prophesy something worse still. According to her own ideas she was often +favored with warnings of sickness and misfortune both to her own family +and others. She was also a famous believer in dreams; and often +entertained her friends at the breakfast table by relating her dreams of +the previous night. I remember meeting with her upon one occasion, when +it struck me that her countenance wore a look of unusual solemnity, even +for her, so much so, that I enquired the cause, "Ah!" said she, "we are +to have sickness, perhaps death, in our family very soon; for only last +night I dreamed I saw a white horse coming toward our house upon the +full gallop; and to dream of a white horse is a sure sign of sickness, +and the faster the horse seems in our dream to be approaching us the +sooner the sickness will come." Her husband often remonstrated with her +upon the folly of indulging in these idle fancies. I remember a reply +he once made to some of her gloomy forebodings "I think the best way is +for each one to discharge their duty in the different relations of life; +and leave the future in the hands of an All-wise Providence." "That is +always the way with you," was her reply. "You have grown heedless and +careless with your love of the world; but you will perhaps think of my +warnings when too late." Before meeting with Mrs. Talbot I had often +heard the remark that none were so cheerful as the true Christian; but I +soon saw that her views must be widely different. A hearty laugh she +seemed to regard as almost a crime. A cheerful laugh upon any occasion +would cause her to shake her head in a rueful manner, and denounce it as +untimely mirth. Upon one occasion she went to hear a preacher that had +lately arrived in the neighboring village. This same preacher was +remarkable for drawing dismal pictures, and was very severe in his +denunciations, while he quite forgot to offer a word of encouragement to +the humble seeker after good. Upon the Sabbath in question Mrs. Talbot +returned from church, and seated herself at the dinner table with a +countenance of moot woeful solemnity. Her husband at length enquired, +how she had enjoyed the sermon. "O!" replied she, "he is a preacher +after my own heart, and his sermon explained all my views clearly." +"Indeed," replied Mr. Talbot, "he must have a wonderful flow of +language to have handled so extensive a subject, in the usual time +allotted to a sermon." His answer displeased her very much. Among her +other gloomy forebodings she always seemed sure of the fact that Mr. +Talbot would survive her; and she replied: "That is always the way. You +make light of every thing I say; and I only hope you won't have all +these things to repent of when I shall be no more." Mr. Talbot seemed +sorry he had wounded her feelings, and replied: "We shall both live our +appointed time, and it is not for us to decide which of us will be first +removed." The last time I saw Mrs. Talbot she was indulging in her +anticipation of some coming calamity. I have learned from various +sources, that since I last saw her she has met _real_ afflictions of a +very trying nature, even to the most hopeful; and it may be that the +presence of real troubles have put to flight many which were only +imaginary; and she may by this time have learned to be thankful for +whatever of blessings may yet be left her in her path through life. + + + + +EDWARD BARTON. + + +My schoolmate Edward Barton, or 'Ned,' as he was usually called by the +boys, was such an odd character in his way, that I trust my readers will +pardon me for introducing him to their notice. His father was a +physician in a distant village, and was justly esteemed among the +residents of the place. He had an extensive practice both in the village +and surrounding country, and his time was very much occupied; and as Ned +grew up he proved a source of constant anxiety to his father, who, being +unable to keep him under his own eye, at length decided to send him to +reside with some relatives in a farming district some twenty miles from +his home. Ned's disposition was a singular compound of good and evil, +and his conduct depended, in a great measure, upon the companions he +associated with. He was easily persuaded, and often during his father's +frequent and lengthened absences from home he played truant from school, +and associated with the worst boys in the village. I well remember the +morning he first entered our school. He was then about twelve years of +age; but owing to his carelessness and inattention, he had made but +slight progress in study. I learned afterward that he had so long borne +the names of "dunce" and "blockhead" in the school he attended in his +own village that he supposed himself to be really such, and made up his +mind that it was useless for him to try to be anything else: and I think +when our teacher first called him up for examination he was inclined to +be of the same opinion. The teacher first addressed him by saying, "How +far have you advanced in reading, my boy?" "Don't know, sir, never +thought any thing about how far I've been." "Well, at least," replied +the master, "you can tell me the names of the books you have studied, in +reading and spelling." "Oh, yes," replied the boy. "I've been clean +through 'Webster's Elementary and the Progressive Reader.'" "Can you +tell me the subject of any of your lessons?" "I can just remember one +story, about a dog that was crossing a river on a plank with a piece of +meat in his mouth, and when he saw his shadder in the water, made a +spring at it, and dropped the meat which he held in his mouth, and it +was at once carried away by the current." "Well," said the teacher, "as +you remember the story so well, you can perhaps tell me what lesson we +can learn from this fable." "I thought," replied the boy, "when I read +the story, that the best way is to hold on to what we are sure of, and +not grab after a shadder and lose the whole." "Your idea is certainly a +correct one," said the master, "and now we will turn to some other +branch of study; can you cipher?" "Don't know, I never tried," replied +the boy, with the greatest coolness imaginable. "Well," replied the +teacher, "we will, after a time, see how you succeed, when you _do_ try. +Can you tell me what the study of Geography teaches us?" "O," said the +boy, "geography tells all about the world, the folks who live in it, and +'most everything else." The master then asked him some questions +regarding the divisions of land and water, and for a short time he +answered with some degree of correctness. At length, while referring to +the divisions of water, the master said, "Can you tell me what is a +strait?" This question seemed a "puzzler" to him, and for some moments +he looked downward as if studying the matter; when the question was +repeated in rather a sharp tone, it seemed he thought it wiser to give +an answer of some kind than none at all, and he replied: "When a river +runs in a straight course, we call it straight, and when it twists and +winds about, we call it crooked." "A river is not a strait," replied the +teacher with the manner of one who prayed for patience. "Well! at any +rate," said the boy, "straight is straight, and crooked is crooked, and +that is all I know about it." It was evident from the teacher's manner +that he was half inclined to think the boy was endeavoring to impose +upon him by feigning ignorance; and he dismissed him to his seat for +the time being, thinking, no doubt, that he had met with a case out of +the common order of school experience. It seems that the boy had never +before attended school with punctuality, and it required a long time, to +teach him to observe anything like system, either in his conduct or +studies. Our teacher, though very firm, was mild and judicious in his +government; and, thinking that possibly Ned's disposition had been +injured by former harshness at school, resolved to avoid inflicting +corporal punishment as long as possible; and try upon him the effect of +kindness and mild persuasion. He had one very annoying habit, and that +was he would very seldom give a satisfactory answer if suddenly asked a +direct question, and often his reply would be very absurd, sometimes +bordering on downright impudence. The master noticed one afternoon, +after calling the boys from their play at recess, that Ned had not +entered the school-room with the others. Stepping to the door, he found +him seated very composedly in the yard, working busily upon a toy he was +fashioning with a knife from a piece of wood. "Why do you remain +outside, Edward, after the other boys are called in?" said the master. +"Cos I did'nt come in, sir," replied Ned, without looking up, or even +pausing in his employment This was too much for the patience of any one; +and seizing him by the arm the master drew him into a small room which +adjoined the school-room; and bestowed upon him, what Ned afterward +confidentially informed us, was "a regular old-fashioned thrashing." I +was not aware till then that the style of using the rod was liable to +change, but it would seem that Ned thought otherwise; and if his screams +upon this occasion were taken as proof in the matter, I should be +inclined to think the old-fashioned method very effective. The whipping +which Ned received created quite a sensation among us boys, for it was +not often that Mr. S. used the rod; We began to have our fears that as +he had got his "hand in," more of us might share the fate of poor Ned. +In a very serious conversation which we held upon the matter, on our way +home that evening, some of us asked Ned why he screamed so loud. "I +thought," said he, "if I hollered pretty well, he would think he'd +licked me enough and stop; but I don't see what great harm I did any +way. He asked why I stayed out; and I said, cos I did't go in, and I am +sure I could'nt give a better reason than that." Time passed on, and by +degrees Ned dropped many of his odd ways; and began to make tolerable +progress in study; but still much patience and forbearance was necessary +on the part of the teacher. He had the same habit of frequently giving +absurd answers in his class, as well as upon other occasions; but after +a time his stupid answers were much less frequent, and Mr. S. began to +indulge the hope that he would soon overcome the habit entirely. When +he had attended school for about six months, as was the custom two or +three times a year, we passed under what to the school boys was an +"awful review" in presence of those awe-inspiring personages, termed in +those days the school-trustees, and any other friends of the school, who +might chance to be present. We all, even to the teacher, had our fears +lest Ned (who had not yet entirely discontinued the practice) should +give some of his comical answers when questioned by our visitors; but +the day came, and with it the school-trustees and a number of other +friends. The classes were first examined in reading and spelling; and +Ned acquitted himself much better than we had dared to hope; and we +began to think he might pass the afternoon without making any serious +blunder. After the reading and spelling lessons, the class was summoned +for examination in Geography. Elated by his success in reading and +spelling, Ned took his place with a pompous consequential manner, as if +expecting to win countless laurels for his proficiency. He got along +very well till some one put the question, "What may the Island of +Australia properly be called on account of its vast size?" "One of the +Pyramids," answered Ned, in a loud confident voice. The gentleman who +was questioning us looked astounded, and there fell an awkward silence, +which only was broken by the half-smothered laughter of the others in +the class. The teacher, wishing to get over the matter in some way, at +length said, "I am surprised, Edward, that you should give so senseless +an answer to so simple a question." Now, one very striking peculiarity +in Ned's character was his unwillingness to acknowledge himself in the +wrong, however ridiculous his answer might be; and he was disposed to +argue his point upon this occasion. "Any way," said he, "the Pyramids +are large, and so is Australia; and I thought it might sometimes be +called a pyramid for convenience of description." The idea of Ned +entering into an argument with the trustees of the school struck the +rest of the boys as so extremely ludicrous, that our long pent-up mirth +found vent in a burst of laughter through the whole class, and no one +present had the heart to chide us; for it was with intense difficulty +that the elderly gentlemen maintained their own gravity. The teacher was +obliged to exercise his authority before Ned could be silenced; and the +remaining part of the examination proved rather a failure. I know not +how it happened, but from that day there was a marked improvement in +Edward Barton, in every respect. He attended the school for two years; +and when he left us it was to accompany his parents to one of the far +Western States. His father had relatives residing in the west, and had +received from them such glowing accounts of the country, that he decided +upon removing thither. Any one who saw Ned when he left us would almost +have failed to recognize him as the same boy who entered the school two +years previous. Mr. S. was his friend as well as his teacher; and during +the second year of his stay took a deep interest in him; he had +thoroughly studied his disposition, and learned to bear with his faults, +and under his judicious management Ned began really to make good +progress in study. We had all become attached to him, and were all sorry +when he left us. He was much elated with the prospect of his journey to +the West; and talked much of the wonders he expected to behold on his +way thither. He came one day at the noon-hour to collect his books and +bid us good-bye, his father having come to take him home for a short +time before setting out on their journey. The boys were all on the +play-ground when he entered the school-room to bid his teacher good-bye. +When he came out he looked very sober, and there was a suspicious +moisture in his eyes which very much resembled tears. Instead of the +usual noisy mirth on the play-ground there was almost complete silence, +while Ned shook hands with us one by one, saying, "he would tell us all +the wonders of the Western World when he came back." Years have rolled +by with their various changes since that day; he has never yet returned; +and I have only heard from him two or three times during the time. My +last tidings were, that he was married and settled down to a life of +industry upon a fine farm, in his western home; but I sometimes, when I +think of him, even yet wonder, if he has learned the difference between +the "Pyramids of Egypt" and the "Island Continent of Australia." + + + + +THE WEARY AT REST. + + +The weary at rest. This idea was very strongly impressed upon my mind +by a funeral which I once attended in the distant village of C. It was +that of a very aged woman, whom I had often heard mentioned as one who +had been subjected for many years to bodily suffering in no ordinary +degree. I had never seen her, but was acquainted with many who visited +her frequently; and I became interested from hearing her so often spoken +of as a bright example of patience and resignation under affliction; and +I was accustomed to enquire for her as often as I had opportunity. Owing +to a rheumatic affection of her limbs, she had, as I was informed, been +unable, for several years, to rise from her bed without assistance, and +much of the time experienced severe pain. I was informed by her friends +that through her protracted period of suffering she was never heard to +utter a complaining or repining word, but was found daily in a calm, +even cheerful frame of mind. After a time I left the village and +returned to my home. Returning thither to visit some relatives after the +lapse of a few months, I met with a friend, soon after my arrival, who +informed me of the death of old Mrs. H., which had taken place the day +previous. Two days later I joined the large numbers who assembled to pay +their last tribute of respect to one of the oldest residents of their +village. As is usual upon funeral occasions, the coffin was placed in +front of the pulpit, and a large number occupied the front pews which +were appropriated to the friends of the deceased. In those pews were +seated men in whose hair the silver threads were beginning to mingle, +and women who were themselves mothers of families, who all met around +the coffin of their aged mother. Childhood, youth and middle age was all +represented in that company of mourners. Their pastor, Mr. M., delivered +a very appropriate discourse from the words. "Blessed are the dead who +die in the Lord." In the course of his sermon he took occasion to +remark, that a funeral discourse should apply to the living--not the +dead. I had before listened to different sermons from this same text; +but I never listened to a more searching application of the words than +upon this occasion. + +Near the close of his sermon, he said: "I presume many of you are aware +that I deem it unnecessary as well as unwise, on occasions of this kind, +for a minister to dwell at length, upon the life and character of the +deceased, for, as I have before said, our duty is with the living; but +upon the present occasion, I think I may with propriety say, that we see +before us the lifeless remains of one who has 'died in the Lord.' I +have been for many years acquainted with our aged sister now departed, +and have ever regarded her as an humble and earnest christian. I have +frequently visited her during her lengthened period of suffering; and +have felt deeply humbled for my own want of resignation to the ills of +life, when I observed the exemplary manner with which this aged woman +bore her sufferings, which at times were very severe; and more than +this, I stood by her dying bed, which I can truly say presented a +foretaste of heavenly triumph." + +At the close of the service permission was given for any one who was +desirous of so doing to look upon the "corpse," and with many others I +drew nigh the coffin. I had been told that the habitual expression of +her countenance was one of pain, and I was surprised by the calm and +peaceful expression which rested upon the face of the dead. There was no +sign of past suffering visible; and the idea of perfect rest was +conveyed to my mind, as I gazed upon her now lifeless features. When the +strangers had all retired the relatives and near friends drew nigh to +take their last sad look of the aged one who in life had been so dear to +them. It seemed that her age and utter helplessness had all the more +endeared her to her children and other friends; and many of them wept +audibly as they retired from the coffin. As the coffin was borne from +the church, the choir sung in subdued tones, accompanied by the solemn +notes of the organ, the beautiful hymn commencing with the lines. + + "Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, + Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb; + The Saviour hath passed through its portals before thee, + And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom." + +When the long procession reached the church yard, the coffin was lowered +to its final resting place, and the Burial Service was read by their +pastor, and most of the company departed to their homes. I know not how +it was, but, although a stranger to the deceased, I was among the few +who lingered till the grave was filled up. That funeral impressed me +deeply; and has often since recurred to my mind, amid the cares and +turmoil of after life. + + + + +THE RAINY AFTERNOON. + + +"It's too bad," exclaimed Harry Knights, as he turned from the window, +where for the last ten minutes he had been silently watching the heavy +drops of rain as they pattered against the glass. "It's too bad," +repeated he, "we can have no out-of-door play this afternoon;" and as he +spoke his face wore a most rueful expression. I was one among a number +of Harry's school-mates who had gone to spend the day at the farm of Mr. +Knights, Harry's father. The eldest of our number was not more than +fourteen; and for a long time we had looked forward to this day with +many bright anticipations of fun and enjoyment. The important day at +length arrived, and so early did we set out upon our excursion that we +reached Harry's home before eight o'clock in the morning. We spent the +forenoon in rambling over the farm, searching out every nook and corner +which possessed any interest to our boyish minds. Accompanied by Harry +we visited all his favourite haunts--which included a fine stream of +water, where there was an abundance of fish; also a ledge of rocks +which contained a curious sort of cave, formed by a wide aperture in the +rocks; and, last, though "not least," a pond of water which, owing to +its extreme beauty of appearance, Harry had named the "Enchanted Pond." +He had said so much to us regarding the uncommon beauty of this spot +that some of the boys, myself among the number, had often been inclined +to ridicule him; but when we came within view of it, I for one ceased to +wonder at his admiration; for, before nor since, I never looked upon so +lovely a scene. The pond was situated upon the back portion of the farm, +in a clearing which had been made by a settler who had occupied the land +for some years before it was purchased by Mr. Knights. The form of the +pond was entirely circular, and it was surrounded by a green field, in +which had been left standing, here and there, some fine old trees to add +to the effect. I remember when I first gained a view of the spot, it +reminded me of a surface of polished silver, bordered with emeralds. As +we drew nigh we could see that its smooth waters were thickly dotted +with the pure blossoms of the pond-lily. I have never since visited the +spot, but the view I obtained of it that day, now so long ago, is still +vividly present to my mind. By the time we again reached the farm-house +the dinner-hour had arrived; and our long continued exercise in the open +air had so much improved our appetites that we did ample justice to the +good things set before us. Dinner being over we observed, what had +before escaped our notice, that the sky was becoming overcast with dark +clouds, and soon a heavy rain began to fall, which put an end to all our +plans of out-of-door enjoyment for the afternoon. As I mentioned at the +beginning, Harry was very much disappointed, for outside sports were his +especial delight; and for a time his face looked almost as dark and +forbidding as the sky itself. We tried to cheer him up, saying we would +have some quiet games in the large dining-room, and we did succeed in +getting him to join us; but somehow or other our games afforded us no +enjoyment, and the question, "what shall we do with ourselves?" began to +pass from one to the other among the group of eager, restless boys. +"Would you like me to tell you a story, boys?" enquired Harry's mother, +after observing for a time our vain attempts at enjoyment. Mrs. Knights +was a lady of high culture, and possessed the happy faculty of rendering +herself an agreeable companion to either the young or old; and more than +one pair of eyes grew bright with pleased anticipation, when she +proposed telling us a story; and, of course, we as eagerly assented to +her proposal. Seating herself our midst, she took up a piece of +needlework, saying, "I can always talk best, when my hands an employed," +and began as follows: + +"I suppose none of you, perhaps not even my own Harry is aware that my +home has not always been in Canada; but I will now inform you that the +days of my childhood and youth were passed in a pretty town near the +base of the Alleghany Mountains in the State of Virginia. I will not +pause at present to give you any further particulars regarding my own +early years, as the story I am about to relate is concerning one of my +schoolmates who was a few years older than myself. The Pastor of the +Church in the small village where my parents resided had but one son; +and, when quite a little girl, I remember him as one of the elder pupils +in the school I attended. I was too young at that time to pay much +attention to passing events, but I afterward learned that, even then, +his conduct was a source of much anxiety and sorrow to his parents, his +ready talent, great vivacity, and love of amusement continually led him +into mischief and caused him to be disliked by many of their neighbors. +It was in vain that the villages complained, in vain that his father +admonished and his mother wept; still the orchards were robbed, the +turkeys chased into the woods, and the logs of wood in the fireplaces +often burst into fragments by concealed powder. Time passed on, till he +reached the age of sixteen years, when, spurning the restraints of home, +the erring boy left his father's house and became a wanderer, no one +knew whither; but it was rumored that reaching a sea-port town he had +entered a merchant vessel bound upon a whaling voyage for three years. +During the last year of his stay at home his conduct had been very +rebellious, and his father almost looked upon him as given over to a +reprobate mind. After his departure, his father was seldom heard to +mention his name, but his friends observed that his hair fast grew +white, and upon his brow rested an expression of constant grief and +anxiety. He was a man that seldom spoke of his own troubles to any one, +but it was plain to be seen that his erring boy was never absent from +his thoughts, and there was a feeling and pathos in his voice when he +addressed his congregation, especially the younger portion of it, which +had never been noticed before. It was his custom upon the first sabbath +evening in each month to deliver an address to the youth of his flock +and it was noticed that his appeals had never been so earnest before, as +after the departure of his son; but he seldom, if ever, mentioned his +name, not even to his grief-stricken wife. Our pastor was not what could +be properly styled an old man, but it was thought that his grief, like a +canker-worm, sapped the fountains of life, his bodily health became +impaired, his vigor of mind departed, and, ere he had seen sixty years, +death removed him from earth, to a home of happiness in Heaven. The +widow was now bereft of both husband and child. She was comforted +concerning her departed husband, knowing that it was well with him; but +she sorrowed continually for her absent boy; and often, during the +lonely hours of night, as the moaning of the winds fell upon her ear, +she would start from her sleepless pillow and utter a prayer for her +poor boy who might even then be tossing on the restless ocean, or +perhaps wrecked upon a dangerous coast. She was a woman of good +education, and much power of thought, and she at length found a partial +relief from her sorrow by writing small works for publication. But how +is it all this time with the wandering "Prodigal?" Nine years have +passed away since he left his home, when an agent for the sale of books +for a large publishing house was spending a few days in one of the large +cities of the west. During his stay in the place, his business as agent +often led him into public places, and on several occasions he noticed a +young man that attracted his attention. There was nothing prepossessing +in his appearance; on the contrary he bore the marks of dissipation in +his countenance; his clothing was old and soiled, and once or twice he +saw him when partially intoxicated. The agent was a middle-aged man, and +was a close observer of those with whom he came in contact, and somehow +or other he felt a strange interest in this young man for which he could +not account; and meeting him so frequently, he determined to speak to +him. As a pretext for accosting him he offered to sell him some books, +although he had no hopes of success. The young man regarded him with +visible surprise, when he enquired if he would not like to purchase a +book. "I have no money to spend for books," replied the man, yet as if +unable to resist the impulse, he leaned over the table, on which the +agent had placed several books, and began looking them over; and finally +selecting one, enquired the price, and paid for it. They soon after +parted, and the agent thought they should probably meet no more, as he +expected soon to leave the city. He returned to the hotel where he +boarded, and after tea seated himself on the piazza, to enjoy the cool +evening air; when the same young man suddenly approached him, and +grasping his hand said in a voice choked with emotion: "Tell me, Sir, +where, O where did you get that book?" This young man was the erring but +still loved son of the Virginian widow, who for these long dreary years +had roamed over the earth, unfriended and unaided, vainly imagining his +own arm sufficient towards the ills of life. He had wandered here from +the coasts of the Pacific, where he had been wrecked; his money was +nearly gone, and his health had become impaired by hardship and exposure +as well as his dissipated course of life. As he afterwards said, he had +no intention of reading the book when he purchased it, merely out of +civility to the stranger who accosted him so kindly, but after the agent +left him he opened the book, and a cold dew broke out upon his forehead, +for on the title-page he read the name of his _mother_ as the author. +Her thoughts were continually upon her lost son, and in her mind's eye +she often traced his downward career. She imagined him worn and weary, +his days spent in unsatisfying folly; and his moments of reflection +embittered by remorse; unconsciously, in writing this little book she +had drawn from her own feelings and addressed one in this situation. She +pointed to him the falseness of the world, and bade him judge of the +fidelity of the picture by his own experience; and she taught him the +way of return to the paths of peace. And thus it was that the little +book which the wretched young man had selected--one would say so +accidentally, others, so Providentially,-proved the means of his return +from the paths of sin and folly to those of sobriety and usefulness. He +soon told his story to his attentive listener, and informed him of the +relationship he bore to the author of the book he had purchased. As he +concluded, he said, "Oh, my mother, why did I leave you to become the +hopeless being I am?" "Not hopeless," replied his companion in gentle +tones, "you have youth on your side and may yet be a useful and happy +man. I now understand the unaccountable interest which I felt in you +when meeting you on several occasions before I spoke to you, and I feel +that Providence directed me in the matter." The agent stayed two days +longer in the city, and then departed; the young man with him, for with +the promptitude of his nature, to resolve was to act. He directed his +course toward Virginia, the star of hope leading him on, and finally +approached his native village. No words are adequate to describe the +meeting between the lonely widow and her long lost, but now returning +and penitent son. When informed that his father had been for some years +dead, the shock to him was great, overpowering, but he uttered no +repining word. "I could not," said he, "expect the happiness of meeting +both my parents again after causing them so much sorrow, and let me be +humbly thankful that it is allowed me to cheer the declining years of my +aged mother." "I well remember," said Mrs. Knights, "the return of the +young man to his home, it was but a short time before I left Virginia, +but I have been informed by friends, still residing there, that he was +for several years the staff and support of his mother, of whom it might +be said, "her last days were her best days." After the death of his +mother, as he had no living tie to bind him to the spot, he removed to +another section of country, where he married and is now a useful and +respected member of society. "And now boys," said Mrs. Knights, "allow +me in conclusion to say to you all as one, as you value your own +well-being in time and eternity, be sure that you honour and obey your +parents, think of what the end of this young man might have been, and +shun his example. But I see that the hour for tea is near at hand; and +for a time I will leave you to amuse yourselves, while I assist in +preparing your tea; and if you have been interested in my story, I may +tell you another when you next pass a rainy afternoon at our house." We +all thanked the kind lady for the interesting story, and I for one very +much hoped that the next day we chanced to pass at Mrs. Knights' farm, +would prove to be rainy in the afternoon. + + + + +THE STUDENTS DREAM. + + +Arthur Wilton had been for several years a student; but he was one of +the plodding sort, who make but slow progress. The principal barrier to +his improvement arose from one defect in his character; and that was the +habit in which he constantly indulged, of deploring the past, without +making any very strong efforts toward amendment in the future. He was +one evening seated in his room; a ponderous volume lay open, on his +study-table; and for a time he vainly tried to fix his attention +thereon, till finally he closed the book; and leaning back in his chair, +his brows contracted, and the lines about his mouth grew tense, as if +his thoughts were anything but pleasing. As usual he was bemoaning his +misspent hours. + +"Ah," said he, speaking in soliloquy, "they are gone never more to +return. The careless happy days of childhood, the sunny period of youth, +and the aspiring dreams of mature manhood. I once indulged in many +ambitious dreams of fame, and these dreams have never been realised. +Many with whom I set out on equal ground have outstripped me in the +race of life, and here am I alone. Many who were once my inferiors have +nearly overtaken me, and doubtless they too will soon pass me by. What I +very much prize is a true friend, and yet no friend approaches with a +word of sympathy or encouragement; would that some would counsel me, as +to how I may better my condition." Thus far had Arthur Wilton proceeded +in his soliloquy, when his eyelids were weighed down by drowsiness, and +he soon sank into a deep slumber. In his dream an aged man, with a most +mild and venerable countenance stood before him, who, addressing him by +name, said; "Thy heart is full of sorrow; but if you will listen to, and +profit by my words, your sorrow shall be turned into joy. You have been +grieving over the hours which have been run to waste, without pausing to +reflect, that while you have been occupied with these unavailing +regrets, another hour has glided away past your recall forever; and will +be added to your already lengthened list of opportunities misimproved. +You grieve that your name is not placed on the lists of fame. Cease from +thy fruitless longings. Discharge faithfully your present duties, and if +you merit fame it will certainly be awarded you. You also complain that +no friend is near you. Have you ever truly sought a friend, by the +unwearied exercise of those affections, and in the performance of those +numberless offices of kindness by which alone friendship is secured and +perpetuated? + + 'All like the _purchase, few_ the _price_ will pay'; + +"And this makes friends such miracles below. + +"Hast thou hoped for the society of the wise and good? Then with +diligence and untiring zeal you should seek to fit yourself for such +companionship. Have your early companions got before you in the race of +life; and yet you remain at ease, dreaming over the past. Awake, young +man, ere yet your day is done; and address yourself to your work with +renewed energy, look forward to your future instead of brooding over the +past, and be assured you will acquire wisdom, friends and every other +needful blessing." With these words the aged man disappeared and the +student awoke. His fire had gone out and his lamp burned but dimly. He +rose, replenished his fire, trimmed his lamp, and resumed his studies +with ardour. This dream was not lost upon Arthur Wilton. Instead of now +wasting his time in regrets for the past, he looked forward with a stead +purpose of improvement, and from that period no harder student was to be +found in the college; and he finally graduated with high honours. In +after years he often related this dream to those of his acquaintances +whom he thought in danger of falling into the same habit to which he +himself had been so prone in his youthful days. + + + + +UNCLE EPHRAIM. + + +For years, when a child, I used daily to pass the dwelling of Uncle +Ephraim, on my way to and from school. He was not my uncle; indeed he +bore no relationship whatever to me, but Uncle Ephraim was the familiar +appellation by which he was known by all the school-boys in the +vicinity. He was among the oldest residents in that section, and +although a very eccentric person, was much respected by all his +neighbours. How plainly do I yet remember him, after the lapse of so +many years. His tall figure, shoulders that slightly stooped, his florid +complexion, clear blue eyes, and hair bleached by the frosts of time to +snowy whiteness. The farm on which he resided had improved under the +hand of industry, till since my earliest recollection, it was in a state +of high cultivation. His dwelling was an old-fashioned structure, placed +a little back from the main road, and almost hidden from view by thick +trees. In an open space, a little to one side, was the draw-well with +its long pole and sweep; and I have often thought that I have never +since tasted such water as we used to draw from that well, at we used +often to linger for a few moments in Uncle Ephraim's yard on our return +from school during the hot summer afternoons. He must have been fond of +children; for he was a great favourite among the boys, and he often gave +us permission to gather fruit from the trees in the garden, provided we +broke none of his prescribed rules. But the unlucky urchin who +transgressed against a command, forfeited his good opinion from +henceforth; and durst no more be seen upon his premises. I happened to +be among the fortunate number who retained his approbation and good-will +during all our acquaintance. + +It was from Uncle Ephraim I received the first money I could call my +own. In those days school-boys were not supplied very liberally with +pocket money, and when on one occasion I rendered him some slight +service, for which he bestowed upon me a piece of money, I felt myself +rich indeed, and the possession of as many hundreds now would fail to +afford me the same pleasure as did the few cents which made up the value +of the coin. + +Like all others, he had his failings and weak points; but he had also +many very estimable traits of character. Among his failings very strong +prejudices were most noticeable, and if for any reason he became +prejudiced against one, he could never after see any good whatever in +them. He also possessed rather an unforgiving temper when injured by any +one. But on the other hand he was a friend to the poor; and seldom sent +the beggar empty-handed from his door. He also gave largely to the +support of the gospel, as well as to benevolent institutions. One very +noticeable and oftentimes laughable peculiarity was his proneness to +charge every thing that went wrong to the state of the weather. I think +it was more from a habit of speech than from any wish to be +unreasonable. I remember one day passing a field when he was trying to +catch a horse that, to all appearance had no idea of being captured. He +tried various methods of coaxing him into the halter, and several times +nearly succeeded, but just when he thought himself sure of him, the +animal would gallop off in another direction. Out of all patience, he at +length exclaimed. "What does possess that critter to act so to-day?" +then glancing at the sky, which at the time happened to be overcast by +dull murky clouds, he said; "It must be the weather." I chanced one day +to be present when Uncle Ephraim was busily occupied in making some +arithmetical calculations regarding his farm-products. The result not +proving satisfactory he handed his slate to a friend for inspection, and +it was soon discovered that he had made a very considerable error in his +calculation. When the error was pointed out to him, he looked up with a +perplexed countenance, saying; "It is the weather: nothing else would +have caused me to make such a blunder." His son happened to marry +against his wishes, so much so, that he had the ceremony performed +without his father's knowledge, who afterwards, making a virtue of +necessity, wisely made the best of the matter. On learning that his son +was actually married without his knowledge the only remark he made was +this: "What could have induced Ben to cut up such a caper as to go and +get married without my leave; it must have been the weather, nothing +else," and as if he had settled the question to his own satisfaction he +was never heard to allude to the matter again. Years passed away, till +one day the tidings reached us that Uncle Ephraim was dangerously ill. +He grew rapidly worse, and it was soon evident that his days on earth +would soon be numbered. I have a very distinct recollection of stealing +quietly in, to look upon him as he lay on his dying bed; of the tears I +shed when I gazed upon his fearfully changed features. He was even then +past speaking or recognizing one from another; and before another sun +rose he had passed from among the living. I obtained permission to go in +once more and look upon him as he lay shrouded for the grave. I was then +a child of ten years, but even at that early age I had not that morbid +terror of looking upon death, so common among children. With my own +hands, I folded back the napkin which covered his face, and gazed upon +his aged, but now serene countenance. There was nothing in his +appearance to inspire terror, and for a moment I placed my hand on his +cold brow. He had ever been very kind to me, and I regarded him with +much affection, and the tears coursed freely down my cheeks when I +looked my last upon his familiar countenance now lifeless and sealed in +death. I have forgotten his exact age, but I know it exceeded seventy +years. It so happened that I did not attend his funeral; but he was +followed to the grave by a large number of friends and neighbours, many +of whom still live to cherish his memory. + + + + +[1]STORY OF A LOG CABIN. + + +It was a dreary day in autumn. Like the fate which attends us all, the +foliage had assumed the paleness of death; and the winds, cold and damp, +were sighing among the branches of the trees, and causing every other +feeling rather than that of comfort. Four others and myself had been out +hunting during the day, and we returned at nightfall tired and hungry to +our camp. The shades of night were fast gathering around us; but being +protected by our camp with a blazing fire in front, we soon succeeded in +cooking some of the game we had shot during the day; and as we ate, the +old hunters who were my companions grew garrulous, and in turn related +their numerous adventures. "You have lived in Dayton for some time," +said an old hunter, addressing one of his companions. "Have you ever +seen during your rambles the remains of a log cabin about two miles down +the Miami Canal? I recollect it well, but there is a mystery attached to +those ruins which no one living can solve. The oldest settlers found +that cabin there; and it _then_ appeared in such a dilapidated state as +to justify the belief that it had been built many years previous." "Do +you know anything about it?" I eagerly asked. "I know all about it," +replied the old hunter; "for I assisted in building it, and occupied it +for several years, during the trapping season. That cabin," he +continued, as a shade passed over his features, "has been the scene of +carnage and bloodshed. But why wake up old feelings--let them sleep, let +them sleep;" and the veteran drew his brawny hand over his eyes. All the +curiosity of my nature was roused; and the old men seated by his side +gazed upon him enquiringly, and put themselves in a listening attitude. +The speaker observing this, sat silent for a few moments, as if +collecting his thoughts; and then related the following tale: + +"There has come a mighty change over the face of this country since the +time when I first emigrated here. The spot where now stand your +prettiest towns and villages, was then a howling wilderness. Instead of +the tinkling of the cow-bells and the merry whistle of the farmer-boy as +he calls his herd to the fold, might be heard the wild cry of the +panther, the howl of the wolf; and the equally appalling yell of the +aborigines. These were "times to try men's souls;" and it was then the +heart of oak and the sinews of iron which commanded respect. Let me +describe to you some scenes in which such men were the actors; scenes +which called forth all the energy of man's nature; and in the depths of +this western wilderness, many hundreds of Alexanders and Caesars, who +have never been heard of. At the time I emigrated to Ohio the deadly +hatred of the red men toward the whites had reached its acme. The rifle, +the tomahawk and the scalping knife were daily at work; and men, women +and children daily fell victims to this sanguinary spirit. In this state +I found things when I reached the small village opposite the month of +Licking river, and now the great city of Cincinnati. Here in this great +temple of nature man has taken up his abode, and all that he could wish +responds to his touch. The fields and meadows yield their produce, and +unmolested by the red man whom he had usurped, he enjoys the bounties of +a beneficent Creator. And where is the red man? Where is he! Like wax +before the flame he has melted away from before the white man, leaving +him no legacy save that courageous daring which will live in song long +after their last remnant shall have passed away. At the time when I +first stepped upon these grounds the red man still grasped the sceptre +which has since been wrenched from his hand. They saw the throne of +their fathers beginning to totter. Their realm had attracted the +cupidity of a race of strangers, and with maddening despair, they +grasped their falling power; and daily grew more desperate as they +became more endangered. I among the rest had now a view of this +exuberant west, this great valley of the Hesperides; and I determined to +assist in extirpating the red man, and to usurp the land of his fathers. +Among the men who were at the village, I found one who for magnanimity +and undaunted courage merits a wreath which should hang high in the +temple of fame, and yet like hundreds of others, he has passed away +unhonored, unsung. His name was Ralph Watts, a sturdy Virginian, with a +heart surpassing all which has been said of Virginia's sons, in those +qualities, which ennoble the man; and possessing a courage indomitable, +and a frame calculated in every way to fulfil whatever his daring spirit +suggested. Such was Ralph Watts. I had only been in the town a few days, +when Ralph and I contracted an intimacy which ended only with his death. +I was passing the small inn of the town, when a tall man, with a hunting +shirt and leggins on stepped out and laying his hand on my shoulder +said: "Stranger, they say you have just come among us, and that you are +poor; come along. I have got just five dollars, no man shall ever say +that Ralph Watts passed a moneyless man, without sharing with him the +contents of his pocket--come along." Ralph and I soon became inseparable +friends. His joys as well as his sorrows were mine; in a word, we shared +each others sympathies; and this leads me to the scene of the log +cabin. We often hunted together, and while on our last expedition, took +an oath of friendship which should end only with death--and how soon was +it to end. We left the infant Cincinnati one summer morning at the +rising of the sun, and with our guns on our shoulders, and our pouches +well supplied with ammunition, we struck into the deep wilderness, +trusting to our own stout hearts, and woodscraft for our food and +safety. We journeyed merrily along, whiling away the hours in recounting +to each other those trivial incidents of our lives which might be +interesting, or in singing snatches of song and listening to its solemn +echo as it reverberated among the tall trees of the forest. Towards +evening we reached our first camping ground--a spot near where the town +of Sharon now stands. Here we pitched our tent, built our fire, cooked +our suppers, and prepared to pass away the evening as comfortably as two +hunters possibly could. All at once the deep stillness which reigned +around us was broken by a low cry similar to that of a panther. We both +ceased speaking and listened attentively, when the cry was repeated +still nearer, as if the arrival was rapidly advancing upon us; and thus +the cry was repeated, again and again, till its shrillness seemed not +more than a hundred yards distant, when the voice changed to that of a +yell, whose tones were so familiar to the ear of my companion as to +exert quite a visible effect upon his actions. We both sprang to our +feet and seizing our guns, stood ready to fire at a moment's warning, +"Halloo!" cried a deep voice, just outside our camp, but instead of +answering it we nerved ourselves for a desperate encounter, feeling +assured that several Indians were lurking outside our tent. "Halloo! +white brudder, come out," cried the same voice in broken English. We +consulted for a moment and finally decided to trust, for once, to Indian +faith. Ralph first stepped forth and demanded in no very amiable voice; +"what was wanting." "Come out white brudder," was the answer. After +assuring ourselves that there was but one person near we walked forward +and found a large Indian sitting by the fire, both hands spread before +the flame to protect his eyes from the light, that his keen gaze might +rest unmolested upon us. As soon as he saw us a writhing grin spread +over his painted features, and rising he offered us each his hand in a +very friendly manner. The Indian drew from his belt a large pipe, +gaudily painted, and from which depended a profusion of wampum, beads, +and eagles' feathers. He lighted the pipe, and after taking a whiff, +passed it to Ralph, who following his example passed it to me. After +taking a puff I handed it to the Indian, who replaced it in his belt. +This very important ceremony being finished, the Indian made known his +business. After bestowing a thousand anathemas upon his red brethren, he +informed us that he had left the red man forever, and was willing to +join his white brothers, and to wage an exterminating warfare against +his own kindred. We strove to extort from him the cause of this +ebullition of passion, but he only shook his head in reply to our +questions, and uttered a guttural "ough," We at first suspected him of +some treacherous plot; but there was such an air of candor and +earnestness in the communication he now made, that we threw aside all +suspicion and confided in him. He stated that there was a large party of +Indians in our rear, who had been tracking us for several hours; and +that it was their intention early in the morning to surround us, and +take us prisoners for victims at the stake, "but," said he, "if my white +brudder will follow his red brudder he will lead him safe." We instantly +signified our willingness to trust ourselves to his guidance, and +shouldering our blankets and guns, we left our camp, and followed our +guide due north at a rapid gait. For several miles we strode through the +thick woods, every moment scratching our faces and tearing our clothing, +with the thick tangled brush through which we had to pass, but +considering this of minor importance we hurried on in silence, save when +we intruded too near the nest of the nocturnal king of the forest, when +a wild hoot made us start and involuntarily grasp our rifles. "Sit on +this log and eat," said our red guide. Finding our appetites sharpened +by vigorous exercise, we sat on the log and commenced our repast, when +our guide suddenly sprang from his seat, and with a hideous yell bolted +into the forest and was soon lost to our sight. This conduct instantly +roused our fear; and with one accord we sprang to our feet. We gazed +around. Turn which way we would, the grim visage of a painted warrior +met our terrified gaze, with his tomahawk in one hand, and his rifle in +the other. "Perfidious villain," exclaimed Ralph, "and this is an +Indian's faith." An Indian of gigantic size, dressed in all the gaudy +trappings of a chief, now strode, towards us. Ralph raised his gun, and +closed his eye as the sight of the weapon sought the warrior's breast. +"Don't shoot, and you will be treated friendly," cried the savage in +good English. "So long as I live," said Ralph, "I'll never put faith +again in an Indian's word." The gun went off, and the savage, with an +unearthly cry, bounded high in the air, and fell upon his face a corpse. +A scream as if ten thousand furies had been suddenly turned loose upon +the earth, rang around us; and ere we could start ten steps on our +flight, we were seized by our savage foes, and like the light barque +when, borne on the surface of the angry waves, were we borne equally +endangered upon the shoulders of these maddened men. We were thrown upon +the earth, our hands and feet were bound till the cords were almost +hidden in the flesh; and then with the fury of madmen they commenced +beating us with clubs, when another chief, who appeared to be of higher +standing than the one who had just lost his life, rushed into the +crowd, hurling the excited warriors to the right and left in his +progress, and mounting upon a log he harangued them for a few moments +with a loud voice. They at once desisted, perhaps reconciled by the +prospect of soon seeing us burnt at the stake. We were carried to their +encampment, where we were still left bound, with two sentinels stationed +to guard us. In this painful state we remained all day, when towards +evening another company of warriors arrived, and then vigorous +preparations were made for burning us. A stake was planted in the +ground, and painted a variety of fantastic colors; the brush was piled +around it at a proper distance; and every other necessary arrangement +made; while we sat looking on, subject to the continual epithets of an +old squaw, whose most consoling remarks were: "How will white man like +to eat fire," and then she would break out into a screeching laugh, +which sounded perfectly hideous. A cold chill pervaded my frame as I +gazed upon these ominous signs of death; but how often is our misery but +the prelude of joy. At the moment that these horrid preparations were +finished, a bright flash of lightning shattered a tall hickory, nearby; +and then the earth was deluged with rain. The Indians sought the +shelter, but left us beneath the fury of the storm, where we remained +for several hours; but seeing that it increased rather than diminished, +they forced us into a small log hut and leaving a man to guard us, +bolted the door firmly and left us for the night. What were our +reflections when left alone? Your imagination must supply an answer. But +we did not entirely gave way to despondency. We were young and robust, +and our spirits were not easily subdued. Instead of becoming +disheartened our approaching fate emboldened us, and by looks, whose +expression made known our minds to each other, we resolved to effect our +escape or be slain in striving for it. Anything was preferable to the +fiery torture which awaited us. Our guard proved just the man we wanted, +for, having during the evening indulged rather freely in drinking +whiskey, he soon sank into a profound slumber. Long and anxiously had we +watched the man, and now our wishes were consummated. I contrived with +much exertion to draw my knife from my pocket, and commenced sawing at +the tough thong which confined my wrist. My heart beat high with joy, +and already we felt that we were free, when the guard sneezed, opened +his eyes, rolled them round the room, and discovered that he had been +asleep. I slipped the knife into my pocket without his notice, and he +discovered nothing to rouse his suspicions, although he regarded us +closely for a long time. He finally sat down, lit his pipe and commenced +smoking. After puffing away for half an hour, which seemed to drag by +with the tediousness of a week, he laid his tomahawk (which contains +the pipe) by his side, and after nodding for some time he again +stretched himself upon the rough floor, and soon his deep snoring fell +upon our ears. O! what music was that sound to us. I again drew the +knife from my pocket, and with desperation freed my hands, and in one +minute more Ralph stood like myself a free man. With the stealthy tread +of a cat we reached the door, softly slid back the bolt, and once more +we stood in the open air. The rain had ceased, the clouds had swept by, +and the full moon pale and high in the heavens threw her light upon the +tree tops, bathing them in liquid silver. Silently but rapidly we +bounded through the forest, our fears of pursuit urging us onward; and +by daylight were within twelve miles of the log cabin whose history I am +telling. At that time there dwelt in that cabin, with his family, a +trapper by the name of Daniel Roe. When we reached there we found Roe at +home, to whom we recounted our adventure. He only laughed at our fears +that the Indians might track us thus far, and we finally listened to his +laughing remarks and concluded to rest in his cabin for several days. We +heaped folly upon folly; for instead of putting the house in a state of +defence, and preserving as much silence as possible we commenced trying +our skill by shooting at a mark. We continued this exercise through the +afternoon, partook of a hearty supper, chatted till bed-time, and then +retired. Ralph soon fell sound asleep, but I could not; I felt a +presentiment of approaching danger; still there were no visible signs of +it, yet I could not shake off a peculiar nervousness which agitated me. +I lay still for some time listening to the deep and regular breathing of +Ralph, and ever and anon as an owl screamed I would start, despite the +familiarity of the cry. Just as I turned in my bed, and was trying to +compose myself for sleep, I heard a cry very similar to the hoot of an +owl; still there was something about the sound which did not sound +right. My heart commenced beating rapidly and a sweat started from my +brow. I rose softly and looked through the chinks of the logs, but there +was nothing to be seen. I listened attentively for at least an hour; but +heard no sound to confirm my fears; and finally ashamed of my own +nervousness, I could not call it _cowardice_, I slipped into bed, +determined to sleep if possible. But soon I heard that same sound on the +still air. I rose, dressed myself, but still I could see no form like +that of an Indian. Just as I was on the point of abandoning my fears as +idle and childish, I cast my eyes through an aperture between the logs; +and saw the dusky forms of several Indians moving about the yard. I +sprang to the bedside and awoke Ralph, and in a few moments more, Roe, +Ralph and myself, stood with ready guns, waiting for a chance to shoot. +A shot passing through one of the savages, told the rest they were +discovered; and now a regular firing began. The Indians simultaneously +uttered a fiendish shout, such as no person can imagine who has not +heard the Indian war-scream; and then brandishing their tomahawks rushed +upon the house and began hewing at the door. In a moment we were all +down stairs, and our fire became so fatal they were forced to retire +several times; but with desperate courage they returned to the attack. I +never experienced the feeling of utter despair but once in my life; and +that was then. Roe came running down stairs (whither he had gone for +more ammunition) and with a face white from terror, informed us that the +ammunition was expended. Here we were, surrounded by a host of savages, +fastened in a small house, with nothing to defend ourselves, and the +helpless women and children under the roof. "Let us open the door, and +decide the contest hand to hand," said Ralph Watts. 'O! my family, my +wife and children,' groaned Daniel Roe, 'let us defend the house to the +last.' And with nerves strung like iron, and hearts swelled to +desperation, we waited in silence for the savages to hew their way +through the door. The work was soon over, the savages uttered one +deafening yell as the door gave way; and clubbing our guns we wielded +them with giant energy. The dark forms of the savages crowded the +door-way, their eyes glared madly at us, and their painted features +working into a hundred malignant and fiendish expressions, which, +together with their horrid yells, and the more heart-rending cries of +women and children, all formed a scene of the most harrowing +description. The battle was soon over. By some mishap I was hurled head +foremost out of the door; but so intent were the savages upon the battle +within, that they did not once notice me, as they rushed forward to the +scene of action. Seeing that all was lost, and that to remain would only +be throwing away my life uselessly, I sprang to my feet and slipping +around the corner of the house I made my way over the old +fortification[2] and soon left the noise far behind me. Much has been +written and said of grief, but how little do we know of its poignant +nature, till we suffer the loss of some dear friend. 'Tis when we behold +an object of deep affection lying passive and dead--but a thing of clay +unconscious of the pain it gives, that we feel _that_ sorrow, which +language is too feeble to express. I found it so, when upon returning to +the cabin a few hours afterward, I found the dead bodies of all my +friends mutilated and weltering in their blood. Around the body of poor +Ralph lay six Indians, with their skulls beat in; his gun furnishing +evidence, by its mutilated state, of the force with which he had used +it. My story is soon finished. As the tears streamed from my eyes, I +dug a grave where I deposited the remains of my friends, and after +placing a large stone above their resting-place, I departed, wishing +never to return to the spot again, and I never have." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] I lately came across this sketch in an old Magazine, bearing the +date of 1842, and thinking others might be as much interested by it as I +was myself, I transcribed it in an abridged form to the pages of this +volume. + +[2] Near the spot where the cabin stands are the remains of immense +works, but by whom and when built will forever remain hidden. + + + + +HAZEL-BROOK FARM. + + +Robert Ainslie, with his family, emigrated from Scotland about the year +of 1843, and settled upon a new farm in the backwoods, in the township +of R. in Eastern Canada. I can say but little regarding his early life, +but have been informed that he was the eldest of quite a large family of +sons and daughters; and also that he was a dutiful son as well as a kind +and affectionate brother. It seems that he married quite early in life, +and at that period he tended a small farm adjoining the one occupied by +his father. The utmost harmony existed between the two families, and +they lived in the daily interchange of those little offices of love and +kindness which render friends so dear to each other. Several years +glided by in this happy manner, but reverses at length came; and Robert +formed the plan of emigrating to America. But when he saw how much his +parents were grieved by the thought of his seeking a home on the other +side of the Atlantic, he forbore to talk further of the matter, and +decided to remain at home for another year at least. That year however +proved a very unfortunate one; his crops were scanty; and toward the +spring he met with some severe losses, by a distemper which broke out +among his farm stock. As the season advanced, he became so disheartened +by his gloomy prospects, that he decided to carry out his former plan of +emigrating to Canada; where he hoped by persevering industry to secure a +comfortable home for himself, and those dear to him. He had little +difficulty in persuading his wife to accompany him, as her parents, with +her two brothers and one sister, had emigrated some two years previous. +It was more difficult however for him to persuade his father and mother +that his decision was a wise one. "If ye maun leave us," said his +mother, "can ye no seek anither hame nearer han' an' no gang awa across +the water to yon' wild place they ca' Canada?" "We maun try to be +reasonable, woman," said his father, "but I canna deny that the thought +o' our first born son gaun sae far awa gie's me a sair heart." It was +equally hard for the son to bid farewell to the land of his birth, and +of a thousand endearing ties; but prudence whispered that now was his +time to go, while he had youth and health, to meet the hardships that +often fall to the lot of the emigrant. When his parents saw how much his +mind was set upon it they ceased to oppose his wishes, and with his wife +and children, he soon joined the large numbers who, at that period, were +leaving the British, for the Canadian shores. + +As may be readily supposed, the parting between the two families was a +very sad one; but the last adieus were finally exchanged, and the poor +emigrants were borne away on the billows of the Atlantic. During the +first few days of their voyage they all, with the exception of their +youngest child, suffered much from sea-sickness. This child was a little +girl about three years old; and it seemed singular to them, that she +should escape the sickness, from which nearly all the passengers +suffered, more or less. They soon recovered; the weather was fine, and +many of their fellow passengers were very agreeable companions, and they +began really to enjoy the voyage. But this happy state of things was but +of short duration. Their little girl, wee Susie, as they called her, was +seized with illness. They felt but little anxiety at the first, thinking +it but as light indisposition from which she would soon recover; but +when day after day passed away with no visible change for the better +they became alarmed, and summoned the physician, who pronounced her +disease a kind of slow fever, which he said often attacked those who +escaped the sea-sickness. He told the anxious parents not to be alarmed, +as he hoped soon to succeed in checking the disease. But with all the +physician's skill, aided by the unceasing attention of her fond parents, +the sad truth that wee Susie was to die soon became evident. When the +sorrowing parents became sensible that their child must die, they +prayed earnestly that her life might be prolonged till they should +reach the land. But for some wise reason their prayer was not granted; +and when their voyage was but little more than half accomplished she +died, and they were forced to consign her loved form to a watery grave. +The lovely prattling child had been a general favourite with all on +board, and her sudden death cast a gloom over the minds of all. Words +would fail me to describe the grief of the parents and the two +affectionate little brothers when they realised that "wee Susie" was +indeed gone, and that they could never enjoy even the melancholy +satisfaction of beholding her resting-place. Mr. Ainslie's domestic +affections were very strong, and to him the blow was terrible. He now +deeply regretted removing his family from their Scottish home, +entertaining the idea, that had they not undertaken this journey their +child might have been spared; and he wrote bitter things against himself +for the step he had taken. Deep as was the mother's grief, she was +forced to place a restraint upon it that she might comfort her almost +heart broken husband. Upon one occasion, in reply to some of his self +upbraidings, she said, "I think, Robert, you're owre hard on yoursel' +now, when ye tak the blame o' puir Susie's death; ye surely canna think +itherwise than the dear bairn's time had come; an' had we bided at hame +it would ha' been a' the same; for we dinna leeve an' dee by chance, and +the bounds o' our lives are set by Him who kens a' things." These +consoling words from his sympathising wife tended to lighten, in some +measure, the burden of sorrow which oppressed his heart. The weather +during the latter part of their voyage was stormy and uncomfortable, and +they were truly glad when they at length reached the Canadian port. At +the city of Montreal they parted with all those who had been their +fellow passengers, as all except themselves were bound for the Upper +Province, while they intended joining their friends in Lower Canada. + +In the days of which I am speaking the emigrants' journey from the city +of Montreal to the townships was toilsome in the extreme; and the same +journey, which is now accomplished in a few hours by railway, was then +the work of several days; and the only mode of conveyance for themselves +and their luggage, were the horse-carts hired for the occasion. But +their fatiguing journey was at length terminated; and they arrived +safely at the bush settlement in R., where the friends of Mrs. Ainslie +resided. That now thriving and prosperous settlement was then in its +infancy, and possessed but few external attractions to the newcomer; for +at the period when Mrs. Ainslie's parents settled there it was an +unbroken wilderness. It is needless for me to add that the wayworn +travellers met with a joyous welcome from the friends who had been long +anxiously looking for their arrival. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were overjoyed +to meet again their daughter, from whom they had been so long separated +by the deep roll of the ocean; and almost their first enquiry was for +the "wee lassie," who when they left Scotland was less than a twelve +month old. Mr. Ainslie was unable to reply, and looked toward his wife +as if beseeching her to answer to their enquiry. She understood the mute +appeal, and composing herself by a strong effort said: "My dear father +an' mither, a great grief has o'erta'en us sin' we left hame', an' our +hearts are wellnigh broken; we buried wee Susie in the caul waters o' +the ocean." She endeavoured to relate to them the particulars of the +child's death; but her feelings overcame her, and for some moments they +could only weep together. When Mr. Miller was able to command his voice +he said, "God is good, my children, an' overrules a' things for our +good, let us bow before him in prayer;" and when they rose from their +knees, they felt calmed and comforted, by the soothing influence of +prayer. With the two boys, Geordie and Willie, fatigue soon got the +better of their joy at meeting with their friends, and they were soon +enjoying the sound sleep of healthful childhood; but with the elder +members of the family, so much was there to hear and to tell that the +hour was very late when they separated to seek repose. Mr. Ainslie +decided upon purchasing a lot of land, lying some two miles north of the +farm occupied by Mr. Miller. Although it was covered with a dense +forest, its location pleased him, and the soil was excellent, and he +looked forward to the time when he might there provide a pleasant home. +They arrived at R. on the first of July. There were beside Mr. Miller +but three other families in the settlement; but they were all very kind +to the newly arrived strangers, and they assisted Mr. Ainslie in various +ways while he effected a small clearing upon his newly purchased farm. +They also lent him a willing hand in the erection of a small log house, +to which he removed his family in the fall; Mrs. Ainslie and the +children having remained with her parents during the summer; and kind as +their friends had been, they were truly glad when they found themselves +again settled in a home of their own, however humble. They were people +of devoted piety, and they did not neglect to erect the family altar the +first night they rested beneath the lowly roof of their forest home. I +could not, were I desirous of so doing, give a detailed account of the +trials and hardships they endured during the first few years of their +residence in the bush; but they doubtless experienced their share of the +privations and discouragements which fall to the lot of the first +settlers of a new section of country. The first winter they passed in +their new home was one of unusual severity for even the rigorous climate +of Eastern Canada, and poor Mrs. Ainslie often during that winter +regretted the willingness with which she bade adieu to her early home, +to take up her abode in the dreary wilderness. They found the winter +season very trying indeed, living as they did two miles from any +neighbour; and the only road to the dwelling of a neighbour was a +foot-track through the blazed trees, and the road such as it was, was +too seldom trodden during the deep snows of winter, to render the +footmarks discernible for any length of time. Their stores had all to be +purchased at the nearest village, which was distant some seven miles, +and Mr. Ainslie often found it very difficult to make his way through +the deep snows which blocked up the roads, and to endure the biting +frost and piercing winds on his journeys to and from the village. In +after years when they had learned to feel a deep interest in the growth +of the settlement, they often looked back with a smile to the +"homesickness" which oppressed their hearts, while struggling with the +first hardships of life in the bush. Mr. Ainslie and his family, +notwithstanding their many privations, enjoyed uninterrupted health +through the winter, and before the arrival of spring they already felt a +growing interest in their new home. Mrs. Ainslie regarded the labours of +the workmen with much attention during the winter, while they felled the +trees which had covered nearly ten acres of their farm. As each tree +fell to the ground it opened a wider space in the forest and afforded a +broader view of the blue sky. A stream of water, which in many places +would have been termed a river, but which there only bore the name of +Hazel-Brook, flowed near their dwelling, and as the spring advanced, the +belt of forest which concealed it from view having been felled, she +gained a view of its sparkling waters when the warm showers and genial +rays of the sun loosened them from their icy fetters; and she often +afterward remarked that the view of those clear waters was the first +thing which tended to reconcile her to a home in the forest. With the +coming of spring their "life in the woods," began in earnest. When the +earth was relieved of its snowy mantle, the fallen trunks of the trees, +with piles of brush-wood were scattered in every direction about their +dwelling. But the fallow was burned as soon as it was considered +sufficiently dry, the blackened logs were piled in heaps, and the ground +was prepared for its first crop of grain. The green blades soon sprang +up and covered the ground, where a short time before was only to be seen +the unsightly fallow or the remains of the partially consumed logs. + +It was a long time before Mr. and Mrs. Ainslie became reconciled to the +change in their circumstances, when they exchanged the comforts and +conveniences of their home beyond the sea, for the log cabin in the +wilderness. Cut off as they were from the privileges of society to which +they had been accustomed from childhood, they felt keenly the want of a +place of worship, with each returning Sabbath; and next to this, the +want of a school for their two boys; for taken as a people the Scotch +are intelligent; and we rarely meet with a Scotchman, even among the +poorer classes, who has not obtained a tolerable education. And the +careful parents felt much anxiety when they beheld their children +debarred from the advantages of education; but to remedy the want as +much as lay in their power, they devoted the greater part of what little +leisure time they could command to the instruction of their boys. They +had been regular attendants at their own parish church in the old +country; and very sensibly they felt the want, as Sabbath after Sabbath, +passed away, with no service to mark it from other days. "It just +seems," said Mr. Ainslie, "that sin' we cam' to America we ha'e nae +Sabbath ava." In order to meet the want in some measure, he proposed to +the few neighbours which there formed the settlement, that they should +assemble at one house, on each Sabbath afternoon, and listen to the +reading of a sermon by some one present. "I think it our duty," said he, +"to show our respect to the Sabbath-day by assembling ourselves +together, and uniting in worship to the best, o' our ability. I ha'e +among my books a collection o' sermons by different divines, an' I am +verra willin' to tak' my turn in the readin' o' ane, an' I'm sure you +should a' be agreeable to do the same." His proposal met with the hearty +approval of all his neighbours, and for some years each Sabbath +afternoon saw most of the neighbours collected together for the best +mode of worship within their reach. The bush settlements at this period +were much infected by bears, and they often proved very destructive to +the crop of the early settler, and also a cause of no little fear. I +believe the instances have been rare when a bear has been known to +attack a person, although it has happened in some cases; but the +immigrant has so often listened to exaggerated accounts regarding the +wild animals of America, that those who settle in a new section of +country find it difficult to get rid of their fears. On one occasion +when the Sabbath meeting met at Mr. Ainslie's house, Mrs. Ainslie urged +her mother to remain and partake of some refreshment before setting out +on her walk homeward. "Na, na'" replied the old lady, "I maun e'en gang +while I ha'e company, I dinna expec' to leeve muckle longer at ony rate, +but wouldna' like to be eaten by the bears;" and for several years the +one who ventured alone to the house of a neighbour after dark was looked +upon as possessing more courage than prudence. But although the settlers +often came across these animals, on the bush-road, I never heard of one +being attacked by them. An old man upon one occasion returning in the +evening from the house of a friends, and carrying in his hand a +torchlight composed of bark from the cedar tree, suddenly met a large +bear in the thick woods. Being asked if he was not frightened, he +replied, "Deed I think the bear was 'maist frightened o' the twa', for +he just stood up on his twa hind legs, and glowered at me for a wee +while till I waved the torch light toward him, when he gi' an awfu' +snort, and ran into the woods as fast's ever he was able, an' I cam awa' +hame no a bit the war, an' I think I'll never be sae' muckle feared +about bears again." But these early settlers certainly found these +animals very troublesome from their frequent depredations upon their +fields of grain, and they often spent a large portion of the night +watching for them, prepared to give them battle, but it was not often +they saw one on these occasions, for these animals are very cunning, and +seem at once to know when they are watched. It sometimes also happened +that during the early period of this settlement people lost their way in +the bush while going from one house to another. A woman once set out to +go to the house of a neighbour who lived about a mile distant. Supposing +herself on the right path she walked onward, till thinking the way +rather long she stopped and gazed earnestly around her, and became +terrified as she noticed that the trees and rocks, and every other +surrounding object had a strange unfamiliar look; and she knew at once +that she had taken a wrong path. + +Becoming much alarmed she endeavoured to retrace her steps, but after +walking a long time would often return to the spot from which she set +out. She left home about ten o'clock in the forenoon, and her friends, +alarmed at her long stay, called together some of their neighbours and +set out to look for her, knowing that she must have lost her way in the +forest. They continued their search through the afternoon, sounding +horns, hallooing, and calling her name, as they hurried through the +tangled underbrush, and other obstructions, and at sunset they returned +to procure torches with which to continue their search through the +night; her friends were almost beside themselves with terror, and all +the stories they had heard or read of people being devoured by wild +animals rushed across their minds. But just when they had collected +nearly every settler in the vicinity, and were preparing their torches +to continue the search, the woman arrived safely at home, with no +further injury than being thoroughly frightened, and very much fatigued. +She stated that she had walked constantly, from the time when she became +aware she was lost, and that she was so much bewildered that she at the +first did not know their own clearing, till some familiar object +attracted her attention. As the neighbours were going to their homes, +after the woman's return, they were, naturally enough, talking of the +matter, regarding it as a cause of deep thankfulness that no harm had +befallen her. Mr. G., one of the number, although a very kind hearted +man, had an odd dry manner of speaking which often provoked a laugh. It +so happened that the woman who was lost was very small, her stature +being much below the medium height. Laughter was far enough from the +mind of any one, till old Mr. G., who had not before made a remark, +suddenly said, "sic a wee body as you should never attemp' to gang awa' +her lane through the bush without a bell hanged aboot her neck to let +people ken where to find her in case she should gang off the richt +road." This was too much for the gravity of any one; and the stillness +of the summer night was broken by a burst of hearty laughter from the +whole company; and the old man made the matter little better, when the +laugh had subsided, by saying in a very grave manner, "well, after a' I +think it would be a verra wise-like precaution wi' sic a wee bit body as +her." Time passed on; other settlers located themselves in the vicinity, +and the settlement soon began to wear a prosperous appearance. As soon +as circumstances allowed, a school-house was erected, which, if rude to +structure, answered the purpose very well. For some time the school was +only kept open during the summer and autumn, as the long distance and +deep snows forbade the attendance of young children during the winter +season. They had as yet no public worship, except the Sabbath meetings +before mentioned, which were now held in the schoolhouse for the +greater convenience of the settlers. Mr. Ainslie was a man of much +industry; and although his home was for some years two miles from any +neighbour, it soon wore a pleasing appearance. The most pleasing feature +in the scene was the beautiful stream of water which ran near his +dwelling, and after which he named his farm. In five years from the time +when he first settled in the bush, he exchanged his rude log house for a +comfortable and convenient framed dwelling, with a well-kept garden in +front, and near his house were left standing some fine shade-trees which +added much to the beauty of the place. In process of time, the excellent +quality of the soil in that range of lots attracted others to locate +themselves in the vicinity; and Hazel-Brook farm soon formed the centre +of a fast growing neighbourhood. Two sons and another daughter had been +added to Mr. Ainslie's family during this time; and the birth of the +little girl was an occasion of much joy to all the family. They had +never forgotten "wee Susie," and all the love which they bore to her +memory was lavished upon this second daughter in the family. The elder +brothers were anxious to bestow the name of their lost favourite, upon +their infant sister, but the parents objected, having rather a dislike +to the practice, so common, of bestowing upon a child a name that had +belonged to the dead; and so the little girl was named Jennette, after +her grandmother, Mrs. Miller. About this time old Mr. Miller died. He +was an old man, "full of days," having seen nearly eighty years of life. +He had ever been a man of strong constitution and robust health, and his +last illness was very short; and from the first he was confident that he +should never recover. When he first addressed his family upon the +subject they were overwhelmed with grief. "Dinna greet for me," said he +in a calm and hopeful voice, "I ha'e already leeved ayont the period +allotted to the life o' man; I ha'e striven in my ain imperfect way to +do my duty in this life, an' I am thankfu' that I am able to say that I +dinna fear death; and I feel that when I dee I shall gang hame to the +house o' a mercifu' Father." So peaceful was his departure, that +although surrounded by his mourning friends, they were unable to tell +the exact moment of his death, like a wearied child that sleeps, he +quietly passed away. They had no burial ground in the settlement, and he +was laid to rest several miles from his home. His family, with the +exception of one son, had all married and removed to homes of their own +some time previous to his death; and to this son was assigned the happy +task of watching over the declining years of his widowed mother. Mr. +Miller, as a dying injunction, charged this son never to neglect his +mother in her old age, and most sacredly did he observe the dying wishes +of his father. Mrs. Miller was also of advanced age. For three years +longer she lingered, and was then laid to rest beside her departed +husband. + +Twenty years have passed away since we introduced Robert Ainsley with +his family to the reader. Let us pay a parting visit to Hazel-Brook farm +and note the changes which these twenty years have effected. The forest +has melted away before the hand of steady industry, and we pass by +cultivated fields on our way to the farm of Mr. Ainslie. The clearings +have extended till very few trees obstruct our view as we gaze over the +farms of the numerous settlers, which are now separated by fences +instead of forest trees. But the loveliest spot of all is Hazel-Brook +farm. The farm-house of Robert Ainslie, enlarged and remodelled +according to his increased means, is painted a pure white, and very +pleasant it looks to the eye, through the branches of the shade-trees +which nearly surround it. The clear waters of Hazel-Brook are as bright +and sparkling as ever. The banks near the dwelling are still fringed +with trees and various kinds of shrubs; but farther up the stream all +obstructions have been cleared away, and the sound of a saw-mill falls +upon the ear. Let us enter the dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Ainslie, although +now no longer young, evince by their cheerful countenance that they yet +retain both mental and bodily vigor. As yet their children all remain at +home, as the boys find ample employment upon the farm, and at the mill; +while Jennette assists her mother in the labours of the household. For +many years the setting sun has rested upon the gleaming spire of the +neat and substantial church erected by the settlers; and now upon the +Sabbath day, instead of listening to a sermon read by a neighbour, they +listen to the regular preaching of the gospel, and each one according to +his means contributes to the support of their minister. It was Mr. +Ainslie who first incited the settlers to exert themselves in the +erection of a suitable place for worship. Some of his neighbours at the +first were not inclined to favour the idea, thinking the neighbourhood +too poor for the undertaking. But he did not suffer himself to become +discouraged, and after considerable delay the frame of the building was +erected. When the building was once begun, they all seemed to work with +a will, and to the utmost of their ability. Those who were unable to +give money brought contributions of lumber, boards, shingles, &c., +besides giving their own labour freely to the work; and in a short time +the work had so far advanced that they were able to occupy the building +as a place of worship, although in an unfinished state. But the +contributions were continued year after year, till at length they were +privileged to worship in a church which they could call their own. Mr. +Ainslie was a man of talents and education, superior to most of the +early settlers in that section, and it was his counsel, administered in +a spirit of friendship and brotherly kindness, which worked many +improvements and effected many changes for the better as the years +rolled by. As we turn away with a parting glance at the pleasing scene, +we cannot help mentally saying,--surely the residents in this vicinity +owe much to Robert Ainslie for the interest he has ever taken in the +prosperity and improvements of the place, and long may both he and they +live to enjoy the fruit of their united labours. + + + + +OLD RUFUS. + + +The memory of Old Rufus is so closely connected with the days of my +childhood that I cannot refrain from indulging in a few recollections of +him. The name of Old Rufus was not applied to him from any want of +respect; but it was owing to his advanced age, and long residence in our +vicinity, that he received this appellation. His name was Rufus Dudley. +I remember him as an old man when I was a very young child; and his +residence in the neighbourhood dated back to a period many years +previous to the time of which I speak. He was born in the state of New +York, where he resided during the early portion of his life, and where +he married. His wife died before his removal to Canada. When he first +came to the Province he located himself in a town a few miles from the +Village of C., where he married a second time. When first he removed to +R, he was for some years employed in a saw-mill and earned a comfortable +support for his family. My knowledge of his early residence in R. is +indefinite, as he had lived there for many years previous to my +recollection, and all I know concerning the matter is what I have heard +spoken of at different times by my parents and other old residents of +the place. It would seem however that his second marriage was, for him, +very unfortunate, for to use his own words, "he never afterward had any +peace of his life." I have been informed that his wife was possessed of +a pleasing person and manners, but added to this she also possessed a +most dreadful temper; which when roused sometimes rendered her insane +for the time being; and finally some trouble arose between them which +ended in a separation for life. They had two grown-up daughters at the +time of their separation, who accompanied their mother to a town at +considerable distance from their former home. In a short time the +daughters married and removed to homes of their own. Their mother +removed to one of the Eastern States. She survived her husband for +several years, but she is now also dead. Soon after he became separated +from his family Old Rufus gave up the saw-mill and removed to a small +log house, upon a piece of land to which he possessed some kind of +claim, and from that time till his death, lived entirely alone. He +managed to cultivate a small portion of the land, which supplied him +with provisions, and he at times followed the trade of a cooper, to eke +out his slender means. His family troubles had broken his spirits, and +destroyed his ambition, and for years he lived a lonely dispirited man. +He was possessed of sound common sense and had also received a tolerable +education, to which was added a large stock of what might be properly +termed general information; and I have often since wondered how he could +have reconciled himself to the seemingly aimless and useless life which +he led for so many years. But in our intercourse with men, we often meet +with characters who are a sore puzzle to us; and old Rufus was one of +those. When quite young I have often laughed at a circumstance I have +heard related regarding the violent temper of his wife; but indeed it +was no laughing matter. It seems that in some instances she gave vent to +her anger by something more weighty than words. Old Rufus one day +entered the house of a neighbor with marks of blows on his face, and was +asked the cause. He never spoke of his wife's faults if he could avoid +it; but on this occasion he sat for a moment as though considering what +reply to make, and finally said: "O! there is not much the matter with +my face any way, only Polly and I had a little brush this morning." I +know not how serious the matter was, but Old Rufus certainly came off +second in the encounter. This aged man is so deeply connected with the +early scenes of my home life that I yet cherish a tender regard for his +memory; although the flowers of many summers have scattered their +blossoms, and the snows of many winters have descended upon his grave. +He was on familiar terms with almost every family in the neighbourhood, +and every one made him welcome to a place at their table, or a night's +lodging as the case might be; and I well remember the attention with +which I used to listen to his conversation during the long winter +evenings, when, as was often the case, he passed a night in our +dwelling. I recollect one time when the sight of Old Rufus was very +welcome to me. When about nine years of age, I accompanied my brothers +to the Sugar bush one afternoon in spring; and during a long continued +run of the sap from the maple trees it was often necessary to keep the +sugar kettles boiling through the night to prevent waste. On the +afternoon in question, my brothers intended remaining over night in the +bush, and I obtained permission to stay with them, thinking it would be +something funny to sleep in a shanty in the woods. The sugar-bush was +about two miles from our dwelling, and I was much elated by the prospect +of being allowed to assist in the labors of sugar-making. My brothers +laughingly remarked that I would probably have enough of the woods, and +be willing to return home when night came, but I thought otherwise. +During the afternoon I assisted in tending the huge fires, and the +singing of the birds, and the chippering of the squirrels as they hopped +in the branches of the tall trees, delighted me, and the hours passed +swiftly by, till the sun went down behind the trees and the shades of +evening began to gather about us. As the darkness increased, I began to +think the sugar-bush not the most desirable place in the world, in which +to pass the night, and all the stories I had ever heard of bears, +wolves, and other wild animals rushed across my mind, and filled me with +terror. I would have given the world, had it been at my disposal, to +have been safely at home; and it was only the dread of being laughed at, +which prevented me from begging my brothers to take me there. And when +darkness had entirely settled over the earth, and the night-owls set up +their discordant screams, my fears reached a climax. I had never before +listened to their hideous noise, and had not the slightest idea of what +it was. I had often heard old hunters speak of a wild animal, called the +catamount, which they allowed had been seen in the Canadian forests +during the early settlement of the country. I had heard this animal +described as being of large size, and possessing such strength and +agility, as enabled then to spring from the boughs of one tree to those +of another without touching the ground, and at such times their savage +cries were such as to fill the heart of the boldest hunter with terror. +I shall never forget the laugh which my grown-up brothers enjoyed at my +expense, when trembling with terror, I enquired if they thought a +catamount was not approaching among the tree-tops. "Do not be alarmed," +said they, "for the noises which frighten you so much proceeds from +nothing more formidable than owls." Their answer, however, did not +satisfy me, and I kept a sharp look-out among the branches of the +surrounding trees lest the dreaded monster should descend upon as +unawares. Old Rufus was boiling sap, half a mile from us, and it was a +joyful moment to me, when he suddenly approached us out of the darkness, +saying, "Well, boys, don't you want company? I have got my sap all +boiled in, and as I felt kinder lonesome, I thought I would come across, +and sleep by your shanty fire." The old man enquired why I seemed so +much terrified, and my brothers told him that I would persist in calling +a screech-owl, a catamount. Old Rufus did not often laugh, but he +laughed heartily on this occasion, and truly it was no wonder, and when +he corroborated what my brothers had already told me, I decided that +what he said must be true. His presence at once gave me a feeling of +protection and security, and creeping close to his side on the cedar +boughs which formed our bed, while the immense fire blazed in front of +our tent, I soon forgot my childish fears, in a sound sleep which +remained unbroken till the morning sun was shining brightly above the +trees. But it was long before I heard the last of the night I spent in +the bush; and as often as my brothers wished to tease me, they would +enquire if I had lately heard the cries of a catamount? Time passed on +till I grew up, and leaving the paternal home went forth, to make my own +way in the world. Old Rufus still resided in R. When a child I used to +fancy that he would never seem older than he had appeared since my +earliest recollection of him; but about the time I left home there was a +very observable change in his appearance. I noticed that his walk was +slow and feeble, and his form was bending beneath the weight of years, +and his hair was becoming white by the frosts of time. I occasionally +visited my parents, and during these visits I frequently met with my old +friend; and it was evident that he was fast failing, and was fast losing +his hold of life. He still resided alone, much against the wishes of his +neighbours, but his old habits still clung to him. I removed to a longer +distance and visited my early home less frequently. Returning to R., +after a longer absence than usual, I learned that the health of Old +Rufus had so much failed, that the neighbours, deeming it unsafe for him +to remain longer alone, at length persuaded him to remove to the house +of a neighbour, where each one contributed toward his support. His mind +had become weak as well as his body; indeed he had become almost a child +again, and it was but a short time that he required the kind attentions +which all his old neighbours bestowed upon him. I remained at home for +several weeks, and ere I left, I followed the remains of Old Rufus to +the grave. I have stood by many a grave of both kindred and stranger; +never before or since have I seen one laid in the grave without the +presence of some relative; but no one stood by his grave who bore to him +the least relationship. It was on a mild Sabbath afternoon in midsummer +that we laid him to rest in the burial ground of R.; and if none of his +kindred stood by to shed the tear of natural affection, there was many a +cheek wet with the tear of sensibility when the coffin was lowered to +its silent abode. I am unable to state his exact age, but I am certain +that it considerably exceeded eighty years; and from what I can +recollect of his life, I have a strong hope, that death opened to him a +blessed immortality beyond the grave. + + + + +THE DIAMOND RING. + + +"And has it indeed come to this," said Mrs. Harris, addressing her +daughter Ellen, "must I part with my mother's last gift to obtain +bread?" Mrs. Harris, as she spoke, held in her hand a costly diamond +ring, and the tears gathered in her eyes, as the rays of light falling +upon the brilliants caused them to glow like liquid fire. This costly +ornament would have struck the beholder as strangely out of place in the +possession of this poor widow, in that scantily furnished room; but a +few words regarding the past history of Mrs. Harris and her daughter +will explain their present circumstances. Mrs. Harris was born and +educated in England, and when quite young was employed as governess in a +gentleman's family. Circumstances at length caused the family with whom +she resided to cross the Atlantic and take up their abode in the ancient +city of Quebec. The young governess had no remaining ties to bind her to +England. Her parents had been dead for many years; she had no sisters, +and her only brother, soon after the death of their parents, went to +seek his fortune in the gold regions of California. Some years had +passed since she heard any tidings from him, and she feared he was no +longer among the living, and when the family with whom she had so long +resided left England for America, they persuaded her to accompany them. +In process of time she was married to a wealthy merchant, and removed to +Western Canada. Their union was a very happy one, and for some years, +they lived in the enjoyment of worldly prosperity and happiness. But it +often happens that sad and unlooked-for reverses succeed a season of +long continued prosperity; and it was so in this case. I am not aware +that Mr. Harris's failure in business was brought about through any +imprudence on his part; but was owing to severe and unexpected losses. +He had entered into various speculations, which bid fair to prove +profitable, but which proved a complete failure, and one stroke of ill +fortune followed another in rapid succession, till the day of utter ruin +came. He gave up every thing; even his house and furniture was +sacrificed to meet the clamorous demands of his hard-hearted creditors; +and his family was thus suddenly reduced from a state of ease and +affluence to absolute poverty. Mr. Harris possessed a very proud spirit, +and his nature was sensitive, and he could not endure the humiliation of +remaining where they had formerly been so happy. He knew the world +sufficiently well to be aware that they would now meet with coldness and +neglect even from those who had formerly been proud of their notice, +and shrank from the trial, and with the small amount he had been able to +secure out of the general wreck, he removed to the city of Toronto, some +three hundred miles from their former home. They had but little money +remaining when they reached the city, and Mr. Harris felt the necessity +of at once seeking some employment, for a stranger destitute of money in +a large city is in no enviable position. For some time he was +unsuccessful in every application he made for employment, and he was +glad at length to accept the situation of copyist in a Lawyer's Office, +till something better might offer. His salary barely sufficed for their +support, yet they were thankful even for that. His constitution had +never been robust, and the anxiety of mind under which he labored told +severely upon his health. He exerted himself to the utmost, but his +health failed rapidly; he was soon obliged to give up work, and in a +little more than a year from the time of their removal to Toronto, he +died, leaving his wife and daughter friendless and destitute. Their +situation was extremely sad, when thus left alone; they had made no +acquaintances during the year they had resided in the city, and had no +friend to whom they could apply for aid; after paying her husband's +funeral expenses, Mrs. Harris found herself well-nigh destitute of +money, and she felt the urgent necessity of exerting herself to obtain +employment by which they at least might earn a subsistence. The widow +and her daughter found much difficulty at first in obtaining employment. +Some to whom they applied had no work; others did not give out work to +strangers; and for several days Mrs. Harris returned weary and +desponding to her home, after spending a large portion of the day in the +disagreable task of seeking employment from strangers; but after a time +she succeeded in obtaining employment, and as their work proved +satisfactory they had soon an ample supply; but just when their +prospects were beginning to brighten Mrs. Harris was visited by a severe +illness. They had been able to lay by a small sum previous to her +illness, and it was well they had done so, for during her sickness she +required almost the constant attention of her daughter, which deprived +them of any means of support; but after several weeks of severe illness +she began slowly to recover, and this brings us to the time where our +story opens. The ring which Mrs. Harris held in her hand, had been for +many, many years an heir-loom in the English family to which she +belonged. To her it was the dying gift of her mother, and the thoughts +of parting with it cost her a bitter pang. But she had no friends to +whom she might apply for aid; and to a refined and sensitive nature, +almost anything else is preferable to seeking charity from strangers. +The ring was the only article of value which she retained, and sore as +was the trial, she saw no other way of meeting their present wants, +than by disposing of this her only relic of former affluence and +happiness; and she trusted, that by the time the money which the sale of +the ring would bring should be expended, they would be again able to +resume their employment. With a heavy heart Ellen Harris set out to +dispose of this cherished memento. She remembered an extensive jewelry +shop, which she had often passed, as she carried home parcels of work, +and thither she made her way. The shop-keeper was an elderly man with +daughters of his own, and he had so often noticed this pale sad-looking +young girl as she passed his window, that he recognized her countenance +the moment she entered the shop; and when in a low timid voice she +enquired if he would purchase the ring, he was satisfied that he was +correct in his former conjecture, that she belonged to a family of +former wealth and respectability. But young as she was there was a +certain reserve and dignity in her manner, which forbade any questions +on his part. The man had for many years carried on a lucrative business +in his line, and he was now wealthy; and knowing that he could afford to +wait till the ring should find a purchaser he had no fears of losing +money on so valuable an article; and, as is not often the case in such +transactions, he paid her a fair price for the ring, although less than +its real value. Ellen returned, much elated by her success; the money +she had received for the ring seemed to them in their present +circumstances a small fortune. "Little did once I think" said the widow, +as she carefully counted the bank-notes, "that a few paltry pounds would +ever seem of so much value to me; but perhaps it is well that we should +sometimes experience the want of money, that we may learn how to make a +proper use of it, and be more helpful to those less favoured than +ourselves." The money they obtained more than sufficed for their +support, till Mrs. Harris so far recovered, as to allow them again to +resume their employment. They now had no difficulty in obtaining work, +and although obliged to toil early and late, they became cheerful and +contented; although they could not but feel the change in their +circumstances, and often contrast the happy past, with their present lot +of labor and toil. + +The shopkeeper burnished up the setting of the diamonds and placed the +ring among many others in the show-case upon his counter. But so +expensive an ornament as this does not always find a ready purchaser, +and for some months it remained unsold. One afternoon a gentleman +entered the shop to make some trifling purchase, and, as the shopkeeper +happened to be engaged with a customer, he remained standing at the +counter, till he should be at leisure, and his eye wandered carelessly +over the articles in the show-case. Suddenly he started, changed +countenance, and when the shopkeeper came forward to attend to him he +said in a voice of suppressed eagerness, "will you allow me to examine +that ring," pointing as he spoke to the diamond ring sold by Ellen +Harris. "Certainly Sir, certainly," said the obliging shop-keeper, who, +hoping that the ring had at last found a purchaser, immediately placed +it in his hand for inspection. The gentleman turned the ring in his +hand, and carefully examined the sparking diamonds as well as the +antique setting: and when he observed the initials, engraved upon the +inside, he grew pale as marble, and hurriedly addressed the astonished +shopkeeper saying, "In the name of pity, tell me where you obtained this +ring?" "I am very willing to inform you," said the man "how this ring +came into my possession. Several months ago a young girl, of very +delicate and lady-like appearance, brought this ring here and desired me +to purchase it. She seemed very anxious to dispose of the ornament, and, +thinking I could easily sell it again, I paid her a fair price and took +the ring, and that is all I can tell you about the matter." "You do not +know the lady's name?" said the gentleman anxiously. "I do not," replied +the man, "but I have frequently seen her pass in the street. The +circumstance of her selling me this valuable ring caused me to notice +her particularly, and I recognised her countenance ever after." "Name +your price for the ring," said the gentleman,--"I must purchase it at any +price; and the next thing, I must, if possible, find the lady who +brought it here, I have seen this ring before, and that is all I wish +to say of the matter at present; but is there no way in which you can +assist me in obtaining an interview with this young lady?" "I have no +knowledge of her name or residence; but if you were in my shop when she +chanced to pass here I could easily point her out to you in the street." +"You may think my conduct somewhat strange," said the gentleman, "but +believe me my reasons for seeking an interview with this young lady are +most important, and if you can point her out to me in the street I will +endeavour to learn her residence, as that will be something gained." +Before the gentleman left the shop he paid for the ring, and placed it +in his pocket. For several days, he frequented the shop of the jeweller +with the hope of gaining a view of the lady. At length one morning the +shop-keeper suddenly directed his attention to a lady passing in the +street, saying, "there, Sir, is the young lady from whom I purchased the +ring." He waited to hear no more, but, stepping hastily into the street, +followed the lady at a respectful distance; but never losing sight of +her for a moment till she entered her home two streets distant from the +shop of the jeweller. He approached the door and rang the bell; The door +was opened by the same young lady, whose manner exhibited not a little +embarrassment, when she beheld a total stranger; and he began to feel +himself in an awkward position. He was at a loss how to address her +till, recollecting that he must explain his visit in some way, he said: +"Pardon the intrusion of a stranger; but, by your permission, I would +like to enter the house, and have a word of conversation with you." The +young girl regarded the man earnestly for a moment; but his manner was +so gentlemanly and deferential that she could do no less than invite him +to enter the little sitting-room where her mother was at work, and ask +him to be seated. He bowed to Mrs. Harris on entering the room, then +seating himself he addressed the young lady saying. "The peculiar +circumstances in which I am placed must serve as my apology for asking +you a question which you may consider impertinent. Are you the young +lady who, some months since, sold a diamond ring to a jeweller on +Grafton street?" Mrs. Harris raised her eyes to the stranger's face; and +the proud English blood which flowed in her veins mantled her cheek as +she replied, "Before I permit my daughter to answer the questions of a +stranger, you will be so kind as explain your right to question." The +stranger sprang from his seat at the sound of her voice, and exclaimed +in a voice tremulous from emotion, "don't you know me Elisa, I am your +long lost brother George." The reader will, doubtless, be better able to +imagine the scene which followed than I am to describe it. Everything +was soon explained, many letters had been sent which never reached their +destination; he knew not that his sister had left England, and after +writing again and again and receiving no reply, he ceased altogether +from writing. During the first years of his sojourn in California, he +was unfortunate, and was several times brought to the brink of the grave +by sickness. After a time fortune smiled upon his efforts, till he at +length grew immensely rich, and finally left the burning skies of +California to return to England. He landed at New York and intended, +after visiting the Canadas, to sail for England. The brother and sister +had parted in their early youth, and it is no wonder that they failed to +recognise each other when each had passed middle age. The brother was +most changed of the two. His complexion had grown very dark, and he had +such a foreign look that, when convinced of the fact, Mrs. Harris could +hardly believe him to be one and the same with the stripling brother +from whom she parted in England so many years ago. He was, of course, +not aware of his sister's marriage, and he listened with sorrow to the +story of her bereavement and other misfortune. "You must now place a +double value upon our family ring," said he, as he replaced the lost +treasure upon his sister's hand; "for it is this diamond ring which has +restored to each other the brother and sister which otherwise might +never have met again on earth. And now both you and your daughter most +prepare for a voyage to dear old England. You need have no anxiety for +the future; I have enough for us all and you shall want no more." Before +leaving the City, accompanied by her brother, Mrs. Harris visited the +grave of her husband; and the generous brother attended to the erection +of a suitable tomb-stone, as the widow had before been unable to meet +the expenses of it. Passing through the Upper Province they reached +Montreal, whence they sailed for England. After a prosperous voyage they +found themselves amid the familiar scenes of their childhood, where they +still live in the enjoyment of as much happiness as usually falls to the +lot of mortals. + + + + +THE UNFORTUNATE MAN. + + +On a sultry afternoon in midsummer I was walking on a lonely, +unfrequented road in the Township of S. My mind was busily occupied, and +I paid little attention to surrounding objects till a hollow, unnatural +voice addressed me saying: "Look up my friend, and behold the +unfortunate man." I raised my eyes suddenly, and, verily, the appearance +of the being before me justified his self-bestowed appellation--the +unfortunate man. I will do my best to describe him, although I am +satisfied that my description will fall far short of the reality. He was +uncommonly tall, and one thing which added much to the oddity of his +appearance was the inequality of length in his legs, one being shorter +by several inches than the other, and, to make up for the deficiency, he +wore on the short leg a boot with a very high heel. He seemed to be past +middle age, his complexion was sallow and unhealthy, he was squint-eyed, +and his hair, which had once been of a reddish hue, was then a grizzly +gray. Taken all together he was a strange looking object, and I soon +perceived that his mind wandered. At first I felt inclined to hurry +onward as quickly as possible, but, as he seemed harmless and inclined +to talk to me, I lingered for a few moments to listen to him. "I do not +wonder," said he, "that you look upon me with pity, for it is a sad +thing for one to be crazy." Surprised to find him so sensible of his own +situation, I said: As you seem so well aware that you are crazy, perhaps +you can inform me what caused you to become so. "Oh yes," replied he, "I +can soon tell you that: first my father died, then my mother, and soon +after my only sister hung herself to the limb of a tree with a skein of +worsted yarn; and last, and worst of all, my wife, Dorcas Jane, drowned +herself in Otter Creek." Wondering if there was any truth in this +horrible story, or if it was only the creation of his own diseased mind, +I said, merely to see what he would say next, "What caused your wife to +drown herself; was she crazy too?" "Oh, no," replied he, "she was not +crazy, but she was worse than that; for she was jealous of me, although +I am sure she had no cause." The idea of any one being jealous of the +being before me was so ridiculous that it was with the utmost difficulty +that I refrained from laughter; but, fearing to offend the crazy man, I +maintained my gravity by a strong effort. When he had finished the story +of his misfortunes, he came close to me and said, in slow measured +tones: "And now do you think it any wonder that I went raving distracted +crazy?" "Indeed I do not," said I; "many a one has gone crazy for less +cause." Thinking he might be hungry, I told him I would direct him to a +farm-house, where he would be sure to obtain his supper. "No," replied +he, "this is not one of my hungry days; I find so many who will give me +nothing to eat that when I get the offer of a meal I always eat whether +I am hungry or not, and I have been in luck to-day, for I have eaten +five meals since morning; and now I must lose no more time, for I have +important business with the Governor of Canada and must reach Quebec +to-morrow." I regarded the poor crazy being with a feeling of pity, as +he walked wearily onward, and even the high-heeled boot did not conceal +a painful limp in his gait. But I had not seen the last of him yet. Some +six months after, as I was visiting a friend who lived several miles +distant, who should walk in, about eight o'clock in the evening, but the +"unfortunate man." There had been a slight shower of rain, but not +enough to account for the drenched state of his clothing. "How did you +get so wet?" enquired Mr. ---- "O," replied he, "I was crossing a brook +upon a log, and I slipped off into the water; and it rained on me at the +same time, and between the two, I got a pretty smart ducking." They +brought him some dry clothing, and dried his wet garments by the kitchen +fire, and kindly allowed him to remain for the night. For several years, +this man passed through S. as often as two or three times during each +year. He became so well known in the vicinity, that any one freely gave +him a meal, or a night's lodging as often as he sought it. Every time he +came along his mind was occupied by some new fancy, which seemed to him +to be of the utmost importance, and to require prompt attention. He +arrived in S. one bitter cold night in the depth of winter, and remained +for the night with a family who had ever treated him kindly, and with +whom he had often lodged before. He set out early the next morning to +proceed (as he said) on his way to Nova Scotia. Years have passed away, +but the "unfortunate man" has never since been seen in the vicinity. It +was feared by some that he had perished in the snow; as there were some +very severe storms soon after he left S; but nothing was ever learned to +confirm the suspicion. According to his own statement he belonged to the +state of Vermont, but, from his speech, he was evidently not an +American. Several years have passed away since his last visit to S. and +it is more than probable that he is no longer among the living. + + + + +THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE. + + +I lately visited the timeworn building where for a lengthened period, +during my early years, I studied the rudiments of education; and what a +host of almost forgotten memories of the past came thronging back upon +my mind, as I stood alone--in that well remembered room. I seemed again +to hear the hum of youthful voices as they learned or recited their +daily tasks, and, as memory recalled the years that had passed since we +used there to assemble, I could not avoid saying mentally: "My +schoolmates, where are they?" Even that thought called to mind an +amusing story related by a much loved companion who for a time formed +one of our number. + +He was older than most of the other boys, and was a general favourite +with all. He was famous for relating funny stories, of which he had a +never-failing supply; and when the day was too stormy to allow of +out-of-door sports, during the noon hour, we used to gather around the +large stove which stood in the centre of the room and coax H.M. to tell +us stories. The story which recurred to my mind was of a poor Irishman, +who, in describing a visit which he paid to the home of his childhood +after a long absence, said: "At the sober hour of twilight, I entered +the lonely and desarted home uv me forefathers, an' as I gazed about the +silent walls, I said, 'me fathers, where are they?' an' did not echo +answer, 'Is that you Pathrick O'Flannigan, sure?'" + +I was in no mood for laughter, and yet I could not repress a smile, as +memory recalled the comical voice and inimitable gestures with which +young H.M. related the story. He was beloved by us all, and when he left +school we parted from him with real sorrow. As I walked around, and +looked upon the worn and defaced desks, I observed the initials of many +once familiar names, which many years before had been formed with a +knife, which were not so much obliterated but I could easily decipher +the well known letters. That desk in the corner was occupied by two +brothers who when they grew up removed to one of the Eastern States, +where they enlisted as soldiers in the war between the North and South. +One of the brothers received his death-wound on the battlefield. In a +foreign hospital he lingered in much suffering for a brief period, when +he died and was buried, far from his home and kindred. The younger +brother was naturally of a tender constitution and was unable to endure +the hardships and privations of a soldier's life. His health failed him, +and he returned to his friends, who had left their Canadian home, and +removed to the State of Massachusetts; but all that the most skilful +physicians could do, aided by the most watchful care of his tender +mother, failed to check the ravages of disease. Consumption had marked +him for its prey, and he died a few months after leaving the army; and, +as his friends wept on his grave, they could see with their mind's eye +another nameless grave in a far-away Southern State, where slept the +other son and brother. The desk on my left hand was occupied by a youth, +who has been for many years toiling for gold in California; and I have +learned that he has grown very rich. I often wonder if, in his eager +pursuit after riches, in that far-off clime, he ever thinks of the +little brown school-house by the butternut trees, and of the smiling +eager group who used daily to meet there. One large family of brothers +and sisters, who attended this school for several years, afterward +removed, with their parents, to one of the Western States, and years +have passed away since I heard of them; but along with many others they +were recalled to mind by my visit to the old School-House. + +On the opposite side of the room is the range of desks which were +occupied by the girls, and I could almost fancy that I again saw the +same lively, restless group who filled those desks in the days of +long-ago. Again I saw the bright smile which was often hidden from the +searching eye of our teacher, behind the covers of the well-worn +spelling-book, again I saw the mischievous glances, and heard the +smothered laughter when the attention of the teacher was required in +some other part of the room. But these happy, careless days of childhood +are gone never to return. Were I inclined, I could trace the +after-history of most of the companions whom I used daily to meet in +this school-room. With many of them "life's history" is done, and they +sleep peacefully in the grave. Others have gone forth to the duties of +life; some far distant, others near their paternal homes. Many of the +number have been successful in life, and prospered in their +undertakings, while others have met with disappointment and misfortune. +It seemed somewhat singular to me that, as I stood alone in that room +(after the lapse of so many years), I could recollect, by name, each +companion I used to meet there; yet so it was, and it seemed but as +yesterday since we used daily to assemble there; and when I reflected +for a moment on the many changes to which I have been subjected since +that period I could hardly realize that I was one and the same. I +lingered long at the old School-House, for I expected never to behold it +again, having been informed that it was shortly to give place to a +building of a larger size, and of more modern structure. + + + + +ARTHUR SINCLAIR. + + +For several hours we had endured the jolting of the lumbering +stage-coach over a rough hilly road which led through a portion of the +State of New Hampshire; and, as the darkness of night gathered around +us, I, as well as my fellow-travellers, began to manifest impatience to +arrive at our stopping-place for the night; and we felt strongly +inclined to find fault with the slow motion of the tired horses, which +drew the heavily-loaded vehicle. Thinking it as well to know the worst +at once, I asked the driver "what time we might expect to reach our +destination for the night?" "It will be midnight at the least, perhaps +later," replied he. This news was not very cheering to the weary +travellers who filled the coach; and I almost regretted having asked the +question. The roughness of the roads, together with the crowded state of +the vehicle, made it impossible for any one to sleep, and it became an +important question how we should pass away the tedious hours. A +proposition was at length made, that some one of the passengers should +relate a story for the entertainment of the others. This proposal met +with the hearty approval of all, as a means of making our toilsome +journey seem shorter; and the question of who should relate the story +was very soon agitated. There was among the passengers one old gentleman +of a very pleasant and venerable appearance, and judging from his +countenance that he possessed intelligence, as well as experience, we +respectfully invited him to relate a story for our entertainment. "I am +not at all skilled in story-telling," replied the old gentleman, "but, +as a means of passing away the tedious hours of the uncomfortable ride, +I will relate some circumstances which took place many years since, and +which also have a connection with my present journey, although the +narrative may not possess much interest for uninterested strangers." We +all placed ourselves in a listening attitude, and the old man began as +follows: "I was born in the town of Littleton in this state, and when a +boy, I had one schoolmate, whom I could have loved no better had he been +a brother. His name was Arthur Sinclair. And the affectionate intimacy +which existed between us for many years, is yet, to me, a green spot in +the waste of memory. I was about twelve years of age, when Arthur's +parents came to reside in Littleton. That now large and thriving village +then contained but a few houses, and when the Sinclairs became our +neighbours, we soon formed a very pleasing acquaintance. I was an only +child, and had never been much given to making companions of the +neighbouring boys of my own age; but from the first, I felt strongly +attracted toward Arthur Sinclair. He was two years younger than myself. +At the time when I first met him, he was the most perfect specimen of +childish beauty I ever saw, and added to this he possessed a most +winning and affectionate disposition, and in a short time we became +almost inseparable companions. My nature was distant and reserved, but +if once I made a friend, my affection for him was deep and abiding. We +occupied the same desk in the village school, and often conned our daily +lessons from the same book, and out of school hours, shared the same +sports; and I remember once hearing our teacher laughingly remark to my +parents, that he believed, should he find it necessary to correct one of +us, the other would beg to share the punishment. Notwithstanding the +strong friendship between us, our dispositions were very unlike. From a +child I was prone to fits of depression, while Arthur on the other hand +possessed such a never failing flow of animal spirits, as rendered him +at all times a very agreeable companion; and it may be that the +dissimilarity of our natures attracted us all the more strongly to each +other; be that as it may the same close intimacy subsisted between us +till we reached the years of early manhood. The only fault I could ever +see in Arthur was that of being too easily persuaded by others, without +pausing to think for himself; and being the elder of the two, and of a +reflective cast of mind, as we grew up, I often had misgivings for him +when he should go forth from his home, and mingle with the world at +large. The intimacy between us allowed me to speak freely to him, and I +after reminded him of the necessity of watchfulness and consideration, +when he should go forth alone to make his way in a selfish and unfeeling +world. + +"He used to make light of what he termed my "croaking" and say I need +have no fears for him; and I believe he spoke from the sincerity of his +good intentions; he thought all others as sincere and open-hearted as +himself, and happy had it been for him if he had found them so. Arthur +received a very good business education, and when he reached the age of +twenty-one, obtained the situation of book-keeper in an extensive +mercantile house in the city of Boston. There was a young girl in our +village to whom Arthur had been fondly attached since the days of his +boyhood, and I need scarcely say the attachment was reciprocal, and that +before he left home he placed the engagement ring upon her finger, +naming no very distant period when he hoped to replace it by the wedding +ring. Belinda Merril was worthy in every way of his affection, and loved +him with all the sincerity of a pure and guileless heart. I almost +wonder that the shadows which were even then gathering in what to them +had ever been a summer sky, did not cast a chill over her heart. In due +time Arthur went to the city. I could not help my fears, lest his +pleasing manners and love of company should attract to him those who +would lead him into evil; but I strove to banish them, and hope for the +best. Our pastor, an old man, who had known Arthur from his childhood, +called upon him, previous to his departure from home, and without +wearying him with a long list of rules and regulations regarding his +future conduct, spoke to him as friend speaks to friend, and in a +judicious manner administered some very good advice to the youth, who +was almost as dear to him as his own son. The young man listened +attentively to the words of his faithful friend and sincerely thanked +him for the advice which he well knew was prompted by affection. During +the first year of his residence in the city, we wrote very frequently to +each other, and the tone of his letters indicated the same pure +principles which had ever governed his actions. Time passed on, and +by-and-bye, I could not fail to notice the change in the style of his +letters. He spoke much of the many agreeable acquaintances he had +formed, and of the amusements of the city, and was warm in his +commendations of the Theatre. My heart often misgave me as I perused his +letters, and I mentally wondered where all this was to end? After a two +years' absence, he returned to spend a few weeks at home in Littleton, +but he seemed so unlike my former friend, that I could hardly feel at +ease in his society. He never once alluded to any incidents of our +school days, as he used formerly so frequently to do, and objects of +former interest possessed none for him now. He called Littleton a +"terribly stupid place," and seemed anxiously to look forward to his +return to Boston. "Surely," said I to him one evening as we were engaged +in conversation, "Littleton must still contain one attraction for you +yet." He appeared not to comprehend my meaning, but I well knew his +ignorance was only feigned. But when he saw that I was not to be put off +in that way, he said with a tone of assumed indifference, "O! if it is +Belinda Merril you are talking about, I have to say that she is no +longer an object of interest to me." "Is it possible, Arthur," said I, +"that you mean what you say; surely an absence of two years has not +caused you to forget the love you have borne Miss Merril from childhood. +I am very much surprised to hear you speak in this manner." A flush of +anger, at my plain reply, rose to his cheek, and he answered in a tone +of displeasure: "I may as well tell you first as last, my ideas have +undergone a change. I did once think I loved Belinda Merril, but that +was before I had seen the world, and now the idea to me is absurd of +introducing this awkward country girl as my wife among my acquaintances +in the city of Boston. I once had a sort of liking for the girl, but I +care no longer for her, and the sooner I break with her the better, and +I guess she won't break her heart about me." "I hope not indeed," I +replied, "but I must be allowed to say that I consider your conduct +unmanly and dishonourable, and I would advise you, before proceeding +further, to pause and reflect whether it is really your heart which +dictates your actions, or only a foolish fancy." Knowing how deeply Miss +Merril was attached to Arthur, I hoped he would reconsider the matter, +and I said as much to him; but all I could say was of no avail, and that +very evening he called and, requesting an interview with his betrothed, +informed her that, as his sentiments toward her had changed, he presumed +she would be willing to release him from their former engagement. +Instantly Miss Merril drew from her finger the ring he had placed there +two years before, and said, as she placed it in his hand, "I have long +been sensible of the change in your sentiments, and am truly glad that +you have at last spoken plainly. From this hour you may consider +yourself entirely free, and you have my best wishes for your future +happiness and prosperity," and, bidding him a kind good-evening, the +young lady left the apartment. Her spirit was deeply wounded, but she +possessed too much good sense to be utterly cast down for the +wrong-doing of another. Whatever were Arthur's feelings after he had +taken this step, he spoke of them to no one. I never again mentioned the +subject to him, but, knowing him as I did, I could see that he was far +from being satisfied with his own conduct, and he departed for the city +some weeks sooner than he had at first intended. Owing to the friendly +feeling I had ever cherished for him, I could not help a feeling of +anxiety after his departure, for I feared that all was not right with +him. He did not entirely cease from writing to me; but his letters were +not frequent, and they were very brief and formal--very unlike the +former brotherly communications which used to pass between us. A year +passed away. I obtained a situation nearly a hundred miles from home. I +had heard nothing from Arthur for a long time, and, amid my own cares, +he recurred to my mind with less frequency than formerly; yet often +after the business of the day was over, and my mind was at leisure, +memory would recall Arthur Sinclair to my mind with a pained sort of +interest. About six months after I left home I was surprised by +receiving from Mr. Sinclair a hastily written letter, requesting me, if +possible, to lose no time in hastening to Littleton, stating also that +he was obliged to take a journey to Boston on business which vitally +concerned Arthur, and he wished me to accompany him. He closed by +requesting me to mention the letter I had received from him to no one, +saying that he knew me and my regard for Arthur sufficiently well to +trust me in the matter. My fears were instantly alive for Arthur, and I +feared that some misfortune to him was hidden behind this veil of +secresy; and I soon found that my fears were well founded. I set out at +once for Littleton, and upon arriving there, I proceeded directly to the +residence of Mr. Sinclair. When he met me at the door I was struck by +the change in his countenance; he appeared as if ten years had been +added to his age since I last saw him, six months ago. He waited not for +me to make any inquiries, but, motioning me into a private apartment, he +closed the door, and, seating himself by my side, said in a hoarse +voice: "I may as well tell you the worst at once: my son, and also your +once dear friend, Arthur, is a thief, and, but for the lenity and +consideration of his employer, before this time would have been lodged +within the walls of a prison." I made no reply, but gazed upon him in +silent astonishment and horror. When he became more composed, he +informed me that he had lately received a letter from Mr. Worthing +(Arthur's employer) informing him that he had detected Arthur in the +crime of stealing money from the safe, to quite a large amount. In +giving the particulars of the unfortunate circumstance, he further +stated, for some time past he had missed different sums of money, but +was unable to attach suspicion to any one; "and, although," said he, "I +have been for some time fearful that your son was associating with evil +companions, I never once dreamed that he would be guilty of the crime of +stealing, till I lately missed bank-notes from the safe, to quite a +large amount, having upon them some peculiar marks which rendered them +easy to be identified. For some time the disappearance of those notes +was a mystery, and I was beginning to despair of detecting the guilty +one, when I obtained proof positive that your unfortunate son parted +with those identical notes in a noted gambling saloon in the city; and, +as I have also learned that he has spent money freely of late, I have no +longer any doubt that it is he who has stolen the other sums I have +lost. Out of regard to you and your family I have kept the matter +perfectly quiet; indeed, I never informed the parties who told me of his +losing the notes at the gaming-table that there was anything wrong about +it. I have not mentioned the matter to your son, and shall not do so +till I see or hear from you. I presume you will be willing to make good +to me the money I have lost. Of course I cannot much longer retain your +son in my employ, but he _must_ not be utterly ruined by this affair +being made public. I would advise you to come at once to Boston, and we +will arrange matters in the best possible manner, and no one but +ourselves need know anything of the sad affair; let him return with you +for a time to his home, and I trust the lesson will not be lost upon +him. When he first came to the city, I am positive that he was an +honourable and pure-minded young man, but evil companions have led him +astray, and we must try and save him from ruin." + +"I had never seen Mr. Worthing, but I at once felt much respect for him, +for the lenity and discretion he had shown in the matter. To no one but +his own family and myself did Mr. Sinclair reveal the contents of that +letter; but the very evening after my arrival in Littleton we set out on +our journey to Boston, and, upon arriving there, we proceeded at once to +the residence of Mr. Worthing, where we learned all the particulars of +Arthur's guilt. Mr. Worthing stated that he had ever entertained a very +high opinion of Arthur, and, when he missed various sums of money in a +most unaccountable manner, he never thought of fixing suspicion upon +him, till circumstances came to his knowledge which left no room for +doubt; but, owing to the high regard he entertained for his parents, +with whom he had (years since) been intimately acquainted, he said +nothing to the young man of the proofs of his dishonesty, which had come +to his knowledge, and still retained him in his employ till he could +communicate with his father, that they together might devise some means +of preventing the affair from becoming public. After Mr. Sinclair had +listened to the plain statement of the affair by Mr. Worthing, he +requested him as nearly as possible to give him an estimate of the +amount of money he had lost. He did so, and Mr. Sinclair immediately +placed an equivalent sum in his hands, saying: "I am glad to be able so +far to undo the wrong of which my son has been guilty," All this time +Arthur knew nothing of our arrival in the city; but when his father +dispatched a message, requesting him to meet him at the house of his +employer, he was very soon in our presence. I hope I may never again +witness another meeting like that one, between the father and son. When +charged with the crime, Arthur at first made a feeble attempt at denial, +till finding the strong proofs against him, he owned all with shame and +humiliation of countenance. The stern grief of Mr. Sinclair was +something fearful to witness. "How _could_ you," said he, addressing +Arthur, "commit so base a deed? Tell me, my son, in what duty I have +failed in your early training? I endeavored to instil into your mind +principles of honor and integrity, and to enforce the same by setting +before you a good example. If I have failed in any duty to you, it was +through ignorance, and may God forgive me if I have been guilty of any +neglect in your education." + +"Trembling with suppressed emotion Arthur replied: "You are blameless, my +father; on me alone must rest my sin, for had I obeyed your kind +counsels, and those of my dearest friend, (pointing to me) I should +never have been the guilty wretch I am to-day." Turning to me, he said: +"Many a time within the last few months have I called to mind the +lightness with which I laughed away your fears for my safety, when I +left home for the city. O! that I had listened to your friendly +warning, and followed the path which you pointed out for me. When I +first came to the great city, I was charmed with the novelty of its +never ceasing scenes of amusement and pleasure. I began by mingling with +company, and participating in amusements, which, to say the least of +them, were questionable; and I soon found my salary inadequate to meet +my fast increasing wants for money; and, as many an unfortunate youth +has done before, I began the vice of gambling with the hope of being one +of the lucky ones. My tempters, no doubt, understood their business, and +at first allowed me to win from them considerable sums of money; till, +elated with my success, I began playing for higher stakes, and when I +lost them, I grew desperate, and it was then that I began adding the sin +of theft to the no less heinous one of gambling. But it is no use now to +talk of the past; my character is blasted, and all I wish is to die and +hide my guilt in the grave, and yet I am ill prepared to die." He became +so much excited, that we endeavored to soothe him by kind and +encouraging words. His father bade him amend his conduct for the future, +and he would freely forgive and forget the past. In my pity for my early +friend, I almost forgot the wrong he had done, and thought only of the +loved companion of my boyhood and youth. I cannot describe my feelings, +as I gazed upon the shame-stricken young man, whom I had so often +caressed in the days of our boyish affection and confidence. Little did +I then think I should ever behold him thus. The utmost secrecy was +observed by all parties; and it was decided that we would remain for the +night with Mr. Worthing, and, accompanied by Arthur, set out early the +next morning on our homeward journey. But it was ordered otherwise. The +next morning Arthur was raving in the delirium of brain fever, brought +on doubtless by the mental torture he had endured. Mr. Sinclair +dispatched a message, informing his wife of Arthur's illness, and three +days later she stood by the bed-side of her son. For several days the +fever raged. We allowed no strangers to watch by him, for in his +delirium his mind dwelt continually upon the past, and no one but +ourselves must listen to his words. Mr. Worthing was very kind, and +shared the care of the poor young man with his parents and myself. At +length came the crisis of his disorder. "Now," said the physician, "for +a few hours, his life will hang, as it were, upon a thread. If the +powers of life are not too far exhausted by the disease he may rally, +but I have many fears, for he is brought very low. All the encouragement +I dare offer is, that while there is life there is hope." He sank into a +deep slumber, and I took my place to watch by him during the night. Mr. +Worthing persuaded his parents to seek a few hours rest, as they were +worn out with fatigue and anxiety; and exacting from me a promise that I +would summon them if the least change for the worse should take place, +they retired, and I was left to watch alone by my friend. All I could +do, was to watch and wait, as the hours passed wearily on. A little +before midnight the physician softly entered, and stood with me at his +bed-side; soon after he languidly opened his eyes, and in a whisper he +pronounced my name. As I leaned over him, and eagerly scanned his +countenance, I perceived that the delirium of fever was gone. The +physician, fearing the effect upon him of the least excitement, made a +motion to me enjoining silence, and mixing a quieting cordial, held it +to his lips. He eagerly quaffed the cooling draught, and again fell into +a quiet slumber. "Now," said the physician, "I have a faint hope that he +may recover, but he is so weak that any excitement would prove fatal; +all depends upon keeping him perfectly quiet for the next few hours." +The doctor departed and again I was left alone to watch over his +slumber. Before morning, anxiety brought Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair to the +room, to learn if there had been any change. In a whisper I informed +them of the favorable symptoms he had evinced upon waking, and persuaded +them again to retire from the apartment. When Arthur again awoke, the +favorable symptoms still continued, and the physician entertained strong +hopes of his recovery. By degrees he was allowed to converse for a few +moments at a time. It seemed to him, he said, as though he had awakened +from a frightful dream; and he begged to know how long he had been ill, +and what had happened during the time. We were all very cautious to say +nothing to excite him; and by degrees as his mind grew stronger, +everything came back clearly to his mind, his father's visit, and the +circumstances which had brought him to the city. It is needless for me +to dwell upon the long period, while he lay helpless as an infant, +watched over by his fond mother, who felt that he had almost been given +back from the dead. But he continued slowly to recover, and being unable +to remain longer, I left his parents with him, and returned to my home +in Littleton, and soon after went back to my employer. Mr. and Mrs. +Sinclair remained with Arthur till he was able to bear the journey to +Littleton, and it was to them a happy day, when they arrived safely at +their home, accompanied by their son, who seemed to them almost as one +restored from the dead. The unfortunate circumstances connected with +Arthur's illness, were a secret locked in the bosoms of the few faithful +friends to whom it was known. Arthur arose from that bed of sickness a +changed man, and it was ever after to him a matter of wonder how he +could have been so far led astray, and he felt the most unbounded +gratitude to Mr. Worthing, for the kindness and consideration he had +shown him. His father did quite an extensive business as a merchant in +Littleton, and as Arthur became stronger he assisted in the store; and +after a time his father gave him a partnership in the business, which +rendered his again leaving home unnecessary. A correspondence, varied +occasionally by friendly visits, was kept up between the Sinclairs and +the family of Mr. Worthing; for Arthur never could forget the debt of +gratitude he owed his former employer. I have little more to tell, and I +will bring my long and I fear somewhat tedious story to a close, by +relating one more event in the life of my friend. I resided at quite a +long distance from Littleton, and some two years after Arthur's return +home, I was surprised by receiving an invitation from him to act as +groomsman at his wedding, and the bride was to be Miss Merril. I know +not exactly how the reconciliation took place. But I understood that +Arthur first sought an interview with the young lady, and humbly +acknowledged the wrong of which he had been guilty, saying, what was +indeed true, that he had ever loved her, and he knew not what +infatuation influenced him in his former conduct. Many censured Miss +Merril for her want of spirit, as they termed it, in again receiving his +addresses, but I was too well pleased by this happy termination of the +affair to censure any one connected with it. The wedding-day was a happy +one to those most deeply concerned, and such being the case, the opinion +of others was of little consequence; and the clouds which had for a time +darkened their sky, left no shadow upon the sunshine of their wedded +life. Arthur and his father were prospered in their business, and for +many years they all lived happily together. In process of time his +parents died, and Arthur soon after sold out his share in the business +to a younger brother, as he had received a tempting offer to remove to +Boston, and enter into partnership with Mr. Worthing's son, as the old +gentleman had some time before resigned any active share in the +business. When Arthur learned their wishes he was very anxious to return +to them; "For," said he, "it is to Mr. Worthing I owe my salvation from +disgrace and ruin." For many years he has carried on a lucrative +business with the son of his former employer and friend. An interesting +family of sons and daughters have grown up around him, and I may with +truth call them a happy family. Old Mr. Worthing has been for some years +dead; and his earthly remains quietly repose amid the peaceful shades of +Mount Auburn. My own life has been a busy one, and twenty years have +passed away since I met with Arthur Sinclair; but the object of this +journey is to visit my early friend, who as well as myself is now an old +man." As the old gentleman finished the story, to which we had all +listened with much interest, we arrived at our stopping-place for the +night, and fatigued with the day's journey, we were soon conducted to +our several apartments. The next morning we parted with the kind old +man, as his onward route lay in another direction, but I could not help +following him in thought, and picturing the joyous meeting between +himself and his early friend Arthur Sinclair. + + + + +THE SNOW STORM. + + +The event I am about to relate, happened many years ago; but I have +often heard it mentioned by those to whom all the circumstances were +well known; and when listening to this story, I have often thought that +there is enough of interest attached to many events which took place +during the period of the early settlement of that portion of Eastern +Canada which borders on the River St. Francis, to fill volumes, were +they recorded. + +The morning had been clear and pleasant, but early in the afternoon the +sky became overcast with dark clouds, and for several hours the snow +fell unceasingly, and now the darkness of night was added to the gloomy +scene. As the night set in, the snow continued to fall in a thick +shower, and a strong easterly wind arose, which filled the air with one +blinding cloud of drifting snow; and the lights in the scattered +habitations, in the then primitive settlement of D. could scarcely be +distinguished amid the thick darkness. It was a fearful night to be +abroad upon that lonely and almost impassible road; and Mrs. W. fully +realized the peril to which her husband was exposed on that inclement +night. He had set out that morning, on foot, to visit a friend, who +resided at a distance of several miles, intending to return to his home +at an early hour in the evening. It was a lonely road over which he had +to pass; the habitations were few and far between, and as the storm +increased with the approach of night. Mrs. W. strongly hoped that her +husband had been persuaded to pass the night with his friend; for she +feared that, had he been overtaken by the darkness of night, he would +perish in the storm; and the poor woman was in a state of painful +anxiety and suspense. The supper-table was spread, but Mrs. W. was +unable to taste food; and, giving the children their suppers, she +awaited with intense anxiety the return of her husband. The storm +increased till it was evident that it was one of unusual severity, even +for the rigorous climate of Canada, and, as the wind shook the windows +of their dwelling, the children often exclaimed in tones of terror: "O! +what will become of poor father if he is out in this storm." Bye-and-bye +the tired children fell asleep, and Mrs. W. was left alone by her +fireside. She endeavoured to quiet her fears by thinking him safe in the +house of his friend, but she could not drive away the thought that he +had set out upon his return home, and she feared, if such was the case, +he had met his death in that pitiless storm. She was two miles from any +neighbour, surrounded by her family of young children; so all she could +do was to wait and watch as the hours wore on. Sleep was out of the +question, and the dawn of day found her still keeping her lonely vigil. +As the Sun rose the wind calmed, but the thick drifts of snow rendered +it impossible for her to leave the house, and she watched anxiously if +any one might chances to pass, to whom she could apply for assistance in +gaining tidings of her husband. Alas! her fears of the previous night +were but too well founded. He _had_ perished in the storm. His friend +tried his utmost to persuade him to remain for the night when the storm +began, but he was anxious to return to his home, fearing the anxiety of +his family: and he left his friend's house about four o'clock in the +afternoon. The weather was intensely cold, as well as stormy, and, owing +to the depth of snow which had already fallen, he could make but slow +progress, and, when overtaken by darkness and the increasing tempest, +benumbed with cold, and blinded by the whirling drifts of snow, he sank +down by the road side to die, and the suspense of his wife was at length +relieved by the painful certainty of his fate. + +About noon on the day succeeding the storm, as Dr S. was slowly urging +his horse onward, in order to Visit a patient who resided in the +vicinity, he observed some object lying almost concealed in the snow. +Stopping his horse, he left his sleigh to examine it, and was +horrorstruck to find it the body of a man. Thinking that, possibly, +life was not extinct, he took the body into his sleigh, and made all +possible haste to the nearest dwelling, where every means was used for +the recovery of Mr. W.; but all was of no avail, he was frozen to death. +It was the kind physician himself who first bore the sad tidings to Mrs. +W. When the lifeless body of the husband and father was borne to his own +dwelling, I have heard the scene described by those who witnessed it, as +most heart-rending. On the day of his burial the settlers in the +vicinity came from a long distance to pay their last tribute of respect +to one who had been much esteemed as a friend and neighbour. The widow +of Mr. W. is still living, but she now is of a very advanced age. His +children grew up and settled in various places, and the elder ones among +them retained a distinct recollection of the sad death of their father. + + + + +THE NEW YEAR. + + +Another year has just glided away, and it seems but as yesterday that we +stood at its threshold, and looked forward over its then seemingly +lengthened way, and fancy was busy with many plans and projects for +future happiness and delight. We looked forward through the whole border +of its months, weeks, days, and hours, and life grew bright with pleased +anticipation. The year has now passed away, and how few, very few, of +all our bright hopes have been realized. With how many of us have +unexpected and unwished for events taken the place of those to which we +looked forward with so much delight. + +As the hours and moments of the past year have slowly glided into the +ocean of the past, they have borne with them the treasures of many a +fond heart. The sun shines as brightly as ever, the moon and stars still +look placidly down upon the sleeping earth, and life is the same as it +has ever been; but for these their work is over, and they have done with +time. As I sat watching the fast gathering shadows over the last night +of the old year, I fell into a sort of waking dream, and I seemed to +hear the slow measured tread of one wearily approaching. Turning my eyes +in the direction of the approaching footsteps. I beheld the form of a +very aged man; his countenance appeared somewhat familiar, yet it was +furrowed by many wrinkles, and on his once high and beautiful forehead +were the deep lines of corroding care and anxiety. His step was slow and +heavy, and he leaned for support on his now well-nigh failing staff. He +bore the marks of extreme feebleness, and gazed forward with a manner of +timidity and uncertainty, and on his changeful countenance was expressed +all the multitudinous emotions of the human breast. His garments had +once been white and shining, but they were now stained and darkened by +travel, and portions of them trailed in the dust. As he drew nigh I +observed that the carried in his hand a closely written scroll, on which +was recorded the events of the past year. As I gazed upon the record, I +read of life begun, and of death in every circumstance and condition of +mortal being, of happiness and misery, of love and hate, of good and +evil,--all mingling their different results in that graphic record; and +I trembled as my own name met my view, with the long list of +opportunities for good unimproved, together with the many sins, both of +omission and commission, of which I had been guilty during the past +year; but there was nothing left out,--the events in the life of every +individual member of the human family were there all recorded in +legible characters. As the midnight hour struck, the aged, man who +typified the old year faded from my view, and, almost before I was aware +of the change, youth and beauty, stood smiling before me. The old year +gone, the new year had begun. His robes where white and glistening, his +voice was mirthful, and his step buoyant; health and vigor braced his +limbs. He too, bare in his hand a scroll, but white as the unsullied +snow; not a line was yet traced upon its pure surface except the title, +Record of 1872. I gazed on its fresh and gladsome visage with mingled +emotions of sorrow and joy, and I breathed my prayer for forgiveness, +for the follies and sins of the departed year. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories and Sketches, by Harriet S. 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