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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-07 18:28:33 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-07 18:28:33 -0800 |
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diff --git a/43229-h.zip b/43229-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..28e805d --- /dev/null +++ b/43229-h.zip diff --git a/43229-h/43229-h.htm b/43229-h/43229-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..02d4c1f --- /dev/null +++ b/43229-h/43229-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7261 @@ + <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg's eBook of The Hawthorn: A Christmas and New Year's Present, by anonymous. + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both;} + +h1 {margin-top: 2em;} + +h2 { + line-height: 2em; + margin-bottom: .5em; + margin-top: 2em; +} + + .title1 + { + text-align: center; + font-weight: bold; + font-size: 120%; + } + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr.c15 {width: 15%;} +hr.c30 {width: 30%;margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + + .i1 {margin-left: 1em;} + .i1h {margin-left: 1.5em;} + .tdc {text-align: center;} + .tdr {text-align: right;} + .tdr2 {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + .tdl2 {text-align: left; vertical-align: top;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + right: 5%; + font-size: 0.6em; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + text-align: right; + padding: 0.3em; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center {text-align: center;} +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} +.right {text-align: right;} + +.i2 {margin-left: 2em;} +.i4 {margin-left: 4em;} +.i6 {margin-left: 6em;} +.i8 {margin-left: 8em;} +.i10 {margin-left: 10em;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; +} + +.mw {max-width:100%;} + +.caption p +{ + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; + margin: 0.25em 0; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +/* footnotes */ + .footnotes {border: 1px dashed; padding-bottom: 1em; background-color: #F0FFFF;} + .footnote {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; font-weight: normal; font-size: 90%; line-height: 125%;} + .footnote .label, + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; text-decoration: none; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; + text-decoration: none;} + +.blockquote {font-size: 95%; margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 8%;} +.hanging {margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -1em;} +.ralign {position: absolute; right: 14%; text-align: right;} +.left20 {margin-left: 20%;} +.left40 {margin-left: 40%;} + +.poetry-container +{ + text-align: center; + font-size: 95%; +} + +.poetry + { + display: inline-block; + text-align: left; + line-height: 125%; + } + +.poetry .stanza +{ + margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; +} + +.poetry .line +{ + margin: 0; + text-indent: -3em; + padding-left: 3em; +} + +.poetry .i0h {margin-left: 0.5em;} +.poetry .i1 {margin-left: 1em;} +.poetry .i1h {margin-left: 1.5em;} +.poetry .i2 {margin-left: 2em;} +.poetry .i12 {margin-left: 12em;} +.poetry .i14 {margin-left: 14em;} +.poetry .i16 {margin-left: 16em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ + .transnote + { + margin: auto; + background-color: #F0F8FF; + border: 1px solid; + padding: 1em; + width: 70%; +} + .xsmall {font-size: x-small;} + .small {font-size: small;} + .medium {font-size: medium;} + .large {font-size: large;} + .xlarge {font-size: x-large;} + .xxlarge {font-size: xx-large;} + +@media print, handheld +{ + .poetry + { + margin: 0.5em; + display: block; + } + +hr.c15 + { + width: 15%; + margin-left: 42.5%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + +hr.c30 + { + width: 30%; + margin-left: 35%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hawthorne, by Anonymous + +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: The Hawthorne + A Christmas and New Years Present + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: July 16, 2013 [EBook #43229] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HAWTHORNE *** + + + + +Produced by Charlene Taylor, Mary Akers and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="transnote"> +<p>Transcriber's note:<br /> +Minor spelling and punctuation inconsistencies been harmonized. +Obvious printer errors have been repaired. Paragraph breaks, +as they are in the book, have been retained. Missing page numbers +are page numbers that were not shown in the original text. </p> +</div> + +<p><a id="Page_"></a></p> + +<div><a name="frontispiece" id="frontispiece"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="THE HAWTHORN. THE MOTHER'S JOY." /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="right">Page <a href="#Page_172">172</a>.</p> +<p>NEW YORK, J. C. RIKER<br /> +129 FULTON STREET.<br /> +1845</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">i</a></span></p> + +<div><a name="ornamental_title_page" id="ornamental_title_page"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/title.jpg" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h1>THE HAWTHORN:<br /> +<span class="small">A</span><br /> +<span class="xlarge">CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S<br /> +PRESENT.</span></h1> + +<p class="p4 center"><b>MDCCCXLV.</b></p> + +<p class="p6 center"><b>NEW YORK:<br /> +J. C. RIKER,—129 FULTON STREET.<br /> +1845.</b></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">ii</a></span></p> + +<p class="p6 center small">WEST BROOKFIELD, MASS.<br /> +C. A. MIRICK, PRINTER.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">iii</a></span></p> + +<hr class="c30" /> + +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>We call our little book "<span class="smcap">The Hawthorn</span>." We chose +the name of a blossom for our young readers, in preference +to that of a gem, because the cold glittering beauty +of the latter has little in common with the affectionateness, +and beaming freshness of the young, to whom the nature +of flowers seems more analogous.</p> + +<p>When the young man came to the blessed Saviour to +inquire as to eternal life, he bade him keep the commandments, +and being told "all these things have I observed;" +it is then recorded that, "Jesus beholding him, +loved him." We know too, that he "loved little children," +for he "took them in his arms," in token of tenderness; +we infer that he loved the flowers likewise, for +he said, "consider the lilies of the field;" and we find +the most beautiful illustrations of the Divine precepts of +Jesus borrowed from the kingdom of flowers.</p> + +<p>What wonder then that we should love these delicate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">iv</a></span> +creations; and that when we wish to appeal to the young +and the trustful, the hopeful and the good, we should seek +these, for appropriate utterance.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">"They tremble on the Alpine height,</div> +<div class="line i1h"> The fissur'd rock they press,</div> +<div class="line i0h">The desert wild with heat and sand</div> +<div class="line i1h"> Shares too, their blessedness;</div> +<div class="line i0h">And wheresoe'er the weary heart</div> +<div class="line i1h"> Turns in its dim despair,</div> +<div class="line i0h">The meek eyed blossom upward looks</div> +<div class="line i1h"> Inviting it to prayer."</div> +</div></div></div> + +<p>Thus it is, my dear friends, that we present you, not +a Bouquett, which, however tasteful, and however beautiful, +might still confuse you with its many significations; we +present you not a Gem, to remind you of the brilliancy of +mind, that may yet be unsympathizing, and bewildering, +but a simple flower, one, from a paradise of freshness and +beauty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">v</a></span></p> + +<hr class="c30" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4" summary="TOC"> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Frederick Ormsby,</td> + <td>ELIZA LESLIE,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Rustic Wreath,</td> + <td>MRS. HUGHS,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Storm,</td> + <td>MRS. HUGHS,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Mysterious Picture,</td> + <td>ELIZA LESLIE,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Father's Pride,</td> + <td>MRS. CHILDS,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Pet Lamb,</td> + <td>MRS. HUGHS,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Clean Face,</td> + <td>ELIZA LESLIE,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl2">Le Loup et L'Agneau,</td> + <td>BY THE AUTHOR OF THE<br /><span class="i1">LIGHTS OF EDUCATION,</span></td> + <td class="tdr2"><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Christmas Visit,</td> + <td>MRS. HUGHS,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Little Girl and her Kitten,</td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Quilting,</td> + <td>ELIZA LESLIE,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Little Runaway,</td> + <td>J. W. S.,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl2">The Souvenir,</td> + <td>BY THE AUTHOR OF THE<br /><span class="i1">YOUNG AMERICANS,</span></td> + <td class="tdr2"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Mother's Joy,</td> + <td>MRS. CHILD,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl2">The Percevals,</td> + <td>BY THE AUTHOR OF THE<br /><span class="i1">LIGHTS OF EDUCATION,</span></td> + <td class="tdr2"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Child left on the Sea Shore,</td> + <td>MRS. SIGOURNEY,</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>The Eagle of the West,</td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl2">The Launch of the Frigate,</td> + <td>BY THE AUTHOR OF THE<br /><span class="i1">YOUNG AMERICANS,</span></td> + <td class="tdr2"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><a id="Page_vi"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">vii</a></span></p> + +<hr class="c30" /> + +<h2>EMBELLISHMENTS.</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4" summary="table"> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1.</td> + <td><a href="#frontispiece">Frontispiece,</a></td> + <td>Engraved by</td> + <td>NEAGLE,</td> + <td class="tdr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>2.</td> + <td><a href="#ornamental_title_page">Ornamental Title-page,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>ELLIS,</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>3.</td> + <td><a href="#the_rustic_wreath">The Rustic Wreath,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>NEAGLE,</td> + <td class="tdr">28</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>4.</td> + <td><a href="#the_fathers_pride">The Father's Pride,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>KEARNEY,</td> + <td class="tdr">71</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>5.</td> + <td><a href="#the_pet_lamb">The Pet Lamb,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>KEARNEY,</td> + <td class="tdr">72</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>6.</td> + <td><a href="#the_clean_face">The Clean Face,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>NEAGLE,</td> + <td class="tdr">99</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>7.</td> + <td><a href="#le_loup_et_lagneau">Le Loup et L'Agneau,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>NEAGLE,</td> + <td class="tdr">100</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>8.</td> + <td><a href="#the_little_girl_and_her_kitten">The Little Girl and her Kitten,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>KEARNEY,</td> + <td class="tdr">132</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>9.</td> + <td><a href="#the_little_runaway">The Little Runaway,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>STEEL,</td> + <td class="tdr">155</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>10.</td> + <td><a href="#child_left_on_the_sea_shore">Child left on the Sea Shore,</a></td> + <td class="tdc">"</td> + <td>STEEL,</td> + <td class="tdr">185</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><a id="Page_viii"></a></p> + +<hr class="c30" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span></p> + +<h2>FREDERICK ORMSBY.</h2> + +<p>Mr. Ormsby, a gentleman residing in the city of +New-York, took his family to West Point, to spend a +week of unusually warm weather at the close of +spring, and to see his nephew Gustavus, who had +been a cadet at the Military Academy for near three +years, and who was a boy of a very different disposition +from Frederick Ormsby, being spirited, manly, +and of a most amiable temper. Frederick, whose +age was almost thirteen, was not entirely devoid of +good qualities; but he was idle, rude, mischievous, +and took the greatest delight in frightening and tormenting +every one about him, particularly his sister +Madeline.</p> + +<p>Gustavus, having obtained permission to visit his +uncle and aunt at the hotel, devoted all his leisure +time to them; and being one of the cadets that act as +assistant professors, and are therefore exempt from +military duty, it was in his power to accompany them +on all their walks, and to show them every thing on +West Point worthy the attention of visiters. These +walks would have been delightful, had not Frederick +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> +caused much annoyance by his vexatious tricks, and +(to use his own expression) by planning frights for +his mother and sister. Reproof affected him only for +a few minutes, and even during their short voyage +in the steam-boat from New-York, his father more +than once regretted that Frederick had not been left +at home.</p> + +<p>Their first walk was to Washington's Valley, so +called from having been the head-quarters of the illustrious +commander-in-chief. On their way thither they +visited the German Flats, once the encamping place +of a great number of Hessian deserters, who came +over to the American army while it lay at West Point. +These fields, formerly a desert of stones and weeds, +are now in high cultivation; and at their farthest extremity, +where the wooded heights run out into the +river, is the cemetery, shaded with old cedars, and +ornamented with an elegant monument of white marble, +round which are buried the few cadets that die +here.</p> + +<p>The walk from the German Flats to Washington's +Valley, is delightfully cool and shady, being cut +through the forest. The trees meet across the road, +while their tangled roots project in the most fantastic +forms from the banks on each side, and between their +branches are seen at intervals the waters of the Hudson +glittering far below.</p> + +<p>The house, for ever memorable as the temporary +residence of Washington, is a mere cottage; but under +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> +its low roof heroes once met, and plans were discussed, +whose results we are now enjoying. It is surrounded +by locust-trees, at this season resplendent with +their conic clusters of beautiful white blossoms; and +a clear brook murmurs through the garden, seeking +its way to the river, whose waves roll gently in, washing +the smooth grey sand that lies in front of the valley. +Immediately behind this classic spot, ascends +the mountain called the Crow's Nest, the longest and +highest of the chain, that, extending along both shores +of the Hudson, appears to inclose it on every side, +giving it at West Point, the form of a lake from which +there seems to be no outlet. On the opposite, or +northern shore, rise the wild and barren mountains of +Fishkill, far beyond which lie the fertile plains of +Connecticut. Looking up the river, the view is terminated +by the town of Newburgh, at ten miles distance, +with Polipel's Island in front, and a fine range +of country behind; the Chemungo mountains (a +branch of the Catskills) closing the long perspective, +their vast blue forms faintly visible on the remotest +verge of the horizon.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby, with Gustavus and Madeline, +took their seats on one of the numerous fragments +of rock that are scattered over the sands at +Washington's Valley; and while they were admiring +the prospect, Gustavus (who was skilled in revolutionary +lore) reminded his uncle and aunt, as they +cast their eyes down the river, and looked toward the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> +plain, of the ball given there by the American officers +to their French companions in arms, in honour of +the birth of the Dauphin. For this purpose, there +was erected on the green an arbour of immense +length, constructed of laurel-branches brought by the +soldiers from the hills. This rustic arcade was illuminated +by a multitude of little tin lamps, which have +been kept ever since in the public store-house, and +which are still used with great pride at the balls given +by the cadets. On this occasion, Washington led off +the first dance with the lady of General Knox.</p> + +<p>Frederick, who had no taste for such conversation, +soon rambled away, and amused himself by throwing +stones at some ducks that were paddling in a brook at +the entrance of the woods, returning now and then to +the party at the river side, and soliciting Madeline to +join him.</p> + +<p>"I am sure," said he, in a low voice, "you will +find it much more amusing to ramble about with me +than to sit here listening to tales of the old war."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," answered Madeline, "I am always glad +to hear as many tales of the old war as I possibly can, +provided that there is nothing in them shocking or +disgusting, and no particulars of the killing; and my +father says that no person of good feelings or good +manners will ever detail the horrors, the real sickening +horrors of a battle, in presence of females. But +I will go with you, if my mother will give me permission."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> +Mrs. Ormsby's leave was asked and obtained, and +Mr. Ormsby cautioned his children to be absent but +a short time.</p> + +<p>Frederick took his sister toward the woods that +stretched down to the water's edge, a little beyond +the cottage, and they were soon out of sight.</p> + +<p>In a short time, the little party that remained on +the sands, were alarmed by a succession of violent +shrieks, accompanied by another voice laughing +loudly; and looking up the river, they perceived +Madeline alone in a little boat, drifting out from behind +a projecting point of rock, and evidently in +great terror, while Frederick stood on the shore leaning +against a tree, and ridiculing her fears. They +all ran to her assistance, Gustavus foremost, and +Mr. Ormsby supporting the trembling steps of his +wife.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a steam-boat, on her way down from Albany, +came round the stupendous head-land absurdly +called Butter Hill, and emerged into sight with thick +clouds of smoke issuing from her chimneys, her +wheels throwing up volumes of foam, and her prow +dashing aside the water with a velocity that seemed +irresistible. The shrieks of poor Madeline redoubled +when she saw this tremendous machine coming on +with a force that apparently nothing could stop, and +threatening, in a few minutes, to overwhelm her little +boat, unnoticed and unseen. Frederick was now +terrified himself, and he called out to his sister, "Oh! +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> +Madeline, what have I done! The steam-boat will +run over you. She will be upon you in three minutes."</p> + +<p>"No, no," exclaimed Gustavus, "do not be frightened, +Madeline. The boat is too far off; there is no +danger." "We will get you immediately out of the +way," cried her father, "but they will see you from +the steam-boat, and avoid passing too near you." +"Where is the rope," asked Gustavus, "by which this +little boat was fastened?" "Here, here," said Frederick, +"round the stump of this old tree. I proposed +to Madeline that we should go and sit in the boat +which we found at the water's edge. And as soon as +I got her in, I thought that just for fun, and to set her +to screaming, I would cut the rope with my knife and +let her float off. I supposed she would drift down to +the place where you were all sitting, and I only +meant to frighten her. I knew that somehow she +could be got out of the boat."</p> + +<p>In the mean time, having lengthened the rope by +fastening to it all their pocket handkerchiefs and Mrs. +Ormsby's long shawl, Gustavus took one end in his +hand, (the other being fast to the tree,) and jumping +into the river, swam to the boat, by which means it +was immediately hauled in to the shore, and in a few +moments the affrighted little girl was safe in the arms +of her parents, mingling her tears with those of her +mother.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ormsby's indignation was so much excited, +that he declared if there was time to reach the wharf +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> +before the arrival of the steam-boat, Frederick should +be put on board, and sent immediately down to New +York. This, however, was impossible, the boat being +now close at hand; and as Frederick appeared very +penitent, and made fair promises of never again being +guilty of similar conduct, his father, at the intercession +of Gustavus and Madeline, consented to pardon him, +and for the remainder of the day he behaved perfectly +well.</p> + +<p>On the following afternoon, they set out on a walk +in another direction, and Frederick, who had been +very good all the morning, was allowed to accompany +them.</p> + +<p>They went first to the Moss House, constructed, at +his leisure hours, by the French cook at the hotel, and +entirely the work of his own hands. He had opened +a path through the thick woods, (hitherto in this place +an impassable wilderness,) and carried it down the +declivity of a craggy hill that descends to the river. +This path, though narrow, steep, and winding, was +neither rugged nor dangerous, and the trees interlacing +their branches, formed an impervious shade across +it. At its termination was a little garden, surrounded +on all sides by a high wall of rough stones piled one +on another, the interstices filled up with earth from +which various wild plants were growing. This wall +was overhung with masses of the forest grape-vine +and other woodland shrubbery. The miniature garden +was laid out in walks and heart-shaped beds, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +planted with flowers, among which were lady-slippers, +pinks, and convolvuluses. In one corner stood +the moss-house, made of cedar branches, trimmed and +cut of even length, filled in between with earth, and +covered all over with a thick coat of the rich and +beautiful moss that abounds in the woods and on the +rocks of West Point. The door was open, and inside +was a sort of settee, also of moss, and a little table +made of twisted vine branches. In the garden near +the house, was another rustic seat, or bench, the back +formed of small boughs, curiously interwoven. Innumerable +birds had taken up their residence near this +charming retreat, and enlivened its dark shades with +their brilliant colours. The oriole darted from tree to +tree with his splendid plumage of orange and black, +the blue-bird fluttered about in azure and purple, the +yellow-hammer far surpassed the tints of the brightest +canary, and the cedar-bird displayed his beautiful pinions +of the richest brown, delicately pencilled at the +edges with lines of fine scarlet, while the little humming-bird +hovered over the flowers, and looked like +a flying gem.</p> + +<p>The Ormsby family next visited the monument +erected by the cadets in commemoration of the gallant +Kosciusko, who crossed the Atlantic to take a part in +the American contest for independence, and who afterward +so nobly, but unsuccessfully, defended the rights +of Poland, his own ill-fated country. The monument +is a fluted column of white marble, on a broad pedestal, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +simply inscribed with the name of Kosciusko. It +stands near the ruins of Fort Clinton, on the eastern +side of the plain, and on one of the lofty and abrupt +heights that overlook the river.</p> + +<p>They then descended to Kosciusko's Garden, a picturesque +retreat half way down the rocks. Here, +while with our army at West Point, the Polish officer +had been accustomed to spend a portion of his leisure +hours; and he had embellished the wild and rugged +spot by planting it with lilacs and rosebushes. The +cadets, with the surplus of the money subscribed by +them for the erection of Kosciusco's monument, have +facilitated the descent to this romantic and interesting +retreat, (which was before almost inaccessible to ladies,) +by causing to be made a long flight of stone +stairs, firm and convenient, but sufficiently rude to be +in unison with the surrounding scenery. These +stairs, winding down between the rocks, lead to a +beautiful grassy platform, backed by a lofty precipice +of granite, which the hand of nature has ornamented +with wild flowers that creep along its ledges, and +shrubs and saplings that grow out from its crevices. +Under a willow which droops on the level beneath, is +a fountain bubbling in a basin of white marble, sculptured +with the name of Kosciusko, and surrounded +with flowering shrubs similar to those planted by the +hero of Poland.</p> + +<p>On the northern side of this beautiful spot the rocks +are broken into the most picturesque masses, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> +shaded with forest trees of infinite variety; their foliage +at this time displaying the liveliest tints of spring. +The wild grape-vine clasped its crooked and wandering +branches round the mossy stones, and scented the air +with its fragrant blossoms; and the woodland honeysuckle +threw around the sweetest odours from its +clustered flowers of the most delicate pink. In front +a shelf of rock projected over the river, whose clear +blue waters glided far below, reflecting in their calm +mirror "the headlong mountains and the downward +skies." On the opposite shore rose the highlands of +Putnam county; and Gustavus explained to his aunt +and cousins, that in the year 1779, all the heights +nearest the water had been crowned with batteries +and covered with tents, the American army being +encamped on both sides of the river; and that on the +eastern bank, a short distance below West Point, is +the house occupied by the traitor Arnold, and from +which he made his escape when apprised that Washington +was informed of his correspondence with the +British general.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ormsby cast her eyes down the precipice that +impended over the water, and beautiful as it was, +being tufted with shrubs and trees to the very bottom, +she turned away her head, and said it made her dizzy +to look at it. They then sat down on one of the +benches, and Mrs. Ormsby spoke of the strange and +unaccountable fancy, said to be felt by some people, +who, whenever they venture to the verge of a height, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +imagine that they feel an irresistible desire to jump +down. "Mother," said Frederick, advancing to the +edge of the rock "I feel that desire at this moment. +I shall certainly jump in an instant. I shall be down +directly."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ormsby turned pale, and desired Frederick +immediately to come away from the precipice. "My +dear," said Mr. Ormsby, "do you not see the laugh +lurking in Frederick's eye? He only intends to +frighten us. Can you suppose he has really any idea +of leaping from the rock? No, no—though he delights +in terrifying others, I am well convinced that +he will never do any thing to hurt himself."</p> + +<p>Gustavus then told of a soldier's wife, who, a few +years since, (being, as was supposed, in a state of temporary +derangement,) wandered in the night to these +rocks, and falling over the precipice, her mangled +body was discovered next morning, lying almost in +the river.</p> + +<p>Our little party then returned to the fountain, and +Gustavus being provided with a leather drinking-cup, +they all tasted the water. They stood there conversing +for a considerable time; and when they turned to +go away, they found that Frederick was not with +them. They looked all around, but he was not to be +seen; and when they called him, there was no answer. +"Where can he be?" exclaimed Mrs. Ormsby, +in much alarm. "I fear he has really fallen down +the rocks. You heard him say that he felt that unaccountable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +inclination we were talking of." "But," +said Mr. Ormsby, "I did not believe him, and neither +should you. We know Frederick too well."</p> + +<p>His father and Gustavus called Frederick loudly, +but no answer was returned, except by the mountain +echoes. The terror of his mother and sister was extreme. +"Frederick!" exclaimed Mr. Ormsby, "Frederick—you +surely hear us,—reply immediately." +"Oh! Frederick," cried the mother, "if you really +hear us, answer at once—put an end to our fears—how +can you keep us in such agony?" There was +still no reply. "Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Ormsby, "if +Frederick yet lives, can he allow me to remain in this +dreadful state of fear and suspense? Frederick, Frederick—this +moment answer your mother!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Ormsby's persuasion of Frederick's safety now +began to give way to alarm, and Madeline trembled +and cried. Mrs. Ormsby sunk, nearly fainting, on the +bench; and while her husband brought water from +the fountain and endeavoured to revive her, Gustavus, +who knew every recess of the rocks, explored them in +search of Frederick. He shortly returned, and said +in a low voice, "Compose yourself, dear aunt, I have +just had a glimpse of Frederick. He is safe, and not +near the precipice. He has concealed himself in a sort +of cavity in yon rock near the stairs, though the space +is so small that I wonder how he got into it. He must +have coiled himself up with some difficulty." "Do +not let us go thither to seek him," whispered Mr. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> +Ormsby. "He shall not have the gratification of +jumping up and laughing at us." Mrs. Ormsby and +Madeline, finding that Frederick was really safe, endeavoured +to calm their agitation; and Mr. Ormsby +and Gustavus began to talk of other things.</p> + +<p>After sitting a few minutes longer, "Come," said +Mr. Ormsby, in a loud voice, "we will now return; +and as Frederick's concealment will not produce so +great an effect as he supposes, he may sneak out of +his hole and follow us at his leisure."</p> + +<p>They left the bench, and were ascending the lower +flight of stone steps, when a violent scream startled +them all, and it was repeated with sounds of the +most terrible agony. "Those screams are close by," +exclaimed Madeline. "They came from the place +in which Frederick is hidden," said Gustavus. +"Another of his foolish jokes," said Mr. Ormsby. +"Oh! no, no," cried Mrs. Ormsby, "those are the +screams of real suffering."</p> + +<p>Gustavus and Mr. Ormsby then sprung to the cavity +in the rocks, and saw Frederick on the ground, wedged +into a most uncomfortable posture, and sprawling out +his hands with a gesture of the greatest terror, exclaiming, +"Oh! take it off—take it out—take it away!" +"Take what?" asked his father. "Oh! the snake—the +snake!" cried Frederick. "It is crawling down +my back—it <em>must</em> have a nest in this hole." Gustavus +had by this time got his hand down Frederick's back, +and was feeling for the snake. At last he drew out a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> +small lizard, and held it up, to the great relief of +Mrs. Ormsby and Madeline, whose terror had been +nearly equal to Frederick's.</p> + +<p>"Let me see it," said Frederick. "Is it really a +lizard? How cold and slippery it felt, and how disagreeably +it crawled down my back." "And you +had not courage," observed his father, "to put your +hand over your shoulder, and take it out, but you lay +there screaming like a baby." "I was afraid it +would bite my hand," said Frederick. "And would +you rather it had bitten your back?" asked Mr. Ormsby.</p> + +<p>"It must have fallen upon you accidentally from +the rock above," remarked Gustavus, "and slipped +down your back without intending it, for these animals +are too timid to crawl voluntarily, and in day-time, +over a human being."</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said Frederick, "I shall be told that +this is a just punishment for frightening my sister yesterday +morning, when I set her adrift in the boat."</p> + +<p>"Most assuredly," replied Mr. Ormsby; "and you +have given us another proof that those who find the +greatest pleasure in terrifying others, are, in general, +very easily terrified themselves. To take delight in +giving pain, is cruelty; and courage and cruelty are +rarely found in the same person. However, we will +not have our excursion to West Point spoiled by any +more of your mischievous and unfeeling tricks; therefore +I shall send you down to the city in the first +steam-boat that comes along this evening, and to-morrow +morning you may go to school again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +Frederick was much mortified at the punishment in +prospect, and earnestly besought his father to allow +him to remain; but Mr. Ormsby said to him, "The +pain you feel at being sent home, is nothing to that +you caused your mother and sister when you tried to +make them suppose you had fallen down the precipice."</p> + +<p>"But I will do these things no more," said Frederick. +"So you said yesterday," replied Mr. Ormsby, +"after cutting the boat adrift with your sister in it."</p> + +<p>"Dear father," said Madeline, "did he not suffer +sufficiently for that, when he believed that a snake +was crawling down his back? Pray let him have no +more punishment on that account."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ormsby, who was the fondest of mothers, +now interceded for Frederick, and her husband at last +yielded to her intreaties, and allowed him to remain, +on condition of the best possible behaviour during the +remainder of their stay at West Point.</p> + +<p>After stopping on the plain to see the evening +parade of the cadets, and to hear the band, the +Ormsbys returned to the hotel and took tea. The +night being perfectly clear and dry, and the moon at +the full, Gustavus proposed to them a visit by moonlight +to the ruins of Fort Putnam.</p> + +<p>Ascending the steep and rocky path that leads up +the side of the mountain, amid the deep shade of the +woods, that resounded with the croak of the tree-frog, +and the rapid and singular cry of the night-hawk—they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> +emerged into an opening where the moon shone +brightly down, and arrived at the entrance of the +fort—whose ruins are scattered over a large space of +ground, now covered with grass and wild flowers. +They looked into the arched and gloomy cells which +once served as quarters for the garrison, or receptacles +for military stores; and ascending the eastern rampart +by a few narrow steps of loose and tottering stone, +they looked down upon the whole extent of the plain +lying far below them, with its gardens and houses, on +whose windows the moonbeams glittered; its extreme +point terminating in a ledge of naked rocks, running +far out into the river. They saw a steam-boat coming +down, all cast into shade, except the sheets of flame +that issued from her chimneys, and her three lanterns +sparkling far apart, their brilliant lights reflected on +the water; after turning the point, her form was distinctly +defined, as she crossed the broad line of moonlight +that danced and glittered on the silent river.</p> + +<p>Gustavus then conducted his friends to the western +side, where the shattered walls of the old fort run +along the utmost verge of a perpendicular mass of +rock of a stupendous height. Mrs. Ormsby and +Madeline shuddered as they looked over the broken +parapet into the abyss beneath, the bottom of which +is strewed with stones fallen from the lonely ruins; +and Mrs. Ormsby kept Frederick carefully beside +her, and held him tightly by the hand.</p> + +<p>Just then the sound of the fifes, and the drums beating +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +tattoo, ascended from the plain, and our party returned +to the other side of the fort, that they might +hear it more distinctly. Every note was repeated by +the echoes, and the effect was that of another set of +musicians playing immediately beneath the mountain. +It being now half past nine o'clock, they turned their +steps downward; and after proceeding a little distance +they missed Frederick. "Another of his tricks," +said Mr. Ormsby, "this time we will take no notice."</p> + +<p>As they proceeded they heard the most dismal +groans. "Frederick again," said Mr. Ormsby. "Incorrigible +boy! let us, however, walk on; when he +finds that he has failed to frighten us, we shall soon +see him running down the mountain. Twice in one +day is rather too often to make us believe that he has +fallen down the rocks. I wonder he cannot think of +something new. To-morrow, he shall certainly be +sent home."</p> + +<p>They walked on till they reached the foot of the +mountain; Mrs. Ormsby and Madeline again feeling +very apprehensive as to Frederick's safety—though +Mr. Ormsby said he had no doubt he would soon +overtake them, or that perhaps he would strike into +another road, and be at the hotel as soon as they were.</p> + +<p>This, however, did not happen; and after a while, +finding that Frederick did not appear, his father became +really uneasy, and Mrs. Ormsby and Madeline +were exceedingly alarmed. Gustavus had taken a +hasty leave, and left them when they reached the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +plain—being obliged, according to rule, to return to +his room in the barracks before ten o'clock.</p> + +<p>Two officers who were at the hotel, volunteered to +assist Mr. Ormsby in searching for his son; and they +went back to Fort Putnam, where, as they approached +the entrance of the ruins, the groans again were heard. +Guided by the sound, they approached the east side of +the parapet; and looking over, perceived something +moving among the branches of a cedar that grew half +way down. "Frederick!" called Mr. Ormsby. This +time he was immediately answered. "Here, here," +cried Frederick, "I did really fall down this time, +without intending to frighten any body."</p> + +<p>They went to him, and found that the cedar tree +had saved his life by catching him among its branches +and holding him there; but that in the fall he had +severely strained his shoulder. The pain, added to +his fright, and to his total want of presence of mind, +had prevented him from trying to get out of the tree; +and he could do nothing but lie there and groan, being +really very much hurt.</p> + +<p>He was extricated and put on his feet again, and the +two gentlemen assisted Mr. Ormsby in conveying him +down the mountain. "Now," said his father, "had +you not been so much in the habit of raising false +alarms, we should have stopped at once when we heard +your groans, and had gone in search of you; and +you would not have been obliged to remain so long in +the tree, and to have suffered so much before you could +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +be relieved." "Oh!" said Frederick in a piteous +voice, "I feared I should have been obliged to lie +there all night, and perhaps die before any one came +near me. However, it is fortunate I did not fall down +on the side where the precipice is, for I should certainly +have been dashed to pieces among the stones +at the bottom."</p> + +<p>When Frederick was brought to the hotel, his +mother and sister were much shocked on finding him +in such a condition. His shoulder was so swelled +that the sleeve of his coat had to be cut open, as it +was impossible for him to draw his arm out of it. +He suffered great pain, and it was a week before he +was well enough to be taken home; during which +time he made many resolutions of amendment.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, we have the satisfaction of saying, +that this last lesson was not lost on Frederick Ormsby; +and that he ceased to derive amusement from +exciting pain and terror in others.</p> + +<p class="ralign">ELIZA LESLIE.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE RUSTIC WREATH;</h2> + +<p class="title1">OR<br /> +THE GLEANER.</p> + +<p class="center small">BY MRS. HUGHS.</p> + +<p>"Come, papa," said Cecilia Beldon, "come and +sit down beside Louisa and me, in this arbour, and +tell us something about England. You have described +St. Paul's Church, Westminster Abbey, Blenheim +Castle, and a great many other fine places; but we +want to hear something that will give us some idea +of the manners of the people, and the impressions +that were made on your mind by the appearance of +the country generally."</p> + +<p>"That is a request that I shall be very glad to +comply with to the very best of my power," returned +the father, as he seated himself between his two +daughters, and put an arm round the waist of each; +"but it will not be a very easy task to give you an +idea of scenes so very different from any thing that +you have ever seen."</p> + +<p>"Well, try at any rate, papa," said Louisa; "describe +things as well as you can, and we shall, at all +events, get a few ideas, though they may not, perhaps, +be equal to the reality."</p> + +<div><a name="the_rustic_wreath" id="the_rustic_wreath"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_028.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">Painted by W. F. Witherington. <span class="i2">Engraved by J. B. Neagle.</span></p> +<p class="center">THE RUSTIC WREATH.</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> +"True. Then to begin. It was the middle of +September when I landed in England; but unless you +had experienced the monotony of a sea voyage, you +could form little conception of the pleasure with which +I exchanged the continuous prospect of the 'dark blue +wave' of the Atlantic, for the bright and gay scenes +which England presented. You know I had left our +own dear land at a time when, of all others, it appears +to the least advantage; for the fervid heats of a July +sun had scorched every blade of grass, and a long and +distressing drought had given an almost autumnal tint +to the foliage of the trees. The few inhabitants, too, +that remained in the city, looked pale and languid, +and crept along the streets as if deprived of all the +energy that was requisite for the performance of the +business of life, and wishing for nothing so much as a +comfortable place, to rest on the brow of some mountain, +and a portion of Rip Van Winkle's power of +forgetfulness, that they might sleep away the sultry +hours, till the moderated sun, the cool and bracing +nights, and the clear pure air of the autumnal months, +should again give life a zest. But when I arrived in +England, all was life, activity and bustle in the towns; +the people were fresh, ruddy, and animated; while +the humidity of the atmosphere had preserved the +bright tints of vernal beauty over the country. Few +things in the world, perhaps, present a more strikingly +beautiful picture to the eye than an English landscape. +The graceful undulations of the country—the deep +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> +rich verdure that overspreads the ground—the high +cultivation that every where meets the eye, and speaks +of industry and wealth—the gothic edifices, telling +tales of former times—the country seats, which display +at once the elegance and taste of their inhabitants; +and above all, the neat cottages, which impart a truth +most delightful to the benevolent heart, that comfort, +and a considerable portion of refinement, are enjoyed +by even the lowest ranks, are all points of beauty +which are particularly striking to an American traveller; +for they unfold a train of new ideas to his mind, +and he at once realizes all the fairy pictures, the outlines +alone, of which, he had before been able to trace; +and for the first time in his life, he becomes fully sensible +of the magic of Shakespeare, the richness of +Thomson, and the graphic paintings of Cunningham. +Nor did I find the English people less interesting than +the landscape. My letters of introduction placed me, +at once, in the most delightful society, where, if it +had not been for the little girls whom I had left behind +me," added the father, as he pressed his daughters +closer to him, "I might have been in danger of +forgetting that I was not at home."</p> + +<p>"But I always understood, papa," interrupted Cecilia, +"that the English were exceedingly cold and +reserved in their manners."</p> + +<p>"They have that character amongst their neighbours, +the French, who, you know, carry their ideas +of politeness to perhaps rather an extravagant height; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +but such they did not appear to me; nor have I ever +met with an American traveller, that had had an opportunity +of seeing English domestic manners, who +did not bear willing testimony to their frankness, refinement, +and hospitality; indeed, there is a cordiality +in their manner of receiving a stranger, that is an +irresistible evidence of their sincerity.</p> + +<p>"A gentleman, in whose house I became early familiar, +told me one day that he was going to take his +wife and children the following morning to have a +day's ramble in the country, and kindly invited me to +occupy a seat in one of the carriages; and you may +be sure I was much pleased with the opportunity of +peeping at the beauties of nature, amongst a happy +group of children, some of whom, from a similarity +of age, as well as other circumstances, often reminded +me of yourselves.</p> + +<p>"For the first half hour after we had set out on +our little journey, the presence of the 'American +gentleman' rather checked that buoyancy of spirit, +which the suppressed smile, the half whisper, and the +side glance showed was waiting only for a little better +acquaintance, to burst out with the most frolic +gayety; nor was it long before a few well-timed inquiries, +and a happily applied anecdote or two relative +to the scenes of this country, removed the embargo +under which their little tongues had lain, and in a +short time, their mother and I became the listeners, +instead of the talkers, of the company."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> +"This is the birth-day of these two," said the +mother, who seemed, at length, to feel it necessary to +make some apology for the volubility of the party, +and pointing, as she spoke, to two lovely little girls, +who were twins, "and as this treat is given on the +occasion, their father and myself are disposed to +make it as complete as possible, by allowing the +whole party unrestrained indulgence in the pleasures +of talking; an enjoyment, which, I suppose, as you +have children of your own, you can form some idea of."</p> + +<p>"Are your daughters fond of talking?" asked a fine, +open-countenanced girl, about ten years old.</p> + +<p>"They are, indeed. They will not yield the palm +even to you, in that respect, I assure you."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see them. Why did you not +bring them with you?" asked another.</p> + +<p>"If they were here," said one of the little twins, +"I would give them some of my pretty flowers. Are +they fond of flowers?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! certainly; but they have not an opportunity +of cultivating them so much as you do here, for the +excessive heat of our summers, and the severity of +our winters, are particularly unfavourable to flowers. +Besides, you must know, my little girl, that mine is a +very young country, and my countrymen have hitherto +been too busy in draining marshes, felling forests, +and extending the boundaries of civilization and +government, to think much of what is purely ornamental." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span></p> + +<p>"How can America be a young country, mamma?" +asked the other twin sister. "I thought the world +had all been created at one time."</p> + +<p>"Julia, can you explain that difficulty to your sister?" +asked their mother, of one of her elder +daughters.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," replied Julia, colouring at being thus +called upon, yet speaking without hesitation or awkwardness, +"the reason of America being called a +young country, is because it is only about three +hundred years since it was discovered by Columbus; +and before that time, it was only inhabited by savages, +who knew nothing of building houses, or cultivating +the ground, or any of those things."</p> + +<p>"We had a great deal of conversation of this kind, +which proved the children to be both intelligent, and +accustomed to think and inquire for themselves; and +the time went over so pleasantly, that I was quite surprised +when the stopping of the carriage announced +the termination of our ride. The farm house, at +which we stopped, was a neat, substantially built stone +house, with a pretty green, enclosed by well painted +white rails in front, and a large garden at one side, +surrounded by the same kind of enclosure, and proving, +by its clean walks, its neat well weeded beds, and +the variety of flowers and vegetables which flourished +in it, that horticulture was considered a part of the +owner's business. Though we arrived early, the cattle, +which had been collected for the purpose of being +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +milked, in the neat well paved farm yard, were already +dispersed, the business of the dairy despatched, +and the cheese made; but we were just in time to +see the wholesome breakfast of bread and cheese +and milk, set out for the troop of reapers, whom we +saw in the distance, following each other with beautiful +regularity, cutting down the ripened grain, and +binding up the sheaves. On the summons for breakfast +being given, the whole group, with good humoured, +though noisy hilarity, hastened to the house; and +I, whilst astonished at their number, which was so +much greater than I had ever seen engaged in a similar +way at home, was amused with the variety of +young and old, grave and gay, and male and female, +which it exhibited. I was surprised, however, to find, +that even after the reapers were all assembled round +the breakfast table, the field which they had left was +still covered over with a great many stragglers, who +appeared to wander about without any definite object +in view, whilst the master, with his stick thrown over +his shoulder, strolled about amongst them, as if his +work was not yet suspended. Upon inquiry, I found +that these were gleaners, a race of beings of whom +we know nothing in this country, except through the +poets; and my imagination instantly taking flight at +the name, I hastened to the field, not doubting that I +should find a Ruth, or a Lavinia, to fill the only corner +that was now vacant of the brilliant picture before me. +For a long time, however, creeping age, and infant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> +hands, were the only objects which met my view, and +I was about to leave the field, disappointed that no +'form fresher than the morning rose' had met my +view, when, turning to a remote corner, a being attracted +my attention, whose loveliness would require +the pen of a Thomson to describe. It was a young +female, who had laid an infant, of which she was evidently +the youthful mother, upon the bundle of corn +which she had just gathered, and left it under the protection +of a faithful guardian, a large dog, which still +kept watch by its side. I conjectured, that the infant +had been asleep when first laid there, but it was now +awake, and was tossing about its little hands and feet, +and crowing in great glee, highly delighted with a +flower that it had accidentally caught in its little hand. +The mother had, probably, come when the reapers +left the field, to take her breakfast of bread and milk, +which was in a basket near her, as well as to look +after the safety of her child; and finding it so happy +on its rural bed, she had allowed it to remain there, +whilst she, with a mother's vanity, amused herself +with ornamenting its little hat with some of the ears of +corn that she had just gathered. I do not know that +even Thomson would have described her as beautiful, +though certainly, 'a native grace sat fair proportioned +on her polished limbs,' and the sweet expression of +maternal tenderness, which beamed from her eye, and +illumined her whole countenance, would have afforded +ample scope to his descriptive powers. I stood riveted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +to the spot, and gazed on this interesting young creature +and her child, both as lovely as poet's dream, or +the flower that the traveller sees springing from the +arid sand of the desert. I took my pencil and endeavoured +to sketch the group, with the farm house +and the village spire in the distance; not however, for +myself, for the picture rests on my mind in more vivid +colours than ever were spread on painter's palette, but +with the hope of giving you some faint idea of the +loveliness that had so much seized my own fancy."</p> + +<p>"Ah, papa," said Louisa, archly, "I see, though +you are always so anxious to keep us from setting +much value on personal beauty, that you admire it as +much yourself as any body does."</p> + +<p>"You must remember, however, Louisa," returned +her father, "that what I have spoken of, is that most +delightful species of beauty which is expressive of +high moral qualities; and this depends not on regularity +of feature, or perfection of form, but on that +which is infinitely superior to both, good and amiable +dispositions. Where the mind is pure, the thoughts +elevated, and the sentiments liberal and kind, a pleasing +expression will be found to pervade the most rugged +set of features that were ever bestowed upon a +human being. Besides, this species of beauty is highly +improvable, for as the mind becomes cultivated—as +it takes a wider range among the works of nature, +and a deeper interest in the happiness of its fellow-beings, +and the cultivation of its own powers, the expression +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +of the face will become more refined and elevated. +The chief beauty which struck me in the English +gleaner, was that of expression, the expression of +a kind and amiable heart, and the light of moral +goodness illumined her countenance: and it is that +species of beauty alone, my dear children, for which +I am anxious to see you conspicuous."</p> + +<p>"But, papa!" exclaimed both the sisters at once, +as their father now rose from his seat, "you must +not leave us so soon, we have not heard half enough +about England yet."</p> + +<p>"I have spent as much time with you as I can +spare at present, but will take an early opportunity of +indulging myself in retracing some more English +scenes, many of which were as new, though few +more interesting than the Gleaner."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE STORM.</h2> + +<p class="center">BY MRS. HUGHS.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,</div> +<div class="line i0h">And waste its sweetness on the desert air."</div> +</div></div></div> + +<p>"Will you come to our house, and help Jenny, +for my mother is very ill?" said a little girl, in the +feeble accents of childhood, whilst she knocked at the +door of a cottage. The voice was weak, but it uttered +tones, which, though they may sometimes be +heard with indifference by the inmates of a palace, +never fail to find a ready way to the heart of the humble +cottager. "What sound is that I hear?" said +the mistress of the lowly dwelling, as the voice of +the child roused her from a sound sleep; "was I +dreaming? or did I really hear a voice?"</p> + +<p>"Will you come to my mother, for Jenny thinks +she is dying?" continued the little girl, as she again +applied her hand to the door. Convinced now that it +was no dream, the benevolent cottager started from +her bed, and opening the door, exclaimed in a tone +of surprise, "Why, Sally, is that you?—Here, all +by yourself, in the very dead of night!"</p> + +<p>"My mother is so ill that Jenny could not leave her, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> +and she had nobody else to send to ask you to come +and help her."</p> + +<p>"Come John, get up directly!" said the woman, +rousing her husband, who under the influence of a +previous day of hard labour, had slept too soundly to +hear what passed. "Get up! for you will very likely +have to go for the doctor. And come in, Sally +dear, till I get something on me, and I will go with +you in a minute."</p> + +<p>Very little preparation was necessary, and in a few +minutes the kind hearted woman hastened to the house +of sickness, accompanied by the little girl, and followed +by her husband, who though no less willing, was +much less able to throw off the lethargic influence of +sleep, and trudged after the nimble feet of his wife as +if scarcely conscious whither he was going. As the +distance was very short, he had no time to get fully +awake, before the little Sally opened the door of her +mother's house and ushered himself and his wife in; +but on entering, a sight presented itself to their view +that instantly roused every feeling of the soul to pity +and commiseration. On a humble bed, in the corner +of a very humble apartment, lay stretched the form of +her to whose assistance they had been summoned; +not, however, either writhing with pain or burning +with fever, but cold, stiff, and lifeless; whilst a bowl +stood near, which told at once, by its contents, that the +rupture of a blood vessel had produced the sad catastrophe. +By the side of the bed knelt her daughter, a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +girl about sixteen, who, "struck with sad anguish at +the stern decree," seemed to retain little more of life +than the corpse, the hand of which she grasped between +hers, whilst her eyes were riveted on the motionless +face, with an expression of the most heartrending +agony. Grief wears a variety of forms, according +to the nature of the mind of which it takes +possession; but it assumes no appearance that imparts +so immediate a sense of its intensity to the heart of +the spectator, as that silent and speechless sorrow that +finds no relief from utterance. In vain did the benevolent +neighbours endeavour to rouse the poor girl from +her trance of wo; the stroke had been so sudden, so +unlooked-for, and was so appalling in its nature, that +poor Jenny, though she had been long familiar with +adversity, seemed ready to sink under it, without a +single effort to resist its overpowering influence.</p> + +<p>"Jenny! dear Jenny! don't take on this way!" +said the humane neighbour, whilst her husband raised +the almost insensible girl from her kneeling posture +by the bed-side, and placed her on a chair. The +little Sally imagining, from the stillness that prevailed, +that her mother had fallen asleep, had kept at a distance +from the bed-side, lest she should by any means +disturb her; but now beginning to wonder why her +sister should thus be the chief object of anxiety, she +had crept softly forward to investigate the cause, and +set her eyes, for the first time in her life, on the features +of death. The sudden cry which she gave, was the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> +first sound that reached the heart of the grief-stricken +Jenny; and as the weeping child ran toward her, +she opened her arms, and clasping her to her bosom, +wept over her in all the luxury of sorrow. Her +compassionate neighbours knew enough of the human +heart, to judge it best to leave her to herself; +and, therefore, summoning some other of their friends +to their assistance, they busied themselves about the +various offices for the dead, and left poor Jenny to +the undisturbed indulgence of her wo. But Jenny's +grief was too intense to allow her long the relief of +tears, and she sat, almost motionless, clasping the little +Sally in her arms, who had soon wept herself to +sleep, and waited till she was permitted again to +throw herself by the side of her lifeless parent, and +watch over the remains of what she had so fondly +loved. This indulgence was all that she desired, and +all of which she was capable of partaking; and she +sat watching the body almost without either speaking, +or moving, till the moment arrived when it was +to be deposited in its last silent mansion. Then it +was, that the poor girl felt that she had indeed lost +her beloved parent for ever. Whilst the lineaments +still remained before her view, on which she had so +long delighted to gaze, even though they were cold +and motionless, she felt as though she had still something +to rest upon; but when these too were taken +away, when the very shell which the soul of affection +had once inhabited, was removed from a world +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +in which she herself was still to remain, she, for the +first time, became sensible of that total destitution of +soul that is felt after the loss of those we love. Happily, +however, for poor Jenny, she was forbidden, by +the calls of imperative necessity, to indulge in unavailing +sorrow; and the exertions that her forlorn +situation demanded, proved the most effectual balm +to her wounded bosom; and gradually, a meek submission +to the will of Him to whom she had been +taught from her earliest infancy to bow in humble +confidence, superseded that bitter anguish which had +at first swelled her heart almost to bursting.</p> + +<p>The parent, whom Jenny so deeply mourned, had +been left a widow some months before the little Sally +was born. She had two children then living; Jenny, +who was at that time about nine years old, and a boy, +five years her senior. The mother had, before her +marriage, been an upper servant in a genteel and respectable +family, and had acquired, in consequence, +a degree of cultivation superior to the situation in +which her marriage afterwards placed her. The +chief ambition of her heart was to keep her children +under her own eye, and to train their infant minds to +religion and virtue. But William, her boy, who was +fourteen at the time of his father's death, soon began +to be anxious to do something for himself; and, as +the surest and shortest means of attaining that desirable +end, he had fixed his mind upon the sea. In +vain did his mother remind him that the salt wave +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +had been the grave of his father, or endeavour to +impress upon his mind the many anxious days and +sleepless nights he would thus impose upon her; he +saw no other means half so likely to enable him, in +the course of a few years, to provide for her and his +sisters, and to relieve her delicate frame from the +hardship, which it was so ill calculated to bear, of +labouring for their subsistence. "Besides, mother," +remonstrated he, "I have no other chance of seeing +the world, but by being a sailor, and I could never be +happy without seeing some of the strange countries +that my father used to tell me about. And you know, +too," continued the generous boy, looking as he +spoke, at his elder sister, to whom he was exceedingly +attached, "by the time that I am out of my apprenticeship, +Jenny will be almost grown up, and +with the wages I can then earn, and your good management, +we shall be able to give her some good +schooling, and keep her at home with you; for she +is too pretty and too delicate to go to service." +Jenny was indeed beautiful, even at that early age, +and every year, as it added to her height, increased +also the grace and loveliness of her form. Her features +were regular, her complexion not only fair but +almost transparent, while her bright auburn locks +hung in luxuriance about her face and shoulders. +But it was not in the symmetry of feature or the +grace of form, that Jenny's beauty was centered. It +was the inward harmony which presided over all, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> +and gave to her full blue eyes an expression of the +most touching sensibility, that made her an object so +delightful to look upon: and her mother felt, as she +gazed upon her, that she must perform her own duties +ill indeed, if, even without any higher advantages +of education than she could herself give her, the +lovely bud, as it expanded into maturity, did not become +a flower worthy of being transplanted into the +most highly cultivated garden.</p> + +<p>William went to sea, and his mother had all the +satisfaction that a mother's heart can enjoy, of hearing +his master express, at every return of the vessel, +the highest approbation of his conduct. Thus supported +and comforted by her children, she laboured +incessantly but cheerfully for her own and their support, +at first as a seamstress; but this sedentary occupation +being unfavourable to her constitution, she afterward +rented a small cottage to which was attached +a garden of considerable extent, which Jenny and +she managed to cultivate themselves, with the aid of +very little hired assistance; and, from the sale of the +produce, she contrived to make a scanty but respectable +livelihood. Time thus rolled on, Jenny had +completed her thirteenth year, and her William was +within a few weeks of being out of his time. But +alas! William was away, and many weeks, nay +months, had passed over without his having been +heard of. Again and again, had she gone to the +owners to inquire after him, but in vain; no tidings +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +had been received of the vessel since she had left +the port at which she had taken in her lading, and +had sailed homeward bound; and though the usual +length of the passage was that of two or three +weeks at furthest, above thrice that number had +elapsed without any tidings of her having been received.</p> + +<p>The poor widow had, on the evening previous to +her death, again been at the owner's on the mournful +errand of inquiring after her lost boy, and had +again returned disappointed and dejected. She had, +on her way thither, been overtaken by a heavy +shower of rain, which had wet her clothes quite +through. She had paid no attention, however, to the +circumstance; for her mind was engrossed with the +thought of her child, and though Jenny, on her return +home, used every means in her power to prevent +her taking harm from it, a cough, to which she +had always been subject, and which at that time was +worse than usual, soon showed how much injury she +had received. In a violent paroxysm of coughing, +she had ruptured the blood-vessel that put so sudden +a period to her existence, and left poor Jenny alone +and destitute in the world,—alone except the little +helpless being, whose dependence upon her seemed +only to make her situation still more deplorable. +Jenny's mind, however, was one of those which, +though tuned to every gentle feeling, yet possessed +a native strength which rose in proportion to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +pressure of misfortune; so that, as she looked upon +little Sally, and considered that she was now, in all +probability, her only earthly protector, she felt a tenderness +almost parental rise within her, and she determined +to resist every inclination to selfish indulgence +of her feelings, and exert every energy for the +support of her little orphan sister,—the posthumous +heir of poverty and sorrow. But let not those who +are surrounded by plenty, even though mourning the +loss of some beloved relative, imagine that they know +the difficulties of the task that poor Jenny had to +perform; nor yet those who though pressed by the +hard gripe of poverty, have yet some remaining +friends from whom they have a right to claim the +tender balm of sympathy; for of these comforts +poor Jenny was equally destitute, and she found herself +standing alone in the wide world, poor, friendless, +and forlorn; deprived of "every stay save innocence +and Heaven." It is true, some faint hope +still played about her heart, that her beloved brother—her +kind, her affectionate William, might yet be +restored to her; but every day, as it passed over her +head, made that hope more faint, till, like the hues +of its own bow, which gradually fade into ether, it +died away by degrees in her bosom; and at length +scarce a tint remained to give its colouring to the +mental horizon. Still, however, she bore up and +struggled against the despondency that threatened to +lay hold of her mind; and even though grim want +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +seemed ready to stare her in the face, her steadfast +spirit, relying upon the goodness of that superintending +Power, that is ever ready to be a father to the +fatherless, looked up to heaven with a confident hope +that she would not be forgotten. "Will He," she +would say, as she watched the fruit ripen, or the seed +germinate, "will He who takes care of all these +things and gives them the nourishment which they +require, turn a deaf ear to the cry of his orphan children? +It cannot be! That little bird," she continued, +"is pouring forth its soul in thankfulness and joy, +though it has no stores laid up for to-morrow, and I +too will trust to the same protecting Power." But +from what source to-morrow's fare was to be derived, +poor Jenny could form but little idea. Autumn was +now far advanced, and the produce of their garden +had become very scanty, whilst the expenses attendant +on her mother's funeral had entirely exhausted +their small store of money; so that when the little +Sally complained of hunger, and begged that she +would give her something to eat, she put the last +morsel of bread into her hands, totally at a loss to +conjecture whence the money was to be derived that +was to purchase more. "Why will you not eat any +yourself, Jenny?" said the child, as she eagerly devoured +the dry morsel. "I am sure you must be +hungry, for I have not seen you eat any thing to-day." +"I do not want to eat," replied Jenny, forcing +herself to speak in a cheerful tone, though she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +felt at the same moment that the coarsest food would +be to her a most delicious repast. "Is it because +there is no more in the house?" asked Sally, whose +mind, for the first time, received the idea of their +scanty provision. Jenny was silent. "There is +more bread here than I want," said the child, breaking, +as she spoke, the piece of bread that she had +before declared was not half so much as she could +eat. "Take this piece, Jenny, I don't want it, and I +am sure you will like it after you have tasted it."</p> + +<p>Jenny had watched, with a dry eye, her little sister +devouring their last morsel of food, whilst she herself +was suffering under the most importunate demands of +hunger; but this tender sympathy in the child, and +her willingness to give up a part of what she so much +needed herself, brought a flood of tears to her eyes. +"He, who feeds the young ravens when they cry +cannot let such sweetness and innocence suffer for +want of food," said she inwardly, as clasping the +child in her arms, she bathed her cheeks with her +tears. "Don't cry, Jenny," said the affectionate little +girl, as she wiped the tears from her sister's eyes +with her little apron. "Don't cry. Indeed I don't +want any more just now, and I dare say you will get +another loaf before I am hungry again. And who-knows +but William may come back, and then we shall +have every thing that we want? You have not been +at the owner's lately, Jenny, to ask about the ship," +continued the child, anxious to divert her sister's mind +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +from the sad subject of her reflections. "Why don't +you go, Jenny?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid there is little use in it," answered +her sister in a tone of despondency.</p> + +<p>"But try, Jenny, just try once more, and perhaps +good news may come when you are not expecting +it."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will go now," returned Jenny; "and," +added she, "there are a few plums on the old tree +that we will take with us, though they are not half +ripe yet; and perhaps we may get somebody to give +us as much for them as will get bread enough to +keep us from starving at least one day longer." A +little basket was soon filled with the plums, and they +set out, once more cheered by that hope which seldom +totally forsakes the bosom of youth and innocence: +but, on arriving at the owner's, Jenny was +surprised to find all in a state of confusion. The +servant that came to the door was evidently much +agitated, and on Jenny's making her accustomed inquiry +if any thing had yet been heard of the ship, +she was told by the girl that a letter had, a very short +time before, been received by her mistress, informing +her that some wrecks of the vessel had been cast +ashore, and some of the sailors' chests, among which +was one bearing the name of William Anderson; +and that there was every reason to believe that all +the crew were lost. Here then was a fatal blow to +all the fond hopes that Jenny had so anxiously cherished; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> +and her affectionate brother, on whom she +had relied for support and consolation in the hour of +affliction, had himself found a premature and watery +grave. The servant's sympathy was too powerfully +excited for the distress of her mistress, whose husband +had filled the double station of master and +owner, to leave much to bestow upon poor Jenny; +so that, after giving her all the information in her +power, she turned from the door, leaving the two orphan +sisters to themselves to mourn over their share +of this heavy calamity. Jenny turned her steps +homeward, with a heart bowed down with affliction, +and was only made conscious of where she was and +whither she was going, by the questions that Sally +occasionally put to her. "Look at that black cloud, +Jenny," said the child, "I never saw such a cloud +before. Do you think we can get home before the +rain comes on?" Jenny looked up and saw that the +sky had indeed a most portentous aspect; but the +gloom that surrounded her only seemed to be in unison +with the state of her mind, and she almost felt rejoiced +that nature did not wear the appearance of +gladness, whilst she felt that all was darkness within. +"Isn't that thunder?" asked Sally, as a deep +and distant murmur rolled round the horizon. "And +there is lightning, and there is another flash," continued +the child; "Oh! I wish we were at home." +Jenny saw the lightning and heard the thunder, but +she heard and saw almost without being conscious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +that she did either; for her mind was absorbed in +the idea of her beloved brother having been exposed +to a storm, such as that which was approaching, accompanied +with the additional horrors of a tempestuous +ocean. A violent gust of wind now swept past +them, and the thunder which, only a moment before, +had rolled at a distance, burst over their heads with +a noise which seemed to shake the very ground on +which they stood; whilst the clouds brooded around +in almost midnight darkness, or only parted to emit +flashes of lightning, that, for the instant, illumined +every object.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Jenny, what must we do?" cried the little +Sally, shrinking with fear, and putting her hands to +her ears to shut out the noise of the thunder. Jenny +put her arm round the neck of the child, and pressed +her tenderly toward her, as, looking up at the forked +shafts which flew across the skies, she inwardly +breathed the prayer that he who rolls the thunderbolt +and sends the lightning forth, if it was his pleasure +that they should either of them fall beneath the stroke, +would in his mercy let them sink together; and not +leave one remaining, the helpless or wretched survivor +of the other.</p> + +<p>Jenny perhaps never looked more beautiful or interesting +than she did at that moment, as she stood +turning her back to a storm which she no longer felt +the power to resist, her arm passed with an almost +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +maternal tenderness round the neck of her orphan +sister, who seemed to rest against her as if assured +that she was under the care of a protecting angel; +and her fine eyes raised to heaven with a mingled +expression of steadfast faith and humble submission. +"My mother! my dear William!" she faintly uttered, +"perhaps these shafts of lightning are sent as +the messengers of our re-union." As she said this, a +voice seemed to be borne along on the wind, and she +almost fancied that she heard her own name pronounced. +"It is a wild thought," she continued internally, +"but I could almost imagine that William's +voice is in the wind, and that he is calling me to join +him and our blessed mother in the regions above." +Again the voice sounded in her ear, and again, and +again—it grew louder and more distinct—what could +it mean? Was she already in the region of spirits? +or were those angelic beings really permitted, as has +sometimes been imagined, to revisit this world and +hover over those whom they had loved on earth? +As she asked herself the question, she turned round, +but what words can express her feelings when, on +doing so, she beheld, hastening toward her with all +the speed that the violence of the storm would permit, +the beloved brother whom she had believed to +be the inmate of a watery grave! Her mind had +been strung to too high a degree of agony, and she +was too much exhausted from the want of food, to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +bear this sudden revulsion of feeling without sinking +under it. She uttered a scream, and made an attempt +to rush forward, but her limbs became powerless, +a film came over her eyes, and she would have +sunk on the ground, had not William reached her in +time to receive her in his arms. So deep was the +swoon into which she had fallen, that there was time +for her to be conveyed to a house that was at no very +great distance, before her consciousness again returned +to her. When it did, she started up, and looked +eagerly around, as if to assure herself that the object +she had seen had not been a mere vision of the +imagination; but she was soon convinced of the happy +reality, for her eye immediately rested on her beloved +William as he stood trying to still the cries of +the little Sally, who could not be convinced that the +insensible state in which Jenny lay was not equally +hopeless as that which she had first witnessed at the +time of her mother's death.</p> + +<p>A copious flood of tears now came to Jenny's relief, +which she was permitted to indulge for a considerable +time without interruption, and then her brother +led her gradually on to speak of their mother, and +describe the particulars of a death of which little +Sally had already informed him; after which, he +proceeded to satisfy her curiosity respecting himself. +It appeared that a long continuation of high and contrary +winds had kept the vessel buffeting about the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> +ocean for many weeks, till at length a storm, too powerful +to be resisted, had driven her on the coast, where +she soon became a total wreck. Happily for William, +however, he had been so fortunate as not only +to save his own life, but that of his captain also, who +had become so completely benumbed with cold and +long exposure to the storm, as to be totally incapable +of assisting himself, and must have been an unresisting +prey to the angry waves, had not the generous +youth determined to try to save him, even at the most +imminent hazard of his own life. After many difficulties +and dangers, he succeeded in gaining a footing +on shore for both his captain and himself, but it +was a considerable time before the former was able +to proceed homeward; but when he was, they hastened +on in the hope of preceding the news of their +misfortunes. The letter, however, giving an account +of the portions of the wreck which had been washed +on shore, on a part of the coast at some distance from +that on which they had landed, had arrived a short +time before them; indeed, they had reached the captain's +house only a very few minutes after Jenny and +her little sister had left it, and William had lost no +time in hastening after them. "We have weathered +a heavy gale," said he, after he had given his sisters +this account, "but it is all over now; and what is +better, our captain declares he will never go to sea +again, but will give me the command of the new vessel +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +which he is going to have built. He says that I +saved his life, and he is determined to prove a father +to me in return."</p> + +<p>"Oh! my mother," cried Jenny, clasping her +hands and raising her eyes in thankfulness to +Heaven, "why are you not here to enjoy this happy +moment!"</p> + +<p>"And why should you not, my dear girl," said the +lady into whose house Jenny had been carried, and +who had listened with great interest to the conversation +between the brother and sister; "why should +you not believe not only that she sympathizes in your +happiness, but that her views of the great scheme of +Providence are now so enlarged, as to render her +capable of perceiving that, what we here call evils, +are as mere motes in the balance, when put in competition +with the great sum of happiness which awaits +the virtuous hereafter? Upon the benevolent plan +on which all creation is formed, the petty distinctions +of rich and poor, high and low, on which we are apt +to place so much importance, will soon be lost in the +grand and comprehensive distinctions of virtue and +vice; to which standard alone, all will be brought, +and which may at once place the humblest peasant +above the proudest monarch."</p> + +<p>"Yes! yes! Jenny," said the young sailor, "we +know that whatever storms may beset us, we still +have a never-failing Friend, always at hand, who will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +steer us to a safe harbour at last. So come, my +sweet lilly and my pretty rose-bud," added he, taking +a hand of each of his sisters, "cheer up, my +girls! for, though the winds still blow and the skies +frown, by the blasts of poverty, at least, you shall +never more be assailed, as long as your brother's arm +has power to protect you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE MYSTERIOUS PICTURE.</h2> + +<p class="center small">TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.</p> + +<p class="hanging">The following extraordinary story is declared by the authoress, Mademoiselle +Vanhove, to be strictly true in its leading incidents.</p> + +<p>Madame Dorival was the widow of a distinguished +French officer, who had died in the service of his +country. Finding it difficult, without the closest economy, +to support her family genteelly on the pension +allowed her by government, and being anxious to +secure an independence for her children in case of +her death, she was induced to open a boarding-school +in the vicinity of Paris. The assistance of her two +highly accomplished daughters, Lucilla and Julia, +made the employment of female teachers unnecessary; +but she engaged the best masters for music, +dancing, drawing and painting, and the fashionable +foreign languages. Her establishment was conducted +on a most liberal scale, and each of the twenty +young ladies who became her pupils had a separate +apartment.</p> + +<p>Among these young ladies, was Josephine Vericour, +who took lessons in miniature painting, with the view +of exercising that branch of the art as a profession; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> +the circumstances of her family being such that it +was necessary to educate her, in the prospect of +turning her talents to a profitable account.</p> + +<p>Her imagination being deeply impressed with this +object, she thought of it nearly all day, and dreamed +of it at night. That she had much natural talent for +drawing, was unquestionable; but she was only fifteen, +she was not a prodigy, and in every thing she +had as yet produced was to be found a due portion of +errors and defects. With an ardent ambition to excel, +Josephine was the victim of a painful and unconquerable +timidity, and an entire want of confidence in +herself. She had attempted likenesses of all her +school-mates, one after another, and was disheartened +and discouraged because none of them were perfect, +and was overwhelmed with mortification when she +heard them criticised. The remarks of the gentleman +who instructed her, though very judicious, were +often so severe, that she was frequently almost +tempted to throw away her pencil in despair, and she +never painted worse than when under the eye of her +master.</p> + +<p>One morning in the garden, she was struck with +the graceful and picturesque attitude in which two of +her companions had unconsciously thrown themselves, +one of them, having put her arm round the waist of +the other, was pointing out to her notice a beautiful +butterfly that had just settled on a rose. Josephine +begged of the girls to remain in that position while +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> +she sketched them on the blank leaf of a book. +Afterwards she made a separate drawing of each of +their faces, and then transferred the whole to a large +sheet of ivory, intending to make a picture of it in the +miniature style. But she determined to work at it in +her own chamber, at leisure hours, and not to allow +it to be seen till it was entirely finished. In six +weeks there was to be a private examination, at which +premiums were to be awarded to those who excelled +in the different branches taught at Madame Dorival's +school. Seven of the young ladies were taking +lessons in miniature-painting, all of whom, in the eyes +of the diffident Josephine, possessed far more talent +than herself. Still, she knew that industry, application, +and an ardent desire to succeed, had often effected +wonders; and she was extremely anxious to gratify +her parents by obtaining the prize, if possible.</p> + +<p>In the retirement of her own room she painted with +unremitting solicitude, but, as <em>she</em> thought, with very +indifferent success; and one afternoon, more dissatisfied +than usual with the result of her work, she +hastily took the ivory from her little easel, and put it +into the drawer of her colour-box, which she consigned +to its usual place in the drawer of her table.</p> + +<p>Next morning, what was the surprise of Josephine, +to find her picture standing against the easel on the +table, and much farther advanced than when she had +quitted it the preceding evening, and the faults which +had then discouraged her, entirely rectified. She +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> +tried to recollect if she had really put away the picture, +and her memory recalled every circumstance +of her shutting it up in the drawer. But she had no +recollection of having previously corrected any of +the errors; indeed, she knew that she had not, and +the only way in which she could attempt to solve the +mystery, was to suppose that some one, with the intention +of exciting a laugh at her expense, had come +into her room during the night, taken out the picture, +and re-touched it.</p> + +<p>She mentioned it to no one; but the next night, +to guard against a recurrence of the same trick, she +arranged every thing in the neatest order, locked up +her picture in the secret drawer at the bottom of her +colour-box, and placed it under her bolster.</p> + +<p>But her astonishment was redoubled, when awaking +at an early hour the next morning, she put her hand +under the bolster to feel for her box and found it +gone! She ran to the table, and saw there the colour-box +lying beside the picture, which, as before, was +leaning against the easel, and evidently much improved. +She thought that it now began to look beautifully, +and she could not withdraw her delighted eyes +from contemplating it.</p> + +<p>Still she felt persuaded that it was all a trick, for +which she should pay dearly when an explanation +took place. She was afraid to touch it again, lest +her own inferior pencil should destroy some of its +beauties; though at the same time she remarked a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +few trifling defects, which she had not been conscious +of when painting at it the day before. But rather +than run the risk of spoiling the whole, she preferred +leaving these little imperfections as they were. +Sometimes she thought of showing it to her governess +and to her master; but the time of the examination +approached, and the temptation of keeping the secret +was very great.</p> + +<p>However, she could not resolve to paint at the +picture that day herself. Before she went to bed, +she took the precaution of placing a chair against her +door, which had the bolt on the outside only, the +young ladies not being permitted to fasten themselves +up in their rooms.</p> + +<p>She lay awake for a long time listening, but heard +not the slightest sound, and after a while she fell into +a profound sleep. When she awoke in the morning, +the door was still closed, and the chair standing just +as she had placed it; the picture was again on the +easel; some mysterious hand had again been engaged +on it, and all the faults had disappeared, or been +altered into beauties.</p> + +<p>Josephine stood motionless with amazement. When +her bewildered thoughts settled themselves into a +distinct form, regret was her predominant feeling. +"What shall I do?" said she to herself. "I fear +this mystery if I allow it to go on, will end in something +very vexatious; and yet it may be only from +motives of kindness that some unknown person steals +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +into my room at night, and works at my picture with +a skill far surpassing my own. Since I did not mention +it at first, were I now to relate this strange story, +I should lose my character for veracity, as no one, +I am sure, would believe me."</p> + +<p>She painted no more at the picture, but put it away +as usual. That night she placed her washing-stand +against the door, laying her soap on the edge, so that +if moved, it would fall, and having gone to bed very +sleepy, she soon closed her eyes in her usual deep +slumber. In the morning, the washing-stand was still +against the door, the soap had not fallen, the picture +was once more on the easel, and—it was finished!</p> + +<p>At the breakfast-table she stole inquiring glances at +the countenances of her school-mates, but none of +them looked particularly at <em>her</em>, and none of them +averted their eyes from her gaze. All seemed to +think only of the examination.</p> + +<p>When she returned to her room, she drest herself +for the occasion, and wrapping her picture in her +pocket-handkerchief, she joined her companions, who +walked in procession to the principal school-room, +according to their rank in the class. All the instructors +were assembled. After being examined in several +other branches, the drawings and miniature paintings +were produced. When it came to the turn of +Josephine, she blushed as she presented her beautiful +picture.</p> + +<p>Every one was astonished; it was so far superior +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +to any thing she had done before, particularly the +finishing. The young ladies from whom she had +sketched the figures, being present, every one was +struck with the fidelity of the likenesses, painted, as +they were, chiefly from memory; and great praise +was given, not only to the grace of the attitudes, but +to the easy and natural folds of the drapery, and the +clearness and beauty of the colouring. There was +also the novelty of two figures on the same ivory.</p> + +<p>The superiority of this little picture was so manifest, +that there was no hesitation in awarding the +first prize, which was a small silver palette, to Josephine +Vericour. But to the surprise of every one, +Josephine showed no indication of joy at this signal +triumph. She looked round on all her companions, +seeking to discover the one who had painted the best +part of her picture for her in the night while she +slept. She fixed her eyes steadfastly on Julia, the +youngest daughter of Madame Dorival, who possessed +in a high degree the charming talent of miniature +painting.</p> + +<p>Josephine, who had heard Julia commending her +picture, said to her, "Miss Julia, you may well admire +your own work. I have not merited the prize, +and I will not accept of praises which belong only +to you, to your skill in miniature painting, and to +the kindness of your heart."</p> + +<p>Julia protested that this language was unintelligible +to her, and begged Josephine to explain herself. She +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +did so, and the enigma seemed still more incomprehensible. +Julia positively denied ever having seen +the picture before Josephine produced it at the examination. +In vain did Josephine detail all the circumstances +of its mysterious progress. Her statement +could not be reconciled to the rules of possibility, +and they began to think that her mind was affected +by intense application to her picture. The prize, +however, was decreed to her, in spite of her reluctance +to accept it; and when the examination was +over, the young ladies got together in groups, and +talked with much feeling of the symptoms of mental +derangement which had manifested themselves in the +unfortunate Josephine.</p> + +<p>For a few weeks after the examination, Josephine +allowed her paint-box to remain with those of her +companions in one of the school-room closets, and +painted only under the direction of her master, and +during the time of her regular lessons; but though +there were marks of daily improvement, the miniatures +she now attempted were inferior to the mysterious +picture.</p> + +<p>Being anxious to try again how she could succeed +in the solitude of her own apartment, she there commenced +a miniature of herself, which, if successful, +she intended as a present to her mother. By the assistance +of the large looking-glass that hung over the +table, she sketched the outline of her features with +great correctness, and after she had put in the dead +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> +colouring, (as the first tints are called,) she put away +her work for that day, and went to Julia, whom she +told of the new picture that she had just begun, and +of her anxiety to know whether her nocturnal visiter +would again assist her in completing it.</p> + +<p>"Dear Miss Julia," said poor Josephine, "let me +entreat you to have compassion and tell me the whole +truth. If you have any private reasons for not wishing +it to be generally known, I solemnly promise to +disclose it to no one. Tell me how you always contrived +to enter my chamber in the night without disturbing +my sleep, and how you have been able to +paint so well by candlelight?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Vericour," said Julia, "you surprise me +extremely by seeming to persist in the strange belief +that I am the unknown person who painted in +secret on your picture. This mystery must be solved; +and if you find it so difficult to believe my +word, you must assist me in discovering the truth. +Place nothing to-night against your door; do not +even latch it. Put away your painting apparatus as +usual, and go to bed, and to sleep if you can. I +have thought of a way of detecting the intruder, who, +I suppose, must of course be one of the young ladies. +When she is discovered, she shall be reprimanded, +and made to give up her part in this strange drama, +so that your perplexity will be at an end.</p> + +<p>Josephine acquiesced with joy, and minutely followed +the directions of Julia. All the young ladies +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> +went to bed at nine o'clock, but on this night it was +long after ten before Josephine could compose herself +to sleep. When every one in the house had +gone to bed and all was quiet, Julia Dorival placed +a taper in a small dark lantern, and proceeded with +it to the passage into which Josephine's chamber +opened. There, seating herself on a chair outside +of the door, she remained patiently watching for +more than an hour. No one appeared; the clock +struck twelve, and Julia began to grow tired. She +was almost on the point of giving up the adventure, +when her ear was attracted by a slight noise in Josephine's +room.</p> + +<p>Julia softly pushed open the door, and by the light +of her lantern, she saw Josephine dress herself in +her morning-gown, walk directly to her table, arrange +her painting materials, select her colours, seat +herself before the glass, and begin to paint at her +own miniature. But what was most astonishing, +she worked without any light, which Julia did not +at first remark, having her own lantern beside her +in the passage. She entered the chamber as softly +as possible, and placing herself behind Josephine's +chair, she looked at her as she painted, and was astonished +at the ease and skill with which she guided +her pencil, asleep and in darkness.</p> + +<p>Julia Dorival was twenty years old, and with a +large fund of general information, she was not, of +course, ignorant of the extraordinary phenomenon of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +somnambulism, and of the most remarkable and +best authenticated anecdotes of sleep-walkers. But +among all that she had heard and read on the subject, +she recollected none more surprising than the +case now before her. She knew, also, that persons +under the influence of this singular habit should never +be suddenly awakened, as the shock and surprise +have been known to cause in them convulsions or delirium. +She therefore carefully avoided disturbing +Josephine, and gliding quietly out of the room, she +looked at her for some time from the passage, and +then gently closing the door, she left her to herself +and retired to her own apartment.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Julia excited great surprise in her +mother and sister, by informing them of what she +had seen. They agreed to witness together that +night this interesting spectacle, and of course, not +to mention a word on the subject to Josephine, who, +when she innocently inquired of Julia the result of +her watching, was answered that she should know all +to-morrow.</p> + +<p>They were much affected at the idea that this +young girl's earnest and praise-worthy desire to excel +in the art which was to be her future profession, +should have so wrought upon her mind, even in the +hours of repose, as almost to achieve a miracle, and +to enable her to prosecute employment with more +ardour, and even with more success, in darkness and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> +in sleep, than in the light of day, and with all her +faculties awake.</p> + +<p>At midnight, the three ladies repaired with their +lantern to the chamber door of Josephine. The +sleep-walker was putting on her gown. They saw +her seat herself at the table and begin to paint. +They approached close behind her without the smallest +noise, venturing to bring into the room their lantern; +of its dim light, Josephine was entirely unconscious. +They saw her mix her colours with great +judgment, and lay on the touches of her pencil with +the utmost delicacy and precision. Her eyes were +open, but she saw not with them; though she frequently +raised her head as if looking in the glass.</p> + +<p>Somnambulists see nothing but the object on which +their attention is decidedly fixed; yet their perceptions +of this object are ascertained to be much clearer +and more vivid than when awake. If addressed, +they will generally answer coherently, and as if they +understood and heard; and it is possible to hold a +very rational dialogue with a sleep-walker. But +when awake, they have no recollection of any thing +that has passed during the time of somnambulism.</p> + +<p>Julia ventured to speak to Josephine in a low +voice. "Well," said she, "my dear Josephine, you +know now who it is that paints in the night at your +pictures. You know that it is yourself. Do you +hear me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> +"Does my presence disturb you?"</p> + +<p>"No, Miss Julia."</p> + +<p>"But to-morrow, Josephine, you will not believe +what I shall tell you."</p> + +<p>"Then it will be because I do not remember it."</p> + +<p>"Will you write on this piece of paper something +that I wish to dictate to you?"</p> + +<p>"Most willingly."</p> + +<p>Josephine then took up a lead pencil, and wrote +these words as Julia prompted her:—</p> + +<p>"Midnight.—Talking with Miss Julia Dorival, and +painting at a miniature of myself.</p> + +<p class="left40"><span class="smcap">Josephine Vericour.</span>"</p> + +<p>Julia took the paper, and prepared to retire, cautioning +the young artist not to fatigue herself by +painting too long.</p> + +<p>"Do not fear," replied Josephine, "I always return +to bed as soon as I begin to feel weary."</p> + +<p>The three ladies left the room on tip-toe, as they +had entered it, their minds wholly engrossed with +admiration at the phenomenon they had just witnessed. +Next morning, Julia had some trouble in convincing +Josephine of the fact, but the certificate +in her own writing was an undeniable evidence. +As there is something strange and awful, and frequently +dangerous, in the habit of somnambulism, +no one wishes to possess it; and Josephine was +anxious to get rid of it as soon as possible, even +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> +though it enabled her to paint better than when +awake.</p> + +<p>She would not trust her painting apparatus in her +chamber at night, and she dismissed all thought of +her miniature from her mind as soon as she went to +bed; and was consequently enabled to rest there till +morning as tranquilly as any of her school-mates, all +of whom were much amazed when they heard the +singular explanation of the Mysterious Picture.</p> + +<p>This explanation once given, Madame Dorival +prohibited its becoming a subject of conversation. +Josephine made vigorous efforts to conquer her timidity +in presence of her master, and in a short time +she was able to paint as well under his inspection +as she had done when alone and asleep in the gloom +of midnight.</p> + +<p class="ralign">ELIZA LESLIE.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE FATHER'S PRIDE.</h2> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">There's mischief in thine eye, young boy!</div> +<div class="line">Thy lip has a saucy air—</div> +<div class="line">And the winds breathe on thee health and joy,</div> +<div class="line">As they stir thy golden hair.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">No sorrow flings its shadow o'er</div> +<div class="line">Thy baby heart and brow!</div> +<div class="line">And never at a palace door</div> +<div class="line">Was prouder imp than thou!</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Prythee, don't raise thy little hand,</div> +<div class="line">With such a lordly air!</div> +<div class="line">For pussy laughs at thy command,—</div> +<div class="line">And Carlo doesn't care.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Ah! pretty one! thou'rt very bold,</div> +<div class="line">And pompous in thy stride—</div> +<div class="line">How dost thou know, at four years old,</div> +<div class="line">Thou art a father's pride?</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">When manhood comes, thou wilt be gay—</div> +<div class="line">But not as now—ah, never!</div> +<div class="line">For now to-morrow seems to-day—</div> +<div class="line">Thyself a boy forever!</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Sweet babe! would I again could be</div> +<div class="line">As innocent as thou—</div> +<div class="line">With heaven's pure ray, so calm and free,</div> +<div class="line">Upon my heart and brow!</div> +</div></div></div> + +<div><a name="the_fathers_pride" id="the_fathers_pride"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_071.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">H.W. Pickersgill pinxt. <span class="i8">F. Kearny S<sup>c</sup>.</span></p> +<p class="center">THE FATHER'S PRIDE.</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE PET LAMB.</h2> + +<p class="title1">A TALE.</p> + +<p class="center">BY MRS. HUGHS.</p> + +<p>One cold bleak morning, in the latter end of March, +before winter had quite determined to resign +his tyrannical sway, though he had occasionally permitted +a few soft breezes to woo the opening buds of +the willow and the horse-chestnut, and scatter a few +of the earliest spring flowers over the fields, Farmer +Early happened, on his way to the place where his +labourers were at work, to pass a field in which he +had a number of sheep. Two or three times, as he +proceeded along, by the side of the fence, he thought +he heard a very feeble bleat, and stopped to see if +there was any youngling in need of more aid than +was in its mother's power to render. For some +time, however, he looked in vain, but at length the +sound became more distinct, and soon guided him to +a corner of the field, where he discovered a sheep +lying stretched out on its side, and a lamb, evidently +just born, lying near it. He hastened immediately to +the aid of the little complainer, and found that the +mother was stiff and cold, and that it was itself nearly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +dead, for its feeble frame had been exposed to the +cold bleak wind and occasional falls of snow, without +having any tender mother to protect it from the +withering blast. He immediately took it in his arms +and returned home, though with but little hope that +any thing that could now be done for it would be of +any avail.</p> + +<div><a name="the_pet_lamb" id="the_pet_lamb"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_072.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">W. Collins Del. <span class="i10">F. Kearny Sc.</span></p> +<p class="center">THE PET LAMB.</p> +</div></div> + +<p>"Here, Sally! Sally!" cried he, as he entered +the door of his own house, and immediately his eldest +daughter came forward, on hearing the summons, +"I have brought you something to be kind to. Here +is a poor little lamb that has lost its mother, and you +must try to supply the place of one to it: I am afraid +it will be impossible to save it, but you must see what +you can do." Sally, whose heart overflowed with +tenderness toward every living thing, took the little +trembling creature in her arms, and summoning her +little sisters to partake of the pleasing task, and +indeed to share the fatigue which she was herself +but ill able to bear, she immediately began to prepare +a bed for it by the fire, and to warm some milk +for it.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will live, Sally?" said Peggy, as +she stood by her elder sister's side, "do you think +you can keep it from dying?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so," answered Sally, holding the warm +milk to its mouth as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"I won't let it die," said Kitty, with great earnestness. +"Will you, Sally?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +"Not if I can help it."</p> + +<p>"And if it lives, won't you let me feed it sometimes?" +added Peggy, "and won't you let it be part +mine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it shall be part yours, and you shall help +me to take care of it."</p> + +<p>"And when it can walk, won't you let me take it +out and teach it to run about the green?"</p> + +<p>"I rather think it will be more likely to teach you +to skip," returned her elder sister.</p> + +<p>"I can run about already," said Kitty, and as she +spoke, she gave several bounds across the floor to +prove the truth of her assertion.</p> + +<p>"What will you call it, Sally?" asked Peggy.</p> + +<p>"I think we must call it Croppy, for you know +how the little lambs crop the short grass. How glad +I shall be if we can rear it. I never had a pet in my +life, and a pet lamb, of all things in the world, is +what I shall like the best."</p> + +<p>"You always said I was your little pet," said +Kitty, looking up in her sister's face with an expression +of disappointment.</p> + +<p>"And so you are," answered Sally, kissing her +affectionately; "but Croppy, if it live, will be a pet +to all of us."</p> + +<p>"And it will live—I know it will," said Peggy. +"Only see how much better it looks, now that it is +warm, and has got some good milk."</p> + +<p>The fact was, that little Croppy very soon began +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +to show signs of the good effects of the kind treatment +it had received; and before the day was over, +it could stand, and in a few days more it began to +trot about, and was very soon able to commence the +business of giving the little girls lessons in running. +And here we shall leave him for a while, to give a +short account of the family in which he was now an +inmate.</p> + +<p>Farmer Early's family consisted of Sally, whom +we have just introduced to our readers, and who was +fifteen years old, George, who was about one, and +Tom, who was rather more than two years younger +than she. Besides these, there were two little girls, +Peggy, who was seven, and Kitty, five years old. +They were all rather pretty and very pleasant looking +children; but Sally and George were the most +conspicuously interesting, both in appearance and +manners. George was of a more serious and thoughtful +cast than boys of his age generally are. He was +active, and always willing to do any thing in his +power to assist his father and those around him; but +these duties fulfilled, his chief delight was in reading, +and he would sit for hours together on the top of +a box in the garret, whither he was in the habit of +going for the sake of being out of the noise of the +other children, and would devour with the greatest +eagerness the contents of every book on which he +could lay his hands; and a strange mixture, it must +be confessed, it had been his fate to get hold of. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +had read "The Whole Duty of Man;" "Gulliver's +Travels;" "Cook's Voyages;" "Pilgrim's Progress;" +two or three odd volumes of some of the +Waverley novels, which he had bought for a few +cents a piece at an auction in the neighbouring town, +when sent there on an errand; but of all the treasures +of which he had ever become possessed, and +which seemed likely to have the most powerful influence +over his future character, was the Life of Franklin, +which he likewise purchased for a few cents at +an auction. Eagerly, nay, greedily, did he read this +interesting little volume. And when he rose from +the fascinating task, and recollected that he, who had +become one of the most distinguished philosophers +either of his own, or any other country, who had +been a negotiator with kings, and had done more, +perhaps, for his country than any other man, with +the exception of Washington alone, had once been a +poor, portionless, uneducated boy; and that all the +attainments, all the honours of which he afterwards +became possessed, were entirely the fruits of his +industry and economy, he drew himself up with a +noble feeling of pride and emulation, and said, "I +too, perhaps, may some time or other be a great +man; for every body has the power of being industrious, +economical, and good; and I never can be +much poorer than Franklin was when he first entered +Philadelphia with only a dollar in his pocket, and +when he went and bought a two-penny loaf and +made his dinner off it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +George had not derived his love of reading from +either his father or mother; for though respectable, +they were very ignorant people, and were much +more disposed to regret the disposition of their son +to spend his time, as they conceived, so unprofitably, +than to attempt to supply him with the means of indulging +his prevailing propensity. He was not, however, +without one affectionate and sympathizing +friend, who delighted in aiding him in every laudable +undertaking, and joined with interest in all his praise-worthy +pursuits. His sister Sally was, like himself, +gentle, affectionate, and thoughtful. She was not so +great a reader as George, for, indeed, the instruction +that she had received had been so very limited, and +she had always been kept so constantly employed in +assisting her mother in the household work, and in +taking care of the younger children, that she had +never learned to read with sufficient facility to make +the employment agreeable; but she delighted to listen +to George's accounts of the books he had read, +and was always ready to add her mite to the small +stock of money which he was able to save for the +purchase of more. Fondly, too, would she encourage +all his ardent aspirings after knowledge and virtue, +and all his sanguine anticipations of future eminence; +for to her he could breathe out his thoughts +almost before they were formed in his mind, conscious +as he did so, that they would meet no repulsive check, +no chilling reception, to nip the embryo blossom, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +prevent its ripening into fruit. There was yet another +circumstance which served to unite this affectionate +brother and sister in still closer bonds. Sally had +all her life been exceedingly delicate, and as she +advanced in age, that delicacy evidently rather increased +than diminished; and there was no one of +the whole family that showed so much consideration, +and so tender a sympathy for her weakness, as her +brother George; and the grateful girl never seemed +to think she could make a sufficient return for such +kindness.</p> + +<p>We have spent so much time in dwelling on the +characters of the two elder branches of farmer +Early's family, that we can spare but little more for +the others; nor, indeed, is there much required; for +Tom was, like other boys, active, playful, and careless; +fond of guns, and dogs, and horses; priding +himself upon managing a horse better, and shooting +a partridge with truer aim than any boy in the neighbourhood; +and as to the little girls, they were like +most children of their age, sometimes troublesome, +but more generally good and engaging, and always +interesting to their parents and sister, who repeated +their sayings, and watched their sports with pride and +pleasure, and persuaded themselves that they were +the smartest and prettiest children that were ever seen. +Had the little Kitty, however, been at all less delighted +with their new inmate, Croppy, than she really +was, she might, perhaps, have been a little jealous of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +the attention which he gained from the whole family, +but more especially from Sally, who, as she said, +had never before had any living thing that she could +call her own; and as it soon learned to know her +voice, and would come bounding at her call from the +furthest point of the common before the door, or +would trot by her side to the dairy, anxiously looking +for his usual allowance, she almost wondered at herself +for the fondness which she felt for it. "It is +very silly of me, I know, to be so fond of this little +creature," she would sometimes say, as she mused +over her little pet; "for though he likes me better +than any body else at present, I know very well that +any other person who took the same care of him +would just do as well for him, and I should be forgotten +directly; but yet he seems as if he loved me, +and it is so delightful to be loved, that the attachment +of a little dumb animal makes me feel happy." As +Sally was thus musing, her hands were occupied with +tying together a number of wild flowers which the +children had just brought from the woods, and forming +them into a wreath.</p> + +<p>"What is that for?" asked Kitty, who had sat +looking on so earnestly, that she had been insensible +to the many challenges which Croppy had given her +to a race over the common. "Who are you making +that for, Sally?"</p> + +<p>"You shall see," answered her sister, and immediately +she called "Croppy! Croppy!" and in an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +instant, Croppy, though he had been almost out of +sight at the moment of her calling, was again at her +side. Sally hung the wreath round his neck, but was +obliged to tie it so tight that he could not reach it +with his mouth, or the display of Sally's taste would +soon have been in vain. "Now keep quiet, Croppy, +and do not spoil your garland before George comes +home from the field, because I have dressed you up +in honour of his birth-day. Now be quiet, good Croppy," +continued she, as the little creature, less gratified +by being so ornamented, than worried by the unusual +incumbrance, tried, by rolling himself on the +grass, to disengage himself from it.</p> + +<p>"Oh! here comes George," cried Peggy. "I'll +run and meet him, and bring him to see Croppy +before his birth-day dress is spoiled." But at the +same moment a voice was heard, calling in an +angry tone, "Sally! Sally! how can you think of +setting there on the damp grass, when you have +been so sick all day! I know well enough how it +will be—you will get cold, and will be laid up instead +of helping me to-morrow with the washing." +Poor Sally rose in an instant with a feeling of self-condemnation +at her own carelessness, but her heart +and eyes, at the same time, filling at the manner in +which her mother had upbraided her. As she returned +to the house, she met George hastening to admire +Croppy's finery; but he had heard his mother's +rebuke, and seeing the large tears standing in his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> +sister's eyes, Croppy was immediately forgotten, and +turning round with Sally, he devoted himself the rest +of the evening to cheering and amusing her. "It +only wants a few days now, Sally," said he, seeking, +in the subject the most interesting to himself, the +most probable means of amusing his sister, "it only +wants a few days now to the time of my going to +school. Father has promised me a month's schooling +before the harvest begins, and another when it is +over; and if I am diligent, I can learn a great deal +in that time. Oh, how I long to begin! I dream +about being at school every night; and I always +think that I am learning something that compels me +to study very hard, and I am always so glad, because +I think then I am learning the way to be a wise and +good man. Franklin had very little more schooling +than I shall have had by that time, and as to money, +he was as poor as I am, every bit; for when he first +came to Philadelphia, he had only a single dollar in +his pocket, and yet you see he got to be a very +great man."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Sally, "but he had to study and +work very hard for a great many years first."</p> + +<p>"To be sure he had," returned the brother with +animation; "but then so can I work, and so can I +study; I am not afraid of either. Did not I walk ten +miles yesterday, when I went that errand for the +squire, because he said he would give me a quarter +of a dollar? and here it is," he added, taking the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> +money out of his pocket, and looking at it with great +complacency, "and I mean to get up by day break +in the morning, and go to buy a book with it that I +saw the other day, and that I want to read; I can get +it, I think, for a quarter of a dollar. And I'll tell +you another thing, Sally; I expect by the time I have +finished my month of schooling, you will be a great +deal stronger than you are now, and then I can teach +you every thing that I have learnt, and we shall be +so happy—shan't we, Sally?" Sally smiled assent, +but it was a languid smile, for the ardour of her +youthful mind was checked by the enfeebling influence +of disease.</p> + +<p>The next morning Sally felt very forcibly the ill +effects of her imprudence in sitting on the damp +grass the night before; and though she still recollected +the severe manner in which her mother had +reproved her, she could not but be conscious that the +reproof was deserved. This made her very unwilling +to complain, though she rose with a severe pain +in her side, a burning fever in her veins, and a cough +which was always troublesome, but was now more +than usually distressing. Determined, however, not +to complain, and anxious, if possible, to conceal her +indisposition, she prepared to assist her mother in +every way in her power; and though she felt it +would be impossible for her to stand at the washing +tub, she washed and dressed her little sisters, prepared +the breakfast, and did a variety of offices equally +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +useful, and was in hopes it would escape the observation +of every one, that what she did was performed +under the pressure of more pain and debility than +usual. She was assisted in this concealment by the +absence of George, who had not, at breakfast time, +returned from the town to which he had gone for the +purchase of the book of which he had spoken the +evening before; for had he been present, his watchful +eye, she well knew, would soon have discovered +the oppression under which she laboured. Breakfast, +however, was entirely over before he returned, and +when he did come, he only stayed to eat a piece of +dry bread and take a drink of water, a kind of fare +which would at any time have been sufficient to satisfy +him, but which he had now become extremely +fond of, since he found that Franklin ascribed so +much of his alacrity in business, and his facility in +study, to his adherence to that simple diet; and then +hastened to assist his father in the field. Sally sometimes +almost persuaded herself that her little pet +Croppy saw and understood that all was not right +with his young mistress; for instead of frisking about +the common as usual with the little girls, he kept +almost constantly trotting by her side, every now and +then rubbing his little head tenderly against her, and +appearing quite happy when she stooped down to pat +his head and speak to him in a tone of kindness. +Yet even this slight indulgence seemed almost more +than she had either time or spirits to bestow, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +continual repetition of Sally do this, and Sally do +that, kept her incessantly occupied till late in the +afternoon, when the chief of the business being over, +and she too much exhausted to support herself any +longer on her feet, had just sunk upon a seat, and was +patting the head which Croppy had come and laid on +her lap, when her father and brothers returned from +the field. "Sally," said the farmer, in a tone of +reproach, "you sit patting that lamb as if there was +nothing else to be done. Come, girl," he continued, +taking up a milking bucket as he spoke, "get your +bucket, and let us go and milk the cows." George, +who, at the moment his father spoke, had taken up +his newly purchased treasure, and had got half across +the room on the way to his private retreat, cast a +glance at his sister, and perceiving in an instant that +she was ill, he threw down his book, and saying, "Sit +still, Sally, for I am going to milk this evening," he +took the bucket and hastened after his father. Sally's +heart glowed with affection and gratitude. She had +always loved her brother, but never had he been half +so dear to her as at this moment. "Croppy, you +must love George for being so kind to your mistress," +said she, addressing herself to the lamb for want of +a more sympathizing auditor, "you must love +George for my sake;" and she watched for his return, +impatient to let him know that she understood +and felt his kindness.</p> + +<p>At length, the business of milking over, George +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> +again appeared, but no longer with the glow of animation +on his countenance with which he had returned +from his day's labour, nor yet with the spirit and +alacrity with which he had left the house on his office +of kindness. "Is he sorry now, that he went?" +thought Sally, as she examined his countenance. +"Has he begun to think what a great deal he might +have read in the time that he has been milking?" +"Why don't you go to your book now, George?" +asked she, as she saw that, after disposing of the milk +bucket, her brother placed himself at the end of the +large table, on which he put up his arm, and rested +his head upon it with a look of great distress. +"Why don't you go and read now?" again she +inquired; "there is nothing to hinder you now."</p> + +<p>"Because I don't want to," answered George, in +a tone very different from his usual cheerful, good +tempered voice.</p> + +<p>"George, come here beside me," said Sally, tenderly, +for she began to feel alarmed at the expression +of her brother's countenance.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I can't," returned the boy; "do let me +alone, I don't want to speak."</p> + +<p>Sally's eyes filled with tears. "He is vexed at +me," thought she, "for he thinks I am always in +the way of his improving himself." George got up +and moved towards the stairs. "You are leaving +your book behind you, George," said Sally, glad to +think that he was going at last to his favourite employment. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> +"I don't want it," he replied; "I am +going to bed."</p> + +<p>"George, do tell me what is the matter before you +go; are you sick?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am not sick, but I don't want to talk; so +do let me alone." So saying, he went to bed, and +Sally soon after retired also, but not to sleep. Uneasiness +at the sudden and unaccountable change in her +brother's manner, added double violence to the disease +which was throbbing in her veins; and after a +restless and sleepless night, she attempted to rise in +the morning, but finding herself entirely unable to +do so, she was obliged to lay her head again upon +her pillow. "Aye, this is just what I thought would +be the case," said her mother, who coming up to +see why Sally had not made her appearance, found +her too ill to sit up; "I told you what you would +bring upon yourself by playing and idling your time +away with that little useless pet lamb of yours." +Mrs. Early did not mean to be an unkind mother, +but she, like many other people, had an unfortunate +manner of showing her affection, and generally vented +the uneasiness which the sight of her daughter's +indisposition occasioned, in a tone of reproach, for +which she had not always so much cause as on the +present occasion.</p> + +<p>"I know I was wrong, mother, for sitting upon the +grass," said Sally, mildly, "but say no more about +it, for it cannot be helped; and ask George to come +up and see me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> +"George has been out at work these two hours," +replied her mother, "and here am I with all the +ironing to do, and every thing else to attend to, and +to nurse you into the bargain."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, mother, I don't need any nursing," +returned the poor girl, who, though convinced her +mother did not mean any unkindness by this manner +of speaking, was yet unable to repress the tears +which filled her eyes and forced themselves down her +cheek as she spoke. "Only tell Peggy to bring me +up some water to drink, and I want nothing else."</p> + +<p>"Aye, it's fine talking. But do you think I can +have you lying sick in bed, without coming to look +after you? And I'm sure I don't know how I'm to +find time to do it, and to do all the work besides. +But I will send Peggy up with a drink for you, and +will come up myself as often as I can," added the +mother, as she closed the door after her.</p> + +<p>When left to herself, Sally's mind dwelt continually +on the thought of George's melancholy the night +before, which she was sure was still unremoved, or +he would never have thought of going to work without +first coming to inquire after her. Anxiety to +know the cause only increased the longer she dwelt +upon the subject. In vain did her little sisters try +their utmost efforts to amuse her, for which purpose, +even little Croppy was brought up stairs, and introduced +into the bed room; she looked at it with pleasure, +and gave the little girls strict injunctions to be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> +kind and attentive to it whilst she was unable to be +so herself; but again her mind recurred to the recollection +that something was amiss with her favourite +brother; and this idea, much more than the bodily +pain that she suffered, made every hour appear like +two, till he came home to his dinner. At length she +heard her father's voice below, and knowing that +George was in all probability there also, she knocked +down for her little attendant Peggy, and desired her +to ask George to come up and see her. He came +immediately, and the moment Sally saw him, she +perceived that the same expression of melancholy +remained on his countenance.</p> + +<p>"George," said she, in a gentle, affectionate voice, +as he came toward her bed-side, "I wanted to see +you, to know if you have forgiven me."</p> + +<p>"Forgiven, you, Sally! what had I to forgive?" +asked he, in a tone of surprise.</p> + +<p>"For being the means of keeping you from going +up stairs to read last night."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Sally, you surely do not think that I was +angry at you for being sick?"</p> + +<p>"No, not angry at me for being sick, but angry +at me for having made myself sick by my own imprudence, +and so keeping you from the only enjoyment +you have."</p> + +<p>"And don't you think, Sally, that I would rather +help you than read any book whatever?"</p> + +<p>"I know you have always been very kind in helping +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> +me, but still what made you so sorrowful when +you came in from milking, if it was not that?"</p> + +<p>"It was not that, at any rate," answered George.</p> + +<p>"Then what was it? Do tell me, George, for I +know there is something amiss, and I cannot tell +what it is."</p> + +<p>"It is nothing that you can help, Sally, so keep +yourself easy, and get well again, for that will sooner +bring back my spirits than any thing else."</p> + +<p>"George, do tell me what is the matter. I am +very sick, and it only makes me worse to think of +your being so sorrowful, and I not know the cause."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I am not sorrowful," returned George, endeavouring +to speak cheerfully, "I am only disappointed, +but I shall soon get over it; for my father +told me last night whilst we were milking, that he +has had so many losses this season, both in sheep, +and cows, and horses, that he will not be able to send +me to school as he had promised to do."</p> + +<p>But though George began his speech with an +assumed cheerfulness, he was unable to keep it up; +and as he pronounced the last words, the tears, in +spite of his utmost efforts, filled his eyes, and were +about to force themselves down his cheeks, when the +voice of his mother calling him from below, checked +their course, and he hastened down stairs to obey the +summons.</p> + +<p>"Tom, Sally wants you to go up stairs to her," +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +said Peggy, in the evening, when the family were all +assembled to supper.</p> + +<p>"Wants me!" said Tom, in surprise. "What +does she want me for? She surely does not expect +that I can read to her, or talk to her about books, as +George does."</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but she said I must tell you to come +up and speak to her."</p> + +<p>Tom went up stairs, but when he came down +again, though questioned by all around about the +business for which he had been sent, he refused to +gratify their curiosity; but after eating his supper in +silence, a very uncommon circumstance for him, for +he generally had some exploit to recount that he had +achieved with his gun, his horse, or his dog, he took +his hat and went out, without making any remark +about whither he was going, or what he was going +to do; nor on his return was he any more communicative, +though the curiosity of all was considerably +excited about the nature of the business he had been +upon.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, Sally's illness increased in so +alarming a manner, that even her mother ceased to +talk about herself, and was anxious only for the health +of her child.</p> + +<p>The poor girl, as if conscious that her sufferings +were only a just penance for the imprudence of which +she had been guilty, uttered no complaints, though +she tossed about the whole night in all the restlessness +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +of a burning fever, and was, by the time that +day-light arrived, so ill, that George was despatched +in haste for the physician from the neighbouring +town, whose arrival was waited for with an impatience +that only those can understand who have +known what it is to watch by the side of a beloved +one, and count the minutes till the sufferer is relieved, +and strength is given to their sinking hopes.</p> + +<p>"What can George be about?" said the mother, +looking out of the window, and straining her anxious +eyes in hopes of catching a glimpse of him as he +came across the common; "he never was so long on +an errand before. He surely might have managed +to come back himself before this time, whether the +doctor could come with him or not."</p> + +<p>"Keep yourself easy, mother," said Sally, gently, +who was the only one that was not impatient, "I +am sure he will come back as soon as he possibly +can."</p> + +<p>"Peggy, run along as far as the stable yonder, +and try if you can see any thing of him," added her +mother, "and come back directly and tell me if you +do."</p> + +<p>Away went Peggy, followed by the little Kitty, +and having caught a sight of her elder brother, was +about to do as she had been ordered, and hasten to +the house to announce the intelligence, when her +curiosity was excited, and her steps arrested, by the +sight of another object, for whose presence she was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> +unable to account. "Why, who can that be that is +coming along the road with Tom? I declare it is +Ben, the butcher's boy. What can he want here, I +wonder?" At that moment Tom was heard calling +Croppy! Croppy! and in an instant Croppy came +bounding across the common to meet him. George, +too, had arrived at the same time from an opposite +direction, and eagerly inquired what he wanted with +Croppy; but the next moment, like a stroke of lightning, +the truth flashed across his mind, and, throwing +himself down by the side of the lamb, he clasped +his arms around its neck. "I know what is the matter—I +know it all," he exclaimed. "Sally is going to +sell Croppy, for the sake of paying for my schooling; +but its innocent life shall not be taken away for +any such thing. I can read and teach myself, and +Croppy shall not be killed."</p> + +<p>"Hush, George, give over making that noise, +man. Don't you hear mother calling you? Get +up, I tell you, and don't make such a rout about a +lamb; it's not the first lamb that has been killed, I +am sure."</p> + +<p>Peggy now caught the alarm, and bursting into +tears, she ran to the butcher's boy. "You must not +take Croppy away. Oh! you shall not kill our dear +little Croppy," she exclaimed, pushing the boy back +with her little hands as she spoke, while Kitty, +scarcely able to understand the meaning of what was +going forward, and anxious only to show kindness to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> +their little favourite, had got some water from a +bucket that stood near her, and was trying to coax +the little creature to drink. But Croppy, as if conscious +of the fate that awaited him, was insensible +to all her solicitations. At this moment, the sound of +horses' feet was heard, and the next, the doctor rode +up to them, and struck with the expression of grief on +George's countenance, and with Peggy's distress, +inquired what was the matter. The story was soon +told. "Oh, cheer up, my good boy," said he, addressing +himself to George, whose sensibility and +anxiety for improvement struck him with equal admiration, +"keep yourself easy, for the lamb shall +live, and you shall go to school into the bargain." +So saying, he gave the butcher's boy a piece of +money to reconcile him to going back without the +lamb; then turning to George, he assured him that +he would take the expense of his schooling upon +himself, and that instead of a month, he should stay +a year, or more, if he found that he continued to set +as high a value as he at present did upon being furnished +with the means of improvement. "And now," +added he, "I must go and see after this kind sister of +yours, whose health I shall be doubly anxious to +restore after this proof of her amiable and affectionate +disposition." But though he was on horseback, +George was at the house before him, and was making +his way immediately to Sally's room, when he +was stopped by his mother, who met him, and, in an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> +agony of tears, told him that Sally was too ill to be +spoken to. Disappointed at not being able either to +express his gratitude for the proof of affection which +she had given, or to make her a sharer of his own +happiness, he sunk down on a seat, and waited the +return of the doctor, whom his mother now conducted +to the sick chamber. After waiting a long time, +he at length heard the sound of his footsteps on the +stairs, and his voice, as he spoke in a soft tone to his +mother. George fixed his eyes on the face of the +physician as he entered the room where he was, and +endeavoured to read in it what he thought of his patient, +but felt afraid to inquire.</p> + +<p>"May I go up now?" asked he, in a timid voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Go up, she is anxious to have you with +her, and I am sure I need not tell you to pay her all +the attention in your power."</p> + +<p>George did not wait to make any reply, but was, +in an instant, by Sally's bed-side. But how great, +how alarming, was the change that he saw in her +from the time that he had last left her!</p> + +<p>"Sally! dear Sally, I am come to thank you," +said he. Sally raised her eyes and smiled on him +affectionately. "How kind it was to give up your +little pet to pay for my schooling. But, though I am +going to school, you will still have Croppy to be kind +to."</p> + +<p>"Croppy will not be taken from me, but I shall +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +soon be taken away from him. George, I am going +to leave you all very soon."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Sally, don't talk that way," said George, in +a tone of extreme agitation. "What has the doctor +been doing to frighten you so?"</p> + +<p>"The doctor has not frightened me. He told me +that he hoped he should make me well again, but I +know better; I know that I am dying; but I am not +frightened, for I know that I am going to a kind father. +I am sorry to part with you all, especially you, George, +but it must be, and we shall meet again soon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't talk about dying, Sally," cried the +afflicted boy, the tears streaming down his cheeks as +he spoke, "don't talk about leaving us. I cannot +bear to think of parting with you."</p> + +<p>"George," said Sally, and an almost heavenly expression +brightened her countenance as she spoke, +"you have read a great deal, but your reading will +be of little use if you have not learnt to know that it +is our duty to submit with patience to the will of our +Heavenly Father. I like to be with you, and am +sorry to think of leaving you, but I know we shall meet +again, and then there will be no more parting. But +we will talk no more about it now. Mother is coming, +and I don't want to distress her."</p> + +<p>George looked at Sally, and tried to persuade +himself that she was mistaken in imagining herself +so ill. But the more he examined her countenance +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> +on which the indelible stamp of death was already +impressed, the more he was convinced that she was +right. From that moment, he scarcely quitted her +bed-side, but watched over her, read portions of the +scriptures to her whenever she was able to listen, +and even prayed with her. Her composure and benignity +were gradually communicated to his mind, so +that though the one of all the family who was the most +fondly attached to her, he was the only one who could +view her approaching death with sufficient calmness +to be able to listen to her when she talked about it. +Short was the time, however, that he was called upon +to exercise this self-command, for the vital torch was +nearly extinguished, and her short, but innocent life, +was nearly drawn to a close. George, whose affectionate +offices seemed to become more and more +grateful to her as the time approached nearer when +she must resign them altogether, had sat up with her +all night; and her mother, toward morning, was prevailed +upon to go and take a little rest, under the +assurance from Sally, that she did not need any thing +that her brother could not do for her. Just as her +mother left the room, the first beam of the morning +sun glanced through the window. "Put out the lamp, +George," said she, "and draw back the window curtain, +that I may see the sun rise. It is the last time that +I shall ever see it rise, and oh! it is a glorious sight. +I should have been glad, if I had been permitted to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +live longer, for this world is beautiful, and I wanted to +see you a wise and good man, but that I hope you +will be, though I am not here to see it; and always +remember me, George, and think how dearly I loved +you. Raise me up a little, and put the pillows under +my shoulders—there, that will do. Oh! George, I +can't see! Take hold of my hand." George took +her hand, she pressed his gently; and he watched, +scarcely venturing to breathe, lest it should prevent +him from hearing her words when she should next +speak. But gradually he felt her hand relax from the +pressure of his; he looked at her lips, but they were +still; he put his face to her mouth, but no breath +escaped from it; all was motionless. He was conscious +that she was dead, but so sweet, so placid was +the repose into which she was sunk, that he was unwilling +to stir, lest he should destroy the heavenly +feeling. How long he thus hung over her, he was +himself unconscious; but when, at length, he was interrupted +by the entrance of some of the family, he +left the room, and hastened into the open air, as if +unwilling to mingle the hallowed feelings which pervaded +his mind with the more boisterous grief of the +other members of the family.</p> + +<p>Violent grief, for such a death, George felt to be +impossible; and though he never ceased to think of +her loss but with the most affectionate regret, his +sorrow was so blended with the conviction that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> +change was a happy one for her, that it soon softened +down to a holy and tender remembrance, which served +only to stimulate his mind to virtue and piety; and +the sweet proof that she had given so short a time +before her death of her affection for him, made him +cherish with grateful pleasure the recollection of +the Pet Lamb.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE CLEAN FACE;</h2> + +<p class="title1">or,<br /> +THE BOY WASHED BY HIS ELDER SISTER.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Oh! why must my face be wash'd so clean,</div> +<div class="line i1"> And scrubb'd and drench'd for Sunday,</div> +<div class="line">When you know very well (as you've always seen)</div> +<div class="line i1"> 'Twill be dirty again on Monday?</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">My hair is stiff with the lathery soap</div> +<div class="line i1"> That behind my ears is dripping;</div> +<div class="line">And my smarting eyes I'm afraid to ope;</div> +<div class="line i1"> And my lip the suds is sipping.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">They're down my throat, and up my nose—</div> +<div class="line i1"> And to choke me you seem to be trying.</div> +<div class="line">That I'll shut my mouth you needn't suppose,</div> +<div class="line i1"> For how can I keep from crying?</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">And you rub as hard as ever you can—</div> +<div class="line i1"> And your hands are hard—to my sorrow;</div> +<div class="line">No woman shall wash me when I'm a man—</div> +<div class="line i1"> And I wish I was one to-morrow.</div> +<div class="line i14"><span class="smcap">E. Leslie.</span></div> +</div></div></div> + +<div><a name="the_clean_face" id="the_clean_face"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_108.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">Painted by Scharp. <span class="i4">Engraved by J. B. Neagle.</span></p> +<p class="center">THE CLEAN FACE.</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span></p> + +<h2>LE LOUP ET L'AGNEAU.</h2> + +<p class="center">BY THE AUTHOR OF LIGHTS OF EDUCATION.</p> + +<p>Soon after the dreadful massacre of the white +inhabitants of St. Domingo many years ago, a +French family came to settle in Baltimore. With a +small sum of money, saved from the wreck of a large +fortune, they purchased an acre of ground, about a +mile from town, with a stone house built on it; over +which they contrived to spread a foreign appearance, +by thatching the slanting roof of the porch in front—latticing +the small windows—and hanging out a +nightingale in a wicker cage. The family consisted +of a gentleman and lady, a nephew, and an infant +daughter, with the domestics, the faithful adherents +of their master's adverse fortune. After some time, +Mr. Leroy obtained a small salary in the French +consul's office; Madame Leroy worked stays; the +servant woman (Pauline) made cakes, and sold them +at market, or in the park on <em>field-days</em>, to the followers +of the military assembled there. The man (Antoine) +cultivated West India vegetables; but when +Pauline was away, he added all the work of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> +house to his own occupation; and could cook, wash, +and iron, better than herself, though he never scolded +half so loud. Little Susette was a sweet creature; +with bright laughing black eyes, and of a lively, +courageous temper. Her cousin was not so; +whether the horrid scenes he indistinctly remembered +in his own country, or the little sympathy he found +in another, tended the most to depression and fear, I +know not; but Louis was pensive even to sadness, +and timid almost to feminine weakness. These qualities, +so injurious to his future prospects, might have +been overcome, since they did not appear in the feelings +of his early childhood, had he been left either +with his family, in the peaceful enjoyment of his own +little pleasures, or found associates, who would have +enlivened and encouraged by kindness and protection. +But the only boy who sought his society, was +the least likely to benefit him in this respect. He +was the son of a wealthy brewer, whose residence +was near Mr. Leroy's, and his name was Michael +Redman; commonly called Mike, and sometimes +Red Mike. This boy was the usual companion of +Louis, from beyond the Falls to school, and back +again. Strange, that nothing should grow out of +such constant intercourse, in a free country, but wanton +oppression and slavish fear; because the ready +invention and quick perception of the little Frenchman +excited the envy of his unintellectual companion, +though he affected to despise all the delicate endowments +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +of that mind, which he kept in bondage +by the exercise of his savage strength alone; but +this reduced Louis to the most degraded state of slavery, +till at length he became subservient to his +tyrant's purposes on every occasion; would I could +say of good <em>or</em> evil, where all was evil. On Michael's +youthful countenance already were impressed +the marks of fatal passions; and every day the +traces deepened, the shadows darkened. This was +more perceptible, whenever his forbidding face appeared +in opposition to the lovely, innocent countenance +of Louis Leroy; and then so remarkable was +the contrast exhibited, that any one would have been +struck with the truth of the application, when an old +French gentleman, who usually came on an evening +to share Mr. Leroy's frugal supper, of bread and +salad, exclaimed on seeing the two boys together—"Voila, +le loup et l'agneau." (Behold, the wolf and +the lamb.) Well might he say so, and the transactions +of two days will prove it sufficiently to the +reader. Little Susette had been ill, and was ordered +regular exposure in the open air. This was not so +easy, considering the constant occupation of the family; +but Louis carried her in his arms all about the +place, whenever he was at home, till she recovered, +and then she soon grew too stout for his nursing; so +one day, when Pauline was gone to attend a parade +in the park, Antoine was spreading out beans and +okras at the back of the house to dry, and Madame +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +Leroy was finishing a pair of stays, Louis took the +baby in his arms, and carried her under a shady tree; +when sitting down beside her, he began to contrive +in his thoughts a proper coach for her.</p> + +<div><a name="le_loup_et_lagneau" id="le_loup_et_lagneau"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_117.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">Printed by W. Mulready R.A. <span class="i8">Engraved by J. B. Neagle.</span></p> +<p class="center">THE WOLF & THE LAMB.</p> +</div></div> + +<p>As soon as he had drawn out the plan in his head, +he set about the execution of it with his hands; and +by the labour of a few Saturdays, and the sacrifice of +a little money that his teacher had given him for some +service in the school, he made her an elegant carriage, +which he painted with yellow ochre, and emblazoned +with his uncle's coat of arms, as he thought he remembered +it on the old family coach, belonging to +three generations of noblesse in St. Domingo. He +had put the infant in her fairy vehicle, and was +drawing her toward the house, to show it to his aunt, +when Mike Redman appeared. "Hurra, Louy, what +have you got there? It looks like a frog in a pumpkin +shell." The comparison was not unapt, when he +only saw a small head, and two little fat hands, peeping +out of a yellow box. "Come, tumble it out here, +I want you to go a-fishing, and this wagon will do to +carry them home in." "Oh, no, Michael, that is little +Susette's." "Oh, never mind, she's able to trot about +well enough on her own stumpy legs; but the fish +have no feet to walk." "I will bring Antoine's basket." +"No, you needn't, this thing here is a great +deal better; and we'll keep it for that always. So +hurra, Miss Susan, clear out, and run as fast as you +can." Saying this, he took the baby from the carriage, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> +and stood her on the ground; upon which she +did not cry, but remained looking in his face, with a +mixed expression of surprise and dislike, and never +offered to stir; Louis, who at the moment was more +afraid for Susette than himself, agreed to go with +Mike, if he would wait till he carried the child in. +Satisfied with his conquest so far, Redman remained; +and when Louis returned, they set off,—but this poor +boy could not recover the mortification of sacrificing +the toy he had made, with such ingenuity, for the +use of his little cousin, and with which he thought +he should delight her parents, for the portage of Mike +Redman's fish: yet, even this was not so painful a +sensation, as he felt, when forced by his companion +to catch worms, and bait the hooks with them. At the +commencement, indeed, he was so much overcome, +that he sickened to faintishness, upon which Michael +showed so much feeling, as to throw a hat-full of +water in his face; from which it descended in streams +to his breast, and making his clothes thoroughly wet, +promised to add ill-health to the other evils of his constitution. +When the boys were returning home, +Mike said, "This is a prime thing, Louy—this here +wagon, I'm going to keep it, to carry things always; +you can easily get another for yourself, if you want." +"No, Michael, I cannot, I have not more money." +"Oh! well then, you can do without—as you did +before you made it." "But, little Susette, she cannot +do without it, because she is sick." "Sick—not she, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> +I tell you—she's as stout as any little pig, so you +must make her walk." "Oh, no, Michael, she is +too little, she cannot walk such a great deal." "To +be sure she can—it is the very thing for her; why, +she'll grow as round as one of them tubs yonder in +our yard, if you let her ride; so, I'll keep the carriage +for that; and, look here, Louy, since you're so +clever at these sort o' notions, I want you to make +me some arrows. You must get me a dozen done +by Saturday—that's the last of our holidays, you +know—and then, if I shoot any birds a <em>Sunday</em>, I'll +give you one or two for your supper." "I do not +want them, Michael, I would prefer you let them sing +on Sunday."—"Well, I don't want to give you any +birds, if you prefer <em>go without</em>—but you must make +me the arrows at any rate, and if you don't have +them ready, when I call for them, you'll be sorry." +What Mike Redman wanted with a dozen arrows +and a baby's carriage, I leave to the consideration of +those young people, who have witnessed in their +companions a premature acuteness in ways of traffic; +which discovers itself in the sale, or barter, of all +the small wares they can beg or borrow: I omit the +other word, so commonly united with these two, because, +I trust, that at this period, when education has +extended moral influence so far, there is not one, +in the whole circle of boyish transgressions, to whom +the application of such a word would not be a false +and shocking libel. The characters of children then, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> +perhaps, were less attended to; and certainly Mike +Redman's parents, though they fed him plentifully, +and clothed him fashionably, could never have instructed +him in the slightest principle; since he did +not give without reluctance, to the poor boy who +assisted him materially, a few little fishes to help out +his miserable dinner, or scruple to take from him a +toy that had cost him three days' labour, and the +money that otherwise should have purchased him a +new jacket, (which he sadly wanted,) to procure +pleasure for his infant relative.</p> + +<p>When Louis entered the room, where the family +usually assembled, he found the old French gentleman +had come to dine with them; though there was +nothing on the table, but a dish of okra or gumbo +soup, a salad, and an omelette; to which, however, +were soon added, through the quick hands of Antoine, +Louis's contribution of fish; and surely round +any richer board, there was not then assembled a +more striking picture of "the sublime and beautiful:" +a Christian philosopher cheerfully resigned to +the changes of fortune, and his lovely companion, +with faithful affection, smiling while she shared his +fate. There was so striking a resemblance between +Madame Leroy and her nephew, that many persons +supposed they were mother and son; and as he was +the only child of a beloved sister, that escaped the +general death, she loved him as if he had been her +own. Mr. Leroy was also related to him in the same +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> +degree; his brother having married the mother of +Louis,—had this not been the case, however, he +would have been fond of him for his wife's sake. +He loved every one that she loved, and herself more +than all. Little Susette had forgotten her coach, or +resigned to its loss, was making smiling faces over +her soup as she drafted it from her plate to her +mouth, by half spoonfuls at a time. Poor Louis +almost forgot his hardships, under a cruel task-master, +when he sat down to his temperate meal, with +so good an appetite; while the pleasant jests of the +gay old gentleman were relished by all the party, +with that better philosophy of the French school, +which teaches to make the most of the simplest +pleasures, and which, I am afraid, few but her own +scholars have learned. The next morning Louis +arose early, to perform his allotted task, which would +have been easy enough, even had he been less expert. +His aunt, whom he did not inform that this +labour was involuntary, and from whom he had constantly +concealed all the other impositions of Mike +Redman, gave him a dozen large pins to tip the +arrows with, and Antoine cut him the most suitable +wood. But light as the task was, his spirit now +rebelled at this slavery, and whispered "Be free," so +with a revolting soul he finished the arrows. But +Michael, whose father had taken him to the country +on Saturday, could not call for them before Monday, +when they were to go to school. Louis had a satchel +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +made, ready to carry his books neatly; but Mike, +whose mother never thought of making him one, was +obliged to carry his as well as he could without, and +he now threw them down with his cap and gloves, +to examine the arrows; little Susette, who was playing +in the yard, with a tin cup, and with which she +had been making music on the stones, now began to +look at the books, and with the usual destructiveness +of infancy to the works of literature, she tore some +of the leaves out. When Mike had put all the arrows +in the quiver, except one, he turned round, and seeing +the condition of his books, he flew at the little +creature in a rage, as if he would tear her in pieces; +and so verify his title to the name of a wolf. The +cowardice of Louis at that instant vanished; he +sprang forward, and seized the young savage by the +collar, while his faithful little dog caught hold of one +of the straps of Mike's trowsers. This gave the +infant some time to escape, and with terrifying cries +she ran toward the house. Her mother came to the +door in dreadful alarm, when seeing her nephew +closed up against the garden gate, by the powerful +shoulders of Mike Redman, (who had his hands +clenched,) and the little dog howling at his feet, in +extreme pain, she called, in the agony of fear, upon +two men, who were looking out from the brewery +yard, at the boys' affray, to separate them. "Be +aisy, Casper," said one, "and let the boys fight it +out, I'll jist step over and see the Frenchman clear o' +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> +the fence." "Put I'll see de Frenchman clear o' +Mike, Patrick; mine hearts, de poy wouldn't stant +no chance at all mit him." With these separate intentions, +they both sallied forth, and approached the +combatants. Pat released the Frenchman, but Mike, +resisting the interference of such authority, was +knocked down by the German; who, as an excuse +for himself, when he was called upon by Mr. Redman +to relate the whole transaction, offered this:—"In +my country, de poys are prought up to mind the +sayins o' pigger people." Mr. Redman, who was +not himself an unjust man, admitted the apology, +and soon after, considering, perhaps, though it was +then too late, that he did not properly control his +vicious propensities, while he exposed them to continual +increase in the contaminating sphere around +him, he sent Michael to school at a distance from +home, and recompensed his little neighbour, by many +acts of kindness, for the cruel oppression of his son. +When I asked the person, who told me this story, +what became of the two boys in after life, he said, +Michael Redman inherited a large property, which +he soon spent; after this he went to sea; and I would, +probably, never have learned his final fate, had he +not been announced in the newspapers, some years +after, with an <i>alias</i> to his name, among a number of +men who were executed for piracy. In process of +time, Louis Leroy married his young cousin Susette; +and proved, through a long course of years, his filial +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> +affection to her parents. He contrived to add to his +small patrimony by several useful inventions, which +were patented in the state. He reared up a numerous +family, with the same frugal and temperate +habits that he had been taught, and under the same +roof which had sheltered his own boyhood; while +all the other habitations that had risen around him +were constantly changing their owners and inmates. +Behold the just end of "Le Loup et L'Agneau."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE CHRISTMAS VISIT.</h2> + +<p>"Come hither, Emily," said Mrs. Osman to her +daughter, a little girl about six years old, who had +just returned from school; "Come hither, for I have +something to tell you."</p> + +<p>"What is it, mamma? Have you had a letter +from papa? and is he coming home soon?"</p> + +<p>"No, that is not it, though I hope your papa will +now very soon be home again; but it is that your +friend, Mrs. Cassy, has just been here, to invite you +to spend the day with her on Christmas day, to meet +your friend Julia."</p> + +<p>"Oh! delightful, how very kind Mrs. Cassy is!" +said the little girl with great animation.</p> + +<p>"She is, indeed! And though the object of this +invitation is to give Julia a treat before she leaves the +country, which you know she will now soon do, as +her mamma has sent for her, to return home with +her uncle who is to set off in a few days: yet it will, +I am sure, be quite as great a pleasure to yourself; +for though Mrs. Cassy has no children of her own, +you know how much pains she always takes to make +her house pleasant to her little visiters."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +"Oh, yes! I remember the last time we were +there, she had a large baby for us, that she had dressed +herself. And it had a beautiful frock and cap, and +a pair of socks, just like those that my little sister +Emma wears; and we played at its being sick; and +then Mrs. Cassy made a scramble of raisins and sugarplums, +and a great many other good things, and we +had such fun in picking them up! Oh! it was delightful. +I hope you will let me go, mamma!"</p> + +<p>"Yes! upon one condition."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I know what that condition will be. It will +be about my tickets for good conduct."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are quite right. You know, Emily, +your great fault is idling. You are apt to spend your +time idling when you ought to be attending to your +lessons. But if you get——"</p> + +<p>"A ticket every day for good conduct," interrupted +the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Yes! I am sure you will not receive a ticket for +good conduct unless your lessons have been properly +attended to, and your behaviour in school has been +such as it ought to be; and therefore your going to +Mrs. Cassy's must depend upon your tickets for good +conduct. It only wants two days to Christmas day, +and if you can bring me a ticket each day for good +conduct you shall go: but if not, you must be content +to stay at home. It is a very short time for you +to keep watch over yourself, so that if you fail, I am +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> +sure even your friend Mrs. Cassy herself will not +think that you deserve to partake of her kindness."</p> + +<p>"Oh! if it only depends upon my getting two +tickets for good conduct, I am sure I shall go," returned +the little Emily, clapping her hands with +pleasure. "Let me see! This is Monday evening; +there is only Tuesday and Wednesday; and on +Wednesday we shall have school only half the day; +so that I shall have to watch myself only a very +short time."</p> + +<p>"True, Emily, it will only be a very short time, +and therefore the terms on which your going depends +are not, you see, very severe; but yet that time, short +as it is, may be of great service to you, as every +time you try, you do something toward forming a +habit of attention; and besides, if you succeed, you +will both please me, and prove to your friend Mrs. +Cassy that you know how to value her kindness."</p> + +<p>"I will go directly and learn my lessons for to-morrow," +said Emily, and taking up her bag of +books she hastened into a little back parlour, in which +she was in the habit of studying her lessons. For +some time she kept her attention very steadily fixed +on her work; but just as she had taken her geography +and opened her map to trace the boundaries of +North America, a lady who frequently visited her +mother, and who sung very well, began at that moment +in an adjoining room to sing a song of which +Emily was very fond. The little girl had a very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +good ear for music, and was so exceedingly fond of +it, that it was with great difficulty that she could keep +her attention fixed upon what she was doing. Over +and over again she was on the point of leaving her +lessons, and going into the parlour where the musician +was; but she recollected how soon it would be +bed-time, and how little time there was whilst the +mornings were so very short, to learn any lessons that +had been neglected the evening before, and determined +to persevere; and clasping her little hands, and +laying them on the book before her, as if to hold +fast her resolution, she repeated, North America is +bounded on the north by the Arctic ocean, on the +west and south by the Pacific ocean, and on the east +by the Atlantic ocean. It is true that as she repeated +this, and found answers to the rest of the questions +which were contained in her lesson, her feet beat +time against the chair, and her head moved in +unison, whilst she sometimes found herself trying to +make the words of her lesson accord with the measure +of the music, as she spun out the words eighty-five +degrees of north la-ti-tude, yet still she contrived +to keep her mind fixed upon what she was doing till +she had impressed it on her memory, so as to be +sure of being able to call it forward, when required, +the following day. "Now I know all my lessons +perfectly," said she, as she replaced her books in her +bag: "I am sure of not losing my ticket to-morrow +on account of my lessons." So saying, she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +hastened into the other parlour, but the music was +over, the lady was gone, and the room was empty. +Emily, however, was seldom at a loss for means of +amusement, and she skipped about the room, singing +"I'll be a butterfly," as if she were indeed that +light and airy creature of pleasure. Satisfied with +herself for the resolution that she had exercised, the +rest of the evening was spent in more than even her +usual cheerfulness, and she laid her head down upon +the pillow with repeated resolutions of attention the +following day. When the little girl opened her eyes +the next morning, it looked so gloomy and dark that +she very willingly persuaded herself it was too soon +to rise, and had just turned over to compose herself +for another nap when the clock struck eight. In an +instant she was out of bed. She had only a single +hour in which to dress herself, to eat her breakfast, +and go to school; she had not, therefore, a single +moment to lose. Yet a strong temptation assailed +her, for on a chair by her bed-side lay a small paper +parcel, directed to her, which on opening she found +to contain a cap, that her friend Julia had made for +her baby, and which had been sent to her after she +was in bed the night before, and placed by the servant +near her bed-side, that she might see it as soon +as she rose in the morning. "Oh! what a beautiful +little cap," exclaimed Emily. "How sweet my baby +will look in it. I must try it on directly. But no," +added she, recollecting herself, "I must not stay to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +try it on now or I shall be too late for school, and +then away goes my ticket for good conduct at once." +And with an effort of self denial that would have +done credit to a much older mind, Emily put the +tempting cap into a drawer and hastened to finish her +dressing. Her breakfast was soon swallowed, and +she was in the school-room before the school bell +rang. "I think now I am safe for to-day," said she, +"only I hope Julia will not be in one of her funny +humours and try to make me laugh." To the credit +of our little heroine, however, though Julia was in a +funny humour and did frequently try to make her +laugh, and though Emily's gay and even volatile +temper was ever ready to receive a lively impression, +yet still she succeeded in keeping herself so far +within bounds as to escape reproof, and she returned +home in the evening with the wished-for ticket. +"Here it is, mamma! here it is!" cried she, running +to her mother, and holding out the testimony of her +good behaviour. Her mother took the ticket, and +congratulated her upon having got over half the time +successfully. "More than half, mamma," returned +Emma, "for to-morrow will be only half a day, and +I have very few lessons to learn to-night."</p> + +<p>"I am not sure that you are any more safe on that +account, Emma," replied her mother, "for you know +I have often remarked to you, that you generally prepare +your lessons the worst when you consider them +the easiest; as then you are apt, from the idea that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> +they can be learnt in so very short a time, to put +them off until you have no time for them at all, instead +of learning them first and amusing yourself afterward." +"But I will not do so to-night," said the +little girl, and away she went directly to study them. +And fortunate it was for her that she did so, for she +had scarcely finished the last thing that she had to +learn before her friend Julia came to play with her. +She could now, however, play with safety, and the +rest of the evening was passed in amusement. The +new cap was tried on and found to fit beautifully, and +the baby was dressed and undressed, put to bed and +taken up again; declared to be very sick and obliged +to take medicine; taken out to visit; sent to bed for +being naughty; and, in short, passed through all the +vicissitudes of a moderate life-time before the friends +parted for the night.</p> + +<p>"It is eight o'clock," cried Emily, capering about +the room, half dancing and half jumping as she +spoke; "I am safe for to-day, and I have only till +twelve o'clock to-morrow, and then I shall get my +ticket, and then I shall be safe; and then I shall go +to Mrs. Cassy's."</p> + +<p>"And then," rejoined her mother, "I hope you will +have learned how much better it is to work first and +play after, than to play first and run the risk of the +work being neglected altogether."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, mamma! I intend to remember that +in future," said the little girl, and away she went to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> +bed, singing as she went, to a tune of her own +making,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">"How pleasant it is at the end of the day,</div> +<div class="line i0h">Of no follies to have to repent."</div> +</div></div></div> + +<p>"Emily!" said her mother, rousing her little girl +from a sound sleep, as she spoke; "Emily! Do you +know it is nearly eight o'clock?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! it is time enough, mamma," said Emily, +starting up as she spoke; "it struck eight o'clock +before I was out of bed yesterday morning; and yet +I was in the school-room some minutes before the +bell rang."</p> + +<p>"But if you trifle in that way, it will be nine o'clock +before you are out of this room," continued her +mother; as Emily, taking hold of her little night-gown, +instead of a frock, began to practice her dancing +steps. "You see, my dear, you have yet only got +your stockings and shoes on; so, at this rate, it will +certainly take you more than an hour to finish your +dressing."</p> + +<p>"Oh! indeed you are mistaken, mamma, you will +see how soon I shall be out of the room," and roused +to recollection by this remonstrance, the rest of her +dressing was very quickly finished. Her breakfast +too was despatched with equal rapidity. "Now I +am ready," said she, starting from her chair, and +putting on her little brown beaver hat as she spoke; +"and now for my coat; but stop," she continued, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +throwing her coat carelessly over her arm; "I have +not my bag: Where is it, I wonder? Oh! I remember! +I left it in the piazza when I went to look what +sort of a morning it was;" and off she went, dragging +her coat, which still hung over her arm, after her; +and on the piazza she found her bag, mittens, one of +her books, and slate, all lying as she had thrown +them out of her hand, to run after some trifle that +had at the moment attracted her attention; but as she +took up her bag with the intention of putting her +book and slate into it, her favourite kitten, which had +followed her to the piazza, running after her coat as it +dragged after her along the floor, now caught at the +bag, and tugged and scratched at it, as if it had +been intended entirely for its amusement. This was +too congenial with Emily's own frolicsome disposition +to be resisted, and there she stood, at one moment +drawing the bag away, and the next throwing +it back again to the sportive little animal. And we +must be permitted here to pause and describe our +little friend, as she looked while thus engaged. It +was one of those fine mild mornings, which of late +years we have so often witnessed in the very depth +of winter, and the sun, which had just risen, sent +forth his beams to gild the landscape behind her, defining +her figure more clearly by the contrast. To +the eye of fancy and affection, that rising sun might +have been thought to represent her whose orb like +his own was just rising; and though a few mists yet +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +obscured the bright rays of mind which had already +begun to beam, yet no one could look at the face, +which, though not formed according to any of the +acknowledged rules of beauty, was bright with innocence, +animation, and happiness, without feeling +assured, that as it gained its meridian heights, it +would shine forth with pure, unclouded lustre, and +prepare the way for a clear and glorious evening. +Though Emily, as she thus stood, presented a picture +that a painter might study, it was but of short +duration, for whilst she yet played with her favourite, +the clock struck nine, and at once recalled the little +girl to a recollection of her folly. "Oh! what shall +I do?" she exclaimed. "It is nine o'clock, and I am +not ready. Get away, kitty! do not come near me +again," she continued, as the kitten, which had +received no warning from the stroke of the clock, +still tried to catch at the strings of the bag whilst she +was putting in its usual contents; "get away! for if +you had not come near me, I should not have staid +so long. I should not have been tempted with any +thing else. Oh! how hard my coat is to get on this +morning. I cannot tell what is the matter with this +hook and eye! it will not fasten. Yes! now it is +fastened and I must run." But though poor Emily +did run, and put herself into a most violent heat; +and though she went into the school-room puffing +and blowing, the words, as she entered, of "Miss +Emily Osman—you are too late," told her at once +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +that all chance of visiting her friend Mrs. Cassy was +over.</p> + +<p>A few tears chased each other silently down her +cheek, as she took her seat at her desk, and for the +rest of the day it was little effort to poor Emily to +be silent and attentive. Julia tried a thousand ways +to excite a smile, but in vain; for the idea that she +had not only deprived herself of so much pleasure +for the morrow, but had disappointed her mamma +and appeared ungrateful to Mrs. Cassy for her kindness, +weighed on her mind, and every now and then +filled her eyes with tears. "Do not cry, Emily, I +beg of you," said Julia, as they returned home together, +after the school hours were over, "I am quite +sure your mamma will let you go to Mrs. Cassy's, +after all. I feel quite certain of it, for you know +this is almost the last day we have to be together; +and I am sure she could not find in her heart to deprive +you of the pleasure for such a trifle."</p> + +<p>"No! my mamma never changes her mind after +she has promised me any thing," said Emily, "and +I am glad she does not, because it always makes me +sure that if I am good I shall get the reward I expect."</p> + +<p>"Oh! well, but she may change her mind just +about such a little trifle as that, after all," returned +Julia.</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure she will not," was Emily's quiet +reply, and the friends parted, as their roads now lay +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> +in different directions. As Emily entered the house, +she felt almost ashamed of meeting her mamma, +and she blushed at the idea of the reluctance which +she felt; but she soon found that, for the present at +least, she was saved the pain of seeing her, for she +was told that a very short time after she went to +school, her mother had been sent for to a very particular +friend, who was dangerously ill, and that she +was not yet returned. Emily always thought the +house very forlorn and dull when her mother was +not in it, but now that she was out of spirits herself, +she felt it more so than ever, and she hung about +listless and uneasy, and unable to enter into any of +her usual amusements. She tried to sing, but her +voice was husky and out of tune. She began to +practise her steps, but it was impossible to dance +without music, and Emily that day had no music in +her soul. She took out her baby, with the intention +of amusing herself with it, but it brought to her recollection +the pleasure she had expected to enjoy in +playing with Mrs. Cassy's baby the next day; and +she put it aside, and forgot that she had expected entertainment +from it. Even her little kitten, which, +from its fondness for play, seemed to be so nearly +allied to herself, played with a ball of cotton, or ran +after its own tail, round and round the room, in vain; +for Emily only recollected that it was it that had +tempted her to the neglect of her duty in the morning. +"I wonder when my mamma will come home," said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +she to herself, as the short winter's day began to +draw to a close. "I wish she would come that I +might see her, and hear her say that she forgives me, +and will not punish me any further than by not letting +me go to Mrs. Cassy's. I hope she will not look +grave at me, for that will be worse than all. I wish +she would come that I might know at once what she +would say. Oh! perhaps that is she," added the +little girl, starting up and running to the window at +the sound of the door bell; but it was too dark for +her to see who it was, and she was returning to the +fireside, when the room door opened and the servant +brought in a letter, which he said was for her. "For +me!" cried Emily, in great surprise; "who can +have written to me? I never received a letter in my +life from any body." A lamp, however, was lighted, +and the letter opened, which proved to be from Julia, +and, after spelling and puzzling over it for a considerable +time, Emily at length made out the following +epistle:</p> + +<p class="blockquote">"My dear Emily,<br /> +"I have just heard that your mamma is not at +home; and I wanted to come round to you, but my +aunt would not let me. But I have sent you the ticket +for good conduct, which I got to-day, and you +may call it your own. It will not be cheating, you +know, because you did behave very well at school, +and then we shall meet at Mrs. Cassy's to-morrow, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +which will be delightful; for you know it is almost +the last day that we can be together, before I go +away.<br /> +<span class="left20">"Your affectionate friend,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap left40">"Julia."</span></p> + +<p>Julia, who was nearly two years older than Emily, +had written this letter with much more ease than her +friend could read it. She, at last, however, succeeded +in deciphering it; and, after having made herself +fully acquainted with its contents, she took the ticket +which was enclosed in it, and putting it very carefully +by, as deliberately put the letter into the fire. +From that moment Emily's face began gradually to +brighten, her voice became less husky, and though +she did not jump and skip about as she was in the +habit of doing, yet she ceased to stretch and yawn, +and wish the evening was over; and her countenance, +though more thoughtful than usual, was expressive +only of composure and satisfaction. The return of +her mamma, which she had sometimes wished for +and sometimes dreaded, now appeared to have become +of less importance to her, so that on finding, +by her usual bed-time, that she was not yet come +home, she went very contentedly to bed, and was +soon wrapped in a sound sleep. Her first object, on +waking in the morning, was to ascertain whether +her mother was yet returned, but finding that she +was not, she prepared to spend some more hours +alone. Emily, however, though a very little girl +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> +was able not only to read, but to understand what +she read; so that she could easily find amusement +from the variety of little books with which her mamma +had supplied her; and this made the morning pass +over very comfortably, till about twelve o'clock, when +she began to feel very anxious for her mother's return. +It seemed a long time since she had seen her; +she did not remember, ever in her life having been +so long absent from her before, and she sighed and +wondered when she would come. At length she +heard some one open the front door, and come along +the entry; and her little heart began to beat at the +idea of meeting her mother. The door opened, but +instead of her mamma, Julia entered, very prettily +dressed, and evidently prepared for her visit.</p> + +<p>"Why, Emily!" she exclaimed, as she came forward, +"not dressed yet! I expected to find you +ready to go."</p> + +<p>"Go where?" asked the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Why, to Mrs. Cassy's to be sure. Where else +could I mean?"</p> + +<p>"You know I am not going to Mrs. Cassy's."</p> + +<p>"Why not? has your mamma found out that the +ticket was mine?"</p> + +<p>"I have not seen my mamma since yesterday +morning. She has never been at home yet."</p> + +<p>"Then why are you not going? You have no +need to wait for her to give you leave to go, when +you know she said you should go if you could bring +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +her a ticket for good conduct, each day; and you +can show her one when she comes home."</p> + +<p>"Yes! but not one of my own."</p> + +<p>"Yes! it is your own, for I have given it to you."</p> + +<p>"But it is not gained by my own good behaviour."</p> + +<p>"But you deserved to have one, for you never +behaved better in school, in your life, than you did +yesterday morning. You only lost your ticket for +being a very few minutes too late, and therefore, it +will not be cheating at all, to tell your mamma that +you behaved well." Happily, however, for Emily, +there had been so much pains taken to impress upon +her mind, from her earliest dawn of thought, a nice +distinction between truth and falsehood, that she was +not to be deceived by this false reasoning of her +friend, whose mind having been less carefully guarded, +had adopted the error, so common with young +people, that equivocation is not falsehood. Julia imagined +that she would be as unwilling to tell an untruth +as Emily herself could be, but she did not consider +that a habit of equivocation is as obnoxious as +falsehood itself, to that nice sense of honour, which +can alone preserve the mind pure and untainted. +She had not been taught, with sufficient care, to +know, that, though she told a part of what was true, +she was yet equally guilty of the crime of falsehood, +as long as what she said was dictated by a wish to +deceive. Emily, though so much younger, had, +therefore, arrived at much greater maturity in the art +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +of reasoning, and had imbibed, even at that early +age, an ardent love of truth, and a keen contempt +for the meanness of deceit; and she replied, in a +quiet but steady voice: "Though I did behave well +in school, I should still be cheating, if I made my +mamma believe that I got a ticket for good behaviour, +and that would take away all the pleasure of +the visit;" and, as she spoke, she took the ticket +from the place in which she had deposited it, with +the intention of giving it to its right owner; but, +whilst she held it in her hand, the parlour door opened, +and Mrs. Osman entered the room. The moment +Emily saw her mother, the recollection of her +own fault rose to her mind, and checked the pleasure +with which she would otherwise have welcomed her +return, and the constraint of her manner was immediately +observed by her watchful parent. "What is +the matter, Emily, my dear?" asked she anxiously. +"I see by the ticket in your hand, that you have succeeded +in gaining your promised reward, and yet +you do not appear to be in your usual spirits." Emily's +countenance became still more agitated, whilst +the colour of her face and neck, the skin of which +readily told, by its varying hue, the different fluctuations +of her feelings, proved that a severe conflict +was passing within. To allow her mother to remain +in the error of supposing the ticket to be her own, +was impossible: yet how was she to explain the fact +of its being Julia's, without exposing the fault of her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +friend? for she knew that her mamma's first question +would be, "what had she to do with Julia's +ticket?"</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, my dear?" again asked +the anxious mother, "is there any objection, which +I am ignorant of, to your going to Mrs. Cassy's +to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Mamma, I have no right at all to go," replied +Emily, almost trembling with agitation as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Why not? You got your ticket yesterday I +see."</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, I did not! This is not my ticket."</p> + +<p>"What ticket is it then? for I have all your +others." Emily was silent, and her agitation increased +to a degree that was very painful to observe; +but Julia, who possessed a mind, which, though some +noxious weeds had been permitted to spring up in it, +was yet adorned with the rich and beautiful flowers +of generosity and affection, saw and understood her +distress, and determined to relieve her even at +the pain of exposing herself; and therefore said, +"I will tell you, ma'am, all about it; for, although it +was not very good in me, it was so very good in +Emily, that I know you will reward her for it." +She then related the circumstance of the ticket very +simply, without attempting either to excuse or extenuate +her own conduct, though she did full justice to +the integrity and honourable behaviour of her friend. +Whilst Julia was speaking, Emily watched her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +mother's countenance with an expression of great +anxiety, and the moment she had ceased, she turned to +her and said, in a timid and supplicating voice, +"Mamma, do not be angry with Julia!"</p> + +<p>"As Julia is now to be so short a time among us, +Emily, I will take no further notice of her conduct, +but will leave it to the animadversions of her own +breast," replied Mrs. Osman, gravely.</p> + +<p>"But you will let Emily go to Mrs. Cassy's," said +Julia eagerly. "You will surely, Mrs. Osman, reward +her for behaving so well."</p> + +<p>"I hope, Julia, that though Emily is so young a +child, she yet knows too well that it is her duty to +be honest, to expect any other reward for being so, +than that which she has already secured to herself."</p> + +<p>"But it is so trifling a fault that she lost her ticket +for," remonstrated Julia.</p> + +<p>"It was indeed a trifle, and her having so very +nearly succeeded this time, gives me hopes that she +will be wholly successful the next time."</p> + +<p>"O! yes, I am sure, ma'am, if you will let her go +to-day she will be more careful the next time."</p> + +<p>"I am of a different opinion, Julia," replied Mrs. +Osman, smiling; "and believe that this lesson, +which I now hope will be of service to Emily as +long as she lives, would be lost entirely, were she +not to suffer the punishment for her fault that she +knows it deserves."</p> + +<p>"But ought she not to be rewarded for being good +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> +too? and if she is not allowed to go she will have no +reward at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, I shall," interrupted Emily, who read, +in her mother's countenance, the approbation which +she felt of her conscientious conduct, "I shall have +reward enough."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Emily," replied her mother, "you will +have the best of all rewards, a self-approving mind; +and I should be sorry to weaken its effects by seeming +to think that any further reward is necessary for +your having done your duty." But Emily showed +that she did not consider any thing more necessary +to reward her for the part which she had acted, and +she saw her friend go to pay her visit to Mrs. Cassy +without a sigh; for though exceedingly sorry not to +accompany her, she felt an inward consciousness of +having acted properly, that made every thing appear +cheerful and pleasant around her. The day passed +delightfully, therefore, though no particular pains +were taken to amuse her; for her mother was afraid, +if she indulged in any extraordinary expressions of +approbation, she might lead her little girl to imagine +that she had performed some wonderful act of virtue, +instead of having merely done her duty. What Emily +had done, however, had been done purely because +she knew it to be right, and not for the sake of admiration +or reward. The approbation of her own conscience was +all that she required; and, with such a +companion, she felt no difficulty in spending a delightful +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +Christmas day. Her voice, when she sung, +had never, to her own ear at least, sounded so well; +nor had her feet ever before fallen so lightly on the +floor, as they did when she skipped about; and as +to her little kitten, though it had brought her into +trouble, it was now forgiven, and they ran about +the room together, as if trying to show, by their +light and sportive movements, how graceful and +beautiful a thing is the union of childhood and innocence.</p> + +<p class="ralign">M. H.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE LITTLE GIRL AND HER KITTEN.</h2> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Indeed ye are a happy pair,</div> +<div class="line">Thyself and darling treasure—</div> +<div class="line">With little heads unvexed by care,</div> +<div class="line">And hearts brim full of pleasure.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Which spirit knows the least of grief,</div> +<div class="line">'Tis very hard to say,—</div> +<div class="line">The kitten jumping at a leaf,</div> +<div class="line">Or she who joins the play.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Ye both are frisking, giddy things—</div> +<div class="line">A play-ground earth before ye,</div> +<div class="line">Where hours pass by with silken wings,</div> +<div class="line">And fling no shadows o'er ye.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">I wish it thus might always be,</div> +<div class="line">My guileless little one:—</div> +<div class="line">It makes me sad to look on thee,</div> +<div class="line">And think what change may come.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Then freely pour thy young heart out,</div> +<div class="line">And take thy fill of joy—</div> +<div class="line">I love to hear thy merry shout,</div> +<div class="line">And see thy blest employ.</div> +</div></div></div> + +<div><a name="the_little_girl_and_her_kitten" id="the_little_girl_and_her_kitten"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_145.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">Drawn by W. Sharp. <span class="i4">Eng<sup>d</sup>. by F. Kearny.</span></p> +<p class="center">THE KITTEN.</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE QUILTING.</h2> + +<p>"Only think, Charlotte," said Marianne Glanvil, +on entering the chamber where her sister was endeavouring +to get through a warm afternoon in August, +by lolling on the bed in a loose gown,—"Susan +Davison has just been here with an invitation for us."</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—And pray, who is Susan Davison?</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—The daughter of farmer Davison up +the creek. We met her at Trenchard's the day we +were obliged to drink tea there.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—I wonder how you can remember their +names, or theirselves either: I am sure I do not know +one of these people from another, and I never wish +to know.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—But this Susan Davison is really not +so bad. She is diffident enough, to be sure, but is +rather less awkward and uncouth than the generality +of country girls.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—To me they are all alike; I do not +profess to understand the varieties of the species.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—Well, I was going to tell you, that +after a sitting of half an hour, Susan Davison, as she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +rose to depart, uttered an invitation to her quilting +to-morrow.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—And what is a quilting?</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—Now, I am sure you must have heard +of quiltings. It is an assemblage of all the females +in the neighbourhood, for the purpose of quilting, in +one afternoon, a whole patch-work bed-cover.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—I shall certainly not go. I never quilted +any thing in my life, and I hate the sight of a +patch-work bed-cover.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—But my father and mother were in the +parlour, and promised at once that we should both go.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—How vexatious! Was it not enough, +after being educated at the most genteel boarding +school in the city, and accustomed only to polished +society, to be brought to live at this remote place, +where my father has thought proper to purchase an +iron-foundry, but we are required also to be civil to +the country people, and interchange visits with them? +I almost think my father intends being a candidate +for the assembly next election, or he never would +take the trouble to make himself agreeable to the +farmers and their families.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—You know, he thinks it is always desirable +to be popular with our neighbours.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—That is what I shall never be, unless +my neighbours are popular with me.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—Now, for my part, I like very well to +astonish them by the elegance of my dress, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +by my various accomplishments. I am going to put +my lace sleeves in my new palmyrene frock, purposely +to wear at this quilting.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—It is well worth your while to take +that trouble, when the worst dress you have is too +good for such company. I shall do quite the contrary, +to let them see how little I care for them.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—Then you will displease my father.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—Is it necessary that he should know it? +I am sure my mother will never tell him, and for +her own part, she never opposes us in any thing. +However, if I must be at this quilting, I shall take +care to make the time as short as possible, for I will +go late and come away early.</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—Susan Davison said, she hoped we +would be there by two o'clock, which I suppose will +be the usual hour of assembling.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—Two o'clock! Go to a party at two +o'clock! Why the wild Indians could not be more +uncouth on such an occasion!</p> + +<p><i>Marianne.</i>—I doubt whether the wild Indians +have any quiltings. But go we must, as my father +and mother at once accepted the invitation for us.</p> + +<p><i>Charlotte.</i>—How unlucky that they happened to +be present!</p> + +<hr class="c15" /> + +<p>The next day, between one and two o'clock, the +Miss Glanvils saw numerous young girls ride by on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +horseback, on their way to Andrew Davison's +which was about two miles from the iron works. +"Now," remarked Marianne, "these poor girls +must have hurried to get their dinners over before +twelve, that they might have time to be drest and +mounted by one o'clock."</p> + +<p>"But why," asked Charlotte, "do they all wear +striped linen skirts with silk bodies and sleeves?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" replied Marianne, "you surely know that +those are their riding-skirts; a sort of petticoat made +of thick homespun linen, which they tie on over the +skirts of their silk frocks to keep them clean while +riding."</p> + +<p>"You seem to be well versed in all their ways," +said Charlotte, contemptuously.</p> + +<p>It was five o'clock, however, before the Miss Glanvils +were ready to set out for the quilting, as Charlotte +took her usual afternoon's nap, and Marianne +occupied two hours in dressing; arraying herself in +her straw-coloured palmyrene with lace sleeves, and +ornamenting her hair (which was a mass of curls) +with a profusion of yellow flowers and gauze ribbon. +She put on all her jewels, and sewed her white kid +gloves to her lace sleeves, which were confined at +the wrists with three bracelets each. She had embroidered +silk stockings, and white satin shoes, and +threw over her shoulders a splendid scarf of various +colours. This dress she had worn at a boarding +school ball, shortly before the family removed into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +the country. Nothing could be a greater contrast +than the appearance of the two sisters as they got +into the carriage; for Charlotte persevered in going +to the quilting in a pink gingham, her hair merely +tucked behind her ears with two side combs.</p> + +<p>Their mother slightly disapproved of both their +dresses, but as soon as they were gone thought of +something else.</p> + +<p>In a short time the Miss Glanvils arrived at Andrew +Davison's, and found the quilting going on in +the vast stone barn, which had been put in order for +the purpose. They were conducted to the barn by +young Davison, the farmer's eldest son, who had +assisted them out of the carriage, and were met at +the entrance by Susan, who received them with +much respect, as being the two greatest strangers +of the party. The guests were all sitting round the +quilting frame busily at work. They looked with +some surprise at the two sisters so very differently +habited, but no remark was made, even in a whisper.</p> + +<p>Charlotte declined taking a chair at the frame, +saying, she knew nothing about quilting, and seated +herself in a most inconvenient place at the head of +the quilt, very much in the way of a young girl that +could not draw out her arm in consequence of the +vicinity of Miss Glanvil, who saw that she incommoded +her, but made no offer to move. Marianne, +however, advanced to the frame, and dislodging +three or four girls, who rose to make room for her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> +and her immense frock, which was flounced far +above her knees, she took out of her reticule an elegant +little ivory work box, and laying down beside +it a perfumed and embroidered cambric handkerchief, +and a tortoise-shell fan, she most pompously +set to work with her gloves on. She found this way +of quilting very inconvenient, and as her gloves could +only be taken off by ripping them from her sleeves, +she begged, with an air of the most condescending +affability, to be excused from the quilting; and then +removed to a seat beside her sister. Charlotte threw +herself back in her chair, and putting her feet on the +bars of another, sat drumming with her fingers on +the quilt and humming a French song.</p> + +<p>The other guests, though they all had too much civility +to stare as steadily as the Miss Glanvils expected, +stole occasional glances of surprise and curiosity at +the sisters; one so overdrest and affecting so much +condescension, the other insulting them by coming in +dishabille, and setting at defiance even the most common +rules of politeness.</p> + +<p>There sat at the quilt a very pretty young girl, +with her dark hair curling on her temples in natural +ringlets. She wore a white muslin frock, with a +worked cape, and a broad pink ribbon on her neck, +which was beautifully white. Her figure was very +good, though rather plump than otherwise, and her +cheeks had the bloom of roses. She seemed to be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> +acquainted with all the company, and talked pleasantly +and sensibly to every one, without any air of +superiority, or any affectation of graciousness. She +quilted assiduously and neatly, and assisted with +great skill in the various operations of rolling, stretching, +and pinning the quilt. The sisters did not distinguish +and did not ask her surname, but they heard +every one call her Fanny.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the arrival of the Miss Glanvils, the +two younger daughters of farmer Davison, on a signal +from their sister Susan, went to a table which +stood in a corner of the barn, and removing a cloth +which had been lightly thrown over it, disclosed several +large custards and three sorts of fruit pies, +peach, plum, and apple. The pastry being already +cut up, was very soon transferred to as many plates +as there were guests, every plate containing a piece +of custard and three slices of pie, one of each sort.</p> + +<p>These plates were handed to the company on +small waiters, by Jane and Mary Davison, while +Susan remained near the quilt and invited her guests +to eat; every one being expected to taste all the varieties +on their plate. The Glanvils exchanged significant +looks.</p> + +<p>"Is it puff-paste?" said Charlotte, speaking for +the first time, and touching a piece of pie with the +point of her knife.</p> + +<p>"I believe not," replied Susan, colouring, "none +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +of our family understand making puff-paste; but I +know mother did her best to have this as short and +crisp as possible. Please to try some of it."</p> + +<p>"I thank you," answered Charlotte, coldly, "I +am very careful of my teeth, and I am afraid to risk +their coming in contact with hard substances."</p> + +<p>She commenced on a piece of the plum pie, but +pointedly avoided the paste, eating out all the fruit, +and conspicuously laying aside the crust. Marianne, +however, found the pastry so palatable, that she +could scarcely refrain from eating the whole that +was on her plate, and she was not surprised to overhear +the young girl they called Fanny, praising it to +another who sat next to her.</p> + +<p>The presence of the Miss Glanvils evidently threw +a restraint on the whole company, except Fanny, +who, to the great surprise of the sisters, appeared +perfectly at her ease all the time, and not in the least +awed by their superiority.</p> + +<p>"Who can that girl be?" whispered Marianne to +Charlotte.</p> + +<p>"Some vulgar thing like the rest," answered +Charlotte.</p> + +<p>"I do not think her vulgar," said Marianne.</p> + +<p>"I know no reason for supposing her otherwise," +rejoined Charlotte. "You know the proverb, 'Birds +of a feather flock together.' See how familiar she +is with all of them. She knows every one of their +names. She must have been born and brought up +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> +with them. By their talk she has been here since +two o'clock."</p> + +<p>About sunset the quilt was completed. The chalk-marks, +and the clippings of thread, were then carefully +brushed off; a dozen scissors were employed in +ripping it from the frame, and two dozen hands +afterwards spread it to the full size, and shook it till +the lofty roof of the barn echoed the sound; which +sound brought in near twenty young men who had +been lingering about the barn-door for the last half +hour, none of them having courage to venture within, +except Susan Davison's two brothers. They were +all clean shaved, and in their best clothes; some +even had their hair curled, and the Miss Glanvils +now found occasion to whisper and titter at the costume +of the country beaux, particularly at their very +fine waistcoats.</p> + +<p>Soon after, one of the little girls came to announce +that supper was ready, which intelligence was repeated +by Susan to the Miss Glanvils; and her two +brothers now came forward, each with a low bow, +and offered their arms to conduct the young ladies +to the house, as they had been previously tutored by +their sister. The Miss Glanvils, however, took no +notice of the offered arms, and the young men, +much abashed, walked silently beside them. Fanny, +escorted by the old farmer, who had accosted her at +the barn-door with great cordiality, joined about +midway in the procession, and they all walked to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> +the house, where supper was set out in the largest +room.</p> + +<p>The table was of immense size, with at each end +a waiter, containing an equipage for tea and coffee; +Mrs. Davison presiding at one and Susan at the +other. The centre ornament was a roast pig, flanked +by dishes of stewed fowls, and the rest of the +table was covered with plates of pound cake, gingerbread, +short cakes, doughnuts, rusk, preserves, +apple-sauce, fried ham, cream-cheese, and sage-cheese; +there being always four plates of each particular +article, that a share of all the various good +things might be within the reach of every one at +table. William and Thomas Davison, assisted by +several others of the least bashful and most alert of +the young men, stood behind the chairs with waiters +in their hands, and helped the females; their +father being the only man that took a seat at the table.</p> + +<p>The Miss Glanvils sat together in solemn state; +Marianne carefully employed in defending her finery +from the expected inroads of the various things that +were handed about in her neighbourhood; but very +much inclined to eat heartily of many of the tempting +viands that were before her, had she not been +checked by the disapproving looks of her sister.</p> + +<p>It was with difficulty that Charlotte consented to +be helped to any thing, and uniformly after tasting it +laid each article on the side of her plate, as if unfit +to eat. After she had taken a sip of tea she drew +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +back with a look of horror, and declaring it to be +green tea, and that she would not drink a cup of it +for the world, she pushed it away from her as far as +possible.</p> + +<p>She then requested some black tea, but unluckily +there was none in the house; and Mrs. Davison, +much disconcerted, apologized in great confusion, +saying, that as black tea was not used in the neighbourhood, +she did not believe there was any to be +had at the store, or she would send and get some. +She then asked if Miss Glanvil would take a cup +of coffee, but Charlotte replied that though extravagantly +fond of coffee in the morning, (always drinking +three cups,) she could not possibly touch it at +night.</p> + +<p>"Did you never drink green tea?" asked the farmer. +"Certainly," she replied in a disdainful tone, +"I drank it always till black tea became fashionable."</p> + +<p>"Then," said the farmer, smiling, "if you have +been drinking it all your life till very lately, perhaps +you might, if you were to try, make out once +more to swallow a cup of it on a pinch, and be none +the worse for it."</p> + +<p>Charlotte looked much displeased, and sat back +in her chair, obstinately determined not to touch +the green tea. Of course all the Davison family +felt and looked extremely uncomfortable, and they +would have been glad when the Miss Glanvils finally +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> +rose from table, which they did shortly after, only +that the rest of the company thought it necessary to +follow their example, and the feast prepared with so +much care and trouble was concluded in half the +usual time. The female guests were conducted to +an adjoining room, while the supper table was cleared +away and then re-set exactly as before for the +young men.</p> + +<p>Singing being proposed, Fanny was invited "to +favour them with a song." She consented at once, +and inquired which of her songs they would have. +The simple and beautiful Scotch air of the Bonnie +Boat was named, and she sung it with a sweet clear +voice and excellent taste, though no attempt at ornament. +The Miss Glanvils exchanged glances and +whispers.</p> + +<p>The two young ladies were then respectfully +requested to sing. Charlotte refused at once, declaring +that it was impossible to sing without an +instrument: but Marianne, eager to display her +knowledge of fashionable music, complied readily, +and gave "Una voce poco fa," with what she considered +wonderful execution. As soon as she had +finished, Charlotte perceiving that the company, +though greatly amazed at first, had become much +fatigued by this unseasonable exhibition of Italian +singing, and that it had not given the least pleasure +to any one, ill-naturedly proposed to her sister to try +"Di piacer," which she also got through, to the great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +annoyance of the young men who had long before +come in from the supper room, and who were certainly +not of a class to relish such songs as are unintelligible +to all but the initiated.</p> + +<p>A black man now appeared with a fiddle, and took +his seat in one of the windows; there was a reinforcement +of beaux, and the Miss Glanvils found that +a dance was to be the next amusement. Marianne +remarked, in a group of young men that had just +entered the room, one of remarkably genteel appearance +and extremely handsome. "Charlotte," said +she, "look at that young gentleman in black, talking +to Tom Davison."</p> + +<p>"I see no <em>gentleman</em> in the room," replied Charlotte, +"and I do not know Tom Davison from the +other clowns."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but this, I am certain, is really a gentleman," +said Marianne, "I wish he would ask me to +dance."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Charlotte, "would you actually +join in a dance with these people? Could you +stand up with them and give them your hand? And +above all things, would you make one in a <i>country-dance</i>, +for of course they know nothing about cotillions?"</p> + +<p>"Yes I would," answered Marianne, "with such +a partner as that young gentleman in black. And +then, when they see <em>my</em> French steps, how ashamed +they will be of their own shuffling and prancing."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> +Just then, Tom Davison, observing Marianne's +eyes fixed with evident approbation on the stranger +in black, brought him up and introduced him to her +as Captain Selman; and on his requesting the pleasure +of dancing with her, she immediately consented +with great satisfaction. Tom Davison then, with a +low bow and a look of much embarrassment, ventured +to make the same request of Charlotte, who refused +with an air of such unequivocal contempt, that +the youth determined in his own mind to leave her to +herself for the remainder of the evening.</p> + +<p>The musician made three scrapes on his fiddle +as a signal for every one to take their places. "Of +course," said Marianne, "we go to the top," and +Captain Selman led her to the head of the country +dance that was forming, while she lamented to him the +sad necessity of being obliged to join in such a dance, +saying that she must depend on him to give her some +idea of the figure; and adding that he would find her +an apt scholar, as she was always considered very +quick at learning every thing.</p> + +<p>The musician gave a loud stamp with his foot, +and then struck up New-Jersey; but observing that +Charlotte stopped her ears in horror, Marianne begged +of her partner to go and ask the man if he could not +play something less barbarous. The man replied that +New-Jersey was the dancing tune he was most used +to, but that he could play the Morning Star and Fisher's +Hornpipe quite as well. Marianne said that she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> +had heard her mother speak of dancing these things +when she was a girl, and therefore she was sure they +must be abominable.</p> + +<p>At last, after much sending of Captain Selman +backwards and forwards, and proposing tunes which +she knew the poor fiddler had never even heard of, +it was ascertained that he thought he could play +"The Campbells are coming," having <em>catched</em> it, as +he said, the last time he was in town.</p> + +<p>Captain Selman undertook to instruct the company +in the figure, which he did with great good humour, +and they actually learnt it with a quickness that surprised +Marianne. She went down the dance exhibiting +all her most difficult steps, and affecting a wonderful +gracefulness in every motion. However, when +she got to the bottom, suspecting that this display had +not excited quite as much admiration as she had expected, +she professed great fatigue, and threw herself +into a chair, declaring she could not dance another +step; and knowing that in consequence Captain Selman +could do no less than stand by and converse +with her till the set was over.</p> + +<p>"I do not see Susan Davison dancing," said Marianne, +"she has been sitting all the time beside my +sister. She is rather a pretty girl; I wonder none of +the young men have taken her out."</p> + +<p>"I made my bow to her soon after I came in," replied +the Captain, "but she declines dancing this +evening, alleging that, being in her own house, she is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +unwilling to take a place that might be occupied by +one of her friends."</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said Marianne, abruptly, "your next +partner will be the young person they call Fanny, as +she is certainly rather well-looking. There she is, +about the middle of the dance, with a broad pink +ribbon round her neck. Indeed, though my sister is +of a contrary opinion, I should be almost inclined to +think this Fanny something of a lady, only that she is +so sociable with these people. To be sure, I have +tried myself to be affable this evening, but I find it +such an irksome task that I believe it will be my last +attempt. Now it seems quite natural to this said +Fanny, which proves, as my sister Charlotte says, +that she is in reality no better than the rest. We +think she must be the daughter of one of these country +store-keepers, and that she has now and then had +the benefit of a fortnight's polishing in the city, while +her father was buying his spring goods."</p> + +<p>Captain Selman smiled, and was going to reply, +when Charlotte joined them, saying in a most peevish +voice, "Marianne, do you intend staying here all +night? If you do, you must stay by yourself. I +have just heard our carriage drive up, for I charged +William to come for us early, and I am dying to get +away."</p> + +<p>Marianne, who would willingly have stayed longer, +was about to remonstrate, but finding that the Captain +had escaped from her side, she felt less reluctant to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +go. Charlotte made her exit without ceremony, but +Marianne purposely loitered till the dance was over, +that she might make her departure the more conspicuous, +and produce a great effect by her elegant +manner of taking leave. She then walked up to +Mrs. Davison, and overwhelming the good woman +with curtseyings, bowings, compliments and flourishes, +she left the room, accompanied by Susan, to +the chamber in which their shawls and calashes had +been deposited.</p> + +<p>They were put into the carriage by Tom Davison, +as his last effort of civility. And it was resolved +next day by the family in council, that the Miss Glanvils +should on no future occasion be invited; for, as +Mrs. Davison remarked, they held their heads quite +too high, and their airs were unbearable.</p> + +<p>As they drove home, Charlotte, in the most unqualified +terms, expressed her disgust at the quilting-party, +and every thing connected with it. Marianne +acknowledged that the whole concern, as she called +it, was very ungenteel, but still not quite so bad as she +had expected. She said that in her opinion Captain +Selman would be presentable even in good society, +and expressed her surprise at finding an officer at a +quilting.</p> + +<p>"Pho," said Charlotte, "he is only a militia captain, +of course."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Marianne, "I am very sure he is +no such thing. If he were a militia officer, he would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +undoubtedly have come to the party in full uniform, +booted and spurred, with epaulette, and chapeau and +feather, his sword at his side, and his sash spread +out over his body as broad as possible, and pinned up +in a peak before and behind, as I have heard my +mother describe their costume. No, no; this officer +is in the regular army, and from something he said, +I know he was educated at West Point."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Charlotte, "I doubt his being a man +of fashion after all. I observed him, after he left +you, speaking familiarly to that Fanny as if they +were well acquainted. However, he did not seem +to ask her to dance, but he paid that compliment to +one that sat near the door, a poor bashful-looking +girl, the worst dressed and least attractive in the +room."</p> + +<p>The next day but one was Sunday. The church, +which was about three miles off, had been shut up, +undergoing repairs ever since Mr. Glanvil had removed +to the iron-works, but it was now again opened +for worship, and the Glanvil family all repaired +thither in their carriage. On this occasion, Charlotte +was as elegantly drest as her sister; for having satisfied +her perverseness by going in <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">dishabille</i> to the +quilting, she determined now to astonish the congregation +by a great display of finery at church.</p> + +<p>As they passed up the middle aisle, the eyes of +the Miss Glanvils were attracted immediately to a +handsome pew near the pulpit; in which pew they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> +saw Captain Selman, accompanied by Fanny, and +an elderly gentleman and lady, both of remarkably +genteel and dignified appearance. The two sisters, +at the same moment, pulled each other's sleeves significantly. +They thought the service very long, and +as soon as church was over, Marianne asked her +father if he knew the occupants of the pew that was +lined with blue moreen. He replied, "They are +the governor and his family. They have been travelling +all summer, and only returned last week. I +called yesterday to see them as I passed their house, +which is about five miles from ours." "Is it possible," +exclaimed Charlotte, "that Fanny can be the +governor's daughter!" "Is Captain Selman the governor's +son?" cried Marianne.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Mr. Glanvil. "The governor's +name, you know, is Milford. Captain Selman is the +son of Mrs. Milford's first marriage, and Miss Fanny +Milford is his half-sister."</p> + +<p>At the church-gate the governor's carriage was +waiting beside Mr. Glanvil's, and Mr. Milford stopped +with his family to introduce them to Mrs. Glanvil +and her daughters. The Miss Glanvils looked much +embarrassed. Charlotte was ashamed that Miss +Milford should have witnessed her unamiable behaviour +at the quilting, and Marianne was shocked at +recollecting the freedom with which she had talked +to Captain Selman of his step-sister. Their confusion +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +was so evident, that the Captain and Fanny, +when introduced to the Miss Glanvils, avoided making +any allusion to having met them at farmer Davison's.</p> + +<p>But little was said on either side, and the disconcerted +sisters were glad to take refuge in the carriage.</p> + +<p>On their way home, Charlotte expressed her surprise +at the condescension of the governor's family +in deigning to be on visiting terms with the farmer's.</p> + +<p>"And why not?" said Mr. Glanvil. "Andrew +Davison is a good citizen, and a respectable, sensible +and worthy man; and his children, though he +has wisely forborne to make any attempt at giving +them what is called a fashionable education, are +by no means coarse. The old-fashioned plainness +of decent country people is not vulgarity; and if +they are ignorant of the conventional forms of city +society, they generally make amends by having a +large share of that natural civility which springs +from good feeling; and it is easy in our intercourse +with them to avoid imitating such of their habits and +expressions as are at variance with our standard of +refinement. As fellow-citizens, their rights are the +same as ours, and, like us, they call no man master. +Not one of them would bend his knee to any monarch +upon earth.</p> + +<p>"Governor Milford has lived in this part of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +country nearly his whole life, and is, of course, acquainted +with all the old settlers, of whom Andrew +Davison is one. And he has very judiciously brought +up his family in the mutual interchange of civilities +with all his respectable neighbours, knowing that +nothing is ever lost by cultivating the good opinion of +those among whom our lot is cast."</p> + +<p>"I suspect, after all," said Charlotte, ill-naturedly, +"that the governor's affability, and that of his children, +originate in the expectation of securing the +votes of farmer Davison and his sons at the next election."</p> + +<p>"You are entirely mistaken," replied Mr. Glanvil. +"Governor Milford and the Davisons, though +old friends, are of opposite parties. They did not +vote for him at the last election, and he has declined +being a candidate for the next."</p> + +<p>Next day, the Glanvils were visited by the governor, +with his wife and daughter. Captain Selman +did not accompany them, having set out to +return to his station. Mr. and Mrs. Glanvil were +not at home, but the young ladies overwhelmed the +Milford family with civilities; Charlotte, in particular, +was absolutely obsequious in her attentions.</p> + +<p>Upon farther acquaintance, they found that Fanny +Milford had been educated in the city, and was quite +as accomplished as either of themselves, though she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> +had too much good sense to make any unseasonable +display. Her example was not lost upon Marianne, +who improved greatly by occasional intercourse with +this amiable girl. We wish we could say the same +of Charlotte; but pride is of all faults one of the +most difficult to conquer, as it is seldom found except +in persons of weak understanding. Sensible people +are never offensively proud.</p> + +<p class="ralign">ELIZA LESLIE.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE LITTLE RUNAWAY.</h2> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Down in the glade, where nibbling sheep</div> +<div class="line i1"> In verdant pasture stray,</div> +<div class="line">A little boy was seen to keep</div> +<div class="line i1"> His weary-footed way.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">A faithful dog, his fav'rite guard,</div> +<div class="line i1"> Protects the youth from harm,</div> +<div class="line">A Robin dear his steps retard,</div> +<div class="line i1"> So playful on his arm:</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Sweet little boy of rosy smiles,</div> +<div class="line i1"> In health and beauty drest,</div> +<div class="line">A few fond friends their duteous toils</div> +<div class="line i1"> Pursue, to find thy rest:</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Thy infant head knows not the care,</div> +<div class="line i1"> That bears them anxious on;</div> +<div class="line">Through meadows wild, and sunny air,</div> +<div class="line i1"> To seek where thou art gone.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">The vernal fields are daisied o'er,</div> +<div class="line i1"> With life the hawthorns teem;</div> +<div class="line">The busy bee with flowery store,</div> +<div class="line i1"> Hums in the sultry beam:</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">But thou—so active in thy play,</div> +<div class="line i1"> From parents absent far;—</div> +<div class="line">Heed'st not the meddling cares of day,</div> +<div class="line i1"> Nor what <em>their</em> sorrows are.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> +'Tis thus, thought I, in childhood's morn</div> +<div class="line i1"> We think creation ours;</div> +<div class="line">From sport to sport, our night is borne,</div> +<div class="line i1"> Like butterflies on flow'rs:</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">But when parental cares come round</div> +<div class="line i1"> In manhood's riper years,</div> +<div class="line">The loveliest pleasures most abound</div> +<div class="line i1"> When hope succeeds our fears.</div> +<div class="line i12">J. W. S.</div> +</div></div></div> + +<div><a name="the_little_runaway" id="the_little_runaway"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_170.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center">THE LITTLE RUNAWAY.</p> +<p class="center small">Drawn & Engraved by J. W. Steel.</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE SOUVENIR.</h2> + +<p>It was the afternoon of Christmas eve. The +weather was delightfully mild for the season, and the +sky without a cloud. The streets of Philadelphia +were unusually crowded, and the whole appearance +of the city was gay and animated. The fancy stores +were resplendent with elegant ribbons, laces, scarfs, +and reticules, and the shops for artificial flowers, +made a display which rivaled nature in her most +blooming season. It was a pleasing spectacle to see +so many parents leading their children, all with happy +faces; some full of hope, and others replete with +satisfaction; some going to buy Christmas gifts, +others carrying home those already purchased. Mr. +Woodley went out with his two boys to choose little +presents for them, regretting that Amelia, his eldest +daughter, was obliged to remain at home in consequence +of a severe cold.</p> + +<p>They soon entered a toy-shop, where Charles +made choice of a toy representing William Tell +directing his arrow toward the apple on the head of +his son, who stood blindfold at a little distance, and, +by pulling a string, the arrow took flight and struck +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +the apple off the boy's head. This Charles called +a very sensible toy, and his father bought him also +a box containing little wooden houses, churches, +and trees, which could be so arranged as to form a +village.</p> + +<p>Oswald, who was long since past the age of toys, +selected, at a neighbouring shop, a very pretty and +curious little writing apparatus of the purest and +most transparent white marble. It looked like a very +small vase, but it contained an ink-stand, sand-box, +wafer-box, a candlestick for a wax taper, and a +receptacle for pens: all nicely fitting into each other, +and so ingeniously contrived as to occupy the smallest +space possible.</p> + +<p>"Oswald," said Mr. Woodley, "you have chosen +so well for yourself, that I will leave to you the selection +of a present for your sister Amelia. Oswald +thought of many things before he could fix on any +one that he supposed would be useful or agreeable +to Amelia. She had already a handsome work-box, +a bead-purse, and a case of little perfume bottles. +For a moment his choice inclined to one of the elegant +reticules he saw in a window they were just +passing, and then he recollected that Amelia could +make very beautiful reticules herself. At last, he +fixed on a Souvenir, and wondered that the thought +had not struck him before, as Amelia drew very +well, and was an enthusiastic admirer of fine engravings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +They repaired to a neighbouring book-store, where, +amid a variety of splendid Souvenirs, Oswald selected +for his sister one of those that he considered the +most beautiful, and had the pleasure of carrying it +home to her.</p> + +<p>To describe the delight of Amelia on receiving +this elegant present, is impossible. She spread a +clean handkerchief over her lap before she drew the +book from its case, that it might not be soiled in the +slightest degree, and she removed to a distance from +the fire lest the cover should be warped by the heat. +After she had eagerly looked all through it, she commenced +again, and examined the plates with the most +minute attention. She then showed them to her little +brother and sister, carefully, however, keeping the +book in her own hands.</p> + +<p>"Amelia," said Oswald, "I know a boy that would +be very happy to examine this Souvenir. He has no +opportunity of seeing any thing of the kind, except +by gazing at the windows of the book-stores."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—And who is this boy?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—His father, who has seen better days, +is an assistant in our school, and the boy himself is +one of the pupils. His name is Edwin Lovel. He +has a most extraordinary genius for drawing, though +he has never had the means of cultivating it to any +extent. He is a very sensible boy, and I like him +better than any one in the school. His mother must +be a nice woman, for though their income is very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +small, Edwin always makes a genteel appearance, +and is uniformly clean and neat. He is also extremely +handsome. All his leisure time is devoted to drawing. +He first began on the slate, when he was only +four years old, and had nothing else to draw on till +he was nine or ten. Now, he saves what little money +he has, for the purpose of buying paper and pencils. +He has no box of colours, but draws only in Indian +ink, which he does most beautifully. He never likes +to see any thing wasted that can be used for drawing, +and is even glad to get the cover of a letter.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—You remind me of the French artist +Godfrey's fine picture of the Battle of Pultowa, which +he drew, while in prison, on the backs of letters pasted +together; using, instead of Indian ink or colours, +the soot of the stove-pipe mixed with water.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Well, Edwin Lovel is not quite so much +at a loss for drawing materials, for he has a cake of +Indian ink and four camel's hair pencils. He draws +with a pen beautiful title-pages, decorated with vignettes, +for his copy-books and ciphering-books; and +the boys pay him for ornamenting their writing-pieces. +He was for a long time very unwilling to take money +for those things, but we finally prevailed on him, +though with great difficulty. He passes most of his +evenings in drawing; that is, when he has any candle +of his own, for he will not, even in the pursuit of +his favourite gratification, cause the slightest additional +expense to his parents, who find it very hard to +live on his father's small salary.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—What an excellent boy he must be.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Last Saturday afternoon, I thought I +would go for him and take him to see some very fine +pictures which were to be sold at auction on Monday. +The door was opened by a half-grown black girl, +(their only servant,) who was probably not accustomed +to admitting visiters, and, therefore, knew no better +than to show me at once up stairs to Edwin's +chamber; a very small place, perfectly clean, but +furnished in the most economical manner. There +was no fire in the room. Edwin was sitting at a little +pine table with his great coat on, and his feet +enveloped in an old muff of his mother's to keep +them warm. He was busily engaged in copying a +head of Decatur from a China pitcher, improving on +it so greatly as to make it a very fine drawing.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Poor fellow! had he nothing better to +copy?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Why, I asked him that question, but he +confessed that he was at so great a loss for models +that he was glad to imitate any thing he could get; +and that, having no instructer, he knew no better way +to pick up a little knowledge of the general principles +of the art, than by copying every thing that +came in his way, provided it was not absolutely bad. +I then reminded him that, as he could make admirable +sketches from his own imagination, I thought he +need not copy at all; but he disclaimed all pretensions +to designing well, and then said that, even if his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> +original attempts were tolerably successful, as outlines, +it was only by drawing from prints or pictures +that he could acquire a just idea of keeping, or of the +distribution of light and shadow. He showed me, +however, several original drawings, which my father +would say evinced an extraordinary degree of talent, +and some admirable copies, though many of them +were taken from very coarse prints for want of better.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—How very glad he would be to have +this Souvenir to draw from.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—He would, indeed. But that Souvenir +cost three dollars, and I do not suppose that he ever +had three dollars in his life, poor boy—I mean three +dollars at once.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—I will willingly lend it to him.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—He has so little time to draw, that it +would be a great while before he could return it; or +rather, he would be so uneasy at keeping it long, that +I know he would send it back before he had half done +with it. And, besides, he would have no satisfaction +in drawing from <em>your book</em>, as he would be in continual +fear of dropping his brush on one of the leaves, +or of accidentally injuring it in some way or other. +He is very unwilling to borrow any thing that is new +or valuable.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—What a pity that a boy of so much +genius should find any difficulties in his way.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—There are too many similar instances. +Some of the most distinguished artists of the present +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> +age have been obliged, in early life, to struggle with +indigence, and, indeed, with absolute poverty, much +as Edwin Lovel is now doing.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Amelia said to her brother as +soon as she found him alone, "Oswald, I wish to +ask you one question. When we receive a present, +does it not become our own?"</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Certainly.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—And we are at liberty to do exactly +what we please with it?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Precisely—only I think we had better +not destroy it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Of course, not—but we may give it +away?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Why—I do not know—I should not +like to give away a present received from a valued +friend.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—But if, in giving it away, you make the +person on whom you bestow it more happy than you +yourself could possibly be made by keeping it?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—If you were sure that that would be +the case——</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Oh! I am very sure—I can answer +for myself. Therefore, dear brother, I beg your +acceptance of my Souvenir.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Why, Amelia, your kindness surprises +me. You know I have already a Christmas gift; +the beautiful writing case that my father bought for +me yesterday. I cannot take your Souvenir. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Dear Oswald, for once allow me to make +you a present. It is the first time in my life I have +had it in my power to offer you any thing of consequence. +I shall be so happy, if you accept it—There +it is, (<i>laying the Souvenir on Oswald's knee.</i>)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—But, Amelia, how can you part so soon +with your beautiful Souvenir? You were so delighted +with it last evening.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—I know every thing in it—I examined all +the plates with the greatest attention, and I read it +through before I went to bed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—(<i>smiling.</i>)—Well, Amelia, though you +are so generous as to make me the owner of the +Souvenir, you know it will still remain in the house. +I will put it carefully away in my little book case, +and whenever you wish to look at it, just tell me so, +and you shall have it at any time.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—(<i>looking disappointed.</i>)—But, Oswald, +are you going to keep it always?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Always, as the gift of my loving sister.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—But I do not <em>insist</em> on your keeping it +for ever, dear Oswald. You may give it away +again—I shall not be the least offended if you give it +away, provided you bestow it properly. Indeed, I +would rather you should give it away than not—and +as soon as possible, too—this very day, if you choose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Surely, Amelia, you have a very strange +way of making a present; desiring it to be given +away again immediately.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Why, Oswald, you know you do not +draw.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—No, indeed, to my great regret.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—And, if you did, my father would always +take care that you should be well supplied with +models.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—I suppose he would, as he never lets +us want for any thing that could add to our improvement.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Had not the Souvenir better be given to +a person that <em>does draw</em> very well,—beautifully, indeed,—but +that has no money to buy models?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—In one word—Had not the Souvenir better +be given to Edwin Lovel?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Yes, since it must be told, that is exactly +what I mean.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—So I guessed from the beginning. But +why did you take such a roundabout way of getting +the book put into his possession?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—Why, I do not suppose he would accept +it from me, a young girl whom he has never seen; +but he would be less scrupulous in taking it as <em>your</em> +gift, as you are an acquaintance of his.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Say, a friend.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—I know you so well, that, after our conversation +last night, I was certain, if I gave the book +to you, you would present it at once to the poor boy; +and I was much disconcerted when you pretended at +first that you would keep it always.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Amelia, the book is yours, and the +suggestion is yours, and I will not assume to myself +more merit than I deserve. If you are determined +on giving the Souvenir to Edwin Lovel, the best +way is to seal it up in a sheet of white paper addressed +to him, and with a few words written on the inside, +requesting his acceptance of the book from an +unknown admirer of early genius.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—An excellent plan—I wonder I did not +think of it before. I will set about it directly.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Here is a sheet of Ames's best letter-paper, +and here is my new writing-box. Let it be +used for the first time in a good cause.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—(<i>sits down and writes.</i>)—I never wrote +any thing with more pleasure.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Be sure to put "early genius."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—I have.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Let me see—I never saw any writing +of yours look so pretty. Now, I will put up the +parcel, and tie it round with red tape, and seal it, for +girls seldom do such things well—(<i>he folds the book +in the paper, ties, and seals it.</i>) There, now direct it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—The next thing is, who shall we get to +carry it to Edwin?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—Why not William?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—I do not wish my father to know it, lest +he should think I set too little value on his Christmas +present; and I will never ask a servant to do any +thing for me that is to be kept from the knowledge of +my parents.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Oswald.</span>—That is right. I will take the packet to +the Intelligence Office, round the corner, and give +one of the black boys that are always loitering there, +a trifle to carry it to Mr. Lovel's, and just leave it +with whoever opens the door.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amelia.</span>—That will do very well. Now, Oswald, +make haste, for I hear my father coming.</p> + +<p>Oswald easily procured a boy to carry the packet +to the house of Mr. Lovel, who lived in one of the +upper cross streets. The door was opened by the +black girl, who immediately recognised the boy as +an old acquaintance, and commenced a conversation +with him. "Why, Ben," said she, "What is this +you have brought for Master Edwin? I guess it's a +book. It looks 'xactly like one. All done up so +nice, and sealed. Why, I'm puzzled who sended it." +"He did not tell me his name," replied the boy, +"but I guess I know who he is, for all that. It's +Master Oswald Woodley, Mr. Woodley, the great +merchant's eldest son. My aunt is cook there, and +I've often been in the kitchen. And he gave me a +quarter-dollar for carrying it; and it must be 'livered +into Master Edwin's own private, particular hands."</p> + +<p>So saying, he departed, and the girl ran up to +Edwin's room, holding out the parcel and saying, +"Master Edwin, here's a book for you, signed, sealed, +and delivered; sent by Master Oswald Woodley, +oldest son of Mr. Woodley the great merchant."</p> + +<p>Edwin took the book, and, on opening it, was much +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> +surprised to find the note written in a female hand, +and the name of Amelia Woodley on the presentation +plate of the Souvenir, which had been inscribed +by her father the preceding evening, and which she +had forgotten to erase before she sent it away. For +some time, his pleasure in examining the beautiful +plates absorbed every other consideration, and it was +not till he had gone twice over them, that he thought +of the mystery connected with the book. His honourable +principles determined him not to accept it, +as he saw that there was some secrecy about the +whole transaction, and that probably the generous +young lady, whose name it bore, had sent it to him +without the knowledge of her parents. The beauty +of the book was a great temptation, and he would +have derived much pleasure from copying some of +the fine plates, but still he could not reconcile it to +his conscience to keep it, neither would he betray +the kind-hearted Amelia to her father. He resolved +to seal it up again, and leave it himself at Mr. +Woodley's door, addressed to Oswald.</p> + +<p>He took his last sheet of paper, and wrote in it as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"Accident has discovered to me to whom I am +indebted for a most beautiful present, but though it +has excited my warmest gratitude, I cannot consent +to accept it under circumstances of mystery to which +the parents of my kind friend may be strangers. I +return it with a thousand acknowledgments.</p> + +<p class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Edwin Lovel.</span>"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +Having looked once more at the engravings, he +put up the Souvenir, and set out himself to leave it +at Mr. Woodley's house, intending to desire the servant +that opened the door to give it to Master Oswald.</p> + +<p>Mr. Woodley was sitting at the centre-table looking +over some English newspapers, and he found in +one of them a high eulogium on a new picture by +an American artist, now in London. He read the +piece aloud, and when he had concluded, "Amelia," +said he, "if I am not mistaken, there is in your +Souvenir an engraving from this picture. Let me +look at it again." Amelia coloured and knew not +what to say, and Oswald also seemed much embarrassed. +"My dear," pursued Mr. Woodley, "did +you not hear me? If you can get the book conveniently, +I should like to look at that plate." Amelia, +confused and trembling, tried to speak but could +not, and her eyes were immediately filled with tears. +"Amelia," said Mr. Woodley, "has any accident +happened to the Souvenir?" "No, my dear father," +she replied, "but I have given it away." "Is it +possible," said Mr. Woodley, "that you were so +soon tired of your father's Christmas gift?" "Oh! +no, no," replied Amelia, "but there is a poor boy +who draws beautifully, and I thought it would make +him so happy. Dear Oswald, tell the whole."</p> + +<p>Oswald then, as concisely as possible, related all +the circumstances: and Mr. Woodley, after gently +blaming the children for disposing of the book without +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +consulting their parents, kissed Amelia, and commended +her kindness and benevolence in bestowing +her Souvenir on poor Edwin Lovel.</p> + +<p>Just then a ring was heard at the front door, and +William brought in and gave to Oswald the packet, +which had been left that moment by Edwin. "Ah!" +exclaimed Oswald, on opening the parcel, "this is +so like Edwin. He sends back the Souvenir." He +then gave Edwin's note to Mr. Woodley, who, after +reading it, went to the desk and wrote a billet addressed +to Edwin's father, in which he requested him +to permit his son to join his family that day at their +Christmas dinner. William was immediately despatched +to Mr. Lovel's with the note, and in a short +time Edwin arrived, looking very happy; and Mr. +Woodley shook him heartily by the hand, on being +introduced to him by Oswald. Then, taking up the +Souvenir, he held it out to Amelia, and desired her +to present it a second time to her brother's young +friend. "With my sanction," said Mr. Woodley to +Edwin, "you will not again refuse my daughter's +gift, though you so honourably returned it when you +suspected that she offered it unknown to her parents."</p> + +<p>Edwin spent the day with the Woodley family, +who were all delighted with his modesty and good +sense, and Mr. Woodley made him promise to repeat +his visit as often as he had leisure. That evening, +Amelia's uncle brought her a present of an Album, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +bound in green morocco and handsomely gilt, and +Edwin requested that she would allow him to take it +home and draw something in it.</p> + +<p>When he returned the Album, it contained copies, +in Indian ink, of the most beautiful plates of the +Souvenir, executed in Edwin's very best manner. +Mr. Woodley presented Edwin with a portfolio, containing +a selection of fine prints, and eventually made +arrangements with a distinguished artist to take him +as a pupil: his taste for drawing being so decided, +and his indications of genius so extraordinary, it was +thought best to yield to his desire of making painting +his profession.</p> + +<p>Finding Edwin's father to be a very deserving +man, Mr. Woodley assisted him to re-establish himself +in business, regretting that he should so long +have been condemned to the irksome life of a teacher +in a school. He was soon enabled to occupy a +better house, and to live once more in the enjoyment +of every comfort.</p> + +<p class="ralign">E. L.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span></p> + +<h2>MOTHER'S JOY</h2> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Why, what a busy maid thou art,</div> +<div class="line">With eyes so like a dove!</div> +<div class="line">And I am sure thy little heart</div> +<div class="line">Is running o'er with love.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">No grief hast thou, save now and then</div> +<div class="line">Thy bread and butter falls,—</div> +<div class="line">Or careless little bantam hen</div> +<div class="line">Escapes from her wooden walls.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Sometimes thy roguish brother comes</div> +<div class="line">Along with stealthy tread,</div> +<div class="line">And in thy startled ear he drums,</div> +<div class="line">Or pulls thy curly head.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">And these are all the troubles thou</div> +<div class="line">E'er hast, my gentle Mary—</div> +<div class="line">No wonder thou, with happy brow,</div> +<div class="line">Art listening to Canary.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">And then thou art so very kind</div> +<div class="line">To every thing that moves—</div> +<div class="line">Thy little feather'd brood all find</div> +<div class="line">How sweetly Mary loves.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">James is an active, winning child—</div> +<div class="line">Dearly we love the boy—</div> +<div class="line">But thou, my little maiden mild,</div> +<div class="line">Thou art thy Mother's Joy!</div> +</div></div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE PERCEVALS.</h2> + +<p>Sorrow and joy were both in the house of Mr. +Perceval; for one lovely baby was laid out in its +white shroud, and, in the same hour, another's eyes +first opened on the light. There were two persons +watching in the chamber of death—the father, who +gazed on the smiling lips and smooth fair brow of +his first-born son, till with tears he blessed the pitying +hand which had stilled the little voice of agony, +and obliterated for ever the traces of pain; and the +nurse, a young and tender-hearted Irish woman, who +had borne the infant sufferer through his brief life of +torment, and now with Christian love hung over the +placid features, that the sinless spirit beautified in +death; till the coffin closed over the transient light, +which the departing soul had left, and the empty +cradle received a new birth. It was long before Eva +could observe, in this unconscious subject of her daily +comparison, any charms to equal those that were +buried with the earlier object of her care; and she +never could avoid contrasting "the tender blue of +those loving eyes," shaded by their silken lashes, +which seemed opening upon her from the tomb, every +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> +time she looked at the full large orbs, that stared out +of the meagre long face of his unadmired successor; +and she never tired talking of the glossy ringlets, that +she used to twist round the comb, with such elaborate +care, when she was adorning her little Henry for +company; as soon as she saw Alfred's "ugly bare +head," without a lace cap. This young gentleman, +however, paid no attention to such discourse, so unfavourable +to himself, but continued to live on, very +well satisfied with his own share of beauty; and it +was not before two or three years had passed over +his head, and made him vain, that he discovered any +pride in his appearance. But then, when his figure +rounded into perfect shape, when the lace cap was +exchanged for golden ringlets, and the rose and the +lily were blended in his lovely face, he would exhibit, +with great delight, his red shoes, and worked slip, +and coral clasps, which his mother had bought in +the pride of her maternal fondness, to correspond +with the beauty of her son. Mr. Perceval had a +country seat, a short walk from Baltimore, where he +resided with his family during the summer months. +The guns from Fort M'Henry announced our annual +festival—the soldiers were assembling in the city—Alfred +heard the drums and the trumpets,—and the +little hero must go to town, to see the parade. With +many charges to Eva (who was now in the habit of +bringing forward the beauties of her two nurslings, +not "in opposition but in compare") the reluctant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +mother consented to expose her son for a short time, +in the close air of the city, from a natural wish to +gratify his infant taste for "all the pomp and circumstance +of war." I would not like to say, how many +poor children are dragged over the scorching pavements +and burning roads of our town, during the great +national feast, without any refreshment themselves, +except perhaps a glass of heated beer, or a dusted +cake. Alfred Perceval was more fortunate—supported +in the arms of his careful, tender nurse, from +a window on the shady side of Market street, he saw +the long military line extend from the western extremity +to the bridge. His head moves to the sound +of the music, he springs in Mary's arms, as the horsemen +gallop past; his eyes sparkle at the flashing +swords; and his brave little heart recoils not at the +sound of the guns. When the show was over, Eva +brought him home, and made him a cap of blue paper, +and put a red feather in it. With this on his head, +he strutted about the house, to the music of a cocoanut +shell he had for a kettledrum, which his mother +preferred to that of a tin canister, which the young +musician would have preferred himself. Nothing +could exceed the glow of delight which made Alfred +so beautiful that day, and the parents exulted in the +health of their son. Oh! what a sad reverse, to sink +at once the current of this joy,—before midnight +their little soldier was raging with fever, and when +the restlessness of the disease was over, it settled +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +with a fatal stillness on the brain; and during six +weeks he lay insensible to all that was done to save +him.</p> + +<p>I will not attempt to describe the misery of the +parents, for my story is to be a brief one; but it +pleased the Power of Mercy to abate their hopeless +grief, through the instrumentality of medical skill; +and Alfred once more opened his eyes to a new existence, +and stared around him as he did before. A +cap supplied the place of the beautiful fair curls, that +were all cut away, and the child was placed in Eva's +arms, as helpless and nearly as unconscious then, as +when he first received the precarious gift of life. +But Eva carried him to the garden, and the woods, +where the leaves, now dyed with all the rich tints of +our splendid autumn, presented so many colours to +his sight; and while she called his attention to the +various objects around him, his slow remembrance +returned, and he would smile at all the creatures that +he used to love—"the beasts of the field and the +fowls of the air." And then she would make him +smell the flowers she culled for him, and listen to the +music of the birds; till at last every sense was restored +to its natural power, and his mind awoke +from its long deep sleep, but the weakness of his +frame continued, and many months passed away, before +he was able to put his feet to the ground; and +by that time, a little brother overtook his steps, and +they both began to walk together; while each had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> +his nurse, and his eulogist, who praised her own +charge,—and no wonder, for Alfred's mind (strengthened, +it would seem, after so long a rest) exhibited, +from day to day, powers of observation and reflection, +much beyond his age. And his happy parents would +often call him their "baby philosopher," while they +smiled with delight at his sage remarks. And Charles +was the prettiest little puppet ever seen; his dancing +steps, always keeping time to the music of his own +thoughts, which were scarcely ever out of tune; and +so fond was he of the exercise of life, that they never +laid him down in his bed, for necessary rest, without +his having a playful struggle against the advances of +sleep; but after kicking his feet against the posts of +his crib, as long as he was able, and singing "by, +by baby"—after slapping his pillow till he was tired, +he was usually found by his mother asleep, when she +went to bed, with his pocket handkerchief rolled into +a rag baby, and his head lying where his feet ought +to be. But before any one else was stirring in the +morning, he was awake again, when he would stoop +over his low crib, and take his boots in, and while he +was trying to put them on, but succeeded neither by +the heels nor the toes, he would talk to them about +their conduct, or tell himself stories of cats and dogs, +with shawls and bonnets; and pigeons, with yellow +shoes, walking down Market street. Yet with all this +imagination himself, he had so little inclination to +profit by the thoughts of others, that his mother could +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +with difficulty teach him the alphabet, before he was +sent to his first school; though his brother (who never +told a story that I remember, except one that had +"seventeen foxes" in it) could read perfectly. With +a foreign teacher, however, Charles seemed very +suddenly to make great advances; and, at four years +of age, he was always head or next to head in his +lessons; to the surprise of his attentive parents, who +could not themselves perceive so great a progress in +learning as this seemed to indicate; but upon investigating +the matter thoroughly, they found out, that +there was only Charles and another little urchin in the +class; which little urchin was to occasion them more +distress, than they ever could have anticipated. One +Sunday, dressed in his finest clothes, he found Charles +at the door of his father's town-house (for it was +early in the spring,) and persuaded him to take a +walk. Accordingly, the two young travellers set off +together, but no sooner had they reached the confines +of the town and point, than they quarrelled about +their future destination; when Master Jacky left +Charles to steer his own course, and ran home as fast +as he could. The poor little fellow scorned to cry, +but wandered about, more and more bewildered, till +he reached one of the wharves, where a Spanish vessel +was about to spread its sails to a fair wind, and +put to sea. Such a strange prospect, opening at once +upon the frightened child, when he thought he was +so many steps nearer home, occasioned an instant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +defeat of all his self-confidence; and he burst out +into a loud and continued cry, which arrested the +attention of a gentleman, who was just at that moment +hurrying to reach the vessel.</p> + +<p>The little boy was in distress, and he was compassionate; +but what was to be done? The wharf contained +no individual, but themselves and the sailors; +the wind was fair, and the captain would not delay. +The stranger could not speak the language of the +child, but he smiled while he took his hand, and +smoothed his little brow, and Charles understood him +as well as if he had spoken to him in English; for he +was accustomed to the sight of foreigners in his +father's house, and in a similar manner he always +held discourse with them. So he stopped crying, and +smiled in return; and the gentleman, delighted with +his pleasant looks, gave the child his watch to carry, +while he carried him; for the captain, in a passion, had +ordered the vessel from the shore, and the stranger was +obliged to take Charles on board, or leave him on the +wharf to cry, and perhaps be drowned. While the novelty +of his situation amused his mind, Charles continued +quiet; but after that, when he thought of his nurse, his +tender parents, and his kind brother, at home, his little +heart seemed ready to break; and, only for the constant +tenderness of his unknown friend, I believe he +would have died. But by degrees his grief became +subdued, and before the vessel reached Cuba, he was +the pet of all the sailors, and the delight of his kind +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +protector; who, after this, could not bear to part with +him, but having no children of his own, he adopted +him, and had him educated as his son: and upon +his approaching death, which happened about six +years after, he left Charles his little property, under +the guardianship of a Boston merchant, with whom +he had been transacting business many years: and +upon whom he now relied, for the discovery of the +parents of the child; which he had been only anxious +to avoid before.</p> + +<p>This gentleman went to receive his charge very +willingly; and, on his return to Boston, he placed +Charles in a celebrated school, to which Alfred Perceval +had been sent by his considerate parents when +they found that grief for the loss of his little brother, +had settled too much in studious habits, and aversion +to companionship. Charles's guardian then went to +Baltimore. He was introduced to Mr. Perceval, and +invited to dine at his house. There he told the story +of his little ward; when he was shocked to observe, +what an effect it produced on Mrs. Perceval; for +years had scarcely mitigated the agony she first felt, +at the strange loss of her infant; to which the death +of her eldest son, and the long torpor of his brother, +were supportable distresses; since they were not +aggravated by the power of imagination. But Mr. +Perceval (more collected than she was) could not +avoid seeing, in a similar circumstance, something to +awaken his own hopes; he therefore acquainted the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +gentleman with their loss; and asked him if the child +he spoke of, had ever told his name. "If he did, +sir, my friend, not understanding the rest of his language, +must have forgotten it; but he kept a little +handkerchief, that had been pinned to his robe, and +which I have now in my pocket-book." He drew it +out, and gave it to Mrs. Perceval, who had been +relieved by tears from her first emotion; but when +she saw the initials, C. P., marked by her own hands, +she screamed out—"Oh! my dear husband, it is our +own son"—and instantly fainted away. Eva, who +was still in the house, and now attending two fine +little girls, was loudly called by the alarmed Mr. Perceval. +She came directly, and his lady soon recovered +by their united assistance.</p> + +<p>The parents then proposed to write instantly for +their sons; but before the letter was sent, they received +one from Alfred, requesting permission to +bring a little Spanish boy home with him, for whom +he had become greatly interested, owing to a circumstance +which happened in school, soon after +Charles was placed there. A large boy, of greater +bulk than manners, took a fancy one day to insult the +feelings of the little foreigner, in a manner he could +not bear; and he flew at his tormentor, who would +instantly have struck him down, had not Alfred Perceval +that moment appeared; who, stepping between +them, pushed the elder boy aside, and then detaining +the other, he said—"For shame! Roscoe, how can +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +you, such a big boy, try the temper of a little stranger +like this, who cannot answer us in our own language? +I thought you had more feeling." "Now, +for one cent I could knock you down, Perceval; but +I don't know how it is, you get the better of us all—masters +and scholars. However, you'll be going to +college soon," continued the rough boy, dashing +away a tear—"and, that you may go off with flying +colours, as a peace-maker and a peace-keeper, here's +my hand, little tawney coat, and thank him that you +did not get a good drubbing." But Charles, perhaps +misconceiving the intention of this action, or thinking +that he ought to have the pride of a Spaniard, +turned from Roscoe with disdain, and throwing himself +into the arms of Alfred, he wept with such a +gush of feeling, that it completely overcame the +nerves of that sensitive boy, who struggled in vain +against his own tears, which then flowed at one +thought, and that was of his little brother. But what +was his joy afterward, when his father's letter arrived, +and told him that "the lost was found?" I will +pass over the joy of Mr. and Mrs. Perceval, upon the +first arrival of their sons, for every one can imagine +it; but I must say, that their happiness increased +every day; as they observed, that Charles's Spanish +education had taught him to pursue every thing that +was honourable in principle and practice. He soon +adopted his newly discovered kindred with a strength +of attachment which seemed almost to have some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> +early recollection for its foundation. And when Eva +brought his nurse, Sarah, to see him, (who was now +living with her husband in comfortable circumstances,) +he smiled as if he really remembered her, +and Sarah was sure that he did. Mr. and Mrs. Perceval, +considering maturely on the subject, at length +agreed, that it would be better to keep their sons at +home, with proper instructors, until Charles understood +English sufficiently to understand them; when +he could return to school with greater advantage; +and his guardian willingly gave up the future direction +of the person and fortune of his ward to his +most natural directors. Before the vacation ended +then, all Alfred's school companions were invited to a +farewell party, which was prepared with great taste +by his mother. The company assembled—all the +most distinguished little people of the city; and when +the carpets were thrown aside, and the lamps blazed, +their light young feet gave little rest to the music. +But, though the refreshments were numerous, and +handed round constantly, I believe no young person +was disgraced by an immoderate use of them. Indeed, +I understand that a resolution has been formed +by the most promising youth of our city, to "be +temperate in all things," as republicans ought to +be; and especially to stand always armed against +every device of that treacherous spirit, which entering +alone into the secret folds of inward depravity, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> +or assailing, with the combined powers of +evil example, the outward avenues to sin, saps the +foundation of the soul, till man becomes a tottering +ruin, and a blighting shade, over his own household; +and a nation is darkened with the wreck of +her sons.</p> + +<p class="ralign">C. M. B.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHILD LEFT ON THE SEA-SHORE.</h2> + +<p class="center small"><span class="smcap">Adapted to a picture by Sully</span>.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">Why dost thou sport amid those swelling waves,</div> +<div class="line">Child of the frolic brow? The billows rush</div> +<div class="line">Foaming and vexing with a maniac's wrath,</div> +<div class="line">To do unuttered deeds, and the wild clouds</div> +<div class="line">Muster and frown, as if bold midnight rear'd</div> +<div class="line">Her throne at noon-day. Hear'st thou not the winds</div> +<div class="line">Uttering their ruffian threats? Is this a time</div> +<div class="line">To lave that snowy foot? Away! away!</div> +<div class="line">——What!—have all fled?—and art thou left alone?—</div> +<div class="line">By those who wandered with thee on the beach,</div> +<div class="line">In the fair sun-light of a summer's morn,</div> +<div class="line">Forgotten thus! Had'st thou a mother, sweet?</div> +<div class="line">Oh, no—no—no! <em>She</em> had not turn'd away,</div> +<div class="line">Though the strong tempest rose to tenfold wrath,—</div> +<div class="line">She had not fled without thee,—had not breath'd</div> +<div class="line">In safety or at ease save when she heard</div> +<div class="line">Thy murmur'd tone beside her,—had not slept</div> +<div class="line">Until thy drench'd and drooping curls were dried</div> +<div class="line">In her fond bosom. <i>Nature never made</i></div> +<div class="line"><i>A mother to forget.</i> Why, she had dared</div> +<div class="line">Yon fiercest surge to save thee, or had plung'd,</div> +<div class="line">Clasping thee close and closer, down,—down,—down,—</div> +<div class="line">Where thou art going. Lo! the breakers rush</div> +<div class="line">Bellowing, to demand thee. Shrink not, child!</div> +<div class="line">Innocence need not fear. Sweet shalt thou sleep</div> +<div class="line">'Mid ocean's sunless flowers. The lullaby</div> +<div class="line"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +Of the mermaiden shall thy requiem be,</div> +<div class="line">And the white coral thou didst love to mix</div> +<div class="line">Among thy pencill'd shells, shall lightly rear</div> +<div class="line">A canopy above thee. Amber drops</div> +<div class="line">Shall gem thy clustering tresses, and thy ear</div> +<div class="line">No more the echoes of the wavering main</div> +<div class="line">Appall'd shall hear. Thy God shall guard thy rest.</div> +<div class="line i16">L. H. S.</div> +<div class="line"><i>Hartford.</i></div> +</div></div></div> + +<div><a name="child_left_on_the_sea_shore" id="child_left_on_the_sea_shore"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img class="mw" src="images/i_202.jpg" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"> +<p class="center small">Painted by T. Scully. <span class="i6">Engraved by J.W. Steel.</span></p> +<p class="center">CHILD ON THE SEA BEACH.</p> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE EAGLE OF THE WEST.</h2> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">"It is the spot I came to seek,</div> +<div class="line i1"> My father's ancient burial place,</div> +<div class="line">Ere from these vales, ashamed and weak,</div> +<div class="line i1"> Withdrew our wasted race.</div> +<div class="line i2"> It is the spot—I know it well—</div> +<div class="line i2"> Of which our old traditions tell.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">"This bank, in which the dead were laid,</div> +<div class="line i1"> Was sacred when its soil was ours;</div> +<div class="line">Hither the artless Indian maid</div> +<div class="line i1"> Brought wreaths of buds and flowers;</div> +<div class="line i2"> And the gay chief and gifted seer</div> +<div class="line i2"> Worshipped the God of thunders here.</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">"But now the wheat is green and high</div> +<div class="line i1"> On clods that hid the warrior's breast,</div> +<div class="line">And scattered in the furrows lie</div> +<div class="line i1"> The weapons of his rest,</div> +<div class="line i2"> And there, in the loose sand, is thrown,</div> +<div class="line i2"> Of his large arm the mouldering bone."—<span class="smcap">Bryant.</span></div> +</div></div></div> + +<p>You have read, said General Lawrence to his +children, of the numerous ancient forts and mounds +found in different parts of the now populous state +of Ohio. Some incidents which I shall relate, have +rendered most of them, to me, subjects of great interest.</p> + +<p>I was subordinate to General Rufus Putnam, when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +he gave directions for the first settlement of Marietta, +by a colony from New-England, in 1788. Ohio, +you know, at that time was called a district, including +the present territories of Michigan, Illinois, and +Indiana, and owned by the general government—Virginia +having ceded it, seven years before, to the +United States, reserving only some tracts of land as +military bounties for such officers and soldiers as had +been distinguished in the reduction of the British +forts on the Ohio river.</p> + +<p>The Chippewas, Miamis, Wyandots,<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and other +native tribes, looked, as they well might, with jealous +eyes on the annual encroachments of the whites +upon their hunting-grounds. It is true that they reluctantly +receded as we advanced, but it was under +the stern law of necessity, not a free-will abdication. +I cannot, and do not, pretend to excuse the selfish +rapacity with which many of our ancestors, throughout +the whole country, seized on the soil of the aborigines;<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +that is an account which it is not our business +to settle, though we cannot read the true page of +our history without a crimsoning blush of shame.</p> + +<p>I remember an act of cold-blooded wickedness, +perpetrated by our people in Ohio about this period, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> +which I never could either palliate or forgive. There +was a small encampment of the Wyandots a few +miles from where some of our emigrants had settled. +They were soon apprised of the neighbourhood of +the new residents, and came over to view their +works, sometimes three, four, or more, together.</p> + +<p>For some time all things went on well;—and I +have thought, with the excellent Heckewelder,<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> that +they need never have done otherwise, had the whites +been just and true to their duty. "They are remarkable," +says he, "for their <em>domestic</em> and <em>social</em> virtues, +and know how to <em>practice</em> that precept which +we so well teach in <em>theory</em>, viz. '<i>To love their neighbour +as themselves</i>.'"</p> + +<p>"The Indians," says one of our early and most +respectable historians, "on their first acquaintance +with the whites, proved themselves kind, generous, +and hospitable, so long as they were treated with justice +and humanity. But so they were not long, and +the consequences are well known to all. In the particular +case of the Wyandots I was unfortunately +witness—first to the imprudence, and then to the +wickedness of my countrymen."</p> + +<p>Evident symptoms of dissatisfaction appeared +whenever they afterward met. Our company began +seriously to fear an attack, (no wonder, they had +given provocation,) and accordingly laid a plan for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> +cutting off the Indians at once, instead of attempting +a reconciliation, though I own the latter would not +have been easily effected. The great fault of the +Indian is his thirst for <em>revenge</em>, which, when injured, +he will always seek.</p> + +<p>The purpose of the whites was carried into effect +one night, after they had freely supplied the unfortunate +Wyandots with rum. All fell of this portion of +the tribe, save two or three children, who were saved +by one of the party, more humane than his companions, +and an Indian youth, of about fifteen years of +age, called Tecumsoit, and also often known by the +proud appellation of "the Eagle of the West," for +thus early did he discover traits of remarkable +strength and courage. He fought boldly and long, +when his people were sacrificed almost unresistingly +around him, and fled only when so wounded that he +could do no more. He fled—but in the hope of returning +in power, and making perfect his dreadful +vengeance. His purpose was frustrated but by the +constant watchfulness of the military force which we +were compelled to station wherever there were any +white settlements.</p> + +<p>Near Marietta, as I have told you, are remains of +ancient fortifications and mounds, in which the Indians +deposited their dead.</p> + +<p>Many such mounds, in different parts of the country, +were laid open by these Indians as the whites advanced; +and the bones of their ancestors, wrapt in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> +skins, were carried with them as they retired farther +into the vast forests of the west, where these remains +were sacredly preserved, and guarded with holy +care. Some, however, were left untouched.</p> + +<p>I have often examined these very singular sepulchral +monuments, both in the vicinity of Marietta, +and those at Circleville, and I own that I have never +seen one of them demolished without pain.</p> + +<p>There was one, near the broken up settlement of +the Wyandots, which offered peculiar interest; it appeared +to have been raised with greater care than the +others, and was evidently of more ancient origin. +This pyramid was in the midst of a grove of noble +forest trees, and brought to mind the solemn Druidical +times of England. When we first discovered it, it +was at an hour when the young Indian girls were +performing round it some religious rites; fruits +of the forest, skins, and flowers, were deposited in +profusion on the pyramidal summit; and the wild +notes of their songs echoed through the grove, giving +back those peculiar strains, softened, but not lost. I +often resorted thither, and when I was summoned to +New-York, that was the last spot which I visited.</p> + +<p>I did not return to that part of the country, continued +General Lawrence, for more than ten years, +and then, indeed, could hardly recognise, in the rapid +settlement of the new states, those wide forest-tracts +which I had left; but I own I felt not all the enthusiasm +which filled one of our old historians, when he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> +declares that "the wilderness had been made to blossom +as the rose." No, the circumstances of its first +settlement were too recent on my memory for that, +and I had too strong a sympathy for the outcast Indians. +Verily do I believe in that clause of the +fourth commandment, as applied to my countrymen, +"the sins of the fathers shall be visited on the children +to the third and fourth generation;"—even now +behold its partial fulfilment in the troubles which +have sprung up, and are still gaining accumulated +power, in the rapid increase of our slave population: +"as we have measured, so shall it be measured to us +again."</p> + +<p>But, as I was telling you, I revisited Ohio. I +hardly recognised Marietta as I passed through it to +revisit my former station; and the first spot I sought +with real interest, was the ancient mound in the +giant grove. My search was, at first, utterly vain:—at +length I thought I saw some traces of that which +had once presented a scene of grandeur and beauty, +but I was doubtful long,—for the grand and lofty +trees "which spread their arms abroad so that all +the birds of the air might have found rest in their +branches,"—the trees were not there. No, not one +had been spared of that whole sacred grove. The +mound, too, where was it?—the husbandman had +passed over it with his ploughshare,—the sower had +strown the seed,—and the fields were now ripe for +the harvest. I turned away sorrowfully, and my +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> +eye suddenly caught the figure of an Indian. The +red son of the forest could not be mistaken; he +gazed, as I had done, on the place where his ancestors +of many generations had been laid with reverent +care; his look was proud, sorrowful, and often +changing to one of bitter hate. He did not see me, +for his mind was absorbed in one deep feeling of +lofty desolation, if one may be allowed the use of +such a term. I cannot describe his countenance, for +it varied with every varying thought; but no one +could have contemplated the wild warrior as he stood +erect and alone, his keen eye regarding what was, +and his thought reverting to what had been—none, I +say, could have seen him without a sentiment of respect, +almost of homage. How few of the race now +retain their original grandeur and lofty character! +Civilization seems only to have weakened and degraded +the Indian mind; his moral state, at least, is now +far more debased than when, with his tribe, he roamed +at will through the immense wilds of the American +continent.</p> + +<p>I approached the solitary chief and spoke, (though I +own I felt it an intrusion on his personal feelings;)—he +looked on me at first with marked disdain, but +presently his countenance changed; a ray of pleasure +lightened his brow,—but soon an expression of +the most eloquent grief succeeded; it was evident +that he recognized me,—and I, too, knew Tecumsoit,—the +Eagle of the West. His words were few +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +and brief, for his hitherto unsubdued spirit was bending +beneath the weight of wrong and sorrow, and it +seemed as though he could not speak to a white man, +the fellow of those who had caused his wigwam to +be desolate, and the grove of his fathers polluted by +sacrilege. I understood the sentiment, and was silent +also.</p> + +<p>Presently Tecumsoit advanced, thrusting aside and +trampling the waving grain, till he stood at the foot +of the mound: then slowly he took, one by one, the +articles of his dress, and laid them solemnly on the +very summit of the elevation:—first, his collar of eagle's +feathers,—then his robe of princely ermine and +sable; to these were added his deer-skin coat, painted +with the rich juices of the pucoon, and colours +derived from plants by a process unknown to any +save the Indians themselves; and, lastly, his wampum +belt, wrought all over with the richly dyed quills +of the porcupine. When these had been thus, one +by one, deposited, he wrapt about him the rough skin +of a panther, gave one long, long look at the sepulchre +of his fathers, and turned silently and abruptly +away. The Eagle was soon lost to my view behind +a range of hills; he had departed for ever from the +home of his childhood; he had cast off the symbols +of his rank, his power, and tribe, and doubtless had +gone to end his days of desolation in some far off +desert, where, though he could not forget his wrongs, +he would at least neither see nor be seen of the white +men.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> +Often have I thought of Tecumsoit, as I first saw +him, a young boy, the pride of all the warriors, and +the fearless asserter of his rights. I was then his +friend; he seemed to confide in my honour, and he +never had cause to doubt it. I remember him, too, +on the night when I arrived too late to save his family +from the death-shot,—fearlessly defending himself +and them, when no resource or hope was left. Well +do I remember the mingled despair and pride of his +retreat; and I remember, too, the last time we met +at the mound which held the remains of his ancestors—the +last look he gave—and his last shadow on +the hills.</p> + +<p>Alas, for Tecumsoit!—his glory had departed, his +people had passed away, even as the dew beneath +the sultry sun; he was left alone of his race, and, +like Logan, could exclaim—"Who is there to mourn +for Tecumsoit?—<em>not one!</em>"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE LAUNCH OF THE FRIGATE.</h2> + +<p>Cornelia Camelford had just recovered from a +long and dangerous illness, and had not received the +doctor's permission to go out, when much interest +was excited in Philadelphia by the expected launch +of the Guerrier, which was built at Kensington, during +the last war, and called after the first British frigate +that surrendered to the flag of America. Junius +Camelford, who was a midshipman, and the eldest of +Cornelia's two brothers, was highly elated with the +idea of the approaching spectacle, and extremely +impatient for the glorious day (as he called it) to arrive. +At last it came; and the children of Mrs. Camelford +could think and talk of nothing else.</p> + +<p>Junius was one of the midshipmen appointed to +the new frigate, and every hour seemed to him an +age until she should be fairly afloat in her proper +element. Boy as he was, he had been on board the +Constitution when she engaged and sunk the British +Guerrier, and had evinced on that memorable day +the courage of a man. When he was afterwards in +Philadelphia, the progress of the new frigate became +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +the leading thought of his mind. He had taken his +sisters to see the keel the day after it was laid: and +had furnished all the young ladies he knew, with +hearts and anchors which he cut out from chips of the +wood.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Camelford had been a widow about two +years, and since the death of her husband she had +felt an insurmountable repugnance to appearing in +public, or mixing in a crowd. Therefore she had no +intention of going herself to see the frigate launched, +but she knew that her children would take great +pleasure in the sight, and she loved them too much +to deny them this gratification because she could not +enjoy it herself.</p> + +<p>Cornelia was just getting over the same malady +that two years before had been fatal to her father: +and Mrs. Camelford still felt the greatest anxiety +about her, as she was particularly susceptible of cold, +which was always very injurious to her; and the +slightest imprudent exposure might probably bring +on a dangerous relapse.</p> + +<p>For this reason, when Mrs. Camelford consented +that her two sons and her daughter Octavia should +go to see the frigate launched, she did not extend the +same permission to the invalid. "And I, dear mother," +said Cornelia, as she sat at the breakfast table +the first time for near three months, "am I not also +to enjoy the sight?"</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Camelford.</span>—My dearest Cornelia, I am +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> +sorry to refuse you that or any other pleasure that +your sister and brothers partake of. But the air from +the river may be cool. Remember that it was only +yesterday you left your chamber, after being confined +to it more than twelve weeks.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Octavia.</span>—Oh! indeed, dear mother, this is quite +a warm day.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Camelford.</span>—To persons in health I know +it is, but though the air is clear and mild, it may be +chilly to poor Cornelia, who is enfeebled by sickness, +and who has been so long shut up in her room. She +has suffered so much already, that I am sure she +must dread every thing that might cause a relapse.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Adrian.</span>—But, dear mother, how will it be possible +for Cornelia to take cold if she is well wrapped +up in her large shawl, and if she wears her close +bonnet?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Camelford.</span>—Indeed, I am afraid she ought +not to venture the slightest risk. Lieutenant Osbrook +has politely offered accommodation for the whole family, +in one of the gun-boats at Kensington, and I have +accepted the invitation for Adrian and Octavia, as +Junius is to be on board the frigate. I believe my +dear Cornelia must content herself with hearing a +description of the launch from her brothers and +sister. I cannot consent to her sitting an hour or two +on the deck of the gun-boat, in the open air, with the +breeze from the river blowing round her.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cornelia.</span>—Indeed, mother, I am very sorry, I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> +hoped to be quite well and able to go any where, before +the launch took place.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Junius.</span>—Still, I think there can be no danger. +Her delight at the spectacle will set her blood in a +glow, as it has mine already, and that will prevent +her taking cold.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Camelford.</span>—My dear children, do not urge +me any farther. The sight will no doubt be highly +interesting, but it will be dearly purchased by the return +of Cornelia's late illness.</p> + +<p>Cornelia did not reply, but she kissed her mother +in token of acquiescence, and seated herself in a +corner of the sofa with her sewing. In a few minutes +her brother Adrian brought her in a new and +entertaining book, which he had just purchased with +the hope that it would divert her mind from dwelling +on her disappointment. Cornelia took the book very +gratefully, but though it was extremely amusing, her +thoughts still wandered, at times, to Kensington and +the new frigate.</p> + +<p>In the course of the morning Mrs. Camelford had +a visit from her friend, Mrs. Dimsdale, who expressed +great pleasure at finding Cornelia down stairs, and +hoped she was well enough to go to see the ship +launched.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Camelford explained that she had refused +Cornelia her permission to join the little party in the +gun-boat, being afraid of her taking cold if exposed +to the air of the river. "Oh! if that is all," said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +Mrs. Dimsdale, "the difficulty, I hope, can be easily +obviated. Mr. Dimsdale and myself are going to +take the children up to Kensington in one of the +steam-boats. You know the boats are all put in +requisition for the accommodation of persons that wish +to see the show. If you will permit Cornelia to accompany +our family, she can stay all the time in the +cabin, and have an excellent view from the stern +windows, without any exposure at all."</p> + +<p>Cornelia's eyes turned upon her mother, with a +look of entreaty. Mrs. Camelford hesitated a few +moments, and Octavia ventured again to supplicate +in behalf of her sister. At last, Cornelia obtained +permission to go with the Dimsdales: and it was arranged +that Mrs. Camelford's carriage was to take +them down to the steam-boat, after which it was to +return immediately and convey the other party to +Kensington.</p> + +<p>When Adrian came home from school, and Junius +from the ship-yard, (where he had almost lived for +several days,) the boys were delighted to find that +Cornelia was, at last, allowed an opportunity of seeing +the launch. They had an early dinner, of which +Lieutenant and Mrs. Osbrook had been invited to +partake, and in a short time after the carriage was +at the door. Cornelia was carefully wrapped in her +large shawl, and Mrs. Camelford said to her, "Now, +my dear, you must promise me that you will remain +all the time in the cabin of the boat, and not allow +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> +yourself to be tempted to go on deck, even for a few +moments." "Certainly, dear mother," replied Cornelia, +"I will cheerfully make that promise, for I am +thankful that you will allow me to see the frigate on +any terms." Mrs. Camelford kissed Cornelia, and +her brothers put her into the carriage, which, on its +way down to the wharf, stopped to take up Mr. and +Mrs. Dimsdale and their two children.</p> + +<p>Cornelia felt very happy at finding herself once +more riding through the streets, after so long a confinement +to her chamber. Every well known store +and house seemed to interest her as she passed, and +all the people she saw appeared to her to look unusually +well. She soon found herself seated in the +after-cabin of the steam-boat, which was crowded +with females, and so warm that Cornelia had no +occasion to wear her shawl: her mother having +told her that she might take it off, if she found it +oppressive.</p> + +<p>The carriage having returned, Mr. and Mrs. Osbrook, +with Adrian and Octavia, got into it and rode +to Kensington; Junius, in a new suit of uniform, and +with a new cockade in his hat, having long before set +out on foot, as he despised riding when it was practicable +to walk, and the distance from his mother's house +to the ship-yard now seemed almost nothing, having +been so often traversed by him. In a very short +time, he was on the deck of the frigate, with a number +of officers and other gentlemen, beside the shipwrights. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> +That afternoon, almost all the stores in +Philadelphia were shut up, and few of the inhabitants +remained in their houses. Till near three +o'clock, the whole population of the city seemed to +be pouring toward the Northern Liberties: all the +streets in the direction of Kensington being crowded +with people.</p> + +<p>When the party from Mrs. Camelford's arrived at +the river-side, the vast concourse far exceeded their +expectations, though Junius had told them that the +crowd had begun to assemble as early as twelve +o'clock. They were soon seated on chairs, on the +deck of the gun-boat, and Lieutenant Osbrook left the +ladies under the care of another gentlemen, while +he went on board the frigate.</p> + +<p>The river was covered with boats of every description, +filled with people. The roofs, as well as +the windows of the houses and stores that commanded +a view of the water, were crowded with spectators; +and so also were the trees. Scaffolds, which had +been erected for the purpose, were lined with tiers of +occupants, one row above another. All the ships, +then in port, had gone up to Kensington, and their +decks were covered with ladies and gentlemen; the +sailors taking their stations in the rigging. In two or +three vessels were bands of military music, and +a third band was playing in the frigate that was the +object of so much interest. All the officers then in +the city (and many had come thither on purpose) +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +were present: and all, both of army and navy, were +in full uniform. Nothing could be more gay and +animated than the whole scene. Every one was +attired to the best advantage, and the white dresses +and green parasols of the ladies added much to the +picturesque effect of the scene. The steam-boats +came up filled with passengers, and were anchored +at a convenient distance.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen took out their watches frequently, +as the time approached when the tide was to turn; for +the frigate was to be launched on the top of high +water. As the moment drew near, every eye was +fixed on the noble vessel, and there was a breathless +anxiety of the most intense interest. The carpenters +stood with their arms raised, ready to knock away +the blocks that held her. The signal was given, and +it was done. The frigate began to move—every hat +was simultaneously taken off—the guns from all the +armed vessels fired a salute—the music struck up, +"The Tars of Columbia"—and loud huzzas resounded +from thousands of voices. The frigate glided +gracefully and rapidly along, amidst repeated shouts +of acclamation, with the colours of her country flying +at her stern: and, when she plunged into the +water, (which she threw up tremendously about her,) +the violent agitation of the river, for a considerable +distance round, announced that she had reached the +element which she was never more to leave. On her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +bowsprit stood the boatswain, who christened her by +breaking a bottle of liquor over her head, and shouting, +"Hurra for the Guerrier!" And the shout was repeated +by every man present: thousands of hats waving +round from the river and from the shore.</p> + +<p>The moment "the gallant Guerrier" was afloat, +she turned round majestically with the tide, and an +anchor, for the first time, descended from her bow, +mooring her, for the present, in the place where she +had entered the water. The music continued for +some time to play the favourite national airs, and at +length the vast concourse of spectators began to turn +their steps toward home. Adrian and Octavia could +talk of nothing in the carriage but the scene they had +just witnessed, and they gave their mother a most +animated account of it. Mr. and Mrs. Osbrook took +their leave and returned to their own residence: and +soon after Junius came home in a state of the highest +excitement, his eyes sparkling, his cheeks glowing, +and full of the honour and glory, as he called it, of +having been on board of the new Guerrier when she +was launched. He inquired almost immediately for +Cornelia. The carriage had been sent down to the +steam-boat to bring her home, and in a short time she +arrived, but looking very pale.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear Cornelia," said Junius, as he led +her to the sofa, "was it not a glorious sight? Was it +not a show worth looking at? I never was so delighted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +in all my life, except when we heard the lee-gun +of the <em>British</em> Guerrier, as a signal of surrender, +after her colours had been shot away."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, dearest girl," said Adrian, "were not +your expectations more than realized? Did you ever +see any thing so interesting as the launch of the +frigate?"</p> + +<p>Cornelia's eyes filled with tears, and her lips trembled, +as she replied, in a faltering voice, "I did not +see it at all."</p> + +<p>"Not see it!" was the general exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I did not," repeated Cornelia.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Junius.</span>—What! <em>nothing</em> of it! <em>nothing</em>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cornelia.</span>—Nothing whatever.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Junius.</span>—Oh! Cornelia, you are certainly jesting. +What! go on purpose to see the launch, and still <em>not</em> +see it!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Camelford.</span>—My beloved Cornelia, you +alarm me. I hope you have not been ill.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cornelia.</span>—No, my dear mother, not at all. But, +indeed, I have been very much disappointed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Octavia.</span>—Oh! pray tell us how.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cornelia.</span>—Mrs. Dimsdale sat with me in the ladies' +cabin of the steam-boat, till her husband, who +had been on deck with the children, came to conduct +her up stairs, as the time for the frigate to go off was +drawing very near. She then tried to persuade me +that no harm could possibly arise from my going on +deck for a few minutes, and, to own the truth, I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> +thought so myself. But I told her that I had obtained +permission to go in the steam-boat, only upon condition +of remaining all the time in the cabin, and I +could, on no account, break my promise and disobey +my mother. She then complimented me by saying +that I was the most obedient and conscientious child +she had ever known, and expressing her regret that I +could not accompany her, she ran hastily on deck +with Mr. Dimsdale, lest she should be too late.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Octavia.</span>—But could you have no view from the +cabin?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cornelia.</span>—I had anticipated no difficulty, but +when I rose to look out, I found the windows entirely +blocked up with women and babies, of whom there are +always so many in steam-boats. The shelves or high +seats at the stern were covered with them, crowded so +closely that they seemed almost wedged into a mass. +I climbed up and tried to get a peep between their +heads, but all in vain, for they were pressing on each +other's shoulders. For a moment, I was tempted to +go on deck; but I remembered my promise. Suddenly, +I heard an exclamation of "There she goes," +and I knew by the shouts, the firing, and the music, +that the frigate was moving. In vain I stretched my +neck and strained my eyes, to catch a glimpse between +the heads and bonnets; all the windows were entirely +filled, and I had not the smallest chance of seeing any +thing. I soon gave up all hope; I sat down in a chair, +and I acknowledge that I could not help crying a little, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> +though I took care to conceal my tears as much as I +could. And perhaps I would not have cried, only that +my long illness had weakened my spirits.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Junius.</span>—(Taking her hand)—Oh! yes, my poor +Cornelia, you would have cried all the same, even +if you had not been weak and ill. I am certain you +would, for it was a disappointment worth crying for.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Camelford was so much affected that it was +some time before she could speak, and then embracing +Cornelia most tenderly, she said, "You are a +dear good girl, and from this instance of obedience +and self-denial, at so early an age, I anticipate the +most happy results when you are older. If the +pleasure of knowing how much gratification your +conduct has afforded your mother, and how much +more than ever she loves you, can compensate for +your disappointment, you may now enjoy that reward." +Cornelia threw herself into her mother's +arms, and kissing her affectionately, wept in silence +while Octavia sobbed aloud, tears dropped on the +cheeks of Adrian, and Junius drew his hand across +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Octavia, "how little did we think, +when we were all enjoying the sight from the gun-boat, +with ample room and an uninterrupted view, +that our poor sister, after being three months shut +up in her chamber, was seeing nothing at all."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Adrian.</span>—Yes, and when we were riding home, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> +I wished that Cornelia were with us, that she might +tell us what she thought of it; supposing, of course, +that she had seen all that we did.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Junius.</span>—Well, dear Cornelia, be comforted. +There is no danger of your having taken cold, since +you so scrupulously kept your promise and obeyed +your mother; and, as you will now, no doubt, continue +well, I hope you will yet be able to see the +frigate before she sails on her first cruise, though +you <em>have</em> missed the launch, which was certainly one +of the finest sights ever seen in the whole world. +Do not smile, Octavia. You are not, as I am, one of +the "Tars of Columbia."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Adrian.</span>—No, indeed. And if she was a sailor, +I hope she would feel like one upon such occasions.</p> + +<p>Cornelia continued every day to improve in health, +and when the frigate was completely fitted up and +ready for sea, Lieutenant Osbrook came to invite the +Camelford family on board, and Mrs. Camelford +herself was prevailed upon to be one of the party. +Junius, taking Cornelia's hand, led her carefully +through the vessel, explaining to her its different +parts and their uses, and replying, kindly and satisfactorily, +to all the various questions which she would +not have ventured to ask, except of her brother.</p> + +<p class="ralign">E. L.</p> + +<hr class="c30" /> + +<h2>FOOTNOTES:</h2> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> +Grimshaw's History, p. 213.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> +Those who think the relations of such facts (for they are many) +exaggerated, are referred to the 1st and 2d volumes of American +Annals, and Belknap's Biography, where they will find ample proof +of their truth. Other authentic works might be cited, but these are +all-sufficient.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> +See Heckewelder's Account of the North American Indians.</p> + +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hawthorne, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HAWTHORNE *** + +***** This file should be named 43229-h.htm or 43229-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/2/2/43229/ + +Produced by Charlene Taylor, Mary Akers and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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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: The Hawthorne + A Christmas and New Years Present + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: July 16, 2013 [EBook #43229] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HAWTHORNE *** + + + + +Produced by Charlene Taylor, Mary Akers and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's note: + Spelling and punctuation inconsistencies have been harmonized. + Obvious printer errors have been repaired. Paragraph breaks, + as they are in the book, have been retained. Italic text has been + marked with _underscores_. + + + + +THE HAWTHORN. + + [Illustration: THE MOTHER'S JOY.] + + + + + THE HAWTHORN: + + A + CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S + PRESENT. + + MDCCCXLV. + + NEW YORK: + J. C. RIKER,--129 FULTON STREET. + 1845. + + + + + WEST BROOKFIELD, MASS. + C. A. MIRICK, PRINTER. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +We call our little book "THE HAWTHORN." We chose the name +of a blossom for our young readers, in preference to that of a gem, +because the cold glittering beauty of the latter has little in common +with the affectionateness, and beaming freshness of the young, to +whom the nature of flowers seems more analogous. + +When the young man came to the blessed Saviour to inquire as to +eternal life, he bade him keep the commandments, and being told "all +these things have I observed;" it is then recorded that, "Jesus +beholding him, loved him." We know too, that he "loved little +children," for he "took them in his arms," in token of tenderness; we +infer that he loved the flowers likewise, for he said, "consider the +lilies of the field;" and we find the most beautiful illustrations of +the Divine precepts of Jesus borrowed from the kingdom of flowers. + +What wonder then that we should love these delicate creations; +and that when we wish to appeal to the young and the trustful, the +hopeful and the good, we should seek these, for appropriate utterance. + + "They tremble on the Alpine height, + The fissur'd rock they press, + The desert wild with heat and sand + Shares too, their blessedness; + And wheresoe'er the weary heart + Turns in its dim despair, + The meek eyed blossom upward looks + Inviting it to prayer." + +Thus it is, my dear friends, that we present you, not a Bouquett, +which, however tasteful, and however beautiful, might still confuse +you with its many significations; we present you not a Gem, to remind +you of the brilliancy of mind, that may yet be unsympathizing, and +bewildering, but a simple flower, one, from a paradise of freshness +and beauty. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page + + Frederick Ormsby, ELIZA LESLIE, 9 + + The Rustic Wreath, MRS. HUGHS, 28 + + The Storm, MRS. HUGHS, 38 + + The Mysterious Picture, ELIZA LESLIE, 57 + + The Father's Pride, MRS. CHILDS, 71 + + The Pet Lamb, MRS. HUGHS, 72 + + The Clean Face, ELIZA LESLIE, 99 + + Le Loup et L'Agneau, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE + LIGHTS OF EDUCATION, 100 + + The Christmas Visit, MRS. HUGHS, 111 + + The Little Girl and her Kitten, 132 + + The Quilting, ELIZA LESLIE, 133 + + The Little Runaway, J. W. S., 155 + + The Souvenir, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE + YOUNG AMERICANS, 157 + + The Mother's Joy, MRS. CHILD, 172 + + The Percevals, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE + LIGHTS OF EDUCATION, 173 + + Child left on the Sea Shore, MRS. SIGOURNEY, 185 + + The Eagle of the West, 187 + + The Launch of the Frigate, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE + YOUNG AMERICANS, 196 + + + + +EMBELLISHMENTS. + + Page + + 1. Frontispiece, Engraved by NEAGLE, + + 2. Ornamental Title-page, " ELLIS, + + 3. The Rustic Wreath, " NEAGLE, 28 + + 4. The Father's Pride, " KEARNEY, 71 + + 5. The Pet Lamb, " KEARNEY, 72 + + 6. The Clean Face, " NEAGLE, 99 + + 7. Le Loup et L'Agneau, " NEAGLE, 100 + + 8. The Little Girl and her Kitten, " KEARNEY, 132 + + 9. The Little Runaway, " STEEL, 155 + + 10. Child left on the Sea Shore, " STEEL, 185 + + + + +FREDERICK ORMSBY. + + +Mr. Ormsby, a gentleman residing in the city of New-York, took his +family to West Point, to spend a week of unusually warm weather at +the close of spring, and to see his nephew Gustavus, who had been +a cadet at the Military Academy for near three years, and who was +a boy of a very different disposition from Frederick Ormsby, being +spirited, manly, and of a most amiable temper. Frederick, whose age +was almost thirteen, was not entirely devoid of good qualities; but +he was idle, rude, mischievous, and took the greatest delight in +frightening and tormenting every one about him, particularly his +sister Madeline. + +Gustavus, having obtained permission to visit his uncle and aunt at +the hotel, devoted all his leisure time to them; and being one of the +cadets that act as assistant professors, and are therefore exempt +from military duty, it was in his power to accompany them on all +their walks, and to show them every thing on West Point worthy the +attention of visiters. These walks would have been delightful, had +not Frederick caused much annoyance by his vexatious tricks, and +(to use his own expression) by planning frights for his mother and +sister. Reproof affected him only for a few minutes, and even during +their short voyage in the steam-boat from New-York, his father more +than once regretted that Frederick had not been left at home. + +Their first walk was to Washington's Valley, so called from having +been the head-quarters of the illustrious commander-in-chief. On +their way thither they visited the German Flats, once the encamping +place of a great number of Hessian deserters, who came over to the +American army while it lay at West Point. These fields, formerly +a desert of stones and weeds, are now in high cultivation; and at +their farthest extremity, where the wooded heights run out into the +river, is the cemetery, shaded with old cedars, and ornamented with +an elegant monument of white marble, round which are buried the few +cadets that die here. + +The walk from the German Flats to Washington's Valley, is +delightfully cool and shady, being cut through the forest. The trees +meet across the road, while their tangled roots project in the most +fantastic forms from the banks on each side, and between their +branches are seen at intervals the waters of the Hudson glittering +far below. + +The house, for ever memorable as the temporary residence of +Washington, is a mere cottage; but under its low roof heroes once +met, and plans were discussed, whose results we are now enjoying. It +is surrounded by locust-trees, at this season resplendent with their +conic clusters of beautiful white blossoms; and a clear brook murmurs +through the garden, seeking its way to the river, whose waves roll +gently in, washing the smooth grey sand that lies in front of the +valley. Immediately behind this classic spot, ascends the mountain +called the Crow's Nest, the longest and highest of the chain, that, +extending along both shores of the Hudson, appears to inclose it on +every side, giving it at West Point, the form of a lake from which +there seems to be no outlet. On the opposite, or northern shore, +rise the wild and barren mountains of Fishkill, far beyond which +lie the fertile plains of Connecticut. Looking up the river, the +view is terminated by the town of Newburgh, at ten miles distance, +with Polipel's Island in front, and a fine range of country behind; +the Chemungo mountains (a branch of the Catskills) closing the long +perspective, their vast blue forms faintly visible on the remotest +verge of the horizon. + +Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby, with Gustavus and Madeline, took their seats +on one of the numerous fragments of rock that are scattered over +the sands at Washington's Valley; and while they were admiring the +prospect, Gustavus (who was skilled in revolutionary lore) reminded +his uncle and aunt, as they cast their eyes down the river, and +looked toward the plain, of the ball given there by the American +officers to their French companions in arms, in honour of the birth +of the Dauphin. For this purpose, there was erected on the green an +arbour of immense length, constructed of laurel-branches brought by +the soldiers from the hills. This rustic arcade was illuminated by a +multitude of little tin lamps, which have been kept ever since in the +public store-house, and which are still used with great pride at the +balls given by the cadets. On this occasion, Washington led off the +first dance with the lady of General Knox. + +Frederick, who had no taste for such conversation, soon rambled +away, and amused himself by throwing stones at some ducks that were +paddling in a brook at the entrance of the woods, returning now and +then to the party at the river side, and soliciting Madeline to join +him. + +"I am sure," said he, in a low voice, "you will find it much more +amusing to ramble about with me than to sit here listening to tales +of the old war." + +"Indeed," answered Madeline, "I am always glad to hear as many tales +of the old war as I possibly can, provided that there is nothing in +them shocking or disgusting, and no particulars of the killing; and +my father says that no person of good feelings or good manners will +ever detail the horrors, the real sickening horrors of a battle, in +presence of females. But I will go with you, if my mother will give +me permission." + +Mrs. Ormsby's leave was asked and obtained, and Mr. Ormsby cautioned +his children to be absent but a short time. + +Frederick took his sister toward the woods that stretched down to the +water's edge, a little beyond the cottage, and they were soon out of +sight. + +In a short time, the little party that remained on the sands, +were alarmed by a succession of violent shrieks, accompanied by +another voice laughing loudly; and looking up the river, they +perceived Madeline alone in a little boat, drifting out from behind +a projecting point of rock, and evidently in great terror, while +Frederick stood on the shore leaning against a tree, and ridiculing +her fears. They all ran to her assistance, Gustavus foremost, and Mr. +Ormsby supporting the trembling steps of his wife. + +Suddenly a steam-boat, on her way down from Albany, came round the +stupendous head-land absurdly called Butter Hill, and emerged into +sight with thick clouds of smoke issuing from her chimneys, her +wheels throwing up volumes of foam, and her prow dashing aside the +water with a velocity that seemed irresistible. The shrieks of poor +Madeline redoubled when she saw this tremendous machine coming on +with a force that apparently nothing could stop, and threatening, in +a few minutes, to overwhelm her little boat, unnoticed and unseen. +Frederick was now terrified himself, and he called out to his sister, +"Oh! Madeline, what have I done! The steam-boat will run over you. +She will be upon you in three minutes." + +"No, no," exclaimed Gustavus, "do not be frightened, Madeline. +The boat is too far off; there is no danger." "We will get you +immediately out of the way," cried her father, "but they will see +you from the steam-boat, and avoid passing too near you." "Where is +the rope," asked Gustavus, "by which this little boat was fastened?" +"Here, here," said Frederick, "round the stump of this old tree. I +proposed to Madeline that we should go and sit in the boat which we +found at the water's edge. And as soon as I got her in, I thought +that just for fun, and to set her to screaming, I would cut the rope +with my knife and let her float off. I supposed she would drift down +to the place where you were all sitting, and I only meant to frighten +her. I knew that somehow she could be got out of the boat." + +In the mean time, having lengthened the rope by fastening to it all +their pocket handkerchiefs and Mrs. Ormsby's long shawl, Gustavus +took one end in his hand, (the other being fast to the tree,) +and jumping into the river, swam to the boat, by which means it +was immediately hauled in to the shore, and in a few moments the +affrighted little girl was safe in the arms of her parents, mingling +her tears with those of her mother. + +Mr. Ormsby's indignation was so much excited, that he declared +if there was time to reach the wharf before the arrival of the +steam-boat, Frederick should be put on board, and sent immediately +down to New York. This, however, was impossible, the boat being now +close at hand; and as Frederick appeared very penitent, and made fair +promises of never again being guilty of similar conduct, his father, +at the intercession of Gustavus and Madeline, consented to pardon +him, and for the remainder of the day he behaved perfectly well. + +On the following afternoon, they set out on a walk in another +direction, and Frederick, who had been very good all the morning, was +allowed to accompany them. + +They went first to the Moss House, constructed, at his leisure +hours, by the French cook at the hotel, and entirely the work of his +own hands. He had opened a path through the thick woods, (hitherto +in this place an impassable wilderness,) and carried it down the +declivity of a craggy hill that descends to the river. This path, +though narrow, steep, and winding, was neither rugged nor dangerous, +and the trees interlacing their branches, formed an impervious shade +across it. At its termination was a little garden, surrounded on +all sides by a high wall of rough stones piled one on another, the +interstices filled up with earth from which various wild plants were +growing. This wall was overhung with masses of the forest grape-vine +and other woodland shrubbery. The miniature garden was laid out in +walks and heart-shaped beds, and planted with flowers, among which +were lady-slippers, pinks, and convolvuluses. In one corner stood +the moss-house, made of cedar branches, trimmed and cut of even +length, filled in between with earth, and covered all over with a +thick coat of the rich and beautiful moss that abounds in the woods +and on the rocks of West Point. The door was open, and inside was +a sort of settee, also of moss, and a little table made of twisted +vine branches. In the garden near the house, was another rustic seat, +or bench, the back formed of small boughs, curiously interwoven. +Innumerable birds had taken up their residence near this charming +retreat, and enlivened its dark shades with their brilliant colours. +The oriole darted from tree to tree with his splendid plumage of +orange and black, the blue-bird fluttered about in azure and purple, +the yellow-hammer far surpassed the tints of the brightest canary, +and the cedar-bird displayed his beautiful pinions of the richest +brown, delicately pencilled at the edges with lines of fine scarlet, +while the little humming-bird hovered over the flowers, and looked +like a flying gem. + +The Ormsby family next visited the monument erected by the cadets +in commemoration of the gallant Kosciusko, who crossed the Atlantic +to take a part in the American contest for independence, and who +afterward so nobly, but unsuccessfully, defended the rights of +Poland, his own ill-fated country. The monument is a fluted column of +white marble, on a broad pedestal, simply inscribed with the name of +Kosciusko. It stands near the ruins of Fort Clinton, on the eastern +side of the plain, and on one of the lofty and abrupt heights that +overlook the river. + +They then descended to Kosciusko's Garden, a picturesque retreat half +way down the rocks. Here, while with our army at West Point, the +Polish officer had been accustomed to spend a portion of his leisure +hours; and he had embellished the wild and rugged spot by planting +it with lilacs and rosebushes. The cadets, with the surplus of the +money subscribed by them for the erection of Kosciusco's monument, +have facilitated the descent to this romantic and interesting +retreat, (which was before almost inaccessible to ladies,) by causing +to be made a long flight of stone stairs, firm and convenient, but +sufficiently rude to be in unison with the surrounding scenery. These +stairs, winding down between the rocks, lead to a beautiful grassy +platform, backed by a lofty precipice of granite, which the hand of +nature has ornamented with wild flowers that creep along its ledges, +and shrubs and saplings that grow out from its crevices. Under a +willow which droops on the level beneath, is a fountain bubbling in +a basin of white marble, sculptured with the name of Kosciusko, and +surrounded with flowering shrubs similar to those planted by the hero +of Poland. + +On the northern side of this beautiful spot the rocks are broken +into the most picturesque masses, and shaded with forest trees +of infinite variety; their foliage at this time displaying the +liveliest tints of spring. The wild grape-vine clasped its crooked +and wandering branches round the mossy stones, and scented the air +with its fragrant blossoms; and the woodland honeysuckle threw around +the sweetest odours from its clustered flowers of the most delicate +pink. In front a shelf of rock projected over the river, whose clear +blue waters glided far below, reflecting in their calm mirror "the +headlong mountains and the downward skies." On the opposite shore +rose the highlands of Putnam county; and Gustavus explained to his +aunt and cousins, that in the year 1779, all the heights nearest the +water had been crowned with batteries and covered with tents, the +American army being encamped on both sides of the river; and that on +the eastern bank, a short distance below West Point, is the house +occupied by the traitor Arnold, and from which he made his escape +when apprised that Washington was informed of his correspondence with +the British general. + +Mrs. Ormsby cast her eyes down the precipice that impended over the +water, and beautiful as it was, being tufted with shrubs and trees to +the very bottom, she turned away her head, and said it made her dizzy +to look at it. They then sat down on one of the benches, and Mrs. +Ormsby spoke of the strange and unaccountable fancy, said to be felt +by some people, who, whenever they venture to the verge of a height, +imagine that they feel an irresistible desire to jump down. "Mother," +said Frederick, advancing to the edge of the rock "I feel that desire +at this moment. I shall certainly jump in an instant. I shall be down +directly." + +Mrs. Ormsby turned pale, and desired Frederick immediately to come +away from the precipice. "My dear," said Mr. Ormsby, "do you not see +the laugh lurking in Frederick's eye? He only intends to frighten us. +Can you suppose he has really any idea of leaping from the rock? No, +no--though he delights in terrifying others, I am well convinced that +he will never do any thing to hurt himself." + +Gustavus then told of a soldier's wife, who, a few years since, +(being, as was supposed, in a state of temporary derangement,) +wandered in the night to these rocks, and falling over the precipice, +her mangled body was discovered next morning, lying almost in the +river. + +Our little party then returned to the fountain, and Gustavus being +provided with a leather drinking-cup, they all tasted the water. +They stood there conversing for a considerable time; and when they +turned to go away, they found that Frederick was not with them. They +looked all around, but he was not to be seen; and when they called +him, there was no answer. "Where can he be?" exclaimed Mrs. Ormsby, +in much alarm. "I fear he has really fallen down the rocks. You heard +him say that he felt that unaccountable inclination we were talking +of." "But," said Mr. Ormsby, "I did not believe him, and neither +should you. We know Frederick too well." + +His father and Gustavus called Frederick loudly, but no answer +was returned, except by the mountain echoes. The terror of his +mother and sister was extreme. "Frederick!" exclaimed Mr. Ormsby, +"Frederick--you surely hear us,--reply immediately." "Oh! Frederick," +cried the mother, "if you really hear us, answer at once--put an end +to our fears--how can you keep us in such agony?" There was still +no reply. "Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Ormsby, "if Frederick yet lives, can +he allow me to remain in this dreadful state of fear and suspense? +Frederick, Frederick--this moment answer your mother!" + +Mr. Ormsby's persuasion of Frederick's safety now began to give way +to alarm, and Madeline trembled and cried. Mrs. Ormsby sunk, nearly +fainting, on the bench; and while her husband brought water from the +fountain and endeavoured to revive her, Gustavus, who knew every +recess of the rocks, explored them in search of Frederick. He shortly +returned, and said in a low voice, "Compose yourself, dear aunt, I +have just had a glimpse of Frederick. He is safe, and not near the +precipice. He has concealed himself in a sort of cavity in yon rock +near the stairs, though the space is so small that I wonder how he +got into it. He must have coiled himself up with some difficulty." +"Do not let us go thither to seek him," whispered Mr. + +Ormsby. "He shall not have the gratification of jumping up and +laughing at us." Mrs. Ormsby and Madeline, finding that Frederick was +really safe, endeavoured to calm their agitation; and Mr. Ormsby and +Gustavus began to talk of other things. + +After sitting a few minutes longer, "Come," said Mr. Ormsby, in a +loud voice, "we will now return; and as Frederick's concealment will +not produce so great an effect as he supposes, he may sneak out of +his hole and follow us at his leisure." + +They left the bench, and were ascending the lower flight of stone +steps, when a violent scream startled them all, and it was repeated +with sounds of the most terrible agony. "Those screams are close by," +exclaimed Madeline. "They came from the place in which Frederick is +hidden," said Gustavus. "Another of his foolish jokes," said Mr. +Ormsby. "Oh! no, no," cried Mrs. Ormsby, "those are the screams of +real suffering." + +Gustavus and Mr. Ormsby then sprung to the cavity in the rocks, +and saw Frederick on the ground, wedged into a most uncomfortable +posture, and sprawling out his hands with a gesture of the greatest +terror, exclaiming, "Oh! take it off--take it out--take it away!" +"Take what?" asked his father. "Oh! the snake--the snake!" cried +Frederick. "It is crawling down my back--it _must_ have a nest in +this hole." Gustavus had by this time got his hand down Frederick's +back, and was feeling for the snake. At last he drew out a small +lizard, and held it up, to the great relief of Mrs. Ormsby and +Madeline, whose terror had been nearly equal to Frederick's. + +"Let me see it," said Frederick. "Is it really a lizard? How cold +and slippery it felt, and how disagreeably it crawled down my back." +"And you had not courage," observed his father, "to put your hand +over your shoulder, and take it out, but you lay there screaming like +a baby." "I was afraid it would bite my hand," said Frederick. "And +would you rather it had bitten your back?" asked Mr. Ormsby. + +"It must have fallen upon you accidentally from the rock above," +remarked Gustavus, "and slipped down your back without intending +it, for these animals are too timid to crawl voluntarily, and in +day-time, over a human being." + +"I suppose," said Frederick, "I shall be told that this is a just +punishment for frightening my sister yesterday morning, when I set +her adrift in the boat." + +"Most assuredly," replied Mr. Ormsby; "and you have given us another +proof that those who find the greatest pleasure in terrifying others, +are, in general, very easily terrified themselves. To take delight +in giving pain, is cruelty; and courage and cruelty are rarely found +in the same person. However, we will not have our excursion to West +Point spoiled by any more of your mischievous and unfeeling tricks; +therefore I shall send you down to the city in the first steam-boat +that comes along this evening, and to-morrow morning you may go to +school again." + +Frederick was much mortified at the punishment in prospect, and +earnestly besought his father to allow him to remain; but Mr. Ormsby +said to him, "The pain you feel at being sent home, is nothing to +that you caused your mother and sister when you tried to make them +suppose you had fallen down the precipice." + +"But I will do these things no more," said Frederick. "So you said +yesterday," replied Mr. Ormsby, "after cutting the boat adrift with +your sister in it." + +"Dear father," said Madeline, "did he not suffer sufficiently for +that, when he believed that a snake was crawling down his back? Pray +let him have no more punishment on that account." + +Mrs. Ormsby, who was the fondest of mothers, now interceded for +Frederick, and her husband at last yielded to her intreaties, and +allowed him to remain, on condition of the best possible behaviour +during the remainder of their stay at West Point. + +After stopping on the plain to see the evening parade of the cadets, +and to hear the band, the Ormsbys returned to the hotel and took tea. +The night being perfectly clear and dry, and the moon at the full, +Gustavus proposed to them a visit by moonlight to the ruins of Fort +Putnam. + +Ascending the steep and rocky path that leads up the side of the +mountain, amid the deep shade of the woods, that resounded with +the croak of the tree-frog, and the rapid and singular cry of the +night-hawk--they emerged into an opening where the moon shone +brightly down, and arrived at the entrance of the fort--whose ruins +are scattered over a large space of ground, now covered with grass +and wild flowers. They looked into the arched and gloomy cells which +once served as quarters for the garrison, or receptacles for military +stores; and ascending the eastern rampart by a few narrow steps of +loose and tottering stone, they looked down upon the whole extent +of the plain lying far below them, with its gardens and houses, on +whose windows the moonbeams glittered; its extreme point terminating +in a ledge of naked rocks, running far out into the river. They saw +a steam-boat coming down, all cast into shade, except the sheets of +flame that issued from her chimneys, and her three lanterns sparkling +far apart, their brilliant lights reflected on the water; after +turning the point, her form was distinctly defined, as she crossed +the broad line of moonlight that danced and glittered on the silent +river. + +Gustavus then conducted his friends to the western side, where the +shattered walls of the old fort run along the utmost verge of a +perpendicular mass of rock of a stupendous height. Mrs. Ormsby and +Madeline shuddered as they looked over the broken parapet into the +abyss beneath, the bottom of which is strewed with stones fallen from +the lonely ruins; and Mrs. Ormsby kept Frederick carefully beside +her, and held him tightly by the hand. + +Just then the sound of the fifes, and the drums beating tattoo, +ascended from the plain, and our party returned to the other side +of the fort, that they might hear it more distinctly. Every note +was repeated by the echoes, and the effect was that of another set +of musicians playing immediately beneath the mountain. It being now +half past nine o'clock, they turned their steps downward; and after +proceeding a little distance they missed Frederick. "Another of his +tricks," said Mr. Ormsby, "this time we will take no notice." + +As they proceeded they heard the most dismal groans. "Frederick +again," said Mr. Ormsby. "Incorrigible boy! let us, however, walk on; +when he finds that he has failed to frighten us, we shall soon see +him running down the mountain. Twice in one day is rather too often +to make us believe that he has fallen down the rocks. I wonder he +cannot think of something new. To-morrow, he shall certainly be sent +home." + +They walked on till they reached the foot of the mountain; Mrs. +Ormsby and Madeline again feeling very apprehensive as to Frederick's +safety--though Mr. Ormsby said he had no doubt he would soon overtake +them, or that perhaps he would strike into another road, and be at +the hotel as soon as they were. + +This, however, did not happen; and after a while, finding that +Frederick did not appear, his father became really uneasy, and Mrs. +Ormsby and Madeline were exceedingly alarmed. Gustavus had taken +a hasty leave, and left them when they reached the plain--being +obliged, according to rule, to return to his room in the barracks +before ten o'clock. + +Two officers who were at the hotel, volunteered to assist Mr. Ormsby +in searching for his son; and they went back to Fort Putnam, where, +as they approached the entrance of the ruins, the groans again were +heard. Guided by the sound, they approached the east side of the +parapet; and looking over, perceived something moving among the +branches of a cedar that grew half way down. "Frederick!" called Mr. +Ormsby. This time he was immediately answered. "Here, here," cried +Frederick, "I did really fall down this time, without intending to +frighten any body." + +They went to him, and found that the cedar tree had saved his life by +catching him among its branches and holding him there; but that in +the fall he had severely strained his shoulder. The pain, added to +his fright, and to his total want of presence of mind, had prevented +him from trying to get out of the tree; and he could do nothing but +lie there and groan, being really very much hurt. + +He was extricated and put on his feet again, and the two gentlemen +assisted Mr. Ormsby in conveying him down the mountain. "Now," said +his father, "had you not been so much in the habit of raising false +alarms, we should have stopped at once when we heard your groans, +and had gone in search of you; and you would not have been obliged +to remain so long in the tree, and to have suffered so much before +you could be relieved." "Oh!" said Frederick in a piteous voice, "I +feared I should have been obliged to lie there all night, and perhaps +die before any one came near me. However, it is fortunate I did not +fall down on the side where the precipice is, for I should certainly +have been dashed to pieces among the stones at the bottom." + +When Frederick was brought to the hotel, his mother and sister were +much shocked on finding him in such a condition. His shoulder was so +swelled that the sleeve of his coat had to be cut open, as it was +impossible for him to draw his arm out of it. He suffered great pain, +and it was a week before he was well enough to be taken home; during +which time he made many resolutions of amendment. + +In conclusion, we have the satisfaction of saying, that this last +lesson was not lost on Frederick Ormsby; and that he ceased to derive +amusement from exciting pain and terror in others. + + ELIZA LESLIE. + + + + +THE RUSTIC WREATH; + +OR + +THE GLEANER. + +BY MRS. HUGHS. + + +"Come, papa," said Cecilia Beldon, "come and sit down beside Louisa +and me, in this arbour, and tell us something about England. You have +described St. Paul's Church, Westminster Abbey, Blenheim Castle, +and a great many other fine places; but we want to hear something +that will give us some idea of the manners of the people, and the +impressions that were made on your mind by the appearance of the +country generally." + +"That is a request that I shall be very glad to comply with to the +very best of my power," returned the father, as he seated himself +between his two daughters, and put an arm round the waist of each; +"but it will not be a very easy task to give you an idea of scenes so +very different from any thing that you have ever seen." + +"Well, try at any rate, papa," said Louisa; "describe things as well +as you can, and we shall, at all events, get a few ideas, though they +may not, perhaps, be equal to the reality." + + [Illustration: Painted by W. F. Witherington. Engraved by J. B. + Neagle. + + THE RUSTIC WREATH.] + +"True. Then to begin. It was the middle of September when I landed +in England; but unless you had experienced the monotony of a sea +voyage, you could form little conception of the pleasure with which +I exchanged the continuous prospect of the 'dark blue wave' of the +Atlantic, for the bright and gay scenes which England presented. You +know I had left our own dear land at a time when, of all others, +it appears to the least advantage; for the fervid heats of a July +sun had scorched every blade of grass, and a long and distressing +drought had given an almost autumnal tint to the foliage of the +trees. The few inhabitants, too, that remained in the city, looked +pale and languid, and crept along the streets as if deprived of all +the energy that was requisite for the performance of the business +of life, and wishing for nothing so much as a comfortable place, to +rest on the brow of some mountain, and a portion of Rip Van Winkle's +power of forgetfulness, that they might sleep away the sultry hours, +till the moderated sun, the cool and bracing nights, and the clear +pure air of the autumnal months, should again give life a zest. But +when I arrived in England, all was life, activity and bustle in the +towns; the people were fresh, ruddy, and animated; while the humidity +of the atmosphere had preserved the bright tints of vernal beauty +over the country. Few things in the world, perhaps, present a more +strikingly beautiful picture to the eye than an English landscape. +The graceful undulations of the country--the deep rich verdure that +overspreads the ground--the high cultivation that every where meets +the eye, and speaks of industry and wealth--the gothic edifices, +telling tales of former times--the country seats, which display at +once the elegance and taste of their inhabitants; and above all, the +neat cottages, which impart a truth most delightful to the benevolent +heart, that comfort, and a considerable portion of refinement, are +enjoyed by even the lowest ranks, are all points of beauty which are +particularly striking to an American traveller; for they unfold a +train of new ideas to his mind, and he at once realizes all the fairy +pictures, the outlines alone, of which, he had before been able to +trace; and for the first time in his life, he becomes fully sensible +of the magic of Shakespeare, the richness of Thomson, and the graphic +paintings of Cunningham. Nor did I find the English people less +interesting than the landscape. My letters of introduction placed me, +at once, in the most delightful society, where, if it had not been +for the little girls whom I had left behind me," added the father, as +he pressed his daughters closer to him, "I might have been in danger +of forgetting that I was not at home." + +"But I always understood, papa," interrupted Cecilia, "that the +English were exceedingly cold and reserved in their manners." + +"They have that character amongst their neighbours, the French, +who, you know, carry their ideas of politeness to perhaps rather an +extravagant height; but such they did not appear to me; nor have I +ever met with an American traveller, that had had an opportunity of +seeing English domestic manners, who did not bear willing testimony +to their frankness, refinement, and hospitality; indeed, there is +a cordiality in their manner of receiving a stranger, that is an +irresistible evidence of their sincerity. + +"A gentleman, in whose house I became early familiar, told me one day +that he was going to take his wife and children the following morning +to have a day's ramble in the country, and kindly invited me to +occupy a seat in one of the carriages; and you may be sure I was much +pleased with the opportunity of peeping at the beauties of nature, +amongst a happy group of children, some of whom, from a similarity of +age, as well as other circumstances, often reminded me of yourselves. + +"For the first half hour after we had set out on our little journey, +the presence of the 'American gentleman' rather checked that buoyancy +of spirit, which the suppressed smile, the half whisper, and the side +glance showed was waiting only for a little better acquaintance, to +burst out with the most frolic gayety; nor was it long before a few +well-timed inquiries, and a happily applied anecdote or two relative +to the scenes of this country, removed the embargo under which their +little tongues had lain, and in a short time, their mother and I +became the listeners, instead of the talkers, of the company." + +"This is the birth-day of these two," said the mother, who seemed, at +length, to feel it necessary to make some apology for the volubility +of the party, and pointing, as she spoke, to two lovely little girls, +who were twins, "and as this treat is given on the occasion, their +father and myself are disposed to make it as complete as possible, by +allowing the whole party unrestrained indulgence in the pleasures of +talking; an enjoyment, which, I suppose, as you have children of your +own, you can form some idea of." + +"Are your daughters fond of talking?" asked a fine, open-countenanced +girl, about ten years old. + +"They are, indeed. They will not yield the palm even to you, in that +respect, I assure you." + +"I should like to see them. Why did you not bring them with you?" +asked another. + +"If they were here," said one of the little twins, "I would give them +some of my pretty flowers. Are they fond of flowers?" + +"Oh! certainly; but they have not an opportunity of cultivating +them so much as you do here, for the excessive heat of our summers, +and the severity of our winters, are particularly unfavourable to +flowers. Besides, you must know, my little girl, that mine is a +very young country, and my countrymen have hitherto been too busy +in draining marshes, felling forests, and extending the boundaries +of civilization and government, to think much of what is purely +ornamental." + +"How can America be a young country, mamma?" asked the other twin +sister. "I thought the world had all been created at one time." + +"Julia, can you explain that difficulty to your sister?" asked their +mother, of one of her elder daughters. + +"I suppose," replied Julia, colouring at being thus called upon, yet +speaking without hesitation or awkwardness, "the reason of America +being called a young country, is because it is only about three +hundred years since it was discovered by Columbus; and before that +time, it was only inhabited by savages, who knew nothing of building +houses, or cultivating the ground, or any of those things." + +"We had a great deal of conversation of this kind, which proved the +children to be both intelligent, and accustomed to think and inquire +for themselves; and the time went over so pleasantly, that I was +quite surprised when the stopping of the carriage announced the +termination of our ride. The farm house, at which we stopped, was a +neat, substantially built stone house, with a pretty green, enclosed +by well painted white rails in front, and a large garden at one side, +surrounded by the same kind of enclosure, and proving, by its clean +walks, its neat well weeded beds, and the variety of flowers and +vegetables which flourished in it, that horticulture was considered +a part of the owner's business. Though we arrived early, the cattle, +which had been collected for the purpose of being milked, in the +neat well paved farm yard, were already dispersed, the business of +the dairy despatched, and the cheese made; but we were just in time +to see the wholesome breakfast of bread and cheese and milk, set out +for the troop of reapers, whom we saw in the distance, following each +other with beautiful regularity, cutting down the ripened grain, and +binding up the sheaves. On the summons for breakfast being given, +the whole group, with good humoured, though noisy hilarity, hastened +to the house; and I, whilst astonished at their number, which was so +much greater than I had ever seen engaged in a similar way at home, +was amused with the variety of young and old, grave and gay, and male +and female, which it exhibited. I was surprised, however, to find, +that even after the reapers were all assembled round the breakfast +table, the field which they had left was still covered over with +a great many stragglers, who appeared to wander about without any +definite object in view, whilst the master, with his stick thrown +over his shoulder, strolled about amongst them, as if his work was +not yet suspended. Upon inquiry, I found that these were gleaners, +a race of beings of whom we know nothing in this country, except +through the poets; and my imagination instantly taking flight at the +name, I hastened to the field, not doubting that I should find a +Ruth, or a Lavinia, to fill the only corner that was now vacant of +the brilliant picture before me. For a long time, however, creeping +age, and infant hands, were the only objects which met my view, and +I was about to leave the field, disappointed that no 'form fresher +than the morning rose' had met my view, when, turning to a remote +corner, a being attracted my attention, whose loveliness would +require the pen of a Thomson to describe. It was a young female, who +had laid an infant, of which she was evidently the youthful mother, +upon the bundle of corn which she had just gathered, and left it +under the protection of a faithful guardian, a large dog, which still +kept watch by its side. I conjectured, that the infant had been +asleep when first laid there, but it was now awake, and was tossing +about its little hands and feet, and crowing in great glee, highly +delighted with a flower that it had accidentally caught in its little +hand. The mother had, probably, come when the reapers left the field, +to take her breakfast of bread and milk, which was in a basket near +her, as well as to look after the safety of her child; and finding +it so happy on its rural bed, she had allowed it to remain there, +whilst she, with a mother's vanity, amused herself with ornamenting +its little hat with some of the ears of corn that she had just +gathered. I do not know that even Thomson would have described her as +beautiful, though certainly, 'a native grace sat fair proportioned on +her polished limbs,' and the sweet expression of maternal tenderness, +which beamed from her eye, and illumined her whole countenance, +would have afforded ample scope to his descriptive powers. I stood +riveted to the spot, and gazed on this interesting young creature +and her child, both as lovely as poet's dream, or the flower that the +traveller sees springing from the arid sand of the desert. I took my +pencil and endeavoured to sketch the group, with the farm house and +the village spire in the distance; not however, for myself, for the +picture rests on my mind in more vivid colours than ever were spread +on painter's palette, but with the hope of giving you some faint idea +of the loveliness that had so much seized my own fancy." + +"Ah, papa," said Louisa, archly, "I see, though you are always so +anxious to keep us from setting much value on personal beauty, that +you admire it as much yourself as any body does." + +"You must remember, however, Louisa," returned her father, "that +what I have spoken of, is that most delightful species of beauty +which is expressive of high moral qualities; and this depends not on +regularity of feature, or perfection of form, but on that which is +infinitely superior to both, good and amiable dispositions. Where +the mind is pure, the thoughts elevated, and the sentiments liberal +and kind, a pleasing expression will be found to pervade the most +rugged set of features that were ever bestowed upon a human being. +Besides, this species of beauty is highly improvable, for as the mind +becomes cultivated--as it takes a wider range among the works of +nature, and a deeper interest in the happiness of its fellow-beings, +and the cultivation of its own powers, the expression of the face +will become more refined and elevated. The chief beauty which struck +me in the English gleaner, was that of expression, the expression of +a kind and amiable heart, and the light of moral goodness illumined +her countenance: and it is that species of beauty alone, my dear +children, for which I am anxious to see you conspicuous." + +"But, papa!" exclaimed both the sisters at once, as their father now +rose from his seat, "you must not leave us so soon, we have not heard +half enough about England yet." + +"I have spent as much time with you as I can spare at present, but +will take an early opportunity of indulging myself in retracing some +more English scenes, many of which were as new, though few more +interesting than the Gleaner." + + + + +THE STORM. + +BY MRS. HUGHS. + + "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, + And waste its sweetness on the desert air." + + +"Will you come to our house, and help Jenny, for my mother is very +ill?" said a little girl, in the feeble accents of childhood, whilst +she knocked at the door of a cottage. The voice was weak, but it +uttered tones, which, though they may sometimes be heard with +indifference by the inmates of a palace, never fail to find a ready +way to the heart of the humble cottager. "What sound is that I hear?" +said the mistress of the lowly dwelling, as the voice of the child +roused her from a sound sleep; "was I dreaming? or did I really hear +a voice?" + +"Will you come to my mother, for Jenny thinks she is dying?" +continued the little girl, as she again applied her hand to the door. +Convinced now that it was no dream, the benevolent cottager started +from her bed, and opening the door, exclaimed in a tone of surprise, +"Why, Sally, is that you?--Here, all by yourself, in the very dead of +night!" + +"My mother is so ill that Jenny could not leave her, and she had +nobody else to send to ask you to come and help her." + +"Come John, get up directly!" said the woman, rousing her husband, +who under the influence of a previous day of hard labour, had slept +too soundly to hear what passed. "Get up! for you will very likely +have to go for the doctor. And come in, Sally dear, till I get +something on me, and I will go with you in a minute." + +Very little preparation was necessary, and in a few minutes the +kind hearted woman hastened to the house of sickness, accompanied +by the little girl, and followed by her husband, who though no less +willing, was much less able to throw off the lethargic influence of +sleep, and trudged after the nimble feet of his wife as if scarcely +conscious whither he was going. As the distance was very short, he +had no time to get fully awake, before the little Sally opened the +door of her mother's house and ushered himself and his wife in; but +on entering, a sight presented itself to their view that instantly +roused every feeling of the soul to pity and commiseration. On a +humble bed, in the corner of a very humble apartment, lay stretched +the form of her to whose assistance they had been summoned; not, +however, either writhing with pain or burning with fever, but cold, +stiff, and lifeless; whilst a bowl stood near, which told at once, by +its contents, that the rupture of a blood vessel had produced the sad +catastrophe. By the side of the bed knelt her daughter, a girl about +sixteen, who, "struck with sad anguish at the stern decree," seemed +to retain little more of life than the corpse, the hand of which she +grasped between hers, whilst her eyes were riveted on the motionless +face, with an expression of the most heartrending agony. Grief wears +a variety of forms, according to the nature of the mind of which +it takes possession; but it assumes no appearance that imparts so +immediate a sense of its intensity to the heart of the spectator, +as that silent and speechless sorrow that finds no relief from +utterance. In vain did the benevolent neighbours endeavour to rouse +the poor girl from her trance of wo; the stroke had been so sudden, +so unlooked-for, and was so appalling in its nature, that poor Jenny, +though she had been long familiar with adversity, seemed ready to +sink under it, without a single effort to resist its overpowering +influence. + +"Jenny! dear Jenny! don't take on this way!" said the humane +neighbour, whilst her husband raised the almost insensible girl from +her kneeling posture by the bed-side, and placed her on a chair. The +little Sally imagining, from the stillness that prevailed, that her +mother had fallen asleep, had kept at a distance from the bed-side, +lest she should by any means disturb her; but now beginning to wonder +why her sister should thus be the chief object of anxiety, she had +crept softly forward to investigate the cause, and set her eyes, for +the first time in her life, on the features of death. The sudden cry +which she gave, was the first sound that reached the heart of the +grief-stricken Jenny; and as the weeping child ran toward her, she +opened her arms, and clasping her to her bosom, wept over her in +all the luxury of sorrow. Her compassionate neighbours knew enough +of the human heart, to judge it best to leave her to herself; and, +therefore, summoning some other of their friends to their assistance, +they busied themselves about the various offices for the dead, and +left poor Jenny to the undisturbed indulgence of her wo. But Jenny's +grief was too intense to allow her long the relief of tears, and she +sat, almost motionless, clasping the little Sally in her arms, who +had soon wept herself to sleep, and waited till she was permitted +again to throw herself by the side of her lifeless parent, and watch +over the remains of what she had so fondly loved. This indulgence was +all that she desired, and all of which she was capable of partaking; +and she sat watching the body almost without either speaking, or +moving, till the moment arrived when it was to be deposited in its +last silent mansion. Then it was, that the poor girl felt that she +had indeed lost her beloved parent for ever. Whilst the lineaments +still remained before her view, on which she had so long delighted +to gaze, even though they were cold and motionless, she felt as +though she had still something to rest upon; but when these too were +taken away, when the very shell which the soul of affection had +once inhabited, was removed from a world in which she herself was +still to remain, she, for the first time, became sensible of that +total destitution of soul that is felt after the loss of those we +love. Happily, however, for poor Jenny, she was forbidden, by the +calls of imperative necessity, to indulge in unavailing sorrow; and +the exertions that her forlorn situation demanded, proved the most +effectual balm to her wounded bosom; and gradually, a meek submission +to the will of Him to whom she had been taught from her earliest +infancy to bow in humble confidence, superseded that bitter anguish +which had at first swelled her heart almost to bursting. + +The parent, whom Jenny so deeply mourned, had been left a widow some +months before the little Sally was born. She had two children then +living; Jenny, who was at that time about nine years old, and a boy, +five years her senior. The mother had, before her marriage, been an +upper servant in a genteel and respectable family, and had acquired, +in consequence, a degree of cultivation superior to the situation in +which her marriage afterwards placed her. The chief ambition of her +heart was to keep her children under her own eye, and to train their +infant minds to religion and virtue. But William, her boy, who was +fourteen at the time of his father's death, soon began to be anxious +to do something for himself; and, as the surest and shortest means +of attaining that desirable end, he had fixed his mind upon the sea. +In vain did his mother remind him that the salt wave had been the +grave of his father, or endeavour to impress upon his mind the many +anxious days and sleepless nights he would thus impose upon her; he +saw no other means half so likely to enable him, in the course of a +few years, to provide for her and his sisters, and to relieve her +delicate frame from the hardship, which it was so ill calculated +to bear, of labouring for their subsistence. "Besides, mother," +remonstrated he, "I have no other chance of seeing the world, but by +being a sailor, and I could never be happy without seeing some of +the strange countries that my father used to tell me about. And you +know, too," continued the generous boy, looking as he spoke, at his +elder sister, to whom he was exceedingly attached, "by the time that +I am out of my apprenticeship, Jenny will be almost grown up, and +with the wages I can then earn, and your good management, we shall be +able to give her some good schooling, and keep her at home with you; +for she is too pretty and too delicate to go to service." Jenny was +indeed beautiful, even at that early age, and every year, as it added +to her height, increased also the grace and loveliness of her form. +Her features were regular, her complexion not only fair but almost +transparent, while her bright auburn locks hung in luxuriance about +her face and shoulders. But it was not in the symmetry of feature +or the grace of form, that Jenny's beauty was centered. It was the +inward harmony which presided over all, and gave to her full blue +eyes an expression of the most touching sensibility, that made her +an object so delightful to look upon: and her mother felt, as she +gazed upon her, that she must perform her own duties ill indeed, +if, even without any higher advantages of education than she could +herself give her, the lovely bud, as it expanded into maturity, did +not become a flower worthy of being transplanted into the most highly +cultivated garden. + +William went to sea, and his mother had all the satisfaction that a +mother's heart can enjoy, of hearing his master express, at every +return of the vessel, the highest approbation of his conduct. Thus +supported and comforted by her children, she laboured incessantly but +cheerfully for her own and their support, at first as a seamstress; +but this sedentary occupation being unfavourable to her constitution, +she afterward rented a small cottage to which was attached a garden +of considerable extent, which Jenny and she managed to cultivate +themselves, with the aid of very little hired assistance; and, +from the sale of the produce, she contrived to make a scanty but +respectable livelihood. Time thus rolled on, Jenny had completed her +thirteenth year, and her William was within a few weeks of being out +of his time. But alas! William was away, and many weeks, nay months, +had passed over without his having been heard of. Again and again, +had she gone to the owners to inquire after him, but in vain; no +tidings had been received of the vessel since she had left the port +at which she had taken in her lading, and had sailed homeward bound; +and though the usual length of the passage was that of two or three +weeks at furthest, above thrice that number had elapsed without any +tidings of her having been received. + +The poor widow had, on the evening previous to her death, again been +at the owner's on the mournful errand of inquiring after her lost +boy, and had again returned disappointed and dejected. She had, on +her way thither, been overtaken by a heavy shower of rain, which had +wet her clothes quite through. She had paid no attention, however, +to the circumstance; for her mind was engrossed with the thought of +her child, and though Jenny, on her return home, used every means +in her power to prevent her taking harm from it, a cough, to which +she had always been subject, and which at that time was worse than +usual, soon showed how much injury she had received. In a violent +paroxysm of coughing, she had ruptured the blood-vessel that put +so sudden a period to her existence, and left poor Jenny alone and +destitute in the world,--alone except the little helpless being, +whose dependence upon her seemed only to make her situation still +more deplorable. Jenny's mind, however, was one of those which, +though tuned to every gentle feeling, yet possessed a native strength +which rose in proportion to the pressure of misfortune; so that, as +she looked upon little Sally, and considered that she was now, in +all probability, her only earthly protector, she felt a tenderness +almost parental rise within her, and she determined to resist every +inclination to selfish indulgence of her feelings, and exert every +energy for the support of her little orphan sister,--the posthumous +heir of poverty and sorrow. But let not those who are surrounded +by plenty, even though mourning the loss of some beloved relative, +imagine that they know the difficulties of the task that poor Jenny +had to perform; nor yet those who though pressed by the hard gripe +of poverty, have yet some remaining friends from whom they have a +right to claim the tender balm of sympathy; for of these comforts +poor Jenny was equally destitute, and she found herself standing +alone in the wide world, poor, friendless, and forlorn; deprived of +"every stay save innocence and Heaven." It is true, some faint hope +still played about her heart, that her beloved brother--her kind, her +affectionate William, might yet be restored to her; but every day, +as it passed over her head, made that hope more faint, till, like +the hues of its own bow, which gradually fade into ether, it died +away by degrees in her bosom; and at length scarce a tint remained +to give its colouring to the mental horizon. Still, however, she +bore up and struggled against the despondency that threatened to lay +hold of her mind; and even though grim want seemed ready to stare +her in the face, her steadfast spirit, relying upon the goodness of +that superintending Power, that is ever ready to be a father to the +fatherless, looked up to heaven with a confident hope that she would +not be forgotten. "Will He," she would say, as she watched the fruit +ripen, or the seed germinate, "will He who takes care of all these +things and gives them the nourishment which they require, turn a deaf +ear to the cry of his orphan children? It cannot be! That little +bird," she continued, "is pouring forth its soul in thankfulness and +joy, though it has no stores laid up for to-morrow, and I too will +trust to the same protecting Power." But from what source to-morrow's +fare was to be derived, poor Jenny could form but little idea. Autumn +was now far advanced, and the produce of their garden had become +very scanty, whilst the expenses attendant on her mother's funeral +had entirely exhausted their small store of money; so that when the +little Sally complained of hunger, and begged that she would give her +something to eat, she put the last morsel of bread into her hands, +totally at a loss to conjecture whence the money was to be derived +that was to purchase more. "Why will you not eat any yourself, +Jenny?" said the child, as she eagerly devoured the dry morsel. "I +am sure you must be hungry, for I have not seen you eat any thing +to-day." "I do not want to eat," replied Jenny, forcing herself to +speak in a cheerful tone, though she felt at the same moment that +the coarsest food would be to her a most delicious repast. "Is it +because there is no more in the house?" asked Sally, whose mind, +for the first time, received the idea of their scanty provision. +Jenny was silent. "There is more bread here than I want," said the +child, breaking, as she spoke, the piece of bread that she had before +declared was not half so much as she could eat. "Take this piece, +Jenny, I don't want it, and I am sure you will like it after you have +tasted it." + +Jenny had watched, with a dry eye, her little sister devouring their +last morsel of food, whilst she herself was suffering under the most +importunate demands of hunger; but this tender sympathy in the child, +and her willingness to give up a part of what she so much needed +herself, brought a flood of tears to her eyes. "He, who feeds the +young ravens when they cry cannot let such sweetness and innocence +suffer for want of food," said she inwardly, as clasping the child in +her arms, she bathed her cheeks with her tears. "Don't cry, Jenny," +said the affectionate little girl, as she wiped the tears from her +sister's eyes with her little apron. "Don't cry. Indeed I don't want +any more just now, and I dare say you will get another loaf before I +am hungry again. And who-knows but William may come back, and then we +shall have every thing that we want? You have not been at the owner's +lately, Jenny, to ask about the ship," continued the child, anxious +to divert her sister's mind from the sad subject of her reflections. +"Why don't you go, Jenny?" + +"I am afraid there is little use in it," answered her sister in a +tone of despondency. + +"But try, Jenny, just try once more, and perhaps good news may come +when you are not expecting it." + +"Well, we will go now," returned Jenny; "and," added she, "there are +a few plums on the old tree that we will take with us, though they +are not half ripe yet; and perhaps we may get somebody to give us as +much for them as will get bread enough to keep us from starving at +least one day longer." A little basket was soon filled with the plums, +and they set out, once more cheered by that hope which seldom totally +forsakes the bosom of youth and innocence: but, on arriving at the +owner's, Jenny was surprised to find all in a state of confusion. The +servant that came to the door was evidently much agitated, and on +Jenny's making her accustomed inquiry if any thing had yet been heard +of the ship, she was told by the girl that a letter had, a very short +time before, been received by her mistress, informing her that some +wrecks of the vessel had been cast ashore, and some of the sailors' +chests, among which was one bearing the name of William Anderson; and +that there was every reason to believe that all the crew were lost. +Here then was a fatal blow to all the fond hopes that Jenny had so +anxiously cherished; and her affectionate brother, on whom she had +relied for support and consolation in the hour of affliction, had +himself found a premature and watery grave. The servant's sympathy +was too powerfully excited for the distress of her mistress, whose +husband had filled the double station of master and owner, to leave +much to bestow upon poor Jenny; so that, after giving her all the +information in her power, she turned from the door, leaving the two +orphan sisters to themselves to mourn over their share of this heavy +calamity. Jenny turned her steps homeward, with a heart bowed down +with affliction, and was only made conscious of where she was and +whither she was going, by the questions that Sally occasionally put +to her. "Look at that black cloud, Jenny," said the child, "I never +saw such a cloud before. Do you think we can get home before the rain +comes on?" Jenny looked up and saw that the sky had indeed a most +portentous aspect; but the gloom that surrounded her only seemed to +be in unison with the state of her mind, and she almost felt rejoiced +that nature did not wear the appearance of gladness, whilst she felt +that all was darkness within. "Isn't that thunder?" asked Sally, as +a deep and distant murmur rolled round the horizon. "And there is +lightning, and there is another flash," continued the child; "Oh! I +wish we were at home." Jenny saw the lightning and heard the thunder, +but she heard and saw almost without being conscious that she did +either; for her mind was absorbed in the idea of her beloved brother +having been exposed to a storm, such as that which was approaching, +accompanied with the additional horrors of a tempestuous ocean. A +violent gust of wind now swept past them, and the thunder which, only +a moment before, had rolled at a distance, burst over their heads +with a noise which seemed to shake the very ground on which they +stood; whilst the clouds brooded around in almost midnight darkness, +or only parted to emit flashes of lightning, that, for the instant, +illumined every object. + +"Oh! Jenny, what must we do?" cried the little Sally, shrinking +with fear, and putting her hands to her ears to shut out the noise +of the thunder. Jenny put her arm round the neck of the child, and +pressed her tenderly toward her, as, looking up at the forked shafts +which flew across the skies, she inwardly breathed the prayer that +he who rolls the thunderbolt and sends the lightning forth, if it +was his pleasure that they should either of them fall beneath the +stroke, would in his mercy let them sink together; and not leave one +remaining, the helpless or wretched survivor of the other. + +Jenny perhaps never looked more beautiful or interesting than she +did at that moment, as she stood turning her back to a storm which +she no longer felt the power to resist, her arm passed with an +almost maternal tenderness round the neck of her orphan sister, +who seemed to rest against her as if assured that she was under +the care of a protecting angel; and her fine eyes raised to heaven +with a mingled expression of steadfast faith and humble submission. +"My mother! my dear William!" she faintly uttered, "perhaps these +shafts of lightning are sent as the messengers of our re-union." As +she said this, a voice seemed to be borne along on the wind, and +she almost fancied that she heard her own name pronounced. "It is a +wild thought," she continued internally, "but I could almost imagine +that William's voice is in the wind, and that he is calling me to +join him and our blessed mother in the regions above." Again the +voice sounded in her ear, and again, and again--it grew louder and +more distinct--what could it mean? Was she already in the region +of spirits? or were those angelic beings really permitted, as has +sometimes been imagined, to revisit this world and hover over those +whom they had loved on earth? As she asked herself the question, she +turned round, but what words can express her feelings when, on doing +so, she beheld, hastening toward her with all the speed that the +violence of the storm would permit, the beloved brother whom she had +believed to be the inmate of a watery grave! Her mind had been strung +to too high a degree of agony, and she was too much exhausted from +the want of food, to bear this sudden revulsion of feeling without +sinking under it. She uttered a scream, and made an attempt to rush +forward, but her limbs became powerless, a film came over her eyes, +and she would have sunk on the ground, had not William reached her +in time to receive her in his arms. So deep was the swoon into which +she had fallen, that there was time for her to be conveyed to a house +that was at no very great distance, before her consciousness again +returned to her. When it did, she started up, and looked eagerly +around, as if to assure herself that the object she had seen had not +been a mere vision of the imagination; but she was soon convinced +of the happy reality, for her eye immediately rested on her beloved +William as he stood trying to still the cries of the little Sally, +who could not be convinced that the insensible state in which Jenny +lay was not equally hopeless as that which she had first witnessed at +the time of her mother's death. + +A copious flood of tears now came to Jenny's relief, which she was +permitted to indulge for a considerable time without interruption, +and then her brother led her gradually on to speak of their mother, +and describe the particulars of a death of which little Sally had +already informed him; after which, he proceeded to satisfy her +curiosity respecting himself. It appeared that a long continuation +of high and contrary winds had kept the vessel buffeting about +the ocean for many weeks, till at length a storm, too powerful to +be resisted, had driven her on the coast, where she soon became a +total wreck. Happily for William, however, he had been so fortunate +as not only to save his own life, but that of his captain also, +who had become so completely benumbed with cold and long exposure +to the storm, as to be totally incapable of assisting himself, and +must have been an unresisting prey to the angry waves, had not the +generous youth determined to try to save him, even at the most +imminent hazard of his own life. After many difficulties and dangers, +he succeeded in gaining a footing on shore for both his captain and +himself, but it was a considerable time before the former was able +to proceed homeward; but when he was, they hastened on in the hope +of preceding the news of their misfortunes. The letter, however, +giving an account of the portions of the wreck which had been washed +on shore, on a part of the coast at some distance from that on which +they had landed, had arrived a short time before them; indeed, they +had reached the captain's house only a very few minutes after Jenny +and her little sister had left it, and William had lost no time in +hastening after them. "We have weathered a heavy gale," said he, +after he had given his sisters this account, "but it is all over +now; and what is better, our captain declares he will never go to +sea again, but will give me the command of the new vessel which he +is going to have built. He says that I saved his life, and he is +determined to prove a father to me in return." + +"Oh! my mother," cried Jenny, clasping her hands and raising her eyes +in thankfulness to Heaven, "why are you not here to enjoy this happy +moment!" + +"And why should you not, my dear girl," said the lady into whose +house Jenny had been carried, and who had listened with great +interest to the conversation between the brother and sister; "why +should you not believe not only that she sympathizes in your +happiness, but that her views of the great scheme of Providence are +now so enlarged, as to render her capable of perceiving that, what +we here call evils, are as mere motes in the balance, when put in +competition with the great sum of happiness which awaits the virtuous +hereafter? Upon the benevolent plan on which all creation is formed, +the petty distinctions of rich and poor, high and low, on which we +are apt to place so much importance, will soon be lost in the grand +and comprehensive distinctions of virtue and vice; to which standard +alone, all will be brought, and which may at once place the humblest +peasant above the proudest monarch." + +"Yes! yes! Jenny," said the young sailor, "we know that whatever +storms may beset us, we still have a never-failing Friend, always at +hand, who will steer us to a safe harbour at last. So come, my sweet +lilly and my pretty rose-bud," added he, taking a hand of each of his +sisters, "cheer up, my girls! for, though the winds still blow and +the skies frown, by the blasts of poverty, at least, you shall never +more be assailed, as long as your brother's arm has power to protect +you." + + + + +THE MYSTERIOUS PICTURE. + +TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. + + The following extraordinary story is declared by the authoress, + Mademoiselle Vanhove, to be strictly true in its leading + incidents. + + +Madame Dorival was the widow of a distinguished French officer, +who had died in the service of his country. Finding it difficult, +without the closest economy, to support her family genteelly on the +pension allowed her by government, and being anxious to secure an +independence for her children in case of her death, she was induced +to open a boarding-school in the vicinity of Paris. The assistance of +her two highly accomplished daughters, Lucilla and Julia, made the +employment of female teachers unnecessary; but she engaged the best +masters for music, dancing, drawing and painting, and the fashionable +foreign languages. Her establishment was conducted on a most liberal +scale, and each of the twenty young ladies who became her pupils had +a separate apartment. + +Among these young ladies, was Josephine Vericour, who took lessons +in miniature painting, with the view of exercising that branch of +the art as a profession; the circumstances of her family being such +that it was necessary to educate her, in the prospect of turning her +talents to a profitable account. + +Her imagination being deeply impressed with this object, she thought +of it nearly all day, and dreamed of it at night. That she had much +natural talent for drawing, was unquestionable; but she was only +fifteen, she was not a prodigy, and in every thing she had as yet +produced was to be found a due portion of errors and defects. With an +ardent ambition to excel, Josephine was the victim of a painful and +unconquerable timidity, and an entire want of confidence in herself. +She had attempted likenesses of all her school-mates, one after +another, and was disheartened and discouraged because none of them +were perfect, and was overwhelmed with mortification when she heard +them criticised. The remarks of the gentleman who instructed her, +though very judicious, were often so severe, that she was frequently +almost tempted to throw away her pencil in despair, and she never +painted worse than when under the eye of her master. + +One morning in the garden, she was struck with the graceful and +picturesque attitude in which two of her companions had unconsciously +thrown themselves, one of them, having put her arm round the waist of +the other, was pointing out to her notice a beautiful butterfly that +had just settled on a rose. Josephine begged of the girls to remain +in that position while she sketched them on the blank leaf of a +book. Afterwards she made a separate drawing of each of their faces, +and then transferred the whole to a large sheet of ivory, intending +to make a picture of it in the miniature style. But she determined +to work at it in her own chamber, at leisure hours, and not to allow +it to be seen till it was entirely finished. In six weeks there was +to be a private examination, at which premiums were to be awarded +to those who excelled in the different branches taught at Madame +Dorival's school. Seven of the young ladies were taking lessons +in miniature-painting, all of whom, in the eyes of the diffident +Josephine, possessed far more talent than herself. Still, she knew +that industry, application, and an ardent desire to succeed, had +often effected wonders; and she was extremely anxious to gratify her +parents by obtaining the prize, if possible. + +In the retirement of her own room she painted with unremitting +solicitude, but, as _she_ thought, with very indifferent success; and +one afternoon, more dissatisfied than usual with the result of her +work, she hastily took the ivory from her little easel, and put it +into the drawer of her colour-box, which she consigned to its usual +place in the drawer of her table. + +Next morning, what was the surprise of Josephine, to find her picture +standing against the easel on the table, and much farther advanced +than when she had quitted it the preceding evening, and the faults +which had then discouraged her, entirely rectified. She tried to +recollect if she had really put away the picture, and her memory +recalled every circumstance of her shutting it up in the drawer. But +she had no recollection of having previously corrected any of the +errors; indeed, she knew that she had not, and the only way in which +she could attempt to solve the mystery, was to suppose that some one, +with the intention of exciting a laugh at her expense, had come into +her room during the night, taken out the picture, and re-touched it. + +She mentioned it to no one; but the next night, to guard against a +recurrence of the same trick, she arranged every thing in the neatest +order, locked up her picture in the secret drawer at the bottom of +her colour-box, and placed it under her bolster. + +But her astonishment was redoubled, when awaking at an early hour the +next morning, she put her hand under the bolster to feel for her box +and found it gone! She ran to the table, and saw there the colour-box +lying beside the picture, which, as before, was leaning against the +easel, and evidently much improved. She thought that it now began to +look beautifully, and she could not withdraw her delighted eyes from +contemplating it. + +Still she felt persuaded that it was all a trick, for which she +should pay dearly when an explanation took place. She was afraid to +touch it again, lest her own inferior pencil should destroy some of +its beauties; though at the same time she remarked a few trifling +defects, which she had not been conscious of when painting at it the +day before. But rather than run the risk of spoiling the whole, she +preferred leaving these little imperfections as they were. Sometimes +she thought of showing it to her governess and to her master; but the +time of the examination approached, and the temptation of keeping the +secret was very great. + +However, she could not resolve to paint at the picture that day +herself. Before she went to bed, she took the precaution of placing a +chair against her door, which had the bolt on the outside only, the +young ladies not being permitted to fasten themselves up in their +rooms. + +She lay awake for a long time listening, but heard not the slightest +sound, and after a while she fell into a profound sleep. When she +awoke in the morning, the door was still closed, and the chair +standing just as she had placed it; the picture was again on the +easel; some mysterious hand had again been engaged on it, and all the +faults had disappeared, or been altered into beauties. + +Josephine stood motionless with amazement. When her bewildered +thoughts settled themselves into a distinct form, regret was her +predominant feeling. "What shall I do?" said she to herself. "I fear +this mystery if I allow it to go on, will end in something very +vexatious; and yet it may be only from motives of kindness that some +unknown person steals into my room at night, and works at my picture +with a skill far surpassing my own. Since I did not mention it at +first, were I now to relate this strange story, I should lose my +character for veracity, as no one, I am sure, would believe me." + +She painted no more at the picture, but put it away as usual. That +night she placed her washing-stand against the door, laying her soap +on the edge, so that if moved, it would fall, and having gone to bed +very sleepy, she soon closed her eyes in her usual deep slumber. In +the morning, the washing-stand was still against the door, the soap +had not fallen, the picture was once more on the easel, and--it was +finished! + +At the breakfast-table she stole inquiring glances at the +countenances of her school-mates, but none of them looked +particularly at _her_, and none of them averted their eyes from her +gaze. All seemed to think only of the examination. + +When she returned to her room, she drest herself for the occasion, +and wrapping her picture in her pocket-handkerchief, she joined her +companions, who walked in procession to the principal school-room, +according to their rank in the class. All the instructors were +assembled. After being examined in several other branches, the +drawings and miniature paintings were produced. When it came to the +turn of Josephine, she blushed as she presented her beautiful picture. + +Every one was astonished; it was so far superior to any thing she +had done before, particularly the finishing. The young ladies from +whom she had sketched the figures, being present, every one was +struck with the fidelity of the likenesses, painted, as they were, +chiefly from memory; and great praise was given, not only to the +grace of the attitudes, but to the easy and natural folds of the +drapery, and the clearness and beauty of the colouring. There was +also the novelty of two figures on the same ivory. + +The superiority of this little picture was so manifest, that there +was no hesitation in awarding the first prize, which was a small +silver palette, to Josephine Vericour. But to the surprise of every +one, Josephine showed no indication of joy at this signal triumph. +She looked round on all her companions, seeking to discover the +one who had painted the best part of her picture for her in the +night while she slept. She fixed her eyes steadfastly on Julia, the +youngest daughter of Madame Dorival, who possessed in a high degree +the charming talent of miniature painting. + +Josephine, who had heard Julia commending her picture, said to her, +"Miss Julia, you may well admire your own work. I have not merited +the prize, and I will not accept of praises which belong only to you, +to your skill in miniature painting, and to the kindness of your +heart." + +Julia protested that this language was unintelligible to her, +and begged Josephine to explain herself. She did so, and the +enigma seemed still more incomprehensible. Julia positively denied +ever having seen the picture before Josephine produced it at the +examination. In vain did Josephine detail all the circumstances of +its mysterious progress. Her statement could not be reconciled to +the rules of possibility, and they began to think that her mind was +affected by intense application to her picture. The prize, however, +was decreed to her, in spite of her reluctance to accept it; and when +the examination was over, the young ladies got together in groups, +and talked with much feeling of the symptoms of mental derangement +which had manifested themselves in the unfortunate Josephine. + +For a few weeks after the examination, Josephine allowed her +paint-box to remain with those of her companions in one of the +school-room closets, and painted only under the direction of her +master, and during the time of her regular lessons; but though there +were marks of daily improvement, the miniatures she now attempted +were inferior to the mysterious picture. + +Being anxious to try again how she could succeed in the solitude +of her own apartment, she there commenced a miniature of herself, +which, if successful, she intended as a present to her mother. By +the assistance of the large looking-glass that hung over the table, +she sketched the outline of her features with great correctness, +and after she had put in the dead colouring, (as the first tints +are called,) she put away her work for that day, and went to Julia, +whom she told of the new picture that she had just begun, and of her +anxiety to know whether her nocturnal visiter would again assist her +in completing it. + +"Dear Miss Julia," said poor Josephine, "let me entreat you to have +compassion and tell me the whole truth. If you have any private +reasons for not wishing it to be generally known, I solemnly promise +to disclose it to no one. Tell me how you always contrived to enter +my chamber in the night without disturbing my sleep, and how you have +been able to paint so well by candlelight?" + +"Miss Vericour," said Julia, "you surprise me extremely by seeming +to persist in the strange belief that I am the unknown person who +painted in secret on your picture. This mystery must be solved; and +if you find it so difficult to believe my word, you must assist me in +discovering the truth. Place nothing to-night against your door; do +not even latch it. Put away your painting apparatus as usual, and go +to bed, and to sleep if you can. I have thought of a way of detecting +the intruder, who, I suppose, must of course be one of the young +ladies. When she is discovered, she shall be reprimanded, and made to +give up her part in this strange drama, so that your perplexity will +be at an end." + +Josephine acquiesced with joy, and minutely followed the directions +of Julia. All the young ladies went to bed at nine o'clock, but +on this night it was long after ten before Josephine could compose +herself to sleep. When every one in the house had gone to bed and +all was quiet, Julia Dorival placed a taper in a small dark lantern, +and proceeded with it to the passage into which Josephine's chamber +opened. There, seating herself on a chair outside of the door, she +remained patiently watching for more than an hour. No one appeared; +the clock struck twelve, and Julia began to grow tired. She was +almost on the point of giving up the adventure, when her ear was +attracted by a slight noise in Josephine's room. + +Julia softly pushed open the door, and by the light of her lantern, +she saw Josephine dress herself in her morning-gown, walk directly to +her table, arrange her painting materials, select her colours, seat +herself before the glass, and begin to paint at her own miniature. +But what was most astonishing, she worked without any light, which +Julia did not at first remark, having her own lantern beside her +in the passage. She entered the chamber as softly as possible, and +placing herself behind Josephine's chair, she looked at her as she +painted, and was astonished at the ease and skill with which she +guided her pencil, asleep and in darkness. + +Julia Dorival was twenty years old, and with a large fund of general +information, she was not, of course, ignorant of the extraordinary +phenomenon of somnambulism, and of the most remarkable and best +authenticated anecdotes of sleep-walkers. But among all that she had +heard and read on the subject, she recollected none more surprising +than the case now before her. She knew, also, that persons under +the influence of this singular habit should never be suddenly +awakened, as the shock and surprise have been known to cause in them +convulsions or delirium. She therefore carefully avoided disturbing +Josephine, and gliding quietly out of the room, she looked at her for +some time from the passage, and then gently closing the door, she +left her to herself and retired to her own apartment. + +Next morning, Julia excited great surprise in her mother and sister, +by informing them of what she had seen. They agreed to witness +together that night this interesting spectacle, and of course, not to +mention a word on the subject to Josephine, who, when she innocently +inquired of Julia the result of her watching, was answered that she +should know all to-morrow. + +They were much affected at the idea that this young girl's earnest +and praise-worthy desire to excel in the art which was to be her +future profession, should have so wrought upon her mind, even in the +hours of repose, as almost to achieve a miracle, and to enable her to +prosecute employment with more ardour, and even with more success, in +darkness and in sleep, than in the light of day, and with all her +faculties awake. + +At midnight, the three ladies repaired with their lantern to the +chamber door of Josephine. The sleep-walker was putting on her gown. +They saw her seat herself at the table and begin to paint. They +approached close behind her without the smallest noise, venturing +to bring into the room their lantern; of its dim light, Josephine +was entirely unconscious. They saw her mix her colours with great +judgment, and lay on the touches of her pencil with the utmost +delicacy and precision. Her eyes were open, but she saw not with +them; though she frequently raised her head as if looking in the +glass. + +Somnambulists see nothing but the object on which their attention is +decidedly fixed; yet their perceptions of this object are ascertained +to be much clearer and more vivid than when awake. If addressed, +they will generally answer coherently, and as if they understood and +heard; and it is possible to hold a very rational dialogue with a +sleep-walker. But when awake, they have no recollection of any thing +that has passed during the time of somnambulism. + +Julia ventured to speak to Josephine in a low voice. "Well," said +she, "my dear Josephine, you know now who it is that paints in the +night at your pictures. You know that it is yourself. Do you hear me?" + +"Yes." + +"Does my presence disturb you?" + +"No, Miss Julia." + +"But to-morrow, Josephine, you will not believe what I shall tell +you." + +"Then it will be because I do not remember it." + +"Will you write on this piece of paper something that I wish to +dictate to you?" + +"Most willingly." + +Josephine then took up a lead pencil, and wrote these words as Julia +prompted her:-- + +"Midnight.--Talking with Miss Julia Dorival, and painting at a +miniature of myself. + + JOSEPHINE VERICOUR." + +Julia took the paper, and prepared to retire, cautioning the young +artist not to fatigue herself by painting too long. + +"Do not fear," replied Josephine, "I always return to bed as soon as +I begin to feel weary." + +The three ladies left the room on tip-toe, as they had entered it, +their minds wholly engrossed with admiration at the phenomenon +they had just witnessed. Next morning, Julia had some trouble in +convincing Josephine of the fact, but the certificate in her own +writing was an undeniable evidence. As there is something strange and +awful, and frequently dangerous, in the habit of somnambulism, no one +wishes to possess it; and Josephine was anxious to get rid of it as +soon as possible, even though it enabled her to paint better than +when awake. + +She would not trust her painting apparatus in her chamber at night, +and she dismissed all thought of her miniature from her mind as +soon as she went to bed; and was consequently enabled to rest there +till morning as tranquilly as any of her school-mates, all of whom +were much amazed when they heard the singular explanation of the +Mysterious Picture. + +This explanation once given, Madame Dorival prohibited its becoming a +subject of conversation. Josephine made vigorous efforts to conquer +her timidity in presence of her master, and in a short time she was +able to paint as well under his inspection as she had done when alone +and asleep in the gloom of midnight. + + ELIZA LESLIE. + + + + + +THE FATHER'S PRIDE. + + + There's mischief in thine eye, young boy! + Thy lip has a saucy air-- + And the winds breathe on thee health and joy, + As they stir thy golden hair. + + No sorrow flings its shadow o'er + Thy baby heart and brow! + And never at a palace door + Was prouder imp than thou! + + Prythee, don't raise thy little hand, + With such a lordly air! + For pussy laughs at thy command,-- + And Carlo doesn't care. + + Ah! pretty one! thou'rt very bold, + And pompous in thy stride-- + How dost thou know, at four years old, + Thou art a father's pride? + + When manhood comes, thou wilt be gay-- + But not as now--ah, never! + For now to-morrow seems to-day-- + Thyself a boy forever! + + Sweet babe! would I again could be + As innocent as thou-- + With heaven's pure ray, so calm and free, + Upon my heart and brow! + + [Illustration: H.W. Pickersgill pinxt. F. Kearny Sc. + + THE FATHER'S PRIDE.] + + + + +THE PET LAMB. + +A TALE. + +BY MRS. HUGHS. + + +One cold bleak morning, in the latter end of March, before winter +had quite determined to resign his tyrannical sway, though he had +occasionally permitted a few soft breezes to woo the opening buds of +the willow and the horse-chestnut, and scatter a few of the earliest +spring flowers over the fields, Farmer Early happened, on his way to +the place where his labourers were at work, to pass a field in which +he had a number of sheep. Two or three times, as he proceeded along, +by the side of the fence, he thought he heard a very feeble bleat, +and stopped to see if there was any youngling in need of more aid +than was in its mother's power to render. For some time, however, +he looked in vain, but at length the sound became more distinct, +and soon guided him to a corner of the field, where he discovered a +sheep lying stretched out on its side, and a lamb, evidently just +born, lying near it. He hastened immediately to the aid of the little +complainer, and found that the mother was stiff and cold, and that it +was itself nearly dead, for its feeble frame had been exposed to +the cold bleak wind and occasional falls of snow, without having any +tender mother to protect it from the withering blast. He immediately +took it in his arms and returned home, though with but little hope +that any thing that could now be done for it would be of any avail. + + [Illustration: W. Collins Del. F. Kearny Sc. + + THE PET LAMB.] + +"Here, Sally! Sally!" cried he, as he entered the door of his own +house, and immediately his eldest daughter came forward, on hearing +the summons, "I have brought you something to be kind to. Here is a +poor little lamb that has lost its mother, and you must try to supply +the place of one to it: I am afraid it will be impossible to save +it, but you must see what you can do." Sally, whose heart overflowed +with tenderness toward every living thing, took the little trembling +creature in her arms, and summoning her little sisters to partake +of the pleasing task, and indeed to share the fatigue which she was +herself but ill able to bear, she immediately began to prepare a bed +for it by the fire, and to warm some milk for it. + +"Do you think it will live, Sally?" said Peggy, as she stood by her +elder sister's side, "do you think you can keep it from dying?" + +"I hope so," answered Sally, holding the warm milk to its mouth as +she spoke. + +"I won't let it die," said Kitty, with great earnestness. "Will you, +Sally?" + +"Not if I can help it." + +"And if it lives, won't you let me feed it sometimes?" added Peggy, +"and won't you let it be part mine?" + +"Yes, it shall be part yours, and you shall help me to take care of +it." + +"And when it can walk, won't you let me take it out and teach it to +run about the green?" + +"I rather think it will be more likely to teach you to skip," +returned her elder sister. + +"I can run about already," said Kitty, and as she spoke, she gave +several bounds across the floor to prove the truth of her assertion. + +"What will you call it, Sally?" asked Peggy. + +"I think we must call it Croppy, for you know how the little lambs +crop the short grass. How glad I shall be if we can rear it. I never +had a pet in my life, and a pet lamb, of all things in the world, is +what I shall like the best." + +"You always said I was your little pet," said Kitty, looking up in +her sister's face with an expression of disappointment. + +"And so you are," answered Sally, kissing her affectionately; "but +Croppy, if it live, will be a pet to all of us." + +"And it will live--I know it will," said Peggy. "Only see how much +better it looks, now that it is warm, and has got some good milk." + +The fact was, that little Croppy very soon began to show signs of +the good effects of the kind treatment it had received; and before +the day was over, it could stand, and in a few days more it began to +trot about, and was very soon able to commence the business of giving +the little girls lessons in running. And here we shall leave him for +a while, to give a short account of the family in which he was now an +inmate. + +Farmer Early's family consisted of Sally, whom we have just +introduced to our readers, and who was fifteen years old, George, who +was about one, and Tom, who was rather more than two years younger +than she. Besides these, there were two little girls, Peggy, who +was seven, and Kitty, five years old. They were all rather pretty +and very pleasant looking children; but Sally and George were the +most conspicuously interesting, both in appearance and manners. +George was of a more serious and thoughtful cast than boys of his +age generally are. He was active, and always willing to do any thing +in his power to assist his father and those around him; but these +duties fulfilled, his chief delight was in reading, and he would sit +for hours together on the top of a box in the garret, whither he was +in the habit of going for the sake of being out of the noise of the +other children, and would devour with the greatest eagerness the +contents of every book on which he could lay his hands; and a strange +mixture, it must be confessed, it had been his fate to get hold of. +He had read "The Whole Duty of Man;" "Gulliver's Travels;" "Cook's +Voyages;" "Pilgrim's Progress;" two or three odd volumes of some of +the Waverley novels, which he had bought for a few cents a piece at +an auction in the neighbouring town, when sent there on an errand; +but of all the treasures of which he had ever become possessed, +and which seemed likely to have the most powerful influence over +his future character, was the Life of Franklin, which he likewise +purchased for a few cents at an auction. Eagerly, nay, greedily, did +he read this interesting little volume. And when he rose from the +fascinating task, and recollected that he, who had become one of +the most distinguished philosophers either of his own, or any other +country, who had been a negotiator with kings, and had done more, +perhaps, for his country than any other man, with the exception of +Washington alone, had once been a poor, portionless, uneducated +boy; and that all the attainments, all the honours of which he +afterwards became possessed, were entirely the fruits of his industry +and economy, he drew himself up with a noble feeling of pride and +emulation, and said, "I too, perhaps, may some time or other be +a great man; for every body has the power of being industrious, +economical, and good; and I never can be much poorer than Franklin +was when he first entered Philadelphia with only a dollar in his +pocket, and when he went and bought a two-penny loaf and made his +dinner off it." + +George had not derived his love of reading from either his father +or mother; for though respectable, they were very ignorant people, +and were much more disposed to regret the disposition of their son +to spend his time, as they conceived, so unprofitably, than to +attempt to supply him with the means of indulging his prevailing +propensity. He was not, however, without one affectionate and +sympathizing friend, who delighted in aiding him in every laudable +undertaking, and joined with interest in all his praise-worthy +pursuits. His sister Sally was, like himself, gentle, affectionate, +and thoughtful. She was not so great a reader as George, for, indeed, +the instruction that she had received had been so very limited, and +she had always been kept so constantly employed in assisting her +mother in the household work, and in taking care of the younger +children, that she had never learned to read with sufficient facility +to make the employment agreeable; but she delighted to listen to +George's accounts of the books he had read, and was always ready to +add her mite to the small stock of money which he was able to save +for the purchase of more. Fondly, too, would she encourage all his +ardent aspirings after knowledge and virtue, and all his sanguine +anticipations of future eminence; for to her he could breathe out +his thoughts almost before they were formed in his mind, conscious +as he did so, that they would meet no repulsive check, no chilling +reception, to nip the embryo blossom, and prevent its ripening into +fruit. There was yet another circumstance which served to unite this +affectionate brother and sister in still closer bonds. Sally had all +her life been exceedingly delicate, and as she advanced in age, that +delicacy evidently rather increased than diminished; and there was +no one of the whole family that showed so much consideration, and +so tender a sympathy for her weakness, as her brother George; and +the grateful girl never seemed to think she could make a sufficient +return for such kindness. + +We have spent so much time in dwelling on the characters of the +two elder branches of farmer Early's family, that we can spare but +little more for the others; nor, indeed, is there much required; for +Tom was, like other boys, active, playful, and careless; fond of +guns, and dogs, and horses; priding himself upon managing a horse +better, and shooting a partridge with truer aim than any boy in +the neighbourhood; and as to the little girls, they were like most +children of their age, sometimes troublesome, but more generally good +and engaging, and always interesting to their parents and sister, +who repeated their sayings, and watched their sports with pride +and pleasure, and persuaded themselves that they were the smartest +and prettiest children that were ever seen. Had the little Kitty, +however, been at all less delighted with their new inmate, Croppy, +than she really was, she might, perhaps, have been a little jealous +of the attention which he gained from the whole family, but more +especially from Sally, who, as she said, had never before had any +living thing that she could call her own; and as it soon learned to +know her voice, and would come bounding at her call from the furthest +point of the common before the door, or would trot by her side to the +dairy, anxiously looking for his usual allowance, she almost wondered +at herself for the fondness which she felt for it. "It is very silly +of me, I know, to be so fond of this little creature," she would +sometimes say, as she mused over her little pet; "for though he likes +me better than any body else at present, I know very well that any +other person who took the same care of him would just do as well for +him, and I should be forgotten directly; but yet he seems as if he +loved me, and it is so delightful to be loved, that the attachment of +a little dumb animal makes me feel happy." As Sally was thus musing, +her hands were occupied with tying together a number of wild flowers +which the children had just brought from the woods, and forming them +into a wreath. + +"What is that for?" asked Kitty, who had sat looking on so earnestly, +that she had been insensible to the many challenges which Croppy had +given her to a race over the common. "Who are you making that for, +Sally?" + +"You shall see," answered her sister, and immediately she called +"Croppy! Croppy!" and in an instant, Croppy, though he had been +almost out of sight at the moment of her calling, was again at her +side. Sally hung the wreath round his neck, but was obliged to tie it +so tight that he could not reach it with his mouth, or the display +of Sally's taste would soon have been in vain. "Now keep quiet, +Croppy, and do not spoil your garland before George comes home from +the field, because I have dressed you up in honour of his birth-day. +Now be quiet, good Croppy," continued she, as the little creature, +less gratified by being so ornamented, than worried by the unusual +incumbrance, tried, by rolling himself on the grass, to disengage +himself from it. + +"Oh! here comes George," cried Peggy. "I'll run and meet him, and +bring him to see Croppy before his birth-day dress is spoiled." But +at the same moment a voice was heard, calling in an angry tone, +"Sally! Sally! how can you think of setting there on the damp grass, +when you have been so sick all day! I know well enough how it will +be--you will get cold, and will be laid up instead of helping me +to-morrow with the washing." Poor Sally rose in an instant with a +feeling of self-condemnation at her own carelessness, but her heart +and eyes, at the same time, filling at the manner in which her mother +had upbraided her. As she returned to the house, she met George +hastening to admire Croppy's finery; but he had heard his mother's +rebuke, and seeing the large tears standing in his sister's eyes, +Croppy was immediately forgotten, and turning round with Sally, he +devoted himself the rest of the evening to cheering and amusing her. +"It only wants a few days now, Sally," said he, seeking, in the +subject the most interesting to himself, the most probable means +of amusing his sister, "it only wants a few days now to the time +of my going to school. Father has promised me a month's schooling +before the harvest begins, and another when it is over; and if I am +diligent, I can learn a great deal in that time. Oh, how I long to +begin! I dream about being at school every night; and I always think +that I am learning something that compels me to study very hard, and +I am always so glad, because I think then I am learning the way to +be a wise and good man. Franklin had very little more schooling than +I shall have had by that time, and as to money, he was as poor as I +am, every bit; for when he first came to Philadelphia, he had only +a single dollar in his pocket, and yet you see he got to be a very +great man." + +"Yes," said Sally, "but he had to study and work very hard for a +great many years first." + +"To be sure he had," returned the brother with animation; "but then +so can I work, and so can I study; I am not afraid of either. Did not +I walk ten miles yesterday, when I went that errand for the squire, +because he said he would give me a quarter of a dollar? and here it +is," he added, taking the money out of his pocket, and looking at +it with great complacency, "and I mean to get up by day break in +the morning, and go to buy a book with it that I saw the other day, +and that I want to read; I can get it, I think, for a quarter of +a dollar. And I'll tell you another thing, Sally; I expect by the +time I have finished my month of schooling, you will be a great deal +stronger than you are now, and then I can teach you every thing that +I have learnt, and we shall be so happy--shan't we, Sally?" Sally +smiled assent, but it was a languid smile, for the ardour of her +youthful mind was checked by the enfeebling influence of disease. + +The next morning Sally felt very forcibly the ill effects of her +imprudence in sitting on the damp grass the night before; and though +she still recollected the severe manner in which her mother had +reproved her, she could not but be conscious that the reproof was +deserved. This made her very unwilling to complain, though she rose +with a severe pain in her side, a burning fever in her veins, and a +cough which was always troublesome, but was now more than usually +distressing. Determined, however, not to complain, and anxious, +if possible, to conceal her indisposition, she prepared to assist +her mother in every way in her power; and though she felt it would +be impossible for her to stand at the washing tub, she washed and +dressed her little sisters, prepared the breakfast, and did a variety +of offices equally useful, and was in hopes it would escape the +observation of every one, that what she did was performed under the +pressure of more pain and debility than usual. She was assisted in +this concealment by the absence of George, who had not, at breakfast +time, returned from the town to which he had gone for the purchase of +the book of which he had spoken the evening before; for had he been +present, his watchful eye, she well knew, would soon have discovered +the oppression under which she laboured. Breakfast, however, was +entirely over before he returned, and when he did come, he only +stayed to eat a piece of dry bread and take a drink of water, a kind +of fare which would at any time have been sufficient to satisfy +him, but which he had now become extremely fond of, since he found +that Franklin ascribed so much of his alacrity in business, and his +facility in study, to his adherence to that simple diet; and then +hastened to assist his father in the field. Sally sometimes almost +persuaded herself that her little pet Croppy saw and understood that +all was not right with his young mistress; for instead of frisking +about the common as usual with the little girls, he kept almost +constantly trotting by her side, every now and then rubbing his +little head tenderly against her, and appearing quite happy when she +stooped down to pat his head and speak to him in a tone of kindness. +Yet even this slight indulgence seemed almost more than she had +either time or spirits to bestow, and the continual repetition of +Sally do this, and Sally do that, kept her incessantly occupied till +late in the afternoon, when the chief of the business being over, and +she too much exhausted to support herself any longer on her feet, +had just sunk upon a seat, and was patting the head which Croppy had +come and laid on her lap, when her father and brothers returned from +the field. "Sally," said the farmer, in a tone of reproach, "you sit +patting that lamb as if there was nothing else to be done. Come, +girl," he continued, taking up a milking bucket as he spoke, "get +your bucket, and let us go and milk the cows." George, who, at the +moment his father spoke, had taken up his newly purchased treasure, +and had got half across the room on the way to his private retreat, +cast a glance at his sister, and perceiving in an instant that she +was ill, he threw down his book, and saying, "Sit still, Sally, for +I am going to milk this evening," he took the bucket and hastened +after his father. Sally's heart glowed with affection and gratitude. +She had always loved her brother, but never had he been half so dear +to her as at this moment. "Croppy, you must love George for being so +kind to your mistress," said she, addressing herself to the lamb for +want of a more sympathizing auditor, "you must love George for my +sake;" and she watched for his return, impatient to let him know that +she understood and felt his kindness. + +At length, the business of milking over, George again appeared, but +no longer with the glow of animation on his countenance with which +he had returned from his day's labour, nor yet with the spirit and +alacrity with which he had left the house on his office of kindness. +"Is he sorry now, that he went?" thought Sally, as she examined his +countenance. "Has he begun to think what a great deal he might have +read in the time that he has been milking?" "Why don't you go to your +book now, George?" asked she, as she saw that, after disposing of +the milk bucket, her brother placed himself at the end of the large +table, on which he put up his arm, and rested his head upon it with +a look of great distress. "Why don't you go and read now?" again she +inquired; "there is nothing to hinder you now." + +"Because I don't want to," answered George, in a tone very different +from his usual cheerful, good tempered voice. + +"George, come here beside me," said Sally, tenderly, for she began to +feel alarmed at the expression of her brother's countenance. + +"Oh! I can't," returned the boy; "do let me alone, I don't want to +speak." + +Sally's eyes filled with tears. "He is vexed at me," thought she, +"for he thinks I am always in the way of his improving himself." +George got up and moved towards the stairs. "You are leaving your +book behind you, George," said Sally, glad to think that he was going +at last to his favourite employment. + +"I don't want it," he replied; "I am going to bed." + +"George, do tell me what is the matter before you go; are you sick?" + +"No, I am not sick, but I don't want to talk; so do let me alone." +So saying, he went to bed, and Sally soon after retired also, but +not to sleep. Uneasiness at the sudden and unaccountable change in +her brother's manner, added double violence to the disease which +was throbbing in her veins; and after a restless and sleepless +night, she attempted to rise in the morning, but finding herself +entirely unable to do so, she was obliged to lay her head again upon +her pillow. "Aye, this is just what I thought would be the case," +said her mother, who coming up to see why Sally had not made her +appearance, found her too ill to sit up; "I told you what you would +bring upon yourself by playing and idling your time away with that +little useless pet lamb of yours." Mrs. Early did not mean to be an +unkind mother, but she, like many other people, had an unfortunate +manner of showing her affection, and generally vented the uneasiness +which the sight of her daughter's indisposition occasioned, in a tone +of reproach, for which she had not always so much cause as on the +present occasion. + +"I know I was wrong, mother, for sitting upon the grass," said Sally, +mildly, "but say no more about it, for it cannot be helped; and ask +George to come up and see me." + +"George has been out at work these two hours," replied her mother, +"and here am I with all the ironing to do, and every thing else to +attend to, and to nurse you into the bargain." + +"No, indeed, mother, I don't need any nursing," returned the poor +girl, who, though convinced her mother did not mean any unkindness by +this manner of speaking, was yet unable to repress the tears which +filled her eyes and forced themselves down her cheek as she spoke. +"Only tell Peggy to bring me up some water to drink, and I want +nothing else." + +"Aye, it's fine talking. But do you think I can have you lying sick +in bed, without coming to look after you? And I'm sure I don't know +how I'm to find time to do it, and to do all the work besides. But I +will send Peggy up with a drink for you, and will come up myself as +often as I can," added the mother, as she closed the door after her. + +When left to herself, Sally's mind dwelt continually on the thought +of George's melancholy the night before, which she was sure was +still unremoved, or he would never have thought of going to work +without first coming to inquire after her. Anxiety to know the cause +only increased the longer she dwelt upon the subject. In vain did +her little sisters try their utmost efforts to amuse her, for which +purpose, even little Croppy was brought up stairs, and introduced +into the bed room; she looked at it with pleasure, and gave the +little girls strict injunctions to be kind and attentive to it +whilst she was unable to be so herself; but again her mind recurred +to the recollection that something was amiss with her favourite +brother; and this idea, much more than the bodily pain that she +suffered, made every hour appear like two, till he came home to his +dinner. At length she heard her father's voice below, and knowing +that George was in all probability there also, she knocked down for +her little attendant Peggy, and desired her to ask George to come +up and see her. He came immediately, and the moment Sally saw him, +she perceived that the same expression of melancholy remained on his +countenance. + +"George," said she, in a gentle, affectionate voice, as he came +toward her bed-side, "I wanted to see you, to know if you have +forgiven me." + +"Forgiven, you, Sally! what had I to forgive?" asked he, in a tone of +surprise. + +"For being the means of keeping you from going up stairs to read last +night." + +"Oh! Sally, you surely do not think that I was angry at you for being +sick?" + +"No, not angry at me for being sick, but angry at me for having made +myself sick by my own imprudence, and so keeping you from the only +enjoyment you have." + +"And don't you think, Sally, that I would rather help you than read +any book whatever?" + +"I know you have always been very kind in helping me, but still what +made you so sorrowful when you came in from milking, if it was not +that?" + +"It was not that, at any rate," answered George. + +"Then what was it? Do tell me, George, for I know there is something +amiss, and I cannot tell what it is." + +"It is nothing that you can help, Sally, so keep yourself easy, and +get well again, for that will sooner bring back my spirits than any +thing else." + +"George, do tell me what is the matter. I am very sick, and it only +makes me worse to think of your being so sorrowful, and I not know +the cause." + +"Oh! I am not sorrowful," returned George, endeavouring to speak +cheerfully, "I am only disappointed, but I shall soon get over it; +for my father told me last night whilst we were milking, that he has +had so many losses this season, both in sheep, and cows, and horses, +that he will not be able to send me to school as he had promised to +do." + +But though George began his speech with an assumed cheerfulness, he +was unable to keep it up; and as he pronounced the last words, the +tears, in spite of his utmost efforts, filled his eyes, and were +about to force themselves down his cheeks, when the voice of his +mother calling him from below, checked their course, and he hastened +down stairs to obey the summons. + +"Tom, Sally wants you to go up stairs to her," said Peggy, in the +evening, when the family were all assembled to supper. + +"Wants me!" said Tom, in surprise. "What does she want me for? She +surely does not expect that I can read to her, or talk to her about +books, as George does." + +"I don't know, but she said I must tell you to come up and speak to +her." + +Tom went up stairs, but when he came down again, though questioned by +all around about the business for which he had been sent, he refused +to gratify their curiosity; but after eating his supper in silence, a +very uncommon circumstance for him, for he generally had some exploit +to recount that he had achieved with his gun, his horse, or his dog, +he took his hat and went out, without making any remark about whither +he was going, or what he was going to do; nor on his return was he +any more communicative, though the curiosity of all was considerably +excited about the nature of the business he had been upon. + +In the mean time, Sally's illness increased in so alarming a manner, +that even her mother ceased to talk about herself, and was anxious +only for the health of her child. + +The poor girl, as if conscious that her sufferings were only a just +penance for the imprudence of which she had been guilty, uttered +no complaints, though she tossed about the whole night in all the +restlessness of a burning fever, and was, by the time that day-light +arrived, so ill, that George was despatched in haste for the +physician from the neighbouring town, whose arrival was waited for +with an impatience that only those can understand who have known what +it is to watch by the side of a beloved one, and count the minutes +till the sufferer is relieved, and strength is given to their sinking +hopes. + +"What can George be about?" said the mother, looking out of the +window, and straining her anxious eyes in hopes of catching a glimpse +of him as he came across the common; "he never was so long on an +errand before. He surely might have managed to come back himself +before this time, whether the doctor could come with him or not." + +"Keep yourself easy, mother," said Sally, gently, who was the only +one that was not impatient, "I am sure he will come back as soon as +he possibly can." + +"Peggy, run along as far as the stable yonder, and try if you can see +any thing of him," added her mother, "and come back directly and tell +me if you do." + +Away went Peggy, followed by the little Kitty, and having caught +a sight of her elder brother, was about to do as she had been +ordered, and hasten to the house to announce the intelligence, when +her curiosity was excited, and her steps arrested, by the sight of +another object, for whose presence she was unable to account. "Why, +who can that be that is coming along the road with Tom? I declare it +is Ben, the butcher's boy. What can he want here, I wonder?" At that +moment Tom was heard calling Croppy! Croppy! and in an instant Croppy +came bounding across the common to meet him. George, too, had arrived +at the same time from an opposite direction, and eagerly inquired +what he wanted with Croppy; but the next moment, like a stroke of +lightning, the truth flashed across his mind, and, throwing himself +down by the side of the lamb, he clasped his arms around its neck. +"I know what is the matter--I know it all," he exclaimed. "Sally is +going to sell Croppy, for the sake of paying for my schooling; but +its innocent life shall not be taken away for any such thing. I can +read and teach myself, and Croppy shall not be killed." + +"Hush, George, give over making that noise, man. Don't you hear +mother calling you? Get up, I tell you, and don't make such a rout +about a lamb; it's not the first lamb that has been killed, I am +sure." + +Peggy now caught the alarm, and bursting into tears, she ran to the +butcher's boy. "You must not take Croppy away. Oh! you shall not kill +our dear little Croppy," she exclaimed, pushing the boy back with her +little hands as she spoke, while Kitty, scarcely able to understand +the meaning of what was going forward, and anxious only to show +kindness to their little favourite, had got some water from a bucket +that stood near her, and was trying to coax the little creature to +drink. But Croppy, as if conscious of the fate that awaited him, was +insensible to all her solicitations. At this moment, the sound of +horses' feet was heard, and the next, the doctor rode up to them, +and struck with the expression of grief on George's countenance, and +with Peggy's distress, inquired what was the matter. The story was +soon told. "Oh, cheer up, my good boy," said he, addressing himself +to George, whose sensibility and anxiety for improvement struck him +with equal admiration, "keep yourself easy, for the lamb shall live, +and you shall go to school into the bargain." So saying, he gave the +butcher's boy a piece of money to reconcile him to going back without +the lamb; then turning to George, he assured him that he would take +the expense of his schooling upon himself, and that instead of a +month, he should stay a year, or more, if he found that he continued +to set as high a value as he at present did upon being furnished +with the means of improvement. "And now," added he, "I must go and +see after this kind sister of yours, whose health I shall be doubly +anxious to restore after this proof of her amiable and affectionate +disposition." But though he was on horseback, George was at the house +before him, and was making his way immediately to Sally's room, when +he was stopped by his mother, who met him, and, in an agony of +tears, told him that Sally was too ill to be spoken to. Disappointed +at not being able either to express his gratitude for the proof of +affection which she had given, or to make her a sharer of his own +happiness, he sunk down on a seat, and waited the return of the +doctor, whom his mother now conducted to the sick chamber. After +waiting a long time, he at length heard the sound of his footsteps on +the stairs, and his voice, as he spoke in a soft tone to his mother. +George fixed his eyes on the face of the physician as he entered the +room where he was, and endeavoured to read in it what he thought of +his patient, but felt afraid to inquire. + +"May I go up now?" asked he, in a timid voice. + +"Yes. Go up, she is anxious to have you with her, and I am sure I +need not tell you to pay her all the attention in your power." + +George did not wait to make any reply, but was, in an instant, by +Sally's bed-side. But how great, how alarming, was the change that he +saw in her from the time that he had last left her! + +"Sally! dear Sally, I am come to thank you," said he. Sally raised +her eyes and smiled on him affectionately. "How kind it was to give +up your little pet to pay for my schooling. But, though I am going to +school, you will still have Croppy to be kind to." + +"Croppy will not be taken from me, but I shall soon be taken away +from him. George, I am going to leave you all very soon." + +"Oh! Sally, don't talk that way," said George, in a tone of extreme +agitation. "What has the doctor been doing to frighten you so?" + +"The doctor has not frightened me. He told me that he hoped he should +make me well again, but I know better; I know that I am dying; but I +am not frightened, for I know that I am going to a kind father. I am +sorry to part with you all, especially you, George, but it must be, +and we shall meet again soon." + +"Oh, don't talk about dying, Sally," cried the afflicted boy, the +tears streaming down his cheeks as he spoke, "don't talk about +leaving us. I cannot bear to think of parting with you." + +"George," said Sally, and an almost heavenly expression brightened +her countenance as she spoke, "you have read a great deal, but your +reading will be of little use if you have not learnt to know that +it is our duty to submit with patience to the will of our Heavenly +Father. I like to be with you, and am sorry to think of leaving +you, but I know we shall meet again, and then there will be no more +parting. But we will talk no more about it now. Mother is coming, and +I don't want to distress her." + +George looked at Sally, and tried to persuade himself that she was +mistaken in imagining herself so ill. But the more he examined her +countenance on which the indelible stamp of death was already +impressed, the more he was convinced that she was right. From that +moment, he scarcely quitted her bed-side, but watched over her, read +portions of the scriptures to her whenever she was able to listen, +and even prayed with her. Her composure and benignity were gradually +communicated to his mind, so that though the one of all the family +who was the most fondly attached to her, he was the only one who +could view her approaching death with sufficient calmness to be +able to listen to her when she talked about it. Short was the time, +however, that he was called upon to exercise this self-command, for +the vital torch was nearly extinguished, and her short, but innocent +life, was nearly drawn to a close. George, whose affectionate offices +seemed to become more and more grateful to her as the time approached +nearer when she must resign them altogether, had sat up with her all +night; and her mother, toward morning, was prevailed upon to go and +take a little rest, under the assurance from Sally, that she did +not need any thing that her brother could not do for her. Just as +her mother left the room, the first beam of the morning sun glanced +through the window. "Put out the lamp, George," said she, "and draw +back the window curtain, that I may see the sun rise. It is the last +time that I shall ever see it rise, and oh! it is a glorious sight. +I should have been glad, if I had been permitted to live longer, +for this world is beautiful, and I wanted to see you a wise and good +man, but that I hope you will be, though I am not here to see it; and +always remember me, George, and think how dearly I loved you. Raise +me up a little, and put the pillows under my shoulders--there, that +will do. Oh! George, I can't see! Take hold of my hand." George took +her hand, she pressed his gently; and he watched, scarcely venturing +to breathe, lest it should prevent him from hearing her words when +she should next speak. But gradually he felt her hand relax from +the pressure of his; he looked at her lips, but they were still; he +put his face to her mouth, but no breath escaped from it; all was +motionless. He was conscious that she was dead, but so sweet, so +placid was the repose into which she was sunk, that he was unwilling +to stir, lest he should destroy the heavenly feeling. How long he +thus hung over her, he was himself unconscious; but when, at length, +he was interrupted by the entrance of some of the family, he left the +room, and hastened into the open air, as if unwilling to mingle the +hallowed feelings which pervaded his mind with the more boisterous +grief of the other members of the family. + +Violent grief, for such a death, George felt to be impossible; +and though he never ceased to think of her loss but with the most +affectionate regret, his sorrow was so blended with the conviction +that the change was a happy one for her, that it soon softened down +to a holy and tender remembrance, which served only to stimulate his +mind to virtue and piety; and the sweet proof that she had given so +short a time before her death of her affection for him, made him +cherish with grateful pleasure the recollection of the Pet Lamb. + + + + +THE CLEAN FACE; + +or, + +THE BOY WASHED BY HIS ELDER SISTER. + + + Oh! why must my face be wash'd so clean, + And scrubb'd and drench'd for Sunday, + When you know very well (as you've always seen) + 'Twill be dirty again on Monday? + + My hair is stiff with the lathery soap + That behind my ears is dripping; + And my smarting eyes I'm afraid to ope; + And my lip the suds is sipping. + + They're down my throat, and up my nose-- + And to choke me you seem to be trying. + That I'll shut my mouth you needn't suppose, + For how can I keep from crying? + + And you rub as hard as ever you can-- + And your hands are hard--to my sorrow; + No woman shall wash me when I'm a man-- + And I wish I was one to-morrow. + + E. LESLIE. + + [Illustration: Painted by Scharp. Engraved by J. B. Neagle. + + THE CLEAN FACE.] + + + + +LE LOUP ET L'AGNEAU. + +BY THE AUTHOR OF LIGHTS OF EDUCATION. + + +Soon after the dreadful massacre of the white inhabitants of St. +Domingo many years ago, a French family came to settle in Baltimore. +With a small sum of money, saved from the wreck of a large fortune, +they purchased an acre of ground, about a mile from town, with a +stone house built on it; over which they contrived to spread a +foreign appearance, by thatching the slanting roof of the porch in +front--latticing the small windows--and hanging out a nightingale +in a wicker cage. The family consisted of a gentleman and lady, a +nephew, and an infant daughter, with the domestics, the faithful +adherents of their master's adverse fortune. After some time, Mr. +Leroy obtained a small salary in the French consul's office; Madame +Leroy worked stays; the servant woman (Pauline) made cakes, and sold +them at market, or in the park on _field-days_, to the followers of +the military assembled there. The man (Antoine) cultivated West India +vegetables; but when Pauline was away, he added all the work of the +house to his own occupation; and could cook, wash, and iron, better +than herself, though he never scolded half so loud. Little Susette +was a sweet creature; with bright laughing black eyes, and of a +lively, courageous temper. Her cousin was not so; whether the horrid +scenes he indistinctly remembered in his own country, or the little +sympathy he found in another, tended the most to depression and fear, +I know not; but Louis was pensive even to sadness, and timid almost +to feminine weakness. These qualities, so injurious to his future +prospects, might have been overcome, since they did not appear in +the feelings of his early childhood, had he been left either with +his family, in the peaceful enjoyment of his own little pleasures, +or found associates, who would have enlivened and encouraged by +kindness and protection. But the only boy who sought his society, was +the least likely to benefit him in this respect. He was the son of a +wealthy brewer, whose residence was near Mr. Leroy's, and his name +was Michael Redman; commonly called Mike, and sometimes Red Mike. +This boy was the usual companion of Louis, from beyond the Falls to +school, and back again. Strange, that nothing should grow out of such +constant intercourse, in a free country, but wanton oppression and +slavish fear; because the ready invention and quick perception of the +little Frenchman excited the envy of his unintellectual companion, +though he affected to despise all the delicate endowments of that +mind, which he kept in bondage by the exercise of his savage strength +alone; but this reduced Louis to the most degraded state of slavery, +till at length he became subservient to his tyrant's purposes on +every occasion; would I could say of good _or_ evil, where all was +evil. On Michael's youthful countenance already were impressed the +marks of fatal passions; and every day the traces deepened, the +shadows darkened. This was more perceptible, whenever his forbidding +face appeared in opposition to the lovely, innocent countenance of +Louis Leroy; and then so remarkable was the contrast exhibited, that +any one would have been struck with the truth of the application, +when an old French gentleman, who usually came on an evening to share +Mr. Leroy's frugal supper, of bread and salad, exclaimed on seeing +the two boys together--"Voila, le loup et l'agneau." (Behold, the +wolf and the lamb.) Well might he say so, and the transactions of two +days will prove it sufficiently to the reader. Little Susette had +been ill, and was ordered regular exposure in the open air. This was +not so easy, considering the constant occupation of the family; but +Louis carried her in his arms all about the place, whenever he was +at home, till she recovered, and then she soon grew too stout for +his nursing; so one day, when Pauline was gone to attend a parade in +the park, Antoine was spreading out beans and okras at the back of +the house to dry, and Madame Leroy was finishing a pair of stays, +Louis took the baby in his arms, and carried her under a shady tree; +when sitting down beside her, he began to contrive in his thoughts a +proper coach for her. + + [Illustration: Printed by W. Mulready R.A. Engraved by J. B. Neagle + + THE WOLF & THE LAMB] + +As soon as he had drawn out the plan in his head, he set about the +execution of it with his hands; and by the labour of a few Saturdays, +and the sacrifice of a little money that his teacher had given him +for some service in the school, he made her an elegant carriage, +which he painted with yellow ochre, and emblazoned with his uncle's +coat of arms, as he thought he remembered it on the old family coach, +belonging to three generations of noblesse in St. Domingo. He had +put the infant in her fairy vehicle, and was drawing her toward the +house, to show it to his aunt, when Mike Redman appeared. "Hurra, +Louy, what have you got there? It looks like a frog in a pumpkin +shell." The comparison was not unapt, when he only saw a small head, +and two little fat hands, peeping out of a yellow box. "Come, tumble +it out here, I want you to go a-fishing, and this wagon will do to +carry them home in." "Oh, no, Michael, that is little Susette's." +"Oh, never mind, she's able to trot about well enough on her own +stumpy legs; but the fish have no feet to walk." "I will bring +Antoine's basket." "No, you needn't, this thing here is a great deal +better; and we'll keep it for that always. So hurra, Miss Susan, +clear out, and run as fast as you can." Saying this, he took the baby +from the carriage, and stood her on the ground; upon which she did +not cry, but remained looking in his face, with a mixed expression of +surprise and dislike, and never offered to stir; Louis, who at the +moment was more afraid for Susette than himself, agreed to go with +Mike, if he would wait till he carried the child in. Satisfied with +his conquest so far, Redman remained; and when Louis returned, they +set off,--but this poor boy could not recover the mortification of +sacrificing the toy he had made, with such ingenuity, for the use of +his little cousin, and with which he thought he should delight her +parents, for the portage of Mike Redman's fish: yet, even this was +not so painful a sensation, as he felt, when forced by his companion +to catch worms, and bait the hooks with them. At the commencement, +indeed, he was so much overcome, that he sickened to faintishness, +upon which Michael showed so much feeling, as to throw a hat-full of +water in his face; from which it descended in streams to his breast, +and making his clothes thoroughly wet, promised to add ill-health to +the other evils of his constitution. When the boys were returning +home, Mike said, "This is a prime thing, Louy--this here wagon, I'm +going to keep it, to carry things always; you can easily get another +for yourself, if you want." "No, Michael, I cannot, I have not more +money." "Oh! well then, you can do without--as you did before you +made it." "But, little Susette, she cannot do without it, because +she is sick." "Sick--not she, I tell you--she's as stout as any +little pig, so you must make her walk." "Oh, no, Michael, she is too +little, she cannot walk such a great deal." "To be sure she can--it +is the very thing for her; why, she'll grow as round as one of them +tubs yonder in our yard, if you let her ride; so, I'll keep the +carriage for that; and, look here, Louy, since you're so clever at +these sort o' notions, I want you to make me some arrows. You must +get me a dozen done by Saturday--that's the last of our holidays, +you know--and then, if I shoot any birds a _Sunday_, I'll give you +one or two for your supper." "I do not want them, Michael, I would +prefer you let them sing on Sunday."--"Well, I don't want to give +you any birds, if you prefer _go without_--but you must make me the +arrows at any rate, and if you don't have them ready, when I call for +them, you'll be sorry." What Mike Redman wanted with a dozen arrows +and a baby's carriage, I leave to the consideration of those young +people, who have witnessed in their companions a premature acuteness +in ways of traffic; which discovers itself in the sale, or barter, of +all the small wares they can beg or borrow: I omit the other word, +so commonly united with these two, because, I trust, that at this +period, when education has extended moral influence so far, there is +not one, in the whole circle of boyish transgressions, to whom the +application of such a word would not be a false and shocking libel. +The characters of children then, perhaps, were less attended to; and +certainly Mike Redman's parents, though they fed him plentifully, +and clothed him fashionably, could never have instructed him in the +slightest principle; since he did not give without reluctance, to the +poor boy who assisted him materially, a few little fishes to help +out his miserable dinner, or scruple to take from him a toy that had +cost him three days' labour, and the money that otherwise should +have purchased him a new jacket, (which he sadly wanted,) to procure +pleasure for his infant relative. + +When Louis entered the room, where the family usually assembled, he +found the old French gentleman had come to dine with them; though +there was nothing on the table, but a dish of okra or gumbo soup, +a salad, and an omelette; to which, however, were soon added, +through the quick hands of Antoine, Louis's contribution of fish; +and surely round any richer board, there was not then assembled a +more striking picture of "the sublime and beautiful:" a Christian +philosopher cheerfully resigned to the changes of fortune, and his +lovely companion, with faithful affection, smiling while she shared +his fate. There was so striking a resemblance between Madame Leroy +and her nephew, that many persons supposed they were mother and son; +and as he was the only child of a beloved sister, that escaped the +general death, she loved him as if he had been her own. Mr. Leroy was +also related to him in the same degree; his brother having married +the mother of Louis,--had this not been the case, however, he would +have been fond of him for his wife's sake. He loved every one that +she loved, and herself more than all. Little Susette had forgotten +her coach, or resigned to its loss, was making smiling faces over her +soup as she drafted it from her plate to her mouth, by half spoonfuls +at a time. Poor Louis almost forgot his hardships, under a cruel +task-master, when he sat down to his temperate meal, with so good +an appetite; while the pleasant jests of the gay old gentleman were +relished by all the party, with that better philosophy of the French +school, which teaches to make the most of the simplest pleasures, and +which, I am afraid, few but her own scholars have learned. The next +morning Louis arose early, to perform his allotted task, which would +have been easy enough, even had he been less expert. His aunt, whom +he did not inform that this labour was involuntary, and from whom he +had constantly concealed all the other impositions of Mike Redman, +gave him a dozen large pins to tip the arrows with, and Antoine cut +him the most suitable wood. But light as the task was, his spirit +now rebelled at this slavery, and whispered "Be free," so with a +revolting soul he finished the arrows. But Michael, whose father +had taken him to the country on Saturday, could not call for them +before Monday, when they were to go to school. Louis had a satchel +made, ready to carry his books neatly; but Mike, whose mother never +thought of making him one, was obliged to carry his as well as he +could without, and he now threw them down with his cap and gloves, to +examine the arrows; little Susette, who was playing in the yard, with +a tin cup, and with which she had been making music on the stones, +now began to look at the books, and with the usual destructiveness +of infancy to the works of literature, she tore some of the leaves +out. When Mike had put all the arrows in the quiver, except one, he +turned round, and seeing the condition of his books, he flew at the +little creature in a rage, as if he would tear her in pieces; and +so verify his title to the name of a wolf. The cowardice of Louis +at that instant vanished; he sprang forward, and seized the young +savage by the collar, while his faithful little dog caught hold of +one of the straps of Mike's trowsers. This gave the infant some time +to escape, and with terrifying cries she ran toward the house. Her +mother came to the door in dreadful alarm, when seeing her nephew +closed up against the garden gate, by the powerful shoulders of Mike +Redman, (who had his hands clenched,) and the little dog howling at +his feet, in extreme pain, she called, in the agony of fear, upon +two men, who were looking out from the brewery yard, at the boys' +affray, to separate them. "Be aisy, Casper," said one, "and let the +boys fight it out, I'll jist step over and see the Frenchman clear +o' the fence." "Put I'll see de Frenchman clear o' Mike, Patrick; +mine hearts, de poy wouldn't stant no chance at all mit him." With +these separate intentions, they both sallied forth, and approached +the combatants. Pat released the Frenchman, but Mike, resisting the +interference of such authority, was knocked down by the German; who, +as an excuse for himself, when he was called upon by Mr. Redman to +relate the whole transaction, offered this:--"In my country, de poys +are prought up to mind the sayins o' pigger people." Mr. Redman, who +was not himself an unjust man, admitted the apology, and soon after, +considering, perhaps, though it was then too late, that he did not +properly control his vicious propensities, while he exposed them to +continual increase in the contaminating sphere around him, he sent +Michael to school at a distance from home, and recompensed his little +neighbour, by many acts of kindness, for the cruel oppression of his +son. When I asked the person, who told me this story, what became +of the two boys in after life, he said, Michael Redman inherited a +large property, which he soon spent; after this he went to sea; and +I would, probably, never have learned his final fate, had he not +been announced in the newspapers, some years after, with an _alias_ +to his name, among a number of men who were executed for piracy. In +process of time, Louis Leroy married his young cousin Susette; and +proved, through a long course of years, his filial affection to her +parents. He contrived to add to his small patrimony by several useful +inventions, which were patented in the state. He reared up a numerous +family, with the same frugal and temperate habits that he had been +taught, and under the same roof which had sheltered his own boyhood; +while all the other habitations that had risen around him were +constantly changing their owners and inmates. Behold the just end of +"Le Loup et L'Agneau." + + + + +THE CHRISTMAS VISIT. + + +"Come hither, Emily," said Mrs. Osman to her daughter, a little girl +about six years old, who had just returned from school; "Come hither, +for I have something to tell you." + +"What is it, mamma? Have you had a letter from papa? and is he coming +home soon?" + +"No, that is not it, though I hope your papa will now very soon be +home again; but it is that your friend, Mrs. Cassy, has just been +here, to invite you to spend the day with her on Christmas day, to +meet your friend Julia." + +"Oh! delightful, how very kind Mrs. Cassy is!" said the little girl +with great animation. + +"She is, indeed! And though the object of this invitation is to give +Julia a treat before she leaves the country, which you know she will +now soon do, as her mamma has sent for her, to return home with her +uncle who is to set off in a few days: yet it will, I am sure, be +quite as great a pleasure to yourself; for though Mrs. Cassy has no +children of her own, you know how much pains she always takes to make +her house pleasant to her little visiters." + +"Oh, yes! I remember the last time we were there, she had a large +baby for us, that she had dressed herself. And it had a beautiful +frock and cap, and a pair of socks, just like those that my little +sister Emma wears; and we played at its being sick; and then Mrs. +Cassy made a scramble of raisins and sugarplums, and a great many +other good things, and we had such fun in picking them up! Oh! it was +delightful. I hope you will let me go, mamma!" + +"Yes! upon one condition." + +"Oh! I know what that condition will be. It will be about my tickets +for good conduct." + +"Yes, you are quite right. You know, Emily, your great fault is +idling. You are apt to spend your time idling when you ought to be +attending to your lessons. But if you get----" + +"A ticket every day for good conduct," interrupted the little girl. + +"Yes! I am sure you will not receive a ticket for good conduct unless +your lessons have been properly attended to, and your behaviour in +school has been such as it ought to be; and therefore your going +to Mrs. Cassy's must depend upon your tickets for good conduct. It +only wants two days to Christmas day, and if you can bring me a +ticket each day for good conduct you shall go: but if not, you must +be content to stay at home. It is a very short time for you to keep +watch over yourself, so that if you fail, I am sure even your friend +Mrs. Cassy herself will not think that you deserve to partake of her +kindness." + +"Oh! if it only depends upon my getting two tickets for good conduct, +I am sure I shall go," returned the little Emily, clapping her hands +with pleasure. "Let me see! This is Monday evening; there is only +Tuesday and Wednesday; and on Wednesday we shall have school only +half the day; so that I shall have to watch myself only a very short +time." + +"True, Emily, it will only be a very short time, and therefore the +terms on which your going depends are not, you see, very severe; +but yet that time, short as it is, may be of great service to you, +as every time you try, you do something toward forming a habit of +attention; and besides, if you succeed, you will both please me, +and prove to your friend Mrs. Cassy that you know how to value her +kindness." + +"I will go directly and learn my lessons for to-morrow," said Emily, +and taking up her bag of books she hastened into a little back +parlour, in which she was in the habit of studying her lessons. For +some time she kept her attention very steadily fixed on her work; +but just as she had taken her geography and opened her map to trace +the boundaries of North America, a lady who frequently visited her +mother, and who sung very well, began at that moment in an adjoining +room to sing a song of which Emily was very fond. The little girl +had a very good ear for music, and was so exceedingly fond of it, +that it was with great difficulty that she could keep her attention +fixed upon what she was doing. Over and over again she was on the +point of leaving her lessons, and going into the parlour where the +musician was; but she recollected how soon it would be bed-time, and +how little time there was whilst the mornings were so very short, to +learn any lessons that had been neglected the evening before, and +determined to persevere; and clasping her little hands, and laying +them on the book before her, as if to hold fast her resolution, she +repeated, North America is bounded on the north by the Arctic ocean, +on the west and south by the Pacific ocean, and on the east by the +Atlantic ocean. It is true that as she repeated this, and found +answers to the rest of the questions which were contained in her +lesson, her feet beat time against the chair, and her head moved in +unison, whilst she sometimes found herself trying to make the words +of her lesson accord with the measure of the music, as she spun out +the words eighty-five degrees of north la-ti-tude, yet still she +contrived to keep her mind fixed upon what she was doing till she had +impressed it on her memory, so as to be sure of being able to call it +forward, when required, the following day. "Now I know all my lessons +perfectly," said she, as she replaced her books in her bag: "I am +sure of not losing my ticket to-morrow on account of my lessons." +So saying, she hastened into the other parlour, but the music was +over, the lady was gone, and the room was empty. Emily, however, +was seldom at a loss for means of amusement, and she skipped about +the room, singing "I'll be a butterfly," as if she were indeed that +light and airy creature of pleasure. Satisfied with herself for the +resolution that she had exercised, the rest of the evening was spent +in more than even her usual cheerfulness, and she laid her head down +upon the pillow with repeated resolutions of attention the following +day. When the little girl opened her eyes the next morning, it looked +so gloomy and dark that she very willingly persuaded herself it was +too soon to rise, and had just turned over to compose herself for +another nap when the clock struck eight. In an instant she was out +of bed. She had only a single hour in which to dress herself, to eat +her breakfast, and go to school; she had not, therefore, a single +moment to lose. Yet a strong temptation assailed her, for on a chair +by her bed-side lay a small paper parcel, directed to her, which on +opening she found to contain a cap, that her friend Julia had made +for her baby, and which had been sent to her after she was in bed +the night before, and placed by the servant near her bed-side, that +she might see it as soon as she rose in the morning. "Oh! what a +beautiful little cap," exclaimed Emily. "How sweet my baby will look +in it. I must try it on directly. But no," added she, recollecting +herself, "I must not stay to try it on now or I shall be too late +for school, and then away goes my ticket for good conduct at once." +And with an effort of self denial that would have done credit to +a much older mind, Emily put the tempting cap into a drawer and +hastened to finish her dressing. Her breakfast was soon swallowed, +and she was in the school-room before the school bell rang. "I think +now I am safe for to-day," said she, "only I hope Julia will not be +in one of her funny humours and try to make me laugh." To the credit +of our little heroine, however, though Julia was in a funny humour +and did frequently try to make her laugh, and though Emily's gay and +even volatile temper was ever ready to receive a lively impression, +yet still she succeeded in keeping herself so far within bounds +as to escape reproof, and she returned home in the evening with +the wished-for ticket. "Here it is, mamma! here it is!" cried she, +running to her mother, and holding out the testimony of her good +behaviour. Her mother took the ticket, and congratulated her upon +having got over half the time successfully. "More than half, mamma," +returned Emma, "for to-morrow will be only half a day, and I have +very few lessons to learn to-night." + +"I am not sure that you are any more safe on that account, Emma," +replied her mother, "for you know I have often remarked to you, that +you generally prepare your lessons the worst when you consider them +the easiest; as then you are apt, from the idea that they can be +learnt in so very short a time, to put them off until you have no +time for them at all, instead of learning them first and amusing +yourself afterward." "But I will not do so to-night," said the little +girl, and away she went directly to study them. And fortunate it +was for her that she did so, for she had scarcely finished the last +thing that she had to learn before her friend Julia came to play with +her. She could now, however, play with safety, and the rest of the +evening was passed in amusement. The new cap was tried on and found +to fit beautifully, and the baby was dressed and undressed, put to +bed and taken up again; declared to be very sick and obliged to take +medicine; taken out to visit; sent to bed for being naughty; and, in +short, passed through all the vicissitudes of a moderate life-time +before the friends parted for the night. + +"It is eight o'clock," cried Emily, capering about the room, half +dancing and half jumping as she spoke; "I am safe for to-day, and +I have only till twelve o'clock to-morrow, and then I shall get +my ticket, and then I shall be safe; and then I shall go to Mrs. +Cassy's." + +"And then," rejoined her mother, "I hope you will have learned how +much better it is to work first and play after, than to play first +and run the risk of the work being neglected altogether." + +"Oh! yes, mamma! I intend to remember that in future," said the +little girl, and away she went to bed, singing as she went, to a +tune of her own making, + + "How pleasant it is at the end of the day, + Of no follies to have to repent." + +"Emily!" said her mother, rousing her little girl from a sound sleep, +as she spoke; "Emily! Do you know it is nearly eight o'clock?" + +"Oh! it is time enough, mamma," said Emily, starting up as she spoke; +"it struck eight o'clock before I was out of bed yesterday morning; +and yet I was in the school-room some minutes before the bell rang." + +"But if you trifle in that way, it will be nine o'clock before you +are out of this room," continued her mother; as Emily, taking hold +of her little night-gown, instead of a frock, began to practice +her dancing steps. "You see, my dear, you have yet only got your +stockings and shoes on; so, at this rate, it will certainly take you +more than an hour to finish your dressing." + +"Oh! indeed you are mistaken, mamma, you will see how soon I shall be +out of the room," and roused to recollection by this remonstrance, +the rest of her dressing was very quickly finished. Her breakfast +too was despatched with equal rapidity. "Now I am ready," said she, +starting from her chair, and putting on her little brown beaver +hat as she spoke; "and now for my coat; but stop," she continued, +throwing her coat carelessly over her arm; "I have not my bag: Where +is it, I wonder? Oh! I remember! I left it in the piazza when I went +to look what sort of a morning it was;" and off she went, dragging +her coat, which still hung over her arm, after her; and on the piazza +she found her bag, mittens, one of her books, and slate, all lying +as she had thrown them out of her hand, to run after some trifle +that had at the moment attracted her attention; but as she took up +her bag with the intention of putting her book and slate into it, +her favourite kitten, which had followed her to the piazza, running +after her coat as it dragged after her along the floor, now caught at +the bag, and tugged and scratched at it, as if it had been intended +entirely for its amusement. This was too congenial with Emily's own +frolicsome disposition to be resisted, and there she stood, at one +moment drawing the bag away, and the next throwing it back again to +the sportive little animal. And we must be permitted here to pause +and describe our little friend, as she looked while thus engaged. It +was one of those fine mild mornings, which of late years we have so +often witnessed in the very depth of winter, and the sun, which had +just risen, sent forth his beams to gild the landscape behind her, +defining her figure more clearly by the contrast. To the eye of fancy +and affection, that rising sun might have been thought to represent +her whose orb like his own was just rising; and though a few mists +yet obscured the bright rays of mind which had already begun to +beam, yet no one could look at the face, which, though not formed +according to any of the acknowledged rules of beauty, was bright +with innocence, animation, and happiness, without feeling assured, +that as it gained its meridian heights, it would shine forth with +pure, unclouded lustre, and prepare the way for a clear and glorious +evening. Though Emily, as she thus stood, presented a picture that +a painter might study, it was but of short duration, for whilst she +yet played with her favourite, the clock struck nine, and at once +recalled the little girl to a recollection of her folly. "Oh! what +shall I do?" she exclaimed. "It is nine o'clock, and I am not ready. +Get away, kitty! do not come near me again," she continued, as the +kitten, which had received no warning from the stroke of the clock, +still tried to catch at the strings of the bag whilst she was putting +in its usual contents; "get away! for if you had not come near me, I +should not have staid so long. I should not have been tempted with +any thing else. Oh! how hard my coat is to get on this morning. I +cannot tell what is the matter with this hook and eye! it will not +fasten. Yes! now it is fastened and I must run." But though poor +Emily did run, and put herself into a most violent heat; and though +she went into the school-room puffing and blowing, the words, as she +entered, of "Miss Emily Osman--you are too late," told her at once +that all chance of visiting her friend Mrs. Cassy was over. + +A few tears chased each other silently down her cheek, as she took +her seat at her desk, and for the rest of the day it was little +effort to poor Emily to be silent and attentive. Julia tried a +thousand ways to excite a smile, but in vain; for the idea that she +had not only deprived herself of so much pleasure for the morrow, but +had disappointed her mamma and appeared ungrateful to Mrs. Cassy for +her kindness, weighed on her mind, and every now and then filled her +eyes with tears. "Do not cry, Emily, I beg of you," said Julia, as +they returned home together, after the school hours were over, "I am +quite sure your mamma will let you go to Mrs. Cassy's, after all. I +feel quite certain of it, for you know this is almost the last day we +have to be together; and I am sure she could not find in her heart to +deprive you of the pleasure for such a trifle." + +"No! my mamma never changes her mind after she has promised me any +thing," said Emily, "and I am glad she does not, because it always +makes me sure that if I am good I shall get the reward I expect." + +"Oh! well, but she may change her mind just about such a little +trifle as that, after all," returned Julia. + +"I am quite sure she will not," was Emily's quiet reply, and the +friends parted, as their roads now lay in different directions. +As Emily entered the house, she felt almost ashamed of meeting her +mamma, and she blushed at the idea of the reluctance which she felt; +but she soon found that, for the present at least, she was saved +the pain of seeing her, for she was told that a very short time +after she went to school, her mother had been sent for to a very +particular friend, who was dangerously ill, and that she was not +yet returned. Emily always thought the house very forlorn and dull +when her mother was not in it, but now that she was out of spirits +herself, she felt it more so than ever, and she hung about listless +and uneasy, and unable to enter into any of her usual amusements. +She tried to sing, but her voice was husky and out of tune. She +began to practise her steps, but it was impossible to dance without +music, and Emily that day had no music in her soul. She took out +her baby, with the intention of amusing herself with it, but it +brought to her recollection the pleasure she had expected to enjoy +in playing with Mrs. Cassy's baby the next day; and she put it +aside, and forgot that she had expected entertainment from it. Even +her little kitten, which, from its fondness for play, seemed to be +so nearly allied to herself, played with a ball of cotton, or ran +after its own tail, round and round the room, in vain; for Emily +only recollected that it was it that had tempted her to the neglect +of her duty in the morning. "I wonder when my mamma will come home," +said she to herself, as the short winter's day began to draw to a +close. "I wish she would come that I might see her, and hear her say +that she forgives me, and will not punish me any further than by not +letting me go to Mrs. Cassy's. I hope she will not look grave at me, +for that will be worse than all. I wish she would come that I might +know at once what she would say. Oh! perhaps that is she," added the +little girl, starting up and running to the window at the sound of +the door bell; but it was too dark for her to see who it was, and +she was returning to the fireside, when the room door opened and the +servant brought in a letter, which he said was for her. "For me!" +cried Emily, in great surprise; "who can have written to me? I never +received a letter in my life from any body." A lamp, however, was +lighted, and the letter opened, which proved to be from Julia, and, +after spelling and puzzling over it for a considerable time, Emily at +length made out the following epistle: + + "My dear Emily, + + "I have just heard that your mamma is not at home; and I wanted + to come round to you, but my aunt would not let me. But I have + sent you the ticket for good conduct, which I got to-day, and + you may call it your own. It will not be cheating, you know, + because you did behave very well at school, and then we shall + meet at Mrs. Cassy's to-morrow, which will be delightful; for + you know it is almost the last day that we can be together, + before I go away. + + "Your affectionate friend, + + "JULIA." + +Julia, who was nearly two years older than Emily, had written this +letter with much more ease than her friend could read it. She, at +last, however, succeeded in deciphering it; and, after having made +herself fully acquainted with its contents, she took the ticket which +was enclosed in it, and putting it very carefully by, as deliberately +put the letter into the fire. From that moment Emily's face began +gradually to brighten, her voice became less husky, and though she +did not jump and skip about as she was in the habit of doing, yet she +ceased to stretch and yawn, and wish the evening was over; and her +countenance, though more thoughtful than usual, was expressive only +of composure and satisfaction. The return of her mamma, which she +had sometimes wished for and sometimes dreaded, now appeared to have +become of less importance to her, so that on finding, by her usual +bed-time, that she was not yet come home, she went very contentedly +to bed, and was soon wrapped in a sound sleep. Her first object, on +waking in the morning, was to ascertain whether her mother was yet +returned, but finding that she was not, she prepared to spend some +more hours alone. Emily, however, though a very little girl was able +not only to read, but to understand what she read; so that she could +easily find amusement from the variety of little books with which +her mamma had supplied her; and this made the morning pass over very +comfortably, till about twelve o'clock, when she began to feel very +anxious for her mother's return. It seemed a long time since she had +seen her; she did not remember, ever in her life having been so long +absent from her before, and she sighed and wondered when she would +come. At length she heard some one open the front door, and come +along the entry; and her little heart began to beat at the idea of +meeting her mother. The door opened, but instead of her mamma, Julia +entered, very prettily dressed, and evidently prepared for her visit. + +"Why, Emily!" she exclaimed, as she came forward, "not dressed yet! I +expected to find you ready to go." + +"Go where?" asked the little girl. + +"Why, to Mrs. Cassy's to be sure. Where else could I mean?" + +"You know I am not going to Mrs. Cassy's." + +"Why not? has your mamma found out that the ticket was mine?" + +"I have not seen my mamma since yesterday morning. She has never been +at home yet." + +"Then why are you not going? You have no need to wait for her to give +you leave to go, when you know she said you should go if you could +bring her a ticket for good conduct, each day; and you can show her +one when she comes home." + +"Yes! but not one of my own." + +"Yes! it is your own, for I have given it to you." + +"But it is not gained by my own good behaviour." + +"But you deserved to have one, for you never behaved better in +school, in your life, than you did yesterday morning. You only lost +your ticket for being a very few minutes too late, and therefore, +it will not be cheating at all, to tell your mamma that you behaved +well." Happily, however, for Emily, there had been so much pains +taken to impress upon her mind, from her earliest dawn of thought, +a nice distinction between truth and falsehood, that she was not to +be deceived by this false reasoning of her friend, whose mind having +been less carefully guarded, had adopted the error, so common with +young people, that equivocation is not falsehood. Julia imagined +that she would be as unwilling to tell an untruth as Emily herself +could be, but she did not consider that a habit of equivocation is +as obnoxious as falsehood itself, to that nice sense of honour, +which can alone preserve the mind pure and untainted. She had not +been taught, with sufficient care, to know, that, though she told +a part of what was true, she was yet equally guilty of the crime +of falsehood, as long as what she said was dictated by a wish to +deceive. Emily, though so much younger, had, therefore, arrived at +much greater maturity in the art of reasoning, and had imbibed, even +at that early age, an ardent love of truth, and a keen contempt for +the meanness of deceit; and she replied, in a quiet but steady voice: +"Though I did behave well in school, I should still be cheating, +if I made my mamma believe that I got a ticket for good behaviour, +and that would take away all the pleasure of the visit;" and, as +she spoke, she took the ticket from the place in which she had +deposited it, with the intention of giving it to its right owner; +but, whilst she held it in her hand, the parlour door opened, and +Mrs. Osman entered the room. The moment Emily saw her mother, the +recollection of her own fault rose to her mind, and checked the +pleasure with which she would otherwise have welcomed her return, and +the constraint of her manner was immediately observed by her watchful +parent. "What is the matter, Emily, my dear?" asked she anxiously. "I +see by the ticket in your hand, that you have succeeded in gaining +your promised reward, and yet you do not appear to be in your usual +spirits." Emily's countenance became still more agitated, whilst the +colour of her face and neck, the skin of which readily told, by its +varying hue, the different fluctuations of her feelings, proved that +a severe conflict was passing within. To allow her mother to remain +in the error of supposing the ticket to be her own, was impossible: +yet how was she to explain the fact of its being Julia's, without +exposing the fault of her friend? for she knew that her mamma's +first question would be, "what had she to do with Julia's ticket?" + +"What is the matter, my dear?" again asked the anxious mother, "is +there any objection, which I am ignorant of, to your going to Mrs. +Cassy's to-day?" + +"Mamma, I have no right at all to go," replied Emily, almost +trembling with agitation as she spoke. + +"Why not? You got your ticket yesterday I see." + +"No, mamma, I did not! This is not my ticket." + +"What ticket is it then? for I have all your others." Emily was +silent, and her agitation increased to a degree that was very painful +to observe; but Julia, who possessed a mind, which, though some +noxious weeds had been permitted to spring up in it, was yet adorned +with the rich and beautiful flowers of generosity and affection, saw +and understood her distress, and determined to relieve her even at +the pain of exposing herself; and therefore said, "I will tell you, +ma'am, all about it; for, although it was not very good in me, it +was so very good in Emily, that I know you will reward her for it." +She then related the circumstance of the ticket very simply, without +attempting either to excuse or extenuate her own conduct, though +she did full justice to the integrity and honourable behaviour of +her friend. Whilst Julia was speaking, Emily watched her mother's +countenance with an expression of great anxiety, and the moment she +had ceased, she turned to her and said, in a timid and supplicating +voice, "Mamma, do not be angry with Julia!" + +"As Julia is now to be so short a time among us, Emily, I will +take no further notice of her conduct, but will leave it to the +animadversions of her own breast," replied Mrs. Osman, gravely. + +"But you will let Emily go to Mrs. Cassy's," said Julia eagerly. "You +will surely, Mrs. Osman, reward her for behaving so well." + +"I hope, Julia, that though Emily is so young a child, she yet knows +too well that it is her duty to be honest, to expect any other reward +for being so, than that which she has already secured to herself." + +"But it is so trifling a fault that she lost her ticket for," +remonstrated Julia. + +"It was indeed a trifle, and her having so very nearly succeeded this +time, gives me hopes that she will be wholly successful the next +time." + +"O! yes, I am sure, ma'am, if you will let her go to-day she will be +more careful the next time." + +"I am of a different opinion, Julia," replied Mrs. Osman, smiling; +"and believe that this lesson, which I now hope will be of service to +Emily as long as she lives, would be lost entirely, were she not to +suffer the punishment for her fault that she knows it deserves." + +"But ought she not to be rewarded for being good too? and if she is +not allowed to go she will have no reward at all." + +"Oh! yes, I shall," interrupted Emily, who read, in her mother's +countenance, the approbation which she felt of her conscientious +conduct, "I shall have reward enough." + +"Yes, Emily," replied her mother, "you will have the best of all +rewards, a self-approving mind; and I should be sorry to weaken its +effects by seeming to think that any further reward is necessary +for your having done your duty." But Emily showed that she did not +consider any thing more necessary to reward her for the part which +she had acted, and she saw her friend go to pay her visit to Mrs. +Cassy without a sigh; for though exceedingly sorry not to accompany +her, she felt an inward consciousness of having acted properly, +that made every thing appear cheerful and pleasant around her. The +day passed delightfully, therefore, though no particular pains were +taken to amuse her; for her mother was afraid, if she indulged in +any extraordinary expressions of approbation, she might lead her +little girl to imagine that she had performed some wonderful act of +virtue, instead of having merely done her duty. What Emily had done, +however, had been done purely because she knew it to be right, and +not for the sake of admiration or reward. The approbation of her own +conscience was all that she required; and, with such a companion, +she felt no difficulty in spending a delightful Christmas day. Her +voice, when she sung, had never, to her own ear at least, sounded so +well; nor had her feet ever before fallen so lightly on the floor, as +they did when she skipped about; and as to her little kitten, though +it had brought her into trouble, it was now forgiven, and they ran +about the room together, as if trying to show, by their light and +sportive movements, how graceful and beautiful a thing is the union +of childhood and innocence. + + M. H. + + + + +THE LITTLE GIRL AND HER KITTEN. + + + Indeed ye are a happy pair, + Thyself and darling treasure-- + With little heads unvexed by care, + And hearts brim full of pleasure. + + Which spirit knows the least of grief, + 'Tis very hard to say,-- + The kitten jumping at a leaf, + Or she who joins the play. + + Ye both are frisking, giddy things-- + A play-ground earth before ye, + Where hours pass by with silken wings, + And fling no shadows o'er ye. + + I wish it thus might always be, + My guileless little one:-- + It makes me sad to look on thee, + And think what change may come. + + Then freely pour thy young heart out, + And take thy fill of joy-- + I love to hear thy merry shout, + And see thy blest employ. + + + [Illustration: Drawn by W. Sharp Engd. by F. Kearny + + THE KITTEN.] + + + + +THE QUILTING. + + +"Only think, Charlotte," said Marianne Glanvil, on entering the +chamber where her sister was endeavouring to get through a warm +afternoon in August, by lolling on the bed in a loose gown,--"Susan +Davison has just been here with an invitation for us." + +_Charlotte._--And pray, who is Susan Davison? + +_Marianne._--The daughter of farmer Davison up the creek. We met her +at Trenchard's the day we were obliged to drink tea there. + +_Charlotte._--I wonder how you can remember their names, or +theirselves either: I am sure I do not know one of these people from +another, and I never wish to know. + +_Marianne._--But this Susan Davison is really not so bad. She is +diffident enough, to be sure, but is rather less awkward and uncouth +than the generality of country girls. + +_Charlotte._--To me they are all alike; I do not profess to +understand the varieties of the species. + +_Marianne._--Well, I was going to tell you, that after a sitting +of half an hour, Susan Davison, as she rose to depart, uttered an +invitation to her quilting to-morrow. + +_Charlotte._--And what is a quilting? + +_Marianne._--Now, I am sure you must have heard of quiltings. It +is an assemblage of all the females in the neighbourhood, for the +purpose of quilting, in one afternoon, a whole patch-work bed-cover. + +_Charlotte._--I shall certainly not go. I never quilted any thing in +my life, and I hate the sight of a patch-work bed-cover. + +_Marianne._--But my father and mother were in the parlour, and +promised at once that we should both go. + +_Charlotte._--How vexatious! Was it not enough, after being educated +at the most genteel boarding school in the city, and accustomed only +to polished society, to be brought to live at this remote place, +where my father has thought proper to purchase an iron-foundry, +but we are required also to be civil to the country people, and +interchange visits with them? I almost think my father intends +being a candidate for the assembly next election, or he never would +take the trouble to make himself agreeable to the farmers and their +families. + +_Marianne._--You know, he thinks it is always desirable to be popular +with our neighbours. + +_Charlotte._--That is what I shall never be, unless my neighbours are +popular with me. + +_Marianne._--Now, for my part, I like very well to astonish them by +the elegance of my dress, and by my various accomplishments. I am +going to put my lace sleeves in my new palmyrene frock, purposely to +wear at this quilting. + +_Charlotte._--It is well worth your while to take that trouble, when +the worst dress you have is too good for such company. I shall do +quite the contrary, to let them see how little I care for them. + +_Marianne._--Then you will displease my father. + +_Charlotte._--Is it necessary that he should know it? I am sure my +mother will never tell him, and for her own part, she never opposes +us in any thing. However, if I must be at this quilting, I shall take +care to make the time as short as possible, for I will go late and +come away early. + +_Marianne._--Susan Davison said, she hoped we would be there by two +o'clock, which I suppose will be the usual hour of assembling. + +_Charlotte._--Two o'clock! Go to a party at two o'clock! Why the wild +Indians could not be more uncouth on such an occasion! + +_Marianne._--I doubt whether the wild Indians have any quiltings. But +go we must, as my father and mother at once accepted the invitation +for us. + +_Charlotte._--How unlucky that they happened to be present! + + * * * * * + +The next day, between one and two o'clock, the Miss Glanvils saw +numerous young girls ride by on horseback, on their way to Andrew +Davison's which was about two miles from the iron works. "Now," +remarked Marianne, "these poor girls must have hurried to get their +dinners over before twelve, that they might have time to be drest and +mounted by one o'clock." + +"But why," asked Charlotte, "do they all wear striped linen skirts +with silk bodies and sleeves?" + +"Oh!" replied Marianne, "you surely know that those are their +riding-skirts; a sort of petticoat made of thick homespun linen, +which they tie on over the skirts of their silk frocks to keep them +clean while riding." + +"You seem to be well versed in all their ways," said Charlotte, +contemptuously. + +It was five o'clock, however, before the Miss Glanvils were ready to +set out for the quilting, as Charlotte took her usual afternoon's +nap, and Marianne occupied two hours in dressing; arraying herself in +her straw-coloured palmyrene with lace sleeves, and ornamenting her +hair (which was a mass of curls) with a profusion of yellow flowers +and gauze ribbon. She put on all her jewels, and sewed her white kid +gloves to her lace sleeves, which were confined at the wrists with +three bracelets each. She had embroidered silk stockings, and white +satin shoes, and threw over her shoulders a splendid scarf of various +colours. This dress she had worn at a boarding school ball, shortly +before the family removed into the country. Nothing could be a +greater contrast than the appearance of the two sisters as they got +into the carriage; for Charlotte persevered in going to the quilting +in a pink gingham, her hair merely tucked behind her ears with two +side combs. + +Their mother slightly disapproved of both their dresses, but as soon +as they were gone thought of something else. + +In a short time the Miss Glanvils arrived at Andrew Davison's, and +found the quilting going on in the vast stone barn, which had been +put in order for the purpose. They were conducted to the barn by +young Davison, the farmer's eldest son, who had assisted them out of +the carriage, and were met at the entrance by Susan, who received +them with much respect, as being the two greatest strangers of the +party. The guests were all sitting round the quilting frame busily +at work. They looked with some surprise at the two sisters so very +differently habited, but no remark was made, even in a whisper. + +Charlotte declined taking a chair at the frame, saying, she knew +nothing about quilting, and seated herself in a most inconvenient +place at the head of the quilt, very much in the way of a young girl +that could not draw out her arm in consequence of the vicinity of +Miss Glanvil, who saw that she incommoded her, but made no offer +to move. Marianne, however, advanced to the frame, and dislodging +three or four girls, who rose to make room for her and her immense +frock, which was flounced far above her knees, she took out of her +reticule an elegant little ivory work box, and laying down beside it +a perfumed and embroidered cambric handkerchief, and a tortoise-shell +fan, she most pompously set to work with her gloves on. She found +this way of quilting very inconvenient, and as her gloves could only +be taken off by ripping them from her sleeves, she begged, with an +air of the most condescending affability, to be excused from the +quilting; and then removed to a seat beside her sister. Charlotte +threw herself back in her chair, and putting her feet on the bars of +another, sat drumming with her fingers on the quilt and humming a +French song. + +The other guests, though they all had too much civility to stare as +steadily as the Miss Glanvils expected, stole occasional glances +of surprise and curiosity at the sisters; one so overdrest and +affecting so much condescension, the other insulting them by coming +in dishabille, and setting at defiance even the most common rules of +politeness. + +There sat at the quilt a very pretty young girl, with her dark hair +curling on her temples in natural ringlets. She wore a white muslin +frock, with a worked cape, and a broad pink ribbon on her neck, +which was beautifully white. Her figure was very good, though rather +plump than otherwise, and her cheeks had the bloom of roses. She +seemed to be acquainted with all the company, and talked pleasantly +and sensibly to every one, without any air of superiority, or any +affectation of graciousness. She quilted assiduously and neatly, +and assisted with great skill in the various operations of rolling, +stretching, and pinning the quilt. The sisters did not distinguish +and did not ask her surname, but they heard every one call her Fanny. + +Shortly after the arrival of the Miss Glanvils, the two younger +daughters of farmer Davison, on a signal from their sister Susan, +went to a table which stood in a corner of the barn, and removing a +cloth which had been lightly thrown over it, disclosed several large +custards and three sorts of fruit pies, peach, plum, and apple. +The pastry being already cut up, was very soon transferred to as +many plates as there were guests, every plate containing a piece of +custard and three slices of pie, one of each sort. + +These plates were handed to the company on small waiters, by Jane and +Mary Davison, while Susan remained near the quilt and invited her +guests to eat; every one being expected to taste all the varieties on +their plate. The Glanvils exchanged significant looks. + +"Is it puff-paste?" said Charlotte, speaking for the first time, and +touching a piece of pie with the point of her knife. + +"I believe not," replied Susan, colouring, "none of our family +understand making puff-paste; but I know mother did her best to have +this as short and crisp as possible. Please to try some of it." + +"I thank you," answered Charlotte, coldly, "I am very careful of my +teeth, and I am afraid to risk their coming in contact with hard +substances." + +She commenced on a piece of the plum pie, but pointedly avoided the +paste, eating out all the fruit, and conspicuously laying aside the +crust. Marianne, however, found the pastry so palatable, that she +could scarcely refrain from eating the whole that was on her plate, +and she was not surprised to overhear the young girl they called +Fanny, praising it to another who sat next to her. + +The presence of the Miss Glanvils evidently threw a restraint on +the whole company, except Fanny, who, to the great surprise of the +sisters, appeared perfectly at her ease all the time, and not in the +least awed by their superiority. + +"Who can that girl be?" whispered Marianne to Charlotte. + +"Some vulgar thing like the rest," answered Charlotte. + +"I do not think her vulgar," said Marianne. + +"I know no reason for supposing her otherwise," rejoined Charlotte. +"You know the proverb, 'Birds of a feather flock together.' See how +familiar she is with all of them. She knows every one of their names. +She must have been born and brought up with them. By their talk she +has been here since two o'clock." + +About sunset the quilt was completed. The chalk-marks, and the +clippings of thread, were then carefully brushed off; a dozen +scissors were employed in ripping it from the frame, and two dozen +hands afterwards spread it to the full size, and shook it till the +lofty roof of the barn echoed the sound; which sound brought in near +twenty young men who had been lingering about the barn-door for the +last half hour, none of them having courage to venture within, except +Susan Davison's two brothers. They were all clean shaved, and in +their best clothes; some even had their hair curled, and the Miss +Glanvils now found occasion to whisper and titter at the costume of +the country beaux, particularly at their very fine waistcoats. + +Soon after, one of the little girls came to announce that supper +was ready, which intelligence was repeated by Susan to the Miss +Glanvils; and her two brothers now came forward, each with a low bow, +and offered their arms to conduct the young ladies to the house, as +they had been previously tutored by their sister. The Miss Glanvils, +however, took no notice of the offered arms, and the young men, much +abashed, walked silently beside them. Fanny, escorted by the old +farmer, who had accosted her at the barn-door with great cordiality, +joined about midway in the procession, and they all walked to the +house, where supper was set out in the largest room. + +The table was of immense size, with at each end a waiter, containing +an equipage for tea and coffee; Mrs. Davison presiding at one and +Susan at the other. The centre ornament was a roast pig, flanked by +dishes of stewed fowls, and the rest of the table was covered with +plates of pound cake, gingerbread, short cakes, doughnuts, rusk, +preserves, apple-sauce, fried ham, cream-cheese, and sage-cheese; +there being always four plates of each particular article, that a +share of all the various good things might be within the reach of +every one at table. William and Thomas Davison, assisted by several +others of the least bashful and most alert of the young men, stood +behind the chairs with waiters in their hands, and helped the +females; their father being the only man that took a seat at the +table. + +The Miss Glanvils sat together in solemn state; Marianne carefully +employed in defending her finery from the expected inroads of the +various things that were handed about in her neighbourhood; but very +much inclined to eat heartily of many of the tempting viands that +were before her, had she not been checked by the disapproving looks +of her sister. + +It was with difficulty that Charlotte consented to be helped to any +thing, and uniformly after tasting it laid each article on the side +of her plate, as if unfit to eat. After she had taken a sip of tea +she drew back with a look of horror, and declaring it to be green +tea, and that she would not drink a cup of it for the world, she +pushed it away from her as far as possible. + +She then requested some black tea, but unluckily there was none +in the house; and Mrs. Davison, much disconcerted, apologized in +great confusion, saying, that as black tea was not used in the +neighbourhood, she did not believe there was any to be had at the +store, or she would send and get some. She then asked if Miss Glanvil +would take a cup of coffee, but Charlotte replied that though +extravagantly fond of coffee in the morning, (always drinking three +cups,) she could not possibly touch it at night. + +"Did you never drink green tea?" asked the farmer. "Certainly," she +replied in a disdainful tone, "I drank it always till black tea +became fashionable." + +"Then," said the farmer, smiling, "if you have been drinking it all +your life till very lately, perhaps you might, if you were to try, +make out once more to swallow a cup of it on a pinch, and be none the +worse for it." + +Charlotte looked much displeased, and sat back in her chair, +obstinately determined not to touch the green tea. Of course all the +Davison family felt and looked extremely uncomfortable, and they +would have been glad when the Miss Glanvils finally rose from table, +which they did shortly after, only that the rest of the company +thought it necessary to follow their example, and the feast prepared +with so much care and trouble was concluded in half the usual time. +The female guests were conducted to an adjoining room, while the +supper table was cleared away and then re-set exactly as before for +the young men. + +Singing being proposed, Fanny was invited "to favour them with a +song." She consented at once, and inquired which of her songs they +would have. The simple and beautiful Scotch air of the Bonnie Boat +was named, and she sung it with a sweet clear voice and excellent +taste, though no attempt at ornament. The Miss Glanvils exchanged +glances and whispers. + +The two young ladies were then respectfully requested to sing. +Charlotte refused at once, declaring that it was impossible to sing +without an instrument: but Marianne, eager to display her knowledge +of fashionable music, complied readily, and gave "Una voce poco +fa," with what she considered wonderful execution. As soon as she +had finished, Charlotte perceiving that the company, though greatly +amazed at first, had become much fatigued by this unseasonable +exhibition of Italian singing, and that it had not given the least +pleasure to any one, ill-naturedly proposed to her sister to try +"Di piacer," which she also got through, to the great annoyance +of the young men who had long before come in from the supper room, +and who were certainly not of a class to relish such songs as are +unintelligible to all but the initiated. + +A black man now appeared with a fiddle, and took his seat in one +of the windows; there was a reinforcement of beaux, and the Miss +Glanvils found that a dance was to be the next amusement. Marianne +remarked, in a group of young men that had just entered the room, one +of remarkably genteel appearance and extremely handsome. "Charlotte," +said she, "look at that young gentleman in black, talking to Tom +Davison." + +"I see no _gentleman_ in the room," replied Charlotte, "and I do not +know Tom Davison from the other clowns." + +"Oh! but this, I am certain, is really a gentleman," said Marianne, +"I wish he would ask me to dance." + +"What!" exclaimed Charlotte, "would you actually join in a dance with +these people? Could you stand up with them and give them your hand? +And above all things, would you make one in a _country-dance_, for of +course they know nothing about cotillions?" + +"Yes I would," answered Marianne, "with such a partner as that young +gentleman in black. And then, when they see _my_ French steps, how +ashamed they will be of their own shuffling and prancing." + +Just then, Tom Davison, observing Marianne's eyes fixed with evident +approbation on the stranger in black, brought him up and introduced +him to her as Captain Selman; and on his requesting the pleasure of +dancing with her, she immediately consented with great satisfaction. +Tom Davison then, with a low bow and a look of much embarrassment, +ventured to make the same request of Charlotte, who refused with an +air of such unequivocal contempt, that the youth determined in his +own mind to leave her to herself for the remainder of the evening. + +The musician made three scrapes on his fiddle as a signal for every +one to take their places. "Of course," said Marianne, "we go to the +top," and Captain Selman led her to the head of the country dance +that was forming, while she lamented to him the sad necessity of +being obliged to join in such a dance, saying that she must depend +on him to give her some idea of the figure; and adding that he would +find her an apt scholar, as she was always considered very quick at +learning every thing. + +The musician gave a loud stamp with his foot, and then struck up +New-Jersey; but observing that Charlotte stopped her ears in horror, +Marianne begged of her partner to go and ask the man if he could not +play something less barbarous. The man replied that New-Jersey was +the dancing tune he was most used to, but that he could play the +Morning Star and Fisher's Hornpipe quite as well. Marianne said that +she had heard her mother speak of dancing these things when she was +a girl, and therefore she was sure they must be abominable. + +At last, after much sending of Captain Selman backwards and forwards, +and proposing tunes which she knew the poor fiddler had never even +heard of, it was ascertained that he thought he could play "The +Campbells are coming," having _catched_ it, as he said, the last time +he was in town. + +Captain Selman undertook to instruct the company in the figure, which +he did with great good humour, and they actually learnt it with a +quickness that surprised Marianne. She went down the dance exhibiting +all her most difficult steps, and affecting a wonderful gracefulness +in every motion. However, when she got to the bottom, suspecting +that this display had not excited quite as much admiration as she +had expected, she professed great fatigue, and threw herself into a +chair, declaring she could not dance another step; and knowing that +in consequence Captain Selman could do no less than stand by and +converse with her till the set was over. + +"I do not see Susan Davison dancing," said Marianne, "she has been +sitting all the time beside my sister. She is rather a pretty girl; I +wonder none of the young men have taken her out." + +"I made my bow to her soon after I came in," replied the Captain, +"but she declines dancing this evening, alleging that, being in her +own house, she is unwilling to take a place that might be occupied +by one of her friends." + +"I suppose," said Marianne, abruptly, "your next partner will +be the young person they call Fanny, as she is certainly rather +well-looking. There she is, about the middle of the dance, with a +broad pink ribbon round her neck. Indeed, though my sister is of a +contrary opinion, I should be almost inclined to think this Fanny +something of a lady, only that she is so sociable with these people. +To be sure, I have tried myself to be affable this evening, but +I find it such an irksome task that I believe it will be my last +attempt. Now it seems quite natural to this said Fanny, which proves, +as my sister Charlotte says, that she is in reality no better than +the rest. We think she must be the daughter of one of these country +store-keepers, and that she has now and then had the benefit of a +fortnight's polishing in the city, while her father was buying his +spring goods." + +Captain Selman smiled, and was going to reply, when Charlotte joined +them, saying in a most peevish voice, "Marianne, do you intend +staying here all night? If you do, you must stay by yourself. I have +just heard our carriage drive up, for I charged William to come for +us early, and I am dying to get away." + +Marianne, who would willingly have stayed longer, was about to +remonstrate, but finding that the Captain had escaped from her side, +she felt less reluctant to go. Charlotte made her exit without +ceremony, but Marianne purposely loitered till the dance was over, +that she might make her departure the more conspicuous, and produce a +great effect by her elegant manner of taking leave. She then walked +up to Mrs. Davison, and overwhelming the good woman with curtseyings, +bowings, compliments and flourishes, she left the room, accompanied +by Susan, to the chamber in which their shawls and calashes had been +deposited. + +They were put into the carriage by Tom Davison, as his last effort +of civility. And it was resolved next day by the family in council, +that the Miss Glanvils should on no future occasion be invited; for, +as Mrs. Davison remarked, they held their heads quite too high, and +their airs were unbearable. + +As they drove home, Charlotte, in the most unqualified terms, +expressed her disgust at the quilting-party, and every thing +connected with it. Marianne acknowledged that the whole concern, as +she called it, was very ungenteel, but still not quite so bad as +she had expected. She said that in her opinion Captain Selman would +be presentable even in good society, and expressed her surprise at +finding an officer at a quilting. + +"Pho," said Charlotte, "he is only a militia captain, of course." + +"No," replied Marianne, "I am very sure he is no such thing. If he +were a militia officer, he would undoubtedly have come to the party +in full uniform, booted and spurred, with epaulette, and chapeau and +feather, his sword at his side, and his sash spread out over his body +as broad as possible, and pinned up in a peak before and behind, as +I have heard my mother describe their costume. No, no; this officer +is in the regular army, and from something he said, I know he was +educated at West Point." + +"Well," said Charlotte, "I doubt his being a man of fashion after +all. I observed him, after he left you, speaking familiarly to that +Fanny as if they were well acquainted. However, he did not seem to +ask her to dance, but he paid that compliment to one that sat near +the door, a poor bashful-looking girl, the worst dressed and least +attractive in the room." + +The next day but one was Sunday. The church, which was about three +miles off, had been shut up, undergoing repairs ever since Mr. +Glanvil had removed to the iron-works, but it was now again opened +for worship, and the Glanvil family all repaired thither in their +carriage. On this occasion, Charlotte was as elegantly drest as +her sister; for having satisfied her perverseness by going in +_dishabille_ to the quilting, she determined now to astonish the +congregation by a great display of finery at church. + +As they passed up the middle aisle, the eyes of the Miss Glanvils +were attracted immediately to a handsome pew near the pulpit; in +which pew they saw Captain Selman, accompanied by Fanny, and an +elderly gentleman and lady, both of remarkably genteel and dignified +appearance. The two sisters, at the same moment, pulled each other's +sleeves significantly. They thought the service very long, and as +soon as church was over, Marianne asked her father if he knew the +occupants of the pew that was lined with blue moreen. He replied, +"They are the governor and his family. They have been travelling all +summer, and only returned last week. I called yesterday to see them +as I passed their house, which is about five miles from ours." "Is +it possible," exclaimed Charlotte, "that Fanny can be the governor's +daughter!" "Is Captain Selman the governor's son?" cried Marianne. + +"No," replied Mr. Glanvil. "The governor's name, you know, is +Milford. Captain Selman is the son of Mrs. Milford's first marriage, +and Miss Fanny Milford is his half-sister." + +At the church-gate the governor's carriage was waiting beside Mr. +Glanvil's, and Mr. Milford stopped with his family to introduce them +to Mrs. Glanvil and her daughters. The Miss Glanvils looked much +embarrassed. Charlotte was ashamed that Miss Milford should have +witnessed her unamiable behaviour at the quilting, and Marianne was +shocked at recollecting the freedom with which she had talked to +Captain Selman of his step-sister. Their confusion was so evident, +that the Captain and Fanny, when introduced to the Miss Glanvils, +avoided making any allusion to having met them at farmer Davison's. + +But little was said on either side, and the disconcerted sisters were +glad to take refuge in the carriage. + +On their way home, Charlotte expressed her surprise at the +condescension of the governor's family in deigning to be on visiting +terms with the farmer's. + +"And why not?" said Mr. Glanvil. "Andrew Davison is a good citizen, +and a respectable, sensible and worthy man; and his children, +though he has wisely forborne to make any attempt at giving them +what is called a fashionable education, are by no means coarse. The +old-fashioned plainness of decent country people is not vulgarity; +and if they are ignorant of the conventional forms of city society, +they generally make amends by having a large share of that natural +civility which springs from good feeling; and it is easy in our +intercourse with them to avoid imitating such of their habits and +expressions as are at variance with our standard of refinement. As +fellow-citizens, their rights are the same as ours, and, like us, +they call no man master. Not one of them would bend his knee to any +monarch upon earth. + +"Governor Milford has lived in this part of the country nearly his +whole life, and is, of course, acquainted with all the old settlers, +of whom Andrew Davison is one. And he has very judiciously brought +up his family in the mutual interchange of civilities with all +his respectable neighbours, knowing that nothing is ever lost by +cultivating the good opinion of those among whom our lot is cast." + +"I suspect, after all," said Charlotte, ill-naturedly, "that the +governor's affability, and that of his children, originate in the +expectation of securing the votes of farmer Davison and his sons at +the next election." + +"You are entirely mistaken," replied Mr. Glanvil. "Governor Milford +and the Davisons, though old friends, are of opposite parties. They +did not vote for him at the last election, and he has declined being +a candidate for the next." + +Next day, the Glanvils were visited by the governor, with his wife +and daughter. Captain Selman did not accompany them, having set out +to return to his station. Mr. and Mrs. Glanvil were not at home, but +the young ladies overwhelmed the Milford family with civilities; +Charlotte, in particular, was absolutely obsequious in her attentions. + +Upon farther acquaintance, they found that Fanny Milford had been +educated in the city, and was quite as accomplished as either +of themselves, though she had too much good sense to make any +unseasonable display. Her example was not lost upon Marianne, who +improved greatly by occasional intercourse with this amiable girl. We +wish we could say the same of Charlotte; but pride is of all faults +one of the most difficult to conquer, as it is seldom found except in +persons of weak understanding. Sensible people are never offensively +proud. + + ELIZA LESLIE. + + + + +THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. + + + Down in the glade, where nibbling sheep + In verdant pasture stray, + A little boy was seen to keep + His weary-footed way. + + A faithful dog, his fav'rite guard, + Protects the youth from harm, + A Robin dear his steps retard, + So playful on his arm: + + Sweet little boy of rosy smiles, + In health and beauty drest, + A few fond friends their duteous toils + Pursue, to find thy rest: + + Thy infant head knows not the care, + That bears them anxious on; + Through meadows wild, and sunny air, + To seek where thou art gone. + + The vernal fields are daisied o'er, + With life the hawthorns teem; + The busy bee with flowery store, + Hums in the sultry beam: + + But thou--so active in thy play, + From parents absent far;-- + Heed'st not the meddling cares of day, + Nor what _their_ sorrows are. + + 'Tis thus, thought I, in childhood's morn + We think creation ours; + From sport to sport, our night is borne, + Like butterflies on flow'rs: + + But when parental cares come round + In manhood's riper years, + The loveliest pleasures most abound + When hope succeeds our fears. + + J. W. S. + + [Illustration: THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. + + Drawn & Engraved by J. W. Steel] + + + + +THE SOUVENIR. + + +It was the afternoon of Christmas eve. The weather was delightfully +mild for the season, and the sky without a cloud. The streets of +Philadelphia were unusually crowded, and the whole appearance of the +city was gay and animated. The fancy stores were resplendent with +elegant ribbons, laces, scarfs, and reticules, and the shops for +artificial flowers, made a display which rivaled nature in her most +blooming season. It was a pleasing spectacle to see so many parents +leading their children, all with happy faces; some full of hope, and +others replete with satisfaction; some going to buy Christmas gifts, +others carrying home those already purchased. Mr. Woodley went out +with his two boys to choose little presents for them, regretting +that Amelia, his eldest daughter, was obliged to remain at home in +consequence of a severe cold. + +They soon entered a toy-shop, where Charles made choice of a toy +representing William Tell directing his arrow toward the apple on the +head of his son, who stood blindfold at a little distance, and, by +pulling a string, the arrow took flight and struck the apple off the +boy's head. This Charles called a very sensible toy, and his father +bought him also a box containing little wooden houses, churches, and +trees, which could be so arranged as to form a village. + +Oswald, who was long since past the age of toys, selected, at a +neighbouring shop, a very pretty and curious little writing apparatus +of the purest and most transparent white marble. It looked like a +very small vase, but it contained an ink-stand, sand-box, wafer-box, +a candlestick for a wax taper, and a receptacle for pens: all nicely +fitting into each other, and so ingeniously contrived as to occupy +the smallest space possible. + +"Oswald," said Mr. Woodley, "you have chosen so well for yourself, +that I will leave to you the selection of a present for your sister +Amelia." Oswald thought of many things before he could fix on any +one that he supposed would be useful or agreeable to Amelia. She +had already a handsome work-box, a bead-purse, and a case of little +perfume bottles. For a moment his choice inclined to one of the +elegant reticules he saw in a window they were just passing, and +then he recollected that Amelia could make very beautiful reticules +herself. At last, he fixed on a Souvenir, and wondered that the +thought had not struck him before, as Amelia drew very well, and was +an enthusiastic admirer of fine engravings. + +They repaired to a neighbouring book-store, where, amid a variety of +splendid Souvenirs, Oswald selected for his sister one of those that +he considered the most beautiful, and had the pleasure of carrying it +home to her. + +To describe the delight of Amelia on receiving this elegant present, +is impossible. She spread a clean handkerchief over her lap before +she drew the book from its case, that it might not be soiled in the +slightest degree, and she removed to a distance from the fire lest +the cover should be warped by the heat. After she had eagerly looked +all through it, she commenced again, and examined the plates with the +most minute attention. She then showed them to her little brother and +sister, carefully, however, keeping the book in her own hands. + +"Amelia," said Oswald, "I know a boy that would be very happy to +examine this Souvenir. He has no opportunity of seeing any thing of +the kind, except by gazing at the windows of the book-stores." + +AMELIA.--And who is this boy? + +OSWALD.--His father, who has seen better days, is an +assistant in our school, and the boy himself is one of the pupils. +His name is Edwin Lovel. He has a most extraordinary genius for +drawing, though he has never had the means of cultivating it to any +extent. He is a very sensible boy, and I like him better than any +one in the school. His mother must be a nice woman, for though their +income is very small, Edwin always makes a genteel appearance, and +is uniformly clean and neat. He is also extremely handsome. All his +leisure time is devoted to drawing. He first began on the slate, when +he was only four years old, and had nothing else to draw on till he +was nine or ten. Now, he saves what little money he has, for the +purpose of buying paper and pencils. He has no box of colours, but +draws only in Indian ink, which he does most beautifully. He never +likes to see any thing wasted that can be used for drawing, and is +even glad to get the cover of a letter. + +AMELIA.--You remind me of the French artist Godfrey's fine +picture of the Battle of Pultowa, which he drew, while in prison, on +the backs of letters pasted together; using, instead of Indian ink or +colours, the soot of the stove-pipe mixed with water. + +OSWALD.--Well, Edwin Lovel is not quite so much at a loss +for drawing materials, for he has a cake of Indian ink and four +camel's hair pencils. He draws with a pen beautiful title-pages, +decorated with vignettes, for his copy-books and ciphering-books; +and the boys pay him for ornamenting their writing-pieces. He was +for a long time very unwilling to take money for those things, but +we finally prevailed on him, though with great difficulty. He passes +most of his evenings in drawing; that is, when he has any candle +of his own, for he will not, even in the pursuit of his favourite +gratification, cause the slightest additional expense to his parents, +who find it very hard to live on his father's small salary. + +AMELIA.--What an excellent boy he must be. + +OSWALD.--Last Saturday afternoon, I thought I would go for +him and take him to see some very fine pictures which were to be sold +at auction on Monday. The door was opened by a half-grown black girl, +(their only servant,) who was probably not accustomed to admitting +visiters, and, therefore, knew no better than to show me at once up +stairs to Edwin's chamber; a very small place, perfectly clean, but +furnished in the most economical manner. There was no fire in the +room. Edwin was sitting at a little pine table with his great coat +on, and his feet enveloped in an old muff of his mother's to keep +them warm. He was busily engaged in copying a head of Decatur from a +China pitcher, improving on it so greatly as to make it a very fine +drawing. + +AMELIA.--Poor fellow! had he nothing better to copy? + +OSWALD.--Why, I asked him that question, but he confessed +that he was at so great a loss for models that he was glad to imitate +any thing he could get; and that, having no instructer, he knew no +better way to pick up a little knowledge of the general principles of +the art, than by copying every thing that came in his way, provided +it was not absolutely bad. I then reminded him that, as he could make +admirable sketches from his own imagination, I thought he need not +copy at all; but he disclaimed all pretensions to designing well, +and then said that, even if his original attempts were tolerably +successful, as outlines, it was only by drawing from prints or +pictures that he could acquire a just idea of keeping, or of the +distribution of light and shadow. He showed me, however, several +original drawings, which my father would say evinced an extraordinary +degree of talent, and some admirable copies, though many of them were +taken from very coarse prints for want of better. + +AMELIA.--How very glad he would be to have this Souvenir to +draw from. + +OSWALD.--He would, indeed. But that Souvenir cost three +dollars, and I do not suppose that he ever had three dollars in his +life, poor boy--I mean three dollars at once. + +AMELIA.--I will willingly lend it to him. + +OSWALD.--He has so little time to draw, that it would be +a great while before he could return it; or rather, he would be so +uneasy at keeping it long, that I know he would send it back before +he had half done with it. And, besides, he would have no satisfaction +in drawing from _your book_, as he would be in continual fear of +dropping his brush on one of the leaves, or of accidentally injuring +it in some way or other. He is very unwilling to borrow any thing +that is new or valuable. + +AMELIA.--What a pity that a boy of so much genius should +find any difficulties in his way. + +OSWALD.--There are too many similar instances. Some of the +most distinguished artists of the present age have been obliged, in +early life, to struggle with indigence, and, indeed, with absolute +poverty, much as Edwin Lovel is now doing. + +The next morning, Amelia said to her brother as soon as she found him +alone, "Oswald, I wish to ask you one question. When we receive a +present, does it not become our own?" + +OSWALD.--Certainly. + +AMELIA.--And we are at liberty to do exactly what we please +with it? + +OSWALD.--Precisely--only I think we had better not destroy +it. + +AMELIA.--Of course, not--but we may give it away? + +OSWALD.--Why--I do not know--I should not like to give away +a present received from a valued friend. + +AMELIA.--But if, in giving it away, you make the person on +whom you bestow it more happy than you yourself could possibly be +made by keeping it? + +OSWALD.--If you were sure that that would be the case---- + +AMELIA.--Oh! I am very sure--I can answer for myself. +Therefore, dear brother, I beg your acceptance of my Souvenir. + +OSWALD.--Why, Amelia, your kindness surprises me. You know +I have already a Christmas gift; the beautiful writing case that my +father bought for me yesterday. I cannot take your Souvenir. + +AMELIA.--Dear Oswald, for once allow me to make you a +present. It is the first time in my life I have had it in my power +to offer you any thing of consequence. I shall be so happy, if you +accept it--There it is, (_laying the Souvenir on Oswald's knee._) + +OSWALD.--But, Amelia, how can you part so soon with your +beautiful Souvenir? You were so delighted with it last evening. + +AMELIA.--I know every thing in it--I examined all the plates +with the greatest attention, and I read it through before I went to +bed. + +OSWALD.--(_smiling._)--Well, Amelia, though you are so +generous as to make me the owner of the Souvenir, you know it will +still remain in the house. I will put it carefully away in my little +book case, and whenever you wish to look at it, just tell me so, and +you shall have it at any time. + +AMELIA.--(_looking disappointed._)--But, Oswald, are you +going to keep it always? + +OSWALD.--Always, as the gift of my loving sister. + +AMELIA.--But I do not _insist_ on your keeping it for ever, +dear Oswald. You may give it away again--I shall not be the least +offended if you give it away, provided you bestow it properly. +Indeed, I would rather you should give it away than not--and as soon +as possible, too--this very day, if you choose. + +OSWALD.--Surely, Amelia, you have a very strange way of +making a present; desiring it to be given away again immediately. + +AMELIA.--Why, Oswald, you know you do not draw. + +OSWALD.--No, indeed, to my great regret. + +AMELIA.--And, if you did, my father would always take care +that you should be well supplied with models. + +OSWALD.--I suppose he would, as he never lets us want for +any thing that could add to our improvement. + +AMELIA.--Had not the Souvenir better be given to a person +that _does draw_ very well,--beautifully, indeed,--but that has no +money to buy models? + +OSWALD.--In one word--Had not the Souvenir better be given +to Edwin Lovel? + +AMELIA.--Yes, since it must be told, that is exactly what I +mean. + +OSWALD.--So I guessed from the beginning. But why did +you take such a roundabout way of getting the book put into his +possession? + +AMELIA.--Why, I do not suppose he would accept it from me, a +young girl whom he has never seen; but he would be less scrupulous in +taking it as _your_ gift, as you are an acquaintance of his. + +OSWALD.--Say, a friend. + +AMELIA.--I know you so well, that, after our conversation +last night, I was certain, if I gave the book to you, you would +present it at once to the poor boy; and I was much disconcerted when +you pretended at first that you would keep it always. + +OSWALD.--Amelia, the book is yours, and the suggestion is +yours, and I will not assume to myself more merit than I deserve. If +you are determined on giving the Souvenir to Edwin Lovel, the best +way is to seal it up in a sheet of white paper addressed to him, and +with a few words written on the inside, requesting his acceptance of +the book from an unknown admirer of early genius. + +AMELIA.--An excellent plan--I wonder I did not think of it +before. I will set about it directly. + +OSWALD.--Here is a sheet of Ames's best letter-paper, and +here is my new writing-box. Let it be used for the first time in a +good cause. + +AMELIA.--(_sits down and writes._)--I never wrote any thing +with more pleasure. + +OSWALD.--Be sure to put "early genius." + +AMELIA.--I have. + +OSWALD.--Let me see--I never saw any writing of yours look +so pretty. Now, I will put up the parcel, and tie it round with red +tape, and seal it, for girls seldom do such things well--(_he folds +the book in the paper, ties, and seals it._) There, now direct it. + +AMELIA.--The next thing is, who shall we get to carry it to +Edwin? + +OSWALD.--Why not William? + +AMELIA.--I do not wish my father to know it, lest he should +think I set too little value on his Christmas present; and I will +never ask a servant to do any thing for me that is to be kept from +the knowledge of my parents. + +OSWALD.--That is right. I will take the packet to the +Intelligence Office, round the corner, and give one of the black boys +that are always loitering there, a trifle to carry it to Mr. Lovel's, +and just leave it with whoever opens the door. + +AMELIA.--That will do very well. Now, Oswald, make haste, +for I hear my father coming. + +Oswald easily procured a boy to carry the packet to the house of +Mr. Lovel, who lived in one of the upper cross streets. The door +was opened by the black girl, who immediately recognised the boy as +an old acquaintance, and commenced a conversation with him. "Why, +Ben," said she, "What is this you have brought for Master Edwin? I +guess it's a book. It looks 'xactly like one. All done up so nice, +and sealed. Why, I'm puzzled who sended it." "He did not tell me his +name," replied the boy, "but I guess I know who he is, for all that. +It's Master Oswald Woodley, Mr. Woodley, the great merchant's eldest +son. My aunt is cook there, and I've often been in the kitchen. And +he gave me a quarter-dollar for carrying it; and it must be 'livered +into Master Edwin's own private, particular hands." + +So saying, he departed, and the girl ran up to Edwin's room, holding +out the parcel and saying, "Master Edwin, here's a book for you, +signed, sealed, and delivered; sent by Master Oswald Woodley, oldest +son of Mr. Woodley the great merchant." + +Edwin took the book, and, on opening it, was much surprised to +find the note written in a female hand, and the name of Amelia +Woodley on the presentation plate of the Souvenir, which had been +inscribed by her father the preceding evening, and which she had +forgotten to erase before she sent it away. For some time, his +pleasure in examining the beautiful plates absorbed every other +consideration, and it was not till he had gone twice over them, that +he thought of the mystery connected with the book. His honourable +principles determined him not to accept it, as he saw that there +was some secrecy about the whole transaction, and that probably the +generous young lady, whose name it bore, had sent it to him without +the knowledge of her parents. The beauty of the book was a great +temptation, and he would have derived much pleasure from copying +some of the fine plates, but still he could not reconcile it to his +conscience to keep it, neither would he betray the kind-hearted +Amelia to her father. He resolved to seal it up again, and leave it +himself at Mr. Woodley's door, addressed to Oswald. + +He took his last sheet of paper, and wrote in it as follows:-- + +"Accident has discovered to me to whom I am indebted for a most +beautiful present, but though it has excited my warmest gratitude, I +cannot consent to accept it under circumstances of mystery to which +the parents of my kind friend may be strangers. I return it with a +thousand acknowledgments. + + EDWIN LOVEL." + +Having looked once more at the engravings, he put up the Souvenir, +and set out himself to leave it at Mr. Woodley's house, intending to +desire the servant that opened the door to give it to Master Oswald. + +Mr. Woodley was sitting at the centre-table looking over some English +newspapers, and he found in one of them a high eulogium on a new +picture by an American artist, now in London. He read the piece +aloud, and when he had concluded, "Amelia," said he, "if I am not +mistaken, there is in your Souvenir an engraving from this picture. +Let me look at it again." Amelia coloured and knew not what to say, +and Oswald also seemed much embarrassed. "My dear," pursued Mr. +Woodley, "did you not hear me? If you can get the book conveniently, +I should like to look at that plate." Amelia, confused and trembling, +tried to speak but could not, and her eyes were immediately filled +with tears. "Amelia," said Mr. Woodley, "has any accident happened to +the Souvenir?" "No, my dear father," she replied, "but I have given +it away." "Is it possible," said Mr. Woodley, "that you were so soon +tired of your father's Christmas gift?" "Oh! no, no," replied Amelia, +"but there is a poor boy who draws beautifully, and I thought it +would make him so happy. Dear Oswald, tell the whole." + +Oswald then, as concisely as possible, related all the circumstances: +and Mr. Woodley, after gently blaming the children for disposing +of the book without consulting their parents, kissed Amelia, and +commended her kindness and benevolence in bestowing her Souvenir on +poor Edwin Lovel. + +Just then a ring was heard at the front door, and William brought in +and gave to Oswald the packet, which had been left that moment by +Edwin. "Ah!" exclaimed Oswald, on opening the parcel, "this is so +like Edwin. He sends back the Souvenir." He then gave Edwin's note +to Mr. Woodley, who, after reading it, went to the desk and wrote +a billet addressed to Edwin's father, in which he requested him to +permit his son to join his family that day at their Christmas dinner. +William was immediately despatched to Mr. Lovel's with the note, and +in a short time Edwin arrived, looking very happy; and Mr. Woodley +shook him heartily by the hand, on being introduced to him by Oswald. +Then, taking up the Souvenir, he held it out to Amelia, and desired +her to present it a second time to her brother's young friend. "With +my sanction," said Mr. Woodley to Edwin, "you will not again refuse +my daughter's gift, though you so honourably returned it when you +suspected that she offered it unknown to her parents." + +Edwin spent the day with the Woodley family, who were all delighted +with his modesty and good sense, and Mr. Woodley made him promise to +repeat his visit as often as he had leisure. That evening, Amelia's +uncle brought her a present of an Album, bound in green morocco and +handsomely gilt, and Edwin requested that she would allow him to take +it home and draw something in it. + +When he returned the Album, it contained copies, in Indian ink, of +the most beautiful plates of the Souvenir, executed in Edwin's very +best manner. Mr. Woodley presented Edwin with a portfolio, containing +a selection of fine prints, and eventually made arrangements with a +distinguished artist to take him as a pupil: his taste for drawing +being so decided, and his indications of genius so extraordinary, +it was thought best to yield to his desire of making painting his +profession. + +Finding Edwin's father to be a very deserving man, Mr. Woodley +assisted him to re-establish himself in business, regretting that he +should so long have been condemned to the irksome life of a teacher +in a school. He was soon enabled to occupy a better house, and to +live once more in the enjoyment of every comfort. + + E. L. + + + + +MOTHER'S JOY + + + Why, what a busy maid thou art, + With eyes so like a dove! + And I am sure thy little heart + Is running o'er with love. + + No grief hast thou, save now and then + Thy bread and butter falls,-- + Or careless little bantam hen + Escapes from her wooden walls. + + Sometimes thy roguish brother comes + Along with stealthy tread, + And in thy startled ear he drums, + Or pulls thy curly head. + + And these are all the troubles thou + E'er hast, my gentle Mary-- + No wonder thou, with happy brow, + Art listening to Canary. + + And then thou art so very kind + To every thing that moves-- + Thy little feather'd brood all find + How sweetly Mary loves. + + James is an active, winning child-- + Dearly we love the boy-- + But thou, my little maiden mild, + Thou art thy Mother's Joy! + + + + +THE PERCEVALS. + + +Sorrow and joy were both in the house of Mr. Perceval; for one +lovely baby was laid out in its white shroud, and, in the same +hour, another's eyes first opened on the light. There were two +persons watching in the chamber of death--the father, who gazed on +the smiling lips and smooth fair brow of his first-born son, till +with tears he blessed the pitying hand which had stilled the little +voice of agony, and obliterated for ever the traces of pain; and +the nurse, a young and tender-hearted Irish woman, who had borne +the infant sufferer through his brief life of torment, and now with +Christian love hung over the placid features, that the sinless spirit +beautified in death; till the coffin closed over the transient light, +which the departing soul had left, and the empty cradle received a +new birth. It was long before Eva could observe, in this unconscious +subject of her daily comparison, any charms to equal those that were +buried with the earlier object of her care; and she never could avoid +contrasting "the tender blue of those loving eyes," shaded by their +silken lashes, which seemed opening upon her from the tomb, every +time she looked at the full large orbs, that stared out of the meagre +long face of his unadmired successor; and she never tired talking of +the glossy ringlets, that she used to twist round the comb, with such +elaborate care, when she was adorning her little Henry for company; +as soon as she saw Alfred's "ugly bare head," without a lace cap. +This young gentleman, however, paid no attention to such discourse, +so unfavourable to himself, but continued to live on, very well +satisfied with his own share of beauty; and it was not before two +or three years had passed over his head, and made him vain, that he +discovered any pride in his appearance. But then, when his figure +rounded into perfect shape, when the lace cap was exchanged for +golden ringlets, and the rose and the lily were blended in his lovely +face, he would exhibit, with great delight, his red shoes, and worked +slip, and coral clasps, which his mother had bought in the pride of +her maternal fondness, to correspond with the beauty of her son. Mr. +Perceval had a country seat, a short walk from Baltimore, where he +resided with his family during the summer months. The guns from Fort +M'Henry announced our annual festival--the soldiers were assembling +in the city--Alfred heard the drums and the trumpets,--and the little +hero must go to town, to see the parade. With many charges to Eva +(who was now in the habit of bringing forward the beauties of her +two nurslings, not "in opposition but in compare") the reluctant +mother consented to expose her son for a short time, in the close +air of the city, from a natural wish to gratify his infant taste for +"all the pomp and circumstance of war." I would not like to say, +how many poor children are dragged over the scorching pavements and +burning roads of our town, during the great national feast, without +any refreshment themselves, except perhaps a glass of heated beer, or +a dusted cake. Alfred Perceval was more fortunate--supported in the +arms of his careful, tender nurse, from a window on the shady side of +Market street, he saw the long military line extend from the western +extremity to the bridge. His head moves to the sound of the music, he +springs in Mary's arms, as the horsemen gallop past; his eyes sparkle +at the flashing swords; and his brave little heart recoils not at the +sound of the guns. When the show was over, Eva brought him home, and +made him a cap of blue paper, and put a red feather in it. With this +on his head, he strutted about the house, to the music of a cocoanut +shell he had for a kettledrum, which his mother preferred to that +of a tin canister, which the young musician would have preferred +himself. Nothing could exceed the glow of delight which made Alfred +so beautiful that day, and the parents exulted in the health of their +son. Oh! what a sad reverse, to sink at once the current of this +joy,--before midnight their little soldier was raging with fever, and +when the restlessness of the disease was over, it settled with a +fatal stillness on the brain; and during six weeks he lay insensible +to all that was done to save him. + +I will not attempt to describe the misery of the parents, for my +story is to be a brief one; but it pleased the Power of Mercy to +abate their hopeless grief, through the instrumentality of medical +skill; and Alfred once more opened his eyes to a new existence, +and stared around him as he did before. A cap supplied the place +of the beautiful fair curls, that were all cut away, and the child +was placed in Eva's arms, as helpless and nearly as unconscious +then, as when he first received the precarious gift of life. But +Eva carried him to the garden, and the woods, where the leaves, now +dyed with all the rich tints of our splendid autumn, presented so +many colours to his sight; and while she called his attention to the +various objects around him, his slow remembrance returned, and he +would smile at all the creatures that he used to love--"the beasts +of the field and the fowls of the air." And then she would make him +smell the flowers she culled for him, and listen to the music of the +birds; till at last every sense was restored to its natural power, +and his mind awoke from its long deep sleep, but the weakness of his +frame continued, and many months passed away, before he was able +to put his feet to the ground; and by that time, a little brother +overtook his steps, and they both began to walk together; while each +had his nurse, and his eulogist, who praised her own charge,--and +no wonder, for Alfred's mind (strengthened, it would seem, after so +long a rest) exhibited, from day to day, powers of observation and +reflection, much beyond his age. And his happy parents would often +call him their "baby philosopher," while they smiled with delight at +his sage remarks. And Charles was the prettiest little puppet ever +seen; his dancing steps, always keeping time to the music of his own +thoughts, which were scarcely ever out of tune; and so fond was he +of the exercise of life, that they never laid him down in his bed, +for necessary rest, without his having a playful struggle against the +advances of sleep; but after kicking his feet against the posts of +his crib, as long as he was able, and singing "by, by baby"--after +slapping his pillow till he was tired, he was usually found by his +mother asleep, when she went to bed, with his pocket handkerchief +rolled into a rag baby, and his head lying where his feet ought to +be. But before any one else was stirring in the morning, he was awake +again, when he would stoop over his low crib, and take his boots in, +and while he was trying to put them on, but succeeded neither by +the heels nor the toes, he would talk to them about their conduct, +or tell himself stories of cats and dogs, with shawls and bonnets; +and pigeons, with yellow shoes, walking down Market street. Yet with +all this imagination himself, he had so little inclination to profit +by the thoughts of others, that his mother could with difficulty +teach him the alphabet, before he was sent to his first school; +though his brother (who never told a story that I remember, except +one that had "seventeen foxes" in it) could read perfectly. With a +foreign teacher, however, Charles seemed very suddenly to make great +advances; and, at four years of age, he was always head or next to +head in his lessons; to the surprise of his attentive parents, who +could not themselves perceive so great a progress in learning as this +seemed to indicate; but upon investigating the matter thoroughly, +they found out, that there was only Charles and another little +urchin in the class; which little urchin was to occasion them more +distress, than they ever could have anticipated. One Sunday, dressed +in his finest clothes, he found Charles at the door of his father's +town-house (for it was early in the spring,) and persuaded him to +take a walk. Accordingly, the two young travellers set off together, +but no sooner had they reached the confines of the town and point, +than they quarrelled about their future destination; when Master +Jacky left Charles to steer his own course, and ran home as fast as +he could. The poor little fellow scorned to cry, but wandered about, +more and more bewildered, till he reached one of the wharves, where a +Spanish vessel was about to spread its sails to a fair wind, and put +to sea. Such a strange prospect, opening at once upon the frightened +child, when he thought he was so many steps nearer home, occasioned +an instant defeat of all his self-confidence; and he burst out +into a loud and continued cry, which arrested the attention of a +gentleman, who was just at that moment hurrying to reach the vessel. + +The little boy was in distress, and he was compassionate; but what +was to be done? The wharf contained no individual, but themselves and +the sailors; the wind was fair, and the captain would not delay. The +stranger could not speak the language of the child, but he smiled +while he took his hand, and smoothed his little brow, and Charles +understood him as well as if he had spoken to him in English; for +he was accustomed to the sight of foreigners in his father's house, +and in a similar manner he always held discourse with them. So he +stopped crying, and smiled in return; and the gentleman, delighted +with his pleasant looks, gave the child his watch to carry, while he +carried him; for the captain, in a passion, had ordered the vessel +from the shore, and the stranger was obliged to take Charles on +board, or leave him on the wharf to cry, and perhaps be drowned. +While the novelty of his situation amused his mind, Charles continued +quiet; but after that, when he thought of his nurse, his tender +parents, and his kind brother, at home, his little heart seemed +ready to break; and, only for the constant tenderness of his unknown +friend, I believe he would have died. But by degrees his grief +became subdued, and before the vessel reached Cuba, he was the pet +of all the sailors, and the delight of his kind protector; who, +after this, could not bear to part with him, but having no children +of his own, he adopted him, and had him educated as his son: and +upon his approaching death, which happened about six years after, he +left Charles his little property, under the guardianship of a Boston +merchant, with whom he had been transacting business many years: and +upon whom he now relied, for the discovery of the parents of the +child; which he had been only anxious to avoid before. + +This gentleman went to receive his charge very willingly; and, on +his return to Boston, he placed Charles in a celebrated school, +to which Alfred Perceval had been sent by his considerate parents +when they found that grief for the loss of his little brother, had +settled too much in studious habits, and aversion to companionship. +Charles's guardian then went to Baltimore. He was introduced to Mr. +Perceval, and invited to dine at his house. There he told the story +of his little ward; when he was shocked to observe, what an effect +it produced on Mrs. Perceval; for years had scarcely mitigated the +agony she first felt, at the strange loss of her infant; to which the +death of her eldest son, and the long torpor of his brother, were +supportable distresses; since they were not aggravated by the power +of imagination. But Mr. Perceval (more collected than she was) could +not avoid seeing, in a similar circumstance, something to awaken his +own hopes; he therefore acquainted the gentleman with their loss; +and asked him if the child he spoke of, had ever told his name. "If +he did, sir, my friend, not understanding the rest of his language, +must have forgotten it; but he kept a little handkerchief, that had +been pinned to his robe, and which I have now in my pocket-book." He +drew it out, and gave it to Mrs. Perceval, who had been relieved by +tears from her first emotion; but when she saw the initials, C. P., +marked by her own hands, she screamed out--"Oh! my dear husband, it +is our own son"--and instantly fainted away. Eva, who was still in +the house, and now attending two fine little girls, was loudly called +by the alarmed Mr. Perceval. She came directly, and his lady soon +recovered by their united assistance. + +The parents then proposed to write instantly for their sons; but +before the letter was sent, they received one from Alfred, requesting +permission to bring a little Spanish boy home with him, for whom +he had become greatly interested, owing to a circumstance which +happened in school, soon after Charles was placed there. A large +boy, of greater bulk than manners, took a fancy one day to insult +the feelings of the little foreigner, in a manner he could not bear; +and he flew at his tormentor, who would instantly have struck him +down, had not Alfred Perceval that moment appeared; who, stepping +between them, pushed the elder boy aside, and then detaining the +other, he said--"For shame! Roscoe, how can you, such a big boy, +try the temper of a little stranger like this, who cannot answer us +in our own language? I thought you had more feeling." "Now, for one +cent I could knock you down, Perceval; but I don't know how it is, +you get the better of us all--masters and scholars. However, you'll +be going to college soon," continued the rough boy, dashing away a +tear--"and, that you may go off with flying colours, as a peace-maker +and a peace-keeper, here's my hand, little tawney coat, and thank +him that you did not get a good drubbing." But Charles, perhaps +misconceiving the intention of this action, or thinking that he ought +to have the pride of a Spaniard, turned from Roscoe with disdain, and +throwing himself into the arms of Alfred, he wept with such a gush +of feeling, that it completely overcame the nerves of that sensitive +boy, who struggled in vain against his own tears, which then flowed +at one thought, and that was of his little brother. But what was +his joy afterward, when his father's letter arrived, and told him +that "the lost was found?" I will pass over the joy of Mr. and Mrs. +Perceval, upon the first arrival of their sons, for every one can +imagine it; but I must say, that their happiness increased every day; +as they observed, that Charles's Spanish education had taught him to +pursue every thing that was honourable in principle and practice. +He soon adopted his newly discovered kindred with a strength of +attachment which seemed almost to have some early recollection for +its foundation. And when Eva brought his nurse, Sarah, to see him, +(who was now living with her husband in comfortable circumstances,) +he smiled as if he really remembered her, and Sarah was sure that +he did. Mr. and Mrs. Perceval, considering maturely on the subject, +at length agreed, that it would be better to keep their sons at +home, with proper instructors, until Charles understood English +sufficiently to understand them; when he could return to school with +greater advantage; and his guardian willingly gave up the future +direction of the person and fortune of his ward to his most natural +directors. Before the vacation ended then, all Alfred's school +companions were invited to a farewell party, which was prepared +with great taste by his mother. The company assembled--all the +most distinguished little people of the city; and when the carpets +were thrown aside, and the lamps blazed, their light young feet +gave little rest to the music. But, though the refreshments were +numerous, and handed round constantly, I believe no young person +was disgraced by an immoderate use of them. Indeed, I understand +that a resolution has been formed by the most promising youth of our +city, to "be temperate in all things," as republicans ought to be; +and especially to stand always armed against every device of that +treacherous spirit, which entering alone into the secret folds of +inward depravity, or assailing, with the combined powers of evil +example, the outward avenues to sin, saps the foundation of the soul, +till man becomes a tottering ruin, and a blighting shade, over his +own household; and a nation is darkened with the wreck of her sons. + + C. M. B. + + + + +CHILD LEFT ON THE SEA-SHORE. + +ADAPTED TO A PICTURE BY SULLY. + + + Why dost thou sport amid those swelling waves, + Child of the frolic brow? The billows rush + Foaming and vexing with a maniac's wrath, + To do unuttered deeds, and the wild clouds + Muster and frown, as if bold midnight rear'd + Her throne at noon-day. Hear'st thou not the winds + Uttering their ruffian threats? Is this a time + To lave that snowy foot? Away! away! + ----What!--have all fled?--and art thou left alone?-- + By those who wandered with thee on the beach, + In the fair sun-light of a summer's morn, + Forgotten thus! Had'st thou a mother, sweet? + Oh, no--no--no! _She_ had not turn'd away, + Though the strong tempest rose to tenfold wrath,-- + She had not fled without thee,--had not breath'd + In safety or at ease save when she heard + Thy murmur'd tone beside her,--had not slept + Until thy drench'd and drooping curls were dried + In her fond bosom. _Nature never made + A mother to forget._ Why, she had dared + Yon fiercest surge to save thee, or had plung'd, + Clasping thee close and closer, down,--down,--down,-- + Where thou art going. Lo! the breakers rush + Bellowing, to demand thee. Shrink not, child! + Innocence need not fear. Sweet shalt thou sleep + 'Mid ocean's sunless flowers. The lullaby + Of the mermaiden shall thy requiem be, + And the white coral thou didst love to mix + Among thy pencill'd shells, shall lightly rear + A canopy above thee. Amber drops + Shall gem thy clustering tresses, and thy ear + No more the echoes of the wavering main + Appall'd shall hear. Thy God shall guard thy rest. + + L. H. S. + + _Hartford._ + + [Illustration: Painted by T. Scully. Engraved by J.W. Steel. + + CHILD ON THE SEA BEACH.] + + + + +THE EAGLE OF THE WEST. + + "It is the spot I came to seek, + My father's ancient burial place, + Ere from these vales, ashamed and weak, + Withdrew our wasted race. + It is the spot--I know it well-- + Of which our old traditions tell. + + "This bank, in which the dead were laid, + Was sacred when its soil was ours; + Hither the artless Indian maid + Brought wreaths of buds and flowers; + And the gay chief and gifted seer + Worshipped the God of thunders here. + + "But now the wheat is green and high + On clods that hid the warrior's breast, + And scattered in the furrows lie + The weapons of his rest, + And there, in the loose sand, is thrown, + Of his large arm the mouldering bone."--BRYANT. + + +You have read, said General Lawrence to his children, of the numerous +ancient forts and mounds found in different parts of the now populous +state of Ohio. Some incidents which I shall relate, have rendered +most of them, to me, subjects of great interest. + +I was subordinate to General Rufus Putnam, when he gave directions +for the first settlement of Marietta, by a colony from New-England, +in 1788. Ohio, you know, at that time was called a district, +including the present territories of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, +and owned by the general government--Virginia having ceded it, seven +years before, to the United States, reserving only some tracts of +land as military bounties for such officers and soldiers as had been +distinguished in the reduction of the British forts on the Ohio river. + +The Chippewas, Miamis, Wyandots,[1] and other native tribes, looked, +as they well might, with jealous eyes on the annual encroachments +of the whites upon their hunting-grounds. It is true that they +reluctantly receded as we advanced, but it was under the stern +law of necessity, not a free-will abdication. I cannot, and do +not, pretend to excuse the selfish rapacity with which many of our +ancestors, throughout the whole country, seized on the soil of the +aborigines;[2] that is an account which it is not our business to +settle, though we cannot read the true page of our history without a +crimsoning blush of shame. + + [1] Grimshaw's History, p. 213. + + [2] Those who think the relations of such facts (for they are + many) exaggerated, are referred to the 1st and 2d volumes of + American Annals, and Belknap's Biography, where they will find + ample proof of their truth. Other authentic works might be cited, + but these are all-sufficient. + +I remember an act of cold-blooded wickedness, perpetrated by our +people in Ohio about this period, which I never could either +palliate or forgive. There was a small encampment of the Wyandots a +few miles from where some of our emigrants had settled. They were +soon apprised of the neighbourhood of the new residents, and came +over to view their works, sometimes three, four, or more, together. + +For some time all things went on well;--and I have thought, with +the excellent Heckewelder,[3] that they need never have done +otherwise, had the whites been just and true to their duty. "They are +remarkable," says he, "for their _domestic_ and _social_ virtues, +and know how to _practice_ that precept which we so well teach in +_theory_, viz. '_To love their neighbour as themselves_.'" + + [3] See Heckewelder's Account of the North American Indians. + +"The Indians," says one of our early and most respectable historians, +"on their first acquaintance with the whites, proved themselves kind, +generous, and hospitable, so long as they were treated with justice +and humanity. But so they were not long, and the consequences are +well known to all. In the particular case of the Wyandots I was +unfortunately witness--first to the imprudence, and then to the +wickedness of my countrymen." + +Evident symptoms of dissatisfaction appeared whenever they afterward +met. Our company began seriously to fear an attack, (no wonder, they +had given provocation,) and accordingly laid a plan for cutting off +the Indians at once, instead of attempting a reconciliation, though I +own the latter would not have been easily effected. The great fault +of the Indian is his thirst for _revenge_, which, when injured, he +will always seek. + +The purpose of the whites was carried into effect one night, after +they had freely supplied the unfortunate Wyandots with rum. All fell +of this portion of the tribe, save two or three children, who were +saved by one of the party, more humane than his companions, and an +Indian youth, of about fifteen years of age, called Tecumsoit, and +also often known by the proud appellation of "the Eagle of the West," +for thus early did he discover traits of remarkable strength and +courage. He fought boldly and long, when his people were sacrificed +almost unresistingly around him, and fled only when so wounded that +he could do no more. He fled--but in the hope of returning in power, +and making perfect his dreadful vengeance. His purpose was frustrated +but by the constant watchfulness of the military force which we were +compelled to station wherever there were any white settlements. + +Near Marietta, as I have told you, are remains of ancient +fortifications and mounds, in which the Indians deposited their dead. + +Many such mounds, in different parts of the country, were laid open +by these Indians as the whites advanced; and the bones of their +ancestors, wrapt in skins, were carried with them as they retired +farther into the vast forests of the west, where these remains were +sacredly preserved, and guarded with holy care. Some, however, were +left untouched. + +I have often examined these very singular sepulchral monuments, both +in the vicinity of Marietta, and those at Circleville, and I own that +I have never seen one of them demolished without pain. + +There was one, near the broken up settlement of the Wyandots, which +offered peculiar interest; it appeared to have been raised with +greater care than the others, and was evidently of more ancient +origin. This pyramid was in the midst of a grove of noble forest +trees, and brought to mind the solemn Druidical times of England. +When we first discovered it, it was at an hour when the young Indian +girls were performing round it some religious rites; fruits of the +forest, skins, and flowers, were deposited in profusion on the +pyramidal summit; and the wild notes of their songs echoed through +the grove, giving back those peculiar strains, softened, but not +lost. I often resorted thither, and when I was summoned to New-York, +that was the last spot which I visited. + +I did not return to that part of the country, continued General +Lawrence, for more than ten years, and then, indeed, could hardly +recognise, in the rapid settlement of the new states, those wide +forest-tracts which I had left; but I own I felt not all the +enthusiasm which filled one of our old historians, when he declares +that "the wilderness had been made to blossom as the rose." No, the +circumstances of its first settlement were too recent on my memory +for that, and I had too strong a sympathy for the outcast Indians. +Verily do I believe in that clause of the fourth commandment, as +applied to my countrymen, "the sins of the fathers shall be visited +on the children to the third and fourth generation;"--even now behold +its partial fulfilment in the troubles which have sprung up, and are +still gaining accumulated power, in the rapid increase of our slave +population: "as we have measured, so shall it be measured to us +again." + +But, as I was telling you, I revisited Ohio. I hardly recognised +Marietta as I passed through it to revisit my former station; and +the first spot I sought with real interest, was the ancient mound in +the giant grove. My search was, at first, utterly vain:--at length I +thought I saw some traces of that which had once presented a scene +of grandeur and beauty, but I was doubtful long,--for the grand and +lofty trees "which spread their arms abroad so that all the birds +of the air might have found rest in their branches,"--the trees +were not there. No, not one had been spared of that whole sacred +grove. The mound, too, where was it?--the husbandman had passed over +it with his ploughshare,--the sower had strown the seed,--and the +fields were now ripe for the harvest. I turned away sorrowfully, and +my eye suddenly caught the figure of an Indian. The red son of the +forest could not be mistaken; he gazed, as I had done, on the place +where his ancestors of many generations had been laid with reverent +care; his look was proud, sorrowful, and often changing to one of +bitter hate. He did not see me, for his mind was absorbed in one deep +feeling of lofty desolation, if one may be allowed the use of such +a term. I cannot describe his countenance, for it varied with every +varying thought; but no one could have contemplated the wild warrior +as he stood erect and alone, his keen eye regarding what was, and his +thought reverting to what had been--none, I say, could have seen him +without a sentiment of respect, almost of homage. How few of the race +now retain their original grandeur and lofty character! Civilization +seems only to have weakened and degraded the Indian mind; his moral +state, at least, is now far more debased than when, with his tribe, +he roamed at will through the immense wilds of the American continent. + +I approached the solitary chief and spoke, (though I own I felt it +an intrusion on his personal feelings;)--he looked on me at first +with marked disdain, but presently his countenance changed; a ray +of pleasure lightened his brow,--but soon an expression of the most +eloquent grief succeeded; it was evident that he recognized me,--and +I, too, knew Tecumsoit,--the Eagle of the West. His words were few +and brief, for his hitherto unsubdued spirit was bending beneath the +weight of wrong and sorrow, and it seemed as though he could not +speak to a white man, the fellow of those who had caused his wigwam +to be desolate, and the grove of his fathers polluted by sacrilege. I +understood the sentiment, and was silent also. + +Presently Tecumsoit advanced, thrusting aside and trampling the +waving grain, till he stood at the foot of the mound: then slowly he +took, one by one, the articles of his dress, and laid them solemnly +on the very summit of the elevation:--first, his collar of eagle's +feathers,--then his robe of princely ermine and sable; to these were +added his deer-skin coat, painted with the rich juices of the pucoon, +and colours derived from plants by a process unknown to any save the +Indians themselves; and, lastly, his wampum belt, wrought all over +with the richly dyed quills of the porcupine. When these had been +thus, one by one, deposited, he wrapt about him the rough skin of a +panther, gave one long, long look at the sepulchre of his fathers, +and turned silently and abruptly away. The Eagle was soon lost to my +view behind a range of hills; he had departed for ever from the home +of his childhood; he had cast off the symbols of his rank, his power, +and tribe, and doubtless had gone to end his days of desolation in +some far off desert, where, though he could not forget his wrongs, he +would at least neither see nor be seen of the white men. + +Often have I thought of Tecumsoit, as I first saw him, a young +boy, the pride of all the warriors, and the fearless asserter of +his rights. I was then his friend; he seemed to confide in my +honour, and he never had cause to doubt it. I remember him, too, +on the night when I arrived too late to save his family from the +death-shot,--fearlessly defending himself and them, when no resource +or hope was left. Well do I remember the mingled despair and pride of +his retreat; and I remember, too, the last time we met at the mound +which held the remains of his ancestors--the last look he gave--and +his last shadow on the hills. + +Alas, for Tecumsoit!--his glory had departed, his people had passed +away, even as the dew beneath the sultry sun; he was left alone of +his race, and, like Logan, could exclaim--"Who is there to mourn for +Tecumsoit?--_not one!_" + + + + +THE LAUNCH OF THE FRIGATE. + + +Cornelia Camelford had just recovered from a long and dangerous +illness, and had not received the doctor's permission to go out, when +much interest was excited in Philadelphia by the expected launch of +the Guerrier, which was built at Kensington, during the last war, and +called after the first British frigate that surrendered to the flag +of America. Junius Camelford, who was a midshipman, and the eldest +of Cornelia's two brothers, was highly elated with the idea of the +approaching spectacle, and extremely impatient for the glorious day +(as he called it) to arrive. At last it came; and the children of +Mrs. Camelford could think and talk of nothing else. + +Junius was one of the midshipmen appointed to the new frigate, and +every hour seemed to him an age until she should be fairly afloat +in her proper element. Boy as he was, he had been on board the +Constitution when she engaged and sunk the British Guerrier, and +had evinced on that memorable day the courage of a man. When he was +afterwards in Philadelphia, the progress of the new frigate became +the leading thought of his mind. He had taken his sisters to see +the keel the day after it was laid: and had furnished all the young +ladies he knew, with hearts and anchors which he cut out from chips +of the wood. + +Mrs. Camelford had been a widow about two years, and since the death +of her husband she had felt an insurmountable repugnance to appearing +in public, or mixing in a crowd. Therefore she had no intention of +going herself to see the frigate launched, but she knew that her +children would take great pleasure in the sight, and she loved them +too much to deny them this gratification because she could not enjoy +it herself. + +Cornelia was just getting over the same malady that two years before +had been fatal to her father: and Mrs. Camelford still felt the +greatest anxiety about her, as she was particularly susceptible of +cold, which was always very injurious to her; and the slightest +imprudent exposure might probably bring on a dangerous relapse. + +For this reason, when Mrs. Camelford consented that her two sons and +her daughter Octavia should go to see the frigate launched, she did +not extend the same permission to the invalid. "And I, dear mother," +said Cornelia, as she sat at the breakfast table the first time for +near three months, "am I not also to enjoy the sight?" + +MRS. CAMELFORD.--My dearest Cornelia, I am sorry to refuse +you that or any other pleasure that your sister and brothers partake +of. But the air from the river may be cool. Remember that it was only +yesterday you left your chamber, after being confined to it more than +twelve weeks. + +OCTAVIA.--Oh! indeed, dear mother, this is quite a warm day. + +MRS. CAMELFORD.--To persons in health I know it is, but +though the air is clear and mild, it may be chilly to poor Cornelia, +who is enfeebled by sickness, and who has been so long shut up in her +room. She has suffered so much already, that I am sure she must dread +every thing that might cause a relapse. + +ADRIAN.--But, dear mother, how will it be possible for +Cornelia to take cold if she is well wrapped up in her large shawl, +and if she wears her close bonnet? + +MRS. CAMELFORD.--Indeed, I am afraid she ought not to +venture the slightest risk. Lieutenant Osbrook has politely offered +accommodation for the whole family, in one of the gun-boats at +Kensington, and I have accepted the invitation for Adrian and +Octavia, as Junius is to be on board the frigate. I believe my dear +Cornelia must content herself with hearing a description of the +launch from her brothers and sister. I cannot consent to her sitting +an hour or two on the deck of the gun-boat, in the open air, with the +breeze from the river blowing round her. + +CORNELIA.--Indeed, mother, I am very sorry, I hoped to be +quite well and able to go any where, before the launch took place. + +JUNIUS.--Still, I think there can be no danger. Her delight +at the spectacle will set her blood in a glow, as it has mine +already, and that will prevent her taking cold. + +MRS. CAMELFORD.--My dear children, do not urge me any +farther. The sight will no doubt be highly interesting, but it will +be dearly purchased by the return of Cornelia's late illness. + +Cornelia did not reply, but she kissed her mother in token of +acquiescence, and seated herself in a corner of the sofa with her +sewing. In a few minutes her brother Adrian brought her in a new and +entertaining book, which he had just purchased with the hope that it +would divert her mind from dwelling on her disappointment. Cornelia +took the book very gratefully, but though it was extremely amusing, +her thoughts still wandered, at times, to Kensington and the new +frigate. + +In the course of the morning Mrs. Camelford had a visit from her +friend, Mrs. Dimsdale, who expressed great pleasure at finding +Cornelia down stairs, and hoped she was well enough to go to see the +ship launched. + +Mrs. Camelford explained that she had refused Cornelia her permission +to join the little party in the gun-boat, being afraid of her taking +cold if exposed to the air of the river. "Oh! if that is all," said +Mrs. Dimsdale, "the difficulty, I hope, can be easily obviated. Mr. +Dimsdale and myself are going to take the children up to Kensington +in one of the steam-boats. You know the boats are all put in +requisition for the accommodation of persons that wish to see the +show. If you will permit Cornelia to accompany our family, she can +stay all the time in the cabin, and have an excellent view from the +stern windows, without any exposure at all." + +Cornelia's eyes turned upon her mother, with a look of entreaty. +Mrs. Camelford hesitated a few moments, and Octavia ventured again +to supplicate in behalf of her sister. At last, Cornelia obtained +permission to go with the Dimsdales: and it was arranged that Mrs. +Camelford's carriage was to take them down to the steam-boat, after +which it was to return immediately and convey the other party to +Kensington. + +When Adrian came home from school, and Junius from the ship-yard, +(where he had almost lived for several days,) the boys were delighted +to find that Cornelia was, at last, allowed an opportunity of seeing +the launch. They had an early dinner, of which Lieutenant and Mrs. +Osbrook had been invited to partake, and in a short time after the +carriage was at the door. Cornelia was carefully wrapped in her +large shawl, and Mrs. Camelford said to her, "Now, my dear, you must +promise me that you will remain all the time in the cabin of the +boat, and not allow yourself to be tempted to go on deck, even for +a few moments." "Certainly, dear mother," replied Cornelia, "I will +cheerfully make that promise, for I am thankful that you will allow +me to see the frigate on any terms." Mrs. Camelford kissed Cornelia, +and her brothers put her into the carriage, which, on its way down +to the wharf, stopped to take up Mr. and Mrs. Dimsdale and their two +children. + +Cornelia felt very happy at finding herself once more riding through +the streets, after so long a confinement to her chamber. Every well +known store and house seemed to interest her as she passed, and all +the people she saw appeared to her to look unusually well. She soon +found herself seated in the after-cabin of the steam-boat, which was +crowded with females, and so warm that Cornelia had no occasion to +wear her shawl: her mother having told her that she might take it +off, if she found it oppressive. + +The carriage having returned, Mr. and Mrs. Osbrook, with Adrian and +Octavia, got into it and rode to Kensington; Junius, in a new suit +of uniform, and with a new cockade in his hat, having long before +set out on foot, as he despised riding when it was practicable to +walk, and the distance from his mother's house to the ship-yard now +seemed almost nothing, having been so often traversed by him. In a +very short time, he was on the deck of the frigate, with a number of +officers and other gentlemen, beside the shipwrights. + +That afternoon, almost all the stores in Philadelphia were shut +up, and few of the inhabitants remained in their houses. Till near +three o'clock, the whole population of the city seemed to be pouring +toward the Northern Liberties: all the streets in the direction of +Kensington being crowded with people. + +When the party from Mrs. Camelford's arrived at the river-side, +the vast concourse far exceeded their expectations, though Junius +had told them that the crowd had begun to assemble as early as +twelve o'clock. They were soon seated on chairs, on the deck of the +gun-boat, and Lieutenant Osbrook left the ladies under the care of +another gentlemen, while he went on board the frigate. + +The river was covered with boats of every description, filled with +people. The roofs, as well as the windows of the houses and stores +that commanded a view of the water, were crowded with spectators; and +so also were the trees. Scaffolds, which had been erected for the +purpose, were lined with tiers of occupants, one row above another. +All the ships, then in port, had gone up to Kensington, and their +decks were covered with ladies and gentlemen; the sailors taking +their stations in the rigging. In two or three vessels were bands of +military music, and a third band was playing in the frigate that was +the object of so much interest. All the officers then in the city +(and many had come thither on purpose) were present: and all, both +of army and navy, were in full uniform. Nothing could be more gay +and animated than the whole scene. Every one was attired to the best +advantage, and the white dresses and green parasols of the ladies +added much to the picturesque effect of the scene. The steam-boats +came up filled with passengers, and were anchored at a convenient +distance. + +The gentlemen took out their watches frequently, as the time +approached when the tide was to turn; for the frigate was to be +launched on the top of high water. As the moment drew near, every eye +was fixed on the noble vessel, and there was a breathless anxiety +of the most intense interest. The carpenters stood with their arms +raised, ready to knock away the blocks that held her. The signal was +given, and it was done. The frigate began to move--every hat was +simultaneously taken off--the guns from all the armed vessels fired a +salute--the music struck up, "The Tars of Columbia"--and loud huzzas +resounded from thousands of voices. The frigate glided gracefully +and rapidly along, amidst repeated shouts of acclamation, with the +colours of her country flying at her stern: and, when she plunged +into the water, (which she threw up tremendously about her,) the +violent agitation of the river, for a considerable distance round, +announced that she had reached the element which she was never more +to leave. On her bowsprit stood the boatswain, who christened her +by breaking a bottle of liquor over her head, and shouting, "Hurra +for the Guerrier!" And the shout was repeated by every man present: +thousands of hats waving round from the river and from the shore. + +The moment "the gallant Guerrier" was afloat, she turned round +majestically with the tide, and an anchor, for the first time, +descended from her bow, mooring her, for the present, in the place +where she had entered the water. The music continued for some time to +play the favourite national airs, and at length the vast concourse of +spectators began to turn their steps toward home. Adrian and Octavia +could talk of nothing in the carriage but the scene they had just +witnessed, and they gave their mother a most animated account of +it. Mr. and Mrs. Osbrook took their leave and returned to their own +residence: and soon after Junius came home in a state of the highest +excitement, his eyes sparkling, his cheeks glowing, and full of the +honour and glory, as he called it, of having been on board of the new +Guerrier when she was launched. He inquired almost immediately for +Cornelia. The carriage had been sent down to the steam-boat to bring +her home, and in a short time she arrived, but looking very pale. + +"Well, my dear Cornelia," said Junius, as he led her to the sofa, +"was it not a glorious sight? Was it not a show worth looking at? +I never was so delighted in all my life, except when we heard the +lee-gun of the _British_ Guerrier, as a signal of surrender, after +her colours had been shot away." + +"Tell me, dearest girl," said Adrian, "were not your expectations +more than realized? Did you ever see any thing so interesting as the +launch of the frigate?" + +Cornelia's eyes filled with tears, and her lips trembled, as she +replied, in a faltering voice, "I did not see it at all." + +"Not see it!" was the general exclamation. + +"Indeed, I did not," repeated Cornelia. + +JUNIUS.--What! _nothing_ of it! _nothing_. + +CORNELIA.--Nothing whatever. + +JUNIUS.--Oh! Cornelia, you are certainly jesting. What! go +on purpose to see the launch, and still _not_ see it! + +MRS. CAMELFORD.--My beloved Cornelia, you alarm me. I hope +you have not been ill. + +CORNELIA.--No, my dear mother, not at all. But, indeed, I +have been very much disappointed. + +OCTAVIA.--Oh! pray tell us how. + +CORNELIA.--Mrs. Dimsdale sat with me in the ladies' cabin +of the steam-boat, till her husband, who had been on deck with the +children, came to conduct her up stairs, as the time for the frigate +to go off was drawing very near. She then tried to persuade me that +no harm could possibly arise from my going on deck for a few minutes, +and, to own the truth, I thought so myself. But I told her that I +had obtained permission to go in the steam-boat, only upon condition +of remaining all the time in the cabin, and I could, on no account, +break my promise and disobey my mother. She then complimented me by +saying that I was the most obedient and conscientious child she had +ever known, and expressing her regret that I could not accompany her, +she ran hastily on deck with Mr. Dimsdale, lest she should be too +late. + +OCTAVIA.--But could you have no view from the cabin? + +CORNELIA.--I had anticipated no difficulty, but when I rose +to look out, I found the windows entirely blocked up with women +and babies, of whom there are always so many in steam-boats. The +shelves or high seats at the stern were covered with them, crowded +so closely that they seemed almost wedged into a mass. I climbed +up and tried to get a peep between their heads, but all in vain, +for they were pressing on each other's shoulders. For a moment, I +was tempted to go on deck; but I remembered my promise. Suddenly, I +heard an exclamation of "There she goes," and I knew by the shouts, +the firing, and the music, that the frigate was moving. In vain I +stretched my neck and strained my eyes, to catch a glimpse between +the heads and bonnets; all the windows were entirely filled, and I +had not the smallest chance of seeing any thing. I soon gave up all +hope; I sat down in a chair, and I acknowledge that I could not help +crying a little, though I took care to conceal my tears as much as I +could. And perhaps I would not have cried, only that my long illness +had weakened my spirits. + +JUNIUS.--(Taking her hand)--Oh! yes, my poor Cornelia, you +would have cried all the same, even if you had not been weak and ill. +I am certain you would, for it was a disappointment worth crying for. + +Mrs. Camelford was so much affected that it was some time before she +could speak, and then embracing Cornelia most tenderly, she said, +"You are a dear good girl, and from this instance of obedience and +self-denial, at so early an age, I anticipate the most happy results +when you are older. If the pleasure of knowing how much gratification +your conduct has afforded your mother, and how much more than ever +she loves you, can compensate for your disappointment, you may now +enjoy that reward." Cornelia threw herself into her mother's arms, +and kissing her affectionately, wept in silence while Octavia sobbed +aloud, tears dropped on the cheeks of Adrian, and Junius drew his +hand across his eyes. + +"Oh!" said Octavia, "how little did we think, when we were all +enjoying the sight from the gun-boat, with ample room and an +uninterrupted view, that our poor sister, after being three months +shut up in her chamber, was seeing nothing at all." + +ADRIAN.--Yes, and when we were riding home, + +I wished that Cornelia were with us, that she might tell us what she +thought of it; supposing, of course, that she had seen all that we +did. + +JUNIUS.--Well, dear Cornelia, be comforted. There is no +danger of your having taken cold, since you so scrupulously kept +your promise and obeyed your mother; and, as you will now, no doubt, +continue well, I hope you will yet be able to see the frigate before +she sails on her first cruise, though you _have_ missed the launch, +which was certainly one of the finest sights ever seen in the whole +world. Do not smile, Octavia. You are not, as I am, one of the "Tars +of Columbia." + +ADRIAN.--No, indeed. And if she was a sailor, I hope she +would feel like one upon such occasions. + +Cornelia continued every day to improve in health, and when the +frigate was completely fitted up and ready for sea, Lieutenant +Osbrook came to invite the Camelford family on board, and Mrs. +Camelford herself was prevailed upon to be one of the party. Junius, +taking Cornelia's hand, led her carefully through the vessel, +explaining to her its different parts and their uses, and replying, +kindly and satisfactorily, to all the various questions which she +would not have ventured to ask, except of her brother. + + E. L. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hawthorne, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HAWTHORNE *** + +***** This file should be named 43229.txt or 43229.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/2/2/43229/ + +Produced by Charlene Taylor, Mary Akers and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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