The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-29 00:00:00

L ITERATURE.

Gilbert Massenger. By Holme Lee, author of
" Thorney Hall" and "Maude Talbot." Smith,
Elder, and Co.
The introductory passages of this story are
shrouded by a solemn gloom, which suits well with
its mournful nature throughout, and is in accord-
ance with its depth of feeling and sentiment. The
training of the young Gilbert Messenger his
early days was well caculated to fit him for life's
struggles. He could have found few situations
less congenial than the residence of his austere
aunt ; yet, being of a hardy nature, he did not
sink under the dangerous treatment. "He grew
and strengthened with as much vigour as the rug-
ged thorn will do in a bleak and moorland waste."
It was a happy day for Gilbert when he was eman-
cipated from his aunt's management, and sent to
the grammar school of Ashton•le-Forde. Not
that he was a favourite there, or that he took much
delight in the affairs of the place ; but he was at
liberty to think for himself. He was styled "The I
Man of Iron" by his schoolmates from his imper-
turbability. The accounts of his progress are in-
teresting ; and the striking contrast between him
and the young Noel Forester is an effective feature
in the story. Noel was the only son of rich parents,
and the indulged life of a favourite child formed a
painful dissimilitude to Gilbert as he reflected on
his harsh and unkind treatment. It chanced that
in one of their sports Noel was nearly drowned,
when Gilbert hastened to the rescue. From being
rivals they became friends after this event, and
Gilbert was invited to spend some time at Lang-
hope Tower, the residence of Mr. Forester. This
latter gentleman, grateful for the preservation of
his son, and interested in Gilbert's intelligence,
was anxious to befriend him, but circumstances
prevented the youth availing hinaself of what might
have been of substantial service to him. The long
antagonism that had existed between Gertrude
Massonger and her nephew at last reached a
climax. On his return from a visit to Lang-
hope, Miss Messenger announced her . inten-
tion of her nephew's commencing to prepare for
the ministry. This Gilbert refused, be felt un-
qualified for the task, and he possessed sufficient
discrimination to be aware of the unworthiness of
assuming a sacred charge when not fitted. Besides
his aunt had made religion distasteful to him, as a
child, she had dwelt on its terrors, and represented
its judgments, till now when arrived at years of
discretion, the impression remained when the fear
had vanished. With good intentions Gertrude had
done great harm. He whose childhood had shrunk
from the terrors of the law, could not go forth in
manhood to preach the gospel of love. After a
stormy altercation Gilbert departed at night from
the dreary place where ho had passed so many dark
days. Now commenced a now era ; he began life
again, the former things were passed away like a
dream; after the restraint of his childhood, the bard
study of his boyhood, he went forth in youth free
as air, with no tie to bind him, and after all his
scholastic attainments he was going to seek to live
by the labour of his hands. This change was wel-
comed by him, however, for any toil or trouble
seemed nothing, in comparison to the sense of free-
dom that was his. "He was prepared to work
hard, and live hard." He was fortunate in being
engaged by a considerate man, one who appreciated
him, and also he interested in his behalf the good
offices of the clergyman of the parish, a most
worthy and excellent man. He invited the young
outcast to the rectory, where the companionship of
Helen, his grand-daughter, was an agreeable dis-
traction, and the kindness shown to Gilbert by
Mr. Leigh and his employer raised his spirits.
Altogether he did not find the first step in his
fitful pilgrimage so difficult, or so arduous as it is
generally represented. The pleasant time passed
soon enough, the engineer moved away, and Gil-
bert with him. The peaceful village was
exchanged for the crowded city, and the good
clergyman was left, never to be seen again.
Yet the good deeds of the just live after
them, and, though apparently unheeded then, his
counsels and his maxims were rooted in the mind
of Gilbert, to be developed in after days of trial,
and to become a blessing to his blighted life, long
after he who uttered them in hope had slept with
the holy dead. Some years are then passed over,
and we see Gilbert Massenger, after their flight,
sobered and saddened ; his had been no royal road
to renown—lie had worked arduously, and yet
even then he had not achieved any great success.
It is remarked that it is an interesting study to
trace the careers of those who fight the battle of
life " in their rude natural armour of talent and
energy," and to see them " come in conquerors."
Yet not to all is the crown of victory, it is truly
said. Titus Gilbert's kind friend, who had eagerly
assisted him at the first outset, was called away
as everything seemed to prosper and promise
around him. " Most of us can call to mind some
friend who departed out of our sight at the begin-
ning of our journey. When we were coming to the
heat of the day, we have been called upon to pass
by a grave. Perhaps when nearing the end of our
journey, and looking back, we may espy it quiet,
and holy, in the green laml: of the past, and wish,
wearily wish, that we too had been eased of our
burden, instead of tramping on until the night is
at hand, and we still far from God's Inn of Peace."
" All along the way we have come there rise these
mounds of warning, yet none speaks to us so
forcibly as that made among the spring flowers,
while the dew of morning was still sparkling on
every leaf." On renewing our acquaintance with
Gilbert, we find him returning to his native place ;
but ho was again unfortunate—it seemed destined
that he should not be recognised at home. He
brought a plan for improving and draining some
waste land in the neighbourhood ; but the wise
heads of Ashton-le-Forde were not favourable to
the march of mind, and what they did with yes-
terday would content them with to-day. Gilbert
made an attempt to sea his aunt, but overheard
her refuse, and hurried away. He was not to depart
utterly friendless, however, for he made the acquaint-
ance of William Grahame, the brother of the
Doctor who presided over the Grammar School.
By this latter gentleman also, Gilbert was warmly
welcomed, and the conclusion of their conference
was, that he went to London with William Grahame,
who determined to find him enployinent ; a new
prospect was thus opened for our hero, and while
his new friend procured him occupation that he
earnestly desired, his home likewise afforded a charm
and au attraction. The niece of Mr. Grahame's
who enlivened his house, was the Helen of early
days, the grand-daughter of the clergyman, Mr.
Leigh, who had befriended Gilbert when first going
out in the world alone. The intercourse was soon
renewed, and the visits to Norwood became bright
periods
in the life of the aspirant. For a brief
space all seemed to smile on his path ; he had
achieved some desirable employment, he had se-
cured a willing and able friend, and for the first
time in his life he seemed to claim kindred with
human instincts, and to bow at the shrine of
earthly affections. This was the one smooth road
that he mob with in his rugged pilgrimage, but
this soon ended, and lie found the after dulness
more intolerable. It was ten times more dark and
desolate to continue the desert march in sober real-
ity after his fancy had seen it crowned in beauty,
and its wilderness blossoming as the rose. The
state in which Gilbert found himself upon return-
ing to his aunt's house, and finding her laid a corpse
before him, to teach him in death the lesson it had
been denied her in life to inculcate was an awful
ens. He found out that it was not from coldness,
or hardness of heart that hie aunt had become so
stern and forbidding ; it was from the struggles of
her mind in early life to fulfil the dictates of duty.
From being passionate she had appeared frozen.
It was her painful lot to discover that there was
madness in her family, and from that hour she
never smiled again. She had been engaged, Gilbert
learnt, to his old friend William Grahain°
but
she would not see him again.
wishnot
to
She i s determinedher
to perpetuate the race of m:sery; ietxre, but he
enable her nephew to emulate her ainpi
left her when too young to comprehend the cloud
that hung ever him.
Nov he recognised
histhatupheld
to encourage
irirealagteloonr
through a long life with no
support her, and
he
but
nerved and incited to go
and do likewise.
but a mind like his could not
rest after receiving such a shock, and he could not,
like Gertrude, bury himself in the routine of daily
life and the observance of simple duties. He re-
nounced all ties that bound him to England, and
he went forth a wanderer. He sought out the
woods of the wild West, where only those had
penetrated who were solitudeseekingle himself.
They were " mighty hunters," who, from the
depths of their eternal forests, looked forth with
contempt en the trammels of the world's restraints,
and eschewed conventional forms and usages.
Here in this majestic solitude the man of iron, as
his schoolfellows had termed him, found a con-
genial home ; it was a city of refuge to his vigorous
mind and resolute character. For nearly twenty
years he remained there, and a solemn satisfaction
now usurped the place of his former discontent.
He made inquiries of home at last, and the result
was that he returned, and after a strange and out-
cast noontide he spent the evening of his days in
the circles of his friends. There were some painful
and startling changes to get over. Helen Grahame
was now married to Noel Forester, his old rival,
and. their family was flourishing
and prospering,
all united iu welcoming back the wanderer. The
sight of Helen's son, whom she bad sent with his
father to invite Gilbert to their house, dispelled
the illusion that had hung over him •so many
years. "He passed from the old dream-land of
.svreet memories to the clear TiTiol- tlaig74 of to'