Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-06

stanger.
81 am, Madam" replied he, raising
his keen, dark eyes from his plate, and
fixing them on her face with look of
true Yankee inquisitiveness, but yet
blended with an air of perfect good breed
ing.
The landlady 'hesitated, as if between
her wish to make further inquiries, and
the fear of offending gentleman and a
guest.
He saw her embarrassment, and to re-
lieve it, carelessly inquired if she had any
friends in New-England.
ooh no, Sir, no. she eagerly replied !;
+" but here is poor family from that part
of the country distressed family, Sir !;
and though my husband tells me never
to be troubled with such stuff, yet,
sir, the poor woman begged me SO ear
nestly, if saw any body from New
England, would let her know. And
thought, too, you looked like clergy
man."
"And Yankee, of course" said the
gentleman, smiling, and glancing his eye
on his black coat. Its well-brushed APP
pearance and the desire of its wearer 10
be alone, had been, in the mind of the
landlady, proof positive of the holy calling
of her guest. She made small mistake.
1t was not the spiritual, but the civil law
that Arthur Erskine was commissioned
10 expound and defend. But humanity is
not professional, nor generosity and be-
nevolent mind always put on with the cas-
sock. Arthur Erskine had heart of
flesh, and he never said to the child of
misfortune, "Depart in peace when he
was neither warmed nor fed. He per-
formed his duties cheerfully, and never
boasted of the performance. A christian
he was, but more in practice than profess
sion.
He did not, however, undeceive the
landIady respecting his function. He
listened to the recital of tale of sorrow
with earnest attention, and then with the
promptness that should always character
ize willing charity, said-"I will visit
this family Immediately, you, Madam,
will apprise them of my intention, and
they are prepared to admit me"
The landlady departed to ascertain.
Arthur Erskine had stipulated to be
alone. He was seated with his back to-
wards the artist, and forgetting that he
was not alone, he said, with deep sigh,
How many poor emigrants to this bound
less West are now yearning for the quiet
homes they leftin our peaceful New-Eng-
land"
'"Your Yankees are too sanguine Of
success, and too eager to obtain riches,
said the artist. Erskine turned round.
The man had laid down his pencil, and it
was evident he wished to converse. The
brown study in which Erskine had been
intending to indulge through the evening,
had been interrupted by the landlady in a
manner that entirely dissipated its pleas.
ing illusions. He no longer wished for
solitude, but esteemed the presence of the
artist as very lucky incident. When
two persons are mutually DESTROYS of en-
tering into conversation, an acquaintance
may easily be commenced.
81 think, Sir" said the artist, "that
the New-England people are naturally OF
cool temperament, sensible, wary and
calculating but when once their imagi-
nations or passions are thoroughly excited.
you cannot turn them from the bent Of
their humour, or convince them they have
mistaken their own interest. You may
as easily direct the whirlwind, or stay the
course of torrent with the rushes on its
bank"
"We are rather obstinate / confess.
when our resolution is formed" said Frs.
kline.
"Yes, and you think nothing you de-
termine on impossible in performance OF
attainment" replied the artist. /" have
seen many of your Yankees who come
here with their families, almost destitute
as Adam when he was banished from
from Eden, and yet they were expecting
to amass the wealth of princes, and attain
the highest honours of the State. This en-
thusiasm is shared, too, by the women, and
even little children. never saw finer il,
Illustration fthe pleasures of hope" than
witnessed a few weeks since. spent
month last summe. wandering over the
Allegheny hills, and during my rambles
l fell in with family who were removing
from Connecticut to Ohio. | saw them
first at MONDAY, as they were about to
rest for an hour or two. The horses were
loosed from the wagon I can show you
sketch of the scene; | took it at the time
and have since bestowed some pains to re-
touch and finish it. Indeed, think | sue
ceeded tolerably well in giving the spirit
and peculiar character of the individuals
to their respective pictures, and that is the
perfection of our art"
"Yes, but to impart the character OF
person to his picture, tits necessary,
presume, that you know somewhat OF his
history" said Mr.. Erskine.
Exactly So" returned the artist
" But had fine opportunity for that.
n H..