Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-11-06

knives, OF scrub the pavement. No one talk
ed to her, except to say, ''Susy do this :" or
"Susy, why didn't you do as | babe you !"
Now and then she had a visit from Jerry,
when his master was in port. He was al
ways very affectionate, and longed for the
time when he should be a man, and able to
have his sister live with him. But after a
few years, he came no more; and as neither
of thom could write, they had no means Of
communication
When Susan grew older, and there were
no more babes to tend. she was mostly con-
fined to the cellar kitchen, from which she
looked ont upon stone steps and a brick wall.
Her mistress had decided objections to her
forming acquaintances in the neighborhood,
and for several years the young girl scarcely
held communion with any human being, ex-
cept the old cook. Even her beauty made
her less a %favorite; for when company came
in, it was by no means agreeable to Mrs.
Andrews 10 observe that the servant attracted
more attention than her own daughter. Her
husband spent very little of his time at home,
and when there, was usually asleep. But
one member of the family was soon conscious
of a growing interest in the orphan. Master
Robert, a year older than herself, had been a
petulant, over-indulged bow, and was now a
selfish, pleasure-seeking lad. In juvenile
days, he had been in the habit of ordering
the little servant to wash his dog, and of
scolding at her, if she did no: black his shoes
to his liking. But as human nature devel-
oped within him, his manners towards her
gradually sofiened for he began to notice
that she was a very handsome girl. Having
obtained from his sister d promise not 10 re-
veal that he had said anything, he represent
cd that Susy ought to have better clothes, and
be allowed to go 10 meeting sometimes. He
said he was sure the neighbors thought she
was very meanly clad, and he had heard that
their servants made remarks about it. He
was not mistaken in supposing that his mo-
Their would be influenced by such arguments.
She had never thought of the alms-house
child in any other light than as a machine for
her convenience; but if the ~ncighbors talked
about her meanness, it Was certainly neces-
sary to enlarge Susy's privileges. In answer
to her curious inquiries, her daughter repeat
ed that Mrs. Jones' girl had said SO and SO,
and that Mrs. Smith, at the next door, had
made a similar remark to Mrs. Dickson
Whether this gossip was or was not invented
by Robert, it had the effect he desired. Su-
san, now nearly sixteen years of age, obtain
ed a better dress than she had ever before
possessed, and was occasionally allowed to
go to meeting on Sunday afternoon. AS Mrs.
| ftilulOWo USlOD1Cu v IL NbIN HCIlle6l CnuICn,
she could not, of course, take a servant girl
with her. But the cook went to a Methodist
meeting, where the poor had the GOSPEL
preached TO them,' and there a seat was hired
for Susan also. Master Robert suddenly be-
came devotional, and was often seen at the
same meeting. He had no deliberately bad
Intentions; but he was thoughtless by nature,
and selfish by education. He found pleasant
excitement in watching his increasing power
over the young girls feelings; and sometimes,
when he qu3ried within himself whether he
was doing right to gain her affections, and
what would come of it all, he had floating
visions that he might possibly educate Susan
and make her his wife. These very vague
ideas he impressed so definitely on the mind
of the old cook, aided by occasional presents,
that she promised to tell no tales. Week af-
ter week, the lovers sat together in the same
pew, and sang from the same hymn-book.-
Then came the meetings after the family had
retired to rest, to which secresy gave an ad-
ditional charm. The concealment was the
only thing that troubled Susan with a con-
seriousness of wrong and he easily persuaded
her that this was a duty, in order to screen
him from blame. "Was it his fault that he
loved her!" he asked. she was sure
he could not help it." She, on her part,
part, could not help loving him deeply and
fervently. He was very handsome, and she
delighted In his beauty, as naturally as she
had done in the flower, when her heart leap
ed, and called it a R~osenglory.
Since her brother went away, there was no
other human bosom on which she could rest
her weary head +; no other lips spoke loving
ly to her, no other eye-beams sent warmth
into her soul. If the gay, the prosperous,
and the fattered find it pleasant to be loved,
how much mere so must it be to one whose
life from infancy had been SO darkened p
Society reflects its own pollution on feelings
which nature made beautiful, and does cruel
injustice to youthful hearts by the grossness
of its interpretations. Thus it Jared with
poor Susan. Late one Summers night, she
and Robert Were sitting by the open win.
dow of the breakfast room. All was still in
the streets; the light of the moon shone
mildly upon them, and hushed their souls in
to quiet happiness. The thoughtless head oil
sixteen rested on the impossible heart OIL
seventeen, and then they fell asleep.
Mrs. Andrews had occasion for some cam
phor, in the course of the night, and it chan
ced to be in the closet of that room. When
she entered in search of it, she started back
as if she had heard the report of a pistol
No suspicion of the existing state of things
had ever crossed her mind and now that she
discovered it, il never occurred to her tina
she herself was much to blame. Her OWL
example, and incidental remarks not intended
as education, but which in fact were so, had
taught her son that the world was made fol
him to get as much pleasure in il as posi-
bic, without reference to the good of others
She had cautioned him against the liability
OF being cheated in money matters, had in,
structed him how to make the eheaDesi
bargains, in the purchase of clothing or a.
; mnsement; but against the most inevitable
Q ana most insidious temptations of his life he
d mad received no warning. The sermons h,
heard were about publicans and pharisees
Y who lived eighteen hundred years ago; none
OF them met the wants of his own life. none
OF them interpreted the secrets of his owr
q heart' or revealed the rational laws of IN,
senses. AS for Susan, the little fsh. 0oate,
alohg by the tide, were not more ignorant 0
hydrostatlcs, than she was of the hidden dan
gers and social regulations, in the midst q
le winch she lived. Roberts love had bloome,
e. IN Her dreary monotonous life. live ,ba NJ