Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-10-28


ged him by all means to accept the offer
when you were little boy, !" said she, .'yoa
were always eager to know about countries a
great way of. But we little thought then that
our cackllng hens would ever bring YOU such
golden opportunity
Johns satisfaction would have been com
plete, if he could have taken Esther with him
TO that balmy cline. But she had many obiec-
tons TO offer. She said her rustic manners
untitled her for the elegant circles in which he
would move; and he replied that she could
catch the tone ofpolished society far more read
lily than he could. She reminded him that
their parents needed his assistance TO repair
the old dllapidaied homestead. and 10 purchase
cows; and that he had promised to devote 10
their use the hrst money he could spare. He
sighed, and made no answer; for he feltthat his
pecuniary resources were altogether Inadequate
TO his generous wishes. Again the question
returned, "Why cannot women 20 abroad, and
earn their own way in the world as well as
men ~ The coming ages answered him, but
he did not hear the prophecy
AT last the hour of parting came. Painful
II was TO both, but far more painful to Esther.
The young man went forth to seek novelty
and adventure; the young woman remained a.
lone, IN the dull monotony OF an nneventful
HE. Aud more than this, she felt a mourn
ful certainty that she should never behold her
darling brother again, while he was cheered
by hopes OF happy reunion, and was forever
bulldog the most romantic s'castles in Spain. y
She never told him how i'll she was: and he
thought her interrupted breath was caused by
merely the choking emotions ofa8 oyercharg-
ed heart
He deposited with friend more money
than he could have prevailed on her TO accept,
and made choice collection Of books and en-
cravings during his absence. To the last mo-
ment he spoke of coming for her next year. and
carrying her to the sunny hills Of Spain With
n liant smile she promised to learn Spanish,
that she might be able to talk with her brother
Don Scolardo and so with mutual struggle to
suppress their tears. the brother and sister, who
I had gone so lovingly, hand in hand, over the
rough paths of this life, parted just where the
glancng summit of his hopes rose bright be
fore him.
A letter written on board ship was full of
cheerful visions ofthe quiet literary home they
would ENJOY together IN the coming years.
The next letter announced his arrival in Spain.
Oh, the romantic old castles, the picturesque
mills, the rich vineyards, the glowing oranges,
the great swelling punches of grapes! He
|, was half wild with enthusiasm, and seemed TO
have no annoyance, except the fact that he
could not speak modern languages. 81 ouph,
not" said he, ''to complain Of the collge edu-
cation for which we toed so hard, and which
has certainly opened for me the closed gate
way Of a far nobler life than could probably
have entered by any other means. But after
: all, dear Esther, much of my time and money
was spent for what | cannot bring into use,
and shall therefore soon forget. Even my La
TN was not taught me in a way that enables
ltY,a IN. toll l. al. =
meet. BY the light Of my present experience.
can certainly devise better plan Of educa
ton for my son, if | ever have one Mean
, while, dear sister, do not work too hard; and
, pray study French and Spanish with all dill
/ gence; for laugh as thou wilt at my castles
. in SPAIN | will surely come and bring thee
here. Think of the golden oranges and great
luscious grapes, which thou wilt never see
IN their beauty, TIL thou seest them here
Think Of seeing the Ahambra, with its go.
den latticework and flowery arabesques /?
Above all, imagine myself seated under fig
tree. leaning on the bosom Of thy ever loving
brother!"
Poor Esther! This description of a genial
climate made her sigh; for while she read it,
the cold East winds of New England were
cutting her wounded lungs like dagger points
But when she answered the precious letter,
she made no illusions TO this. She wrote
playiully, concerning the health of the cows
and the hens; asked him to inform her what
was cackle in Spanish for she reverenced the
word. and would fam know ii in all languages
Finally, she assured him that she was study
ing buslly, to make herself ready to reside in
the grand castle he was building The tears
came to her eyes. as she folded the letter, but
she turned hastily aside. that they might not
drop on the paper. Never in her life had she
been willing to let her shadow cross his sun
shine.
II was the last letter she ever wrote She
had sought TO crown her brother with laurels
on earth, and his minisiering angel crowned
her with garlands in Heaven
Three years aiterward, John stood by her
humble grave in his native village The tears
flowed fast, as he thought to himself. "And
once blushed for thee, thou great and noble
soul, because thou vert clothed in vulgar
dress All, mean, ungrateful wretch that
was! And how stinted was thy life thou
poor one IA slow grinding martyrdom from
beginning 10 end"
He remembered the wish she had so meek.
ly expressed, that women might have more
liberal education, and wider scope for their
iaeulties.-"For thy sake, thou dear one,"
SAID he, 81 will be the friend and brother ,of
all women. To their improvement aud ele-
Walton will consecrate my talent and NV ed
ucallon. This is the monument will build
70 thee; and believe thy gentle spirit will
bless me for it in Heaven"
He soon after married young woman,
whose character and early history strongly re-
sembled his beloved sisters Aided by her,
he devoted all his energies to the establish
ment OF Normal School for Young Women.
Mind after mind uniolds under his broiherly
care, and goes forth TO aid in the redemption
/ OF Woman, and the slow harmonizing Of our
social discords.
4 Well might little brown feather-top cackle
aloud; for verify her mission was a great one
PULPIT ELooUzNcH.