The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-07-14
The Power Of Fiction,
by IT'S. ARTHUR.

Than Deacon Prescott a more unyicding
opponent OF fiction, in all lis forms, was no.
where to be found. lie denounced allcom.
posed histories as lies, and referred the
origin this particular order Of literature to
the Father OF Lies. Ii was but rarely that
Deacon Prescott had patience TO reason
with any one on the subject. To him the
truth Of his position was SO clear, that he
felt irritatcd when others attempted 10 sus-
tain an opposite opinion. Knock down ar
gumcnts were his weapons in dealing with
the Monster lniquity, as he was pleased to
call it.
Unfortunately for the peace of Deacon
PreScottS household, his sons and daughters
by no means agreed with him as to the sim
lulncSS of fiction. In spite of his most
watchiul care, novels and tales were obtain
ed and read by them in secret, with AN avi-
dity increased by the fact that the pleasure
was aStolen Que. Mary, quiet, thoughtful,
loving Mary Prescott, who, from the time
her sweet young mouth could take kiss
! from her fathers lips, up to the period when
the bud Of girli>h beauty expanded into the
| lovely young woman, had been acknowl J.
edged by the Deacon as his most precious
| gift of lleavcn-Savine, always, her mother
even Mary, in the solitude Of her little
chamber, long after the household had re-
tired for the night, would often lose herself
for hours in the deep spell thatles in lnvan-
hoe, Waverly, kenilworth, and other mas
ter.pieces of fictitious history, from the
pen of gifted noveliStS. Often, as the
! light of morning came stealthily in. and
blending with, at length destroyed the dim
rays Of the feeble lamp, Mary started with
surprise to find that the night was past; and
hiding away the fascinating book, that had
caused her to take no note of time, threw
herself upon the bed to catch an hours sleep
before joining the family, and entering into
the regular duties Of the day.
Sometimes Deacon Prescott would dis
cover a stray volume of romance, and then
came trouble TO the guilty one who had
dared introduce the ''moral poison" Blu,
it did not all do. Mrs. Radcliffe, Scott
Cooper, and dozens of others, were familiar
names among the young members of the
family. The evil resulting from Deacon
PrescottS rigid views and practice Oh the
subject of fiction, was that it ceased to bo
the rational guide OF his children. Had he
wisely Disseminated on this subject, hC
would have understood that there was Z
wide difference between a mere fctciou,
history, in which imaginary characters ar,
TO appear and act out their ultimate conse
quences, and deliberate falShood uttered
withthe end TO deceive. lie would hav,
seen that there was power in fiction tina
might be made TO SubServo good as well a,
evil purposes; and instead of intcrdictr!
light reading, sit is called, altogether, have
introduced that which was clevating TO hi
children, and thus being their guide whcr,
one was 50 much needed.
But instead Of this. he condemned all a
bad; and the inevitable consequence wa
that his children, unable to see that he wa
right, obtained novels and romanceS, anC
read them in secret. Two evils were tn,
result. Ia the frs; place, they dsobeye,
their father, and lost respect for his iudg
mcut; and, in the second place, with n,
guide to "A selection Of hooks, read the goo,
and bad Unfortunately. Nor was per
version OF taste, so far as bad books were
read, the only consequence. Mary'S healtl
she was Of delicate constitution-fron
siuingup late ut night, and often i'll col,
room, TO devour, rather than read, the fas
chatting works Of fiction that she was ablt
TO obtain from one source or another, wa
seriously injured; and her parents remark
Cd, with anxiety, her altered appearance
without in the least SuSpecting the cause.
Thus matters went on, until Mary, ST
deeply loved by her father, was addresSc,
by young man for whom Deacon Prescott
entertained dislike almost equal to VIVA
he ieltfor novels and tales of fiction. Tn,
rigid, uncompromiSing old Puritan, the mo
mcnt he saw what was going or, acted will
his usual decision. There was no tcmpori
ains in his policy.
MARY, if that young man comes here a
gain, shall request him not to repeat hi
visit said the father, ON the occasion of Ed
ward Baldwn's first formal visit to I'll,
lovely maiden.
Tears came into the eyes Of Mary, and
bright flush to her cheek. Her head droop
cd, and her bosom hcavcd strongly; but Sh,
, made no answer, and rs soon as il was re
Spcctlul TO do so, arose and left her father
presence.
Deacon Prescott considered the matter a
settled. Mary had always been n loving
Obcdicnt child, and the thought that sh
, would 20 directly counerto his wishes, di
not once cross his mind. But hc erred
: The very fact OF opposition to the youn
man caused her to think ofhim with NOR
favor. She could not understand the objcc
ton as any thing but an unloundcd prcju
: dice.
Baldwin came again, and the Deacon tru
to his purpose, desired him not to repeat hi
, visit. The manner in which it was don
was offensive, and the young man was in
diynant but it did not touch his regard 70
Mary, to whom he wrote long letter, full
declaring the nature of his feelings for he
} and begging her to give him an interview