The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, AUGUST %, 1850.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

MARTHA RUSSELL.
ain vain dc individuals hope for Immortality, AM
patent presentations below the moon ther
Is .ote against the opium Of time which temporarily
condrsth ali things the greater part must be content
be though they had beento be found 10 the reste
Of God not in the record Of Man"Sir Thomas Brocn.
Nearly a century and a quarter ago, pleasant
group were gathered round the blazing fire in the
comfortable dwelling Of David Allen, one Of the
settlers of our village. II was keen, clear, win
ter night, the stars shone with unwonted bril-.
liancy the vast shadows Of the unbroken forest
stretched motonless across the pure snow giving
a still more solemn and mystical seeming to the
deep silence which brooded over the scene, undis'
turbed save by the sudden cry Of some night.bird
. es Wild hesrt 9r o -~ssaie~sl Shssnreport from
the ce-bound ponds in the vicinity, as their gilt
teripg mail splintered beneath the quiet moon
beams,
But within there was warmth and comfort, and
that happiness which ever arises from the convic-
ton of day well spent. The great Fireplace
though it stretched across nearly one side Of the
room, was none too spacious for the blazing logs
that filled it; none too wide for the three gen.
erations gathered round it.
Alas alas in these days when the free bold
spirit of that most useful of household servants
is cramped and broken by confinement in uncouth
iron prisons, when catch glimpses Of its cheer.
full face only through the narrow bars Of its iron
mask, we can form little conception Of its
own intrinsic beauty, or how kindly it was wont
to fling its warm colorings and delicate shades
over the meanest household group, with an arts.
tic grace which Titan himself might have envied
Like the Free glad element that it was, it danced
and cracked in the broad fireplace of Farmer
Allen, on the night Of which we speak, thrustine
its long spearlike tongues between the great log'
that fed it, sending forth whole showers of glow
ing sparks az the Farmer occasionally thrust back
protruding stick with his heavy boot, cha
sing the dark shadows into corners and little re-
cesses lingering with softened, delicate CLEAN
on the pale features and sivery locks Of the su-
perannuated grandame, as she safe in her antique
armchair in the swarm corner" nodding occa-
sioually, as if to keep company with the youngest
little one at her side, who every few moments
rubbed his round eyes with his chubby fists stared
6xedly mt the fire, and then the white lids fell
d-owsily down, and with sudden nod HIS dimpled
chin rested on his breast. Then, how merrily the
blaze winked back at him, and danced lightly over
the curly heads of three or four other urchins
to the farther end of the huge "settle,n to peer
into the pretty face of Dorcas Allen, the eldest
daughter of the house, as she not unfrequently
lifted her eyes from her knitting to the face Of
her buoyant. hearted, handsome cousin, who sal
beside her, conversing with her father and moth
er. or with heightened color answered his que
ries as he turned to her for information with re-
spect to their young companions, for Isaac B.
was stranger as it were in his native village
having spent most Of the last two years un
der the tuition of the Rev Abraham Pierson, o.
Kilingworth, or rather Kenneiwonh, as the ole
colonial records have it, first rector Of that in
FAINT college which since, under the name Of Old
Yale has, banyan-like, spread its shoots over
thirty different States
Isaac had much to tell of his life at Mr.. Peir
sons, of his studies and his classmates; and his
simple relations lacked not their full quota Of
local news marriages, births, deaths, clearings
raisings, TO say nothing Of the meeting house,
the first meeting house," which had been erect.
ell during Isaac's absence, and which was an in
ekhaustible source of pride and interest to the
villagers
"Well, Isaac,n said goodman Allen, taking q
final squint at the w-pin he had been whiting
and carefully brushing the shavings from his
homespun trowsers 81 suppose chopping comes
rather hard to you, after idlin' so many months
over your books in old Mr. Persons study
Idling only wish you had to study as hart
for one week, uncle. But can manage to keel
up with Sam yet, and that is little more thar
any one else can say in thece parts, fancy,n re
piled tho young man, or rather boy, laughing.
I" Hain't quite forgot your old knack at brag
ging Isaacn said the uncle, with quiet smil,
To listen to you and Sam, one would think yo
would turn the world over"
May be shall, some day he replied, gaily
shall, at least, try hard to do it for the to
round of the ladder must be mine, uncle, or none
and you see have long way to clmbn
Isaac, Isaac, will you nepey be content wit
your lot ~ said his quiet aunt Esther
No, aunt, not as long as I feel that there is
better and nobler one within my reach"
" Betterp exclaimed goodman Allen, in sur
prise. Now, hear that! Why, one would thin
you were born pauper. Where in the whole town
ship are there two boys better of than Sam an
you, I'd like to know. You surely needn't grum
bic because Sam had the main portion Of you
fathers land II would 20 to him, of course a
the eldest. Your portion will eddicate you, an
give You fair start in the world, to say notbin
OF your mothers jointure, which will be yours a
her death. Never talk in that way, boy; 1t l
downright tempting Providsncen
Uncle David, Aunt Estherlv said the boy in
dgnantly, "you don't understand me! | don
care for money. Indeed, despise 1t, hate Il
when | see what slaves II makes of men no,
"ey plod on year after year, blind and deaf I
everything but the blinking Of the dollars as the
sfaPe them into their bags Better die at ono
'aan to live a life like thatp
"Childp said the old grandmother, in he
quAVering tones, as, reused by the excited voic
Of her grandson, shs reached Across goodma
Allen, and laid her shrivelled hand commanding
upon his head, "Childi be not wise In thin
ONn conoeit Walk In the footsteps Of thy father
70 snait thou find safety and peace
The next moment she had sunk back in he
usual attitude and seemed to have lost all cor
'c'ousness Of their presence.
urandmothsr Il right, Isaac, though It's
ons time since have heard her svsak 20 COZ
Asc'edly" said David Allen "Oid paths are III
Wisest and bessp
Under your favor, uncle, think not WIS
Luther, Calvin, Pyn, Haupden Russell An