The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-25


reading to her from Felicia Hemans's poems
They had been left to Susan by Britannia
O'RTey, who bestowed upon her her whole collec-
ton Of books, casts, and pictures, before leaving
the Crags There were few who read poetry
with more appreciation, sympathy, or finer elocu-
ton, than Anna. She was readingthe Growing
of Corinne at the Capitol" and when she fin
ished-
Radiant daughter of the sun!
Now thy living wreath is won.
Crowned of Rome! oh, art thou not
Happy in that glorious ios -
papper, happier far than thou,
With tbs larysl ently hsesy -,-,< ~. p
Is she that makes the humbest hearth,
Lovely but to earth ~
"Read on! like it," said Susan. "There
is the wall of broken heart in every line she
has written"
But Anna resolutely closed the book
"Ths is unhealthy, Miss Susan, this is NOR
bid. in you, in Corinne, and in the poetess whose
sweet but eufeebling strains we have just been
reading. The heart of this ideal Corinne was
destroyed by confagration of passion-what
tben7 She had glorious brain. 1t was impos-
sible to live in a ruin-what then? She might
have lived in palace She had no life in her
affections-well! she might have had glorious
life in her intellect The soul lives in the heart
and in the head-in the affections and in the in
tellect A strong soul driven out from its own
wounded heart ascends into its brain--and finds
a higher if colder life. 1t is only in despair, in
inaction, that such spirit suffers long. The
stronger the faculties of the SOUL the more it suf-
fers in inaction. An idiot will sit all day, and
day after day, happy in idleness; an intelligent
child will be miserable if confined an hour with
out employment or amusement. An extremely
aged person will sit week after week in the same
armchair, in the same corner of the same room,
pleased and happy young person grows weary
if days rain confines him to the house. A fee
bic and sabdued prisoner will linger Gu. ysa-s in
his cell in a sort of torpid resignation healthy,
strong captive struggles and chafes in his letters
The soul is sort Of prisoner in the body-and
the stronger and more healthy it is, the more ii
chafes and frets until it finds its life in actionts
freedom in action. A young person, full of re-
pressed life, health, and energy-full of strong
lassitude listlessness, WEAKNESS of life, for
which they cannot account, especially when they
hear the season of youth spoken of as the season
ofjoy. Such young person will take to reading
or writing sentimental poetry, and grow weaker
more weary, and more useless, every day. Now,
soften the hard-not to liquefy the already soft
The cure of such brain-sick youth is not in that
Let any young man or woman tormented by this
terrible eanui take my word for it, that the nature
of their suffering proves them to possess great
powers undeveloped Let such seek their roea-
ton, and pnrsue it. And this is a sure guide
Let them find out that useful occupation in which
they take the most pleasure, and then bring all
the powers of mind and body to focus to
bear upon that pont--to break down every obsta-
Gle, conquer ever difficulty, and press onward to
the end, however distant, however difficult, how
ever seemingly unattainable-for then at least
the powers of the soul will be brought out in all
their glorious life, energy, and joy Every one
has his talent, and he will suffer in proportion as
he let's it rust in his heart. And this lay down
as q rule, without an exception, that no healthy
human being-however young, beautiful, loving,
and loved, however intellectual, however wealthy,
powerful, honored-that NO HEALTHY HUMAN RE-
ING CAN BE HAPPY WITHOUT LABOR LABOR is
DEsTINyn
am knottngn smiled Susan, with sad sar-
casm, "yet do not find in accumulating yards Of
cotton fringe, and piles of toilet covers and val.
snces, any peculiar pleasure nor am sensible Of
any great happiness in counting these meshes"
".That is not labor, Miss Somerville, though it
serves to calm your nerves. That is not labor il
goes on mechanically, almost without your con
sent; your fingers act as your henrt beats, a.
your lungs breathe, involuntarily. You are
strong, and idle, and you want work. Labor i,
Destiny"
"And how, with your limited knowledge of the
world and Of books, have you arrived at that con
clusion u
Zone does not need library, or a tour round
the world, Miss Somerville, to work out some
things. All human nature is contained in ONT
small village church, had almost. said in on,
small child. All books Of ethics and philosophy
are contained in one pocket Bible The Bible,
few histories, and few poems, have been my
library, as you know. The party at Mont Crys
tai was my tour Of the world. For the rest, Mis-
Susan, while you were loring, was thinking.
saw scores Of young girls and young men at Mon
Crys'ai, all seeming, at first sight, bright ans
happy but all, in proportion to their strength o
soul, deadly weary of the monotonous round o
eating, drinking, dressing and flirting Yet tina
was said to have been a very delightful party
the young people were said to have enjoyed them
selves heartily. knew better they tired Of 4
IN three days, and only continued it because moth
ing better offered by which to employ themselves
No-with all other means and appliances, toll Il
IN indispensable requisite to happiness. As
SAID every one has his or her appointed work
ana Is tormented with restlessness until they
nave found 1t. What do you take most plsasur,
In doing, Miss Susan | know have studied
you, Miss Susan. You are happiest when work
ing ior OTHERS, without mnding what that worl
may o. Miss Susan, you must seek poaitiol
where you can spend your days in the service o
o'nesa could choose . destiny for you, 20,
should be the wife Of some wise, calm, strong
country clergyman, with an extensive aeld o
labor before him But see, No Susan ~ sait
she, suddenly, "while we are talking, you ar,