The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-22

minds to see him no more. II will be sad trial
TO him and to us, for somehow the boy has become
very near 10 me; but better bear this, than the
slightest suspicion of scheming for the end OF
which that old man spoke.
As usual, they questioned not his wisdom new.
ertheless, the heart Of Jane Ward yearned after
the child Of her adoption, and Mercy sorrowed
bitterly but silently, at the thought Of meeting
him NO more About week after his fathers
visit to the Hollow, Isaac, with heart teemine
With hope aud faith, came up the green lane, pau.
sed few moments on the fat stone by the bars
where he had first met with Mercy, then passed
| on to his fathers house Miller Jed, save when
under the influence Of some ungovernable burs,
Of anger, was q man of few words He had de-
cided to waste no breath upon his sons whms, for
49, ASss .S..s xser.ssss, eftsc 80 - s. xsich h5
J had not the slightest doubt. Therefore, begreet
} - H. - 49,, h-s-s odd 1is.s--s y
dosged silence while Isaac spoke humbly but elo.
I uNeN<ly " the change in his views aud his
hopes and wishes of the future, and, at his usua
early hour, retired TO his bed without . word Of
comment The young man found hope in hi,
silence, and fervently thanked God for disposine
his fathers heart 10 listen favorsby to his request
Thc.next morning. instead OF going TO the mil
| .s usuS the old maH was busy FOR some time In
hisown room. Presently he called for Isaac to joir
him, and laying before him upon the table Q
great black leathern pocket-book, stuffed to burst
ing with papers Of all hues, babe him see whether
| his school larnin" could tell how much those
| papers were worth. The spider-like old Miller
seated himself at one end Of the table, and KEEP
his glittering eyes steadily on his prey, Will,
Isaac, pencil in hand, examined the different notes
and mortgages, and made an estimate of their
amount.
@Four thousand seven hundred and sixty dol
lars,n he said at length, running his pencil again
up the column Of figures, to see that they were
correct.
"Right four thousand seven hundred and sixty
dollars repeated the old spider, and this year,
interest will make il trihe over five thousand
pretty nest-egg that, Isaac; wonder IL any
minister can show as good one he added, with
a willy glance at his son, as with his crooked fin
gers be tenderly replaced the papers In the queer
old receptacle.
Perhaps not" was the reply they are men
who live with higher aim than to lay up treas
ure on earth Theirs is, trust, in Heaven"
"Aye, |, for one, am pretty sure it amt here, "
chuckled the old man "but, come, boy, want
you to 20 up the hill with me"
Carefully placing the old pocket.book in the
breast pocket Of his coat he led the way through
the dewy ieldsin silence. When they reached the
highest point of the ridge that overlooked Wards
Hollow, for the first time the old man paused, II
was beautiful scene that lay before them. On
the east stretched out the deep green woods along
the farther edge of which crept the winding mill
stream, until, meeting the resistance Of the heavy
dam, its waters recoiled upon themselves, and lay
spread out in motionless silence, like young
heart when it first finds its love and trust dshon-
ored On the west, lay the green Hollow, over
whose rich midsummer beauty streamed those
pensive CLEANS Of golden light, the first faint
prophecy Of autumn. Isaac gazed abroad with a
full heart. Like that heart, nature seemed over.
flowing with love- A benediction seemed Ia
breathe forth from everything, and he blessed God
for life-aye even for breath He thought OF
Mercy, of his silent but ever-deepening love for
her-of the time when he might fold her to his
heart as the crown of all blessings; then rude
hand was laid upon his shoulder. and mis- fathers
shrill tones fell upon his ears.
at is goodly bit, boy. From the Red hills
yonder to the river, and from the road clean away
up to Monroes Notch, it is mine; secured by
good warrantee deeds upon record Aye, you may
we'll stare" he continued, seeing Isaac's vacant
look; tits not many men that can show farm
| like that, worth good Ave thousand dollars to-day
to say nethins ~ sh~ s>ili saeA A~izxs III, ou "a
| average, two hundred year more. 1t took along
head to get all this property, Isaac will take quit
as long an one to keepit. have spent een-a-most
thousand dollars-e en-a- most athoussnd, to teact
you how to keep it, and to add now and then apen
nyto il for who knows how much more nigh
| not have got, If had only known enough abou
the points of the law You do know enough, AM
It shall all be yours, only, mark me, boy, mus
| have no more nonsense about priests You must b
| lawyers rich lawyer, Isaac and nothing else
81 know how much you have done for me
father. Believe me, am not ungrateful, but d.
not drive me into profession in which know
shall never succeed don't care for money, only
| let me follow the way which my concence snd"-
"Don't csrefor money! screamed the old Mil
Ter, aghast "Are you mad, or fool, or both How
often have told you that man could succeed II
anything, il he only had money enough
aFather! fatherp exclaimed the young man
that there is something better, higher, worthiel
Of life's devotion, than money. 1t Is Gods love-
his peace Has not Christ himself said, "Whai
shall it profit man, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soulW
"Don't talk to me about souls" angrily ex
| claimed the father. These see and know" he
continued, pointing over the rich fields he called
his own, and .hesen he added, striking his hand
upon his breast where lay the swollen pocket-book
abut of souls, you nor know nothing. And,
nown he went on, seeing Isaac about to speak, 81
can't stand parleying here. Once, for all, are you
going to obey mel Will you be lawyer or
notp
The young man moved back and forth hurri.
edly for few moments, then, with one glance al
| the lovely landscape and the blue heavens be
| fronted his father, and said, sadly but firmly:
"Had you left it to me- father, or even con-
suited me, 1 should never have chosen the profes-
sion of law. Not that it is not honorable and
great-even sublime in its principles and aims
but our views Of it are widely different. Were
| to follow it, you would be sadly disappointed
| for never would consent to advocate cause
| knew to be wrong; never would stoop to become
the instrument Of oppression and injustice. When
| think how some Of these very lands have been
won, cannot, dare moi, obey youD
Damnation y exclaimed the father, trembling
with disappointment and anger. "Then not 1
cent shall you have Of mine, to save you from thu
poor-house. Go, and my curse 90 with you
he added, as he sprang hastily down the hill
side
Isaac sank down upon shelving rock, and
covering his eyes with his hands, as IL that beau
tiful scene had suddenly become painful to him
strove to collect his troubled thoughts Ii was
fearful moment. All his past life, all his futur
hopes. seemed pressed into it, and he could ONLY
bow his head, and, in the anguish Of his spirit
CRY. uOur Fsther!n As IL in answer to tina
PRAYER. a calmer mood came to bless him. III
carefully scrutinized all the circumstances OF HI
short life, and the motives that had led him to re
nounce course which he felt could only be Z
him death-in-life. Then came the memory o
his old nurses lengends ofthe early martyrs, snt
his imagination kindled. lie that loveth lathe
or mother more than me, IL not worthy OF me-
he murmured, as be arose and slowly took tn
way toward the old farmhouse in the Hollow
Just as he entered thcket Of young birch, q
the foot of the hill, he met boy with a fishing
rod over his shoulder, who placed ia his hands
letter, saying, old Captain Ward had given hin
some pennies to carry 1t 10 the mill. lssso knew
the old mans habits; something unusual mus
have occurred TO rouse him TO the effort OF vri