The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29
SKETCHES OF OUR VILLAGE.
No. 5.
THE FIRST GRAVE.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
mha vain do individuals hope for Immortality, or any
from presentations below the moon there
no aklote against the opium Of time which temporarily
condeh all things the greater part must be content 10
be though they had not beene be found 10 the register
Of God in the record Of Man"sir Thomas Brotem
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 motionless 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 nigbt-bird
or wild beast, or an occasional sharp report from
the iee-bSena ftss.----- - kAnity, AS their ga
teriDg 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 we'll 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
fal 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 artis-
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, thrusting
its long spear-like tongues between the great logs
that fed it, sending forth whole showers Of glow
ing sparks as the Farmer occasionally thrust back
a 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 silvery locks Of the gu
perannuated grandame, as she safe in her antique
armchair in the warm corner" noddng occa-
sionally, 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
drowsy down, and with asudden 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" 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 sat
beside her, conversing with her father and moth
err 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 Of
Killingworth, or rather Kenneiwonh, as the old
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
exhaustibe source of pride and interest to the
villagers.
"Well, Isaacn said goodman Allen, taking o
final squirt at the bow-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"
Illing! only wish you had to study as hare
for one week, uncle. But can manage to keel
up with Sam yet, and that is little more thai
any one else can say in these parts, fancyp re
piled tho young man, or rather boy, laughing.
Hain't quite forgot your old knack at brae
gng, Isasc,n said the uncle, with a quiet smile
ITO listen to you and Sam, one would think 20
would turn the world over"
May be shall, some day. he replied, gaily
! shall, at least, try hard to do ii for the to
round Of the ladder must be mine, uncle, or none
and you see have long way to climb"
Isaac, Isaac, will you nerer be content wit
your lot said his quiet aunt Esther.
No, aunt, not rs long as feel that there is
better and a nobler one within my reach'
=" BetterW exclaimed goodman Allen, in sui
prise " Now, hear thatl Why, one would thin
you were born pauper Wherein the whole towr
ship are there two boys better Of than Sam an
you, I'd like to know. You surely needn't grum
Bile because Sam had the main portion Of you
fathers land II would 70 10 him, of course, O
the eldest. Your portion will eddicate you, an
give you a fair start In the world, to say nothin
Of your mothers jointure, which will be yours
her death. Never talk in that way, boy; 1t
downright tempting Providsncen
"Uncle David, Aunt Estherr said the boy II
dignantly, "you don't understand mel don
care for money. Indeed. despise it, hate
when | see what slaves 1t makes of men /; no
they plOd on year after year, blind and deaf
everything but the blinking Of the dollars as the
scrape them into their bags Better die ut ono
than to live life like that '
"Childp said the old grandmother, in h.
qaavering tones, as, reused by the excited vol,
OF her grandson, she reached across goodma
Allen, and laid her shrivelled hand commanding
" upon his head, "Childi be not wise in thir
own oonoeit Walk in the footsteps Of thy father
90 shalt thou find safety and peaceo
Inc next moment she had sunk back in h.
usual attitude, and seemed to have lost all Co.
seriousness Of their presence
drandmo'hsr IL right, lsasc, though It's
i0ns time since have heard her speak 90 90,
1ec'ediy" said David Allen. "Old paths are u
wisest aud bestn
Under your favor, uncle, think not VIII,
Luther, Calvin, Pym, HAmpden, Russell, an