Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-08-08
s ELE T TALE
THE POWER OF FICTION.
Deacon Prescott and his Daughter.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

inc opponent of fiction, in all its forms, was
nowhere to be found. He denounced all COM
posed histories as lies, and referred the origin
of this particular order of literature to the Fa-
ther of Lies. 1t was but rarely that Deacon
Prescott had patience to reason with any one
on the subject. To him, the truth of his posi-
tron was so clear, that he felt irritated when
Others attempted to sustain an opposite opinion.
knock-down arguments were his weapons in
dealing with the Monster of Iniquity, as he
was pleased to call it.
Unfortunately for the peace of Deacon Pres
colts household, his sons and daughters by no
means agreed with him as to the sinfulness of
fiction. In spite of his most watchful care,
novels and tales were obtained and read by
them in secret, with an avidity increased by
the fact that the pleasure was stolen one
Mary, quiet, thoughtful, loving Mary Prescott,
who, from the time her sweet young mouth
could take a kiss from her fathers lips, up to
the period when the bud of girlish beauty ex-
panded into the lovely young woman, had been
acknowledged by the Deacon as his most pre-
cious gift from Heaven-saving, always, her
mother-even Mary, in the solitude of her lit
tie chamber long after all the houshold had re-
tired for the night, would often lose herself for
hours in the deep spell that lies in Ivanhoe,
Waverly, kenilworth, and other masterpieces
of fictitious history, from the pen of gifted nov
elists Often, as the light of morning came
stealthily in, and blending with, at length des-
troyed the dim rays of the feeble lamp, has
Mary started with surprise to find that the
night was past; and hiding away the fascinat-
of time, thrown 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 discover
a stray volume of romance, and then came
trouble to the guilty one who had dared intro
duce the moral poison But it all did not
do. Mrs. Radcliffe, Scott, Cooper and dozens
of others, were familiar names among the
younger members of the family. The evil re-
sulting from Deacon Prescott's rigid views and
practice on the subject of fiction, was, that he
ceased TO be the rational guide of his children.
Had he wisely Disseminated on this subject he
would have understood that there was a wide
difference between mere fictitious history, in
which imaginary characters are made to appear
and act ont 10 their ultimate consequence certain
good or evil principles, and deliberate false
hood uttered with the end to deceive. He
would have seen that there was power in fic
tion that might be made to subserve good as
we'll as evil purposes; and instead of interdict-
ing light reading, as it Is called, altogether,
have introduced that which was eleyating to
his children, and thus been their guide where
one was so much needed. But instead of this,
he condemned all as bad; and the inevitable
consequence was, that his children, unable to
see that he was right, obtained novels and ro-
mances, and read them in secret. Two evils
were the result. In the first place, they DISC
beyed their father, and lost respect for his
Judgment; and, in the second place, with no
guide to a selection of books read the good
ard the bad indiscrminately. Nor was per-
version of taste. so far as bad books were read,
the only consequence. Mary's health-she
was of delicate constitution-from sitting up
late at night, and often in a cold room, to de-
YOUR, rather than read the fascinating works Of
fiction that she was able to obtain from one
source or another, was seriously injured; and
her parents remarked, with anxiety, her alter
ed appearance, without in the least suspecting
the cause.
Thus matters went on, until Mary, so deep
ly loved by her father, was addressed by
young man for whom Deacon Prescott enter
tanned dislike almost equal to what he felt
for novels and tales of fiction. The rigid, un-
compromising old Puritan, the moment he saw
what was going on, acted with his usual deci-
sion. There was no temporizng in his policy.
Mary, if that young man comes here
again, shall request him not to repeat the
visit said the father, on the occasion of Ed
ward Baldwin's first formal visit to the lovely
maiden.
Tears came to the eyes of Mary, and a
bright flush to her cheeks. Her head dropped,
and her bosom heaved strongly; but she made
no answer, and as soon as it was respectful TO
do so, arose and left her fathers presence.
Deacon Prescott considered the matter as
settled Mary had always been loving, obe-
dent child, and the thought that she would
go directly counter to his wishes, did not once
cross his mind. But he erred The very fact OF
opposition to the young man caused her to think
of him with more favor. She could not under
stand the objection as anything but an unfound-
ed prejudice.
Baldwin came again, and the Deacon, true
to his purpose, desired him not to repeat the
visit. The manner in which this was done
was offensive, and the young man was indig-
nant; but it did not in the least touch his re-
gard for Mary, to whom he wrote long letter
fully declaring the nature of his feelings fol
her. and begging her to give him an interview
They met according to his wish, when pledges
OF affection were exchanged. From that hour
Edward Baldwin was all the world to the true
hearted Mary. They met frequently, at the
house of friend. In due time, thoughts OF
marriage came, and the lovers began to look
forward to union. The desire, on both sides,
to conciliate the father and gain his consent,
was very strong, and an attempt was made by
the young man to effect this. He called upon
the old gentleman, and frankly stated the rela-