The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-22
For toe natlonal FRA.
SKETCHES OF OUR VILLAGE.
No. 4.
THE MILLER.-CHAPrER Nv.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL


yHE MLLER.-CHAPTER Nv.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
Lat be So The barbarous Scythian,
Or hsshss makes bis gsHsr.tion uessss
To gorge his appetite shaA to my bosom
Bsssweil neighbor'd, pitisd, and relieved,
As shou"
Six years passed, eager, anxious, busting years
With Miller Jed, during which he had, spider
like, put forth many cunnipgly-laid thread
around the feet of needy debtors, which would
eventually draw them within his clutches then,
the simpletons, if they made any outcry, Isaac
would be ready to deal with them. In company
with such thoughts as these, the old miser's heart
seemed growing hard as his neither milestone
With the family at the Hollow, these years had
gone by Gas still as starsn The tall figure Of
the old soldier was still unbent, though he leaned
.oftener than of yore on his silver-hesded cane,
the gift Of brother officer, as he passed along on
his way to meeting on sunny Sabbath. A few
white hairs CLEANED upon the widewls temples,
while Mercy had shot up, tall and graceful as a
green willow.
luey uaQ cOuuteu tlulc Ouiy Wy hoo"So '"S"-
tons for then the Hollow regained the old gold
en- glow of sunshine, some Of which, 1t seemed,
he took with him at his departure. His vacations
we're mostly spent there for his own home seemed
cherries and uncomfortable. Even Widow Bar
ker's kind, old, wrinkled face failed to meet
him at last, for her increasing in6rmities had
compelled her to give up her trust, and her
place was occupied by o stranger. Though his
father felt kind of pride In him, and did not
fail to manifest toward him that kind of respect
which ignorance not unfrequently pays to talent,
especially talent which can command money, not
single day passed in which the son did not feel,
with bitterness which made him sick at heart,
the meanness and selfshness Of his fathers char
acter Every visit home deepened this feeling,
and served to convince him that he never could
consent to become the mean, pettifogging oharac-
ter for which his father designed him. Even the
profession itself began to grow repulsive to him
and restless dissatisfied, and unhappy, he entered
upon the last half year Of his term.
About this time commenced that seemingly new
movement in the life of the churches of New
England known under the name of "revivals Of
religion The movement soon reached L.,
and Isaac and his fellow-students were numbered
among the converts ~---.--
Then, how different seemed life, with all its
simsand end, stretching into eternity! If his fa-
theirs life and opinions looked poor and contempt
BILE to him before, what were they now, in the light
of his newly awakened feelings2 How willingly
would he have laid down his life to have made
his father conscious of its wickedness. He felt
that no must see it he could not fail TO do 60
Gods law was so plain. He would strive with
him as never yet child strove with father, and
then, casting aside all worldly ambition, joyfully
20 forth as missionary, to speak the words Of
life unto the suffering millions of earth.
Thus, in words stepped in the glowing enthu.
siasm of his own heart, he wrote to his father
and the family at the Hollow for, though the
close of his term was near at hand, his ardor
could brook no delay.
The Wards received the tidings with unfeign.
ed pleasure. They felt that his talents were
much better adapted to the pulpit than the bar
and they rejoiced in the consciousness that their
teachings aud influence had not been in vain. II
was not 50 with Miller Jed. Not until he had
read the letter over three times, and carefully
amined the handwriting, would he believe that
he was not the object of some hoax. That lsasc
should really think Of opposing his will, he could
not comprehend
Foolp he muttered, contemptuously, does
he think am going to throw away so much money
ona poor cantng priest Aye, see 1t oil now
he continued, suddenly turning pale with rage
this is old Wards scheming He thinks to
marry his grandchld to this whining fool, and
so regain his estate. pll see the devil have then
all first, the poverty stricken old rascal. HI
called me cheat once we'll see who will cheat oil
be cheated, now. I'll fix matters for them p snc
shutting the rater-gste with q violence tina
brought the great wheel to sudden stand, ant
threw the glittering water In miniature cascade
from every black rib of its skeleton frame, he set
tied his white hst more firmly on his powdere,
head, and sped like a great gray moth, through
the shadowy forest, toward Wards Hollow
Had the prince Of darkness himself suddenl,
appeared on the threshold Of that old farmhouse
his appearance would hardly have been greete,
with more surprise The old soldier arose, Is di
also the mother and daughter and stood silent frou
astonishment. But they did not wait long, TO
the old Miller, without waiting for ceremony be
gan to pour forth such a torrent Of sarcastic In
vectivs and bitter vituperstion, as those old wall
had never heard before. When he mentioned tn
name of Mercy, in connection with their design
on his son, the hitherto flushed cheek Of the cir
grew pale as death, and she chung to her mothe
Tor support Not so with the old soldier; all tn
spirit of seventy-six" seemed swelling In hi
veins, as with compressed lips he listened to III
old miser's TRADE. When the Miller WAS fAirl
out Of breath, he drew up his tall, stately form
Its full height, and said, in voice which rum
with the strength and ciearness of youth
Are you mad, old man. seek TO wed one O
NY race with Sewsll Do you know Of whom
y0o speak-or what you say7 Begone," be I'D
aed with commanding gesture towards the door
oegone, say, and polluts neither my house no
my sight any longer!"
There was something in the mien and tone o
'na old soldier, before which the brszen spirit o
'niiler Jed qusiled. Thus II had ever been Il
vi their intercourse he could not help feeling II
anu ne hated him 20 much the more He with
ureW as suddenly and - silently a. he had enter
~, ana until his dusty figure was quite hiddel
Oea'nd the hills, not word was spoken by the 10
mates or the old farmhouse Then the old maj
said, thOushtfully:
MY children, Isaac Sewsll must come here n
,e ! said no good would come Of 1t, 1t first
= seems wss right. Pardon me, Jane" b