The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, APRIL IS, 1850.
fcoPY-RIeHS sEcuRKDl
THE M0THER-IN-LAW.
eropyo OF THE ISLAND ESTATE.
RY MRS. EMMA D. y. soUTHwoRTH.
BOOK SECOND.
V.-CoNTINUED.

command had stunned him entireiy ioi she i"o'
two months. Brutus threw himself upon his
horse, rode rapidly down the mountain side,
and entered the glen at the bottom OF waich the
Doyecote lay Winding down the circuitous path
he came in front of the cottage as 1t rested against
the back rocks Throwing himself from his horse,
be onened the little wicker gate, and here sad
sight met his view.
The flowers in the garden had all been plucked
and many of them torn up by the roots, and lay
in lunches and piles around The cottage win
dows were bare of blinds, and he saw through
the open door that the pretty carpet was gone
from the floor On one side Of the h01Sti sa0et
Zoe clasping two white Bantam chickens to her
p6summ anu ,oars were rStHA Q 49,, be- cheeks
Zoe looked pale and wasted, and seemed to have
passed through spell Of illness since he saw her
last Near her stood the old scboolmaster, bent
nearly double with age, infrmity, or sorrow
Twenty years seemed to have passed over his
hoary head since Brutus had last met him. lie
was feebly trying to tie the legs of chickens that
he dropped into a hamper at bis feet, already half
full of poultry HI turned tremblingly around'
as he saw Brutus, and asked, in querulous
tone
"What do you come here for, sir Didn't
tell you to keep away from here7 That Wouldn't
hare you here 1t is very strange that you will
persist in coming where you are not wanted"
ooh Brutusw wept Zoe, coming close to his
side, he has lost his mind-he who was so gene
rous he thinks of nothing but money. He has
carried to town-market all my things, and sold
them-my new carpets and .quilts-my new socks
and gloves-my herbs and flowers Well, was
sorry, but did not cry for them, because they
were dead things-but now! oh now! ne Is tying
my poor dear hens and chickens, to take them to
market tomorrow Look. Seel Poor dear Spec
kle-and-and-sweet darling Blossom-and-
aud-and-now he wants TO take lovely Snow
drop-andp-here choking sobs convulsed the
child's bosom, as she Rugged her white Bautams
closer to her bosom.
"What are you sobbing for, you miserable
little wretch Save your tears, you'll have use
for them! Hand me the chickens here; and II
you weep, weep for yourself must must make
up two hundred dollars, and have not got fifty
yeti and the old man held out his trembling and
claw-like fingers for the Bantams.
"Give them up, Zoe, my darling | will save
them-save them all-not feather Of your pets
shall be rufiedD
After having showered tears and kisses upon
them, Zoe handed the Bantams to the old man.
aSay, STRIP exclaimed Brutus, touching the
old mans elbow, to arrest his attention, for the
schoolmaster in his occupation had apparently
forgotten him; "say, irp
swell! you here yeti Didn't tell you to
go7o
awe have got a sick young man up to our
house, and the doctor has ordered him to eat
chickens, | want to buy dozen"
aEh1 yes we'll! what these are good chick
ems, and must bring a good price; and since 1t
is for sick man, and since he is obliged to take
them-say dollar pairp
ooh, father p exclaimed Zoe
"Never mind never mind Zoe dear, Pm no
Jew That is it, sir III take as many as you
will let me have at that price"
"Take them all"
agreed Well, my good sir, there is ano' her
thing - the doctor, besides ordering this rich
Young man to eat chickens has ordered him to
divert his mind by learning Greek lessons"
"Ehl well?n
"And we want to engage a teacher for him in
the house,
"Eh well yes what then 7"
1--WE were thinking Of yon, sir"
"Ah, yes, to be sure! But then as 1t is to save
hislge-it is valuable, and must be literally COM
pensated, this private tuition!n
"Certainly, sir he is q wealthy Englishman,
and can afford IL in the time of his illness, am
his banker, and can secure II to you,n said Bru-
tus, burdening his conscience with lie after lie
"Zoe, go pack up Herodotus, E,chylus, Eurip.
ides, and Sophocles; go! When is it that you
want me to come, sirl
"To-night, sir, to be ready to commence in the
morning"
"well, well Yes, but what am | to do with
Zoe?n
"Sir, my sister, you know, is Wild girl Sd,
does not know how to prepare delicate dishes fol-
an invalid, and all our negro women have rur
away, and 30 my sister told me 10 entreat hel
friend Zoe to come to the Lair, and give her som,
directions in these matters"
eyes, but Zoe ought to be paid No, she shall
not, either can't degrade Zoe" And the ole
man burst into tears
oh, what wreck ~ muttered Brutus, lookin,
down on the gray head, bowed upon the withereC
hands,
AT last he looked up implorngly to the younl
mans face, and said
"Brutus, l want to sell the Dovecote; how
much will you give me for it7n
Bot do Dot want to buy IL, srn
You don't? Come, will sell il to you cheap
must have money for Zoe's saken
For Zoe's sake, sir love Zoe; wish I.
marry Zoe will devote my life to her happiness
consent to our marriage, and her future il secur
ed!r
Brutus, you love herr
God knows it!n
3" Only hertz -
Only her, OF all womankindn
Brutus, you cannot marry her!p
You have said 90 before, cir, but that does mo-
prove itn
Brutus, swear that you will not divulss wha
tell yoop
swear Ii, sirp
"Zor sLAvsis
Brutus Lion rssled ~ II struck BY csnpor
ball
Great God, STRIP