The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-08
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON. AUGUST 5, 1850.
SKETCHES OF OUR VILLAGE.
OUR sCHOOLMIsrR Ess.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.


friends of mins found myself in the company
Of several ladies, who were discussing with much
interest the subject of education, and the respective
merits of several fashionable seminaries in that
vicinity. Not feeling particularly interested in
the subject, joined my friend E., in looking
over Darley's graphic illustrations of Rip Van
Wrinkle, and soon became so deeply absorbed that
heard only the murmur of their voices, occasion
ally broken by word or two uttered in shriller
kew, seeming like the echo Of the voice of Rips
good vrowe.
was suddenly recalled from this enchanted
valley, by the voice Of the fashionable Mrs.
W, erclaiming-
"Ah, yes, we will ask Miss R" Then laying
her jeweIled hand on my shoulder, as If not quite
..-..-. - -. sSrxsEaE. tsst dr0wry .t-e ~
she continued:
aYou have hardly heard our argument my dear,
but we we're speaking Of the superior aavsateges
which seminaries in the city possess over those
in the country in all that relates to the true finish
of a young lady's education. May we ask at
what seminary you were educated ?"
There was something so bizarre, so ludicrous,
between the lady's expectant tone and the picture
her words called up to my mind, that could
hardly repress smile as the unvarnished truth
rose to my lips but one glance st her naughty
face brought with 1t the memory OF her wealth,
her morbid exclusveness, her horror of anything
"native to the soil and, let me confess the truth,
reader, with feeling strongly akin to oowardioe,
| evaded a direct reply by saying, :" was educa-
ted at homen
aAh you had governess then. Your parents
were so wise as to follow the good old English
custom. wish 1t was more fashionable here, for
it is much to be preferred to our mixed boarding
schools I have sometimes thought would employ
poveruess for Celestis, but it is 30 difficult to
find one possessing all the requisite qualifications
Your friends must have been fortunate"
Nv folly had brought its reward. colored,
grew confused embarrassed, and was trying to
stammer forth something, when caught the clear
gray eyes of my friend E. fixed earnestly
upon me, while most provokingly quizzical
smile gathered around his mouth All at once
my confusion vanished, and, raising my eyes to
the lady's face, said, quietly
al fear have led you into q mistake, Mrs
W. should have said that was educated
chiefly at the district school in my native viii
lage"
There was slight almost imperceptible raising
Of the lady's shoulders and her bland air OF re-
spectful attention vanished at once as she replied
with slight drawl-
@Ah-ahemi think have heard Squire
W say that there have been some improve
ments in the common schools within few
years y and, turning carelessly away, she began
to discuss with her neighbor the last new design
for votehet that had appeared in the Lady's Book.
"Coolly done, that whispered E.. "You
must remember that great gulf suddenly yawns
between people sometimes, even In this world For
moment feared you would fail to see that little
red schoolhouse of which you so often speak, in
the golden atmosphere that surrounds Mrs.
W-p
AS other people besides Mrs W sometimes
ask after my Alma Mater, have determined to
describe it, partly because think our school,
was peculiar even in those days, and partly be-
cause wish to dQguerye q few traits Of enc who
has long since been among the angels.
Should you ever chance to visit our village,
reader, you will find the main road from the west
for the space of two miles or So clingipg close to
the foot of rugged chain Of hills, known as the
Totoket range. On the left, you will have their
precptous 'front.' in some places barren and bleak,
and crowned by huge old cliffs
" Here dark with the thick moss of centuries,
And there Of chalky ~hitsnss where the thunderbot
Aa int opa1tA Arn.N
and in others, draped to the very summit with a
mass OF tangled green, through which rise the
heads Of the tall cedars, like watchful sentinels
Very, very beautiful Is the old mountain in the
genial spring-time, when he unfurls his lesfy ban.
ner and displays every shade Of green from the
deep black hue Of the cedar, to the pale, faint
tinge Of tho buttonwood and the aspen, with
the white blossoms of the dogwood peepng
out from the midst like stars And still beauti.
fal is be, when the frosts Of autumn have fallen
upon him, aud all the shows Of summer have de-
parted when the everlasting cedars clothed to
the very topmost branch In robes of flame colored
livery, stand, like old martyrs, lifting their up
stretched arms to heaven, and limiting, not dimly,
that God still speaketh from the midst of the
burning bush, would we but listen.
On the right, the open country sweeps south.
ward toward Long Island Sound, but so broken and
undulatins that you must ascend the mountain.
would you catch glimpse of the blue water
AS you approach the village, valley opens in
the midst Of which sleep two small but beautiful
s'ee's OF water, separated only by narrow, rib.
oon-hke bit Of green meadow. Winding around
mess, you may trace green lanes, crossed here
snd there by more public roads, and catch rlimpses
OF the sharp roofs and heavy stone cbimnevs o,
old fArm-houses, rising from amidst clusters Of
green trees
Not great many rods beyond this point the
mountain suddenly makes q turn to the north.
west and like the face Of stern fellow.traveler
re'aiing into smile at parting, smooshs ia
rugged features, and with gentle. LOVING arm
s"orsces our village and the valley north NJ !,
AooWn among the early settlers AZ the nla.s.n,
"na OF Goshen" Here, for the first time
you catch view Of the village, which leok. Tx.
''ras nest hidden between the hills. and lust
A''s the 'ast undulation Of the mountain slopee
A 70 meet the main road, stood the Red school
mouse spoken Of its origin, and described
appearance in . previous sketch. but said
S0'n'ns Of the old spple-tres whose bosehs over
ING :" roof that appls-trss, which must, even
sssm' lave had kind Of sSrs.ssslisx Of Il.
hny or surely It, trunk would never hsv.
zen Furnished with such sxosllsnt krots 70,
''A''a'' .its limbs veald never have tvistsd