The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
(" For another -


scarcely happen without my knowledge, as we
have been so inseparable--hut yet, is it so ~
"No, have not fallen in love! or course you
know that and you should know also that speak
only of my sister !" said | seriously.
"Your sister r he exclaimed, in what thought
a very unnatural surprise Your sisterW
Certainly-my sister,
"And why, pray?'
lis it so strange that should feel anxiety for
the future of Regina after this serious reverse"
"No, certainly not-assuredly not Excuse
me my thoughts fly occasionally, and
spake, perhaps, rather in reference to my own
phase of mind, and from my own point of view,
than from yours Go on, dear Fairfield! Be-
lieve me, though my thoughts fly, they only cir
Gle round and round you and your interests my
brother. Go on, pray you! Tell me all your
causes of anxiety"
"Regna, then, | could very well support my
sister in small way or, at a moderate outlay, l
| could establish her at the head Of new Female
| Aca1emy-but -
"Wel my dear friendP
"Her haughtiness of heart units her alike for
dependence upon me, or servitude OF others
This lofty pride troubles me the more that have
no sort of sympathy with it-cannot understand
it fully and, as far as do, utterly condemn 1t!
Human pride is folly, or insanity. The Saviour
! of the world was not proud -
"Come, Ferdinand, my reverend friend don't
anticipate the privilege of the yestments! For
myself, | adore that 'lofty pride of Miss Fair
field 1t is indissolubly entwned with the most ex-
allied virtues, which could not exist without it p
@You speak like q lover p
81 speak truth Her lofty pride sustsins the
hishest sentiments of truth. courage, generosity
/ fortitude rT>~ss -.t. ''-' 4
~ have never seen her 'fOrtitude tested yet
1t is that which dreadp
"You thave never seen her fortitude tested
not even in this sudden and severe reverse Of for
| tune 2"
"No, only her courage is tested here She has
met but has not yet horne the evils Of this misfor-
| tune Courage only meets calamity bravely; it
takes fortitude to endure it strongly and patiently
| Courage dares misfortune-fortitude sustains it;
courage
"Courage is acute fortitude, and fortitude is
chronic courage! you mean, medically speaking"
"Fudgev
"Certainly beg your pardon, Fairfield, for
cutting short both your sermon on pride and your
ethical and metaphysical essay on courage and
fortitude, because the former was ill-timed, the
latter essentially unphilosophical and both would
have run to know not what length! Now,
then let us return to the more attractive subject
of Miss Fairfield. You were sayingo-
al was saying that have no sympathy with
my sisters pride! do not understand it, and it
troubles me for her future"
"And | repeat most emphatically, that adore
| that pridew
You are an enthusiast ~
81 ,rorship that pride that lofty spirit, which
is not assumption, nor arrogance, but a calm, ma
| jestic unconscious assertion of her own nestima-
BILE worth of her own essential unalienable roy
atty! the trune royalty Of trancendent beauty
| goodness, and genius "
| Oh! you are mad ~
"Houor to whom honor is duep
eyes but that is not to the naughty lie who
spake those words said also The humble shall be
exalted and the proud shall be brought low >
| tile that exalted himself shalt be abased , and
| THE MEEK shall inherit the earth - Pride
goeth before fall and naughty temper before
destruction You doubtless will give me more
contempt for what you will consider weakness,
than credit for the fear of God but | confess
that these things trouble me for my dearest sis
ter! II seems to me that her severe discipline
has already began do hope"-
You're not in the holy orders yet !" exclaimed
Wolfgang, iuterrupting me, in husky voice and
with an agitated manner
] looked at him in surprise.
He shuddered twice or thrice in his old way,
got up and walked to the window, and said
"It seems to me you are croaking this evening,
Fairfield to say nothing Of very unbrotherly
severity to trait Of char in your only sister,
which for one cannot consider fault, but must
I'll la.
He stopped abruptly.
"When carried to excess Yes something of
that sort y he said with an involuntary writhe
of his beautiful lips.
A twinge of remorse wrung me for an instant.
felt that had been severe with the foible of M
dear Regina, and that it was not only ungenero1s,
but unjust to speak of her fault in her absence /;
50 FASTENED to say
"You know that have no fraternal insensbi-
ity to my sisters noble character, WolfgangW
"Ah! you have! You do not see do not ac-
knowledge that it is PRIDE keeps that high, pure
character spotless from even conventional little
WEAKNESSES y
eyes, do but | see also that that 'rRIDE
makes Regina Sterhy incorporating, teyr1iy utot-
eya,a ofthe lute Social and Conventional nednneSses
and faisehoodS Of others"
The effect of my words upon him was as fearful
as unexpected He blanched suddenly, dropped
into chair and glared luridly from under the
shade of his long black lashes at me, as if had
wilfully and wantonly outraged him.
WAS about done with surprise at any eccentric
motion of Wallraven and fate or something, i'm
peled me to 90 on. Z" What is neither always
reasonable nor Christian, her heightened sense
Of honor is morbid even to mania. Deception,
no matter how well, how logically defended, finds
no tolerance with her IL would disgust her in a
mere acquaintance it would ALLEVIATE her forever
from friend; and in one she loved precmlnent.
E w. Il mould Kill or madden her! know and FEEL
IT, 1t is this that has terrified me for my sister
IL this that makes me shudder when recall the
fearful words. the thunder words PrMe goai
betore a fail, and a hanqhy temper bef0re destrne
ton y suddenly felt a strong grasp upon my
shoulder, and the husky, inaudible words
"For Gods sake, hwhw and Wallraven rushed
out Of the room.
al have something to say to you, dear Ferdi
8 nsnd y said my sister Regina, laying her faii
hand affectonately on my shoulder, and sinking
softly into chair by my side.
She looked so fair, 80 proud, so joyous, yet-s'
charmingly embarrassed
t "Why, how beautiful you are, Regina! Queer
' Blanch Fair one with golden locksp exclaimed
. !, in involuntary admiration and fondness. An
size mas, Dazzingly bcautiful She had arisen
restored by her long morning Sleep refreshed o.
I her cold bath, and dressed for dinner. She wor'
, very light blue satin, with fine lace falls to tn
short sleeves, and low corssge. Her splendid pal
gold hair was rolled back from her snowy fore
head and temples in shining bandsaus, and wove'
in large knot behind. She had foated In AM
r sunk down by me, softly, lightly, gracefully, as
Q sun-gilded azure cloud, vision OF celestia
beauty.
~ have something to say TO you, dear Ferdi
, nand, she repeated, without deigning to notice
' my admiration.
I listen, dearest Regina" said ], seriously: =,