The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-03

bush, thorough briern in the zeal of his pursuit,
while the little dryad, far in advance Of him,
turned every few moments TO clap her hands with
a cheering laugh. He reached the foot Of the
first oak tree, where she stood and, painting with
the unwonted exercise, threw himself upon the
messy knoll at her feet She unfinished, unwea-
ried, bent her wild eyes upon him with a mixture
of childish triumph and wonder
8" No wonder that you make patchwork of your
frocks little Miss llarum.scarum ~ exclaimed
her halt-breathless cousin /" | only wonder at
what is left Of you, after such wd-gOose chases as
thisp
Bessie laughed immOderately ooh! do so
love runniugw
Love running! that is very evident, little
gypsy and what else DO you love ~
Z" love my fatherp she exolsimed-a quick
ray from the heart-mirror within lighting up her
fine eyes
"And your sisters ~
"N-no not all Mary sometimes, when she
is not touchy, and Rissy well enough, butt
And Bella? she is a sweet little cherubn
es-but she tells tales of me- murmured'
Bessie, rather bitterly.
And Aunt Hetty?p added Charles, demurely
INC! hate Aunt Hetty !" replied the child,
energetically.
s" And study ~ The mischieyous smile would
wreathe his lips this time, and Bessie's penetra-
ting glance took it in
"Pshaww
+" But tell me what you do love 2" persisted he
fshingl
Z" Yes fishing and berrying-and robins and
bluebirds-and cloyer-heads and chickens-and
lambs-and Carlo-and Leopold-and"--
Do you love me, Bessie2'
She glanced at him, as if suspecting some new
quiz don't know yet You don't look scold-
ish-and you run pretty well Hap and Bessy
shouted merry peal, that walked the twilight
echoes of the good green wood"
81 think we must be friends,n said Charles
pnYAhg her to the grass beside him. "Come.
make me your confdant. You were in disgrace
at school tonight For what An arithmetcal
lesson ~
"Yes sirn
And you don't love to study arithmetic?o
"Nol | hate all study with all my hearth
THAT is a foolish hatred my childY
Just what Aunt Hetty tells me" she replied
with an Indifferent smile.
"But you are not always to be q little girl
Bessie. What will you make Of yourself wher
you grow to woman ?"
"What will -" she repeated, as if the
thought were new one.
"a washerwoman2 7"
She laughed. "No, rather guess not. Would
you hire me ~
But you are likely to be nothing better, i
you never learn anything"
She was silent
Bessie III make bargain with you0
"Wellp
off you will give me lessons in running anC
scrambng, will give you lessons in arithmetic
"Will you. really, though, cousin ~ she ex
claimed, amused by the novelty Of the idea
eyes | will be at your call for race in any
weather, if you will recite the lessons shall give
you; and they shall be short and easy ones
There this shall be a secret of our own-no
even papa shall know it p
Bessie jumped from the knoll in ecstasy, anC
flew for her dog.eared arithmetic For few
days all went on swimmingy Bessie cultivated
| the society of her slate with all assduity, anC
then sprang gleefuly to her ramble or her rid,
with Cousin Charley
Saturday afternoon came. The sun shon,
brightly enough to tempt an anchorite out of hi,
cell. Charles was away Bessie found her witt
entangled among the mysteries Of decimal frac
tons a hqmhslf-hAaH xspt hnzzips Ras' We blind
soon led to acting; book and slate were throw
down at one sudden impulse as she tumbled on
of the window in chase of a goldspeckied butter
fly. Once in her native element, she was as irrt
coverable as fish from the ocean. Sunset came
bringing the remorse of duty undone, and tn
forehoding of friend offended "He will sco
me, perhaps thought she 81 don't carew bu
her thoughtful countenanoe belied the expression
| il strOve TO assume.
Charles spoke no word Of reproof; but tn
shade of disappointment that stole over his fac
was weightier punishment That night, for tn
first time in her life Bessie hid a candle unde
| her apron when she was sent 70 bed and, light
ing il, finished her task before she went sound,
to sleep. And the smile Of grateful encourage
ment when next she laid it before Cousin Charlie
gave new thrill Of joy to her being Charles
on his part was learning lessons not less valua
BILE. The study Of the rocks and flowers, among
which his nimble-footed cousin led him, was
daily joy and the study of that same little cous
ms character became his most delightful one.
Did you ever watch the unfolding of that but
Of immortaity--a chld's spirit-and feel your
heart grow young again in its fragrance II 80
you will not smile at the hitherto isolated collie
gian. who had thrown off all the constraints of hi.
student dignity, and felt himself again a farmers
boy, with all boys feelings and impulses.
"Down! Carlo downp Jfied Bessie to her
pet dog, as he was scamper,ng up steep bank, at
| whose top magnificent cardinal flower was tow
ering. She had set her heart upon culling il for
her cousins herbarum The dog saw her in full
chase, and sprang gleefully forward, crushing the
precious treasure mt one bound. Bessie's wild
will was aroused she caught up the nearest stone
in twinkling, and threw it with all her force at
| the little animal before Charles could seize her
uplifted arm. The poor dog fell, moaning bitter
| ly-its leg was broken.
Bessie. il was cruel it was unwomanlyip ex-
claimed her cousin, in indignant tones, as he
| spranQ mast her 10 the wounded animal Her
| cheeks were yet crimsoned with the surges OF
passion.
al don't care | was never cut out to be wo.
| manly!n
And she bounded off into the thick wood
"Untamablel CALCULATED Charles, signing as
he bore home the poor victim of her rashness, and
carefully bandaged it's leg.
Bessie stole remorsefully to its kennel, three
hours later, more miserable than she had ever
known herself before The little animal look ed
up beseechingy and licked the hand which she
timidly reached to it. She burst into an agony
Of tears
ooh! my poor Carlo! ! wish it was my leg
that had been broken. And Cousin Charles will
never, never love me again--and deserve 10
Oh dear dear! wish ! was dead ~
She looked up; for Cousin Charles stood lean
! ing against the pear-tree near. With an impulse
new to her, she sprang forward, and with fresh
uncomfortable burst Of tears, said
Forgive me, oh forgive me- and love meagain
Cousin Charles!
And Bessie was forgiven and loved
The evening before the day of his departure
came. Charles hsd fulfilled all the good Doctors
prescriptions, even TO the matter of Irritation, il
the escorting his gay, good-humored cousin The
resa TO all the singing schools and simple soiTce,
Of the country might be viewed in the light thu
tongue Of gossip poured upon it, But his ram
bles, by sunlight and moonlight, were with ou'
little Bessie alone The originality of the child'r
spirit delighted him, the more that he felt it Il
be mine worked by his hand only
I" shall find you complete young lady wher
! return next year, Bessie said he, ms they ga
together on their favorite knoll, watching the
ripples Of the brook while they chartered to thu
pebbles below-"quite grown into Aunt Iietty'
ideal Of useful member of society!p