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

" Don't talk that 10 meF reJolneu the Doctor,
otis a wonderful age, this
Men imagine mind works by steam, like their
new-fangled inventions. Why, it would kill an
OK to sit bent as you young gentlemen bend over
your books, through two-thirds of the blessed
twenty -four hours. But | will risk your STUN
bling upon any musty tones in that out-of-the-
way corner. Good evening, sir pleasant jour
ney to you. Good byep
And the Doctor, a wiser worthy than some Of
his contemporaries, slammed together his portman-
teau, and bowed himself out
The middle of a sultry afternoon landed
Chsrlas. dusty and weary enough with stage Jolt
ing, at the door of fine, old-fashoned farm
%OAse. shall not attempt its description; for
Dsguerreotypes of places, as well as of persons.
are too likely to turn out only prim caricatures
of their originals; and that too, in proportion to
the destinations Of said originals Charles only
saw, n the first glance three eins that invitingIy
waved him forward, and two bulky naples which
shaded the short and sanded avenue. A pray
haired man, with a calm, kind smile, stool on the
door-stone at its extremity to welcome him and
two or three heads were vaguely peeping out from
behind the muslin curtain of the "best parlorD
window.
"Charles Franklin, I'm sure, and no otherw
exclaimed his warm welcomer, with a cordial but
courtly grasp of the hand. "Like mother, like
SOD, sure enough. | should have known you
among thousand Walk in-walk ip-pever
mind your farep and, hurrying him through two
low doOrways, Squire Lindsay for such prefix
the plain farmer bore ushered him into the as
semblsge of his family,
short, thin-fsatured, sharp-eyed maiden"
of an age beyond the uncertain quite formida-
BILE in a starched cap and immaculate apron. ixed
Charles eye at entering as if by mesmeric pow
err. She was whirring a wheel with the velocity
of small windmill, and turned upon him with
suddenness quite startling. "Aunt Hetty,n as
he afterwards learned to call her. or Miss
Lindsay as she was then introduced TO him. was
a well-meaning virago, whom no one but her all.
enduring, imperturbable brother would have re-
tanned at the head of his young family. Every
one has vocation, and that vocation is deter
mined by natural giftsn If this be true philoso-
ply, Aunt Hetty had not mistaken her own; for
few could boast greater capabilities in the scrub
bing and scolding line
Mary Lindsay, her fathers eldest--an invalid,
with slight veil of caprciousness and unrest
over pale, regular features-was next brought to
his notice.
"Mily, the next one, is in the south district,
teaching-you should see her for the image of her
mother and Julia is up country at school; but
here is my Rissyn Miss Theresa gave demure
courtesy "she was named for your grandmoth-
er-my aunt This is Lucyn tapping bashful
head that glided from under his touch, and
shrank away into corner. "And herep as a
little blue eyed, golden-eurled fairy of nine came
fearessly dancing to him. 4" here is the pet of all ;
my baby Bellap
You have quite family, Squire Lindsay
said Charles, after performing the greetings re-
spectively and respectfully, feeling that some OBJ
servaton upon the scene before him was called for
and feeling, at the same time all collegan's
awkwardness in the presence Of stranger ladies.
"Ah: you have not seen oil yet Bessie,
aSure enough! who would think 10 keep track
of Bessie p replied the quick-topgued damsel cd
dressed 81 calculate she's chasing the COWS OF
the sheep in the meadows, as usualp
"No Aunt Hetty. she's riding Leopold to wa
teri spoke up little Bella. 81 spy her! There
now p
Charles turned to the window by which he was
sitting, Just in time to see bay horse dash past
at a most alarming pace ridden by gipsy-look.
ing girl, without saddle or stirrup-her sun
bonnet swinging back in the wind and dust, with
her tangled hair.
"Bessie is a sad romp p observed the father
h,,f hona Oh
will tame to something at last. Come, Charles
now make yourself at home among us, such as we
arew
II was at the tea-table that Charles's curiosity
was first gratifed with fair gaze at the "little
Amazon as he mentally chrstened her. Look
ing up hopelessly from the deluge Of sweetmeats
with which Aunt Hetty had inundated his plate,
he encountered the gaze Of pair of piercing black
eyes in the doorway The locks were tanned into
some sort of submission to conventional usages but
the dress-slas for Aunt Hetty's washing and
mending -
"Bessie I'm ashamed of you-go straight up
stairs and change your dress %
al don't believe she has a whole one, ma'am," "
observed Mary, in despairing undertone.
" This was the last clean one put ON this morn
ing"
"Come in, then--you're disgrace to your
your Cousin Charles ~
There was frank wilfulness and wild grace in
the manner of the little hoyden, as she came to
take the hand he extended 10 her, that reused
still more his interest and curiosity
"How old is this one ~ he inquired, smilingly.
Thirteen, sir. Pm abashed to say 1t. She
ought to be quite young lady this by time"
"Time enough-time enough solil0quiaed
the father, indiferently, taking up the thread Of
political conversation which her entrance had
broken.
al wonder whether she is tamsble !" thought
Charles, as he laid bis head upon the down pillow
of the "spare chamber that night; and, with
resolution TO try new experiment in human ma
ture, he fell asleep to dream of Petrucho aud the
" Tanned ShrewO
He very soon found that whatever good facul-
ties the child possessed were locked up in an OBJ
stinate. almost defiant indifference TO whatever
wore the garb of authority. Affection was the
key to unlock her nature, and that key had been
seldom applied. Bessie occupied the most unen-
viable situation Of I" the youngest-but-one" in
large family: the scape-goat on whom all the III
humor of old and young was sure to be visited,
while Der favored little sister was petted almost
to the point Of being spoiled
Bessie come along herew sbrieked her aunt
from the back door, on the next Monday morning
Ms the object or her vengeance WAS ch@slhS de'
voted hen through the mases Of the farm-yard
q Come right along to your arithmetic lesson
Bella tells that you're whole week behind your
cassp
81 don't carep shouted Bessie, ms she grasped
the hen by her extended wings, tripping over g.
sand heap in her haste, and rolling down de-
clivity with her capture. 49,,
"You know what don't care comes to- little
Miss Good for -nothingp exclaimed Aunt Hetty,
rushing from her suds to take captive the fallen
captor. But she was too late.
IL don't carep laughed again Bessie, spring.
ing like squirrel to her feet, and flying beyond
the reach Of even her voice.
"Was there ever such a young oneP soiiio'
ouized the crest-faIlen Aunt Hetty, returning TO
her wash-tub, and wisely eIhausting her ire upon
its contents.
Bessie returned In the anticipated disgrace at