The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-15
CHAPTER III.
" Childhood, with sunny brow,
And floating hair.n


June, with her rich, vigorous life, and thousand
musical voices, revealed In Wards Hollow 1t
had been one Of those heavenly days which can
not die" and the sun, as il enamored of earth
and beauty, fingered on the western hill tops,
while his level rays streamed across the Hollow,
and fell on the wooded range on the east, like a
baptism of FIRE. The whole beautiful valley was
like an enchanted lake filed with waters of the
hue Of FURNISHED gold, through which the white
blossoms Of the daisies looked forth like stars
The evening meal at the old farm house was over,
and the old Captain safe in his great arm chair
in front Of the open door, gazing over the beauti-
full scene with serene countenance, for, in sub.
hitting to the discipline awarded him. he had
learned that in transferring the title deeds Of his
estate to another, he had not parted with bis in.
herent right to their beauty. The widow piled
her needle by an open window, through which
the faint west wind brought the rich perfume of
the many fragrant flowers and herbs, that cen
tury's care had collected in the old garden be-
meath, while little Mercy safe on the door step;
that low fiat, well-worn stone step, with its
edges half buried in the thick turf constructing
various chains and curls from the long stalks Of
the dandelions with which she had filed her
apron, alternately talking TO her grandfather and
hooking whippoorwill, that nightly poured forth
his plaintive strain from the hedge behind the
house Suddenly she threw aside her work, and,
turning to the old man, said
Grand father, that little boy wants To 20 TO
school with me- and l shall like il very much.
His mother, or the woman that he lives with,
asked us tonight II might not stop for him ev-
cry dsy"
ask I" replied the old man, laying his great hand
on her shining hair
"Why, lsaac-he said his name was Isaac.
Isaac -, the boy that lives in the house by
the milln
Something like an expression Of pain passed
over the grandfAthers face, as he turned to her
mother, and asked:
aWhat is this Jane7 Does she mean Jede-
diah Sewalps child2p
ayes, father; should have spoken to you
about IL when we came home, but you was busy
In the garden bssidss,n she added, with glance
at Mercy, al did not know bat had better wait
until We were alone.'
Jane Ward was unwilling to have her child
catch aught Of that bitterness Of spirit Of which
she and her father could not help feeling at the
name of Miller Jed, name which, az IL by
common consent, Was seldom or never mentioned
at the old farmhouse
The old man understood her motive, and, send
ing Mercy off on some slight errand, listened
with compressed lips to the millers request,
made known by the old housekeeper.
:" Have n0thiDK 10 10 Win tncfu, J1Ho'' ne
exclaimed hastily, 90 she ceased speaking
:" Such WAS my first thought she replied, but
the little boy plead so hard, that ! could hardly
find Il In my heart to refuse him.
aAye, doubls-faced imp, like his father,
dare say. Let the children remain strangers.
| No good ever did or can come from knowing any
of that racer
Perhaps you are right, father. But, after
allp she added, AFTER moments silence, the
poor child must not be blamed for bis fathers
faults and when think Of him, with no one to
care for him but that hard-hearted, selfish old
man, cannot help plying him. Somehow, he
reminded me Of our little AdsmH
The old man arose and walked the door for
some moments; at length he paused before the
widow, and said
"And you think we might possibly DO some
thing towards making this child better man
than his father. 10 IL not no, Jane " he added,
| with ssd smile.
ave could try, father was the reply
aWsll, you may be right, but have little faith
have known Jed Sewsll, man and boy, for s'xty
years, and nsvsr knsw him otherwise than mean,