The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-27

keep the secret that was lying heayy on her heart
no longer
Mamma you love me--dOn't your" she
murmursd, folding in both her own the thin baud
that had so many times stroled her 10 slumber
Glove you, Annie1 What else have ! in the
world to lovel What makes you ask such
question p'
"And love you, mamma-God knows do
But all mothers love their daughters and still
they uulink them from their hearts, mamma, and
let them foat away into the world--how isit?r
Armies mother drew her child's hand into her
arm, and pressed it, As abe answered simply
"a mothers love is the most unselfsh thing
in life, dear child! if it were not, il would have
broken thousand ,housand hearts since the frs,
sad mothers day "
"Could yOu-would you let ~ 60 from you,
mother?n
"What do you mean, Annie?" asked the pas
tors wife, peerins eagerly forward through the
dmness to read her childs oountonancc
Mamma, am your only one but would you
keep me forevcr2"
Annie" she spoke, tremblingly, any An
nie-but no-you are not MIN! laid nine idol
lied babes in the grave before | looked on your
face-tbey were taken from me when claimed
them mine. ! dared not blight your life by my
selfshness. | gave you hack TO him who gave !
Tell me, Annie-teIl mother all that is in your
heart, without fear or reseryationm
Annie laid her tear-sprinkled face on her moth
er's shoulder, and whispered long and low in her
Bonded ear
There is hand beckOning me TO these neg
lected praries," che murmured aelast more audi
bly,, "to that wilderness of beauty and of igno.
ranCe-that nursery Of mighty nation. Mother
1 that speakers words burned themselves into my
heart, when he called on the daughters of America
to cast their voceless vote in deciding their coun-
trys destiny Mamma but sit down on this
chair you tremble! 1t seems oruel-cynsl to
think of leaving you,n she cried, suddenly break
ing from her subject, and dropping on her knees
to bury her flushed face in her motherslap; "but
is it selfish to stay Tell me--decidc for me,
mamma p
"A mothers heart cannot decide that question
my precious child look into your owuw
| my own speaks many, very maay, words for
| You, mamma but it pleads for my country still
| Don't think me conceted and seifimportant!
am but "a little one, know, and perhapsa foolish
ly romantic girl My head swims-rocks with
the weight OF its own bcwildering thoughts moth
er Lay your hand upon it-there-sop
Mother, tell me-" the soon added, looking
earnestly, is the home-circle wide enough for
your Annie and must she stay2n
"if the voice of Duty calls you go, Anniep
she spoke brokenly, and with an effort /" must
not dare not, keep youp
"Thank you--thank you motherp said the
enthusiastic girl, throwing herself into her arms
"Then you do not think me wild and visionary,
in your experienced Oh, know it is "a feehl,.
force that little band Of teacbers--to work upon
the migbty West but may we not raise the lit
tie cloud us a mans hand which shall yet swell
| to pour mighty blessing over that broad land
| Of Americas bepe7 Give me your blessing,
mamma! with 10 for fathers before sleep To-
| night ] hear bis step in the study
| Annies heart snnk painfully at the echo of her
own light tap on the little study door
"Co,ne in ~ said the pastors calm voice
And she ssole 70 hty side like flnttering dove
you y were the last words Of that hours confer
encc, as Annie, exhausted 10y the commotion of
of her own breast, dropped her tired cye-lids I'M
der her fathers good night kiss. -----=-----
A more trembling tap ut that study-door inter
rupted the pastors lonely pacing half an hour
after, and his wife came in, with the traces of
warm hcart-ran glowing upon her usually pale
cheeks.
MIR. Mansfield paused, with his arms folded
across his back in his wonted attitude, and looked
comfortingly down into the trial-worn face that
had always been lighted by bis smile
'"Annie has been with you ~ she half whs-
pered
| "Yesw
She looked up inqniringy into his eye it was
| lighted with q deep enthusiasm, though his lips
| toka Ihv viii hnr aker
| mood
| "And you--you have told her TOGO p she
asked the last word dying from her parted lips
| "Where q mother yielded, how could / re-
fuse ~
| But her constitution--dear child will II en-
dure the hardshps Of a new country2 Have we
considered this enough7'
| awe will consider longer, and we will seek
wisdom from above my love- but our thoughts
| must not all look on one side of the question.
They must look into the Valley Of tho Mississip-
pi--that great throbbing life artery of our Re-
public--whose tides OF population are fast imbibng
| the poisonous influences that have staguated the
| richest Kingdoms of Europe There is work for
| n thousand hands and hearts in that mental and
moral wilderness. Would that mine we're young
again for there are few indeed who will give up
| the joys and the comforts Of New England home,
to plant the roses of knowledge and Of truth
where the thorns Of error are springing rankly.
| IL q spark Of sef-saerifce has fallen into the bo
som Of our God-gven, our eif,ed child left Us not
lift finger to smother III Wehave talked of those
who had gone TO another Continent, as we whis
pered over her cradle in infancy and we have
then imagined the child Of our conservation tread
ing the soil of Palestine or Of India, missionary
heroine IL a sacrifice 10 our own country more
painful than to another Does child trust a
stranger with his choicest treasure, before the
mother that bore him 2"
"You are right--you are always rightp re-
pleJ the wife, softly wiping her still eyes
al would not keep her ] would not even shed
tear before her but cannot help II nom"
Five months from that evening, Annie Mans
field sat underneath the skies that rooted the
prniric-land In one corner Of a spacious and
noisy log cabin, she had nestled her little work
table with the writiag desk that was her fathers
last gift upon IL. Laughter-peals were ringing
out from IA merry group the wide, irregular
hearth and n troop Of lively little fellows were
scampering and csing among the tables benches
aud boxes. Annie scarcely saw or heede'l them I;
she threw nm occasional allegiance NJ tho 'ker-
chicfcrowned housewife M she swung like a pen
dulum between The baking table aud the broad
baze th.t WAS browning her battalioDs Of biscuit,
ranged in the oll-fashoned " tin kitchen" before
il, Annie,s checks were crimsoned by the glare,
or by The warm recollectons that came flooding
up from her heart TO pour their tide into the little
closely written sheet before her.
"Up, Cato, and out with your called the good
woman. in stcntorian voice ~ the classic dog
aforesail sprapg up with sudden yep at find.
ing the provinces Of his onistreiched paws invaded
/, nv an overturned rocking chair. 7" on ! say and
| Won Youngsters make less racket there ! reck-
an the school ma am isn't used Ia such rumpus !"
? 'aThe school masm looked around andbmcd
very quietly.
ooh, no, Mrs Usher ava not at all dis
turbed Ivy their frolicw
g To- L,ok 10 nut IN with what you como across,