The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-11


course they had no time to ery-why should
they the grief was her grief, and she was fully
| convinced that nobody on earth did, could, or
| would feel it az she did
"St Clare did not shed a tear; he didn't
sympathize with her it was perfectly wonderful
| to think how hard-hearted and unleeling he
was when he must know how she suffered
So much are people the slave of their eye
and car, that many of the servants really
thought that missis was the principal sufferer
IN the case, especially as Marie began to have
historical spasms, and sent for the doctor, and
at last declared herself dying and in the run
ming and scampering and bringing up hot
bottles, and heating of flannels, and chatting
and fussing, that ensued, there was quite dl.
version
Tom however, had feeling at his own
| heart, that drew him to his master. He fol.
lowed him wherever he walked wistfully and
sadly and when he saw him sitting so pale
and quiet in Eya's room, holding before his
eyes h.. little npea 2ihle, though seeing nc
letter or word of what was in it, there was
more sorrow 10 Tom in that still, fixed, fearless
eye. than in all Marie means and lamenta
tons.
In few DAYS the ST. Clare family were back
again in the city-Augustine, with the rest
lessness of grief longing for another scene, t.
change the current of his thoughts. SO they
left the house and garden, with its little grave
and came back to New Orleans and st. Clare
walked the streets busily, and strove to fill NJ
the ehasm in his heart with hurry and hustle
and change of place and people who saw
him in the street, or met him at the coffee
house knew of his loss only by the weed on
his hat for there he was, smiling and talk.
ing, and reading the newspaper, and specu-
latino % notifies and attending TO bushes:
matters; ana VINO oJdid See tnat AZ .---l
Sr- "a, ~ l..s > ?, ,a'au'4A1 Sioaii over n
heart that was dark AID silent sePalchre''
MIR s.. Clare is singular man. said
Marie to Miss Ophea, in a complaining tone
I" | used to think, if there was anything in
the world he did love. it was our dear little
Eva; but he seems to be forgetting her very
easily cannot ever get him to talk about
her really did think he would show more
feeling!o
:" Sull waters run deepest, they used to tell
me" said Miss Ophelia, oracularly.
"Oh, don't believe in such things it sail
talk. If people have feeling, they will show
it, they can't help it but, then, it's a great
misfortune to have feeling I'd rather have
been made like st. Clare. My feelings prey
upon me So"
"Sure, missis. mass'r st. Clare is gettin thr
as shader. They say he don't never eat
nothino said Nanny. Il know he dom
forget Miss Eva; | know there couldn't no
body-dear, little, blessed cretur," she added
wiping her eyes.
"Well, at all events, he has reconsideration
for me- said Marie "he hasn't spoken ont
word of sympathy, and he must know how
much more a mother feels than any man can
"The heart knoweth its own bitterness sale
Miss Ophelia, gravely.
"That's Just what | think. know jus
what technology else seems to. Eva useC
to, but she is gone y and Marie lay back Oh
her lounge, and began to sob disconsoately.
Marie was one of those unfortunately con
stltuted mortals in whose eyes whatever is los
and gone assumes a value which it never haC
in possession. Whatever she had, she seemed
to survey only to pick fia6s in it; but ono,
fairly away, there was no end to her valuation
of it.
While this conversation was taking place il
the parlor, another was going on in st. Clare
library.
Tom, who was always uneasily following hi
some hours before; and, after vainly waiting
for him to come out determined ut last to MAKE
an errand in He entered softly St Glare
lay on his lounge, at the farther end Of tn,
room He was lying on his face, with Eva''
walked up and stood by the sofa. He hesitated
and, while he was hesitating. st. Clare sudden
ly raised himself up. The honest face, 30 full
q e i'm
of affection and sympathy, struck his master.
He laid his hand ON Toms, and bowed down
his forehead on it.
"Oh, Tom, my boy, the whole world is as
empty as an egg she'll"
dIknow it. mass'r-I know it," said Tom
Gbut oh. if mass'r could only look up--up
where our dear Miss Eva is--up to the dear
Lord Jesus"
"Ah, Tom, do look up but the trouble is,
don't see anything when do. ] wish |
could"
Tom sighed heavily .
It seems to be given to children, and poor,
honest fellows like You, to see what we can't u
said ST. Clare How comes it,"
"Thou hast hid from the wise and prudent
and revealed unto babes'" murmured Tom :;
" even so, Father for so it seemed good in
Thy sight
ATom. don't believe can't beleve-Pve
got the habit of doubling" said St Clare. al
want to believe this Bible--and can't"
"Dear massa pray to the good Lord Lord
| believe, help thou my unbeIief'"
"Who knows anything about anything"
said St Clare, his eyes wandering dreamly
and speaking to himself "Was all that
beautiful love and faith only one of the ever
shifting phases of human feeling, having moth
ing real to rest on, passing away with the lit
tie breathe And is there no more Eya-no
heaven-no Christ-nothing!
"Oh. dear mass'r there il. ] know it; I'm
sure of it" said Tom, falling on his knees. "Do,
do, dear mass'r, believe it"
"How do you know there's any Christ Tom!
You never saw the Lord
Felt Him in my soul, massr; feel Him
now Oh, mass'r, when was sold away from
my old woman and the children, was jest
Almost broke up felt as if there warn't moth.
in left and then the good Lord he stood by
me- and he says, Fear not, Tom; and he
brings light and JOY into poor feller's soul
makes all peace; and rs so happy and loves
everybody, and feels willin jest to be the Lord
and have the Lords will done, and be put jest
where the Lord wants TO put me. knew il
couldn't come from me, cause rs poor, com
plalnin cretur; it comes from the Lord and
know He's willin TO do for mass'r"
Tom spoke with fast-runnng tears and cho
king voice. st. Clare leaned his head on hi'
shoulder, and wrung the hard, faithful black
hand
Tom, you love me- he said
"Ps willin to lay down my life this blessed
day, to zee massr Christian
Poor, foolish boy" said St Clare, half
raising himself "Pm not worth the love of one
good, honest heart like yours.
"Oh, massr, dere's more than me loves you
the blessed Lord Jesus loves youp
How do you know that, Tom?' said st
Clare
Feels IL in nv soul. Oh. massr the