The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-10


his search was at last successful il not until
he was completely drenched. The provoking lit
tie COW Was MIXED at last, and the flowing pail
carried homeland now for a warm fire and sup
per- thought Seth, as he opened the door Of the
kitchen. But, to his surprise and discomfort, he
found neither The dining-room was in the same
desolate and cherries state, but the parlor was
a-gow with light and warmth, and the gay chat
tering of voices announced the presence of stran-
gers. Seth's brow clouded-unhappily the friends
of his sisters were not his friends Belonging for
the most part to different grade Of society, he
neither knew them nor sought to know them and
in the present instance, he was certainly in no
guise to present himself There was no servant
on whom TO call for a change Of clothing-he
knew not where to find one himself and so sat
down in the dark, cherries kitchen, wet and cold
as he was, to await the departure or retiring
of the guests as patiently as he could This sit
ustion was very uncomfortable and his mood be-
came speedily correspondent He thought over
| all the wrongs and sights he had ever known or
| suffered-and they were not few-exaggerated
the difficulties and obstacles that beset him, un-
| til there seemed no hope no good worth living
for. Before him and behind him all was dark,
very dark. The time seemed long, unexpectedly
long, and, worn out at last he retired to his
room, half-wishing boyishly, that he was dead.
Irritation and chilliness at first kept him from
sleep, and there is no more wretched place than
a sleepless pillow; then violent headache sue
ceeded, and he wore the long hours by tossing
and tumbling from one side of his bed to the
other. But weared nature gave way at last and
towards morning he fell into broken and dreamy
sleep, from which he did not wake till the sun
was shining broad and bright over the world
His head was still aching, dull and heavy, and his
cheeks flushed and burning with fever. Half
rising, he drew back the curtain from the win
dnvu AZ fha han nf 10 had aud lab cd fnrfh
His faithful dog Juno, that always slept beneath
her masters window, reused from her recumbent
posture, and, raising herself in an erect posture,
with her fore paws on the window sill looked
wistfully for some time at her master, whining,
wagging her tail, and licking her paws But he
no sooner lifted his hands toward her, caressingly,
and turned fully upon her his dull and heavy
eyes, than her feet dropped from the window, and,
crouching upon the ground as before, she gave
one loud and melancholy howl
AN i'll omenn said Seth, and he fell back
upon his pillow and groaned aloud
Meantime the young girls had risen, and, find
ing no fire kindled for the preparation of break
fast, one of them had gone to the door of her
brother and, in harsh tone, called him to get up
and make fire; but he, being yet asleep, did not
of course either hear or answer. After waiting
some time they succeeded with good deal of
difficulty in kindling fire themselves; and when
at last the breakfast was on the table, they sat
down alone to eat, saying-"If Seth were not
mind to get up and make fire, they were sure
they would not call him to breakfast"
In so doing they were not happy, but, on the
contrary, very unhappy. Nevertheless they felt
their procedure to be kind of duty they owed
to their insulted dignity.
The meal was eaten in silence, and the break
fast things put away, and yet Seth came not but,
seating themselves before the fire in the dining
room, they soon, in recaptulating the events Of
the previous evening, forgot all about him.
After the lapse Of an hour or 30, the young
man came from his room, and passed through
where they sat but neither of the sisters looked
up, or in any way noticed him, until, hearing him
in the kitchen, pouring cup of cold coffee, one
of them said
eff you had risen when you ought TO, you
might have had your breakfast AS 1t is, you
can 90 without"
81 don't want any breakfast" said Seth.
"You have grown very meek all at once,o re-
piled the sister--and no more was said.
After dragging himself about for some time, in
the performanco Of such little ofIces required
his attention, he felt himself obliged to return to
his bed which he did without receiving any more
notice than before.
al wonder IL Seth is sick 2" said one of the sis
tiers, when he had returned to his room.
But the other replied that he generally con-
trived to make it known when he was sick, and
the conversation flowed back into its lively chan
mel. Sadly Jared their mirthful tones and laugh
ter through the sick chamber, as the long hours
went by.
Suffering from thirst, for though burning with
fever, the sick man, remembering the harsh tone
of the morning, delayed to call for water, and So
voluntarily adding to his misery, lay tossing
about until the day was nearly closed, when his
audible groans attracted the notice of Annie, who,
from having spoken harshly in the morning was
perhaps the more sensitively alive TO the posi-
bility of his being sick and, putting down her
work, she went at once to his room.
Startled and alarmed at the terrible change
wrought in single day and night, she did every
thing in her power to alleviate his condition.
Clean linen was speedily brought, and, when his
face and hands had been freely bathed in cold
water, and his pillows adjusted, he really felt
better and Annie left him to prepare tea telling
him that when he had taken alittle sleep it would
be ready, and then she was sure he would be
we'll
But the headache, which had been for a mo-
ment lulled, returned with greater intensity, and
the cheeks soon flushed back to a hotter fever.
80, if Seth were only well, y said Mary, as she
went about the preparation Of supper
1t was no trouble now TO make everything as
he liked it best When it was ready, and chair
for Seth set next the fire, she opened the door OF
his room, and called him, saying
"You dont know what nice supper we have"
80, Mary" replied Seth, 81 shall never eat
supper with you any more"
Like prophecy, the words smote upon her
heart, and, hurrying to his bed, she put her arms
around his neck, and crying like child besought
his forgiveness for ali her past neglect, her want
Of love-exaggerating her own faults, and magni-
flying all his kindness-all his forbearance-say-
ing over and over
40, you must get well, Seth; you must get
welln
lie smiled faintly-said his own faults were
much greater than hers; but If he were well, he
might not do any better, and his life had been |
long enough.
A week went blythe leaves were mostly gone
from the trees, and lay in heavy and damp masses,
the winds moaned about the old homestead very
dismally, the sky was clouded, and the cold mel
sncholy rain Of autumn fell all day long. On
the grass border, at the edge Of the stubble field
stood the plough just where it had been left q
week before, with the yellow rust gathered thick
ly over the share.
Under the naked locust trees in the corner Of
the village grave yard there was great heap Of
fresh-dug earth aud close beside ii long narrow |
mound.
Peace to the dead and the living Let not me-
frsil and erring, sit In judgment upon either.
have told you, reader, simply, q story Of hum
BILE sorrows and sufferings. May IL teach you to
be kindly considerable for those with whom you
Journey, and, o, to not fall out by the way for
there Is no anguish like that which comes upon
us when we remember wrong done, and feel our
utter impotence to lift the palid forehead out Of
death. and crown it with our sorrow and our love
MOBILE AND OHIo RAILRoAp.-The agent APP
pointed by the Governor Of Alabama TO select and
locate the lands ia that State appropriated for the
Mobile and Ohio railroad has completed that
duty. About two hundred and fry three thou
sand four hundred and forty acres, or three hun
dred and ninety-sir sections, have been selected.