The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23


The Doctors Maieh-MaSmg.
Good morning, Mrs Barnet % cried the DOC
80 =, we drew near a neat farmhouse, during
Oae of our morning drives.
tail, healthful, young woman, in the bloom
Of mntronly beauty, was feeding chickens at the
door. She uttered an exclamation of delight, ana
hurried towards US Perceiving stranger In
the wagon. she paused, with look Of emoarrasS-
ment.
any friend, who is spending few weeks with
meD explained the Doctor.
She greeted me civily, and pressed the DOC
tors hand warmly.
ooh it is so long since you have called on us that
we have been talking of going up to the village to
see you AZ ssar rs Robertacan get away from bis
corn-feld. You don't know how little Lucy has
crown. You mRa stop and see herr
She's coming to see me herselfn replied the
Doctor, reckoning to a sweet blue-eyed child in
the doorway.
The delighted mother caught up her darling
aud held her before the Doctor.
Doesn't she look like Robertp she inquired.
His very eyes and forehead! Bless me here
he is now"
stout, hale young farmer, in coarse check
ed frock and broad straw hat, came up from the
adjoining field.
We'll, Robert, )" said the Doctor, how do mat
tiers now stand with you2 Well, hopen
"All right, Doctor. We've paid off the last
cent of the mortgage, and the farm is all free and
clear. Julia and | have worked hard, but we're
none the worse for it."
"You look well and happy, am sure" said
the Doctor 6" don't think you are sorry you
took the advice Of an old bachelor, after oil"
The young wife's head dropped until her lips
touched those of her child.
Sorry ~ exclaimed her husband, "not we !!
lftbere'S anybody happier than we are within
ten miles of u.s. don't know them. Doctor, I'll
tell you what said to Julia the night brought
home that mortgage: WELL said ], that debts
paid but there's one debt we can never pay rs
long as we live p-sI know it, says she, but Dr.
Siugletary wants no better reward for his kind
ness than to see us live happily together, and do
for others what he has done for u.s.
Pshaw " said the Doctor, catching up his
reins and whip. "You owe me nothing. But
must not forget my errsnd Poor old Widow
Whiting needs watcher Tonight, ana sne insIs,s
upon having Julia Barnet, and nobody else. What
shall | tell her?o
I'll go, certainly. / can leave Lucy now as
well as nOtD
Good bye, neighbours
Good bye, Doctor"
As We drove of, saw the Doctor draw his
hand hastily across his eyes, and he said nothing
for some minutes
Public opinion" said he at length, as If pur-
suing his meditations aloud" Public opinion Is,
in nine cases out Of ten, public folly and imperi-
nence. We are slaves to one another. We dare
hot take counsel Of our consciences and affections
but must needs suffer popular prejudice and Gus
tom to decide for u.s. and at their bidding are sac.
rifced love and friendship, and all the best hopes
Of cur lives. We do not ask what is right and
best for us, but what will folks say of it! We
have no Individuality, no lf-poised strength, no
Sense Of freedom. We are conscious always of
the gaze Of the many-eyed tyrant We propi-
hde him with precious offerings we burn in
cense perpetually to Mooch, and pass through
MS nre The sacred frst-born Of our hearts How
lew dare to seek their own happiness by the lights
Wh'ch God has given them, or have strength to
"''y The false pride and the prejudice of the
"ofa, and stand fast in the liberty Of Christians
Gan anything be more pitiable than the sight of
ghO nlH La ~ Il 4
unuer uod OF their own spheres Of utility and hap
liness sel-degraded into mere slaves of propriety
and custom, their true natures undeyeloped.
their hearts cramped and shut up; each afraid Of
his neighbor, and his neighbor of him. living a
life OF unreali'y, deceiving and being deceived.
and forever walking in a vain show Here now
We have just left a married couple who are hsppv
hecause they have taken counsel Of their homes,
affections, rather than Of the opinions Of the mul.
uinde and have dared to be true to Themselves
IN defiance Of impertioent gossip"
fon allude to the young farmer Barnet and
his wife, suppose said l.
es' will give their case as an illustration.
'u"a Atkins was the daughter Of Ensign Atkins
VINO '''ed on the mill road just above Deacon War.
~, "hen she was ten years old, her mother
"'', ana ia few months afterwards her father
"''s' rOiIy Wiggin the tailoress, a shrewd,
"'0aglng woman. Julia, poor girl, had a
' .'me OF III for the Ensign, although kind
-, anec'ionate man naturally, was too weak and
Ye'hng to interpOse between her and his strong.
,1'D'''' SAarptongued wife, She had one friend,
"s'H who was always ready to sympathize
1''D her' Robert Barnet was the son of her next
- neghoor, about ten years older than herself;
"'l grown up together as school compsn-
anu p'aymates and often in my drives I
'' 10 meet them coming home hand in hand,
''" school, or from the woods with berries and
Ivy '@'Slng and laughing AZ IL there were no
''ns siep-mothers in the world.
70 Tell ont that when Julia was in her ak
nA year, there came famous writing master
,;n 'aSkin lie was Snowy, dashing fellow,
,o,1. M'hionable dress, a wicked eye, and .
o.. IKE the old scrpcnps when he tempted
al t''a' grandmother. Julia was one Of his
IT,. and, perhaps, the prettiest Of them ALL
lo,,.. 'N singled her out from the FIRST, and, the
g., ~ 70 accomplish his purpose, he len the tav-
So. ~ "ok lodgings at the Ensign's lie soon
.,n, ~. matters stood in the family, and gov
himself accordingly, taking special pains to
h,,.I l'e'Ae ruling authority The Ensign's wife
a,n,,.y Ouhg Barnet, and wished to get rid Of her
had ,in'law The writing master therefore
by M .'' held lie hsttsred the poor young girl
moral 'en'i0ns' and praised her beauty. Her
ai. .. mining had not fitted her to Withstand
II. oa ,anc'i'e influence; no mothers love, with
it. oh,sa. instructive sense Of danger threatening
~ IT,. 'a.erposed between her and the tempt
wv Old friend and playmsta--As vho ..,,a