The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-18
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plish what they set their hands to- were objects
of her entire contempt contempt SHOWN les
frequently bv anything she said than by a KIND |
of stony grimness. as # she Scomed to say any |
thing about the matter
As IN mental cultivation. she had clear
strong. active mind was we'll and thoroughly |
read i'm history and the older English classics, |
and thought with great strength within certain
narrow limits Her theological tcnets were all
made up. labelled in most positive and distinct
forms and put by. like the bundles IN her patch
trunk-there were Just 50 many Of them. and
there were never to be any more. No, also, were
her ideas with regard to most matters OF prac-
teal Hfe-such rs housekeeping in all ats
branches and the various political relations OF
her native village And underlying all, deeper
than anything else, higher and broader, lay
the strongest principle of her beng-consclen-
tiousness Nowhere is conscience 80 dominant
aud all-absorbing rs with New England women.
1t is the granite formation. which lies deepest
and rises out even to the tops of the highest
mountains
Miss OpheTa was the absolute bond slave Of
the ougkt" Once make her certain that the
path Of duty rs she commonly phrased it,
lay in any given direction, and fire and water
could not keep her from it. She would walk
straight down into a we'll or up TO II loaded
cannons mouth. if she were only quite sure that
there the path lay Her standard Of right was
40 high. 80 all-embracing, so minute. and max
ing ~ few concessions to human irailty that
though she stroye with heroic ardor to reach IT.
she never actually did 20, and of course was
burdened with a constant and often harassng
sense of deficiency; this gave a severe and
somewhat gloomy east to her religious charac-
ter.
But. how in the world can Miss Ophelia get
along with Augustine st. Clare, gay, easy, UNI
punctual impractical skeptical-in short walk
ing with impudent and nonchalant freedom
over every one Of her most cherished habits and
opinions!
To tell the truth. then. Miss Ophelia loved
him When a boy, it had been hers TO teach
him his catechism. mend his clothes. comb his
hair. and bring him up generally in the way he
should 90: and her heart having warm side to
it. Augustine had rs he usually did with most
people monopoizcd "A large share Of it for him.
self and therefore it was that he succeeded very
easily in persuading her that the path of duty
Law In the direction of New Orleans, and that
she must 20 wlcn Jim TO take care of Eva and
keep everything from going 20 wreck and ruin
60rt0e the frequent 22;te~yV ~ rife The
idea Of a house without anybody to take care
Of it went to her heart then she loved the love-
" little girl as few could help doing; and though
she regarded Augustine as very much of q hea-
then. yet she loved him, laughed at his jokes,
and furbore with his failings, to an extent which
those who knew him thought perfectly in
credible But what more or other is to be
known Of Miss Ophelia. our reader must dis
cover by personal acquaintance.
There she is sitting now in her state-rOOm
surrounded by mixed multitude of little and
big carpet-bagS boxes baskets, each contain
ing some separate responsibility which she is
tying, binding up packing or fastening, with
face of great earnestness.
Now, Eva, have you kept count your thing?
Ofcourse you have not children never do there's
the spotted carpet-bag and the little blue band
box with your best bonnet that's two then the
India rubber satchel, is three and my tape and
needle box is four and my handbook, five; and
my collar box six; and that little hair trunk,
seven. What have you done with your sun
shade Give it to me, and let me put paper
round it and tie it to my umbrella with my
shade; there now
why aunty we are only going up home;
what's the use p
"To keep it nice child people must take
care of their things if they ever mean to have
anything; and now, Eva, il your thimbIe put
npn
" Really, aunty, don't know
Well never mind III look your box over |
himble, wax two spools scissors knife, tape,
needle all right put it in here What did you
'ver do child when you were coming on with only
our papa. ! should have thought you'd IL lost
,verything you had
Well, aunty did lose a great many; and
hen, when we stopped anywhere papa would
,uy some more OF whatever IL was"
Mercy on ia. child, what way"
1T was very lazy way aunty.n said Eva
It's dreadful shiftless one, said aunty
Why amty, whatl you do now" said |
Eva that trunk is too full to be shut down. |
1t must shut down. said aunty, with the air |
# general, ~ she squeezed the things in, and |
prung upon the lid; still little gap re-
named about the mouth Of the trunk.
Get up here, Evam said Miss Ophelia
"what has been done once can be |
lone again. This trunk has got to be shut and |
Ocked-there are no two ways about it
And the trunk intimidated doubtless by this
resolute statement gave in The hasp snapped
sharply in its hole, and Miss Ophea turned
the key, and pocketed it in triumph
"Now we're ready. Where's your papa! / |
think it time this baggage was set out DO look
,ut, Eva, and see if you see your papa
"Oh yes, he's down the other end of the gen
clemens cabin, eating an orange"
" He cant know how near we are coming
said aunty; "hadn't you better run and speak
to him ~
Papa never is in hurry about anything" |
said Eva and we haven't come to the land |
ing DO step on the guards aunty Look
there's our house, up that street -
The boat now began, with heavy grOans like |
some vast, tired monster, TO prepare to push up
among the multiplied steamers mt the levee.
Eva joyously pointed out the various spires,
domes and way-marks, by which she recognised
her native city.
Yes yes dear; very fine" said Ophelia.
But mercy on us the boat has stopped where
is your father {"
And now ensued the usual turmoil of land
running twenty ways at once
men Juggling trunks, carpet-bags, boxes-women
anxiously calling to their children, and every
body crowding in n dense mass to the plank
towards the landing
Miss Ophela seated herself resolutely on the
lately vanquished trunk, and marshalling all
her goods and chattels IN hne military order
seemed resolved to defend them to the last
Shall take your trunk, ma'am p "Shall
| take your baggage!' " Let me tend to your
baggage, missisi7 Shan't ! carry out these
yer, missis - rained down upon her unheed-
ed She sat with grim determination, up
right as Il darning-needle stuck in board,
holding ON her bundle of umbrella and para
sols, and replying with a determination that
was enough to strike dismay even into hack
man, wondering to Eva, in each interval what
upon earth her papa could be thinking of-he
couldn't have fallen over now-but something
must have happened and just ~ she had
begun 10 work herself into n real distress, he
came up with his usually careless motion, and
giving Eva quarter of the orange he was eat