The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-25

over his features was never afterwards dis
turbed
But il is not with the sad end Of the journey
that have to deal, nor much even with the
living wears. only rs this one visit influenced
the destiny of Richard.
The sun was down, and the lamp lighted,
and the table spread for supper. Democrat
and Reuben. whose stalls were to be occupied
by Uncle Peters horses, were turned out to
race in the orchard and the violin was mute.
The rafting of the stage coach along the turn
pike arrested their attention. There was a sud
den pause. sound of voices then the driving
forward again. Presently there was loud
rap on the door, and, responsive TO Mr.. Clay
erers distinct come in,'' a fat little woman en-
tered, whom, under dropping feathers and muf-
fling furs. il was difficult to recognise as Mrs.
Bates. MIR. Claverel received her with cold
formalitv. Richard with blank surprise and
Mrs. Claverel with strained and mcOmfort-
able effort at hospitality.
A little very urgent business had brought
her, she said as she accepted the invitation Ito
take of her things"
g You see,D she said, seating herself by Aunt
Jane " it was my daughter that Richard Claw
erel here married. She made him good wife,
if ever a woman made good wife don't
say this because | am her mother, and she Is
nv daughter; because if was not her mother,
nor she my daughter, could see that shewas a
good wife lust as well as | can see now that
She was good wife, and il was all from his own
will-disposition that my daughter was forced
to abandng his house haven't the vanity to
think my daughter an angel, but | do think an
angel could not have lived with him, any more
than my daughter could live with him; but an
angel, seeing his will-dispOsition would have
had to abanding him, just rs my daughter,
seeing his disposition, had to abanding him
There is no telling how much longer she
would have gone on but for the interference of
Mr. Claverel who after the exclamation "a
fools mouth hath no drought requested that
xhatNver bnSiJYass she might have shoi3id he
transacted with him Richard had maue nIs
escape, followed by Uncle Peter. who preached
him an excellent sermon from the text Never
give up" At first, he said it was no use he
should always have bad luck that if other
folk could do better he hoped they would--but
that he couldn't Gradually however, he yield
ed by little and little, and began to take cour-
age and hope
Il forgot" said Mrs Bates addressing Mr.
Claverel Z" that you are the Governor. | sup
pose you would ike to have me get down on
my knees and ask you If you would please to
let me speak word but | can tell you, Sam
my Claverel, it will not be the Wilder Bates
that gets on her knees to the like of you. No :;
the Wilder Bates has little too much spirit for
to get down on her knees to you Sammy Clay
erel, or the like of you, Sammy Claverel-the
Wilder Bates tells you that to your face, Sammy
| Claverel"
Cant the business Just be put off till We
have taken little bit of tea and eaten a
mOuthful OF two of support" said Mrs Claverel
But Mrs. Bates, who felt invested by her
widowhood with a sort of dignity, and loved to
make alluson to her lonely and unprotected
state replied that the Wilder Bates would say
what she had to say without any supper--that
she was a lone body but for all that, she
wouldn't be behOlden to her foes
"Come and eat like woman" Mr.. CLAW
erel said "you've rid from town. and must be
hungry. don't pretend to be your friend, but
Pm not your enemy; and now that you are in
my house, you are welcome to eat, though
hope this may be your last visit"
| Adjusting her black bonnet 30 as to show tc
| good advantage the red artificial flowers in hei
cap Mrs Bates said she hoped it would be heI
last visit--that she had come to say something
that would have been very much to Mr. CLAW
erePs advantage, and that she would rather be
to the advantage of "a black slave than 10 tho
disadvantage; but that if he was not mind to
have an advantage when lone wilder had
come to offer him an advantage TO her own dis
advantage, she didn't know ~ she was bound
to force an advantage into his hands to her
own disadvantage.
Mr.. Clayerel said that if she had made such
sacrifice on his account he was sorry but that
if she had anything to propose that would he
to their mutual advantage, he was ready to
| hear it,
| "Maby you remember our black COW y said
| Mrs Bates reseating herself
| She got most of her living in my pastor
have some reason to remember her.
"Maby you have other reasons?"
| "Only that she was an ugly old critter, that
one would not be likely to forget and that she
could let down the bars rs well as l.
"And you as well as she--so folks say, at
any rate"
"What of thatl Would | put your COW in
my paster?"
Opinions differ - some says what you
wouldn't Like to hearp
The angry glow came into Mr.. Claverel's
face as he said
Speak plainly, and to the point; don't
understand YOU"
81 did speak to the point-the Wilder Bates
isn't afeard y -
Then say out what you have to say"
"Pve said as plain as words can say, that if
| n rich man had a spite to poor man, he might
turn the poor mans COW into his own meader,
and lat hnr haraaIf M daath is,ot ba