The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02
For the National Era.
UI.STARRED PART SEVENTH.
BY PATTY LEE.


The nusi 81 Jne SabDarn evening ,ntng over
h4,world Youths and maidens were crossing
the green fields to the music of some rustic
CHAPEL. as the last light that burned, about the
sunset went out and twilight opened ker dusky
wing full of stars.
The rumblng of the wheels that went down
the grassgrown lane now dragging heavily
through some deep-cut rut and now gliding
smoothly along the level sward again, scarce
disturbed the silence. The cattle that lay along
the fence. chewing the cud quietly, their sleek
hacks gray with frost, looked up with instructive
recognition. and the blue smoke curled upward
from the old messy and steep-roOfed homestead,
and the light (how far little, candle throws its
beamsD shOne forth its welcome from the narrow
and old-fashioned window They were almost
home-Uncle Peter and Aunt Jane-they had
had a good visit, but still they were glad to get
back, for always
lis sweet to hear the watch dogs joyous bark
Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near
home
tbs sweet 10 know there is an eye will mark
Oar coming, and look brighter when we come"
Poor Richard Clavere there was no eve to
look brighter for his coming; and as he sat on
the little trunk that contained all his earthly
effects with his face turned away from his rea-
lives he was sad, for he was going forth to try
once more If there were energy or manhood in
him, though he secretly felt there was neither,
for IN his conviction, at least he was really ILL
starred
IF it had been thus or thusD he would saw
might have been different for he was vexed
AMI ra~Aasnaa against everything for being
what he was, Circumstances above hIs Uruoi rrS
had shaped his destiny, as he thought and so
sat helpless and faithless and let the current
drift him as it would.
What poor apOlogists we are, and how our
judgments lean weakly in favor of ourselves.
What is crime in another, in us is privilege or
chance Rules that are sacredly binding to
others we may trespass If we will for there is
some sweet reservation Of mercy for us that vio-
lated Justice seals away from others and 80 we
sin, and draw after US long train Of evil and
sorrow and remOrse, even to the steep edges of
the grave, and pity us oh our Father, if we
also dim the pure radiance of eternity. How
hardly is the spirit taught amid all the trials
and weaknesses and temptations of our mortal
ity, to shape its upward flight!
Richard was sad as | said for a thousand
times over we may say to ourselves Can my
weak hands wrest out my destiny from the
power Of 0mniscience Can warp circumstan-
ces to my will Can be other than | am and
go yield TO the sway of blind impulse? But a
voice that condemns us-~a still, small voice
is speaking all the while in our hearts and
making itself felt above our stormy defamation.
Turn right about from the tempter, weak
idler, and Woodwork diligently and earnestly,
dong what your hand finds to do with your
might--and the wicked one will flee away. No
mere intellectual resolve though never so well
founded, is strong enough without work. II
you come to rock that you can neither blast
nor break. nor dig under, nor climb over, turn
aside, but work on and by little and little you
will get forward, and each new step will give
new strength for the next, till at last you will
triumph, even though it be not till that hoary
flower that crowns extreme old age" shall have
blossOmed on your brow.
When the little journey was over, and the
carriage stopped before the large red gate
Richard felt sadder than before-the monOtony
OF his thought must be broken in upon-h'
must encOnter new faces, and make some show
OF gratitude for the kindness he should receive
All this was painful to him. and So in place o
taking with his cousins, Joseph and Hannah
aud listening to Aunt James glowing account o
Uncle Sammy Clayerel's folks ny she made tn
tea and changed the butter-plate from one sid
OF the table TO the other, and rearranged tn
cups and saucers to such way as she was use,
TO have them, he stole out Of the house and 50
down alone on an open porch, though the al
Was quite too cold for comfort. The cribs an,
pArns and haystacks looked not as they locke,
AZ nome and the scythes and sickles and saw
'hat garnished the wall of the porch were quit
out OF place, he thought His father kept sue
IKE articles in little room in the wagon house
%hd Uncle Peter seemed only sem-civiizet
from the end Of the porch fronting the sout
TOuld he seen the little village Of Medford, whic
Jay some half mile away-ch clusters of whit
MUSES. among the trees, cleaning lights, an
we or two spires shooting up through the blu
were distinctly seen, for the clear moonligf
Sueamed broadly over all.
~, mere was to be the scene Of his new effort
nat would be the result Interest that
,'IS not elt Tor long time began to attach j
n 70 the place, and he wished il were morr
n,s mat his work might begin though he ha
C.'nhg TO do except TO nail the sign Of ID
"'erei To the gate post, for the public roa
IL quarter OF a mile from Uncle Peter
49, aud the sign must therefore be at n
So OI%nmg TO the lane. To the northwar
thick wood the edges Of which wei
- sseu with patches of clearing--haf decaye
IA u and snags Of trees, blackened and cha
Ind now and then tree with half !
81 a". broken and crushed away by the ia
rI ne heighboring fellow = caught the co
Sass OF the moonlight and shiyered TO d
passing Of the wind
small nj 'ne midst of one Of these openings stood
~ "'l iog cabin, from the little square windo
no, "hch the light streamed very bright
Mcbe e 'eemed 70 be no buildings about il; ~
.G ''.ard marvelled to himself a. 10 the chaS~et
If Wv, people who lived there Anarrow's str
lidrJ !, 'ow and part Of the clearing only (
emit from his view-eonse poor hmiiy
r yoa Yrants, he thought, or people who md 4
os .sis But as he looked and theasg,t the AZ
rsu and a female figure was presented
liza new which, imperfectly rs he saw her ,
6ld.a a@ Previous impression. Her arms we
TIM ~roSs her bosom, and she stood ior son
-"c as One frauanxa1.