The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-08
For the National Era.
DEACON WHITFIELD'S FOLKS.
BY PATTY LEE.

was the time of the full moon Of the harvest
winrows of sweet-smelling hay ridged the mead
Ows, and the golden waves Of the wheat fields rose
and fell as the winds ran in aud out. The focks,
shorn Of their heavy eeces and scarcely yet accus-
toned to their new state, bleated along the hill
sides while the heifers buried their sleek TANKS In
great beds of clover, and the oxen, to me ever pa
tent and beautiful, bowed their necks to the yoke,
for the ngathering of the dry hay and the bound
sheaves. A smiling time Of plenty
@Tbe steer forgot to Craze,
And, where the hedgerow cuts the pathway, stood,
Leaning his horns into the negheor held
And lowing to his fellOws.n
But though it was the time Of harvest, and OF
plenteOus harvest there was no great deal OF JOY
in the family Of Deacon Whitfield. The posses
sor Of an ample fortune, he neither enjoyed 1t
himself, nor suffered his family to do 3d. This
way of managing affairs was perfectly consonant
to the feelings Of Mrs. Whitfield; and, sick or
WELL day after day she wrought on, like q suffer-
ing martyr, without any thought of shifting the
burden which, as part Of her destiny, she meek
ly accepted. But the children were sometimes
Pite from labor; II they grew tired of one thing
they were told to do another, and that would be
rest enough. Sundays, there was no work, 1t Is
true, but there was no play. The Pilgrims Pro-
gress, Baxter's Saints Everlasting Rest, and one
or two other volumes, comprised the Deaoon's
library, and we're supposed to be sufficiently in
'eresting for all times and seasons The same
coa's hats, and dresses, were expected to serve,
anu uid serve, for two or three years. Now, most
persons feel uncomfortable when the are con-
sclOus OF looking 30 peculiar in any way as to
make them the pointed objects Of observation
but the Deacon was singularly free from this
weakness; and when sometimes Mrs. Whitfield
en'ured to suggest, in gentle way, that his
outer man required to be replenished, he invari-
aoy replied, that his father never had 80 fine a
SUIT as was his, and that what was good enough
iOr MS father was good enough for him, and 90
the good lady was silent, IL not convinced.
The same articles Of furniture, few and sim.
P'e'W with which they originally commenced house
Aeeplng, served still, though the Oldest son was
now twenty, and were, in fact, as the Deacon said
good as new. One only innovation had been
made-a fine and fashionable sofa had been got
which, In the midst OF It's slender and old-fash.
'oned associates, looked sadly out Of plsoe-a sort
Of
Rich jewel in an EthiOp's ear"
was great surprises shock, as 1t were--tc
'us family, when the Deacon announced his in.
Nnuon OF purchasing this article. The dairy
IAu become oVerstOcked, 1t was becoming late In
s"e season, and the cows, the Deacon said, would
sa' tneir own heads of before spring, and he
'noa'd Just turn two Of them into sofa for your
D'ner nere-conveying the startling intelli.
s'nce rather to the children than the uifs.
VIVA what father, did you say sofa ~ said Sally
"nwnsld' letting her knitting drop In her lap.
Asreplied. ''''
v, Mother don't want any sofs,n said Mrs
"Ai'neid, turning away and wiping the tear,