The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-14

"A
slipshod and in threadbare and greasy coat, sit
ting with his hat drawn over his eyes close by
red hot stove, and unbosOming his sorrows to the
hostler Of the Startown Hotel-a negro boy of
fourteen or 80. The acquaintance had begun in
the Doctors more prosperous days, when the lad
had been employed as groom for Bucephalus and
though those days were gone, they still occasion
ally met in the bar-room or about the stables
Orchard was fond Of horses) on terms Of social
equality. The extreme heat Of the stove had
caused the door to be opened so that Sally en-
tered without interrupting the conversation.
" Why doesn't you run away from her. |
would, if had such a wife, she heard the boy
say.
Where in Heavens name shall run TO ?" re-
piled the Doctor, balancing q bottle of castor oil
on two fingers | was a fool-Ive been q fool
all my lifel'
Sally, who had some vague idea that the con-
versatiOn might refer to her, though she was by
no means certain, exclaimed, in no very mild
tones
"a am glad you have found it Out-everybOdy
else has known il long timeo
Found out what" said Richard without
eyincing any surprise
"Wby, that you are fool You are not fit to
have a wife-that's what you are not fit for"
" only wish you had found it out little SOON
er," said Richard.
" ! wish so ~ much as you can," replied Sally
never saw the time before when hadn't pair
of shoes to put my feet-just look at this p and
she presented her shoes cOnspicuousy to view.
Richard said nothing, and she continued
Do you expect me to 60 barefoot or do you
wish me To take iO washing %
" Just AZ you piease-yOuT mother 10 4 gJU(
washerWoman, and might easily initiate you ia
'4S%E.1 - 2t-.442- ;.yaEessiOn, sbsSSss -"
That is pretty way to talk to your own
wife am sure | have tried to do the best
could | wish was dead, where wouldn't trou-
BILE you any more, and the young wife began to
cry
Richard was sorry he had spoken as he had
he had some conscience, nor had the lady yet lost
all her power So, after sitting in uneasy silence
for a while, he said" don't know what to do,
Sally, more than you do have no money and
no means Of getting ito
Sally made no reply and he continued
"Can you suggest nything?0
Upon which she sobbed out pausing at every
word
They don't want us At home any more am
sure and if we could only get little house some
where and live by ourselves should be 80 glad
It's no use talking about house to man
that can't get shoeslp
Suppose, then we 60 to your fathers for a
while ?p
"What for to be turned ont OF doors %
Mo- we will not be turned out. | cln help
your mother, and You, too, can earn your board,
beside studying as much as you do now and when
they get tired Of us your father can help us as
he ought to, and we begin TO live by ourselves
Something may happen TO our advantage-who
knows!'
Richard thought oil this reasonable but felt
terrible hesitancy about carrying out the plan
If his father were only from home-but to pre-
sent himself and still his wife was what he
cOuld no GET IN hn
alternative, and was reluctantly dragged into the
performance of his wife's suggestion. A detected, |
pitiful sort of appearance they made Richard |
In shabby black gentility, and Sally in the faded
bridal gear-a rose-tnted silk, and the remnant
Of white satin slippers.
Very glad was Mrs. Bates TO see them set out
for she tired of Shaving for such Il great |
family" to use her own expression and over and
again she advised the young people to make
themselves very useful-that it might be to their
advantage, &c.
Poor Ricbard-he felt very much like n de-
spsed outcast going back TO the home whence he
had been rightfully ejected, for charity. In vain
be tried TO persuade himself that it fate, that
all struggles were useless, and that he might as
well submit with martyrs resignation. 1t would
not do-humility and pride and discomfort and
shame were warning in his malignant and
evil thoughts were in his heart.
On the way they met poor hoy whose mother
was sick-he was miserably clad, looked detected
and wore his arm in sng-be hesitated, looked
timdly and inquiringly at Richard, who at first
seemed not to notice him and then, pausing said,
abruptly
"What do you want of mel can't do any
thing for you!p
"ls DIR. Hilton at home p said the boy
Mop Richard answered and If he were, he
could not do your mother any good You had best
go back as fast as you can for most likely she
will be dead before you get homen
The child WAS almost crying, as he said
Mother wanted me to 90 more for myself than
for her-yOu see how ! have hurt myselfw and he
presented his hand.
Richard loosened the bandaEe and examining
it for a moment, said
cit will have 10 be amputated before two days,
aud then you will never be good for anything
You had better be dead--a poor orphan with one
hand--why, you will starve to DEATH
20 The boy cried outright at this; for, though he
didn't know what amputated meant, he had some
sort of idea that it was something fearful and he
knew what to starve to death was
Richard continued
What business had you to hurt your hand in
this way? suppose you were doing some mis-
chief something for which you ought to be sent
10 the States prison for life for having done
"NO, ! was doing no harm,n said the boy
only trying to make fire but the log was too
big for me- and when had got one end on the
doorstep, the other slipped off on to my hand,
and crushed il AS you seep
Well said Richard, 81 knew it was some
thing you had no right to do Poor folks ought
not to have hres-they ought to freeze TO death
Don't you know that, boy ~
The Doctor il only in fun, little boyp said
Sally, kindly for she was woman " Your moth
er will get well, and your hand, too and you ought
not to freeze TO death, any more than other folks
but you had best 90 on, aud leave word for the
Doctor 10 call at your mother az soon AZ he comes
home" - advice which the little fellow. half.
smiling aud halfsobbing, obeyed
" Why did YOU talk ~ TO that poor little boy ~
asked Mrs Caverel as they walked on
Because said Richard, "my heart is full 81
bitterness and it must overflow somewher be-
side IL is no worse 10 speak than TO think and
can't help my thoughts-may be you can do bet
terr
lie was interrupted by footstep An old man,
walking as hurredly rs his age aud feebleness
would permit, passed them, leaning on a thOrny
staff
With the liberty which is customary in some
parts OF The country, he spoke to the young peo-
pie AS be passed There was something benign
ana gracious in his aspect as though the way he
h9d come was beset with pitfalls, and youth need
ed warning m we'll as encouragement
An indescribahle sheer came over the counte-
nance OF Richard, ~ he said" Ii were you old
gray-headed man, would cease to play such
tricks before high Heaven; but perhaps IBIS YOUR
vocation, and why should NEEDLE with Won. 40
near the end of your journey-r-the grave hohble
on, hobhle on sir-how can your feeble sinews
master fate am young-in the vigor Of man
hood they tell me, and yet no match for the de-
monn
The old man, probably thinking the youth de-
mented, looked pityngly upon him for moment,
and then went forward in silence