The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 10. 1851.
For the National Era.
An HOIE ON THE CROSSING POLE.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

g. How kind and agreeable she is, and her face IS
90 calm aud serene-so handsome. Surely Miss
r.. she must have escaped all the trials and sor-
rows which you wise people, say are part OF
life. though am sure do not see why it need
be SOL
aLook here, Kate" returned, pausing, and
placing my hand on the bole of one of the young
shade trees that lined the walk. Is not this
bark very smooth and fresh 2"
why, yes, it feels like silk, while that above
and below is dark and rough. Why is it SO,
Miss RI"
1.-TWO wears ago, the bark was nearly stripped
from the tree in this place but you see it is quite
healed over, so that none but close observer
would detect the place of the wound. Ii is so in
life Kate serene, calm look, like that of Grand
mother s., is often the badge of victory won over
suffering and sorrsef'
We walked on in silence until we reached a
messy pole, that spanned the noisy mountain brook
which we must cross in our way home.
This POLE shaded by ancient bntton-balls,
whose roots were half unearthed by the busy
stream, was favorite resting place with me;
and. as we seated ourselves, Ellen Ashton, our
Thoughtful young companion, spoke for the first
time since we babe good bye to our venerable
friend.
will you tell us more about Grandmother .,
"a Won all call her, Miss r.! Why, she is like
the wounded tree for Notwithstanding her face
is so calm and serene, as Kate says, 80 like those
faces | sometimes picture to myself among the
clouds at sunset and her ways are so cheerful
and social, | cannot help thinking that she has
been sad, very sad, sometime in her life"
"Now that is just like you, Ellen" began
Kate, always fsncyipg romances, when | see
nothing but very plain matter-of-fact people, who
eat and drink, 90 to bed and get up, after the
same old humdrum fashion. Not that would
apply that epithet to Grandmother s., for there
70 nothing humdrum about her-nothing sad or
gloomy
"Oh, no. don't mean that she is gloomy" in
terrupted Ellen "Indeed it is difficult to express
what do mean she continued, after pause !;
G. hut it is certain something in her eyes ! have
seen the same look in sister James eyes ever
since her husband was lost at sea; especially
when she stands, as she sometimes does for q
long time, gazing on his portrait. IL seems to me
as if Grandmother s. sees portraits in the air,
sometimes
II Perhaps she does, Ellen,n began; but at
that moment Kate, who was as thoughtless and as
graceful as the stream at our feet, suddenly
whisked long branch of willow, which she had
been idly floating in the water over our heads,
and unmindful of the shower bath she was CIV
log us, she exclaimed
Look, Ellen, look! What funny old build
ing Why, the roof runs completely down to
the ground behind | wonder where the back
door was, and the chimney. See, it is large
enough for house of itself What was it, Miss
R-a house, or a fort, or jal2'
As both my young friends were natives of the
city, and this was the first time they had ever got
beyond the suburban villas which they call coun-
try, into real agricultural district, did not so
much wonder at their curiosity concerning an
od-fashiued farm house, then little better than a
ruin, whose timbers had been laid nearly CEN
fury and half before.
1t is, or rather was a dwelling-house Kate
Several generations lived and died beneath its
roof and not few young maidens, fair and
merry as yourself have gone forth over that old
threshold, to gather the parti-colored sheaf of
life in other and brighter fields. OF one of these
may, some time, have something to tell you"
ooh tell us now! Pray tell US now " they
cried in a breath.
Yielding to their request, began" Sixty five
years ago.
Mercy, what an agep interrupted Kate,
drawing long breath. Are you sure you are
awake, Miss RI Why it troubles me to think
of in
"fou will find that trouble diminish as the
years go on, Chatterbox," replied, as | again
took my broken sentence
sixty -hVe years ago, every room in that old
house, even the great yard around it, was busy
with the stir Of life. Half dozen or more ne
groes, (for Connecticut had not then thrown of
the curse Of slavery their black faces and white
teeth glitteriug in the clear sunlight of May
morning, were passing from the stables to the
street. leading horses with saddles, side saddles,
AMI pillons, duly arranged, for that was not the
Iay OF wagons, though there were two or three
clumsy looking covered vehicles, called claises, in
those days, that not only attested the wealth and
rank OF their owners, but whose harnesses seemed
sore puzzle to the grinning blacks At last, two
hne'spirited animals were led out to the mass We
OH horse-biock, and held as quietly as possible
by the attendants.
They did not wait long, for soon, over that
O'd threshold, came young girl, leaning on the
"n OF handsome, athletio-looking youth, on
whose OPEN manly features sorrow seemed strug-
glng with joy. After them came two gray -head-
vi couples, followed by whole troop Of relatives
ana friends, Of all ages The maIden's face was
a'iaen by veil but as she turned it aside, to
ASe one more look at the home of her childhood,
anu The dear faces clustered round her, one could
zee That II was beautiful-fresh and beautiful as
mat bright May morning, and as dewy with
'ears-tears which again flowed rapidly, in spite
=, her Efforts to suppress them, as, with her hand
,''sp'd close in that of her companion, she bowed
"'r mead to receive the parting blessing Of their
parents, and the last good bye Of those who had
oeen her friends from childhood.
ihen, her brothers stout arm encircled her,
r"' with one kiss on her cheek, he placed her In
=. SAddle Her companion spraug lightly into
80 ana, at quick pace, without trusting them
''es 10 look back, they crossed the same brawl.
s brook and took the road yonder, where 1t
winds towards the west.
a. Inc group remained In the yard, watching
nm until they saw them turn on the brow Of
a. MI there, aud wave Q last farewell; then,
''asr guests gathered round the parents, to