The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-27

The winter and summer whied away, and left
the young teacher where they found hor--at her
post of toilsome though not unwelcoms duty.
The roses had faded from her cheeks and her
dark eyes had taken shade Of care her early
eirlhood knew not Yet she could not be called
unhappy for the joy Of "doing good shed
gentle radiance over her daily path But there
were hours--oh how many !--when she longed-
yes, how bitterly wept for the sympathy that
only came to her in the little bome-letters and
these In such scanty tantalizlng doles TO her fam
ishing hearth As summer waned, these hours
came oftencr and oftener, sometimes crowding
even among her school cares aud then strange
languor followed The class-book would droop in
her weary hand, and her eye would wander list
lessly the mischisvous little ones that press
ed up in fear of her rsprimand. She tried to
shake off the chain Of sluggishness that was en-
circlng her and Gliding herself for mental rath
or than physical inertia, rcdoublcd her efforts at
energy
One morning she fell back upon her pillow, af-
ter vainly attempting TO RISE quyering in every
fibre of her frame She had posed slsepless
night, counting the stars through small cbink
Of the roof that slanted almost within reach Of
her face, and covering her ears from the hoarse
bowling of the autumn winds, that shook the
house at every blast.
sguen had fairly seized her. She shivered in its
grasp for painful minute, and then gave faint
call
Mrs Usher soon lifted the hem Of the red
blanket that curiaiued of the "school- ma Jams
corncrn from the childven's doriaitory, and gazed
in mingled surprise ADD merriment upon her
"You've got The shaIes Miss Aha told you
~ how You were comm to them! Never you
mind You'll get used TO 'em by nd bycl Take
| - AZ.
| and you'll know mirr, the -hs.res2 ,sf-Bat
they're mighty hard on a fresh hand Shs'n't |
bring you inng % gin toddyi los the sover-
eignest thing for warming one upp
DECLINING the profered dose Annie begged for
n bowl Of singing pepper decoction, which soon
relaxed her strained muscles, ana leh her TO the
burning fever which follows the wake OF the shiy-
ering fits Poor child her head began TO swim
on it's fiery waves and away ii foa'ed into via-
ions Of bome--lben back it was rpdely tossed
again into the most trying tircsome scenes OF her
summers toll
aOh, dear me ~ she would moan, 81 cannot
keep school any ionger--you may all 20 homer
And then, in moment more, rs ifsolioquizing,
she would Md
"Wbai homes have they and what VIII they
learn NJ homer No-they are Amcricrn chit
drep--i must keep them with mo must take
them home, Iiome mother there J lay your
hand again on my hcad--do, rnoiherW
so kaoie dreamed and moaped, until tho fever
ebbed away, aud left her too weak 10 THINK, 10
| sleep bsokenly, and dream more htiuiiy.
Day after day passed, and Annie scarcely mark
ed their progress. Her life WA a kind OF fever
dream, varied by fiIs Of languor Sometimes" IN
deed, she would make AN effort 70 throw II on,
and would walk out 10 where tho prairie WIND
came cool aud refreshing on her cheek But her
failing strength vostrained her, and checked her
wsnderings. Sometimes remembrance Oh The
little illnesses of her childhood would como over
her, aud she would weep silently ON her lonely
pillow, a. she recalled the care that used TO anti
cipate her slightest hayward wish--'he simple
Injuries that mothers hand brought 10 tempt
the appetite Of her child in oonvalescence
Soon, however, tho asue-ils gave way 10 the
vigorous remedies welded nga'n.a them, and TO
the strength Of her constitution Sns began ~
degrees TO call ths romping children OF the family
aboat her, for = little homo i1sfrucsion Ihs",
on oss COOL, brscins morning she vsntured ~ lar
~ 10 her dssertcd log schOoI-hoase, and, wrapped