The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21

hay was gone from the stable, the -four and meat
from the larder, the wood required TO be rcplen-
ished aud fear and anxiety began to usurp the
place Of hope and satisfaction.
Daily Richard went back and forward from his
fathers to his own home, bearing basket Of sp-
Piles or potatoes and daily Martha and Jane adj
dressed him as DR.. Claverel, and inquired, with.
mock sincerity, after the health Of his patients.
"How much do you want2" they would say
sometimes-a dollars worth, or less we don't do
business on the credit system Mrs Clsverel
would say, "eome, come,p by way Of reproof,
while Richard remained silent from mortifca-
| ton.
The spring frightened into summer, and the
half-made garden was overgrown with weeds,
while indoors a cross baby cried in the cradle,
aud the mother, languid and weary Of waiting for
the better time, grew more and more dissatisfied,
negleeting the sources of comfort she had because
she had not more.
One morning, after restless night with fret
full baby, she arose more languid and disquieted
than usual There was no FIRE TO prepare break
| fast, and no breakfast to prepare dull leaden
clouds hung over all the sky no breath Of air
stirred the leaves, Hresug which the SPIDER were
lazily spinning the birds twittered feebly and
family, but there was no joyous outburst Of song
Presently the thunder growled in the far dis
lance and rumbled heavily up the sky--the day
was going to be stormy.
Once or twice. Sally called her husband TO arise,
aud if possible prepare some wood for a fire be-
fore the rain set in but he dozed on, paying no
heed TO her remarks and advice; and getting her.
self near where the fire should be- she rocked her
baby to and fro in wretched and sullen mood
looking out upon the storm. There was no food
nor money nor fire in the house Neither was
there any interchange of kind words or hopes or
wishes to keep alive in their hearts the love that
was fast dying out. At last the noon was come
il grew lighter and the rain nearly ceased
The poor girl could restrain her sorrow and
her reproaches no longer, and once more turning
"a gsehsrd asked him if he in'%nded to leave her
to starve to death.
Whist would you have me do" he said, " 20
OK ~. - e..rl4 ~ -. --iatsfT' ~ =,
heart and no hOpe-nothing but a disconnected
and reproaohful wife.
Would that we're dead before theep"
Tears followed on the part Of the wife-then |
bitterer reproaches-then harsh words from each
to each-snd then sullen silence and logged re-
solves
Toward sunset, with her baby in her arms and |
the tears in her eyes, Sally set out in the rain for
home, while Richard remained in the desolste |
and deserted house-wrotched, very wretched
The sun went down the rain fell on and on (;
without and within all was dark, and the heart Of
of the lll-Starred inmate was darkest of all He |
was hungry, though he scarcely felt that. Weary |
Of himself and Of the world, the hours dragged |
slowly by All day he had sat perfectly STILL with
his arms folded across his bosom, and his eyes
bent upon the ground. At last he arose, pacing
restlessy from side to side Of the little room be-
ginning q train Of reflection sometimes with
I" might do better IL would y but invariably end
ing with, III would do better If couldp Vio-
lent feelings of joy or pain must exhaust them
selves at last and the tumult in the bosom Of the
young man at length gave way to the settled
cslmness Of despair After search Of some min
utes, he succeeded in finding the remnant Of
tallow candle, by the light of which he read the
miserable conclusion of the sorrowful story of
Chatterton but he gathered no courage from the
fact that the day after his suicide " there came
man in the city iDquiripg for him. He only
said 1t was better that he should die than live.
An evil sign was in his house Of life, which only
the shadow Of the grave could sweep away and
to die was to give the echo Of his name TO the
world
So m. i--s -ieht in da-knAs~ ~-.S So La
unused.
The next morning, haggard and worn and hun
CRY, he returned to his fathers house, and HIS
mother listened patiently and lovingly to the old
story--his wife had cruelty deserted him, depriv-
ing him of the solace of his child that in fact she
had been unkind and improvident from the first (;
and had she remained, her conduct might ulti-
mately have broken his heart. So wretched and
helpless and hopeless he looked that even his
father was softened and forbore to reproach, If
he did not soothe and encourage. He was resolved
TO give up his profession, for he had neither the
tact nor the talent for its prosecution he would
come back home, and assist his brothers In the
cultivation Of the farm Agreeably to this resolve,
Democrat and Tom we're harnessed to the market
wagon and the goods belonging TO the husband
were separated and removed from those belong
ing TO the wife The sign was taken down, and
though Richard was careful to despoite it where
IL would neither be seen by himself nor any one
else, as he thought, Martha and Jane, in some Of
those mysterious searches Of which children are
80 fond, would sometimes bring 1t TO light, and,
lacking it to the door Of his room, hide in some
neighboring nook to watch his coming, and laugh
over his surprise and modification.
After few days Of pretty energetic endeavor
TO be useful, Richard began to relapse to his for
mer apathy and indifference. Sometimes be
would sit in his chamber and read his old medi-
cal books sometimes he mounted his pony and
rode about the neighborhood, no one knew for
what nor do think he knew himself.
Meantime, rumor became current that Mr.
Bates was about to sell out and move to town.
rumor which had confirmation in the bills posted
in front Of the Startown Hotel, and principal |
grocery store as also upon the graveyard fence
and the gate-posts Of Mr.. Claverel at one extrem-
ity OF the village, and Of Deacon Somerset az the |
other stating, in large printed letters, that,
"would be sold at public vendue, on the first OF
August, at the house OF Peter Bates, all the fol-
lowing property, viz three mich cows, one patent |
churn, with lot az dairy wage and family crocke
ry-two feather beds, picked from Mr. Bates's
own geese, and Ss1apted prime--ohe bureau, one
breakfast table, 6s half dozen chairs. Also, two
draught-horses, enc tanning mill one pillow, with
| great variety Of farming and household utensils
| too numerous 10 mention.
Mrs Bates had asseverated, as it was reported,
| that she could not live in the same neighborhood
with the Clayerels. So, in due course Of time,
tanning mill and feather-beds, milch cows and
breakfast-table, were duly disposed Of and MIR
Bates and family moved 10 town, and opened a
boarding house Tor taiors, milliners, and errand
boys-Sslly chiefly doing the honors and her
mother the work. The children were thus de-
prived of the fresh air, and free, healthful exsr
/ cise they had been accustomed to; their simple
| and comfortable clothing was abandoned for that
| which was something Ike other children had
more expensive than they could afford, more fash
| ionsble than durable or agreeable to children
never used TO being pinned up and hooked down
10 any sort Of restraining way. Consequently,
| they became, as their mother thought very much
I imprcved-thst Is, they had, in place Of full,
| dimpled cheeks, and rosy arms, and flowing hair,
paler and more delicate look, with arms and face
freckled with musquito- bites-broad, White pania-
let's, and long braids hanging down their backs,
literally bedecked at the ends with very bright
ribbons. As for the boys, ! can't describe the
buttons and tasses, and shining belts that set
them off but IL WAS all over-strsined, and not
precisely the right thing nor could they learn to
feel as much at home 10 their loose trowsers In
the bayfield,. The city air and the neglected.
mother didn't agree with the baby and on the
cushion Of the rocking chair it lay, fretting by
the hour or falling over the shoulder Of a nurse
girl, not old enough nor strong enough to support
IT, was carried from place TO place with its skirts