The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-25
WASHINGTON, ID. c.
For the National Era.
UI.STARRED-PARTS SIXTH.
BY PATTY LEE.

they NAV have been attended with no unusual
SORROW or solictude The weight of care Is
Igbtened for a.moment, and we breathe freely ;
there is then less hooking before and after, less
signing for what is not, than mt other tunes. In
the city, the close of the week and the APP
proach of the Sabbath are more manlfestly APP
pretended, perhaps; but in the country, they
are felt The oxen are unyoked and left TO
craze over the hills for day, the plow or the
work of whatever sort it may be, stands still
hush. unbroken by the woodman's axe or the
laborer's song, spreads itself over all, and the
solemn Ginning of the village bell calls to all,
f,r and near to come up and worship. There
Is no music of chimes, no crOss-crowned towers,
mo gorgeous and elaborate ritual, nor paid
chors, TO fill long, dark, aisles with artistic
trills-
As if Gods ear would bend with childish favor
To the poor Hattery of the organ keys.
The very birds seemed to sing less .jocundly, and
= tBssy snoos sound through the woods like an
thenls and the WINDS the pr>~.5sn0s,aNl n :
in prophetic utterance, admonish the soul till
the sun goes down in purple fire, and over the
skys blue border the stars come up white and
cold
Sometimes, in some country places the Sab
bath is made time of visiting nor is it thus
prolaned for it is generally amongst people
whose occupations require their time and atten-
ton through the week, and who, after quietly
enioying the hospitality of some dear friend or
brother, partake with him also spiritual feast
in the house of God There is no ostentatious
display, no noise or hustle requisite for the en-
tertainment. but the visitors lend their aid in
the performance of some labor of love, and so
during their stay make less work than they do.
M CT |, yhO ofo in no
spare bed" dainty and love endeared,' spread
it smoothly. and get the whole chamber in order
before they descend, and make themselves fur
Their useful. often in laying the cloth and as
sisting about breakfast, which is easily accom-
plshod with the asking of an occasional ques-
tion--such as, whether to use the white-handled
knives and forks or the horn ones, the plain
china or the gilt, the tin coffee-pot or the bril-
tannia in all of which cases. the yisiter knows
well enough that the white-handled knives and
forks and the gilt china and the britannia cof-
fee-pot are to be used Meanwhile, the men,
folks inspect cribs, and sheds, and barns pro-
posing improvements for themselves from what
they see, or suggesting improvements for their
neighbor, the while they give the horses their
oats, or carry the hay to the sheep, or milk a
COW, Just because they would rather do it than
not neither offering hindrance, nor disorgan-
ning the usual course Of things. If il be known
that Uncle Johns or Aunt Mary's folks are
coming, or whoever else it may be, the prepa-
ratiOns are all made Saturday. AT such times
wo be to the chickens that have saucy habits OF
coming into the house With all diligence the
children search through hay-mows and straw
heaps and sometimes make exploring expedi-
tons into patches of weeds, for new nests scrub
blng and busting are done up with unusual
care, pound-cake and u pudding are baked
and toward sunset all the family appear in
their holyday gear, and await with smiling
comtenances the browning event the arrival
Of Uncle John or Aunt Mary, as the case may
be. Well, such an event was about to occur ut
Mr. Claverels. The weeks work was finished,
David and Oliver were initiating their colts,
Democrat and Reuben, in the mysteries of some
fantastic tricks, Mr. Claverel read some poti-
cal essay in the Republican," while Dolly y
crmped the border of her cap with Richards
penknlte; and Martha and Jane, shiyering
though they were, sat close to the front gate,
eager to catch the first glimpse of Uncle Peters
folks. Richard, utterly Indifferent or affecting
TO be, sat in his room seesawing on violin; and
yet the coming of Uncle Peter was to him the
beginning of new era in life.
Oh, mother mother, look quick and see if
that is not them just coming over the hill, said
both the girls at once Mrs Claverel arose and
looked from the window, saying, as she did so
Peter has a new horse on the near side il it
Is him. but Sammy, hadn't you best go out and
open the gate, at any rate ?O
Call Richard to co. he answered but the
children ran out again, saying they could do il,
for they thought that would make it Uncle
Peter; and Mrs Clayerel, saying she guessed
they could do it Just as well as anybody, left
Richard to the enjoyment of his violin. Anx-
lonsly and almost tremblingly the children
Sazed. Presently, the white cover and the little
green wagon were in full sight, and there, side
ny side, sat Uncle Peter and Aunt Jane. Brisk.
Iy the journey was concluded and as they,
having smiled and nodded TO the children,
trotted down the gravel walk, the rafting Of
the wheels announced to all that they were
come. Mrs Clayerel in her newly crimpcd
cap and smoothly ironed dress, and with one
hand IN the sock she was mending, for she was
never idle came forth to give her welcome, at
tended by sammy with the open Republican
m one hand, and Windsor chair in the other,
which he proffered by way Of step. What a
loyos shaking Of hands there was, how many
Kind inquiries about all at home from the chill.
1reh to Billy the hired man, and even the old
house-dog was not forgotten Then came the
unPacklng of variety Of little presents, in the
shape OF packages jars and baskets-for Aunt
Jane never came empty handed-she always
had something that she knew Dolly would like
10 well some of her currant jelly, or dried
ears 80 nice in case Of sickness, or a fresh-
naked loatcake, which she thought the children
might like because Aunt Jane made it and not
'u' that Dolly could make a great deal better.
An, Aunt Jane was a good woman--kind
d. Ana~t NJ
spontaneously as water from the living founI
TAN She knew nothing Of the arts and bland
Shments Of cultivated life-nothng Of its heart
less and speeous receptions; but a disposition
70 please Is better than conformity to rules, and
everybody was happy in Aunt James society.
S''e was not my Aunt Jane ! wish she was
VT she IN still living and well stricken in years
~" must be too for n remember her, she
"% iorty, suppose--and that N a long time
ISo. In the shadow a the maple, where Uncle
S'er often rested from his labcrs he IL now
~ N'hg his last rest He was many years older
nan nan hls wife; even at the bridal, his hair was
"a nne but ween her hirtations gave hun lit
Aiong The cool sequpstered vale Of life,
ScPt The even tenor 81 his way" I
re "u ~nen tine end came, he was happy and
t'"- ll4l E4lllf tVr llNfri
.nS Seep the odd homestead Jenny he said
nd b'iiy to tend the fafm---he knows all my
JEDI DONG. don't want any new-iangled
r W., or harrows brought into use. 60 and
o. sammy : folks once in three months, Just
ien nough were with you: and do not erie,a
shy n"y but hiss me now, and ret nae 20 10
% aud ssncothing the gray hairs from his
, ,el Jeany did kiss tdia, as ieryentIy "a
''"'y years betore--and the smile that came