The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
LITTLE CHARLES WILL.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

LITTLE CHARLES WILL.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.
Walter and Charlie Harrison were the sons
of a sea-eaptain, and lived in one of the fine old
seaport towns Of Massachusetts,.
These boys were as unlike as two brothers
could well be- Walter was a rough, plain boy,
large of his age, and rather clumsy, with a
passionate, jealous temper which gave his
friends q great deal of trouble But he had
some noble qualities: he was as brave as a
young lion, faithful, diligent, perfectly honest
and truthful and sometimes very tender in his
feelings Charlie some two years younger than
Walter, was delicate, beautiful, sweet-tem-
pered boy, who loved everybody, and in return
was greatly beloved He was fair, pale, and
slight, with blue eyes and golden curls. Walter
said he looked ike girl, and sometimes
laughed at his delicacy; but, for all that, he
was jealous Of the poor child's beauty-eyen Of
his weakness.
Captain Harrison was most of the time at
sea, and his gentle Wits found it difficult to con-
troll the impatient spirit, or correct the even
more unamiable mOodiness of her eldest son.
If she reproved him sternly he would often ac-
cuse her Of being partiskto her youngest and
handsomest q and say that she petted and
INDUCED Charlie 80 much, that he could not
be disobedient or give her any trouble. He
himself, he said, would be good, if he were so
treated
Walter really thought himself sighted and
unloyed because he knew he was very plain,
and he saw his sickly brother cared for con-
stantlyc He never seemed to think how ridicu-
lous it would look in his mother to be nursing
and petting a stout, healthy boy, who was one
0f tha Sofr svwon nd ha hoot bar
with the ball. In all the town
Walter, with all his fine health, was often
silent and sullen, while his brother was seldom
too i'll to be laxative and cheerful; 80 il was
very natural for visiters to notice Charlie the
most and rs they supposed he needed amusing,
to send him books and to make him presents
most frequently All this Partially was
shown to him, Walter said, because he happen
ed to have plain face, and didn't know how
to put himself forward. Charlie was grieved
at this, and always wished to share his gifts
with his brother but Walter could never be
persuaded to accept anything
One time, when Charlie was about ton years
old, his mother had a visit from pious maiden
aunt, who spent some weeks in the family
During Miss Hannah Perkins's stay, sho be-
came much attached to quiet little Charlie
but rs Walter gave way to his temper, two or
three times, before her, and made sport of some
of her queer ways, she did not like him over,
much though she thought he might be made a
good boy of, with proper management. She
wondered how his mother could let such fits of
passion and such naughty tricks pass without
severe punishment II he were her child she
said, she would soon whip that bad temper out
of him. But Mrs. Harrison believed that one
blow would put more evil passion into the
heart of such proud boy as Walter than she
could ever get cut
She never failed seriously to reprove his
faults and wrong actions; and she knew--what
she told no onc--that Walter would always
come to her, after an outburst of impotence or
bad feeling, and ask her forgiveness. She
knew that Ire loved her, his father, brother, and
little sister, intensely; so she was patient, and
prayed God to soften the heart and subdue the
temper of her unhappy child.
A short time after Aunt Hannah returned
home, she sent the boys each book. Charles
happened to be opened first. 1t was hand
some illustrated copy of Robinson Crusoe"
Walter then eagerly opened his own, which
was rather gayly bound 1t was The Memoirs
Of Sunday School Scholar Walter flung it
down, saying, angrily, What did the old maid
send me this for, wonder! have had enough
of such things out of the Sunday School Ii
brary. She did not send you such "a humdrum
sort of book, Charlie. suppose she thought
you were pious enough without"
20 brother" said Charlie, don't talk so
hard am sure Aunt Hannah meant very
kindly by us both"
Walter took up his book, and began looking
through ii but he soon broke out again
Pshaw just as | thought; nothing but
early pety' early piety' Why couldn't she
have sent me some story about wars, or pirates
or even Indians! ] am tired TO death Of early
pietypp
You will never trouble your friends with it
my son" said Mrs Harrison, who had Just en-
tered the room Walter started and blushed !;
he did not know that his mother was 30 near.
But he replied, suIlenly--
~ wish might not trouble them in any way,
any longer. Ii would be better for oil if were
dead and buried for Im Of no use in the world,
and nobody loves me-"
After having said these unkind words, Walter
took his ball-ciub and went out on to the vii
lsge-green, where the boys were already at
play. Charlie soon followed, not to mingle in
the sport for he was not strong enough for
that but he loved always 10 watch his brother,
and felt proud Of his skill and strength.
After about half.hour's play many of the
boys set out for home as hard storm seemed
coming on The clouds were rolling up thick
and black, the lightnings flashed, and the
thunder broke overhead. Walter Harrison,
who had appeared half angry in all his play,
was now leaning against the side of the church,
within a yard or two Of the lighningrod The
boys called to him to come away as he was in
a dangerous place but Walter would not stir
Charlie ran up to him. and begged him to go
home but he only said
al don't care Il the lightning does strike me-
! tell you again, I'm Of no use in the world
nobody loves me. You may run home, if you
are afraid
~ am not afraid for myself brother" said
Charlie, his lip quivering; but will 20 home
and beg mamma 10 come for you"
Charlie had not run half across the green,
when there came great blaze Of lightning,
and heavy crash Of thunder, which seemed to
shake the very ground. The boys who were
looking toward the church said that they saw
the lightning roll down the rod like ball of
fire, and disappear In the earth; and that at
the same instant Walter fell 10 the ground.
They ran to him at once, raised him up, and
carried him home. Tho poor boys eyes and
mouth we're open, but hs seemed quite dead
The doctor ives sent for-came immediately,
took Walter from the bed, laid him on the
floor, and began pouring cold water upon him
by the bucketfuI Mrs Harrison had been
strangely calm Il Arst; butwhen Walter began
to show some little sgos Of life the joy was
more than she could hsar, and she tainted
away She went ffom one limiting ut into an