The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-08

room OF Squire Pepperells and the Squire
himself was comfortable-looking figure, as he
sat there busy over his papers, with the light
from the decaying fire bringing into strong re-
lief his marked profile, and lighting up his
bald crown, as if it were beacon to point
poor deluded mortals to Heaven
The Squire was discreet man, very dis
Greet man, never talking of his affairs, even to
himself; but there was kind of triumphant
CLEAN in his eye, deliberate satisfaction so to
speak, in the way he smoothed out the tapes
upon his knee, and knotted them around the
papers, that proved the examination had at
least been satisfactory.
Once or twice, while he safe there, there had
reached him sound as of the opening of a
door, and he had, grumbling, wondered what
his housekeeper, Hannah Meigs, could be
going out for at that time Of night; but he
thought no more of it, until after burying the
fire, he took his papers and proceeded to his
bedroom. This was situated in the new
par" as it was always called, though Col. Lee
had built it at the time of his marriage, forty
years before and, in order to reach it, it was
necessary to pass through parlor and. small
ENTRY" from which door opened upon the
lawn. As our excellent friend stepped into the
| entry, he became aware that this door was
wide OPEN for furious gust of wind put out
his light and left him in darkness.
Those little rascals must have left the door
on the latch and the wind has forced it openr
he said referring TO his somewhat misohievous
grandsons; and with a muttered oath at the
carelessness of women and children, he closed
it, and passed into his bedroom, where, after
cropping around for some moments, he found
the box of matches that stood upon the bureau.
Two or three matches failed to ignite, and
were flung to the floor with an oath, 1--WE are
sorry to say that sometimes, especially when
he was ut home, the Squire forgot himself
and the statute-books,) but at last hewa sue
cesstul. As he placed his lamp upon the bu-
reau, he accidentally raised his eyes to the
mirror above. What did he see reflected there,
that caused his swarthy cheek even his very lips.
to grow pale as DEATH and every limb to shake,
until, with a loud cry, he sank to the floor
He did not tcll-indeed for weeks he was
too i'll to tell. He knew nothing of the inquest
held in his house next day, over the lifeles
body of little Milly Gilbert nor how HANNAH
Meigs and George Kipp, his man, deposed that
OH hearing his cry, they had run down to hi
room, and found the child lying upon his pill
lows corpse, with her. old grandfather knecl
ing speeches. beside her. and their master in
sensible upon the floor He did not know thai
for two whole days the form of the little girl
with her pale hands folded on her breast. lay
shrouded in her white grave clothes, in his
best parlor, while the gray haired old Colone
sat by gibbering and moaning, and sobhing
in his grief He did not hear the heavy tramp
of the bearers, as they carried the coffin out
nor the sobs of the mothers and little children
as they followed. No; he was too i'll for this
hut when he did get up, and found the good
people of the village busy with these topics he
gave new direction to their thoughts, by or
dering two white marble slabs flor before thi,
time the frozen ground by the side of little
Milly had been broken for the grave of the
Colonel) to be erected to their memory.
All, he was such n pubc-spirited man
Well might his admirers mourn and wonder
who would fill his place among us" when, q
few months later, it was known that he had
sold his house and farm to young Lewis Harri
son, and was going to take up his abode with
his son in the city.
II, in passing down the main street of tn,
good old city of A., dear reader you have
ever met u gentleman with compact well
knit frame, quick and vigorous step, and
face swarthy enough in hue, but not unlike
2 especially about the lower part, a certain emi
nent statesman, celebrated for his eloquenct
you have seen Solomon Pepperell, Esq, Pres
dent of the Farmers and Drovers Bank, d
rector of divers Railway and Insurance Con
panes father of the Hon. VIM Pepperell, NJ
C., &c.
Shrewd papas point him out as a model +
their sons, and wise mammas think him yer,
agreeable man-=no bad match for Julia Ma
tlda or even the pretty little Ida Emilia. They
do not know that often, when he is smiling 81
blandy at their evening parties, or presiding
with so much dignity at the meetings of stock
holders and directors, the vision of q pale
childish face, its floating golden looks mingne
with tho gray ones Of a wrinkled old man
rises before him, and sends the blood back
from his swarthy cheek. Oh no. they do moi
know this he never speaks of this; but they
do know that he suffers from an " affection OF
the heart" poor man, and they commserate
him deeply, and admire the benevolcnce that
after such an attack, invariably leads him to
subscribe literally to some one Of the eharita-
BILE societies of the day. All, Ae is, indeed, a
public-spirited man