The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-17

other etceteras, was quite willing TO endorse
commentator Of the housekeeper; and, as
took leave of my new acquaintance, conid NOT
avoid expressing something OF the pleasure
had felt, as well as the hope that We should
meet much and often.
Often of summer evenings, as | sat in the
moonlight, heard the music OF the guitar
across the hill and sometimes, when 1t was
very still could hear the young wife singing
to her baby.
We had soon little path worn across the
meadow, and many were the exchanges OF
ginger cakes and pies thereby facilitated.
Sometimes caught the futter Of the white
blanket on the edge of the hill, and ran to
meet and relieve nv friend of her precious
burden. True. there was no very deep or close
sympathy between us but however different
the circle of our lives and thoughts there are
points that will touch She could teach me to
embroider. and to make various little fancy ar
ticies. both pretty and useful while in other
ways was of assistance to her. And though
she never heard Of the Mask Of Comus or read
the Fairy Queen, why, there were other things
TO talk about u. 4.
So the summer went by and the fall /; and
when the fires were kindled ON the hearth, the
long skirts of the baby were tucked up, and
she was toddling from chair to chair, and de-
lighting father and mother by lsping the name
of each Mrs Robinson was well pleased with
her new life, and often expressed surprise that
the idle nothings Of her former life could have
satisfied The autumn tasks, OF putting up
and down sweetmeats and pickles, we're gotten
over without difficulty or complaint; and even
the winter, which she had always heard was so
horrid and lonely in the country was to the
young wife and mother just as pleasant as any
other season There were knitting and patch
work, sewing and mending always, to make
the days short; then the meat was to be minced
for pies, the eggs beaten, or the cakes baked !;
so that, far from having time hang heavy upon
her hands, she had scarce sufficient for all the
duties of the day.
During the clustering winter months we saw
less Of each other than previously; ncyerthe-
less, we had many a pleasant chat and rural
game ia the broad light Of the wood fires
For the most part the demeanor of Mr. Rob
inson toward his wife and child was gentle and
affectionate: but sometimes for he was of an
arbitrary and irritable temperament he gave
expression to such coarse and harsh epithets as
must have sent sensitive and refined woman
weeping to her bedp AS my presence began
ters became of more frequent occurrence; and
the wife instead Of the silent endurance prac-
tced ut first, learned to retort smartly, then
angrily. However, these were episodes in the
general domestic tranquility and were very
far from requiring the binding over of either
party to keep the peace.
The following spring. Mr. Moore, who had
never forgiven his daughter, died suddenly, aud
without any will, and Mrs Robinson became
heir to some eight or ten thousand dollars The
humble home in the country in which they
had taken so much interest and where they
had really had much of happiness, dwindled
into nothingness Carpets were torn up, and
curtains down, and, together with beds, chairs,
and tables, disposed of in summary order The
old things were of no use now.
r. The necessary preparations were soon effect
ed, and early one April morning the fires were
quenched, the doors locked, and the old house
left alone.
A handsome house was rented in town, styl-
ish furniture bought, and q half dozen ser
wants employed; for with the renewal Of old
associations and with the ampler means more
than the old Incidence and extravaganza were
INDUCED
For three years owing partly to chances
=
Robinsons. At the close of that term Glanced
to be in their neighborhood. and, with some
mlngling OF curiosity among kindly remem-
brances sought them out.
The exterior of their dwelling presented an
humble, even a dingy and comfortless appear
ance. Perhaps thought |, reports have spoken
falsely but, as the door was opened by a slat-
ternly black girl, the faded remnants Of better
tInrps n Ea for khnp,o
was scarcely seated when little girl of
some four years presented herself. with dress
and face indicating scarcity of water; and,
cycling me with more sauciness than curiosity,
asked me bluntly how long meant to stay at
their house confess TO the weakness of being
Disconnected by such questions from children
and before ! had time fully to recover, boy,
who might have been q year and half
younger, and whose white trowscrs, red jacket,
and milky face, were tattooed in manner
similar to -the face and -garmeuts Of his sister
entered the room, and taking the remnant of q
cigar from his mouth threw his cap against
me with rs much force as he was master Of by
way of salutation, and then, getting one foot
upon the head Of broken cupid that graced
I" Widowed niche he challenged my admir-
ton Of his boots. The little girl, probably
wishing me to know that she was not without
accomplishments, opened the piano. and began
drumming on the keys but the noise drown
ing the boys voice, u lively quarrel ensued and
blows were exchanged with wonderful rapidity
"Aintyou ashamed ~ said the girl, relenting
FIRST, and looking at me.
"a No. replied the boy, 81 don't care for her
Ma said she didn't want to see her and pa was
gone with all the money, and there was moth
ing for supper but half mackerel and two
ginger cakes. And" he added, am going
to eat both of Them
Mrs Robinson, as she descended caught the
whole or part of this little piece Of infrma-
ton and calling the black girl out Of the
kitchen, ordered her to bring them two little
plaques out of the parlor by main force"
Dinah clustered, in feeling all the dignity Of
her commission, and dragged them out, as d.
recsed, 10 spite Of the triple remonstrance Of
feet, hands. and voice.
AS Mrs Robinson drew them up stairs by
series of quick jerks, she told them ia voice
neither low nor soft, that she had sharp knife
in her pocket and that If she ever heard them
talk 10 again, she would cut OF their ears that
for the present, she should shut them up in her
room, and If they quarreled, or made bit Of
noise, a big negro that was in the chimney
would come down and eat them up But the
last and awfulcst terror that she brought to
bear upon them, was, that she would tell their
father
She presently entered the parlor, with an
infant in her arms; and Ii | had not been IN
some measure prepared for a misconceptions,
must have betrayed my surprise at her altered
appearance. There was no vestige Of beauty
remaining; even the expression Of her counte-
nance was changed, and she looked the picture
OF sullen, hard, and dissstisfied endurance Her
pale hair had become thin, and was neither ar
ranged with taste or care; the eyes dull and
sonken; the nose, always prominent looked
higher and sharper; and the teeth, once really
beautiful, were blackened and gone. The dress
She wore had once been pretty and expensive
silk and Wa stil, set ar Mr. do,.o, - -.