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


detected by two of Squire Pepperells men,
staggering of with rail which he had taken
from that gentleman's fence! True, it was
an old, worm eaten, messy thing, which he had
laid with his own hands years before, when
those broad acres had owned him master, and
he had kept his Thanksgiving festival in the
same house where the Squire had that day
toasted his son-when that gentleman was only
Sol Pepperel "a cute hand at bargain
whom he had often befriended, retailer of
groceries and liquors, and in whose little store
at the corner he had gradually learned to lin
ger, until it was openly reported that he was
not always able to get away.
What need is there TO trace his downward
path To tell of the gentle pleadings of his
wife, and her ceaseless prayers, of which the
angels alone kept count--of the shame which
bowed down the heads of his two noble boys,
and made them welcome Death as friend,
when he came to call them to the silent land.
How the heartbroken mother, with one long,
lingering look Mt the face of little Milly, her
darling, followed them, while he wept tears of
bitter repentance and made many silent VOW
to touch the accursed cup no more-vows for
gotten, alas when the hand of Sol. Pepperell
pressed upon him the "friendly glass with
words of coincidence and sympathy. How he
went on, binding closer and closer the chains Of
the demon about him, until his neglect and
harshness drove little Milly to seek home and
shelter in the arms of one who proved himself
a villain; apd in virtue of bonds and acceptan-
ces which his enfeebled brain could neither un-
derstand nor dispute, his whole property, with
the exception of a mere pittance, passed into
the hands of Solomon Pepperell and he
into the street
There were, at that time, plenty of people
who did not hesitate to say that Sol Pepperell
had behaved little better than a cheat in this
affair; that he had tempted Colonel Lee to
drink, and then taken advantage of his situa-
ton They even went farther, and threatened
to investigate the affair but the long attack
of fever that followed the old mans election
from the house of his fathers though it left
him quite free from his besetting sin, impaired
his mind to such degree that it was impossi-
BILE to hope for any assistance from him; and,
besides, Just about that time Squire Norton,
his warmest friend, died very suddenly and
the others, having a very sautary fear of law
suits before their eyes, let the matter drop and
contented themselves with placing the old man
to board with kind-hearted old Widow Will
son. And to their credit be it said, that when
his pittauce was exhausted they paid the
weekly stipend to the widow out of their own
pockets; for they were people of the old stamp,
and could not forget that he was the last of a
race whose history was interviewer with that
of the place, and whose name had ever stood
first on the records of church and town; and
moreover, that the lot where the parsonage
stood had been given to the Society by the
ro1o lie cath md tbn fur lvpr
cups belonging to the communion service had
been the gift of his maiden sister, Miss Polly.
SO, when Mlly's little orphan girl was sent
by her mothers dying wish to her old home,
and they saw how the old man chung to her,
often in his wandering way speaking of her as
his own Milly, they had not the heart to part
them, and let her stay the more willingly, as
Widow Wilson had become much attached to
the quiet little thing, and assured them that
Colonel Lee had seemed much more rational
since the child had come. On one point he was
never rational-his proncrty-he was always
expecting to be reinstavcd in his rights, and
would talk to the wondering child for hours
about what they would do when they got back
their own again.
But, one by one, these kind old family friend
dropped into their graves. AT last Widow
Wilson went, too, and there arose a new set @
town officers, who "knew not joseph" and tn
old man and little Mlly were fnally sent to tn
alms-house.
Perhaps he thought of all these things whel
old Bill Sims took the rail from his shoulder
calling him an old thief and rascal and threat
ening him with Squire Pepperelrs heavy ven
geance, if he were ever caught in such m &C
| again: for he stood rs in dream. giving no
the slightest evidence that he comprehendet
a single word of the mans coarse abuse, unit
1his companion interposed swearing it wa
too bad, and that he would "steal himself
if he needed wood on such night rs that
Then the old man looked wistidlly up in hi
face, and murmured, with shudder-
"She was so cold, poor thing but it will b.
warm weather by and byn
The very words he muttered to the woman
Mabel Greene, when, an hour or two later. she
came in to light their bit of candle, and offered
to sit up while with the child.
"No, no; Milly don't want watchers. She'll
be well soon. See, she sleeps sound as a kit
ten!D
The woman stopped and laid her hand on
the child's forehead; then slipping it beneath
the bed covering, felt Of her feet, and drew
back with shudder.
The old man did not note the expression of
her face but he said, almost angriIy-
There there Mabel Greene, don't disturb
her Sleep and warmth are all she wants to
set her up. They are always the best doctors
for children"
The woman gazed id his face for moment,
and then said" You had better let me stay,
Colonel, or call up Mrs. Smart II don't
think the child will hold out until morning.
"Mrs. Smartn he repeated, angrily; 81
have no need of that woman's services. You
can stay yourself Mabel Greene if you insist
upon it. but shall take care of the child my
self You mistake her symptoms altogether {"
Lord bless us muttered the woman. US
she left the room, not sorry perhaps, to escape
nights vigil in that cold place "hc is Just
as sane as ever he was and twice as proud
Who'd thought Of his wits comm back ~
The hours passed on, and the wild north
wind swept dolefully round the angle of the
old house where little Milly lay, rafting the
loose clapboards and the widowed window
frames, and creeping in at every crcvice, (of
which there were more than enough for comfort,)
as il anxious to render colder still the childish
brow over which the chills of Death, even
then, we're stealing. The old man paced the
room hurriedly, now muttering to himself, now
pausing and gazing fxedly at bright light
that CLEANED from the windows Of Squire
Pepperells mansion, about half mile distant.
It was evident that Mabel Greene's words still
fingered in his mind for once or twice he MUIR
INJURED audibly-" Die die here! The wo-
mans fools
Finally, he went up to the bed, and CROPPED
beneath the clothes, until his fingers clasped
her foot II was like lump of ice.
As he turned away and covered his face with
his old wrnkled hands, there was an express
sion of agony in it terrible to behold; for with
that touch came the memory of his boys, and
how anxiousIy he and his wife had watched
the GOODNESS stealing over their young limbs
and he groaned aloud
The child moved slightly. Instantly he was