The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-29

looked long and sadly upon her. and repeated,
in almost her own words
"Vhp did take her from her home -
And the echoes of the gathering night and
the shout OF the storm-wind answered.
"Why-why!"
CHAP. ".
People talk of forming character" and of
reforming character The first is compare
lively an easy task, when the soul is young,
pliable, and cast in no mould of this great
Babel world. 1t is quite another thing to tear
it, in its full growth and strength, from the
mould of Habit, and cast 1t over anew, to hit
the reformer's fancy. There are few crucibles
fiery enough to melt the mature spirit to the
likeness of "A little chds - and few wills |
strong enough to dare the flames of trial UNI
flinchingly, until the work is wrought, and the /
character twice refined, CLOVIS with the stamp
of stern decision and self-sacriice.
Emily's was not one of these To have fitted
herself to the desires and exactons Of her carp
ing people, would have been to change her
very beng-to turn back the current of her
nature on the channel it had worn from her
early childhood
She did try as she had promised, sincere
ly, too, and faithfully. But her bodily strength
was failing. and her mental strength had long
been Slapped by the enervating influences of an
erroneous education.
Mrs Stephens venturing out one sunny day,
not long after this, kindly determined to make
her morning call As no one came to answer
her gentle rap, she pushed open the door, and
walked into the parlor. 1t was empty; but a
door leading from it was aiar; and beyond, she
thought she heard slight cough. She softly
opened it, and found herself in Emily's winter
sleeping room. Emily herself was sitting on
her trunk, with both arms leaned on the table,
and her head upon them; bed lay in chaos
before her, the elements strewing chairs, posts,
and floor. She sprang up when she heard
step
ooh, pardon me- dear Mrs. Young | in
| trude,' said Mrs Stephens, stepping back 81
did not know that your room was on this
hoorlN
"Oh, stay, stay ~ exclaimed Emily, throw
ing both arms around her. and drawing her to
the only cleared chair 81 should be ashamed
to ask anybody else into such looking room
| but gou have heart kind enough to excuse
| and overlook know
"You look i'll, my dear Mrs. Young"
| III am not well, surely replied Emily IL
have little night cough, that isn't much but
then this pain III my side that any little exer-
ton brings on, is 80 dscouraging! You see |
have been trying to make my bed, ;" said She
smiling sadly "YOu will think me very fool
sh, know, when | tell you that ! tire myself
out with doing it, every morning, so that |
have to lie down again had just spread it
| open. az you came in and the business of
turning those feather beds looked 80 formidable
| to me, that well, my eyes tell their own
| childish ,uaa knaoai I povar ha 10 hann usad IA,
| it, that is all y
"You ought not to bring on this pain, my
friend, said Mrs. Stephens, seriously. why
don't you call your girl to do it,"
Emily blushed and hestated
81 will be frank with you at least" she
said, laying her hand in that of her friend.
" You know the Pensioners have been crit
Ching their minister's ignorant, useless sort of
wife; and Mr. Young wanted me to do this
1t is little thing, know but have not even
the little strength it requires"
And you must not do it again, said her
visiter, looking fxedly in her face. IL had
fallen from its roundness and her eyes were
gassed with something more sparkling than
tears. Mrs. Young, ! am older than you, and
you will let me advise you little. Ii is at the
peril Of your life that you trfe with that warn
ing little cough"
She went away with heavy heart
"That young, crail beautiful creature will
not linger through the years of pain have
known" she said, TO herself why, then,
should pity hcr?'
Yet not the less freely did her pity flow out
toward her
A babes voice woke once more the echoes Of
the minister's house. 1t was cbcrub, lent to
soften the harshness of all captious hearts and
pave the path its mother was treadng to the
green turf of the church-yard. Everybody's
heart warmed toward the young mother, and
every one invoked the blessing of life for the |
beautiful child whose elder brothers and Sis
tiers had turned 30 soon from earth
Far back in my memory, yet fresh as first
childish recollection often is, il the hour when
looked, for the first and last time, upon the
face of that babe. had been sent TO the min
ister's house on some errand; and as fingered
bashfully on the threshold, with an unexpressed |
wish Mt my heart, was invited into the room
of the sick lady. did not then know that she
was 80 i'll as she really was. She least knew
it. herself Her disease had taken the form Of
a hatterer and deceiver, even while it was hur-
rying her with fearfully rapid strides from her
place on earth.
Her husband had once, and only once given
her glimpse Of the conviction that was rend |
ing his heart. 1t was when she had been con-
fdently laying her plans for the education Of
her child, and for its management after she
should "get we'll"
"Liie and death are in the hands of the
Lord, Emily he had replied, in an almost
choked voice you may never get well =
She had looked him in the face, wondering
ly; then turning to the crib at her bedside, had
caught up the pearl Of price and promise that
lay reposng there.
III can't die, and leave my baby" she had
exclaimed, incredulousy Then she burst into
tears that threatened her safety; and her ten
der husband had feared to speak from his
heart again. He saw that she was cheerful |
hopeful, deuded, and therefore happy; he be- |
lieved her fitted to 20, and trusted that God, in
his own good time, would take away the sting
of Death ere she was called to face that stern
reality unveiled
She lay halfpropped by pillows, AZ entered
the room, over whose snowy linen her fossy
bands Of long rich hair were dropping Tho
day was warm, and she had thrown the cap
from her head, and shaken down that wealth
Of tresses, untouched by disease. Her cheeks
were marble white, except where burning
red round stamp frightened the centre of each |
Her glittering eye turned restlessly on the door,
as it was opened to me by an old mulatto
woman, with shining teeth and checkered
II was her manner" her fos-
ter. mother for at the first disclosure OF her |