The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13
For the National Era.
lcoPYRIoHr SECURED BIT THE AUTHOR.
MARK SUTHERLAND:
OR,
POWER AND IECIPLE.
BY EMMA ID. L. N. soUTHwoRTH.
CHAP l.
BY EMMA ID. E. N. soUTHwoRTH.
CHAP. l.
The Collegian's Supper.

The Collegian's Supper.
Filled is lifes goblet to the brim - LongtsiloO.
"INDIA!p exclaimed Mark Sutherland ri
sing at the head of his table and waving high
the trimming glass, while his fine dark coun-
tenance lighted up with enthusiasm. A young
Ajax in athletic beauty and strength stood the
young Mississippian, until
India !" responded his friend Lauderdale,
from the foot Of the table.
"lndia!n echoed the young men around the
board, as they all arose, and standing hopored
the toast Then the glasses jingled merrily
down upon the table, and then
"Now that in blind faith we have worshipped
your Goddess--who is India l. it woman,
or quarter Of the globe-your idolatry!"
India!' CALCULATED the young Southerner
with fervor. +" IndiaW
had scarce been duller
than to have harbored such question Fill
| high your glasses again, and
| 'Twixt the rod wine and the chalice
| let me breathe her beauty's name. Gentlemen,
are you ready! The Pearl of Pearl River"
1.-The Pearl of Pearl River! responded Lau-
derdale
"The Pearl of Pearl Rivor!" rc-echoed all
standing, and the empty glasses ratified down
upon the table.
This was the parting toast, and the company
broke up to separate. The young guests all
crowded around their youthful host with adieus,
regrets congratulations, and kind wishes; for
all these opposite phrases were equally appro-
pirate, as will be seen.
Mark Sutherland was the son and nephew
of the celebrated Pearl river planters-the
three brothers Sutherland He was the pros
pective possessor Of three immense estates
being the heir of the first, betrothed to the
hciress of the second and co-heir with her to
the third extensive plantation. He had Just
concluded a brilliant collegiate course with
distinguished honor; he was soon to return
South, 70 enter upon his patrimony, and claim
the hand of his afianced bride, before he set
forth upon his European travels. And this was
his valedictory entertainment given to his class
mates For him. indeed
Filled was life. goblet to the brim
No wonder those fine strong eyes danced with
anticipation as he shook hands right and left
He was, up to this time, a frank, thoughtless
iOyous. extravagant fellow--selfsh because he
knew nothing Of sorrow and wasteful because
he knew nothing of want Aflluent in youth
homage-he seemed to consider gold valueless
as dust and Difference only his just due He
"the heir of all the ages" past Of thought and
toll, had entered upon his intellectual inherit
ancc with great eciat ), but as yet not one mite
had he added TO the store not one thought
had he bestowed upon the great subjects that
now engross oil earnest minds. Too full of
youthful fire, vitality, love, hope, and joy, for
any grave thought or feeling to find room in
his brain or heart, was the planters son. How,
indeed could earnest truth find entrance
through such n crowd Of noisy joys to his
heart. He stood upon the threshold of the
past, indeed, and his faco was set forward TO-
wards the future but not one onward step had
he taken. Why should he trouble himselfi
The bounteous future was advancing to him,
smiling, and laden with all the riches OF life
and time With all the riches Of life How
should he, in his jubiant, unrehecting nature,
recognise them for the spoils of life, and all life
holds most sacredl
But he stood, receiving the adieus of his
young friends, and dealing out wholesale and
retail invitations for all and each 10 come and
visit him, for an indefinite length Of time, or
until they were tired. At last, they were all
gone, except Laudcrdale, his chum, who was
passing some days with him, as his guest at
the Minerva House.
"You are an enviable dog Sutherland" ex-
claimed the latter, clappfng him sharply upon |
the shoulder aYou are dsuced enyable vii |
lain By my soul, il in enough to make poor
man like me dissatisfied with his lot, or the
present arrangements Of society, which amounts
to precisely the same thing, suppose Deuce
take me, IL II Amt enough TO make me turn
Agrarian, Chartist, Radical or whatever may
be the new name for the old discomfort! Just
contrast our positions! Here are you. at one
and.twenty years Of age, entirely free from ali
toll and care for the whole remainder Of your
life. You will now return 10 a sumptuous
Southern home on q magnificent estate, where
troops of friends wait to welcome you, and |
troops of slaves attend to serve You, and where
your bride, the very pearl Of beauty, dreams of
and lsnguishss for your presence; and, above
all-yes, speak refectingly, above aH-mors
than sumptuous home and troops Of friends,
and trains OF servants, and blushing bride
where, lying perdue ut your service, is plenty
Of the root Of all evil
"Gold to saye-gold 10 lond--
Gold TO giye-gold to spend
W lille l--well, shall just plod on In the old '