The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29

Hobner was mere girl, SAID tho old man
looking kindly at me. "But you are not like
her child, unless it be about the MOUTH
"My niece is all LyttoD as tell her" said
my uncle, 81 We seated ourselves ut the table
No, this old man had known my mother be.
lore trials and poverty and SORROW had changed
her, and determined TO make him my friend
1T possible, and see if | could not get from him
some better conception of what she was like in
her youth, than | had obtained from her own
family-something beside descriptions OF her
beauty coupled with illconcealed regrets that
she should have "thrown herself away" upon
poor editor, who was I" only farmers son y
am sorry to say that was more occupied
with these thoughts than the Doctors grace, y
which was scarcely ended when aunt reach.
ing forward to adjust the fall Of my berthe,
whispered
THAT dress of yours lie far too large, dear
1T wrinkles quite badly under the arm and
your braids on the left side are slipping down
Order is the first law Of nature, you know"
Dear Vacuna, had met aunt's chamber.
maids little toddling nephew in the passage, a.
| came down, and oblivious of hair-pins and
braids, had stopped to toss him mp to the
moon" But did not tell aunt this, had toe
much regard for myself and chubby Lee"
merely said, as coolly cut my chicken
4" Just SO, aunt; but as we happen to be still
on earth, hold it to be wiser TO comply with
earths laws; perhaps, in this way, We shall, in
time, come to understand and fulfil those OF q
higher sphere"
Aunt looked little confused, as have no
aced she not unfrequently does at my remarks
ana the old doctor, interrupting himself in some
remark, asked
what was that you were saying about a
higher spheref--a iavorite phrase with the
young people of the present day, MIR Sewal"
" was merely saying that whatever may be
the laws of higher sphere, full play for tn,
lungs is very essential here"
H. laughed, and the old man. after bland
very true; am glad you understand some
thing of the wonderful mechanism of the hu
man Frame turned to dissecting Dr. Bushnell
and his heresies, and assisted by uncle ant
aunt, succeeded pretty thoroughly | ventur
ed once or twice to put in sort Of a discaim
or, in the shape of question, and H. gallantl,
seconded me but we were calmly put down
by gentle hint that the earnal mind coul,
not judge upon such matters; and sat ant
wondered if the human mind had really o.
changed since the poor and ignorant the pub
lican and sinner, had gladly accepted the truth
as il fell from the lips of Jesus by the blue wa
ters of the seas of Palestine.
Then, they went into the condition Of tn,
world in general and grew quito sad at hear
ing how fast all Christendom was retrogradinp
into chaos and old night and yet, few mo-
ments before, in his grace before meat" thai
kind, old man had fervently thanked God foi
all the manifold blessings which of His own
good will and pleasure He had showered upor
us; but most of ALL that He had given us oui
being in this land Of Gospel light and Gospe
privileges ut is strange how much acceptanc,
] find in the world, and how little intelligen
belief These people were Sincere, and woult
have thought one mad who questioned theii
orthodoxy; yet, if | took them ut their word
they were practical atheists, denying the pow
or of truth to regenerate the world.
Uncle is q born conservative" dyed in thu
wool with perfect horror of all restless, vul
gar innovators who threaten to disturb any
thing from the tie of his white cravat to the
foundations of a State. He would ignore tim,
himself, if possible. But with DR.. Smith it il
different One ca2 readily perceive how hi
conservatism is but the natural growth of tina
innate principle which is developed by year
and success in life, aided, not little, by al
| un9uestioning adherence to certain theological
notions, which have spider. like spun their we
40 completely over HIS heart that he has almoe
forgotten the warm, gushing, sympatheti
throbs OF its youth, or remembers them onl
with plying smile, as youthful enthusiasm
Enthusiasm Would that we could abe tru
to the dreams OF our youth ~ Would that W
could take them with us as blessed realitie
down the shady slopes Of life Then old ag
would not be 30 meagre and barren
So unused until the exclamation--"lt j
astonishing which usually forms the aft,
| and suf6x to all uncle's remarks on religion
| and morals, reused me. {" IL is really astonish
ing how sensible people, Christian people, car
be 30 blind do not blame the South. Wer,
they to come here, sir, and make such demand
on us, we should nee the improperly, the alb
surdty, ut once. But that such men rs Messrs
Z. K q. can be 40 led away, is Incredible"
"All tho result Of narrow sectional views
and restless desire to forestall the working
of Providence" blandy answered the old Doc
tor
They had actually begun to sgitate," those
two stsid pillows OF conservatism, and open
ed my ears, for | knew that among my many
unknown heresies which had thought best t.
leave to the unfolding hand of time, my "Ab.
olitionism," in their eyes, would be the rank
est. thought of the days in g., when, from
every lesson and every object my MASTER Il
like the old, sportive title BEST was won't to
deduce arguments in favor of liberty and pro.
gress; and how, in the spirit of opposition,
sought every argument on the opposite side,
until obliged to yield Those were hot battles
He would never yield an inch to the sex-never
condescend to say might possibly be right
but, on the other hand he treated me rs an
equal, capable Of thinking for myself, not as a
pet or puppet. ! did not fully appreciate this
then, but, now-aye, sec, it s necessary to
get ut distance from some people as well rs
pictures, to see them truly. ! wonder, if we
were to meet again, if We should resume the
war; | wonder--but enough Of this. What ]
would say, is this that rs lessons had fully
qualified me to understand the bject, and |
asked inquiriugly and ] must confess, rather
mischieviously-
But does not God make use of human in
struments to carry out his plans, sir 9"
Certainly my child but not, fear Of such
men as Garrison, Philips, and Smith--men
who have cast off all authority, save that of
their blinded, scared conscences OF of their
ignorant fanatical followers Poor tools these,
to do the work Of the Lord
All, if the appointed teachers refuse to lead
the people over Jordan into the promised land
shall they grumbe If ths office pass from the
tribe Of Levi and hands consecrated only by
an earnest love for humanity, take up the sa-
cred ark Of truth? Thus thought, but did
not say it, only suggested, that he might posi-
bly, misunderstand these men Moreover, they
were but small portion Of the supporters Of
the Anti.Slavery cause.
Uncle gave me look that seemed TO say