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

h'VDnch was mere Rifl, inc Oiu nan,
looking kindly at me. "But you are not like
her child, unless it be about the MOUTH
My niece is oil Lytton, as tell her, said
my uncle, as we seated ourselves at the table
no, this old man had known my mother be-
fore trials and poverty and sorrow had changed
her and determined to make him my friend,
ii 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 i'll concealed regrets that
she should have "thrown herself away" upon
a poor editor who was only farmers son y
am sorry TO say that | was more occupied
with these thoughts than the Doctors grace, "
which was scarcely ended when aunt reach.
ing forwsrd to adjust the fall of my berthe,
whispered
"That dress of yours s far too large, dear
it 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 Vscuna, had met aunt's chamber
maids little toddling nephew in the passage, as
| came down, and, Obliyious of hair pins and
braids, had stopped to toss him 'sup to the
moon" But did not tell aunt this, had too
much regard for myself and chubby Lee"
merely said as coolly cut my chicken
Just 80, aunt; but az we happen to be still
on earth, hold it to be wiser to comply with
earth's laws; perhaps, in this way We shall, in
time come to understand and fulfil those of a
| higher sphere"
Aunt looked little confused az have no.
hced she not unfrequently does, at my remarks
snd the old doctor, interrupting himself in some
| remark asked
"What was that you were saving about a
higher spheret-a iavorite phrase with the
young people of the present day, Mr. Sewal"
| 81 was merely saying that whatever may be
the laws of higher sphere, full play for the
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 dssecting Dr. Bushnell
and his heresies, and, assisted by uncle an(
aunt, succeeded pretty thoroughly. / ventur
ed once or twice to put in q sort of disclaim
er, in the shape Of a question, and H. gallantl,
seconded me- but we were calmly put dowr
| by gentle hint that the carnal mind coul,
not judge upon such matters; and sat ant
| wondered if the human mind had really 81
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 Chrstendom was retrogradne
into chaos and old night and yet, few mo
ments before, in his grace before meat" tina
kind, old man had fervently thanked God fol
| all the manifold blessings which of His owr
good will and pleasure He had showered upor
us; but most of all, that He had gwen us oul
being in thA land Of Gospel light and Gospe
privileges ut is strange how much acceptance
find in the world, and how little intelligen
belief These people were Sincere, and wouIt
have thought one mad who questioned thel
orthodoxy; yet, if | took them ut their word
they were practical atheists, denying the pow
or OF truth to regenerate the world.
Uncle is born conservative" dyed in tn,
wool with perfect horror of all restless, vul
gar innovators, who threaten to disturb any
thing, from the tie Of his white cravat to thu
foundations of State. He would ignore tim
himself, if possible. But with DR.. Smith it i
different One cae readily pereeiys how hi
conservatism is but the natural growth of tina
innate principle which is developed by year
and success in life, aided, not o little, by al
unquestionng adherence to certain theologica
notions, which have spider. like, spun their we
5 30 completely over his heart that he has almos
D forgotten the warm, gushing, sympatheti
. throbs Of its youth, or remembers them onl
with plying smile, as youthful enthusiasm
Enthusiasm Would that we could {" be trr
to the dreams OF our youth !" Would that "
could take them with us as blessed realitie
down the shady slopes of life Then, old az
would not be 30 meagre and barren
So unused until the exclamation--"lt
astonishing ~ which usually forms the aft
and suiix to all uncle's remarks on religion
| and morals, reused me. I" II is really astOnish
! ing how sensible people, Christian people, Cal
be 80 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
surdity at once. But that such men as Messrs
T CO g. can be 30 led away, is incredible"
, "All the result of narrow sectional views
and restless desire to forestall the working
of Providence" blandly answered the old Doc
tor.
They had actually begun to sgitate," thos
two staid pillows OF conservatism, and open
ed my ears, for knew that among my many
unknown hereses which had thought best Il
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" {
like the old, sportive title BEST was wont tc
deduce arguments in favor of liberty and pro
gress; and how, in the spirit of opposition,
sought every argument on the opposite eide
until obliged to yield Those were hot battles
He would never yield an inch to the sex--nevel
condescend to say might possibly be right
but, on the other hand he treated me rs ar
equal capable Of thinking for myself not as q
pet or puppet did not fully appreciate thi,
then, but, now-aye, ! soc, it is necessary tc
get at distance from some people as well a.
pictures, to see them truly ! wonder, il 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 tho subject, and
asked inquiringly, and must confess, rather
mischieviously--
"But does not God make use of human in
struments to carry out his plans, sir 2"
Certainly, my child but not, fear of such
men as Garrison, Philips, and Smith-men
who have cast off oil authority, save that Of
| their blinded, scared consciences, or Of their
ignorant fanatcal 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 grumble if the Office pass from the
tribe Of Levi, and hands consecrsted only by
an earnest love for humanity, take up the So.
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 Ant-Slavery cause
Uncle gave me q look that seemed TO say
that women were TO be soen--not heard and
took up the conversation just where it had