The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-24
For the National BRA.
BY ALICE CAREY.

"When get big, Linney, arm going to bt
rich. | will have house as big as two o
fathers, all painted red and with corner cup
boards in the parlor full of honey,jars ant
roast turkey. Then | mean to have a fns
coach, that will move along more softly thar
these vines move now, and will ride outside
and drive the horses and you shall be lady
and ride within and if George Weldon hap.
pens to be any where about we'll run right over
him"
| Such, and of such sort, were the dreams of
the boy Willard, and whatever good fortune
he pictured for himself, it was always to be
shared by his playmate. And always, the
browning of all his delights was to be the tri-
umphing in some way over George Weldon
lad whose only crime was that he WAS tho
son of a man of wealth, that he wore fashion,
able clothes, and rode to the academy on n
pony of his own, while Willard wore patched
ones, and walked barefooted to the free school
True George was most amable boy, and
often came to play with him but Willard said
he only pretended to be very good, for, in fact
he was selfish and ugly as he could be-
As he grew older and al they walked in the
orchard or sat in the shade of some fav0rite
tree, his dreams took other shapes; or if he
still thought he should be rich, and ride in a
coach with Linney, he said it not, nor did he
talk of running over and killing George Wei
den as he used.
But still he dreamed of great world that
was s0mewhcre-he had no definite notion
where---but outside the little world in which
he lived, where sorrow was scarcely sorrow, but
only less degree of happiness, and where
everything was lolter and grander than the
things he was familiar with. And how to get
out Of tho one world and into the other was
the theme that occupied his thoughts mostly,
rs he grew u stripping. He became more
thoughtful, less communicative, and often,
when he strayed into the orchard or sat in
the shade, it was alone. George Weldon was
gone to college.
Linney WAS fifteen. and a pretty girl quiet
and amlable, like Mrs Hubert and if sho
had any ambition, it was for Willard, and not
for herself Poor child it was little she could
do but all she could do she did. The long
winter evenings she employed in knitting,
which she sold, for Mrs. Hubert kindly gave
her oil she could earn in that way and in the
summer she picked berries sometimes, which
Mr.. Hubert sold for her in the market The
little money thus procured was carefully put
by for the benefit Of Willard. She had aocu-
mulated, by the means have mentioned, nine
dollars; and when she should get ten, she had
resolved to reveal 10 him the precious secret,
and perhaps they would go 10 town together,
and buy books For she had heard Willard
relate some stories he had read, aud smiled as
she thought how many he would have ~ tell
when he should have read all the new books
they would buy
Willard was now nearly twenty. His past
life had been NIL ut home, and mostly in work
ing on the farm. Sundays he had gone IN
church with Lnney and evenings he had read
some Of the lew books they possessed while
she employed herself with knitting or sewing.
SO, ia sharing the Same tolls, and hopes, and
fears, they had grown very dear TO each other,
more dear than they were aware till the part
ing came. They had never spoken Of love,
but whatever Linney thought, Willard regard
ed her NJ one whom no ono but himself had
a right TO think about at all.
Where in the world can Willard be 30
long ?" said his mother, anxiously, as she sat
with her husband and Linney on the low porch
in the pale yellow moonlight.
al don't know" answered Linney, after a
pause and Mrs. Hubert continued He did
not act we'll at supper, poor boy!n
Very true, mother" replied Mr.. Hubert,
significantly; and in moment he added. 81
think he needs ~ 10 10 college, or somewhere
eiseu
Seems 10 me the air is coolish," said the
mother, not heoding the insinnations OF the
father and with u kind OF shiver she arose,
and went into the house.
Ii seemed lonesome 10 Linney, as she sat
there with the old man; cricket chirped IN