The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-13
For the National Era.
A DIARY.
RY MARTHA RUSSELL.
IcoNTINUED.l

[coNTINUED
E,yning-Uncle has returned from New
York bringing dress patterns for aunt and me
Nine is a very nice Turc satin-aunt's splen.
an watered silk 1T is proper that my niece
should be we'll dressed, like to see her so,
Was uncle's reply to my thanks. | wish he
had not said Just that, but, then, | am very
g,,teful. need the dress very much--all the
moro because Miss Emilia CranstOn, aunts
niece is coming up to spend the holydays here,
and nv old black silk would look quite shah
h.. fear. Mother thought could afford to
have new one, before left home, especially
if she gave up buying an alpaca bus con.
ynced her that the alpaca must be had.
confess am not philosophical enough to get
ouite above this matter Of dress think there
Is more in the minds craving for perfect har-
mOny and fitness in outward things, than
many of our sages admit The dress of every
woman should be evolved from her own mind
an indication Of the grace, truth, purity, and
beauty within. Hawthorne understands this
the dark robe of Hester Prynne-the gay scar
let of 81 little Pearl the rusty silk Of Miss
: Hepzibah, and the variegated dressing gown
Of poor Clifford are redolent Of character.
0aly as the outward and visible sign" of the
/ inward harmony, should dress be made a
smdy-neyer for vulgar display. am glad Miss
Cranston is coming They say she Is a belle
and beauty but as | shall interfere with her
10 neither of these qualities, fancy we shall
be excellent friends.
Nov 25h.-Helping aunt and Sophie in the
kitchen this morning and have won their ad.
mratiOn for all time, by my skill in making
10 apA inain~ I Lax a.
as two degrees in aunt's estimation; and reioic-
ing in this and the clear sunlight, happy in
the thought of my new dress, Miss Cranston g
expected arrival, and various other things, (how
little it takes to make one happy sometimes,)
was really delighted to see H. when he called
all the more 50, (alas poor human nuture be-
cause | saw the horses as he passed the win
dow, and knew he had come to escort me on a
horseback ride.
Oh, what glorious ride that was How
fresh and invigorating the rush of keen, winter
air, as we dashed down the W road
The lee bound river sparkling in the sunlight
and the bare brown hills leaning back loving
" against the sky. How longed to turn my
horses head towards these hills knew that
among them there must be sunny valleys, like
the one in which had taken my first lesson
on horseback, and seemed to descry the very
mountain paths up VIII CHI Annie B. and had
urged our horses, on our whortleberrying expe-
dltOns to the hills. Poor Annie B-no, happy
Annie her feet have long since trod the dark
valley, and the opposite slopes have been
'moothed for her by angel hands.
Perhaps H., too, had his memOries-for he
sad, after long silence, as we sat watching
the scene
Il like to 60 out on winters day like this,
the AIR is so still, clear, and cold. 1t seems to
take from life all that is merely accidental
and fictitious, and show it to us in its original
dignity and purity. feel belittled when oblig-
ed to 90 back to the daily routine of petty
cares Have you never felt this, Miss Lytton 2"
Often, very often" said, in pleased sur
Prise But my friend, do we take the lesson
aHght if we fail to gan from it wisdom and
strength to dignity these same petty details "
"iou are right-you are always right, Miss
Lylton!" he said, thoughtfally. And so we
'Aatted on, of life and life's duties, until We
reached home. Was there or was there not,
closer pressure of my hand than needful,
when he helped me from the horse! Hence
nrth, think shall be countrifed, and spring
Oh unassisted
NOO. 26th-All the talk is Of T's splendid
plea His talent his eloquence, meet me on
every side, prophesics Of his future success and
rejoice, miserable confession, when can spare
Tune from plying myself.
Little Bubby Lee is ill--nigh unto death,
.ney say Mary has gone home to assist in
taxing care of him must 60 and see him to-
morrow
Mo0 2Sh.-At widow Lees
iney sleep at last, these poor, grief-stricken
women, and am left alone with the child. A.
~ 'urnS his swollen, purple face uneasily on
"e pliiow, and | think how soon it may lie
su''e Stlil beneath the winter snow, my eyes
MI Win tears and my heart aches but not fol-
we little one whose feet have wandered bu,
sucn a little way from the gate of heaven, but
If the mother and grandmother, along whose
ureary path he seems the only visible sun
JEAN His disease is scarlet fever and my i'm.
prudence, as my friends term it. in coming
~. .aO lt will keep me here or at Doctor G 8 un.
7" AL danger OF the infection is over Uncle
Eua aunt are in great worry about it; but
TT'lr u promises TO take care of nae, in case
20 take 1t. He says he and his wife fear
IIt;.cnlng nothing of me but my "willfulness.'
intend to give him taste Of ii, for ! shall
Wv eave these poor people until some one
a;' 'han comes to take my place; and thai
WIN not be immediately, fancy, for the neigh
O Oo.s nave all little children, whom they dare
and v a to the Infection. have no fear
10 to- .ne'e poor women cling to me and look ny
IN e a. 1t were Minerva herself
and Ooa TO have ones energies taxed thus
every a'h Heaven for this experience, and
made , o'"ef that has taught me wisdom, on
and 7 a. stronger for the battle Of life. Mary
medi,ino everything, from the dropping of the
child ~ "a whose action hangs the life Of the
drsG, 70 the making Of the mustard paste
hero ior the feet. There is no abundance
sIal or the days when the widows cruise wa
S S1q miraculous y have gone by; but never
~ ~ leel 80 thankful for the early sehoolino
a %n taught me how to make the most ~ I;t,
ue' as row. ' "'''' VI Nv
WOO 2Sh-I sat by the fire this morn;nO
issuing u piece of bread, and my face shinine
captain Cutie, when heard DR.. G. cali.
s me from the little entry Toasting fork in
G,su ! hurried out and found my hands bread
obrs; and all, clasped in those Of H., who
Ior,S 'ou' oil his fawn-colored kid gloves, poured
sT Inquiries after my health.
wall mere, now you have seen her alive and
Doc, with your own eyes" interrupted the
mo as was assuring him of my well
nd of :. nope you are satisfied. couldn't get
ssso,. t"e fellow, Bessie, he went on, though
hand'u MIN you were never 30 well nor 81
Ii, or ' 10 your life; though you have got q
wsr. beauty spot on your cheek. il an
"a t"r patch, dear" he went ON, grimscng
Of !, raised my apron TO effaee the rim mars
n, 'Se bread or something else "He donh,aJ
~ uOlOf a. "A Ch~,....- =, "~N