The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-13


saints"
a-And in return for this interest must turn
him out the door. Indeed" | said as put out
my hand to prevent his further entrance, you
must not come in. You can do no good, and
may DO harm to yourself and others"
"And yet you stay here, Miss Lytton, and
peril your own life, so dear to all your friends"
he said, reproachfully. " Is there nothing can
do ~
eyes, you can play the widows good angel,
and replenish our coal bin; for ] confess
don't understand the art of saving coal in such
weather"
aBut is there nothing else-nothing | can
do for you?"
ayes, you can 20 away now, and tell uncle
and aunt that | am well, and thank thu for
permitting me to stay here" -
al almost forgot to tell you that Emilia
Crapston arrived yesterday" he said
"Then you can take my place, and play the
agreeable to her." said, laughing, as shut
the door in his face.
"Coolly done, that" said tic Doctor "Take
little Of the starch out of that fellow, so that
common sense will have full play, and he'll
do-he'll do"
Evening-It has been o terrible day-the
little boy wrestling with death, and the mother
in hysterical swoons Oh, it is dreadful to see
the sweet, innocent face of a child thus dis
torted with agony. My God, why need it be !
Mary and her mother have been over. Mrs
Lee and have hung over the child until
can scarcely breathe. | don't know what als
me the top>ef my head seems hot and heavy
as burning lead.
Later-Doctor has come, bringing with him
a hard featured, bony woman, whom he calls
Mrs. Lane. She threw off her things and
came up and shook my hand as if it had been
a mat or piece of rug, saying, half way be-
tween laugh and a cry
So, you've been here all alone, and am
clean tagged out, as such young crittur has
a right to be--for know them there with
a nod towards the bedroom door, where the
poor mother lay-"kind critturs as ever
breathed the breath o. life-do anything for
other folks, but not worth a snap when trouble
teches them. Pve thought on ye all, but Jim
was laid up with rheumatic, so as he couldn't
stir hand nor foot. But Jim's as kind crttur,
| must say, as ever breathed and when he
heard how bad ont you was down here, and the
neighbors all skeered to death, he telled me to
send the boy over to aunt Sally's, and come
over and so did"
And she dropped my hand, and went round
the room, putting things in their places Talk
of elastic steps and fairy feet girls When
the spontaneous goodness of our hearts leads
us to step as lightly in a sick room as did this
poor woman, we shall have some reason to be
proud
Midnight-Mrs Lane and the Doctor watch
the child, while, too anxious to sleep, sit and
watch them. Again and again the Doctor ex-
amines the face of the child, while his fingers
never leave the thin wrist At last, light
breaks over his face, and he whispers
He will live, Bessie The boy will live"
sprang to my feet, and was making for the
bedroom when he caught my hand
"You foolish woman! Will you bring that
dotipg grandmother and halfcrazy mother
upon US to undo what little good we have
done? Wait an hour or So"
So | sat down again, and began watching
the play of bis features and thinking | wished
could sketch them, just as he sat would
rather have his portrait than Kossuth's.
Doctor
Hush, you witch. Cannot you write what
you have got to say, without yelling like
screech-owl? 2"
So | took slip of paper, and wrote
Sit a little to the right if you please, Doc
tor"
"What for 2" in whisper, hoarse as the
voice of young Shanghai.
want TO sketch your portrait"
"What will you do with it 2" Then, with
horrible grimace, "Will that expression
do?n
"Put it in my cabinet of cufiosities"
"You can't have it, Do you not knOwit is
written, 'Ye shall not make unto yourselves
idols?'n
"Aye, but they must be in the likeness of
something in heaven above or the earth be-
meath, you know 1t is enough for reasonable
man that want itn
He looked at me closely moment before he
replied
"Lydia Mason shall see about that but to
prove that | am reasonable, | shall take you
home with me tonight. So, get your bonnet
and cloak"
81 shall not go. Leave my charge because
you say he is better?"
"You will"
al shan't!"
Dec. 2Oh.-At Doctor G's
| did go but how, or when, have no dis
tinct recollection. For many days there has
been no morning nor evening for me; only 70.
yer and pain and delrium-the darkness that
steals up from the valley of the shadow Of
death. Oh, it is good to suffer; for without
this, we should never know half the kindness
and love that lies deep hidden in some hearts.
The rock must be smote before the refreshing
waters will burst forth.
What but this could have made uncle and
aunt watchers by my bedside; and the Lees,
aud Mrs Lane, and n too-all 20 anxious to
do something for me and, best of all, glorious
Doctor G. and his noble wife! Surely they
will have their reward "for was 8 stranger,
and they took me in! !"
Here comes the Doctor, holding up a letter
he frowns horribly at the sight Of my occupa
ton. Well, well, promise another word
to-day; and so get my letter.
Dec. 2la.--Mother's letter is unique. The
dear woman has ell unconsciousy achieved tho
desideratum in letter writing; for it places the
home and neighbored interest,". cares and Joys,
az plainly before me as if We're in the midst
of them myself Yet how strange such passa-
ges as these would sound in the ears of many
of my city friends-H, for instance, who is en-
thuslastic over the beauty of rural life.
Potatoes are going down, and last week
George F. carted oil we have to spare to g,
at fifty cents per bushel. 1t makes quite diff
ference in the profits, as we reckoned them
but hope to make it up on the hay. That is
rising and Mr.. F. advises me to keep it while
longer thinking it will get up to twenty dol
lars per ton before spring. IL has been so
warm that we have not butchered the pigs
yet but Mr.. +. killed last week, and his largest
weighed $50 lbs. Black Ann is to help me
about the work so you need not worry about
me-"
Yet to me- that fall in the price of potatoes
lis serious matter for If We cannot make up
the difference somehow, we may find ourselves
homeless; for our hard creditor, Mr.. J., gives
US no choice-the interest Of the mortgage, or
the house and few remaining acres themselves
Here is postscript:
BE very careful to please your uncle and
aunt, my child 1t is very kind in him to notice
us and his favor can be Of great advantage 10
you in many ways"