The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-07

II
| fine, spirited fellow, and, having seen John
manage him, he supposed that he could do SO
| too. But when he came back, with Dinah riding
the old mare beside him, he looked as tired as
though he had been at work in the wheat-feld
all day; and though he said great deal about
the pretty village Of Hsdly, of the white houses
| on the hills and the green trees, he told never
| a word Of the fine ride he had had.
One place he saw-a fine, white house, q lit
tie out of the main village, with a yard full Of
| flowers, and green hedge around it instead of
| a fence-that he never tired Of talking about;
it was the lovcliest place he had ever SEEN and
such nice looking gentleman sat on the porch
reading the paper, and two children were play
| ing by the hedge, that were pretty, too, only
| their faces were dirty, and they had torn their
| frooks
{" wish, aunt" he said, that Nancy Mar
| tip knew Of them, and she would make them
| new dresses and wash their faces, for Pm sure
they have no mother"
| "Bless me-" says Mrs Fagg, "may be they
were Charleys childrenl Did the house have
tall red chimneys, and salmon-colored blinds,
and fountain in the yard!n
ayes" says Oliver; i" and Charles was on the
gate post-Dr. Charles Livingston"
ale is my cousin, said Mrs Flsgg, draw
ing herself up "and he wouldn't allow Nancy
| Martin to touch his children, can tell you
| and if their dresses were torn he is able to get
them more!
Oliver said no more, but he kept thinking
| Cousin Charles was good, benevolent looking
man, and wishing that he knew Nancy Martin,
and that he would let her make dresses for the
children.
When Mr.. Flagg came in and saw Dinah,
he asked why she was sent for, and not Aunt
Csty.
Because" said Mrs. Flagg, "Aunt Caty
couldn't or wouldn't come-but she said she
couldn't as though she meant only wouldn't
and she said not word Of the rheumatism
Mr.. Flagg was of course, angry and when
he met Oliver, told him that if he caught him
at Aunt Caty's house again, he would whip him.
A day or two went by, and Mrs Flagg was
noticed to look across the hollow at Aunt Ca
tvs house pretty often, but no Aunt Caty was
to be seen, but in her place, Nancy, going in
and out.
Really" said Mrs Flagg, "she has quite
the air Of lady at this distance, living so much
with genteel people"
Then she was heard to say that she guessed
Aunt Caty couldn't be very we'll, or Nancy
would not be at home, for everybody was hav-
ing new dresses in the fall, and she was sure
to be busy.
So, at twilight-time, seeing that Aunt Caty
came not out to cover the ash-tub nor to carry
in the churn that had been turned up to dry
in the sun, for it was looking likely to rain,
Mrs Flagg told Oliver to run right over and
| see if Aunt Caty was sick, and if she was to
ask if she wanted anything. Away he ran,
right glad of the opportunity; and though his
| aunt called after him, and told him not to stay
| minute but to be back to take care of his
uncle's horse when he should get home from
| town, be didn't hear a word she said
Things had been good while growing from
bad to worse between the neighbors, and even.
thing conspred that night to end all amica&De
relations. 49, !
Aunt eaty sat by the fire, for N wa1vu
and dull, wrapt in great shawl, and ioo1iae
pale and disconsolate. 143 -
.sShe had the rheumatism ba11y, ~ <R,eved
she should be bed-ridden," a. sd ~ her
face frightened SO when - ~ diver that
he could not help stopping 1ta linute to tell
her how Dinah was cone i ~ 5Dlace. and
how much they all said shY Nksd her: but for
all that he thought they wSad Be glad to have
"And So" said the jSld lady smiling, your
aunt toid you 10 ask II wanted anything p
JOu buTc sue tOI4 Won that ~
on' yes; onVef was quite sure. And so,
aunt Caty sald We all had our. little faults,
ana though sn&}didn't know as she really
wanted anyt5ks he might tell his aunt to
SEND her, IL - pleased a handful or-two of
nice lively Ihops-a poultice of them might
help her rlieumatism.
Oliver thought he would just bring a stick
OF wood for the fire was low, and then run
Il l.. IL 30 ana
and syiit on armful required some minutes
2Then be had carried it in, and was setting
ov9l6r h0fhe, he saw that Nancy's cow would
MOI aAnd to be MIXED and that the black
SE,vinG clouds foretold speedy rain. He hes
e1 d moment, and then, taking q stick in
Ind, drove the cow into one corner of the
Id and kept her there till Nancy MIXED
Ia III CHANGED that he was but just gone when
Mr.. Flagg returned and at once asked for
him. as he always did
al guess he is somewhere about" said Mrs.
Flagg for she knew that her husband had
| forbidden Oliver to 90 to Aunt Csty's, and she
| thought it would but increase his bad humor
| to know the truth; and 80 che told John, who
was flying kite at the door, to see how smart
he could be, and lead his fathers horse to the
stable. But John said Oliver would be back
in minute; he had only gone to Aunt Caty's;
and kept at his play.
| Mr.. Flagg, who was sitting down TO take off
his spurs, arose, and, without speaking a word,
| led his horse to the stable himself
Mrs. Flagg felt uneasy, but she resolved TO
take the blame all to herself and began the
| preparation of supper, against the time when
her husband and Oliver should come in.
| Aware of the boys whereabouts, Mr. Flagg
| stopped beneath a shed, and saw him cut the
wood and assist Nancy about the milking, his
wrath kindling more and more
The great drops dashed overhead lust as
| Oliver reached the barn, and naturally he
turned into the shed where stood his uncle,
with his riding-whip in his hand.
:" You good for nothing rebel y he exclaim-
| ed "you deserve TO be skinned alive! -
And, without giving the boy time for any
explanation or excuse, he caught him by the
collar, and whipped him severely.
Poor little Oliver! He had never been 40
abused and 80 frightened in all his life before
but he spoke not word for he was nroud
| and he felt that he had been wropeed
This silence made his uncle more angry tina,
ever, and he demanded why he went To- Aunt
Catys at all, and why, If he did SO, he stopped
10 cut wood and to help do the milking
Oliver said simply that he went 10 zee IL
Aunt Caty was sick, and stopped TO cut the
wood and help Nancy because he wanted TO.
ats pity you couldn't live with old Catv
and work for her all the time" said the angry
man.
Oliver said he wished he could.
"You do, do yeu /" said the uncle. aWbo
gets you shoes, and trowsers, and hats, and
sends you TO school, and does everything for
you, the same as if you were his own child
is it Aunt Catyp
III don't care,n said Oliver; "Aunt Caty
likes me, and that is more than anybody else
does"
The man felt rebuked. He knew that love
was worth more than all the boots and shoes
be conld give the child and he knew that IL