Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-12


asCharley' | used to say, sometimes, you
are 80 wise, don't SEQ why you don't do some
great thing
al would he would answer, but for the
fools in my way
a.Suppose, then would say, if the reform
alton Of the world is not worth your while,
you give up idle brooding, and work on the
farm; for | saw how, across more and more
fields. tho briers were growing higher than my
fathers head. He would just as soon work as
play, he always replied; but ne proposed re-
manning at home 30 short time it was scarce
" advisable to begin He almost saw his way
a. soon as fate or fortune should remove one or
two fools he knew Of, be really meant 10 begin
life i'm earnest. So the fences went down, and
tho thistles went up; tho orchard tree-tops
grew tangled together for the want Of pruning,
and the sheep gathered 30 many burrs as To
render worthless the WOOL Martha said so
what we required must be bought Of our neigh
bora. Small things these may appear, but
they were sufficient for the discomfort OF q
family.
"Thera are women, and Mrs. Halstead was
ono, who enjoyed abroad high reputation for
amiability and Christian piety, whose homes
are no eanctuaries Of peace There are per-
sons, and she was one, who can bestow vaguely
4 great amount Of sympathy, but who seldom
concentrate the smallest portion upon its I'M
mediate claiuante.
II remember, on one occasion, there was a
donation party at tho house OF Parson Good
man. and suoh making and baking as went on
at home, for the previous day or two, | had
never seen. Cakes pies, butter, and custards,
were prepared in the best manner, beside many
other things--i know that Hetty and | and
Doke were oil required rs basket bearers.
"Parson Goodman mot us at tho door OF the
parsonage, and smiling benignly, said, as he
relieved us Of the baskets, Ii we cast our broad
upon the waters, after many days it would re-
turn received the meaning Of tho words
but imperfectIy; however, betrayed no igno-
rance, but Doke replied, boldly if he had any
bread for to cast anywhere, he would cast it
into his mouth--there was where he would for
to oast it,
"As we were turning away, loud mascu-
line voice called to lis to wait moment, and
looking round, we recognised the widow Will
kinson, as she was called by her neighbors--a
shrewd managing person, who was then lately
become the occupant Of cabin divided from
our house by narrow strip.of woodland, and
who supported herself and her daughter Luz
cretia by doing that which her hand found
to do-sometimes nursing, sometimes by the
making of mems clothes, or by knitting. She
always looked smart and tidy, and on this day
she appeared especially so.
"Since Martha became Mrs. Halstead, she
had not visited at our house; moreover, she
had refused to make my fathers wedding PAN
falcons, on the plea, to be sure, that she had
her hands full but there were people who said
sho had other reasons for refusing. ! know
not, but know she more than once called my
father sold Halstead,' after his marriage, and
that she had previously been moro polite. She
dressed in mourning apparel, not 80 much,
perhaps, for the late iamentod Mr.. Wilkinson,
as to pay tribute Of respect to her widowed
state; and she often repeated, that she would
never take off her mourning, and never marry
again mot the best man in the universe
Doubtless she was perfectly sincere in the ex-
preston of these sentiments; nevertheless, she
wore her mourning in the most stylish fashion,
and affected the indiscriminste society Of gen.
tIemen more than most widows who stake off
their mourning and profess no matrimonial
I'm willingness She was taller than Martha
and straighter, and stouter; but her face was
terribly freckled, and she wore her red hair in
great puffs along her checks, in the fashion Of
another generation.
If she had any private grief she manifested
no symptom Of it on the day speak of, but
shook hands with Martha; and though she
did not address her as Mrs. Halstead, she
called us her children, and inquired if our ia
Their were well.
"'How well you are lookingp exclaimed
Martha, cycling the big red puffs of her friend,
and the Grape frills on her sleeves.
0, you are so good replied the widow
Wilkinson; but you look nicer in your plain
dress, and with your hair put back 20 Quaker
like than can do If | try ever 30 hard
Martha wore her black hair cnmbed
straight away from her forehcad--her dresses
in the pIainest style, and the plainest possible
ribbon, crossed in the plainest fashion over her
bonnet She had probably seen hcr grand
mother 80 attired, some time and adopted the
costume, without consulting her style Of beauty
"Many n time, the widow Wilkinson had
said Martha was as plain as q pipe-stem, and
many time Martha had said the widow
looked like firt; bat as they cordially shook
hands, and congratulated each other on pretty
locks, it would not have been suspected.
And so, young ones, said the widow, after
che had closed the conferences with cur mother,
: have got TO 500 you Al last; and she caressed
US as though the great aim Of her life were nc
complshed-that Is, she pulled us roughly by
the ears, and slapped our backs, az mothers
sometimes do their choking babies. This was
her method Of showing fondneS.
In All that makes womsnhood, except
years was child and every one called me
20 and treated me ~ such. IL was the con-
slant aim Of Martha 10 keep me in my place
as she termed the restriction placed upon me,
not allowing me TO wear fine leather shoes
nor long dresses, nor my hair as young ladies
wore theirs. Charley was not alone in calling
me child
z I did not, mt the time, 10 we'll understand
the widows fondnesscs ~ ! now do--for shc
not only boxed my ears, but said ! was grown
to great gawky good-for-nothing; and that
IL were her child, ! would zee pretty hard
Of which, being interpreted, signiied
that ! found favor in her eyes
1--WE must not 90 homo, she said-our
house was a fool Of place compared with
hers--we must 60 there, and visit Lucretia--
and afferward come Of evenings and visit hcr
again, and bring our brother. We said we
.x,s..lx n 49, offox,