The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-21


i He was really quite ignorant of floral Itera-
ture, and would like to be instructed
70, you mistake, we were talking Of Doke .
said Timothy, pulling one of my roses to peices
In weIlaffsctsd confusion; ADD presently falling
into his moro habitnal manner, he said--a was
telling Miss Halstead that he was probably cal.
culating an eclipse of the moon. Do you see
hint" and he pointed to where the boy was
balancing at the top of his accustomed pole.
looked, end saw my father following his
tired horses home from the field, his head bow
ed, and his whole manner indicating weary
and listless man.
My heart smote me, for felt that, if chose
| might comfort him little
Doke observed him, and slid TO the ground,
where for some minutes | saw him busy about
something which could not make out. At
length he arose, in answer to my fathers call
as | inferred, and hobbled toward him with
the assistance OF crutch and looking closely,
| saw that one foot was hung in long Z" sling,'
which was fastened around his neck
Some catastrophe seems to have befallen
our young neighbor,o observed Mr. Shue.
Perhaps, after all, | shall erect an asylum for
the lame, on the parcel of ground of which l
have lately become the proprietor"
He would employ me as matron of the estab-
lishment, he said. DR. Roberts he would mai
make the first of the resident invalids
Good efsring Mr.. Rffards; good efsring,
Mr. Frue," said an unmistakable voice.
Thou makest my hair to standD exclaimed
Mr. Shue
"Spec ] do look wuss IAN common replied
Doke, for it was he before us; "Pm got the yal-
Ter janders"
And, as be imped nearer saw that the
face OF the lad was streaked and spotted with
yellow-he had colored it with the blossoms of
dandelions; and the reason to me, who knew
his lazness, was quite obvious
And you seem, too, to have another afiic-
ton" said Timothy, observing the sling.
"Yeffir, I've got the affliction of stone fr,Ise
on the frole of my foot-don't believe can work
none for month";
| 81 should not be surprised" replied limo
thy, who saw at once the affectations of iaun-
dice and stone-bruise were put on &c screen him
from labor.
II can safely say" continued Timothy in a
soliloquizing sort of way; "that never saw
youth in similar predcament. | am quite
alarmed for your powers of speech; you artic-
ulate 80 imperfectly; your tongue suffers in
sympathy with your other members perhaps"
My toDgne is good as yourn," responded
Doke; "noffen but treat ails my sfreaking."
And he drew from his mouth cud of chewed
"a X
years old cow
SWELL, Doke, rejoice to find you have moth
ing to fear from the impediment anticipated,
and had also feared you might suffer some in
convenience IN the taking of your food, which
| apprehend would have been to you an mex
pressible calamity
During this conversation, Doke continued to
move from one end of the porch to the other.
in order to exhibit the full glory of his " jan
ders" and his dexterity with the crutch for he
seemed to feel that honors were blushing thick
| upon him.
Meantime, Timothy had asked rose from
my bouquet which he wore calamity in the but
ton-hole of his vest. And MIR. Richards had
carelessly taken my bouquet. for the purpose of
examining some flower which he said he did
not remember to have seen. He retained it,
however, tossing it carelessly about and quite
running its beauty.
had remembered and rendered in my heart
the lats position assigned me, and had risen
for the purpose of retiring to my own room
when Doke said, abruptly, "Lucrefria Wilkins
from is dead, spec"
l stood still, for / felt as though arrested for
her murder.
"Lucretia dead" repeated Mr.. Richards :;
when did she de!n
"Do know as she is dead" said Doke. q But
| oSOh Ii. itOOOi c ~ 1uoIo VIII WnlUe SUN IN
his hand, and spec it was her froud."
"She is sick, then !n
"Yeffc"'
OF what nature is her COMPLAINT
"Why, about her sfrool what she was freach-
! in.u
"And what of her school-did that affect
her health?n
HNo, fr-not faricaraly, if er hadn't been
noffen else"
May suggest the removal of that wheat
cud, and venture also to recommend a quiet
position for a few minutes, while you put us in
possession Of the pith and marrow of your sto-
ryp said Timothy. al fear your exertion will
accelerate to fatal issue the terrible founders
with which you are afflicted" And smiling
and playing idly with the rose in his button
hole, Timothy awaited the result of his sugges-
ton.
| need not repeat the conversation as it oc-
CURED. Suffice it to say, the main facts elicit
! ed were these:
The visits of Charley to the house of Lucre-
tia had caused good deal of neighborhood
scandal in which Mr.. Goodman had taken the
liveliest interest. The elect suffered great re-
preach" he said, " in permitting child of the
devil to walk boldly amongst them, seducing
the babes and Stockings into the beautiful
chambers of sin, and turning the faces of the
youth from Zion" she must be made to feel
the rod of righteous castigation, and whipt out
of Christian pasture, to feed in shamefsced con-
| fusion on the wind
More to the effect that the poor girl had
been disgraced, and her little school broken up,
Doke repeated with psrrot-like volubility,
for he understood not the import of one word
out of ten which he used. =.
The object of Parson Goodman's visit to Luz
cretia was explained; and if there had been
any wavering previously, felt my convictions
pushed boldly into resolution by this troubling
intelligence.
That my name was banded about in like
manner, | very well knew then, too, | was
implicated in bringing the girl to her unfortu-
nate position. Had not sent Charley away ?
and, If she died, was not her murderer? Out
of my unwise ambition the phantoms had al
ready risen to mock me. What should do ?
where find refuge from myselfa
"You are looking ill., said MIR Richards
and his tone and manner were full of tender
ness" shall assist you to the sofa !n
felt the dampnees on my forehead, and
into my face; my limbs trembled but stead.
led up my courage, and, coldly declining his
prefer, retired to my chamber with a firm step
and determined purpose. Once there, the
momcntary strength abandoned me- and
sunk on the floor and gave way to the tears
which had till then damned up with my
pride How long remained thus, / know not
for my thoughts grew confused and my brain
dizzy, and was only conscious of an imperfect
apprehension of anything and everything. |
heard the voices of Mr.. Richards and of limo
thy, as they sat on the moonGghted porch, and |
gradually became aware that their converse