Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-12
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
H oil wv 0 0 D {.
CHAP. I--Continued.
BY ALICE CAREY.

4 grew iilnatured, 1retfui, anu ino.o VIZ
eatiefied than eyer---often and oitener ! stole
away to the apple tree, and planned grea.
u,,.ns for the future; for, though seventeen
was stilI ! child in behaviour. Occasionally
Charley TONED me, but not frequently and
when he did, said never word OF the dreams
hnd been dreaming, for the hardness that was
gathering over my heart toward Martha ai-
most incapaoitated me to love at all.
Charley never sought my confidence; 10
hatwxt IA the distance widened and widoDed !,
neither did he give mo hs. How | wish it had
been otherwise! II there had been a strong
and willing hand to remove the obstacles in
his way, he might have succeeded IN almost
any path; but, lacking that, he was but i'm
perfectly successful in anything. ! did not
know, then, what have learned since, that
the human heart till it becomes hardened by
adverse fortune or crossed affection, must and
will have sympathy, and, failing Of it in legiti-
mate channcls win seek it elsewhere. This
fact has been painfully exemplifed TO me in
the history Of Charley remember the last
time ever made an offer Of confidence The
snn---for it was late in the autumn--had looked
all day ike yellow spot in the clouds the
air was soft and balmy, like May; 80, when my
tasks were dDne and the moon glimmeTed
through the haze sought the accustomed
ample tree to enjoy the luxury Of solitude, and
forget my real world in an imaginary one.
ssWhen we have built some beautiful dream,
and there is no one by to show Va how baseless
it ia, we grow confident so, when heard
STEP in the near woods, rnstling the leaves,
called Charley to come Tor knew it WAS he,
and told him meant to be great actress
that kings and queens should praise me---that
| would be 40 proud and 70 happy He pointed.
to the woods that stood dreary and fading,
.a-.. !. "A a ornc a. Ca ME- couId
asWell, what Of it! asked. He smiled,
saving, among them all, not one lowered much
above the rest
Half the glory Of my vision was gone, yet
| reached my hand toward him and said, l
want you to be great, too, brother-won't you
try
something, sometime he replied, and folded
his arms together as If to shut me ont He
was in his most disoonsolate, and | in my most
buoyant mood 40, after we had sat awhile in
silence he went back into the woods, and
climbed to the boughs again, and apostrophz-
ed the moon and the spirits invoked out Of
the air.
ssThcre are so many in my way he used
to saw Shove them aside would urge
AtThen should DO no less a fool than the
rest he wonld answer; and so our little con-
farences and condolences always ended.
III could hear Charley walking among the
leaves. and tho footsteps Of travellers on the
turnpike, and the treading of horses as they
drew homeward their heavy loads. An un-
usual number of wagons there were and
good deal OF loud talking.
aAt first could not tell what it all meant,
but presently saw the wagons turning up the
ane towards the white house, afterwards the
Holly Wood Of my story which stood on the
hill nearly opposite where we lived, hut half
mile from tho main road. Shortly afterward
saw lights moving about tho honse--it was
about to be inhabited, certainly
"Thc plsce had been vacant a long time,
and was curious to know who could be COM
ing to live there for new family in q neigh
borhood like ours monopolizee all its attention
for o time. was no less curious than the
rest, and, climbing to the topmost Dough,
swung fesrleesly ~ bird-my face toward
the white house. for the movements OF the
newcomers had quite dissipated my dreams
While was 30 engaged, a carriage came rat
Ting up the road, and heard clear, musical
voice direct the coachman 10 drive slowly,
which he did, and shortly tarncd into the lane
after the wagons
Lights were brought, and a gentleman
sprang to the ground, and then n woman
climbed down the STEPS slowly, folding in her
arms something which appeared like child.
q For an hour or more remained swinging
on the bongh, thinking of tho new neighbors,
and wondering who and what they could be.
"It was later than our usual time Of retiring
when ! returned to the house. Martha was
hard Mt work doing Thousand things which
did not require 10 be done that night, and
Hetsy, half asleep was helping or pretending
20 help. while Doke, with piece of bark 10
hi- mouth, and his long fugers clutching at
nothing lay corlcd mp ON the hearth like dog,
and fast asleep.
Martha said rhe and MIR Halstcad had
been frightened about me, but she stared right
past me into vacancy, evincing neither JOY nor
surprise--and ~ she probably would have done,
IL had been brought home dead. saw she
was displeased with me, for she resumed work
ms though there was a great deal TO do, and
nobody 90 do il but herself and also continued
to tread on my Gathers toes quito innooently
10 might have seemed 10 another; l. how
ever, knew the manifestations of her III hunor,
and that in one way or another she made a
scseegoat OF father upon such occasions.
IL did not cfcr my services but answered
her look in tho air with an incredulons emile,
and, calling H-tty 10 ~ along passed at once
70 my chamber
My father looked bcscechngly toward mo
from the dim corner where ho sat sharpening
his razor ON the Ieathern cover of the Bible
his usual occupation when things went wrong
never saw blm 50 cngaged without fearing
he mcdtsted snicide.
could not 20 TO sleep for long time that
night--my chamber seemed lower and mar
ROVER than it had ever done before---I felt dis
satis6ed with myself and with everything
ielt M Il the very bed on which lay was
slipping from beneath me, for the substancs
10 had previously 10 my mothers death was
fast wasting away, For, M before intimatcd, II
was her wiser counseIs that chiefly directed
affairs
My father did what he Thought hest, but
unfortunately, no never knew what that was
50, though he worked hard, IL awaited little
ADD Charley seldom joined in the labors or the
farm never with any interest or motive.
ADar l,tftc hnnncstca1 ~ "a eiynnlo N shelter