The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-07

| iooneu On Ine gOpmost round OF tn
eloagn and awaited my approach, his eye
Fill, Wen, father,"I said, trying to speak cheer
fully, how do the times go?"
81 don't know he answered breaking ,
withe of sassafras that grew at hand AM
Switching the flies from the horses: al fee
KIND o lonesome, Nary
Why, father, it's nice, bright day.D
he brushed his hand across his ewes. his Ii,
trembied, and in broken voice he told me my
brother Charley was gone.
why, father-gone where %
he shook his head, and, rising abruptly, re
sumed ploughiDg.
sat down By the clump Of sassafras, and
puihng up the grass spear by spear, tried tC
put together my knowledge and observation
but could make nothing out.
When my father had ploughed to the 6eld'e
extent and back again, he stopped, and. sitting
beside me, with his feet in tho new furrow. tcld
me that Charley had gone in the coach, al
daylight nobody knew where, nor what for.
Bat ne will come back-won't he father 81
He had taken with him what little he Dos.
sessed, my father said and, from various indi
cations, it appeared that he did not design re-
turning.
l tried to say something encouraging, but
my voice quite ehoked, when, without needing
me, my father went on to say
he writ few lines and left for me, and
gave me his colt he used to think SO much of
and Tor you he left bOok-all the one he had,
guess, Mary"
never knew, till then, that Charley was 30
dear to me- After all our arrangement all
our Misunderstanding and hardness, he was
my own good brother and would have taken
his part against the world
All that | might have done rose clear before
me; al that had done bore down crushing
Iy. | revisited all our cid playgrounds-all
the places where we had walked and talked
later In hfe-brook and hillside, orchard and
solitary mock, but Charley was nowhere to be
found.
But at the hous., | missed him more than
elsewhere the gattet where he had slept was
empty of the accustomed ppOintmcnts-the
old trunk, and the Iine of rustic clothing. On
the pine table, blo;ted with ink, for Charley
handled the pen unskilfully, lay an old volume
of Shakespeare. knew it was mine; and
opening it, found my name and bis, with that
days date, written on the blank leaf
Martha took no heed of my wet eyes, as she
sat rocking herself to and fro in chair with
out rockers. Doke caught at my skirts and
In an eager tone asked whether we had much
good stuff at Mr. Richards's; and Hetty who
sat doubled up on low stool, trying to sew
shirt, folded her hands, and looked wistfully
upon me.
ais anybody dead Miss Halstead z" said a
low, sweet voice. as opened the gate leading
into the highway
"No, Lucretia," l said, for it was she, re-
turning from her school, with satchel On her
arm, and cheerful face
LII IrI L -,
she continued, looking curiously and sorrow
fully in my face.
| shook my head, for could not bear to say
81 have the funniest news that ever was,n
she said; 81 have got letter from nv mother
and she is married, don't you believe -
Z" is she coming home z" | asked.
"No," replied Lucretia, the person she is
wife to has zen children, she says; and that is
as many as ehe can scratch for. Those are
R's sI SstSj fPB BbB ssi8sf ssfsa g." find
"Oh, so we'll have had seven scholars all
along, end new one cauo today, which
makes eight, you know; and have a dollar
and half for teaching ono scholar three
so will have good deal Of money.
Come and see how nice | am living Char'ey
has been so good; have you seen HIM lateIy?"
said yes, the last night; and was hesitating
whether to say more, fer knew she must know
soon-when q familiar voice said, somewhat
colily, Good evening, young women"
g. was wanting TO see you" said LucEetia
~ hoped you would send your little boy to
school"
Mr. Goodman for it was he nodded his
head gruffly, but did not smilo.
81 couldn't teach him much you know, but
then might kesp him out Of mischief"
'You would have to keep yourself cut of
mischief frst,n replied the man, in tone of
indignation.
What did you say, SIR z" asked Lucretia,
her face flushing, and her little white hand
shaking as it pulled at the hem OF her sunbon-
net
II said," replied he, distinctly, Chat you
must learn to keep Yourself from lssciviousness
and wantonness, before you could properly
become the instructress Of innocence. l was
Just going TO your house; you will not keep me
waiting, hOpe my time is precious"
So saying, he SET mis- morse forward with
smart cat on the flank, leaving the stunned
and bevTildercd girl to follow on foot, though
his chaise was amply sufficient for her accom-
uodation.
"What did he mean THAT was bad? |
never told lie, nor l haven't stolen. Can he
put me in Jail 2" =,
So asked Lucretia, her eyes staring wide with
fear and wocder.
| told her she need not be alarmed-he
could not harm her; and so we parted.
clark! Isn't that Hetty walking up and
down her room"
A moments listening confirmed the suspi.-
ciop, and, leaving me, Miss Halstead joined
heS sister, and the story during that day was
rot resumed.