Daily national era., 1854-02-08

For the National Era.
RKCOLLECTI0Hs OF FMYGRANDFATHERs HOME.
CHAPTER III.
The Visit.
I'VE know not the future; tho past we have felt;
Its cherished enjoyments the bosom melt"
Twas . happy day for Benny and myself
when, released from the tasks and confinement
Of the school-room, we found ourselves on the
road to our grandfather's farm. That day
was an era in our young lives-the usher in Of
big plans for future usefulness My grand
father was in the midst of haying, and need
ing help; the old market wagon had been dis
patched for no loss important personages than
my brother, venerable by eight years. and my
self his junior by one.
No reluctant tears then dimmed our eyes,
as we bade the wonted good bye; and me-
thinks our loved mothers customary injunc-
tion, "behave well, my dears," sounded less
sweet than usual. Dear" exclaimed little
Benny, Pm no dear! Pm little man, my
grandfather's MANI Dear, mentally repeated
!, cycling askance my pantalettes and check
cred pinafore
Twas not the spirit which sends the school
boy 90 prematurely from a round Jacket into
dress coat and dickey; or the Hsping miss,
from her mothers nursery to wither in gas
lighted bathrooms! Oh no; il was self.im-
pOrtance, first consciousness of our own in
dividuality, gained with the newly conferred
honor. Do you wish to plant selfreliance in
the bosom Of child, to bind him to yourself
by firm ties, make him, not your servant, but
your useful companion in some pleasant en-
ployment. Let such work engage his busy
hands let him not feel it as favor conferred on
yourself, but that he does it because God gave
him those hands to do the bidding of an un.
selfish heart. Thus, then, will spring up in
the mind of that child spirit of gentle benev-
olence, which shall make happy and honorable
his after life
ClumGly ratified the old market wagon be-
meath its juvenile burden, and wearily plodded
the old gray horse urged ON by the blows from
my grandfather's leathern whip. What cared
We for equipage! No modish phaeton could
have borne happier burden. Our cheeks
glowed with joy, not with shame and each
flourish Of the leathern whip made our tiny
fingers tingle with very gladness; for were we
not going to be grandfather's help.
A true child never cares for fashion Here
and there an anomalous infant who has been
nursed in its breath, will lisp in mother tongue !;
but TO the natural, free-hearted child. pleasure
n
bring worldly experience, and the guileless
children change into selfish fnancers and
dancing fashion plates Yet not always: for
here and there beacon lights stand out noble
men and women who have not forgotten that
they were made in the image Of their Maker !;
men and women, who are not afraid to speak
loudly IN favor OF honor and humanity! Aye,
even in fashions cotere we here and there find
noble soul above its trammelsl God bless
that man OF the world, Of humble but till then
unknown parentage, whom once beheld pro-
sent TO brilliant circle his clever, oldfashioned
mother, with her square neckerchief and small
frilled cap! He had lived many years in the
gay world and was still q child
The tops Of the village chimneys fast receded
from our back-turned gaze, and at length the
shimmering Of the westher-vane ON the village
spire was lost among the trees We were lit
orally in strange country. The three mile
plain with its stinted pines and dwarf oaks
was ~ interminable, to our untutored imagina-
tons, as the great desert; while moderate -eized
pond, Benny confidently whispered behind my
grandfather's back, could be none other than
the Dead Sea itself! Little Benny---hc was
innocent and simple then With passing time
went from me also this pleasant fancy--one
more coupet lot from the poetry Of childhood
How much Of poetry, how much OF romance. il
dissipated by the garish light Of maturer years !
How much OF simple faith and purity is put to
fight by the cold conventionalities OF life
Avsunt, proud Fashion Let well MP, now
and then, in the dust and strife of bnsv life.
ths weighed-down glow and freshness Of Child.
hood
The shadows had begun to lengthen ON the
neighboring hills, and the cow-beIl was tipk
ling ut the pasture bars, as we swung back the
huge gate at the end Of the green lane. NV
grandfather stood IN the door, his gray hair
covered BY the identical slouched hat which
had bravely weathered the storms Of INV birth
year. That same hat weather beaten and
worn, has lain undisturbed for years in the
corner Of an oaken drawer, placed there bv
my grandfsthers trembling hands
Fair weather, MolI,v whispered BENNY as
ws simultaneously detected roguish twinkle
Of his small gray eye, beneath their shaggy
brows, and significant elongation of the cor
ners Of his mouth. There was more than
usnal trembling Of the aged hand, and q gem
tleness Of tone somewhat foreign 10 the speaker,
- be bade MS welcome. Benny and / were
happy What mattered il to us If our step
grandmother eyed askance the juvenile respon-
mbilites devolved upon her--we were TO be
gFAndfsther's help His kindly greeting made
our young hearts glow. 0, speak gently TO
plastic childhood
A light supper Of bread and milk needed no
digsstssory exercise, and Benny and were
sens 20 bed, with the injunction 70 be up bright
and sarly fhr The hayingv The sun was al
ready making great red stroaks acroes the blue
and white connterpaDe, when Benny's little
fsst, pattcring across the nicely -ssnded floor
IN thst veritsble east chamber startled mo