The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-20
CHAP. XII.
LiSetts and her Father.


Lietts and her Father.
Il ia seven in the evening, or thereabouts
Martin is In the great armchair, underneath
the ancient spiders cob-web. Il has beer
NIGHT in the den since four % clock. The fir,
on the hearth has long since ceased to fame
end ike himself, gives only the slightest sigr
az vitality. He has seen it gradually dwindl'
sway. without stirring to repovatc it. He hai
also felt the darkness thicken around him, unit
4 seemed to settle on him like heavy weigh
messing him on all sides; yet he sat in tina
great armchair, perfectly still. For the las
three hours he has been in o blank reverie---s
state of stupor, in fact. He holds, tightly
grasped in one hand, small tin box, contain
ips sundry pieces Of dark substance resem
Hing cavendish tobacco. It is ont up int<
s1usres. smells bitter, and is clammy TO th,
touch. One of these he conveyed into hil
mouth rather more than three hours ago. HI
locked the door of the den first, and then set
tied himself in the great chair, as If for doxe
The stupor soon came on, and he ia still unde,
its influence. At length he heaves q deer
sigh, and, after convulsiye start or two, ht
stands I'D and stretches himself signing again
His eyes must be keen as cats; for he goe
straight into the inner den, avoiding the obsta
cles in bis way, and takes down from shelf
candle, which he lights with match. He set
the candle On the table, indulging in another
stretch, when a gentle knock is heard at til,
door. Who can it be- Visitors 80 late H.
is half inclined to put out the light, and not Il
answer; but the knock is repeated, still gently
and young voice outside says:
Papa, won't you let me in"
One bound across the apartment, and in an
other moment the speaker is EMBODIED IN hi
arms, in close embrace.
What brings thee here tonight, my dar
ling ~ asks Martin.
How differently he speaks to her! His tone.
arc not the same as when he was heard in the
morning, addressing Gaetano. How gentle hi
manner, too, and how tenderly he assists he
over the distractions in her way to the fire!
al have stolen an hour to pass with you
papa" says the musical voice.
She sets down her basket, and glancint
around, smiles somewhat sadly, and shakes hel
head reproachingly at her father.
"No fire. papa! And the apartment all Lit
tered, as usual, | see! You are inoorrigible
indeed, indeed! !"
She has great deal to tell him, as she bu
sizes herself about the place. In a trice, the
ashes are raked together, the halfcharred log
is re-arranged on the dog irons, and one or TIVE
dry pieces Of wood are added from basket
full of chunks in the corner. A very listl,
coaxing, and with the aid of the old bellows
the fro is soon re-kindled, and begins to crackl'
away merrily. The next operation is to clear
elumsily, but with great amount of goo(
WILL There are heaps Of duet TO remove, ant
some skill is requisite in arranging the papers
aud books so that they shall not topple dowr
again in which department Martin particu
lsrly distinguishes himself A clean napkin
from her basket is spread out over the spac,
they have cleared, and Martin fctches twt
Ilates-one Clipped, and neither clean-with
knife and fork, from the inner closet Th,
owner of the musical voice, which has all thi
time been filing the den with its melody, soor
restores them to condition fit for immediat,
service placing them en- the table when ready
You have not such thing as dish, papa
have yCu?D
Martin laughs. A dish Could she expec
him to have one. No! He has not such ,
thing
Then We must oontrive with sheet of pa
I6r," she says.
He has got that. He takes it out of /,
drawer, and it is doubled and placed on foli'
Volume which she selects from heap of others
tie first that comes to her hand.
Is not it q beautiful pdte, dear papa z" sh,
says. And it is quite new. Feel it 1t il no
Geld yet!D
@No? Really it is not How nice! AND
how sayory it smellsw And Martin draw
hack step or two to look at it, and th:r
draws closer to is to regale his nostrils with it
odor. Cheese too, and fruiti"
al think Eve come TO the bottom" exclaiml
the musical voice, with an arch look for she i
STOPPING and has her hand In the basket still
"Fibber," calculates Martin.
1t IS bottle of vin ordfndire. Has he NJ
glasSeat Yes, oneI That will do They car
drink together. But where is the waterloo
canter! She supposes though, it is Of no US
asking him. He confesses that is true. Their
Is 4 pitcher in the closet. Won't that do?
must, che imagines; so he fetches it, and set
1t down by his side, placing the glass on tn
The repast is spread, when another discove
~ is made. They have only one knife ant
iork Martin and his daughter laugh OF this
but the defeiencyis supplied by him presently
he takes out large clasp-knife from his pock
ct and opens it. That will do very well. Sh
asks fOr it to cut open the pdts, because it j
stronger and sharper than the other. Sh
helps him to slice and places another on he
own plate, though more by way of keeping hin
10 oountenance, than because she is hungry
VIII she not have the fork? No; she wi
manage without. But what is the matter, a
ut once! She has carried morsel to he
mouth, when she utters an exclamation of dir
gust.
"Eh, gracious me! How horribly bitter
Is! Whatever have you been cutting with il
papa?"
shadow passes over Martins countenanc,
he looks confused and hesitates to reply. II
thinks of the tin box in his pocket, and stretche
out bis hand for the knife.
give il me, Lisette. | will use it myself,
he says, evasively
Let me clean it first, papa; you can't use
as it is" She pours water upon it, thrusts
into the ashes, and tries to rub it bright wit
apiece of paper.
How it sticks, whatever it is" she say
There, papa, that's the best can do with
1t is like you, incorrigible," ahe adds, lsugi
ingly.
They exchange knives, but the faint hs
Contaminated tho portion Of pdts she has takeI
and pieces of it, and of what is on the tabl
nave to be cut away. She soon forgets Ia
circumstance, however, after she has drum
some wine and water, and they resume the'
meal and the conversation.
1t is pleasant to look on her bright face, j
mat gloomy room. 1t is not pretty, but it
Observation-Disclosures eyen-and very q,
pressive. 1t is little worn, but the blue eyt
are bright and beam with kindness. Her fai
hair is arranged in smooth bands, coming dow
On each side of her pale face, and turned bac
under her neat cap, which is put ccquettishl
on; for, as is the custom of her GLASS, she wear
no bonnet Her dress is Of quiet patter1
admirably fitted, and sets off to advantage he
Slight but graceful figure. The small cola
she wears, she has made herself 1t is faster
ed in front with a bow of blue ribbon, In u