The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-09

pointing ut the Young ladies before him whose
faces were happiest and whose attire was CAV
est. Az. You may well start he exclaimed;
and If VI were wise virgins, We w5xh tear the
roses from your hair, aud the g'tv garments
from your youthful forms A few more ri>ings
and settings of the sun, and those howertri
med curlS will be white, and those youthful and
health painted cheeks will b. the cold sunkan
cheeks of a corpse. fit food for the erave.worm.
and meet to be hidden by the STROUD These
trees, under which your feasts are spread today,
may some of them contain the boards of your
collins; and while you laugh, the mattock and
the spade waiting to DO their work. When
this white death horse shall stop at your doors,
what would You give to have this day back
how gladly would YOU then give your fanciful
dresses for your immortal souls!'
Martha protested herself greatly edited, n
feeling which she manifested by a considerable
ol0nration of face Old ladies wiped their tear
full eyes forgetful Of their pretty babies, and the
many other good gifts God had given them; and
the young ladies felt uneasy, and the pleasure
they had received from the new dress and tn"
fowers-those sweet manifestations of divine
love-was gone. Their vile bodies were uu-
worthy of such care; and though they could nos
very clearly understand how it was sinful TO en-
iov the good things of this world while We are
in the world and of the world, still thug Eel.
that if Mr.. Goodman said SO, 1t must be SO.
They did not remark the extreme elegance OF
his costume, and the unmistasablo signs @! Tree
living in his rudy face and portly dimension
-" Let us sing song unto the Lord, he SAID
even within the shadow OF this temporary
pavilion" and forthwith he and Martha struck
up, in unison
Hark from tho tombs doleful sound,
Mine attend the cry
Ie living mon, como view the ground
Where you must shortly lie"
The air was most dolorous. but its mOurniul
reyerboratiOnS were met and drowned presently
by the Hail Columbia" Of the brass band,
seen at the same time in the distance, heading
the procession, made up partly Of Christophers
school, and partly of the digutaricS OF the
neighborhood and invited guests.
There was such fiuttering and hurrving as
never was seen, to secure seats favorable to
hearing the orators of the day. What "a spread
ing down of shawls and handkerchiefs, what an
opening Of fans and arrangement of smelling
bottles and punches of roses and sweet herbs,
there was Troop after troop came in from
walks about the woods and from lingering at
the springs, and cakes and candies were dis
tributed among the younger girls, who had not
been SO fortunate as to have been provided for.
The seats reserved for the musicians were
neighbored by another reservation for the speak
ers of the occasion. Smiles came back, and
hearts beat jOyOusy again. as the music swelied
louder and louder and the little procession came
marching two and two. The BOYS wore rosettes
of blue ribbon on the left shoulder, as a distn-
gushing badge, and the girls blue ribbon on
the left wrist. Christopher himself walked sol
emily i'll front of all, and indicated by gestures
the place each man, boy and child, should oc-
cupv. The wonderful lectures, one of which
was to conclude the ceremonies of the occa-
sion, retained their conspicuous position, and
every movement of the old man seemed To say,
" | am sage, philosopher, and not rs YOU,
whom | condescend to instruct
There were no printed catalogues, but the
schoolmastcr, having placed himself at the right
hand Of the platform indicated. in a clear ana
loud tone the proposed exercise First, " Mn
sic ly the band, After this boy of seven
years was led 10 the stage, and elevated ON "a
stool prepared for the occasion, made very
low and very awkward bow, and began, first
pointing Ia his heart, and then To heaven
MAY govern my passions with absolute sway,
And grow wiser and better as life wears away.
He retired with q flushed countenance. and
greeted with enthusiastic cheers.
The music drowned the applause, and ON the
subsiding of this again, little girl was conduct
ed to the stage, bearing in her hand "a binds
nest, illustrative of her recitation
yes little nest, hold you fast
And little birds, one, two, three FOUR, &c
Her counting of the birds was thought TO be- an
admirable piece of art, and it was whispered
about that Christopher Bone would not be abb.
to teach her much more. Everybody wished
the child were their relative, and that the piece
to be spoken again. Bat the master en-
tered his protest against any repetitions.
Alternate music varied the entertainment,
which grew more and more interesting rs it pro.
cecdcd
Dialogue aud Grafton came. when that the
Il, 4 Il. l.
crash Of the thunder. the groan Of the spheres
and to see "1'he lightning's red glare painting
hell on the sky, in the spirited recitation Of the
verses containing those lines.
At two o'clock there was an intcrmission OF
ten minutes, all too short to most of the young
persons.
Happiness was at It's height, and cake and
cider vendors had their share, for busy were
they in putting pence into their purses in that
interval; and that is an employment which has
pleasing influence upon us all.
Mr. Richards entered heartily into the spirit
Of the occasion; and ginger-cakes aud beer
glrnshcd our table plentiully; and IA tin pail
Of water stood at hand, from which n courd
served drinking-cup. Our general hilari-
ty for Timothy, unusually funny and irolcking,
was thcrc) soon drove Martha and Mr. Good
man elsewhere; and even INV father seemed for
once to enjoy rs much was consistent with
the nature Ot things. At the conclusion of each
recitation. he inquired whether | thought |
should be able to do as well; and when Nj.
Richards answered that fears for me were
groundlcss, Il could do anything" ] felt that
only the happy trembling of my heart would
disable me from a creditablc performance of my
task.
y loud blast OF the buge called the stragaIrrs
in, and the exercises were Reconnaissance and
speeches, and speeches and music-and my.turu
was coming very near. ! began to feel little
trepidation, but ] stcaded up my courage, and
took from vase Of water in which they had
been kept all day, the red flowers which were
to ornament my hair; they were in beautiful
state Of preservation. and when had concluded
their arrangement. Mr.. Richards whispered that
| never looked half so pretty and that needed
only n little courage 10 secure the triumph |
was already secured; and smiling upon me
proudly, thought, he took my hand-for the
music had already ceased-and leading me f.
the steps of the platform, Christopher received
and conducted me TO my place. Nv reading
had been reserved TO close the juvenile perform
ance, and ] felt that my appearance had been
looked forward to, and waited for as the event
Of the day
courtesied to the audience, and with dclbe.
rate composurc opened the book. which lay on
the table before me; and lifting my ewes a. I
said" Ladies and gentlemen, have the honor
of reading &c, my utterance was interrupted,
and my vision riveted on one spot.
At the entrance of the tent which had lust
quilted, so happy, stood a lady, not young, nor
fair, but rich, as her dress indicated, and having
about her that air of high breeding which il
unmistaka hle oven nj n glance Her hand We,