The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-12

spects his interiors but that he felt them to be
30 to greater degree than they were, in spite
OF his uniform kindness and sffability, knew
right well; and could not but feel that there
were times when he regarded me as an I'M
hammered rustic, whose love was the milestone
about his neck mot as a child of nature
beautihed by my devotion to him, and glorifed
by genius-the creature which in the kind
partality of his softer moments he esteemed
| me to be.
lie had known men and women only as cul-
ture and education make them the polish of
art and the elegance of acquisition he was con-
versant with and appreciative of but the more
clever insight into things which some of Gods
children intuitively poesess-the true nobility
Of heart and soul, which at frat place their
possessors on plain to which ordinary men
and women must climb through the toll Of
study and the drill of art-he knew little
about.
| | make no claim to the wonderful gifts Of
| genius; but whatever talents or capacity hare
or had, are and were the result of an insight
and an enthusiasm, and not that knowledge
gained by the measurement of things against
established rules. But whatever l was, was
original to Mr.. Richards and am persuaded
| that he never fully understood or comprehend
ed me- Sometimes he over-estimated, but Oft
ener failed to award me that which | feel to
have been my DUE
| There was no power in himself whereby to
measure me, and how should he therefore have
arrived at the truth?
| Sometimes he would seem to worship me
from afar as it were, and as though his nature
were mastered by mine; then again he drew
near, and for brief moments we talked as low
ers talk but for the most part there lay be-
tween US wastes Of ice-I giving scope to the
i &c - G-no
dom of habit, and he retiring into the formula
of conventional regulations, and reproving me
| by manner if not by words.
| In the bayfield, with the rake on his Shout
der, on the threshiDg-foor with the chat in
his hair, in the orchard, or with his book in
| the shadow Of some friendly tree, he was alike
inaccessible; nevertheless, there was q charm
| about him which / am unable to explain.
Perhaps it was that his character was as new
to me as mine to him, and that I have in my
nature kind of universal sympathy which
prompts me to penetrate into every corner of
human action and emotion but no matter
whether it was in my stars or in myself, loved
him; and what woman that truly loves finds
not excuses for her lovers faults? So long as
she is persuaded that her affection meets any
return, SO long the object of her idolatry may
play the tyrant at his pleasure-there is moth
transferred Even to herself, | think, the heart
Of woman is the greatest mystery in the world.
Its wild beatings drown the judgments which
her reason sanctions, and she rejoices in the
tumult or secret conviction may come, and
still not for the world would she whisper that
conviction to herself, if it be dshonorable to her
chosen friend or oppose her own blind predi-
lections. Speak never 30 softly that which she
would have false, and never this side of the
grave will you be forgiven. But from this
weakness or perversity, or whatever else you
may choose to call it, comes after all, the chief
excellence of woman-the redeeming beauty of
the world.
After the death of Lucretia, the interest of
Timothy waned, or, as he said, waved fainter
and fainter in his philanthropic adventure
and when the autumn vacation came, he an
nounced his determination to afford his pro-
ject an adequate maintenance for the needs of
q limited number of years, and depart into a
far country. IL seemed to him fitting he said,
in his jocular way, to take leave of his many
friends by some pleasant little entertainment,
accordant with his own means and the modest
wishes of his friends. He would select Chris
TOPPER and Doke, he said, as representatives
of the intellectual and the animal wants Of the
neighborhood, and between their two decisions
he should arrive at the happy middle ground,
which would satisfy all. Accordingly, these
two persons were summoned to appear on a
specified evening, which they accordingly did
and the debate which ensued was of highly
interesting character, but | am afraid tedious
to repeat will only say, that the smiling
Timothy, leaning indolently on his cane, pro-
pounded various methods of merry making,
which he thought suited to the people, and
the occasion. none of which met the entire ap-
prevail of his advisers.
Seeing this, he proposed that his learned
friend Christopher should distil the essence of
his wisdom on the subject under consideration,
into his understanding; Upon which the school
master suggested that his pupils should have
a public exhibition, where no scenic display
should be made, save what the leafy curtains
of the woods afforded, but where on a tempo
rary rostrum, boys and girls should, by recita-
TONS show forth their Oratorical or histrionic
powers. At the close of the juvenile perform
ances, himself should read a lecture on cos
biography, and the entertainment finally close
by the playing of Yankee Doodle, which per-
Torrance was to be executed by Timothy, and
80 the honors of the occasion equally divided.
"What say you, Doke?" inquired Timothy
sand what part will you play in the perform
anoe ~ Doke scratched his head and, for the
want of anything better, put his finger in his
mouth, and answered, in very detected man.
ner, that he didn't see as there would be any
thing for him for to do unless there was to be
something for to eat. If there was going for
10 be any general foddering time, he was the
boy for to be active.
Timothy said the suggestion of the junior
counsellor was only needed to perfect the plan
and that grand supper, and not Yankee
Doodle, should conclude the entertainment
81 think said Christopher, it will be an
unworthy conclusion of an intellectual ban
quet; nevertheless, being in the minority, l
yield"
If the schoolmaster had no appetite for to
eat, Doke said he would be ready for to eat
his share, that it might not be wasted.
Having announced this benevolent DISPOSE
ton, he folded his long lean arms, and leaned
against one of the pillars of the porch, in a
manner SO Thoughtful and abstracted as to lead
Timothy to inquire the nature of his musing
81 wished was wised," he replied; that's
alln
"Whet for, boya" asked Timothy, startled
into something like earrestness.
"Cause,' he said, 'there's one thing can't
know, which of 'em for to do"
Chow 500 And what is it that you won't
know which of 'em to do 2" asked Timothy.
"You don't know, my son, whether to choose
from the ancients or moderns, your theme for
defamation; that is your little puzzle, PHI war
rant me-" said the schoolmaster, laying his
thin white hand on the boys head, and speak
ing for him.
"EhI if you amt a great schooImaster, and
don't know any more than that replied Doke,
looking impudently into the old mans face
al could guess better than that with my
eyes shot-one of 'em that | want to know is
which to eat first, if we have chickens and
pumpkin pie It seems to me- if was for to 20