The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-10
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her head, said, Mother, am sorry Won are
sick; cup of tea will revive you, hope
She shook of my hand as though it affected
her dissgreeably, and answered, that nothing
would do her any good, that she could have.
"'Don't be dishesrsened, Icontinued, though.
for myself, ] was thoroughly so; and calline
DOke to replenish the FIRE, set about the bis.
cuit-making singing some pleasant tune the
while.
Happening to look up from my work. saw
my father gesticulating in evident agony. |
was at a loss for solution at first. but soan
discovered that Martha was pressing her hands
to her forehead, as though to prevent il from
breaking.
My music disturbs YOU said ], pray for
mo, child; sing on, if you ike she said,
i shall soon get used to it. | didn't sing sny
more, but tried to keep up my tagging courage
BY talking with Doke, who stood beside the
table, watching my moulding of the biscuits,
as intently as the cat watches the mouse.
how many do you think you shall require,
DOke,' asked, zone or two?'
"sOne or two bushels you mean ne replied.
i wish just had all you're making-they're
such good stuff
81 laughingly assured him that he should
certainly be satisfied, for that was providing
with liberal hand Don't b'lieve it, he ar
swered, grinning horrible grin of satisfaction !:
and, having punched the FIRE to expedite the
baking, he raised himself on tiptoe, and whis-
pered he was glad Mrs. Halstead was Ill, for
that he should get her share of the biscuits and
his own too. For shame,' said I, but he was
stranger to that feeling, and grinning and
chewing at nothing, in anticipation of the bis
oaitss he shpt out of the room. When he re-
turned, saw that ne had been exchanging his
Own coat for an old one CT Charley; and on
Inqalrlng into the strange procedure, be replied
Wei, reckon mine ant big enough when we
have good stuff
{" lighted two candles an extravaganza
with us used the best table-linen, the prettiest
dishes, and all the plate we had, and in all
ways made the supper as enticing as possible
Come mother!' | called, when ell was
ready, placing the easy-chsir for her, but she
sat oblivious; and when repeated my invita-
ton little louder, she answered she had no
occasion for q mouthful. | enumerated the
nice variety | had prepared, but she didn't feel
ss if she could taste of anything.
May be was mistaken said nv father.
II fearful tone; 'but | thought you said you
should like some tea biscuits and he softly
drew her chair to the table.
Bot all wouldn't do. Martha neither ate
nor drank if she had had the biscuit last week
or yesterday, she could have eaten them So,
In spite of my pains, that meal like all the
rest, was silent and uncomfortable. Only Doke
was happy-he soon found occasion to unbut-
ton Charley's big coat, and shortly after threw
back his head, ike chicken, when it gets a
mouthful too large to swallow, and breaking
off portions of bread, and adding incredible
quantities of butter to each mouthful, he con-
tlnued to eat; and est and eat At last he
closed hls eyes-eating on the same and not
I'LL the last biscuit disappeared did he leave
CT; when, tumbling on the floor, he fell asleep.
muttering that he had had almost as much
good stuff as nc wanted, but that be wished
the table was just ready and he was Just 90
ing TO sit down, and that he had two biscuits
battered, and just opening bis mouth So,
with the dog fO- pillow, he fell asleep.
6 unused by the fire for long time that
night-tried to make pictures of a happy home;
but when ali was arranged, it seemed not to
require DIR. Roberts ID perfect Il, and by little
and little the pretty cottage would fade back
farther and farther, and | would find myself
Tecalling all MIR. Richards had said to me
triies, and less than tTihes yet Of weight
enough 70 crush into silence the earnest whis-
pers of q devoted lover
Z" did not attempt to define my emotions: /
Ees not aware Of their tendency-it was quite
impossible that my destiny should be influ-
enoed by Mr. Richards, nor did 1 wish it to
be; YET, in shaping cut any course of life for
myself, my first thought was constantly, what
will he think oft? and though judgment told
me he would not think anything about me in
any way, the conclusion would only be arrived
az that might go through some new round of
speculation, and end with the old interrOga-
ton"
fuu think me very foolish, my friend. very
weak and ridiculous but in spite Of your wise
sneers, If you give them to me, | fancy nv
heart is much Ike the hearts of other women;
and If you would allow your own to speak
honestly, II would make confessions not diss;m-
liar % mine
Women know little CT tee uses of reason-
their intuitiOns and prepossessions have much
Of tie character of instincts; and what they
Cannot stumble On in the dark, they rarely dis
cover by any process Of calculs ton.
God gave us powers quite sufficient for the
spheres he designed US to occupy, and blessed
- she who remains c0ntented In that sphere
lmne2surably happier is she who is empress
of one heart, than she who rules continents. 1t
70 fsvorite theory Of mine, that only thew who
have 10 kingdoms Of love over which to preside
are driven TO make war upon the beautiful in
situations growing out Of the natural inequality
Of the saxes.
But pardon nay digrcssion-I was BETRAYED
lato 1t Uneonsciorsly, and, for myself, am sure
ana hoping Tor seine imperfectly- outlined good
ere but the fever-dreans of heart unpillowed
On the bosom Of affection
Where was LISTING by the fire in the old
house at home:
Wen, many time | sat there afterward
tli aeep into the night, always alone now for
I1arIey was scarcely home Of an evening. AM
when he was so, avoided me, or spoke ONLY of
commonplace. My one little effort to make
nome pleasant was never renewed. and the
spring was only different from other snrines
Inasmueo as Charley assisted more about the
IaboTs OF the farm, a2d, though he talked 6ttIe
to me, were more cheerful ASPECT This owe
to my father Few zeal, aid repairs hogan which
l had never expected to see made in the old
place.
One aSseTnoon toward the close Of March.
! poSicod the widow Wilkinson making her
way With brisk steps toward the house Of Mr..
Richards arrayed In her tidicss mourning
and carrying a small parcel in her hands |:
that she contemplated a tes-drinking with
Niss PInchum | could not doubt, and that it
would be greatly 90 the disgust of that notable
hoQsHSeeper ESQ felt: but did not and could
not toresee me momentous consequences which
would resuls from Mrs Wilkinson's apparently
harmless designe
"Onee or twice in myyisits to the post Office,
had seen DIR. Roberts, but our intercourse had
been limited to simple exchange of civil
ties, for | adopted manner. from the day of
our casual meeting IN the woods, which recog-
missed only chance scquaintaneeship, and one.
too, which had no desire to cultivate further.
| undetermined him because knew could cast
him off and whistle him back at pleasures
strange perversity, common to human nature
n