The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-23
WASHINGTON, D. c..
For the National Era
ELEANOR SOUTHMAYD'S WARDSHlP.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

;oe from my heart, and new life has come Tor
-,s. not strong, and jubilant, and exulting, like
that Of nature, but humble, hopeful, and trust
fl The dreary winter of pride, and selishness
ofdoubt. and mistrust in God, and war, Is gone;
and know, by Gods goodness, it can never
come again.
The week after wrote last was one OF great
misery to me. To have had back my old faith
IN nv ouarCian would willingly have taken
anhi. guilt and sin upon myself; indeed, some
times felt that was the guilty one, fer had
not. in nv folly, so many times wished to find
him less perfect-guilty of some fanlt. Mock
;,o voices. like those which Christian had in
the dark valley, kept whispering this thought in
nv ears, and though l knew little of that won
derfal weapon, "All-prayer," which the Pill
grim bore, my whole soul went out in deep
warnings for forgiveness.
But | avoided rim as much as possible !;
there seemed a newborn tenderness in his
manner toward me. which / could not bear.
Miss Snmmerfeld talked of mustard drafts and
"hot drops" when my pale face appeared in
the raror; Rebecca, laughingly, laid my i'll
ness to grief at the loss of her society, and
tried to anuse me with descriptions of her coun-
try suitor and tho various enthusiastic projects
which she expected to realize when she reach
Ell Iowa. for Will Summerfeld's wedding day
il fixed the lst of June, and she is to accom-.
Mr.. Bi-elow places his hands behind him, and
PAGES the floor, giving me a very significant
glance occasionally, as he huns
Come, COUNSEL dear little, don't tarry,
IN gle YOU my bonnie black hen;
Gin ye viii advise me 10 marry
The lad Toe dearly, Tam Glen!
nothing but my most earnest remonstrances
have prevented him from calling in DR.. w.
0ae thing pleased me much. Aunt Huldah was
coming up to be present at Wills wedding in
deed, this pleased every one but Mr.. Bigelow.
He had met her once, and taken great dislike
70 her, or protested to have done so and Re-
becca considered it her mission to overcome it,
as vel as win his consent to her going West.
] was much amused at her management.
1t is downright FOOLS scheme +" said the
old man, one day. "Iowa to hear VIII and
Lizzie talk about it, one would think it Para
disc, and that the head-waters of the Mississippi
are the fountain Of health; whereas, every one
knows that they are the fountain of nothing but
fever and sgue and death Why can't you be
contented here?"
Sitting down beside him, Rebecca went on
70 speak Of that boundless region, its future
Importance, It's wants-of their aims and pro-
lects, Of all she might accomplish, with her
health, education, and restless activity-until,
catching her enthusiasm, the old man exclaim-
cd
"Zounds it's useless to think of caging that
tongue. | see You are great deal more fit to
march through the wilderness with Miriam, or
go up against Sisera with Deborah, than to
lay the decent housewife. / was right when |
named you Hagar. But what" he went on,
alter long pause, "what am to do without
you?r
You will have Fred. and Susie and Eleanor
here, who are worth dozen ike me; and, then,
there will be Aunt Huldah -
And what in Heavens name is that stiff
neched peice Of wOmankind to me?" interrupt
Cd he testify.
A good deal, as you will see when you come
10 know her better. For instance, she will be
great saving to you in the way of breath, for
have no doubt she will denounce this plan as
heartily as Yourself 70 be sure, her dress is
rather old-iashioned and her tone somewhat
decided, but | will try to persuade her to wear
n9Ince' and turbans like Mrs. Wheat; and if
she can contrive TO catch little of Miss Ara
,ela heats lisp, think you will find her at
least tolrrabler
Aoomlnabe!' growled the old man. Cup
Va NY soul believe the girl is mad. Talk of
,'Ang respectable woman, old enough to be
Ier grandmother, into an APPEL Look you, Miss
ie'ecea, this woman's dress is what l call suit
dO'e 'or Christian woman to wear-such a
one as women wore in the good old days, when
s''n chlts as you gave less slack to their
conquest"
?, beg pardon. thought you disliked Aunt
4 H4'lah, and As | knew it could not be because
sae .acaed sense and judgment, l thought it
mus De on account of her dress"
Ao' what right had you to get any such i'm
tIenee into your head? You were wont to
nav nave common sense, / thought; but if this
., s5rn scheme has put everything else out of
~ mead, including common respect for this
9N"l' your oldes: and best friend, why, go
D.. -. =" heavens name-the sooner the better.
=" Il YOU really want An object in life, as you
s.i Jake the advice of an old man, and look
a'eF your own heart"
~ mere was grief, and pity, and anger, in the
e 81 man tones, for he had discovered in his
Is.,'e. Is ne thought the sin which his soul
' lhgratltude; and | could see, by the
H.. A.us q hebecca's face, as she sat watching
,L., AZ ne STROBE up and down the room, that
s,- IA" repented Of her ruse. At length she
5.luE up and, laying both hands on his shoul-
In spite OF petulant effort to shake her off,
gsb. Iln steadily in the face, while the tears
s''le'ed N her ewes.
fr h. OHye ne seemed to comprehend the truth,
AZ - seized her BY the arm, and, shaking her
Up "yulo pet kitten, he exclaimed
been y 4. .ne Lord Harry, believe the mink has
vbo, s.nNahtaLnlng all the whilel Tell me, Miss,
nall snI mad you to put me in passion, and
.WL ue say things [ never thought Off"
ss.L, ua right had you to be so full of unrea-
IJasoe prejudiees as to compel me to saw things
"a @I ashamed OFF" was the reply. al heard
;bos. OnmeInting upon Aunt Huldahs creaking
Won 'S s. one DAY, and very naturally supposed
seFe ashamed of her.'
who y. very naturally suppose that no one
poYa '@s not closely related to born idiot
sben er nave thought of such a thing"
ryseIf 80 nome with Aunt Huldah, said to
house a q. IN the genial atmosphere of her
NJ an: SIah ind rest; but an hour later came
that nafn with an invitation for me to go
Hov,,s' lung I'M and hear Mrs. Mowatt, at the
eac,s A'heneum; and / accepted, more be-
hour or , "ooia willingly escape from myself an
nv rD \. '1Eo, than from any thought of him or
u. S Jus' going to dress that evening, when
~SaiIIerfeld came in, saying
a,d we lecture lectures before the Institute tonight,
since, ~ lust 60. You were wishing, not long
Il ~ near him, Miss Southmayd." .
1hava but must decline going tonight, as
ia previous engagement"
Of the se am sorry, as it is the last lecture
nth whoa Seas9 on he said, kindly. "May ask
n 60 with Mr.. A,l;rrbou - L., \,