The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-29
For the National Era
A GAL ME ASU R { +.
By LIZZIE LINN.

| unjust DEGREES they make, and call them Just,
i And we submit 10 them-because we must
A sense of our duties and responsibilities
would, in some cases. never be felt, bat for
painful experience. Suffering increases the per
ception, turns the mind into new channels o
thought, and points to the path of wisdom. Some
of US fail to profit by afiliction, but it was mo-
thus with my friend, Mrs. Carroll and no won
der, for her trials were of deep significance.
Married in girlhood, and mother ere she
was sixteen, pressed by penury, performing the
drudgery of the kitchen and the duties ola school
room, no time to beStow upon the frail being
committed to her care, it was not strange that
the child became grief rather than a joy. She
appealed in her delieacy and helplessness for
untiring vigil, but the cares of that young moth
or forbade such attention. The hardy, vigorous
plant needs not the storm that sweeps around
it, little Nell, however, was like the fragile shoot
that is easily blighted and broken. Poor, un-
| fortunate dwarf She has high hip, an i'm
mense shoulder, curved spine, projecting chest
no neck, and her head resting and rolling on
her shoulders. Oh, Nell, sicken as / think OF
thee Would to heaven thou couldst shuttle of
| that hideous coil Life will give thee no pleas
| ure The mission of woman thou canst new
er fulfil. Thy very affections will become, to
| thee, a curse
Sad monument of neglect is little Nell. Neg
lect, / said. All, it was kind in me to call it
nothing worse, when | know that repose for the
mother at night, and time for excessive labor
and duty to patrons by day, was purchased by
the use of powerful and Supplying drugs to the
child.
Howard Carroll, although suffering much from
i'll health himself, had never been interested in
that great problem, the physical perfection of
his species. He showed a fathers tenderness
for Nell, and a stranger might have deemed her
a pet lamb; but inwardly there was shrinking
of tho spirit when she approached him. have
intimated that he was poor; he belonged, how
ever, to proud and prosperous family. He
had been embarrassed by sudden depreciation
in stocks, in which his limited means were in
vested but he possessed that available talent
which characterized his brothers, of transmitting
into gold whatever he spent his energies upon.
by shrewd management, his circumstances rap
idly improved; and not many years had passed,
before his wife was somewhat relieved fromsthe
burden that had so oppressed her
Another face was then added to the home cir
cle-a dear little Annie came to cheer and to
bless. Under the genial warmth Of maternal
love and wisdom, the sweet bud expanded into
a beautiful creation. The mothers experience
with her first born had taught her practical les
sons of great value in the training of the second.
When she looked at the unseemly temple in
which dwelt the spirit of Nell-for the presence
of the child ever was, to her, as the presence of
an accusing angel, pointing to a terrible rec
ord of ignorance and folly-she resolved that
her life should be one determined, continuous
effort if necessary, to protect Annie from the
adverse influences that destroy so many of the
race.
And richly was the mothers. care repaid. or
else twas nature in a kindly mood, that strove
to make amend for the uncouth exterior of her
former gift, by adding grace and beauty to the
person of Annie. Reader, have you ever watch
ed a sunbeam stealing into some shadowy nook
lighting up its sombre tints until they looked
even beautiful in its rays? Just so came An
MES presence into her fathers family; and new
er shone sunbeam brighter than shone her Joy
Gus face and never has painter or poet embod-
led an ideal more faultless in feature, in limb, and
motion, than was our home-angel Annie and
when her laugh gushed forth in its melody, it
was whole volume of bird.songs, sweeter far,
in the mothers ear, than the bewitching notes
of a cantatrice could ever be.
natures phenomena, or arraign parents for de-
linquepcy, nor yet to extenuate the mothers
fault as may have appeared from some of the
foregoing hints for have a tale to tell of quite
different nature-a veritable story in regard
to this second child, that is now fairly intro
duced to your consideration; and this event
never cosld have happened, but for the existence
and condition of Nell and her ugly person as
naturally suggests causes as the light of day or
the darkness of night. This much, then, by way
of preface and introduction.
"Now for frolic," said General Carroll-the
brother of Howard-as he entered the apartment
where sat the mother with the two children
have described
"Now for frolic Uncle VIII, responded the
joyous Annie, as she brushed back her golden
ringlets, and bounded toward him.
Love me once" said he as he pressed her
to his bosom; and Annie laid her cheek to his
and, with her arms around his neck. returned
the ardent embrace.
" Let us play bear now, Uncle Will"
Oh no; let us talk to-day, and play bear to-
morrow"
"No, no; we must play bear to-day, and talk
replied Annie.
1t needed but little coaxing TO bring down the
distinguished General on al-fours, to chase
about the lovely fairy. Nell stood aloof, suck
ing her thumb, except when Uncle viii advan-
ced toward her, and then she hid away under
her mothers apron. Annie was comparatively
fearless, and the daring spirit she summoned
was source of delight to him. Many an hour
did he spend thus; and he who is ever too busy
and always too dignifed to engage in such sport
can hardly imagine that it gave him pleasure.
Come and kiss me; good bye, Annie, am
going"
I" Don't go yet, Uncle viii; stay little long
err"
"Will you love me again" asked he.
I" j do love you all the time"
/" How much do you love me?"
about so much" answered she, marking |
half inch on the point of her tiny finger; and |
thereupon she skipped away out of his reach. |
On catching the little sprite, he made her ac- |
she loved him ever so much-a whole |
bushel.
81 wish You would go and live with me- re- |
marked General Carroll, as he was buttoning |
his coat to go.
"With you," responded she, how could / |
leave my dear father and mother and my sister |
Nell2"