The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-27
WASHINGTON, d. c..
For the National Era.
ELEANOR SOUTHMAYD'S WARDSHIP.
RY MARTHA RUSSELL.

.al,tes TO births, deaths, marriages, lawsuits, &c.
o5feld IS no exception, and it is to this person
~ are chiefly indebted for the sequel to Eleanor
S,u,hmayd's Wardship.
II had been busy week in the village, both
f5r hands and tongues, particularly busy at the
Parsonage; for when the repairs were all nm
;sbed. and the carpenters had gathered up their
tools and departed, there came several loads OF
furniture. 1t would be no trihing task to note
down all the EXCAVATIONS of wonder and admi-
ration which many of these articles elected
from the dozen matrons and madens who, un-
dor the supervision of Aunt Huldah, were as
.isting in the unpacking and arranging of the
flrnture: and though there were many things
which the old lady did not scruple to pronounce
mere useless vanties," it was easy to see, from
the tone with which she spoke of their uses and
nroner position, that she felt herself good au-
tbority in such matters, and was not at all dis
ple.sed at the Difference paid to her opinions.
Il was Saturday forenoon of that week, that
the old lady put on her deep sun-bonnet, and
walked over to the Parsonage, to take a survey
Of the weeks labor. Her first visit was to the
pantry, where stacks of rich golden butter, and
biscuits. and bread, and cakes, and pies, evinc-
ed the Iiberalty Of the parishioners of Oldfeld;
then she passed slowly through each room,
whisking her spotted bsndanna over the sofas
and tabes to wipe off what seemed speck of
dust, but proved only mote of sunlight that
had stolen in between the curtains, or moving
3 chair hairs breadth nearer right line with
the others, and, upon second thoughts, moving
il back again. To say the truth, Aunt Huldah
was in Just that mood which, in another, she
would have termed Gdgetty. Finally, she seat
el herself in deep-cushioned easy chair, in
what she termed the "sitting ROOM" and gazed
around with an expression of mingled pleasure
and regret.
d" 1t has all come right in the end" she NUT
tered. They who have the best right will
again lay their heads beneath this old roof and
20 out and in before us, as did that good man,
their father. before them. May they be like
him, batting his want of faculty to manage,
Tile thought to live to see it, but what says the
Psalmist? Il have been young, and now | am
oil, but never have l seen the righteous for
sasen, Or his seed begging bread
Then the sweep of a tall rosebush, as 1T
svayed to and fro in the breeze, gave a new
direction to her thoughts.
There, knew that shop Irvine would never
hold" she exclaimed, rising and going to the
window. . told Hetty Culver so, when she
led it up; but some folks know it all, without
telling"
Proceeding to the kitchen, she came back
with a hammer, nails, and a strip of leather,
and Aingng up the sash, caught the refractory
shrub, and nailed it up in workmanlike man
ner.
81 mind the very time when Parson Sum-
n"rfeidS wife planted that bush," she said, as
She stepped back to examine her work ait
Was when Fred was baby, and she stopped
once in two minutes, to play bO-peep with him
through the open window, as he lay in his era
de | had been over to Colonel Moulton's,
aud came along just in time to help her; and
while We were covering up the roots, the parson
came up, with little George-poor fellow to
Ore away there, among the heathen-and we
hai dispute about putting charcoal about the
roots; he said it deepened the color of the
towers, and did not believe it made speck
q difference any way-a white rose was white
rJse"
She drew from her pocket an old,fashioned
lniie. and began to trim off some of the dead
branches, when suddenly the blade snapped,
and She held nothing but the handle in her
hand. She stood looking at it for some seconds,
20 a kind of astonishment
Nigh on to fifty years since I've had it, and
'"lreak now! Nancy Lee would say twas
warning; but I'm not going to turn a ninny in
in' Old age. Gods time is my time, | hope :;
aid the coming back of these children is his
ToTnIng mercy. Who but Will and Rebecca
would think Of coming thousands of miles to
Wedding? And who but Fred would have
thought Of furnishing this room exactly like
Naaan's OH one, because it would seem more
Aome..k9, and never saying a word about it to
any one but me and Eleanor Southmaydl
soJr boy I'm afraid he won't find it quite
-'ae home in one of those great city taverns J"
nPh! it's an easy matter to say poor boy!"
exclaimed gruff voice behind her, and you
may well say it; for tell you he won't live a
GEAR at a hotel!'
Mr.. Bigelow" exclaimed the old lady.
Why where did you come from? Did you
crop down? The children, are they all well
Are they coming?'
Please tc remember, Miss Huldah, that I'm
40 woman, TO answer half dozen questions in
gfea'h. In the first place, l came partly by
ABROAD and partly by stage. left home this
morning, and reached your town an half hour
SAGE. hearing at the tavern yonder. that you
Ie'e over here, took the liberty to follow. In
NE We second place, the children are all well.
Nh his wife. and Hagar, arrived yesterday.
e'' mem all laughing, talking, and crying, at
y :, ana smothering little Juliet with kisses,
rec ana Fletcher as bad as the rest. And
.'aehow the old mans heart grew heavy-not
maj he IS not heartily glad in their happiness,
y. G1' ne thought OF that boy; that night is not
.e only time he has raised blood-he can't
; S-eAi NE, as he does the others, l say, what
70 become OF him?"
~ Heoeeca must stay and keep house for him
r-u you. said Aunt Huldah, Frightening up,
- Ae ; lace had heightened with every word
Se oa man had uttered. "Becky is a good
.g.-ss,.aeeper, If she chooses to be. She can do
~-sUing when she is down here"
>, very sensible plan, if we only had sensi-
~ people TO deal with but when Fred Sum
Is,.eu gets a CROCHET into his head, he's as
lale as Satan himself; and he won't hear
"1 OF Hagar's leaving her school for his
NE sacrificing herself and the interests of her
E-PHs-ihat's the phrase. Just as if there we're
d-or LINEN Ssougu W UetcH oil the cHli'
~. I ID the whole western world, and but one
'e1 Summerfeld I"
y hat does Becky say 2"
: one oh, she is ready to burn, hang, or
TOWN herself for him; but there is something
T. nut that fellow | could never understand.
al, In three words, he makes every one do Just
r, &c pleases, when l might talk myself hoarse.
xo-i near him talk of the Quincy House, one
:. o 49, 5hink 1t Paradise; and l must say it's
,bs soOq as any public house; but if he goes
Jiss v ne will certainly find it the road to Para
lin Wy don't you talk to him, and persuade
b., "ouid you have them think that old John
80 IS more selfish than he is? If he car
'-Ace home for what he thinks his sister: