The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17
her spirit as to draw forth its freshest heart

music.
Hamilton was no longer welded to the sofa
OF Mrs. Hope, in his visits to the mansion of
his law teacher. To her he still turned, as he
had done from the first, for the word and look
that were as oil upon the troubled waters of his
morbid spirit. But he was oftener and oftener
at klttys side, singing, playing, or conversing.
Inc three were seldom alone, for Mrs. Hopes
door as wei! as heart was open to every one who
needed a friend or a friendly word. But young
Grey seemed the more isolated in a crowd. He
had no intimacies-almost no interchange of
OF courtesies-with the many whom he met
| there. Toward those whom be chose to con-
slider his equals in standing, he maintained a
proud, civil reserve, that repealed acquaintance.
Toward his interiors in station-as judged by
the standard Mammon long ago set up in our
| world-whom he occasionally encountered on
an equal footing there, he was cool and haugh-
| ty to degree that at times surprised and pain
| ed even his kind and charitable hostess.
One day, when her husbands youngest Office
boy, an intelligent, ambitious YOUTH whom she
had rescued from the clutches of drunken
| father, and taughtto respect himself and con-
| fde in her, had gone from the room, Laura
| frankly laid her hand on the arm of Mr. Grey,
and said, pleasantly, but with meaning in her
| tone
"The boy has sensitive heart, my young
| friend, if he has once worn ragged coatl"
Hamilton Grey drew himself up, with flush
in the forehead and fash in the eyes, of min
| gled apology, admiration, and selfjustfcation.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hope, for reminding me
that any recipient of your hospitality is at once
ennobled thereby"
"Not thereby" returned Laura, regretfully.
"Oh, Mr.. Grey, when will you learn to Judge
mankind by the heart?"
n Al
growth in those reared in poverty and obscure
ty, not to say vice.! If there be one atom Of
truth in the old adage, as the twig is bent, the
| tree inclines,' what inclination must the down
ward pressure of centuries have given to the
lower classes! l cannot place myself on their
level, nor do believe Heaven intended such
coalitionln
"But, my dear Mr. Grey, we at the North
| have no lower classes that is, there is no
/ such impossible barrier"-
"Forgive me for interrupting you, madam
! The line between wave and bank may be less
distinctly marked by the heaving sea than along
the tideless river; but thus far, and no far
ther,' not the less surely holds them asunder |!
While the earth rolls on it's axis, there must be
hands and feet to labor everywhere, as we'll as
heads to direct; there must be laboring classes.
l have no patience he added, with contempt
uous fire in his eye, "with the fanaticism that
would fuse society into one heterogeneous jdm-
bic of conflicting tastes and repei:g instincts! !"
SWELL spoken for republican " exclaimed
Kitty, who had come up behind them. $50
then-recreant to the stars and stripes-you
don't believe that all men were born free and
equal2'"
~ ask not how they tcere born; see what
they have become! Take, for example, the
eternally-vexed question of Abolition; but then
you know very little Of that matter, practically.
Go forth, and study the subjected part of the
population in all its phases, as thoroughly as
have done, and then Judge whether to let them
born, intelligent, and refined, of the Anglo-Sax-
on race the heir of all the ages )"
Sand who has made them what they have
become?'" asked Kitty, with momentary
glow on her cheek.
at is enough for us to know that whatever
is, is right" returned Hamilton Grey, relaps-
ing into more reserved mood.
Kitty shook her head pertinently, and would
have pursued the topic, but her conservative
sister cut the thread of discussion asunder.
ga good sentiment, and one that would bring
quiet to the vexed world, if it were everywhere
adopted! But come, young people, are we to
have no music tonight"
Kitty moved toward the piano, while Mr.
Grey finished by remarking, "You must not
understand me to rank your laboring classes
exactly with our sable feld-hands- although,
confess, it is often hard for me to see where they
have the advantage, either in condition or in
talent But, in either, responsibility, truth tc
their nature, such as it is, I acknowledge and
honor; equality can never admit. Ny Utmost
soul revolts from it,!
He spoke low but passionately. Mrs. Hope
looked into his face, and shook her head gently
| G.
her kind countenance.
AS the winter evenings grew long, he often
brought some choice volume of poetry, romance
or history, and gave the sisters the treat Of an
hours true, soul-felt reading - a thing rare
enough in these days of mock heroic elocution
When he discovered that Laura was Kitty's in
structress, he took up with her the pleasant tasl
of leading the ardent mind of the young girl tC
the purest fountains of science and literature
The world of poetry, in particular, was almos
a new world to Kitty, who had always ridicule.
everything embodying an excess of sentiment
but found herself now drawn into the magic
ring" ere she was aware.
I" never knew what poetry ,oas before /" she
exclaimed, one day, as he closed volume o.
Elizabeth Browning's Poems.
"And what IS it? he asked, abruptly.
ooh, spare me any dictionary catechising, /
beg you! will not make a caricature of my
admiration, by trying to put it into words I"
1t is the daguerreotype of the heart he
said, musing. Poetry it does not hide itself
between book -covers; it does not speak in the
winds of heaven, in the brooks or flowers Of
EARTH They have each voice, but the voice
of poetry is above all. Its essence is too subtle
for words-its only dwelling is the soul of man
And how teD soulsl" His eye flashed, as he
ended, with a light that was almost fierceness
"Will you play?" he asked, breaking from
his reveries. "a songl" he added, as Kitty
seated herself to comply with his request.
With the echoes of the poets strain yet throb
bling in her heart, Kitty commenced one of her
favorite songs
| Glove not, love not.
| The thing you love may die !"
He arose, and walked the room with folded
arms. AS she sung the second verse, he stop.
ped, and gazed into her face steadily
"Never sing that verse again I f" he exclaim.
ed, as she finished.
Kitty looked up in amazement.
at is not true!" he said, vehemently. "sThe
thing you love may change! That which
awakens the love of true heart can never
changel That is not love which changes. Love
and changed Why, they are the antipodes OF
created things! Link them, and Gods universe
is chaos. Excuse me, young lady," he said,
suddenly arousing himself to perception OF
the rhapsody into which he was falling. 81 will
inhict no more of this upon you'll Poetry and
music too often make me think aloud"
"Ah you are too romantic, Mr.. Grey" OBJ
served the cheerful Mrs. Hope, from her work
on the sofa.
He turned toward her, as though he had for
gotten that she were present.
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