The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-02
WASHINGTON, d. C..
Tor the National Era
ELEANOR S0UTHMAYD'S WARDSHlP.
u.pruk RI-ccFTT
For the National Era
RY MARTHA RUSSELL

;,J- with the breath Of life crushed out Of
.L.,, said Rebecca Summerfeld, laying her
lon5 on the arm of gentleman, who stood
amid he crowd on the platform, in the Boston
and Worcester railway station, intently watch
mo the passengers as they stepped out of the
cars.
He turned and greeted her warmly, then en-
,.cJed his hand to me, rs Rebecca SAID, Miss
S,p,bmayd, allow ME to introduce your guar
dian. You see he is quite tcrrible-looklng
,4c,,nage. old and ugly, and every way detest-
ahle-a very Bluebeard. You will be planning
an eseape in fortnight, and 1 shall be the
coufdant. Won't that be Delightfully."-"
aAh. that unruly tonguel" he said, color
inc slightly, as | thought. II dare say
Mss Southmayd has learned to estimate its
oualities correctly by this time" Then, wei
coming me in a few brief words, he added,
@Rebecca. yon will lead the way to the ladies
room while look after your baggage"
II was the old tone, "You win do thus and
ca Eleanor" which / remembered so we'll
clear. calm, and sweet-the very tone of one
having authority" and the same features,
qrarel and ennobed by the thoughtful dignity
Of manhood.
"Sce,7 said Rebecea, laughing, as she began
Glowing her way to the saloon, "what re-
wari one gets for his friendly Offices. But it
Is the fate of this generation to entertain an
q,ls unawares, as ] often tell Fred. !"
We were warmly welcomed by Miss Sum-
mtr,;rd, who looks scarcely older than she
,il when first saw her and stout, broad
clr,,ad Old man, whom they introduced as Mr..
ldeclow, an old friend. This person is a dis
tan; connection, / believe, and has boarded
with them for some years. They are expect
iue the younger brother, William, who is study
inc Theology at Andover, home soon and he
viii make the family circle complete. Shall
feel At home here, or be "among them, but not
o. them?' We shall see.
ajM.-As passed through the hall a few mo-
meats since, heard Rebecca Summeriield say,
in reply to some one, for the parlor is full Of
quests tonight
Miss Sonthmayd-yes, she is rich-quite an
hciress Dear me, | am sure don't want any
body to die on purpose, but if somebody would
be moved to remember me by the bequest of
couple of hundred thousands, | should esteem
il great favor"
Rich! yes, am rich, l suppose, and young !;
vet would give half the allotted years of my
life. even If it extend to threescore and ten,
and all my wealth. for brother or a sister,
some one who would bear with me and love me
in spite Of my faults and follies, some wise
friend who would say
See, l know YOU are weak and wicked /
have lived through all this; but, for the sake of
One, who was patient with me at that time,
will be patient with YOU
These people can never do this Tor me. We
have nothing in common. Each day / feel this
more and more; while in the midst of their qui-
ct. beautiful domestic life-and it is, indeed,
very beautiful feel more restless, dissatisfied,
and homeless. What can my guardian with his
cold, calm temperament, his lofty scorn of all
that Is weak and mean land | am mean, am
AFRAID, sometimes, though never admitted the
suspicion until since | came here know of a
nature like mine? Or his sister Susan, with
her simple answering faith, which has met no
seTerer test, in her whole life, I'll wager, than
a bad baking Of bread or an untidy servant :?
These people have none of Aunt Huldah's
knot grass to contend with-they never had !;
then, how can they help me?
Miss Summerfeld is kind-it is not in her ma
lure to be otherwise; and Mr.. Summerfeld
treats me with that unvarying politeness, which,
IN GOOD society, so often marks complete indffer-
ehce. | would much rather he hated me.
suppose he thinks me an ignorant, selfwilled
iool. Well, let him-why should care?
with Rebecca and Mr.. Bigelow | am more
at home. They are of the earth, earthly, and
DO mol chill me with their PROJECTIONS. Indeed,
Ar. BigeOw is made up of, sharp preiudices
aud whlmS, with a good substrdtum of COM
mon sense. He dislikes all innovations, and
looks upon me as an intruder here moreover,
he does not hesitate to tell me that he don't
Ike he at all; he never knew an only child
who was worth its salt" &C.. but | like him,
and mean that he shall take back his words.
lie looks upon the Summerfields as set of
en'lren, incapable of taking care of them
selves, who would soon go to ruin if he were
u" mere to play the part of a Providence for
mem bat is in reality as much governed by
lhtn as a little child
lie irets, and fumes, and sometimes swears,
at Their "new-fangled" notions; and the dis
~ ,'SSiohs which arise almost daily between
'"r,n amuse me very much.
he1ecca, his iavOrite, whose brain is teeming
WIN All sorts of schemes for the renovation Of
'ur world, IS always stumbling upon some one
"hV requires "aid and comfort in some way ;
ana her last case is a family OF Irish. She
,'""sht the subject up this morning at the
"teahiast-table, and the best method of aiding
''t u. was warmly discussed.
me OLD man cut his steak in silence for a
~'"ie, occasionally making horrible grimace
. some ol their suggestions, until he suddenly
.Ig@ down his knife and fork, and broke out
, lray, don't make fools of yourselves, chill
u.en! Owe these people bread, in Heavens
name but don't talk of elevating their mental
I n' mora! condition pretty phrases enough,
w W 'he millennium is a great ways off yet.
,a o1 viii have plenty of time to find the bot
T.. H." oi your pockets before that day arrives.
against Scripture and common sense both,
fect to change these creatures; just as
=. 10y 'oT an Ethiopian to change his skin, as for
1T :, I'shman TO be anything but drunken
Il but think Of the influences under which
a 49, Children are living-both parents drunk
s SAID my guardian.
., ana Il they were better trained and educa-
began Susan, but the old man interrupted
oro iL-''cof'oa from the pulpit to the prison,
ca,. nei'rS nothing but education, and the world
90 80 worse and worse every day. 1t will never
tb ,s' out devils, | can tell you. Nothing but
s, 1e grace OF God can do that. Now, if a man
tb saS' ne has only to plead that he never went
NV college, and lol all the foolish women,
cam ana men, too, will take his part; or, if he
70 oD,iis murder, they will trace hspedigree up
T,,i suam' to prove that some of his race we're a
H. cracked, and he is pronounced insane.
MI Jay, such rascals were introduced to the
mn,P9Plhs-post and gallows; theft was theft, and
roLe murder. We called things by their
W. w names; and common sense and honesty
ap ho' quite secuted from the world"
Snr, nut' dear Mr.. Bigelow," began William
yea, ,laneriled who, by the way, reached home
ana eruay'l Just look at the subject nationally
:. IL see what education has done for us since