The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-02

practical idea; a conceted, proud heart; a
coxcomb, with Absalom's locks, whose gods
are patent leather and Macassar oil.'
"Rebecca! Rebecca!" cried the young man,
laughing, " has your genius ever discovered a
remedy for hydrophobia? He is mad, that's
certain"
With a significant glance at her brother,
Rebecca said, very seriously
az quite agree with you, Mr.. Bigelow. i
have no faith in this McCarty, or his wife. l
don't believe Fred. or Susan can make them
any better nobody, save our Lord, can but
then, this merry Christmas, when everybody
is having such nice time, can't help think.
ing of those miserable little children. Neither
could you, know, il you had seen how ragged
and destitute they are in this bitter cold wealth
err; ugh don't you feel the wind from that
door, Mr.. Bigelow And feel sure that you
will agree with me in wishing that they may
grow up with honest, industrious habits"
81 have no inherent love or admiration of
thieves or vagabonds," returned he, dryly.
"Then they must be withdrawn as much as
possible from their british parents, with whom
honesty and industry are unknown. Is it not
| so?"
| The old gentleman was silent a second, be-
! fore he said hastily, "Well, teach them what
| you will, only don't expect that education can
| change their nature, or save their souls alive.
| These schemes of reform, about which you
! pirate so much, are little better than downright
rebellion against the laws of God. These in
| eaualties of condition are of His making-to
/ one he giveth wealth, and to another poverty
| so it has been from the beginning. But you
think to be wiser than your Maker. So did
Satan; but, remember, pride and seifeonceit
cast him out of heaven"
The old gentleman was very much in earnest.
one could see that, by the way in which he
showed his chair back from the table.
Mr. Symmetrical very deliberately passed his
cup for more coffee, as he said
"Yes, but sometimes these inequalities are
of mans making. / think, from what you was
telling me yesterday, that God did not give old
Mr.. G. the greater share of his vast wealth"
"No, the thieving old rascal. He cheated
it out of his partners estate, and then turned
the widow and her child into the street. Poor
Mary Coils the devil take me if don't feel
tempted to choke him every time / meet him
on the street |" growled the old man.
"The little boy, James Drummond, in whom
the girls here take such an interest, is this same
Mr.. Collis's grandson. l suppose you think it
is Gods will that he should drag out a life in
sickness and poverty, while this Mr.. G.. enjoys
his grandfathers estate?"
"No, by Jupiterl l said no such thing,
Il
such a thing, Fred. Summer6eld," said Mr..
Bigelow, reproachfully.
| "Why, you objected to all our plans to aid
him."
| $50 / did, because they were rank nom
sense. To make him an artist! We have
enough of such trash already. If you had
talked of giving him some useful trade-a tai
! lor's for instance would not have said a
word. A tailor is always sure of his bread, at
least, for our New England climateis not quite
that of Paradise; and you will hardly be able
to reform that, though / should not wonder if
some pack Of fools attempt it Besides, how
was to know the lad was Collis's grandson :?
! This is the first word | have heard about it, Do
| you take me for a prophet?"
"Not quite, unless it be Of the tribe of Balaam,
the son Of Beor. You know you are little bit
wiful, sometimes, dear Uncle john" said Re-
! becca, laughing.
"And, like him, am reproved by an--ass.
| The similitude holds good. En-, Hagar!" he
replied, with grin.
"But the ass saw the angel before his mas
ter, you know; he had to wait until his vision
was miraculously quickened, just as yours must
| be, to see why my little Jim Drummond cannot
be a tailor, or anything but what God designed
him to be, an artist, when he gifted him with
such passionate love for painting. Besides,
her lips,) and she went round to where he was
seated by the fire, and, placing herself on stool
by his side, took his broad hand In hers, "the
boy has no genius for needle and thread. Would
you pin him down to a shop-board all his days?
you who were SO angry that day, when Miss
Anna Lewis showed us her specimens, butter
flies, moths, and all sorts of insects, that you
very benevolently wished she might be impaled
once herself, just to see how pleasant 1t was,
adding, that God made them to live after the
law of their being in the free air, and not to be
spitted for any old maids pleasure. And now
you would spit dear little Jim with tailor's
needlel"
It's a great pity some people have a ge-
MUS for holding their tongues. Why could not
| you tell me who the boy was?"
because we did not know ourselves until a
day or two since; neither he nor his mother are
apt to speak much of themselves besides, we
did not know as it could be a subject of interest
to YOU" said Susan, quietly.
"Subject of interest Here, I've hunted and
hunted for this boys mother for years, or rather
| did hunt some years ago. until ! gave up in
despair, supposing her to be dead Subject of
INTEREST," Why this boys grandfather, James
Coils, was the best friend ever had in my life.
When | was poor and friendless, he took me in,
helped me; all have / owe to him. He died
while l was in South America; and when j
came home, old G. was in possession of all the
property, and the widow and daughter not to be
found. Men said / was rich. | would have
given half my fortune to have found them and
now-you have made an inequality between us
| with a vengeance, children" and the old gen.
tleman's voice trembled and his eyes grew misty
with tears he arose and walked the room
with hasty strides =" you have cheated me.
| Here you have been contriving to help this boy
| saving in this thing, and denying yourselves
that, all to pay the debt which Il Justly owe,
while |, like an old fool, sat in my warm ken
mel and growled. But come, Fred. Summerfeld,
| must see these people at once. Heavens,
what an old bat have beenl"
Sand you'll be sure not to insist on little
Jim's being a tailor" said Rebecca, mischiev-
ously, as she helped her old friend on with his
| overcoat.
"He shall be a chimney sweep or Pope,
Just as he chooses" cried the old man.
"There," he added, pressing ten dollar bank
note into her hand, "take that for your Irishers.
| Don't bother me with words; you'll want
it, and more too, before you have done with
them, for these people invariably have as many
children as King Rehoboam!"
allow many had he how many!" cried Re-
becca.
"Read your Bible, Hagar!" was the only
| reply, as he hurried my guardian through the
doorway.
TRUE AxERIcANIsM.-Hon. George Evans,
late Senator from Maine, addressed the Wing
State Convention there, and alluded thus g the
Mock American organization:
| "Tak about Free Americans there is not a
| serf under the most despotic Government of
! Europe, not a hod-carrier on the continent who