The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19
WASHINGTON, d. c..
For the National Era
ELEANOR S0UTHMAYD'S WARDSHlP.
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
SPRINGFIELD, October l, 1850.

YOu ask aIter my SuoSi N''"' go
"A u,ordar how one whose slightest wish has
-, law to those around her, will ever brook
,ho rnIe of stranger. wonder, too; but 1T IS
tss rn Of mn f1tIler, and that is enough. For
Ii. sake. who never denied me aught IN his
r,rer to grant, while living, l will school my
self to bear, with such patience as | may, the
control of this person.
The worst of it is, he is not wholly stran-
rer-neither is he, as you fancy, old and ugly;
c,r.;ous and selfish; if he were, l could en-
dare nv wears penance with some grace-tor
have natural liking and reverence for old
but this Mr.. Summer6eld is but a few
Years nv senior, and, report says, good-looking,
honorable. truthful, and high-minded and, l
ala proud. exacting, selfreliant, and imperi-
ops-at least, he is all that, if the man does
no. greatly belle the promise given by the boy.
His father and mine were schoolmates in
their boyhood, and when | was about ten or
Twelve years old, my father took me down to
Odfeld. in which parish Mr.. Summerfield the
elder was settled, on visit. Between my ia
.
cjsacy. | had grown up wild. These people
were pattern people, even among the New
England clergy; and it was easy for me to see,
through all their politeness, that they held me
LITTLE HIGHER than the Hottentots for whom they
daily nut an PRAYERS. The oldest son had al
raaiy entered college, from which, by the way,
he Was expelled, year or so after, for partici-
nation in a riot among the students, which
ended in the murder of one of the tutors the
Two Younger children were away on a visit, and
Ills Master Frederic and his sister Susan were
rlv companions during the week. / could then
barelyreai-this grand accomplishment having
been achieved more through passionate desire
10 read for myself book of fairy tales my IA
Tier had bought me, than from any idea of its
Usefulness or Importance; for l had no idea
that ms ignorance was disgrace and so con-
sanity had been my fathers companion, who
I'D in truth had no great opinion of book
\ knoWied,c so completely had / imbibed his
/ sentiments, or, rather, lack of sentiments, on
the subject Of education, that their surprise and
p'7 al my ignorance only amused me. But
Edcn in sheer selfdefence | boosted of my ac-
ompshments in riding, fishing, and walking
my fathers iayOrite pursuits, and was gravely
tod that such things were well enough for
tors, but not at all proper for girls though
Master Frederic did have the grace to add,
they were well enough in their way" | was
hghy indignant, and told my father, confden-
tally. that did not think one of them would
know AN eel from a trout" He laughed, but
drew me on to relate the whole conversation !;
then said, gravely-" Perhaps we have made a
iit OF a mistake, Eleanor; but there is time
enough for my little girl to distance them all,
yer
Mss Susan, who was about two years my
senior, was complete Miss Goodchild, quiet,
demure, w0maniy, a pattern to all the little
trlS IN the parish. can distinctly recall the
tone in which she would say" Such conduct
is very improper in a young lady, Eleanor"
Master Frederic | might have liked, if he had
been less correct, or | more so. He was quiet
aud grave, and had way of saying" You
WI. do this, or that Eleanor, because it is
night which vexed me, even while felt COM
PEELED to do as he said. l remember an Incl
Gent that occurred when we were rambling in
The woods. one day, which will give you some
1eaOt both guardian" and ward" in those
MERRY days. had led them ill-o'-the-wisp
chase. 10 the great detriment of Susans shoes
AID skirts, until, really tired out we sat down
10 Test at the foot of ledge of rocks.
About half way up the ascent, grew some
BEAUTIFUL wild flowers, looking down upon us
with their blue eyes, and nOdding their heads as
much as to say, why don't you come up and
get US - Up went-so quickly that the first
M-natoH my companions had of my intention
vas the tumbling Of great stone in close prox-
lhi'y to their feet, which | had dislodged in my
lfo're''' and which | barely escaped following,
'.n "a a torn dress and grazed elbow.
Why, Eleanor Southmayd how can you
..ha'e so! cried the grave Susannah, really
@sLlened: See, brother, she will fall Make
l-F come down."
Just as if he couldl" | cried, as / reached
.isarl to grasp dry limb that hung dangling
ana the green boughs of butternut tree, that
sFan5 from narrow shelving terrace a few
'ei above me.
Eleanor You will find it easiest and safest
zone down on this side :" said Fred, indica-
~ spot few yards beyond, where the forma.
IN me rock made series of rude steps
az Oolng Is quite sure here"
I'll not coming down until get those
,..l and possessing myself of the stick,
b.. - upward and attempted to detach them.
uIiey we're firmly rooted, and my attempt
r,:'. o,o1gnt down quantity of crumbling
III S ~. aust into my upturned face. Blinded
~ i-eaaor Eleanor, come DOWN." cried
- -'yI, very earnestly. "Those flowers are not
"oTh the risk"
nd ." Shall have Them" / cried, as l drop
-. ny stick and prepared to climb higher.
not safe - A''eIiP' 'na'' Tieaior' Ii IL
,-r -'-' not | cried. petulantly; for, to say the
ss.-r ' my failure to dslodge them, and its con
l. les mortified me; 81 should like to know
nag% ' right you say must and shall to
an" ;e'aase 1t is right should. l am Older
w se. 100 suppose interrupted tartly
and .,r. wiser, he replied, with quiet smile
ijvar, Jnger therefore, if you must have those
CIR wa. "a, IIuough there are plenty like them OF
III. nome, will get them for YOU"
lss;i s;n, you, SIR, these viii answer for me,
0. l'eHly provoked at his quiet assumption
~ f'''o' wisdom. at would not be right tt
rogT i lnueh wisdom for such an object, 81
srs1,tfI ,SSSe stay where you arel" and away
ner,s Ie up the rocks, to descend a few mo
vrb @'ef' with my flowers in my hand, bu
la9is 'O'h dress and scratched and bleedin,
siairs ARE cried, holding up my prize 70
had aDv, G'ue bells, but there are plenty to b,
% loot mere, said Susan "But, dear, dear
spsc,,ai. al your dress and hands, What
rlage Tar, ana we must pass right through tn
I flower, I h. not look at my dress nor hands no
4 @IIff', but said, quietly
Esa8o!S o % are ready, we will go home now
eonono ca The truth, didn't feel much like
: @Y1eroTi but | rallied, and said
y YES TiI ~, think l could get theml"
then -" why did you tell me to come down
sas or ra did not think it either proper
%P lor you to go there"
:, lot Ofer! l don't care whether it was @