The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-21
CHAPTER XIV.

Cabots wide gate. Arthur Fletcher and his
nsmesake were there, Harvesting, as if in haste.
"What, sir?" asked Fletcher, psusing q
little in his work.
Sloshy day under foot terrible wet, like !"
lifting his stout boot. to show how it was soak.
ed. "Whoa, hish!" to his oxen. Whoa !!
hish don't ye hear?"
The oxen heard, and halted. Mr.. Crockett,
twisting his awkward limbs into all manner of
contertions conceivable in the simple process
of locomotioh, came up to the gate, hung both
arms above his elbows over it, to ask Mr.
Fletcher how he thought town meet'n was "like
to CO."
| Fletcher forced himself to be gracious, and
I to wait, even tosee Mr.. Crockett take himself
off the gate the third time as if he were going
only to settle again, this time with his back
to the gate,) to thrust his elbows over, and
launch off upon another consideration of "town
meetin' and politics."
At last he was off. And then, with q snap
of the whip, and "ch'ck" from young Cabot
he and Arthur Fletcher we're off. their faces TO-
wards F.. 1t was splendid day, the very
last of February. The sleighing was perfect
after they left the village. albeit signs of the
coming spring were on all the earth and sky
as they rode on over the hills, in sight of the
distant mountains past the farm-yards, where
the cattle were lowing and the sheep bleating,
as if with love and longing for the pastures
and the wood.
They met Squire Blake when almost over to
F.. He was letting his horse plod, with his
own chosen, sleepy gait, up slight ascent,
when they met him, while he, with his chin
dropped on his breast, watched, abstrsctedly,
the AS and V's his whip-lash was describing
in the soft snow.
"Ahahl" said he, like one waking, when ne
| lie md
Cabot drew in his rein.
"Our horses up here in New Hampshire
learn, about this time of the year, election
time, you know,) to stop at every team they
meet" said the good-natured Squire, laughing
a little. "Bound for F-?"
"Yes, sir"
"For-for Mr.. Hadden's, if may ask p"
as if he were a good deal ashamed or afraid
to ask.
For Mr.. Hadden's, Squire Blake" answer
ed Fletcher, with q look of straightforward
honesty on all his handsome face. "Any COM
mands?"
"No, 1 believe not" with great uncon.
scous shrug and sigh, unconsciously falling
again to flashing the snow gently, and to watch,
ing the effect "Pve Just come from there, if
the truth is known" tucking in his buffalo
robe now, and taking survey of things in
general about his equipments. five been
there, Mr. Fletcher" now looking up with an
expression of recently-achieved self mastery.
Sand now I've come away. / hope you'll
come away with a little better spirits than
have. Good day, SIR"
Arthur Fletcher went on his way thought
fully, now and then bringing himself to say
some fresh thing to his companion; for the
rest, plying Squire Blake; and, in spite of all
the little admonitions of Caution, looking to
G,k,, al ~
king Bliss" Young Cabot, too, had his visions
of coming brightness. He, every now and
then, with glad sounding voice, broke in
with" Good Jamie Hadden will 90 right
up, you see" suiting his words with the spirited
action of his whip, and walk on the air, some,
when | tell him where I'm bound. I've seen
nothing since the poor fellow was over to the
Bridge the other day, nothing in the world, but
the sorry face he had when told him what
devil of a way | was getting to. Chick, Tom
We two are in hurryl I've been wondering
what makes me sure of doing all want to !;
and know, in the first place, hadn't got
very deep in the mire, you see; hadn't
got so as to soak down the brandy, because /
loved the taste of it, exactly, or the fuddle.
drank it generally when | was vexed with ia
ther, or was SO tired of that miserable counter,
that | didn't know or care what / did with
myself. Besides, you're got hold of nae. I'll
venture myself now. Chick, Tom Father
used to talk, before me, of what Gilmore of
Concord had done, and the Lawrences of Bos-
ton; but didn't l know could never do, as a
merchant, what they had done2 If had had
a genius and liking for it, so that l could
have struck off at once into the right path, and
begun to climb, l wouldn't have minded it.
| should have liked it. Just let me feel that
I'm climbing, and don't care q pin how rough
a. hnr h. D.
barred In there, scooping teas and sugar, and
measuring calicoes, with my laundering and
thirstng after air, stir, and study, you see. But
then, after all, I'd no business to make the
matter ten times worse, by flying to brandy and
to complete idleness, and all manner of rollick-
ing, had p? No young man has right to be
doing that thing. He can wait, and watch,
and see what will turn up; if not early, why,
then, late. Can't he, Tom2 Tom, we are al.
most there, Tommy"
"Jamiel" said young Cabot, reckoning
him before he fairly got his overcoat off. The
two went awsy together, and nothing more was
seen of them until the tea-bell rang. Then
they came down from Jamie's chamber, their
little fingers locked together, their countenan-
ces, bright, but showing the traces of strong
feeling.
Now, while the young men were above stairs,
talking, rolling bits of paper mechanically in
their fingers, mechanically picking them into
timer bits, Mr.. and Mrs. MADDEN, Julia, and
Arthur Fletcher, were all beside or near Mrs.
Haddens work table, in the parlor, considering
young Cabot and Jamie's future, and laying
plans, and, while they considered and laid
plans Mrs. Hadden, at least more than once,
dropped her part of the colloquy, quite losing
herself, thinking that, certainly, she had never
known Arthur Fletcher Until now. 1t had al
ways been easy enough to find intelligence in
him, and all manner of learning, and Of spirit
too, when stirred; but now she saw something
new-a feeling, gentle, loving wisdom, shaping
all his discourse, giving manliness and light to
all his expression
She went out, at last, to see what little Kate
was doing for tea. Mr.. Hadden, at the same
time, went to bring his Tribune from the office
that was the day for it-he generally got it the
hour that it came, he said" for my wife :" he
looked back, to add, as he was following Mrs.
Haddep ort-"of course, don't myself care
anything about the Wing and Abolition con-
Germ"
"Ah" contended Mrs. Hadden, tucking her
head back into the room, close by his shoulder,
"don't believe him, Arthur Fletcher he de.
yours it, every word of it 1 can't get it for
two whole hours, and sometimes more too; un.
less something comes along that he must attend
to-" Mr.. Hadden had hold of her, and was
taking her along the hall to the kitchen door,
before she was through with her laughing pro.
test.
I "Miss Vesey," ssid Fletcher, the moment
they were left alone. Her hand lay on tae IA.
BILE; his, supported by his elbow, had been
raised to his head but, in speaking to her, he
let it fall and lay on hers. She looked up sud-
denly, startled bv the tones of his voice, and BY