The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-14

in q manner that is really legitimate, that az
cords with all respectable precedents, from
Moses time down to our own; you ask s.
many-what is it that you want to know now
Are you scolding? o, see you're not
You like the irregular proceedings as well as
do. You hate humdrum and monotony badl
as do. | asked if Julia went over, knowing
that Arthur Fletcher had not patience even Il
hear her name"
"She went all the sooner for that, DR.. W
She liked him all the better for that Before that
she believed him Indifferent, and managed t.
keep herself so. Hearing that he would not g,
where she was, hearing that he felt 80 strongl,
against her, inclined her thousand times til,
more to go, than if Mrs. Cabot had written, 'Ju
liza must come, On Arthur's account; Arthu
doats on her,"
$50 she went because she was in reality at
tracted. That was good, straightforward sor
of a girl, at any rate. like her. Was Arthur
Fletcher glad to see her Gomez"
"Glad? He was in panic, when, at tn,
sound of the bells and the tramping, he looked
down from his chamber window, and saw hel
large aquilne nose beyond the frill of hel
genteel hood. There was character in that nose
he thought-decision, conscience, delicacy
high breeding, and a whole string of formida
BILE excellences-hsl So he sat down to wri
Cabot came up after him, with q face, poor
woman, half glad, half apprehensive,) he could
not stop to look up, even. There was never
anybody in such a hurry. When his sister
pat her hand on his papers, and begged him
to let his writing go, he said, at last, with de
cision, No, l can't Cabot and Mr. MADDEN
have gone. There they are'-pointing with
his pen. They'll go to Tillotson's store, and
talk politics till supper time. Tillotson will
come with them to supper, and they'll talk poll
tics till they go home. Jehui Do you think
can stand that?' Mrs. Cabot mentioned Mrs
Hadden, and his eyes frightened, as if there
was relief there; she mentioned Julia in the
next sentence, and his eyes were clouded He
dropped the lids, dropped the brows, dropped
his head-even his shouders-and went silently
on with his letter.writing, not knowing a word
he was writing, or whether it had any connec-
ton with what he had written before. She did
not get him. He pitied her when he saw her
| go, for he felt that she was not in her usual
spirits that day; that she had not been, in fact,
for several days. He spoke to her, therefore,
when she was shutting the door behind her,
looked up with kind eyes into her face, when
she turned back, telling her that he wished he
could bear to go, since she desired it; that he
dared say he would be down. by the time she,
Mrs. MADDEN, and Mrs. Tillotson, were done
with all the little matters they would have to
talk about. She mustn't be vexed with him,
and so on"
~ don't exactly like your hero" said the
doctor, shade crossing his features. "He
was a mere boy. A man at his time of life,
with his advantages, ought to face legislatures
and armies more resolutely than he did that
one u assuming woman, Julia Vesey."
"Au.hur Fletcher had been in the legislature,
sir, years and all the men about him, Mr..
Speaker inclusive, were mere pigmies, on those
rare occasions when he took fire with great
subject. More resolutely than he faced that
one unassuming woman, you say? He could
have faced forty assuming women whom he did
! not respect, easier than that one nobly develop
ed, strong woman, Julia Vesey, especially af-
ter n-
"Yes. I understand; after the deuoed shock
miserable heroic attitude Of his. BE ought
to have mastered that disadvantage, however.
No man or woman here in this world, where all
goes on by Providence, nothing by Fate, has
any right or reason to succumb to any or all
| of the Notifying or disheartening circumstan
ces that can come into his or her path. Didn't
Arthur Fletcher know, l wonder, had not some
severe sickness that kept him near the other
world while, or the death of some very dear
friend, or some of the hard, trying dsciplines
all the ordinary vexations and discomttures
are? Do you know, child, about this?"
"No; he had never been very near the other
world, in any way, at any time, / fear. He
had never had anything but headaches; he
was often having those. He had no dear friend
in Heaven to draw upon his soul. He had had
little in his own experience, therefore, to give
him salutary hints of what so many hearts in
this world have to bear. SO he cared little for
others, and, of course, had great deal of ego
tism-of close, uneasy concern for himself; be-
cause, as yet, not one human heart had taken
strong hold of his; no pursuit, great and
worthy of his love and devotion, had come in
his way"
ale was an unlucky man, then, that he was
with all his exemption from what we call the
trials of life,' replied the doctor, speaking with
moisture gathering in his eyes.
81, for my part don't pray that may not be
afflicted; Just pray for strength and grace to
turn whatever crosses and losses our Heavenly
Father plesses to send, into the crowns and
blessings of my daily life. What was Fletcher's
occupation?"
He was a lawyer by profession. But he
had no liking for it; he did not apply himself.
He was rich, and lived at ease in his posses.
sions, travelling great deal, reading, sketch
ing, angling, and hunting great deal, having
great zeal OF ennuI.
~ can believe that. A man can't think too
much of the great, capable soul lying deep
within him.. He can't turn to it too often,
minister to it too carefully, or estimate it too
highly. The more care a man takes of his
soul, the greater he is, the oalmer within him
self, and in all his walk among men. But if
it comes to being careful that one don't get any
outward discomftures, inconvenience, or NOR
ti6cations-to taking greater care of ones fish
ingtackle and rifle than of any living creature
then one might as well be under the turf as
any way; and better, too. / would rather lie
ever so close in my coffin, after having done a
little good to somebody here, so that l could
be remembered and loved little, than to be
here, thoroughly cased about with sel4shness.
But them" after thoughtful pause, "Pve come
to this feeling after much experience, after
many years pretty we'll filled up with struggle
with myself, and with the world about me. /
was poor, as young man, as you know. had
many benefactions, and so was often made
thankful towards men and towards my Creator.
Since came into active life, have had a great
deal to do TOR my excellent mothsr and for the
| girls. l might have grumbled about it, and
called it hard, especially in the first few years,
when was poorer than 1 am now; but never
did, and so l have always been blessed in do.
ing it, for they have loved me, and l them.
As physician, l have always been doing
something for somebody. AS you know Il
must, this has tended to make my sympathies
large and ready for all who need them and
this, find, is a very large number. With an
experience like your hero's, would probably
have been as sensitive an egotist as he; SO
there is no chance for Boosting, is there,
child?"
"As great as there ever is, good DIR. W
There Is never chance for it in this world