The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-03

Tor peace among men, aud for charitable ap-
probation of what was really good. The result
was, that MIR. Role soon felt his heart warming
towards the man, although reprobating sternly
as ever his political doctrines and associations.
1t made both Mrs. Hadden and Ada grateful to
hear his manly concessions, to see how gentle
his face was, to hear how gentle and sincere
were his tones. But Mrs. MADDEN again de-
ciared she mast take peep into the kitchen
she wouldn't wonder if Ellinor-"Oh," turning
back into the room, after she had halfshut the
door, didn't Yes; here is my old, wide, long
apron. You see, Mr.. Rolfe," holding up her
befioured apron to it to show to him, I" | took
my old apron off, when / went to the door to
let you in. This is pretty much the way
always DO, before | get through, if am ever
so nice IN the beginning. l always show all
the rags and dirt; and l always mean to, tshe
was tying on her wide apron and smoothing it
out, before them, as she talked, "for never try
to hide anything, anything that l wear or do,
without despising myself for coward and a
hypocrite."
People smiled, more than they talked, when
Mrs. MADDEN was with them. Mr.. Rolfe and
Ada had scarcely let the smiles 60 entirely from
their faces, Ada had scarcely got her sewing
into her hands, in place of the billet-writing,
that she might better attend to Mr.. Rolfe,)
when Mrs. MADDEN came back, still with her
wide apron on, saying, "Don't you kno,c Ada,
l had forgotten it; but / sent Ellinor off to find
some eggs, if she had to go to France for them !;
and she hasn't come back yet. She's faith
full, willing soul, as far as she knows. They all
are, if they are used well; and if they are not
used well-why, Ada, dear, are you sure you
are doing that right"
Ada was trimming a basque. She smiled,
without speaking, as she spread it little for
Mrs. Hadden to see.
Yes, dear, | see. One need never trouble
ones head about you. She never takes pains,
either" now addressing Mr.. Rolfe. "She's so
different from me, in this respect! l al,oayS
take the greatest pains and then | almost al
ways have to take it out. Ada, or some one,
has it to do over after me, ten to one, or it is
the poorest botch you ever saw"
She laughed heartily; so did the others.
Mr.. Rolfe renewed the conversation that had
been dropped, by asking what kind of man
Mr. Stetson was. He had heard him accused
of double-dealing, even with his own party
even with B, of -.
"Ah, yes that is the way politicians accuse
each other" interrupted Mrs. MADDEN, with a
sad face. "If you, Mr.. Rolfe, were to come
into some high office, or under nomination, to-
morrow, don't you know how many tongues
would assail you? how it would be seen that
you haven't one qualification, one virtue under
Heaven? 1t is too bad and, all the time, you,
poor man, would be doing as you all your life
time have been doing, the very best that you
could do! This is the way with Mr.. Stetson
| knO,o, you see, what O. good man he is.
know that his own party Except, of course, a
few, who have some personal jealousy, or pique)
think everything of him. He is still sort of
man different as can be from his wife, who
talks as fast and much as do. But he is
a man of excellent sense-excellent; and pru-
dent and conscentious-Uery conscientious he
is. If any man in responsible place-if B
for instance-has anything to say upon men or
measures, that he would not have proclaimed
upon the housetops,' that he would have ju-
diciously weighed and judged, he can say it to
Mr.. Stetson, trusting the mans prudence and
judgment; while half the men to whom he
could come are, SO far as politics are concern.
ed, stuffed full of passion and prejudice, so that
they have no clearness and impartiality In
them; so that they are little better for him than
so many hurdy-gurdies. They don't consider
what they are saying, they know nothing about
what it is best TO soy, when they open their un-
charitable, and perhaps stupid mouths, to an
swer him. l will leave it to you, Mr.. Rolfe, if
it isn't likely to be SOP"
"Pretty much so, Mrs. Hadden."
~ knew you would think so. But Ellinor
has come. AN it is four dozen that l have
got - she is telling Kate. | will go and
hear what tribulation she has had to 20
through"