The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
For the National Era. -
For mo NauohaI Era.
THE YOUNG MAN
WHO WENT TO TOWN TO LIVE.
A STORY, BY ALICE CAREY.
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A STORY, BY ALICE CAREY.
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That nj ght, there were knots of men and boys
thick abo',t the streets, talking in under.tone,
and sweating less often than was their use; and
at the BIZ !rs Head and the Lion the lights were
put out e,rly, and habitual drunkards went 80.
berly hors e-the Riffraff stables looked gloomy
and desesed, and no inveterate gossip had any
thing to say 10 William Black.
Ethan -8oAman barred his windows early, and,
trying te believe he clearly saw in "partial
evil, universal good" walked directly and euer-
getically to the desolate honse of Charity.
The young missionary was already there, and
poor woman from, distant neighbophood,
who, hearing of Charitys affection, had walked
to see her across woods and fences and through
snow, carrying sick baby in her arms. Per-
haps, if .1he child had been laughing and crow
ing at h4me, she might not have gone; but now
all the tenderness of her nature was aroused,
and hersympathies quick to be enlisted.
In the country graveyard, mile from Char
ity's house, and as much apart from others as
might h, David Wardell was buried, and in
the wide world Charity could see nothing but
the snowy clouds between his fair, bright face
and the sunshine. 1t is very, very dark-that
is all shs can understand; and how can she even
hope foSthe day that shall, after little season,
break risy and smiling through the clouds.
Many times the young missionary went to
see Oh, rity, and many comforting words he
spoke-many words of tenderest import; and
Charity said she was very grateful, and very
glad to pc remembered by him, but she could
not see the better days he pointed to. And
when b, took her hand so softly and so timid-
ly, it was as if Ethan Boffman took her hand,
and noshiug more. If he talked of heaven or
hell, she made answers relevant enough and
if he csshe back to human sorrows and fears,
to human love and human hope, she answered
just as readily, and no faint color in her cheek
told thst her heart was at all touched.
One twilight, as her unsmiling face leaned
agains, the window pane, she saw Mr.. Boffman
comin toward the house, with an expression
Of anxiety in his countenance that was not
used +, be there. She made haste to open the
door, and to busy herself as she had not done
for many days, when she knew his errand.
Charles Highway, young man employed by
him, and of whom she mus. have often heard
David speak, was lying at his house worry sick,
and lie was come to beg the preparation of
some lelicacy that might offer stronger tempt
alton than the coarse food he was accustomed
to PR pare.
SYou must come tomorrow, and tell me
neg i~s" .hs 20 CAREFUL e17efeu UUwf,
fork, Anu napkin. Poor Charley had not been
much used to silver forks and napkins, and he
smiled when they we're placed before him, to
think anybody in the world should have 80
muck regard for him. He had learned the
miserable end of David, and the knowledge
preyed on him scarcely less than the fever that
seemed burning him up. Inconsistencies OF
everything came to him before long, but not
till lie had forbidden that his wretched situa-
ton should be made known to his parents he
woulj not bring new trouble upon them, he
said / and if he was to die, ne would die alone,
as his poor friend had done.
| Every day, when Charity came to inquire
how Charles HIGHWAY was, Mr.. Bofman told
her lie was q little worse, not alarmingly worse,
but evidently so and every day Charity went
away with deeper interest in Charley, and a
sharper papg at her heart. He had been the
friend of David and that was something-that
was great deal; and from time to time
Mr.. Boffman told her of something Charley
had done when he was well, or Of something
he had said since he was sick and this was all
she anew of him. 1t was enough to enlist her
but, after all, there was an interest awakened
pastaccounting for,
Steadily Mr.. Boffman forbade her going up
to CRArley's room but, on calling one morn.
ing, Ethan was not to be found and, glad OF
so good an excuse, Charity went mp the steep
stairs, and knocked at the little door of the
littl garnet where the sick man Law. No voice
bid her " come in; )" so she went in without
bid ing. Very softly she trod, and very lowly
she bent over the bed, but no noise she might
havJ made would have disturbed the poor SUI.
fere<; he was unconscious of her presence ;
unconscious of his own pain now, poor Char.
ley 1t was well for him that she found not
Mr.. Boffman that morning; for, but for her
careful watches and gentle nursing, he would
neysr have come back to consciousness of any.
thi1g any more.
"You must not stay here" said Mr.. Bof.
ma when, on returning home, he found Charity
BY he. sick mans bed; "you endanger your
owl. life, and whatever is needful to Charleys
COZ fort, he shall have"
bra ring death at worst, and of that she was
not, afraid; and as for Charley having all he
required, abe knew right well it could not be
| So How could strong, well man minister to
the.needs of one weaker and more dependent
than an infant2
81 am but doing as 1 would be done by,"
she said, and took her place at the bedside. A
| dis nal enough place it was-no furnishing but
| q G IT bed, chair, and poor old trunk Here
ant there about the floor lay articles of cloth.
ing, just as Charley had thrown them off for
the last time and cups and vials of medicine
we've scattered everywhere. Laid carefully
asi.le was the new dress for Charley's sister
Wien Charity saw this, she thought in her
he,rt what q good brother he was, and the
tea rs fell, one by one, on the hot hand she took
in iers, as she prayed that !. n,; might be made
string and well.
It was the midnight after this prayer, when
the noise in the streets was still--swearing and
slefghing, and running to and fro, driving bar
gains, and laughter and talk-when the lamp
in the chamber burned low, and the spider
huiag idly in his web, that Charles suddenly
unelosed his eyes, and, though he spoke not,
Chsrity saw that the light of reason was burn
ing clear.
Almost joyfully she went about her household
cares at home the next day. Had she not been
the human means of restoring brother to q
good sisters love, and how could she be other
wife than happy7 Day by day she might be seen,
nor going toward Mr.. Bofman's house, carry
int, small basket neatly covered with a white
napkin, and returning with an empty basket, .
lighter step, and a more smiling face-no, not
smiling, but looking more capable of smiles.
F., At length, one evening she returned home
viii slow and sad step. Charley was well
enough to sit up all day now, and Mr.. Boffman
had told her she must not trouble herself to