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

er. when supper WAS over, for him to follow he
into the front parlor, where she went directly
and to say to her, as he did with commendabl
manliness, with more manliness than truth. il
tact, since the sky was completely overcast
pleasant evening, Miss Vesey'
one was . little obstinate towards him, OF
account OF his cool behaviour towards her, o.
she would have acquiesced slightly, and passed
directly on to something else. AS it was, Sd,
glanced out again through the window by which
she was standing, into the murky twilight, say
ing, do you think so? See how cloudy it is
and the winds are gathering themselves for q
great storm"
Too badi" replied he, looking out, stand
ing near Julia. II meant to 60 fox hunting
tomorrow"
81 am not sorry, then, that it is going tc
storm" said Julia, looking him composedly in
the face. the fox is beautiful creature.
would not like to have him hunted, any way
but L especially deprecate it, since q gentleman
told me what he aimed to do in hunting him
how, after he came upon a track, he took
steaithy steps, that, when he came round to the
sunny side of hill or knoll, he might find the
creature sleeping on the snow, and shoot him
| as he slept. If a man needs their skins to help
feed, clothe, or warm his family, can under.
stand why he should bring himself to do this
but not that one should have pleasure in it."
You would understand it better if you
were to taste the sport some of these blue
mornings" answered Fletcher, smiling at the
| serious eyes and voice."
| IF saw the creature start out of his sleep,
to die by and by, before my eyes, and by nv
hand :? 1 think not. love trout dearly-to
! eat, mean. love to be out in the air, by the
brooks. 1 had read Isaak Walton, and Rugged
up all the pleas with which the good man sat
lshed his and his companions humane scruples.
l really believed that should one day 90 trout.
| catching But was cured of this. was upon
the hill, at Mr.. Tillotson's, one day, where they
| had an open we'll. Months, a year or two before.
in fact, some of the men had let trout down
| into the WELL He had been growing ever
| since, of course. They had accidentally drawn
him up several times in the bucket, and had
seen what a nice, plump fellow he was Mrs.
Tillotson and Mary had been telling me about
| him. We had been out, dropping down crumbs
| of bread, to see his shining sides, as he came
| up to take them. We wished he could be
| drawn up that afternoon and, hearing us, put
it into little Alfreds head to bring him up with
his line, which he did,
Fletcher made little sound of regret, and
| then Julia went on.
"Alfred would have torn him from the hook :
| none of the rest could touch him; so took
him off, his eyes looking into mine, az if they
were human, all the time He died before
night; and now 1 would not catch trout. if
he were made of gold; or, rather, unless he
we're made of unconscious gold, and on this
account, were convertible into some good pur-
pose or other"
There was slight pause after this which
Fletcher broke by saying that, if he were to
come to close, honest analysis of the pleasure
he haA hOfE IN, L,,.x II c.l.
posed he would see that he liked the exercises
chiefly because they acere exercises for him,
because they relieved the monotony of his life,
and invigorated him little. He was at loss
for occupations, often, he told her. Upon
which, her face was graver than ever and she
said, gently, something about this being hardly
the necessity of any strong life, here in a world
where there is so much to do, where so many
TOOK 9rsvsF aRsE eveftas snar TUbis eqdc bin
who had come in with the rest, seeing how
grave they both were, hearing how like a low
murmur their conversation ran, imagined that
they found it very dull standing there by them
selves aud came up to Julia, to tell her that Wild
over Blake had been inquiring about her, and
talking with him about her, several times, since
he heard of her return to these parts. Testing
aside, he told Julia there was not better man
in s. than Squire Blake, or one who would
use woman better. And he had large prop
erty, too, he said.
Fletcher, after having listened a few mo-
ments with restless manner, went away, and
sat down by Mrs. Hadden. He was very friend
ly towards her; he had never appeared exact
ly 80 friendly; but he didn't attend closely to
what she was saying. He looked away to
Julia and Colonel Cabot, occasionally; occa-
sionally, when he did not give his eyes that d.
rection, bent his ear little, to hear what they
said-to know what it was that gave Jalia's
face the brightness that he saw in it. he heard,
at last, that they still talked about Squire
Blake. He heard Julia, with look of strong
interest on her face, ask how many children
he had. Hem he could not stand that He
started up, answered Mrs. Hadden's remark at
the crossest purposes, said "Excuse me-" and
went off out of the room went off above
stairs, where his easy-chair was, and sat down
to his bitter cud. He returned, however, much
sooner than he meant to, when he left the COM
pany. He returned, with steps and air half
impetuous, half timid and questioning, to find
the Colonel and Julia, and-and Squire Blake,
and DR.. W, sitting together, talking with
animation. frequently laughing, while the Colo
mel and Julia played at backgammon-Squire
Blake directing Julia, saying, 10, no. Miss
Vesey, that isn't the best move for you," or,
That's it, Miss Vesey; you have the game
after this"
But then, desr Dr. W, does it, after all,
seem to be really worth ones while to be tell
ing all these particulars, when so much that is
great and weighty, SO much that is sad, goes
on this moment, in so many parts of the
world? 2"
$3.50 much that is sad'-yes, know. You
are thinking of the war news, and poor Lord
Raglan the news from Kansas, and ill.used
20 oil
phia piece of business and this shocking con.
duct at Louisville. ! know about this. / wish
to God we had somebody at the helm, with the
generous, ardent, impulsive soul Frank Pierce
used to have when we were young men together,
and he was his true self; when he acted directly
ont of himself, and not according to any of the
miserable party or personal prejudices, predilec-
tons, or piques; not according to any freeat-
ing depagogue's advices or representations !;
not according to soft-yoiced policy nor hard
tongued vindictiveness; nor according to any
of the hundred-and-one gorgons and hydras dire,
that infest the whole way by which man comes
to the Presidency, in these days; that infest all
his path and all his chambers when he is there
! pity Pierce, that is fact, when think what
he was at starting, what the life and condition
of the nation ct this time has made him, and
where he Is now. / abominate a great deal of
his action, great deal of his inaction; but, if
any man says to me, with fiery eyes, Il hate
Piercel say to that man, He's as good as
you are, probably, in Gods sight; for Gcd looks
at the soul lying deep withiu one, and at cir
cumstances, in judging, as man does not Still,
child, one hse not always to be writing of DEATH
of Slavery travelling east snd vest, or of war.
passages at the Crimes, whenever one would be
weighty. I know land dare say you do, for
| neither has your life been all holyday) how
that which is sadder than the grave, SO that the