The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-20

| " maue me suHer Wnen was a boy, and take
1t now by main force. Gementaliesl would
not live one of them Sundays over now for q
good deal-no dinner, and no supper, and nc
nothing, but long faces, and groans, and "hush
esi !" at me and Charity, if we even so much as
smiled. Oh, the sermons of those days used to
be three hours long, every inch of it and then
the hymns had FIVE million verses apiece in
them and after all, if any brother had any
thing to say, privilege was offered, and after
an exhortation of an hours length followed. II
1t had been my privilege to exhort, would have
urged the efficacy of little brief common sense
but my part was to sit on hard bench without
any back, and if Topped down or shut my eyes
was brought up with jerk, and so frightened
that often forgot the text-an offence l was
sure to be whipped for. The first lie ever told
was to say to the preacher liked to 90 to meet
ing, because / knew if said did not, my ia
ther would whip me; but you can't beat goodness
into nobody"
They had climbed the hill. and come I'D on
TO level ground, where the roadside was Dor
dered with grass-Charley walking in silence
and wondering whether it would not be easier
work to do right than to find justifcations for
wrong.
This is the way" said Wardell; that is
our house where you see the light" And they
turned aside from the main road into a lane
winding round hill side, and against patch
OF woods that completely shut the neighboring
town from view. Through the snow, and dark.
ness, and the orchard trees, nothing but the
light was to be seen but it was love that kept
1t burning, and how cheerful and comfortable
Its effect was. WardelPs spirits rose at once,
and, as he went on relating what he called one
OF the pleasant "reminiscences of his boyhood,
the echoes of his laughter laughed in the hills.
| - nm L. IL
used to wear? ?" he began. DWELL, had one
of them, and had to wear it long after it was
outgrown and out of fashion. The last time |
wore the thing, it was to meeting. 1t was a
cold day, but said l would not wear the cloak
l would be warm enough. My father saw that
L was ashamed to wear it; and, holding me
by main force, he strapped and buckled and
hooked 1t on to me, with all its brass acorns
and silver hooks and know not what all and
when l met force with resistance he brought
a rope with which a calf had been tied in the
stable, saying, if behaved like calf, must
be treated like one and so he tied me fast in
the wagon, and | went to meeting so-in nc
very pious mood, you may imagine. 1t was
but week or two after that, that hid in the
barn till our folks were gone to church, and
came out and played with the neighbours boys.
never wore the cloak again, though poor lit
tie Chatty wore it great many years after that;
dear Chat, she was not like me, and she goes
to church as often of her own inclination as
she did by compulsion but here we are; this
is our house-a nice place, isn't it?"
Charley said yes, though he could see moth
ing but light shining through small win
dow, curtained with white.
say our house," continued Wardell, /" but
you see it's Chatty's. The fact is, I've spent
all my patrimony for the wild oats I've sowed.
She bought this place, for the sake of being
near me, and it's her money I'm doing business
with. Come in, won't your"
de lifted the gate latch as he spoke. and at
the sound the door opened softly, muffied
nightdress futtered in the wind, and voice,
so sweet and so loving, said, "Oh, am so
gladl" Charley saw there was wood fire
burning, warmly carpeted floor, and pictures
and books against the wall.
with a cheerful good "nIgur, tnrneu away;;
and whistled homeward.
There was no wood fire and no candle burn
ing for him, but he had brave nature; he
was always just going to get at some good seme
way, but he had never seen the way quite
clearly, and he did not yet, poor Charley.
You might have heard the cheerful whistling,
the little door in the dark gable opened, and
for minute or two, more lowly and slowly,
after it closed.
Wardell was as good as his word, and put
his arm around Chatty, and kissed her cheek,
as her little slippered feet. battered along the
snow-path, to meet him.
~ am so glad !" she said again, and that
was all E; no allusion to her long, weary watch,
no reproving look, even, or mention of the
better way in which she had been passing her
time; yet not the less the brother knew it, and
felt it-felt it, not so pungently as he should,
yet he felt it; and when there was no accuse
ton, he began to excuse himself, by saying
that couple of loafers, whom he hated, and
hoped never to see again, had kept him waiting
for two hours, when all the time he wished to
be at home. Charity looked down little
sadly, but said nothing. She had heard such
excuses before and directly David continued,
forcing some gaiety, Sand you know, Chatty,
| did not suppose you were alone. l don't
think your preacher very polite; but he came
home with you, didn't he2"
"He came to the door with me-" she replied,
speaking seriously.
"To the doorl" repeated David, "why,
when do you expect to make your courtship, at
that rate ?"
"Neverl" replied Charity; eve have no
courtship to make"
"Honor bright, now" interrupted David.
Don't Parson Longface, or whatever else his
name is, like you perpendicularly well ?"
In talking with Charley, or with his sister,
David Wardell for the most part used natural
and sensible language, but now and then he
made or twisted word from its legitimate
meaning, though to avoid profanity seemed as
easy as 10 use it when surrounded by his bad
companions.
Don't David" said Charity, very softly, in
allusion to the word-twisting and matchmaking
of her brother.
Don't, David = that's what Charley's al
ways saying to me. / can't so much as gay,
by gings, when he and are by our lone, but
tina. be says, don't u
Gharitys blue eyes opened wide, and there
shone in them an earnest glow, as she asked
who Charley was, and said she was glad he had
SO good friend.
80, you must know him." said David, "he
is one of the best fellows in the world" and
he added, as the browning praise of all, che
plays frst-rate game of euchre
Charity looked half sorrowfnl again, and
David hastened to say, But you did not tell
me, Chat, when 1 am to have preacher for a
brother; just tell me, and I'll begin a prepare
tory course of traiDing-yes, stree, l will"
awe must not wait" said Charity, for this
thing nor for that. 1 have little faith in the
relglon that comes nom any e4teFnal fOrce-
it should be q divine impulse Of the heart, act
ing outwardly. The true fire of religion, of
love, which is the same thing, will consume
evil into itself, if by activity we keep it well
aglow, till all is bright and shining. My dear
brother, we must let the good that is in us
work in its own way, and not ourselves work
to smother and kill it, and so make our hearts
heavy with its dead weight"
We'll, that's Just what ! believe In doing
but nobody calls it religion to do good" said