The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-28
For the National Era.
L ii e B r 0 II II e r S.
By E. d. E. N. sOUTHwORTH.

BY E. D. E. N. sOUTHwORTH.
CHAPTER "
Habitua evils change not on a sudden,
But many days must pass, and many sorrows;
Conscious remorse and anguish must be felt,
To curb desire, 10 break the stubborn will
ana work second nature in the soul,
Ere virtue can resume the place she lost
Ro,vss Ulysses.
Valentine awoke the next morning, with a
heavy weight upon his heart, and thick cloud
over his brain.
The first fact that attracted his attention was
the circumstance that he was not in his own
apartment but in his mothers ed-chamber. A
small wood fire was burning in the fireplace,
and a tea-kettle was hanging over the blaze
the red hearth was neat and bright, and the
only window was darkened by the lowered pa
per blind.
Phadra sat in her flag bottomed elbow chair,
at the chimney corner her work was on her
lap, but she sat with her hands clasped upon
it, in idleness, and in an attitude of deepest
grief Such was the picture Immediately be-
fore him.
He could not tell the hour, but supposed it
to be near midday. He strove, through the ach-
ing of his head and heart to recall the latest
events of his waking consciousness, before he
had fallen into the sleep or the insensibility
from which he had just recovered. And, as
memory came back in a rushing food, bring
ing the hideous phantoms of the previous nights
history, overcome with shame and sorrow, he
groaned aloud, and buried his face in the pill
low. Still he was in ignorance of what had &C.
CURED after he had sprung from the buggy !;
and in terror for what might have happened to
Mr.. Waring, whom he had left there to guide
as he could. in state of extreme intoxication,
the frightened and rearing horses,
Ph@dra arose, and approached the bed.
Smother! tell me what has happened, for
remember nothing after getting home" said the
boy, in a voice half smothered in emotion.
But Phedrs sank down by the bedside, burr
ed her face in the coverid, and sobbed.
| "Mother tell me the worst at once. Was he
thrown out? Is he dead?" asked Valentine,
in deep, breathless, husky voice, as he raised
upon his elbow, and leaned forward, his light
eyes, from the tangled thicket of his dark hair,
turning upon her like Goals at a white heat.
"No, no, he is not dead. But it was very
narrow escape. Oh Valley, such good Prov
idence, my boy" she said, taking his olsen
gagged hand, and hugging it closely to her
bosom, and weeping over it, as if that hand had
been saved from some great calamity.
"Tell me all about it, mother"
But Phedra was sobbing and choking, and
could not utter word more then.
| "Where is he now, mother?" asked Valen-
tine, after little while.
"In his room-unabe to rise, but out of dan
ger, the Doctor says"
A few more minutes passed in silence. Pha-
dra rose, and resumed her chair and her needle
work, though the sudden sobs and deep heav-
| ing of her bosom betrayed the storm of grief
still beating.
Mother" said Valentine, after few mo-
ments longer, "can you tell me now all about
it? How did get home How did he? What
happened to the buggy"
sob, Valentine first of all, you came home
in state that made my heart sick to see.
can't tell you how; but hope never to see the
| like again. l could not have got you up stairs
without help, but managed to get You in here,
and to bed, without any one seeing you"
smother -
This single word, uttered in tone of deep
est regret and humiliation and then his voice
| broke down, and he covered his face with his
hands.
81 had not more than got you to bed, when
a violent barking of the dogs startled me, and
| went out, and found it was master that Mr.
Hewitt's niggers had brought home on door.
DIR. Carter, who was coming home from a
night call, had found him lying on the side of
the road, that runs along by Mr. Hewitt's cot
| ton field. And he had ridden up to Mr.. Hew-
tits house, and reused up the old gentleman
and some of the niggers; and they took barn
| nj It2 hInpQrc nd bod nd laid
him on it, and brought him home. 1t was well
that it happened to be DIR. Carter who found
him for he staid with him all night. and that
has been the means of saving his life. Oh,
| Valley, it was such kind Providence that saved
him said Ph@dra, breaking off suddenly, and
clasping her hands.
"And this morning, mother2 said Valen-
tine, anxiously.
"Ohl This morning the horses were found
near the stables, with part of the gearing
hanging to their necks; and the buggy was
found on the road, broken all to pieces"
81 don't mean them--I mean Mr.. Waring."
"He is out of danger this morning, as | told
you before. He was stunned and very much
bruised, by being thrown from the buggy, but
not otherwise injured"
"What does he say about the accident?n
" de says he doesn't know much about it.
He says he supposes he had been taking too
much wine, and that the horses got unruly, and
he couldn't manage them and that was how
they threw him out, and broke the carriage"
Mother! | must get up and 60 to him nowl"
said Valentine, hastily.
"Oh, stop! Stay one moment, Valentine
Lay there, and let me speak to you! l have
been praying for you all night, in masters
room, here, wherever l have been. Reflect,
have you no thanks to offer to the Lord for His
providential care, when you so little deserved
it2 And no sorrow, Valentine for what has
| passed, and no promises to make for the future?
Oh, Valentine, how is this course you and your
master have began, going to end?"
Mother! for my own part, / can affirm that
this is the first time ever was in such state
as you saw me in last night. ALI l feel about
it, shall be said in this one oath-I will never
taste Intoxicating drink again, so help me
| Heaven; and shall be prored every day of nv
life, in the way I keep it'll" exclaimed Valen.
| tine, impetuously, earnestly, tearfully.
| Ph9dra grasped his hand once more and
Rugged it to her heart; and prayed "God bless"
him.
"And now, mother, must get up and 90 to
| him"
Phadra brought his clothes from the closet
| in which she had put them, and then left the
room, while Valentine arose and dressed him.
self, and went to his masters apartments. 1t
was in painful doubt and humiliating embar-
rassment that he sought Oswald Warnings
presence. He got to the door, knocked, and
at the words, +" come in," he entered.
Mr.. Waring was in bed, and looking very
pale and CHASTITY; and as Valentine saw him,
pang shot through his heart at the thought that,
put tor the merciful Intervention of Providence