The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-22

NEW ENGLAND GIRL:
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
CHAPTER
g. shows, 10 nay thinking more nGdels 70 Adam
'eeliy. by professions simple infdels 10 God
behind these sunny spots, these bits Of
:. lies the dark, miserable BACKGROUND of
ID Mrs Say's-drearier and darker than
ev his miserable summer.
erer knew how or why, but, for some evil
I I'd 3 OF her som she became bound to raise
Rss n amount of money within given time
Der natural avarics. spurred on by tlAn<rs--
cessny, ielt neiaher her nor Myself airy peace.
over, the minister, Mr.. Brae, probably re-
y OF my existence by my appearance at
had been making inquiries about me,
erly, why | was not sent regularly to
md the knowledge CT his "impudence,"
rmed it, added to the sharpness of her
led temper. / learned this fact incident
twits and filings" for she never told me
concerning myself in friendly man
knew, by the way she drove the
she meant to make the most out Of
e any decided interference To me,
would have been welcome
my prided herself great deal on look
other folks when she went from
on her return from New York had
1ite lot of what seemed to me very
ing, though some of it looked exceed
and "hagged out, to use one of her
- the cast-off fnery Of her sons
long other things, there was a piece
zlco 4ce, which | admired exceedingly-it
% 1tlicate, yet rich. She said it would
cap for her, and accordingly spread it
Sopon the grass with some other things, to
lnach.
The cap was not made then, but some time in
gust, when she went to her drawer for the
ce, it was not to be found. She turned her
hings over and over, but with no success and
hen returned from the whortleberry pasture,
he charged me with having stolen it.
4 She knew that she had "put it in that draw
er she was just as certain of it as she was
hat she brea.hed;" and it had not gone away
without hands-that was certain. Nobody
knew that she had it but me, and Of course |
vas the thief
4 ] denied the charge at once, and -- but
ehy stain this fair page with what followed
Heaven knows have no pleasure in so doing;
but having promised, ! must dol honestly
ekiug account of all the circumstances and in
pences that have gone to make me what |
Hou can guess what it was-rage and VIC.
&c, strength and injustice, on one side wild
hon, scorn, and mistaken frmness in de-
ay tho fhargp ou tho other nd dis-aopaot
open defiance at last. ] do not know what
ID be-n l.aen the result. for | would have
-<-khcf imam auInrtCd The Il ~. y e~-i
rye, and she deemed it her :" bounden duty"
pip the lie out of me, If it had not been for
an Grant.
Fas engaged in some small Job for Mrs.
Ind, hearing the fray, came in to know
was about. think he ptied me, and
appease Mrs. Sally; but she never heard
people, or deferred any punishment on
OF their presence. Bat when he finally
O. hended the cause Of the trouble, his face
II ned at once.
Jay, Lord bless me, Mrs Sally, III bet
thai I'll find the bit o. stuff this minute. If
my eyes sarve me, seed it yesterday, built
into tina. old robins nest in the crotch of
the apple-tree yonder. l looked at it then,
but didn't think twas of any count"
He went oat, and, in a few seconds, returned.
among the sticks and mud and straw, was the
piece of lace for which my body and soul were
then smarling, but SO widowed from exposure
rs to he good for nothing.
j was innocent; Sam Grant gave me look
of triumph; Mrs. Sally never once admitted
her mistake, but began at once to descant
upon the wickedness Of townpCor children in
general, ard myself in particular. / did not
stay to hear her. With a burning sense of
wrong and degradation, hatred and anger in
my heart, fed from the house, and, seeking
the margin of the pond, threw myself upon the
ground, aud gave way to a passionate burst Of
tears | do not know how long | had been
there, but / was still sobbing, in that low,
spasmodc way, common with children, when
some one addressed me, and, looking up, ! saw
a lady and gentleman but few feet distant.
The lady came near me, and, bending down,
asked questions by the dozen, in n kind. Of
illsetto tone while the gentleman eyed me
fNedy-a proceeding which / returned with
interest.
Give the child time to recover herself, Cousin
Agnes. We have taken her by SURPRISE he
sand, and there was something in his voice, as
we'll as in his grave, calm face, that helped to
quiet me, fax more than the lady's words.
lie took me by the shoulder, and, raising me
up, said
:" Now, tell the lady what you are crying
for!'
| did tell her, and he listened quietly, some
times glancing at the lady to check, as thought,
her frequent EXPLANATIONS of pity.
Z" ! on are quite sure you have been telling
the truth" he said, as | ceased, eyeing me
sharply.
"1'o be sure she has, Cousin Ralph!Y ex
claimed the lady. " You are always so sus
piciousl"
:" Let the child answer for herself Agnesl"
Z" es, sir. ! never touched the lace. Twas
all the old robins doings-you may ask Sam
Grant if it wasn't!" l cried, Indignantly re-
turning the keen glance in which | read dis
trust.
g l shall not take the trouble to ask that
person." he said, with smile, for l believe
you. What is your name?"
"Ierlina Day sir :"
=" But why do you live with such odious
old woman? Why don't your friends interfere,
and take you away? Such neglect is very
cufpable!" said the lady.
Halnt got no friends, ma'am. I'm town
poor"
Whether my words destroyed any little ro-
nance the lady had been weaving on my ac-
count, cannot say; but she suddenly withdrew
her hand from my head, and removed the end
OF her scarf that touched my shoulder. The
movement did not escape the quick eye of her
companion, and brought smile to his lips
but one which did not make h:s face look half
80 pleasant as that he had giyen me a moment
before.
"A paipable illustration of the subject We
have Just been discussing, dear Cousin he
began. proc! of that high state of moral
and religious culture with which you have been
striving to impress me, during our walk. In
deed, we could not ask a BETTER This poor