Squatter sovereign., 1857-10-24
THE JURYMAH.
sr MAS. L MARIA CHILD.

the outset He had violent temper aHi
a good heart. The first was often reused
into activity, and punished with energy
kindred to its own; the last remained al
most undeyeloped, for want Of genial cir
eumstances and reciproeated affection.
One softening gleam fell upon his early
path. and he loved it like the sunshine,
without comprehending the great law of at-
traction that made it so very pleasant.
When he attended school in the winter
|,mon,hs, he always walked home with a
little girl named Mary Williams On the
playground he was with her. always ready
70 do battle with anybody who disobliged
her. Their comrades laughed. and called
him Mary's beau; and they blushed and
felt awkward, though they had no idea
what courting meant Things had arrived
at this state Of haif-revealed consciousness,
he being fourteen years Old and Mary
twelve, when her friends removed to the
West, and the warm bright Influences
passed out Of his life. He never rightly
knew whether he was in love with Mary.
but years afterward, when people talked to
him about marrying. he thought of her.
wondering where she was, and whether
she Remembered him. When he drove his
cows home from pasture. the blackberry
bushes on the way brought up visions OF
his favorate school mate. with her clean
cape-bonnet thrown back, her glossy brown
hair playing with the winds, and her inno-
cent face smiling upon him with friendly
greeting. "She was the best and prettiest
child ever saw" he often said to himself;
/" I wonder whether she would be az pleas
ant now" Sometimes he thought of going
TO the West and seeking her out. But he
knew not where to find her; his funds were
small. and his courage fell at the thought.
:. 0 il is many years ago since we were
children togather. "Perhaps should find
her married" Gradually this one ray Of
poetry faded out of his soul. and all his
thoughts fell into the common prosa &c mould
His lot was cast with rough people. who
required much work, and gave little sym
palhy. The image of his little mate float
ed farther and farther away, and more and
more seldom her clear blue eyes smiled up
on him through the rainbow-msts of the
past, or from the air-castles of the future.
In process of time he married, after the
same fashion that large proportion do; be-
cause it was convenient to have wife, and
there was woman Of good character in
the neighborhood. willing to marry who
ever first offtred i1t'S rcspeCrG ZIG hofffe.
Her character bore the stamp of harmless
mediocrity. She was industrious and pa
tient, but ignorant. dull, and quietly obsti.
nate. The neighbcrs said she was well
suited to him, he was so rough and pass
lonate; and in the main he thought so HIM
self; though her imperturabfe calmness
sometimes fretted him as rock chafes the
lashing ocean into foam. The child that
| was born TO them they both loved better
than they had ever loved and according
TO their light, they sincerely s,rove to do
their duty, His bodily wants were well
supplied. often at the cost Of great weary
ness and self-sacrifces; but their own rude
training had given them few good ideas
concerning the culture of an immortal soul.
The infant did more for them, than they
for him. Angelic influences, unseen and
anheard amid the hard struggles of their
outward life, became visible and audible
through the unconscious innocence of theil
little one. For the second time in his life
a vision of beauty and love CLEANED across
the rugged path of that honest, iaborous
man. Vague impressions of beauty he had
constantly received from the great panor-
ANA Of the Universe. His heart some
times welcomed bright flower in the sun
shine, or cluster of lilies on the stream
he marveled at the spIendor ofthe rainbow
and sometimes gazed reverently at the sur
sinking to rest in his rich drapery of pur
iple and gold. But there were glimpses o.
the Infinite; their beauty did not seem to
appear to hins 5; it did not enter like I
magic charm into the sphere Of his owl
existence, as did the visions of Mary VIII
liam's and his own little Joe. The dor
tment tenderness there was in him leapet
up nt the smiles of his babe, and ever,
pressure Of the little fingers made a dim
) pie in the fathers heart. Like the out
9 bursts of Spring. after a long cold Winter
was this revelation of infancy TO him.
When he plodded home. after hard day'
work, it rested him body and soul, to hav
the little one spring into his arms for kiss
Z or come todding along. fitting his little por
4 ringer OF milk. In eageEness to eat his sup
per on his fathers knee.
Bat though this new influence seemd :
have an almost miraculous power over hi,
nature. it could not quite endure the pow
: er Of temperament and habit. As the dar
ling babe grew into boyhood. he was some
times cherished with injudicious fondnes.
and sometimes repelled by bursts Of pas
sion, that made him run and hide himsel
from the over-indulgens father. Mr.. Bal
{ ker had himself been educated under tn
dispensation OF punishment, rather than Al
traction. and he believed in it most firmly
Ii his son committed fault he thought Q
1 no other cure than saveritv If nsirt
7 Dor did him an i'll turn he would observ,
in presence of the boy, will watch m
chance to pay him for it, If the do
stole their dinner. when they were at wor
in the woods, he would say. :.run..after hil
Joe. and give the rascal sound beating.
When he saw the child fighting with som
larger lad. who had offended him. he woul
tprase his strength and courage. and te
S him never 20 Pun up with an Insult. Fl
1 was not aware that all these things wer