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


flied to BENEVOLENT purposes, the support of
ecclesiastical affairs or missions-how gladly
Y ey would receive it What vote of thanks
ley would pass, and publish in the county
ssgper-hov scrupulously they would carry out
sc terms ihposed by the donor But here is
s child, az immortal soul, as your faith and
nine teaches-if you will permit me to have
.uch a thing as faith-created in Gods image.
9Th powers that make it little lower than the
angels-passions that may make its future
either heaven or hell, bequeathed to them
shy their protested Master, in these memorable
words The poor always ye have with you =
and what do they do? Despise and reject it
put it with some Sally Hunt or other, at the
lowest living price, and then go to church and
thank God that they are not like the heather,
left to bow down TO stocks Of wood and stone.
Talk to me of my unbeliefi-it is better to be-
'leye IN one thing, so that it be an actual real
Ay, than to be a protested humbug, dear
Cousiuip
1o3 have such queer way OF looking at
things, Cousin, that there is no arguing with
you You are so bent upon seeing things in
such an impractical light" replied the lady,
impatiently. "But this poor child-what can
we do for herr"
Again that bright, quick smile broke over his
face, as he said
III the Tartar was not going to sail in
three days, and my passage already taken, 1
would try TO be a little practical for once and
settle your question by looking after the child
myself"
You, Ralph |"
Yes why not?"
Z" don't know. 1t seems so queer to think
Of your troubling yourself with child"
g You find great many queer things in this
world, Agnes but, however highly may hold
the practice of the Hndoo women, in transfer
ring the care of their feminine offspring to the
arms Of father Ganges, in comparison with some
phases of our much boasted Poor System, be-
ing in Chrstianzed community, | should not
venture to put it in practice. / could, if /
had time, probably find some one who, for love
or money would treat her kindly; at least,
as kindly as l do my dogs, which seems not
to have been the case heretofore" he said,
gravely.
81 always said you had kind heart at bot
tom, Cousin Ralph"
+" 1t is a family trait, l suppose, for l was
thinking the same thing of you, Agnes, and was
just about to propose that you should take her
yourself. You will then have something to
occupy you-something to love you, the lack
Of which you were lamenting short time
since; you will have an object in life, the great
need of all women; and look here Cousin ~
he caught my head between his hands, and
turned it toward the lady, " there is that here
which may repay you for your trouble better
than crochet or embroidery. Wilhul and fiery,
[ should say, but capable Of being wrought into
a noble form, and finely tempered What say
you, Cousin 2"
:" / wonder did not think of it myself. l
like the idea, Ralph. 1t will be such a delight
full occupation to mould the plastic mind to
uou 9Th TO +ob q
meath your hand, like the statue beneath the
hand Of the artist, to perfect symmetry and
grace, and to feel that it is the work of your
OtcR hand - cried the lady, enthusiastically.
An occupation worthy of the angels, Cous-
in but do not let us forget that it has it's
cares, responsibilities, and disappointments
like everything else in this DISCOUNTED world"
returned the gentleman, gravely " You must
n0S expect TOO 7.u rh---aWA. all have TO Green
before we walk, unless it be soma such favored
individual as Yourself" land the lip curled
little mischievously,) "and we catch many a
tumble, and try not only cur skulls, but our
teachers patience. | have sometimes thought,
Agnes, that those who have the care of young
children will do much If they do not hinder
that development of which you speak; not so
much by direct teaching as by indirect inhu-
ence. You needn't stare so, Cousin mine," he
said smiling.
How can | help it To hear you, one
would suppose you a grave pater .famdiaS,
rather than the confirmed Benedict l know
you to be. | fancy my wisdom will hardly
equal yours, know so little about children"
Trust to your womanly intuitions, then.
SO, you will accept this gift from the good
God2"
81 do wish you would leave off speaking in
that rreverent way, Ralph"
Ia IL, L
as the lady.turned to me, and asked
Would you like to go and live with me, my
child?"
Yes, na'am."
"And will you promise me to be very good,
and-and p
There, there Agnes! Don't begin by ma
king the child promise impossibilties. Ter
all started at the deep irm tone-"this
lady will give you pleasant home: she will be
kind to you, and teach you to be a good and
useful woman. What can you DO in return"
81 can try to be good, SIR"
And love me?" added the lady.
Yes, ma'am."
every well; are you satisfied, Agnesl"
"4es; but how are we to manage? I can
never face this odious woman?"
I" cam leave that to me- | will arrange
this affair with the proper authorities this after
Y.
and keep your own counsel. Do you under.
stand 2" he added, seeing my puzzled look.
"No, sir, don't exactly know what counsel
means"
"Hold your tongue, then" he said, smiling
a" suppose that would be Mrs. Sally's vernac-
ular. You understand that?n
Yes, that's what she always tells me-"
"Obey, then, until you see me-"
He took the lady's arm, and they followed |
the toot-path that led through the woods to the !
high road, in the direction of the beach,
watched them until. they were hidden by
the trees. Was it dream2 Should | really
live in some other place? What would Ollie |
think l looked up to the blue sky, necked |
with white, fieecy clouds, as if expected to see
his face looking down upon me, with its old,
pleasant smile, brighter than ever by nay good !
fortune. He had told me that Heaven was |
"away up beyond the clouds )" and, more than
once, sitting on the hot, still hills, amid the |
whortleberry bushes, | had hurried from my
labor, and looked up to the yet stiller sky, |
thinking how easy it would be for him to look |
down upon me there.
Then thought of my new friends-of the |
iady-her face was pretty-the features small |
regular, delicate-but it had kind of wilted |
look-just like nay water lilies, when held them
in my hand, or laid them in TIE sun for any
length OF time. der eyes were blue and her |
light brown hair was arranged in long, loose
ringlets, and mingled with profusion of blue |
ribbon, ~hich ornamented the inside of her
straw bonnet. She T2s not as old nor as pale |
as the lady had met at church sac was much |
more gaiy dressed; but, somehow, her looks |,
and tones did not impress me so favorably as
did hers. | rather preferred the gentleman
at least when he smiled. l thought. With his
dark face, deep tones, and decided manner, he |
must be one of the "bold, brave Captains -"
which Uncle Steve sang about. This thought |