The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-02-05

best, but a blind movement of fallen humani.
ty-and the truly enlightened feeling which led
you to snatch this child" he added, with wave
of his white fat hand toward me, "a as brand
from the burning, are as widely different as
light and darkness. You must not let your
tender womanly nature confound them, my
dear friend"
The soft hs nd fell slowly, as if by accident,
upon the small digits of Miss Agnes, that rested
upon the table, and the "Brand," as Mr.. Tyler
often designated me, was sent to the kitchen,
not to be consumed upon the fire-before
which Hannah Smith was cooking nice veal
outlet for that gentleman's supper, he having
passed through some very exhausting trials, in
pursuance of his arduous duties, during the
past week, and having, at best, but dedicate
appetite" Miss Agnes said, with timid, little,
bushlng air, when she had come to the kitchen
to give zher sfders-no, not to be burned, but
to ensconce myself in corner, out of Miss
Smiths way, and think over Mr.. Ralph's dark
face, his clear, honest glance his fall, distinct
tones, and wonder what made them think him
so wicked. He was not bit like old Grannie
Hunt, or like Polly Maria, or myself, the three
types of wickedness with which was most IA
mllar. There was no question about my state
for felt then that l would much rather live
with Mr.. Annesley than Mr.. Tyler, though the
latter, when he spoke to me at all, always used
the tone which he deemed most impressive to
a Brand" and reminded me of the state from
which | had been snatched, and Of my obkga-
tlons to my mistress; and my memory of Mr..
Ralph recalled no such tender interest.
Miss Agnes had been accustomed to examine
me in my studies daily ever since had been
to school; but as the weeks went on, my lessons
were more than usually interrupted. Somehow,
Mr.. Tyier's advent seemed to interrupt the
whole house. Hannah Smith no longer laid
out work for months beforehand, but went
about her department with look of solemn,
patient endurance rpon her face varied occa.
sionally by glance Of commiseration at Miss
Agnes, while the latter was constantly falling
into reveries, seemingly very delightful, from
which she would start, at the first word, with O.
blush, and all manner of pretty, childish airs of
confusion, begging pardon over and over again.
OF Hannah, for her inattention. Sometimes. in
the midst of my lessons, she would vary the
routine, and give glowing descriptions Of the
East, and ask me
would l no. like to devote my life to the
NATIONS that SIT IN darkness, as a missionary"
Dear Miss Agnes, how her eye kindled, and
gathered depth and frmness, as she spoke !,
How her whole figure seemed to grow strono
and erect with the strength of noble purposei
The pretty, delicate, somewhat faded rose. had
taken draught from the perennial spring Of
life, and the subtle element brought not only
freshness and beauty. but strength and earnest
ness, and that overlooking love which would
make all the world happier in its happiness |!
1t Is woman's experimentation, alas brief
as the life of rose; but the fragrance and per
tume Of those moments fingers over the weary
after life, and ascends to Heaven-who shall
say with what a power Of supplicaton for par
don and forgiveness for all after errors
l needed not Miss Agnes's glance. nor enthu.
siastic words, to enlist my childish sympathy in
the topic which so occupied her thought. Ever
since Mr.. Tyler's sermon which had 50 excited
my Imagination, had longed to be mission
ary. No other object, Or way of life, seemed
to me of any Importance to this. Every child
can doubtless look back to a like experience
every one will doubtless recall, too, with a sigh
or smile, as the experience of after years
may dictate, the doubts and struggles which
the discrepancy between the practice Of those
whom he had been taught to respect and rever-
ence, and their words, raised in his mind. He
does not know, as yet, that the giant hend
Unbelief" rules the world with power far
more extensive than ever possessed by Pope
or Kaiser, and that his strongholds are not all
confined to the banks of the Ganges or the
Nile.
Part of this childish but painful experience
was spared me by Miss Agnes and several of her
friends. They became very much impressed
with the duty of retrenchment in dress, but
they did not put on sackcloth, or even serge.
They exchanged their dressy shured hats, with
their clusters of Persian lilac, or helotrope,
for those made of rich white satin, made very
plain, and trim med with soft creamy folds of the
same material-their striped, plaided, Aounced
L ] T. r.
plain black satin, Quaker colored French meri-
noes, and India muslins, guiltless of spot. To
be sure, the latter cost as much or more than
the former-twice or thrice as much as the
gaudy outfit of the factory GIRL for whose ben
eft they set this example; but they meant well.
OF this am certain ; and who shall say that
the satins of Miss Agnes, and the fimsy fnery
OF the operative, do not count equal, in the
eyes of the angels, with the sackcloth Of Saint
Theresa, or the hair shirt of Saint Ignatius?
OF course, the reader will infer by this time
that Miss Agnes was about to marry the Rev.
Mark Tyler, A. B., with the prospect Of going
out as a missionary to Africa, as soon as the
reverend gentleman should receive his appoint
ment. The affair was duly discussed by all
Chesterwood. l believe that most people
thought ii a "good thing" but there were some
dssenters among Miss Agnes's own circle,
who, it is supposed, had her interest most at
heart, and one Of the most active of these was
Miss Harriet Hart. She did not joke her
friend, like Miss Grifiths, or Miss Beach, or
sincerely sympathize in her happiness with
Fanny Moore; she was too SUI
perior" to do that. But she overwhelrn ned her
with responsibilities she humbled her to the
dust, by showing her, in her great love for
truth, all her eaknesses-dexterously hunting
out each little foible; and then sincerely trusted
she might not have mistaken a mere earthly
passion for the Christian fortitude and devo
ton which alone could support her in such a
position-a position from which she, chow the
silks rustled as she said this,) with all her
strength of character, had ever shrunk from
assuming"
Poor Miss Agnes Would that on that pretty
head of thine, self-esteem had risen like prom
ontory; but perhaps, after all, it would not
have made thee better or more loveable wo-
man than the humble, trusting faith that an
swered, amid tears
al can suffer, Harriet, dearl This deep
love which / feel for--for Marcus, will make
ne strong to do that! !"
1 am afraid you mistake, Agnes You are
not made of such stuff as martyrs are!''
But the mistake was Miss Harris. MANY
martyr is made of inst such stuff as Miss Agnes
Lathrop, but they do not 90 in public to Smith
field or Valladolid, or even to Boston Common.
They do not say, with Madame Roland, "Oh,
Liberty! how many crimes are committed in
thy name !"-many of them may be ignorant
of that famous woman's existence-but they
are slowly roasted in private, before domestic
fire kindled by unthinking egotism, and kept
alive by morbid irritability; or are suffocated
by the close atmospere Of home, whose mar
row creed forbids them to follow the bent of
their genius, even to share in the innocent rec
reations of life; or they suffer the slower tor
ture OF a thousand and one petty, tormenting
exactions and reproofs, that, like the exquisite