The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-22
BY z. FoXToN,
AuthOr Of" Premices."
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

CHAPTER IV-Continued.
Sally's excuse was, not for the snuff, which
was wholly without pallation, but for the harsh
ne,s of her Judgment of the poor inofensive
Invalid, that she took very little notice OF her
(Sslly's) children. Edward and Clara were ad-
mi,ted to their new mammals chamber, to get
d kiss and a bunch of grapes, or an orange,
usually once a day, but that was all that she
had to do with them. Their father, for his
part, was too busy in making money for them,
to learn how to play or talk with them, or even
to find out that he owed them any further pa
rental duties, except to keep them at the best
schools, which he took pains to do. Beyond
this. and a remarkable absence of natural de.
pravity in their dispositions, there appeared
10 be nothing earthly 10 guard them against
the ordinary perils of childhood and youth,
as they outgrew the constant companionship
and the authority of /" Nursey." Mrs. Arden,
whether her illness had been originally mala.
die imdgindire, and since aggravated by self
indulgence, or not, was really too i'll to do all
that her predecessor would have done for them,
and was too timid, procrastinating, and unen-
terprisng TO undertake even as much as was
in her power. "A step mother as she was"
she said, "how could she hope for the charita-
bic construction of her neighbors, or even be
sure Of her own motives, if she attempted to
assume the responsibility of managing the
children of another? Perhaps she should be
stronger next year; but at present she felt that
her very life depended upon rest and quiet,
and her first duty was to her own son 80 that
she did not see that she could do anything for
the dear little things, better than to intrust
them little longer to the care of the faithful
though very peculiar servant whom their own
mother had chosen for them. Sally would be
very likely to leave them at once, if her man
sgement of them was interfered with and it
really seemed to agree with their rugged con.
stitutions, though it would certainly have been
death to Herman" To the suggestions of
more persuasive tongues than Sally's, which
reached her from time to time with regard to
him, she opposed a mild but unconquerable
riS incrtiR. She "wished that she was able to
take him out more. She never left him behind
when she was well enough to dine and she
hoped to let him go out to play as soon as he
was a little stronger; but he was 80 fragile and
sensitive, and the other boys were 80 apt to
be rough;" or "he was a very delicate child,
and as he had been confined to the house a
good deal by colds in the winter she did not
think she could with prudence send him out
regularly until the spring was far advanced,
and the danger of east winds coming up was
Over;" or snow in June, the mornings and
evenings were SO chilly, and the sun so powerful
at noon, that there seemed to be no time fit for
him to exercise in out-ofdoors;" or "he had
been so completely Frustrated by the heat, even
when kept within doors with every precaution,
that he could scarcely be in state to walk out
before the autumn" or, if the climate of this
insaubrious planet was for once by some rare
chance we'll adapted to the needs of it's inhabit-
ants, she missed him so dreadfully while he was
out, and was so afraid that he might be run
over by the horses, or fall into the water, or
that he might get into bad company and he
was so pure and innocent now, that she could
not bear to think of it,
Clara and Edward, to be sure, who, envying
his sick-room privileges and privations alibe-
that is, not at all-regarded him with the
greatest admiration, interest, and pity, as an
unnatural curiosity of wonderful beauty, intel
leet, and fragility were always tying to get
him into their possession for an hour or an
afternoon, to ride on sled slide, play ball,
or walk with them and they, in the mean
while, thanks TO good Providence, partly,
perhaps, to their good, lead mother-who can
tell?-(no thanks, certainly, to their living one,)
we're growing up to be a very we'll behaved and
weipformed lad and lass, and by rare good
fortune, or good taste, affected no associates
who were not Of the same stamp. They would
have held over their little halfbrother the
kindest ard most wstchful protection. But
Mrs. Arjen's nerves, or want of nerve, got the
better Of her more and more. She could not
let Herman go f; or, if she did, she cried till he
came back After the little fellow found that
out, he could scarcely be induced to leave her
side again. Clara might creep behind the
chamber door, and peep through the crack,
aud beckon as much as she pleased. He was
sorry, but stesdfast.
"Oh, Psyche what a beautiful dress Come
INTO the dressing room, and let me see you in
the light. How bright you are / see; have to
put up my hand over my eyes. You are all like
rainbow; and your shining head is the sun
No, beauty, can't go. Mamma isn't 80 we'll
and if she wakes up, and finds I'm not here.
she'll tremble all over so, you don't know.
Bat when you get back, just come up to the
door, and whisper Herman very softly, and
then III ask leave, and slip down stairs with
you, and sit on your knee; and you can tell
me all about what you saw, and the Common,
and the Frog Pond, and the dear little ships,
ana set me some more sums, on soft psper-
couidnt you that won't crackle, because
msmma hears the pencil on my slate"
Clara was not very fond of her books.but
sue was OF her teacher, and of some of her
schooimates, who were studious girls and
her attachment to them carried her on with
'iem 80 that she was able to give the little
prisoner all the aid he wanted in b;a Enol;.h
''paieS; and before he had outgrown her knee
Hua her lessons, he was readily promoted to
La"afds. Study and reading were an unspeak.
ane relief to the NOR otony of his STRANGE and
'on'ary little life; and it was a pretty and q
Singular sight to see his tiny figure living at
eng'n on the carpet within the window chr.
lS' enclosed in sort of trench of books.
snn ray of light through the shutters. care
Any parted Just above his lifted head. aiding
"n over his curls, to fall on the Greek or
Auh page before him. He loved to read sbak.