True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-03-31

ing fur!ive and wislful glances at intervals
into The open hall, and up the oaken
staircase leading TO the upper chambers. /
There was an expression of vague
sadness and curiosity depicted upon his
expressive countenance and more than
once he stole cautiously into the house,
and listened at The chamber door, only to
turn away hurriedly, to seek the free air
and light of open day with heavy sigh,
as if some new born terror had entered
his brain.
No one noticed him. Even his grand
father, who was wont 10 pass his hand
(ondly over his brown hair, and gaze
fondly into his sunny eyes uplifted to his
own, had suffered him to stand by his
side wholly unregarded.
When the sun was near to the meridian
the distant voices Of children returning
from school drew him down the lawn 10
10 the gate opening TO the road, sitting
down beneath the shadow Of the lilacs
arching the gate way, he awaited the
passing of his playmate. John Spenser.--
By and by, group of boys come troop
ing along, with his friend among them;
and he perceived him sitting there, de.
tached himself from the rest, and sat down
by his side.
To the boys eager questioning Harry
replied, " Aunt Hannah is dying!" and
then his companions face took The same
half frightened, awe struck expression,
which Harry's had worn.
The day previous, as they sat there talk
ing, they had anticipated, with something
very like pleasuse, the period of Harry's
release from the thraldom of his aunt's
guardianship; but now they scarcely ven-
tured to give words to the hope which
was swelling mutually within their hearts,
, of a less rigorous, milder sway, on the
part Of his younger aunt. "Dear aunt
Bessie, as he was permitted 10 call her,
+ whose charge he was henceforth to be.
come. There was tha. in the near pres,
ence of death which sobered even the
sense of coming freedom.
But when John venlured gravely to as
sert that "Miss Worthington was so good
herself, as not to fear DEATH" Harry grew
grave and whispered mysteriously, that
AUNT Hannah had been bad all along
great cheat, a wicked woman, and was
, afraid TO die" He had heard her, he af
, firmed, confess this; and now he declared
> that he would mot be good her way any
, more"
The boys conception of virtue wal
, strict obedience 10 the regulations which
/ his aunt had laid down for rigid obser
: vance of the Sabbath, and all things ap
pertaining to that creed to which she had
, consecra,ed nothing OF the beauty O
4 peace. Many an hour of childish serenity
had been turned to one Of biterest strifi
!, and passionate rebellion by some chanc'
oversight Of her charge,
e For time the two boys sat talkinl
y together in subduec, whispering tones
e then John arose, and casting sly, curiou
n glance towards the house, went on hi
o way. But a long time Harry sat there
g pondering over the self accusing words o
n the dying woman, and wondering il every
II body would now know how wicked sh
j. had been. With secre. Joy he anticipate,
e telling certain old lady who had been il
e the habi. of coming there, and regarding
# his boyish foibles with The same severit
n with Aunt Hannah, counselling him eve
II to better imitation of her virtues, no,
h he had found her out, at last, to be n
., better than himself, with all her prefer
: ded virtue.
W The afternoon was half gone VIXEN h
}. approached the house, and all there wa
1t still-very still. The blinds had bee
y closed, and the place wore hushed an
4. solemn aspect. His grandfather no longe
p sat in the sunlight, but in darkene
e room, with his eyes bent vacantly on tn
ID floor and, as he looked through hal
e, opened door, Harry caught from within
a; low, stiaed moan from his aunt Bessie.
c. But not until eveing did the icy terrc
of death, which had been creeping a
le day into his heart, settle down there wit
/; all its appalling realization. The viii
,g sheet drawn straight over the head ar
d, the feet, was turned back; and the visic
er of that frozen, haggard face. lying the
If, in Tue still, soft summer evening, FIX,
,e itself forever in his brain.
Ill II will not be good any longer her way
ID and with this resolve in his heart, the b
20 shut his ear henceforlh to relgit
- which seemed 10 him so shallow and ma
to row thing; while the recklessness
youth waxed apace with the dawn
N, manhood, and the memory which clur
tn upas-like, through all years 10 the recc
ii. lection of his boyhood.