The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-09

and By their fathers. A quarter of q century
has passed, and that penniless boy stands before
you, with his heart full and gushing with the
sentiments which such associations and recol.
lections necessarily inspire.
THREE Of US.
Such spring day ss it was the sky all one
mild blue, hazy on the hills, warm with sunshine
overhead . soft south wind, expressive and
fun of new impulses, blowing up from the sea
and spreading the news of life oil over our
brown pastures and leaf.strewn woods. The
processes in friend Allis's garden. bed shot up
cups Of gold and sapphire from the dark mould !;
slighs long buds nestled under the yellow.preen
LEAKAGE Of the violet-patch; white and sturdy
points bristled on the corner that in MAY was
thick with hlies-of the valley, crisp, cool, and
fragrant; and in q knotty old apricot tree, two
bluebirds aud q robin did herald's duty, singing
Of gu miners procession to come and we made
ready to receive it, both in our hearts and gar.
ments.
Josephine Boyle, Lefty Allis, and I, Sarah
Anderson, three cousins as we were, sat at the
long window of friend Alls's psrlor, pretendipp
to sew, really talking. Mr.. Stepel, q German
artist had just left us and little trait of Miss
Josephine's, that had occurred during his call,
brought out this observation from Cousin
Lefty
$40, how could thee let down thy hair go,
before that mani"
10 laughed. "Thee is little innocent,
Lefty, with your pretty dialect Why did let
my hair down For Mr.. Stepel to see it, OF
course"
THAT is very evident" interposed /; "but
Lefty 10 not 90 innocent or 80 wise as to have
done wondering at your caprices, 10; expound,
if you please, for her edifcation"
Il don't pretend to be wise or simple, Sarah,
but l didn't think cousin Josephine had so
| much vanity"
You certainly shall have preacher.bo
net, Lefty. How do you know it was vanity,
my dear l saw you show Mr.. Stepel your
embroidery with the serenest satisfaction now
you made your crewel cherries, and / didn't
make my hair which was vain }"
Lefty was astounded. "Thee has q gift OF
speech, certainly, Jo."
II have gift of honesty, you mean. NV
hair is very handsome, and / knew Mr.. Stepel
would admire it with real pleasure, for it ID a
rare color. took down those curls with quite
as simple an intention as you brought him that
little picture of Coles to see"
Josephine was right-partly, at least. Her
hair was perfect; its tint the exact hue of q
new chesnut-skin, with golden lights, and shad
ows OF deep brown not tinge of red libeled
it az auburn and the light broke on it's glitter
ing waves as it does on the sea, tipping the I'm
dulations with sunshine, and scattering rays o.
gold through the long, loose curls, and acros.
the curve of the massive coil, that seemed al
most too heavy for her proud and delicate head
to bear. Mr.. Stepel was excusably enthusi
astic about its beauty, and 10 as cool as if il
had been wig. Sometimes 1 thought this
peculiar hair was an expression of her own pc
culiar character.
Lefty said truly that 10 had gift of speech
and she, having said her say about the hair
dismissed the matter, with no uneasy recurring
to it, and took up book from the table, de
claring she WAS tired of her seam SIZE always
was tired of sewing Presently she laughed.
What is it, Jo?" said I.
Why, it's Jane Eyre with Lefty Allis's
name on the blank leaf That is what l call
an anachronism, spiritually. What do you
think about the book, Lefty ?" said she, turn
ing her 1.-the figure round in the great chair
toward the little Quakeress, whose pretty red
head and spplsblossom of face bloomed out
OF her gray attire and prim collar with q Ger
tain fascinating contrast.
! think it has very good moral tendency,
cousin Jo." TIT
The clear, hazel eyes flashed most amused
comment at me.
Well, what do you call the moral, Lefty A"
Why, should think do not quite know
that the moral is stated, Josephine, but think
thee will ALLOW it was Q great triumph of prin.
ciple for Jane Eyre to leave Mr. Rochester
when she discovered that he was married"
20 hung herself back impatiently in the chair,
and began an harangue.
&c That "a m t,ca
innocent little Quaker girl, think it is the
height of virtue not to eiope with q married
man, who has entirely and deliberately deceiv
ed you, and adds to.the wrong of deceit the in.
suit of proposing an elopementi Triumph of
principle should call it the result of com.
mon decency, rather-s thing that the instinct
OF any woman would compel her to do. NV
only wonder is, how Jane Eyre could continue
to love him"
my dear young friend" said /, rather grim
~, when q woman loves q man, it il apt,
regret to cay, to become . fact, not a theory |;
and facts are stubborn things, you know. 1t is
not easy to set aside real affection"
/ know that, ma'am," rstorted 10, in
slightly sarcastic tone :" it 10 painful truth ;
still, do think deliberate deceit practiced on
me by any man would decapitats any love 1 had
for him, quite inevitably"
$50 it might in your case" replied /; "for
you never will love man, only your idea of
one. You will 90 on enjoying your mighty
theories and 'dreams, till suddenly the Juice of
that little western flower drips on your eve
lids, and then shall have the pleasure of see.
ing you caress the fair large ears of some
donkey, and hang rapturously upon its bray,
till you perhaps discover that he has pretended,
on your account solely, to like roses, when he
has natural proclivity to thistles and then,
pitiable child, you will discover what you have
been earessing, and spare you conclusions; ;
only, for my part, / pity the animal! Now,
Jane Eyre was q highly. practical person; she
knew the man she loved vas only q man, and
rather bad specimen at that she was prom.
erly indignant at this further DEVELOPMENT of
his nature, but rejecting in cool blood, after.
ward, that it was only his nature, and, finding
it proper and legal to marry him, she did 80, TO
the great satisfaction of herself and the public
You would have made new ideal of St. John
Rivers, Who was infinitely the best material of
the two, and possibly gone on to your diving
day in the belief that his cold and herd soul
was only the edamant of the sspaph, enccur.
aged in that belief by his real and high princi.
plea thing that went for sounding brass with
that xorldly.wise little philosopher, Jane, be.
cause it did not act more practically on his in.
born traits" 't.st
Z" Bah l" said Josephine, when 'did you
turn gypsy, SalyP You ought TO sell dukker-
ipen, and make your fortune. Why don't you
unfold Letty's fate 2" Fl
(" No." said /, laughing. "Don't you know
that the all atus always exhausts the priestess?
You may tell Letty's fortune, or mine if you
will, but my power is gone"
II can tell yours easily, o Sibyl F" replied
she. "You viii never marry, neither for real
nor ideal You should have fallen in love in
the orthodox way, when you were seventeen.