The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-26
THE FIRST OFFENCE,


In the early part of the present century, in
one CT the principal towns of the north ofScot-
land. lived family of tie name of Bussel. 1t
consisted Of husband and wife and their two
children, brother and sister. They tenanted
small, selfcontained house, in q narrow back
street. The sunshine seldom streamed in at
the front-parlor window, making the notes
dance in its rays, like q million atom worlds,
and causing everything to look mean and
dusty. Ii was always quiet and shady, some
might say dull-not we, for we love, of all
things in the shape of apartments, quiet little
parlor; but 50 did not Jessie Bussel, and so
did not her favorite linnet, for he would not
sing when she hung his cage in the parlor win
dow; and she could not sing without him 30
the parlor was left to its repose. The kitchen
that looked to the back was quite q contrast to
the front of the dwelling. There the sun shone
all day long; and the window looked out
on a small patch of ground, whose scanty space
was economically divided into q bleaching
green, flower and kitchen garden. Beyond
this was only the open sea, with its white
crested wavelets and everlasting murmuring-'
now loud and near as it almost washed the
wall of the little garden, now coming on the
ear like a distant whisper over track of glis-
tening sand.
The sun shone in at the little window, when
it shone at all and there are more sunny days
than cloudy ones, even as we believe there is
more happiness than misery in the world,
though we hear most of the latter, for they that
are the loudest in their ulurmurs are fsintest in
their praise. There, too, the linnet whistled
all day long, and Jessie went about her work.
singing to him, while her mother sat spinning
In her clean white cap and check apron. Ard
In the afternoon, Jessie would sit down to her
wheel, and her mother throw her apron over her
head. and take a nap in the easy chair; then
she did not sing, and the linnet, as if in sympa-
thy, ceased his warbng too, as, if he did begin,
the warning finger of his youthful mistress check
ed his notes. Then she had only to raise her
head to see her father at work in the gsrden-his
sole occupation, for be was quite blind yet he
could feel the growth of his plants and flowers,
and distinguish them one from another. lie
knew every inch of the ground, and to SOW, and
weed, and water, it was his hourly and daily
pleasure.
The family were, at the time we write OF, in
easier circumstances than ever they had been.
Mr.. Bussel who was by trade gardener, lost
his sight by Inflammation when his son James
was a boy at school, and Jessie but an infant
in arms. His wife literally toiled day and night
for her husband and children, and, with some
assistance from her husbands form or employer,
bravely struggled on; but health was lost in
the struggle, and, ere better days had arrived,
she had become a sad-spirited, broken-down
woman. Yet she had found happiness in her
endurance, and now every blessing of her lot
seemed double, from the trials that had passed
away. James, the pride of his mothers heart,
had grown up to manhood, and was now repay
ing her for all her toll and care with the fruits
of bis talents and industry-taents and indus
try which promised a yet more abundant har.
vest.
He had profted by the education which his
mother had striven hard to obtain for him, and
was now clerk In the post-office of his native
town. His salary was but small, very small,
considering that be bad to maintain his parents
and sister for, owing to the delicate health of
his mother, and the household duties of his
sister, their joint earnings added but little to
the general fund yet with economy, it was
sufficient. and James, as he poured his earn
ings into his mothers lap, never dreamt that
he made bacrifce.
Jessie was very lovely girl, yet she never
had lover, though she was nearly through her
teens only the baker over the street-an hon.
est, hsrd.working fellow-had long exchanged
pleasant salutstions with the modest little Gus.
toner, and often joined the family as they
walked to church, and had once, lately, sat
whole evening in the kitchen, chatting with Mr.
Bussel, without once speaking a sentence with
Jessie.
Meanwhile, James had companion of the
name of Allen, whom he brought with him as
q visiter to his humble dwelling His visits soon
became very frequent and the baker over the
way seldom joined them now, for he was gen.
orally at Jessie's side, and went home with
them to tea when they came out of church.
Martin Allen was gay, extravagant young
man, Of handsome person and elegant manners,
at once bold and insinuating in his address,
very dangerous companion for the timorous
and complying James.
Z" / say, Bussel," said Allen, one evening, as
they left the house of the former, arm in arm for
an evening stroll and visit 10 one of Aliens
acquaintance, she's sweet lassie, that sister
of yours; bnt l was going to whisper some
thing fine in her ear tonight, and if you had
only seen the look she gave mel"
"Alep, you must not trife with my sister,"
said the young man, gravely.
TINT, man, was only going to call her
pretty; they all Ike that. 1 intend to court
her some of these days, and make her my lit
tie wife, and you my very coed brother"
This was a thought that had already passed
through Jsmes's head, and he heard the half
testing words as confirmation of his dearest
wishes, for his attachment to and reverence for
Allen was Bnbounded.
But James's heart msgave him as he enter.
ed the place of their destination that night. He
knew he was to witness the scenes of gaming
table, though he went with the intention " not
to play. But bis friend entries ted that he vould
only learn the game he yielded, the cards
were in his hand, the game was learnt, and
sgsin was urged to engage gith his friend mere
ly for trial of skill; again the W. ak Young
man complied. At length they played for
money, and he lost. His loss WAS few shil.
lings more than bis purse contained. He
apologized, and rose from the table. He and
his friend took their leave together James
took notice of the debt he had incurred as they
walked home.
"Never mind, nay dear fellow" said Allen,
"you can pay it tomorrow"
James entered bis home with burning cheek
and a disturbed mind that night, and for the
first time since bis boyhood forgot to kneel in
prayer, ere he lay down to rest But he did
not rest. BE must defray bis debt on the NOR.
row, and he did not know how His quarters
salary was nearly due, but then it would look
so mean to wait till then, and Allen was not
mean. His mother, he knew, would supply
him; but be had already spent too much. and
she had none to spare. Besides, he dare no,
meet her questioning. He would borrow it.
Fevered with the unusual excitement of the
evening, he passed q sleepless night: and in
the morning, escaping from the, for once. I'M.
welcome solicitude of bis mother and sister. he
hurried, pale and haggsrd, to his ofiice.
That evening he discharged his debt of hon.
or. so-called, and his gay friend pocketed the
trifing sum with supreme indifference, and
urged him to win it back, but in vain. More
than week passed away, during which tir.e
James avoided the company of his friend, com