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


Now, do you think that raving maniac can
serve them to much advantage?"
"Id full as lieves he wouldn't undertake to
sarve me, for one."
"To be sure. A wise man who wishes to
serve them will be scarcely more ready to craze
| himself with fanstcism than with drink"
The supperbeli rang. Herman would glad
ly have disregarded it. in order 10 prolong the
/ conversation bat his new friend sprang to his
feet with q presence of mind which showed
that he hungered and tbirsted for something
else besides Righteousness. As he did 90, how
ever, he stretched ont his huge brown paw for
the book, and, touching it gingerly, accommo-
dated it with a nook among the pistols in hif
furry breast; and this Herman inwardly hailed
as . good sign.
At the head of the table sat Mr.. Grubbe, in.
dulging in Q sulk sanctimonious. The back
voodsman seemed to have forgotten the grudge
he owed him, or else to be disposed to oaer it
up a. frst-fuit, on the altar of his refosma-
ton. he handed the old man, in succession, ell
the visnds within the reach of his long arm.
Mr.. Grubbe made it point of honor to refuse
all refreshment at hands 80 unholy, and thus
soon found himself, to Herman's extreme,
though carnal, diversion, reduced to some
what ascetic banquet of tea and pickles. The
novice fed, notwithstanding, freely and phleg-
matically; and then, the sun having meantime
retired, Immediately followed its example.
Herman availed himself of the opportunity
thus afforded to soothe Mr.. Grubbe, who, he
saw, had something still undigested besides the
pickles, which last he thought, by themselves,
likely to be quite enough for him at one time.
Towards Herman, however, he was rather in
sorrow than in anger
~ could never have believed it of you | to
waste just one and three. quarters of the blessed
hours that we've all got to render an account
on, by my watch, that hasn't lost ten minutes
these twenty years, and spend it with drinker
and swesreri"
| "But, my dear sir, was not drinking nor
swearing with him Did you suppose that l
was 2"
civil Communications, sir, evil commooni-
cations How's this earth ever a.goin to be
sailed, as say?"
L
me the honor to believe me to have grain of
its never to be suffered to come in contact,
for any purpose, with anything which is not
saltf That is not 80 very illintentioned q fel.
low, after ALL He has been reasoning of righte
BUSINESS, and temperance, and judgment to come,
half the afternoon, and gone off to bed with
my New Testament in his pocket"
"You don't say so want to know Ny
dear young friend I've been ajudging of
you, and 1 ask your pardon. Why, it's little
short of a miracle Do you think it's genoo-
wine2 Why, he swore 30 that he made my
very hair stand on end i"
Mr.. Grubbe's "very hail" was a wig. 1t
was apt to stand on end. Perhaps he chose it
on that account-when his own locks, untimely
loosened and uprooted, it may be, by being too
frequently called upon to render that token of
sympathy with his emotions, in view of the de-
pravity of his fellow men, fell off and forsook
him-thinking it most in keeping with bis most
habitual frame of mind.)
"He is trying to leave that off, with remark
able success, think, for 30 new a convert. He
seems very much in earnest altogether, Just
now, and very simple hearted, open, childlike
soul. Nobody can tell how long it may last
and am afraid there must be q great many
things against him, poor fellow But any one
who can read the gospels has spar to cling to,
that will bring him into port if he will but
stick to it, and 60 where it draws him."
81 shall be most happy to render you all the
assistance in my power in your work of grace.
Shall converse with him as one under ava
kening or conviction?"
| "Why-thank you'll hardly think need
trouble you. am afraid two spiritual guides
at once might be one too many for him, and
confuse him"
"On the contrary, in the multitude Of coun-
sellers there is safety. What method have you
pursued with him 2"
| "Why, q very unmethodical method, believe
it must have been, if any. What one, do you
find, answers best with the Indians?"
| "Oh, tell EN- in the frat place, of course,
you know, that they must get q new heart, and
that there's only One above that can give it to
EN-"
And do they get iti"
swell, some docs, and some doesn't"
And when they have got it, what do they
do next?" m
Why, they leave off drinking and dancing,
and stay in their lodges on Sabbaths"
Leave off dancing2 Why?" \
Because they are Gods people, sir. Hero
dias danced" I
But did not Miriam?
That was under the old dispensation."
But is it possible that You can see any
harm in tin all kinds of dancing, mean
Some sorts do not seem, even to me, altogether
good; admit" added Herman, remembering,
with thrill of melancholy pleasure, how Con-
stance had appeared to enshrine herself in his
mind, by her unvarying refusal to join in any,
which seemed too rude and too familiar to her
coy, retiring, sacred maidenhood.
"Do you call yourself professor, sir, and
ask such a question ," said Mr.. Grubbe, in.
digrantly. Never travelling on Sunday, he had
thought, and rightly, that at one town, where
they had gone to different churches, Herman
had stayed to the Communion. t
/ "a professorl" cried Herman, thoroughly
puzzled, "no, indeed Of what? Dancing
I thought you knew that was young lawyer,
but just admitted to the bar"
"Of religion, cir. Many younger than you
have been admitted to the fold j; and thought
you had been. Excuse me. / cannot Jest on
such subject, sir"
| UNa;xher cau h.E.uo 49,. III un..,