Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-05-07

him how the stars had CLEANED upon
him, simple and loving man, watching
} his fires in the years, and even musing as
it burned. He remembered with what
tenderness, with what love and sympathy
for mankind, and what pity for human
guilt and Woe he had first began to con.
template these ideas which afterwards
became the inspiration of his life; with
what reverence he had then looked into
the heart of man, viewing it as temple
originally Divine, and, however desccra,
ted. still to be held sacred by brother !;
with what awful fear he had deprecated
his pursuit. and prayed that the Impair
donable Sin might never be revealed to
him. Then issued that vast intellectual
development. which in its progress. dis
turbeu the counterpoise between his mind
and heart.
The idea that possessed his life and
operated as a means of education it
had raised him from the level of an un.
lettercd laborer to stand on a starlight
laden eminence. whittier the philosophers
of earth, with the lore of the universe
might vainly strive to Chamber after him.
SO much for the intellect! But where
was the heart? That, indeed, had with
cred, had contracted, had hardened. had
perished 1t had ceased to partake of
the universal throb. He had lost hold
of the magnetic chain of humanity.
lie was no longer brother man, open
ing the chambers or the dungeons Of our
common nature by the key of holy sym
pathy, which gave him u right to share
in all its sc,.. cts; he was now a cold
observer looking on mankind as the sub
ject of his experiment, and at len .th
converting man ard woman to be his
puppets. and pulling the wires tha'
moved them to such degrees of crime as
were demanded for his study.
Thus Ethan Brand becam, a fend
lie begar to be SO from the moment that
his moral nature had ceased to keep
the pace Of improvement with his intel
lect. And now, as ts highest effort
and inevitable Development as the
bright and gorgeous flower, and rich.
delicious fruit of his ifes labor-hc had
discovered the Unpardonable Sin.
What more have | to seek ; What
more to achieve? said Ethan Brand to
himself. MY task is done, and we'll
done"
Starting from tle log with certain
alacrity in his gait, and ascending the
hllock Of earth that was raised against
the stone circum ference of the limekiln,
he thus reached the top OF the structure.
1t was sp3ce Of perhaps ten feet across,
from edge to edge, presenting view of
the upper surface of the immense mass
Of broken marble with which the kiln
was heapel. All these innumerable
blocks and fragments of marble were red
hot and wildly on FIRE, sending up great
spouts Of blue fame, which quivered
a'oft and danced madly, as within a
magic circle, and sank and rose again,
with continual and multitudnous activ-
ii'y. AS the lonely man bent forward
over this lonely body Of fire, the blast
ing heat smote up against his person
with breath thai, if it might be sup
posed, would have scorched and shrivel-
led him up in moment.
Ethan Brand stood erect, and raised
his arms on high. The blue flame play
ell upon lis face, and impaired the wild
and ghastlS light which alone could
have suited his expression it was that
of hcnd on the verge Of p,ung;ng into
his gnlf of intenscst torment.
%, Mother Earth cried he who art
no more ms mother and into whose bo.
som this frame sh Il never be resolved
O. mankind, whose brotherhood | have
cast off and trampled thy great heart be-
meath my feet .. stars of heaven, that
shonc cn me of OLD, as ii TO light me on.
ward and upward Farewell all, and
forever Come deadly element of fire
henceforth my familiar fiiend! Embrace
me as do thee :.
That night the sound of fearful peal
of laughter rollel heavily through the
sleep of the limc-burner and his little
son dim shapes of horror and anguish
haunted their dreams, and seemed still
present in the rude hovel when they op-
ened their eyes to the daylight.
Up. boy. up,' cried taa lime-burner
staring about ii . Thank Heaven, the
night is gone at ast and rather than
pass an5ther sp@h | would watch my
lime kiln, wile awake. for twelvemonth.
This Ethan Brand. with his humbug oil
an Unpardonable Sin, has done me no
such mighty favor in taking my place ;
He issuel from the hut. followed by
little Joe. who kept fast hold of his
fathers hand. The early sunshine was
already pouring its gold upon the noun
tain tops, and though valleys were
still in shadow, they smiled chcerfully in
the promise of the bright day that was
fastening onward. The village com,
plet .ly shut in by hills, which sweled
away gently about it. locked as if it had
rested peacefully in the hollow of the
great hand of Providence. Each dwell
ling was distinctly visible the little
spires of the two churches pointed up
ward, and caught fore-glimmering of
brightness from the sun-gilt skies upon
their wcathercocks. The tavern was
astir. and the 65ure of the old smo| e
dried stage agent, cigar in mouth. was
seen beneath the stoop. Old Graylock
was glorifed with golden cloud upon
his head. Scattered likewise upon the
surrounding mountains there were heaps
Of hoary mists. in fantastic shapes, some
Of them far down into this valley, others
high up towards the SUBMITS, and still
others of the same family of mist and
clouds, lowering in the gold radiance of
~ ,,onor ot,,osohora Ckoo~;u- f.or.