The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-07

there were many things In 1t he would not have
written TO them, and many revelations of his
most inner self, in moods and situations of which
he was sufficiently ashamed. But, it was the
chronicle of period in his life, period which
he had now entirely grown out of, progressed
beyond and he wished them to know what had
been his feelings during that period, probably
was not unwilling to awaken their sympathies
and compassion by bringing them into direct
| and immediate contact with the record of his
sufferings. So they read all he had written,
with alternate wonder and horror, pity and
dismay, shuddering and admiration. Mrs Elem
ing took infinite pride in this Journal of her
son many of the thoughts were but echoes OF
her own in former times, and, BESIDES it showed
her son forth SO Hatteringly, in the light of
primum mobile, the moving power in actions of
credit and honor, the focus around which raj
lied spirit and pluck-not simply a man, but
also poaoer. Wherever he was, she saw that
Jasper, unconscioasly to himself, had been
among the most prominent figures, and in the
I fore ground whatever company he was in, She
could see that he lowered head and shoulders
above the rest In word, as she had been
Queen in society, so she saw that he either was,
or promised to be, ruler among men. And she
was pleased too, with the style, and the descrip-
tive and analytic powers he gave evidence of;
for she wished him to become an author-Gil
bert had been an author Her high, far-seeing
wide-reaching soul kinGled into sympathy with
his enthusiasm, and appreciation of his ambi
ton. Her gaze was keen enough to enable her
to measure and estimate the heights to which
he aspired. Mother and son were both Spar
tans, and, 1T he was capable of girdiDg on his
sword, and resolving to choose between Vic
tory or Death" so she was capable of handing
! him the shield, and bidding him return: with
this or on it." F
AS for Ruth it were perhaps safer to inter
pref her opinion of the journal and its con-
tents, by reading her looks than by listening
to her comments. For though her cheek
flushed, her eye kindled, and she caught her
breath as she read, her criticisms were not at
all hattering to Jasper's vanity. He was con-
ceited, he was supersttious, he was afraid of
phantoms. His eloquent flights went halt, or
came down as if his wings were waxen his
humor was forced his laughter sardonic. She
was sure he was dissatisfied with home, and
longed to return to those "gemmy islets " of
the Southern seas, where Nature smiled so
sweetly among the waving palms and cocoa
groves and where those unsophistcated girls,
with their "bare, bronze bosoms," roamed at
will. Men always liked a free and natural
manner in women. What charming portion
of the sex, then, must those laughing girls be,
who could play with you at will, swim around
you like dolphins, and innocently don your
"cast-of trowsers," when they came out of the
water! Oh, yes! she was sure he longed to be
back there She was sure he had found there
some loving innocent of Fayaway, who was
pining after him, and to whom he had lost his
t heart. Why did he not 60 back to his Faya
e way2
/ sooth to say, Ruth did not like The mention
, of those girls with bronze, bare bosoms,
however much he may have claimed to view
: them with the purely artistic eye. Jasper was
3 not Pygmalion, to be sure but then neither
0 were they statues, but real warm flesh and
blood. And she was piqued at the cool non
chalance with which he permitted her to read
: his rather glowing descriptions of their beauty
!, and grace: He ought TO hare had more re
Rsea len her feelings thought the little goose
would not permit him to take her love tol
granted, in such a conceited fashion. 1t was
) too precious thing to be so lightly viewed
e And, moreover, Ruth was little shy of this
t great bearded man, who had come in the place
. of her Iaspsr, It was not the same person, ex.
actly, and she did not know whether she loved
the old Jasper or the new Jasper the better
;, He was SO proud, and so selfconceited. She
i could not see how his mother could be so blind
= to his faults. And he was not at all consider
ate to her; didn't bow down and worship hall
so much as the many handsome beaux who
practiced idolatry at her shrine. She would
s give him TO understand that her love was worth
] something that if he ,cas my lord, she was nc
dairy maid. Ha, ha the precious mink how
much trouble she put herself to, in asserting
this, her supreme dignity
Mrs. Fleming merely smiled at sight Of these
things, while Jasper took them exceedingly tC
e heart. She would have no huggng and kiss
ing; she kept him at a distance, and seemed
' 10 haN,a ont on no Jac
was angry, vexed then perpexed, and finally
alarmed. She laughed at his requests for ex
, PLANTATION, and, finding he could get no salts
faction from Ruth, he one day consulted his
mother, with very rueful countenance, saying
that he feared Ruth's heart was no longer his
! or else he had offended her in some way Wha
! was he to do? Could she advise him
Mrs Fleming listened to his woes with al
j amused smile, and them seating herself on hi:
: knee, parting his hair over his forehead, anc
|. kissing him fondl y-all this was very new tc
n him, not at all like the mother he remembered
| but oh, SO very pleasant-she said
"Poor little children How strange it is
IT that when you love one another so dearly, you
a still delight in teasing each other so have
|, a great mind not to tell you, dear, and to keep
:, you all to myself Suppose you give the viii
e full piece up Jasper, and live bachelor
3 will be your housekeeper.'
t "Motherp said Jasper, Indignantly.
It "Well, them" rejoined the mother, still smi
) ling, the best advice ! can give you is t.
marry her as soon as possible. Then she
8 won't be so apt to tease you; or, if she does
# she will be sure to compensate you, and make
f: it up with kisses and fondness, for which yor
t. seem so much to long" .I. ~.
"But, mother, / have tried, repeatedly, anc
/. she won't listen to me, and won't let me tall
d to her about it, but flies off with some absurd
!, question or other, or laughs, or runs away"
9Poor hoy Faint heart never won fail
e lady, Jasper" laughed the mother. "Ruth told
e me once about certain blackberries you crushed
:, in her hands-did she not pretend to be very
y angry with you then, and try to keep you off in
If every possible way? We women are very fool
!, ish little creatures, Jasper when in love
/. and it is common practrice of ours to be ex
cessively afraid of hearing the very things that
of all others we most long to hear. Ruth thinks
: maybe that you have outgrown those days when
e she was all in all to you-that the world, Of
: which you have seen so much, has little crowd
: ed her out of her place in your heart, and she
7 is jealous of the world, because she doesn't
9 want you to love anybody or anything but her
suspect the little goose is Jealous of me, some
i times" tte.
HWhat must do, then, mother?"
8Do? nothing, Jasper-exeept conquer her
If the fort will not open its gates, storm it.
Women are always mastered sooner than per-
suaded. Crush the blackberries over again, my
son. And God bless you both, Jasper. She
will make you noble wife. Be sure to love
and cherish her, for do not know any one
: more worthy of my son.
!; And so Jasper, acting on his mothers ad,
/ L. L e