The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-22

she did not wish to encourage it. She
feared he would overwork himself, as indeed
she had very good reason TO fear. If a book
CHANGED in his way, after tea, he would pick it
up as if it were treasure, and gulp its con-
tents with hot-foot haste. But Lizzie did not
permit him to read much after tea. She wanted
him herself, to talk to. Talk to her he would
not, but he was nevertheless fond of her com
pany, $50 she fancied she could perceive,) and
showed great willingness to answer her ques-
tons, read to her, and perform whatever other
services she might require of him.
There is time enough for him to study"
Lizzie thought-with a reference of course to
her plans for him in the future " the danger
is that he will be deficient in accomplishments
that in his desire for solid matter he win neg
lect the polish"
And it was shrewdly enough conjectured, for
seldom indeed does your selfmade man think
it worth his while to finish off and give bright
ness and gloss to the rough and sturdy castings
which he creates. So Oscar was made to read
poetry aloud to Lizzie, and she would find things
requiring to be explained--if he could not do
it, they must think it overlook it out in the
critics, start theory, for she never permit
ted any matter to go unelucidated. She became
full of the idea of learning to draw, and he must
give her lessons, particularly in landscape, for
which she had an especial fondness. Then she
discovered that he had passion for music, so
he must sing second with her. When she found
that he played little on the violin, one that
belonged to her father, but had not been used
for twenty years, was hunted for in the lumber
room, brought to light, and pronounced an ex-
tremely fine one. She was very glad of that,
for she thought it the sweetest instrument in
the world and, then, it was the finest possible
accompaniment for the voice and the forte
pianO-one of which instruments, rare enough
then, her father had presented her with several
years ago. Sunday mornings, she went to
church to the nearest one OF her own denomi-
nation, which was several miles distant, and
much too far for her father and mother to go,
except now and then, for they were getting fee
BILE, and not able to stand fatigue. Black Tom
used to drive her in the old coach, which turned
out always en- grande te'nee, with two horses
attached in summer and four in winter. Now,
she asked Oscar to go with her, driving the
gig, which was the favorite vehicle in those
days. The lad, looking at his single suit, was
at first going to refuse, but, catching her eye,
his pride came in to his assistance with vehe-
mence, and he drove her to church, handed her
out and in again, and, for the first time, did not
act the servant. This was when he had been
there two months, and fortnight afterwards he
received letter from his friend and teacher,
enclosing $40. 81 hope" wrote he, " that you
go to church regularly, as every Christian
should. Knowing the state of your affairs,
fear that your pride may not let you go, not
having a suit of good clothes, so venture to
send you the within as loan, running the risk
of hurting your feelings, for the sake of advan.
tagging you presently and eternally. Do not
hesitate to make use Of it, and to keep it as
4 "a -
improriso, and, consequently, does not enter
into my regular income. Get yourself good
suit, as that is always the cheapest, and to make
your appearance as neat and gentlemanly as
possible is a compliment due from you to your
kind employers"
Oscar did not return this money, but used 1t
religiously as directed-telling Lizzie's father
whence it came. But Lizzie did not show any
surprise at seeing him clad like gentleman,
nor did she ask any questions.
Time moved on, and in these various ways
Lizzie saw much of Oscar, heard his voice fire.
uuently enough, and did much for him, yet af-
fairs had not progressed, as she had sanguinely
expected towards that point short of which she
was determined not to stop, viz: a friendly and
confidential relation between the two, attended
with, ON her part at least, sisterly affection
and reliance, and va his part with willing
ness to accept her assistance in the furtherance
of his ambitious purposes, just so far as her
within or her judgment might prompt her u
extend that aid. He was afraid to become fond
of her, to trust her, even to be free with her
lest he should offend that naughty pride of his
How could she demonstrate to him that, by
resting upon her, he was virtually lending heI
assistance for life's journey? They knew each
other so well now, that an explanation could
be comprehensively made-yet this state o.
things might have kept up forever, had not
chance brought about the explosion. But the
explosion could not have taken place, had not
the powder in the magazine been dry, and the
match dangerously near at hand.
1t came about in this way Latterly, as the
nights began to grow longer, she had permitted
him to begin studying. Two or three books
were left in the dining-room, such as she
fancied he might need; and nearly every eve
ming, before going to his room, he read In
Euclid, in the Greek Grammar, and the Rev
Hugh Blair's Lectures on Rhetoric. But she
did not want him to study too much-perhaps
she thought this dearth might yet tame his
pride-and so, although she permitted him to
take these books up to his room, she put him
on short allowance in the matter of candles
He had q particular candlestick assigned to his
use, duu HI tu6t hC iOuuu CoCh CAdSet
two inches in length of mould candle, enough
to last him during twenty minutes only. Oscar
did not mplain-indeed, he never thought Of
there being purpose in this. He only knew
that he had no business to consume more can
die than was required to light him to bed, and
he also knew that candles he must have. Hence,
it was necessary to buy them-he could keep
them in his chest under the bed, and no one
would be the wiser for it, at all. This was a
necessity he had been looking forward to during
the whole summer, and consequently he had
made what provision he could. October LIST,
black Tom was sent with the covered wagon to
the city, for a load of groceries, &c. He took
down, for Lizzie's father, six barrels of cider,
and other produce; for Lizzie, dried peaches
by the bushel; for Oscar, three gallons of oil OF
sassafras, and seventeen muskrat skins. These
were pelts of muskrats he had trapped at night,
and f1ayed and as for the oil, he had reason to
remember the labor it had cost him in its ex-
preston. The return for these articles was
$l9.374, and Lizzie's father gave him credit
with Tom for five dollars more; so Tom took to
the city memorandum of articles Oscar wish
ed to have purchased for him-Tom being a
notable bargain-maker. Much study had that
memorandum cost the youth, so many things
required, and so little money to procure them
with. SchreveGi Lexicon, not to cost over two
dollars; Greek Grammar Latin Dictionary
Preach Phrase Book; Mathematical Works,
second hand, carefully underscored, this y and
other books; pens, ink, paper; nearly twenty
dollars worth in all-with some articles of cloth
ing, quite necessary, but which he came near
treating as Erasmus did his cloak. e., going
without them. Also, twenty-five lbs. sperm
candles sperm, because of their steady light
and slow burning, showing him economical OF
his eyes, withalE"s pair of cheap snuffers''-
piece of Bristol paper, and ad-pencil.' y
Miss Lizzie, who superintended the departure
of the wagon, overlooked all Toms commits
e;ncs and "A he told Mr.. Oscar afterwards. had