Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-03

MRS. WALKERS BETsEY.
ny MRS. Ii. L. BosTwIcK.

ef.'ee "o W ~ w diRtcb BuViiS WV
The village itself was devoid Of the smallest pre-
tension to beauty, natural or architectural, being
the sudden upgro,cfh Of prosperous speculation,
and al tina, time, rejoicing in its newness of fac
tory cbimncys, and curious 6lagreed dcpots. But
all it's surroundings we're romantic and lovely in
the extreme. Skirting one side, was a winding
river, bordered with beautiful willows, and on the
other, u high bill, thickly wooded. and in many
places craggy and PERCEPTIONS. These woods, in
spring and summer, were full Of flowers and Wild
vines; and q clear, cold stream, that had its birth
10 . cavernous recess among the lodges, dashed
over the rocks. and after many wonderful bends
and p.unges, found lite way to The river. At the
foot of the hiIl wornd the railr Dad track, at
some points nearly filing the space between the
brook and the rocks, at others, almost oyerhung
BY the latter. Some Of the most delightful walks
! ever knew were in this vicinity, and here the
whole school would often resort in the warm wea-
sher for q Saturdays ramSle.
IL was upon one Of these summar rambles that
! first made the acquaintace Of Mrs. Walkers Bet
ssy. Not that her unenviable name and reputa-
zion had been concealed from my knowledge here
t%ofore, for almost from my first introduction to
that place, q stream Of obloquy touching that un-
lucky parsonage, had been poured in my ears, til!
her name seemed a synonym for everything evil.
IL was the one subject upon which churches, and
sewiug-societies, and neighborhood cliques, were
not divided: upon which gossips were harmon
ious, and quiet people garrulous. But as she was
not a member Of my class, and indeed a very ir-
regular attendant. of any class, she had never per-
sonally fallen under my observation. trf+}fE.
gathered that her parents had but lately come
to live in Offspring, that they were both ignorant
and vicious, and that the girl, who after all. was
was only Mrs. Walkers by o former marriage, was
an arrant compound of mischief and malice,-a
sort o. goblin sprite-with such proclivities to
diabolism, as had never been known since the era
Of witchcraft.
In school her reputation was worst Of all. Was
. green pumpkin found in the Principals hat, OF
an ink-bo:tle upset in the water bucket,-did a
teacber, upon putting on her bonnet, find q nest
of young mice suddenly dropping over her neck
and shoulders, her shawl extra borderei with
burdocks, her gloves filed with some ill-scer ted
weed, or her India-rubbers cunningly nailed tc
the floor, half a hundred juvenile tongues were
ready to proclaim Mrs. Walkers Betsey as the
undoubted delinquent, and this, despite the fact
that very few of these misdemeanors were ever
proved upon her. But whether proved or not, she
accepted their sponsorship all the same, and
laughed at or defed her nccusers, as her mood
might be. That the girl was o character in hel
way, shrewd and sensible, though wholly uncul
tured, l was well satisfied from all l heard tina
che was sly, stubborn and malicious, I believed
/ an ashamed to say, upon very insufficient evi
dsnce. Ii r.. DO yt..- .,..- .t gan, sy .-s,y
"Where can my pnrasol have gone 2" / said a
.chno1 c1ooad npa sultrv Julu dau md 7 1ookaf
from the window of the ante-room, shrinking from
an unsheltered walk in the fierce heat. / wa
sure l had not carried it from home in the morn
ing, and supposed it had been left in the school
house over night. The girls of my class ~constitu
ted themselves o committee Of search and inquiry
but to no purpose. The article was. not in tn
house or yard; and then my committee change
themselves into a jury, and, without a dissentin
voice, pronounced Mrs. Walkers Betsey guilty {
''oribbing" my poor little sunsbade. She ha
been seen lettering in the ante-room, and afte
ward running away in great haste. The charg
seemed reasonable enough, but as | could not lear
that Betsey haG ever been convicted Of q thief
though continually suspected, | requested the CIR
TO keep the matter quiet for a few days at least,
which they willingly consented.
That evening l had promised to conduct IN
class to a place in the woods, where on the da
previous l had found some beautiful specimens
Phlox, on which we were to call Bo!anics in requ
sition. When the sun was low in the west, y
set forth, walking nearly the whole distance in Il
shadow of the hill. We climbed the ridge, restt
q moment, and then started in search of the sple
did patch of purple blossoms 1 had accidental
found in taking o short cut over the hill to Il
hone. Of n f,iopd I ~ IN visit -
"Stcp, Miss Burke" came in suppressed tom
from half my little troop, as, emerging from
thicket, we came 10 sight of a queer object PEREZ
ed upon a little mound, among dead sticks an
leaves. 1t was a diminutive child who judgir
from her face, and not her size, might be eleven
twelve years of age. A little, brown, weird fa
il was. with keen eyes. Tightening out from a ma
Of stringy black hair, that wandered distracted
from the con6nementof an old comb. l. ID
"There's Mrs. Walkers Betsey | do declare
whispered Matty Holmes. "She often goes hon
from school this way, and now she is playing TT
ant. She'll get q whipping If her mother frds
0ut.N aofT taa f-e4ff
b"Mss Burke" interposed another, in an en-,
getic whisper. "see what she has in her hand p
looked, and there, to be sure, was my lost paras
.itt.Tbere noae," didn't We say SO ?" don't she 10
guilty ~ "Impudent baggage !" were the low Ell
~ulations of my indignant vigilance committee; !
in truth the girls appearance was unconcerned a
~innecens enough. She sat swaying herself abo
opening and shutting the wonderful instrume
holding it between her eyes and the light, to
certain the quality of the silk, aud sticking a I
IN the handle to try If it were ivory or mere pa
ted wood.
-Let's dash upon her, and gee her scamper
was the most benevolent suggestion whispered
my ear. 1an sa
"No," said, 81 wish to speak with her alo
first. ALI Of you stay here out Of sight, and l W
return presently" They fell back dissatisfied, al
c~ontented themselves with Beeping and listenin