The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11

intend to coax papa to let me return with you
| and spend the winter with Aunt c..
By the, way, have, as dernier resort
taken TO journalizing of late. You need not
shrug your shoulders; there is little danger OF
| my becoming literary lady, (bores, the whole
tribe OF them y but shall duly send my packet,
| and insist upon your reading every word, as a
penanee for that thought.
"Yours, STELLA"
Some weeks later, received the promised
packet, from which | make the following ex-
cerpts: 4st -
:" My 25.-M-, DEAR we have had din
ner party to-day; but l must pass over all the
other guests, pleasant people enough, but as
like those you meet every day one bank note
to another, to describe one, only one, but an
original, who promises an inexhaustble fund
OF amusement to Tom and myself Now,
wager, you are picturing to yourself some Pc
dantic tutor, or dyspeptic minister half choked
In white cravat, some country Dogberry, or
neck 0r-nothing student. None of these; but
the very Rev. Hezekiah C., A. NJ, ID. d., &C.,
Professor of Hebrew, and, for aught know, of
Hmdoo, in W College. He is as absent
minded as Dominic Sampson, and as ugly as
Vulcan.
"No, let me be just. Ugly is not the right
word for the Outline-the design, so to speak
tellectual; but it seems as if Nature, while
moulding it, had suffered an attack of paralys
| and thus marred the beauty and regularity of
the original plan. This may be, in part owing
to large scar over his left eye, where the skin
is 50 contracted, that when he knits his brow
as he invariably does when engaged in thought,
the wrinkles gather round it, like waves about
a miniature Maelstrom. Add to this, a large
wart on his chin, and nose like promOnto-
ry, and you have some faint notion of the
lineaments of my AdOnis. AS to age, he may
be forty, or fourscore; for of such face it may
be said, as truly as OF one moulded in the most
perfect font of beauty, Age cannot wither or
custom stale its infinite variety AS to his
manner, you should have seen him at the din
ner table The conversation turned upon ge
| ology, the discoveries and theories of Hugh
Miller and Agassiz, and so completely absorbed
did he become in the subject, that he used
mammals finger glass as freely as his own,
poured wine upon his plate for vinegar, covered
his pudding with catsup instead of sauce, and
| ate 1t In perfect Inconsistencies. | was obliged
to think of all manner of disagreeable things
martyrdoms and railway accidents, and the
like-to keep from laughing and l dared not
look at Tom during the whole hour at dinner.
Papa, who it seems has known him long
time, and holds him in high esteem, insists
upon his being frequent guest here and
Tom and ! are highly delighted with our new
specimen.
"June IL must confess, M, that do
begin to like the country little ust little
| though of course | should not be willing to
own as much to any one here, for dread the
raillery, and above all, papas quiet, quizzical
smile. Therefore, like most wise people, whose
faith in the infallbility of their own prescience
begins to be shaken, protest the more loudly
that was never born to love pigs and chick
ems l have made several pleasant acquaint-
ances; and, to say the truth, such walks and
rides and sails and fishing parties are not to
be got up in the city,
June IA glorious morning; and Young
lady from the city, Miss Drayton, Ed Pinck
| ney, Tom, and myself, have had delightful
excursion on horseback. Pinckney is stu
dent from the South, the best dancer, the best
horseman, as well as the most distingue look
ing man have ever seen. Since our return,
we have been amusing ourselves with Professor
G., who sat in the library, working out
mathematical problem, of which there was
some speech at the dinner table, and such hor.
| rible grimaces as he made whenever he discov-
cred an error in the calculations! Tom and
Ed. and drew caricatures of him, and l could
| hardly prevent them from playing off some
| trick upon him. ! knew papa would be very
angry at any such proceeding; besides, the
| Dominies face is fast becoming an object of
interest to me. There is fascination about
| it which cannot explain. But you know my
passion for indiyidualities, of old. Sometimes,
especially when be is speaking of anything
that interests him, and he never speaks of a
| topic that does not, the features assume phase
and expression that is really beautiful; but the
instant he ceases, it is gone, and the old land.
IL Il .,,A Il
is really one of the most vexatous, provoking
faces | ever saw-cOnstantly promising, and
as constantly battling.
Epenimy-Ah, Nj, selfreproach is a
most miserable feeling as Tom and ] both
know to our sorrow. This evening, after
Ed. and N ISIS GraysOp we're gone, we were
comparing our caricatpres of the Rrofessor,
when papa came along and looked over my
shoulder. COULD fancy how stern his face
looked, though did nat daFe to look up. when
he took the papers from my hand, and held
them nearer the lamp, as if to assure himself
that he was not mistaken then he very briefly
babe us follow him to the library. We obeyed,
and took the seats he indicated On the sofa be-
fore him, like couple of culprits, as we We're.
He did chide us we anticipated; but such a
history of selfconquest, selfdenial, and sacri-
fee, as he gave us The struggle of a kingly
soul against obstacles within and without, tr-
umphng at last, through Divine grace, over its
own fiery passions, and by answering meek
ness and patient torbearance, under the most
CALLING insults and wrong, turning the hatred
Of hereditary enemies INTO admiration and
respect Even that scar, that has excited my
silly mirth, was won in the performance of a
deed ofheroism, the very thought Of WHICH sends
the hiaod tingiiAg through The yains with quick
er motion--a warmer glow. Sometime, must
tell you the story. Papa spoke Of bis wisdom
| and rare learning, but more fully Of bis charity
and kiHdRess--Of his refusal of several lucrative
settlements, because, having no family ties to
bind him to any one locality, he being the last
of his race, and unmarried, he prefers to re-
main here, Strengthening the weak and the
weary and the tempted among his pupils, and
binding up the wounds of the broken-heart
ed among al ranks, conditions, and creeds
away from rs T; Vie that look Of raingsd pain
apd sarcasm upon his face, which always touch
es me SO keenly, l leave it to your wisdom to
decide whether such man is a fitting subject
for your idle tricks and silly laughter i
"' If he had but scOlded-given us a regular
blowing upl' cried Tom, as he left the ROOM
But this tone of quiet contempt is enough to
drive feiiow mad. | neseF fslt Sc aeanly in
my life. Tin glad Rinckpey did not hear
him
"s So am /, though Pinekney is not so much
to blame as ourselves, Tom, for the Professor
is our guest. Besides, if We haaa not have set
the example, RiHckHey HeFeE yoqlq page pre-
sEWed to quiz him. ! could not help blush
ing as 1 spoke, NJ, for knew that Pinck-
ney had been led on in this by a desire to please
me, and felt at once how meanly he must
think Of me, even while he permitted himself
to be thus influenced.