The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-02-02
For the National Era.
SKETCHES OF COUNTRY LIFE By a
WESTERN HOUSEKEEPER.


SKETCHES OF COUNTRY LIFE By a
WESTERN HOUSEKEEPER.
The world is full of broken hearts and
bruised reeds. We meet our neighbour we
smile and say alrs well, and so pass on. Ais
we'll is the MONDAY salutation; but it is twi-
light now, and as its sombre hues and dusky
forms close around us, let us with tip.toe step
peep into the windows of our neighbours hearts,
and see how " all is WE'LL"
Here, in this sylvan grove and quiet shade,
rise the tall chimneys of an elegant Gothic cot.
tage. Surely, we say architecture bespeaks
the spirit of the occupant" and in the deep bay
window and stained glass and poets hooks of
this graceful home, we shall find bright intel
ligence and gentle courteses, music, poetic
sympathy, and all clustering family virtues.
Here are rich curtains and velvet sofas, luxu-
Gus carpets and all the appliances of wealth
and ease but what means this desoation The
grand reception room is as silent as the grave
the gay furniture might as well be so many
tombstones, for all the idea of occupancy they
suggest. Are the people of the house struck
dead?
In vain the weary traveller stands at the
grand front entrance, and, cracking his whip,
shouts, "Who's yore?" But we have only
come to the wrong door, let us step round
to the back kitchen here-peep through this
narrow window that kind faced woman, in the
unmistakable liusey dress, is the lady of the
house, and those hobnaied urchins, in ticking
shirts, the destined heirs of this fair inherit
ance Poor woman! She is at her wits end
amidst all the confusion and the steam of the
mush-pot. Don't let us worry her by knock
ing. Let us seek the master he is at rest,
perhaps we need not open those grand apart
ments; he Is not there. Far off, in a wing of
the house, we see the glowing embers of fire |
here, IN this gloomy, unexpected apartment, he |
seeks rest from the shrill rebuke of his wife |
and the disdainful airs of his oldest daughter
here may he smoke his pipe in peace, and see
his friends as he chooses here all is in keep |
ing with his natural habits--a heap of apples |
in one corner, gatherings tied up for sale in |
another; while on pile of old boots, and coats, |
and old linsey gowns, the accumulation of the |
last five years, mine host reclines in his glory |
What beautiful light falls through the stained |
glass windows on this scene of tranquil ease
He is a hard-looking case enough. If you |
were to scare him up in the woods, YOU would |
run; but he is quite harmless at home. He
has reaped great harvests, and gathered into
barns, and battled through life with its 10, ;
suns and stubborn sod, its hard weather and |
dull thoughts, uncheered BY either knowledge
or religion and now he has reached the acme
OF his hapes-a ine house, grand coach, |
broad acres, and a fine lady daughter. These
the reward Of coming old age
This same fine lady daughter has been edu.
Gated in New York boarding school; she has
come home complete in accomplishments, flow
ing and graceful in every movement, extraya.
CANT and elegant in all her tastes, She has
grand Company from town, 10 whom her father
plays hostler aud her mother plays cook
while the proud beauty repays each sacrifice
ny ever new requirements, and sulky repining
for sympathy and the bean monde !; yet never
do they weary of pampering her whims.
Poor old man. tbs sorry reward for thee
these lowered walls and gilded mirrors mock
thee They laugh at thy rustic UglAess, aud
cry out, All Is vanity and yexation of spirit"
Thine earthly gaFiauds hang loosely ON thy
shrGnksn limbs, and all this grsudesh so fSr-
elgR TO thy natural condition. Is a heavy bur
den on thy heart Ihaa att but dwarf in the
big mans clothing. In thine innermost soul
thou art home-sick for the dear old log cabin.
and the roaring back log, its rude hickory
chairs, ITS winter evenings, with thy rough /
chums, and "seven up" Thy brigh,es, dreams
are OF those dear old tines when that proud
daughter lay an iEtaat IL a sugar trough, OF
played OF thy knee With The odd bits ef harnes 81,
the treasure IF thy old woman's pocket. while
peof dog Tray stood with his paws on thv
friendly shoulder, begging for a part of tby
honest caresses. All those sweet dreams
force tear down thy rude cheek; and now the
furrowed face is buried in the deen.seamsd
hand. Tell us, dear neighbor j. all &eA with
thee?
oh ! twIMT,ygr,. shsde--eongeuial hour when
Ire greah fhrcpbing heart Of humanity sends
forth ITS most piteous signs and ardent suppl.
catons-eanst thou not whisper to this poor.
Fiea man. Behold, l stand at thy door and
knock?" /,
But other signs are going forth f,am that
cottage roof; they are brea,hsl In nv lady's
chamber. She has thSNwn aside the novel, and
stands In the dap window, drumming an &C.
to fragment of French sSng
hat well expresses her elegant agoniss- ,
A quot b,n je suis seul i,i
Mes yeux ne deioal pas, msrci.
The voice is as pure as thread of silver
he accent exquisitely true; the attitude and
'utline elegant and queenly, the features fas.
idiously classic. Where In the name of Prov. | J
ence came she BY these destinations Look,
nd wopdes-and "stiA the wonder grows I" no $
ingle indication Of low breeding can be de-
ected, 1--WE say nothing of her heart and mind J
GU are ready 70 protest her name is Portia,
nd that she has spent each season of her life
a belgrave Square. Such odd, topsy-turvy :
reaks of Nature meet one on every hand in
MS great uniformed field of society called the
Vest" Tc
solid Dutchman was stsplfag at a certain 4
lace on last election day inquiring for "de d
ocular Democratic dicket" when shrewd fell Z
Nv instantly stepped up, and supplied him with
ne genuine thing. "
Vell now" says Hans, "vo. now viii do b
nit i'm ?" h
Put it in that box pointing to the ballot W
OK, exclaimed several voices. But the cum d
ing chap who had accommodated him with the il
dicketr whispered in his ear: h