The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-04-06

ana Master george. as the boy was called :;
and soon understood why. His mothers
only son by former marriage, and heir of
the neglected lands lying around Penthouse
he stood in tine way of his step-father, whose
influence over his wife was supreme, and
who, but for the boy, would have absolute
possession of everything. lie had married
for money, and had been baked of half bis
prize used often to wonder that the two
were not afraid to trust themselves in tie
hands OF one so passionate and INSCRIPTIONS:
but though Mrs. Brand was unlisg uisedly
afraid of her husband, and the boy was not
too stupid to understand that he was hated
and why, neither seemed to look forward to
evil days. do not think that they had
mind enough to look to the future in hope or
dread. Mother aud son loved each other,
with the mute instructive love of dumb ami
mals-a love in which both would be help.
less to save if bad times came. They were
not much together. and they seldom spoke
when they met but they sat close to each
other, always in the same place and on the
same chairs, and Mrs. Brand unrayellcd her
eternal slips of muslin, while her son eathe,e i
up the threads aud thrust them into a
canvas bag.
| had been there a fortnight, and never
saw either of them employed in ANYTHING
else; and never Eeard half dozen words
pass between them. 1t was a silent house ut
all times and, nor thar this, it was a house
full of hate. Save this dumb animal kind of
love between the two, not ray of kindly
feeling existed among any of us. The ser.
want was the mark for every ones i'll temper,
while stood out as q kind of pariah among
them all, not even digniied by active dislike
| was Stunned, and could not understand why
| was there al all. The lady never spoke to
me. not even to say good morning she gave
me no duties, but she forbade me no employ
uent. | WAS free to do what liked provided
| did not make my existence too manifest to
her. and did not speak to her husband or
Master George. If by chance anything like
a converse ton be9an--for Mr.. Brand had his
talkallve moods in violent, angry kind of
way-she used to order me out of the room in
the same tone as she used to speak to the dog
Ii demonstrated, as | did once. her only
answer was You can 60 if you like | did
not hire you"
One thing especially troubled me. 1t
| troubled me because, like all morblllv
imaginative people, anything of a mystery
terrified me more han an open danger; and
this, 81 which am going to speak, was a
mystery. The boy took no notice Of me at
first. lie never spoke to me when he came
| INTO the room he pasSoG me in the fields as
II he did not see NE indeed, he had always
that manner to mc--he did not see mel did
| not exist for him. | was well content that
this should be: but after had been there
short time, Mr.. Brand began to make distinct
mischief between us. From british indf-
ference Master George passed rapidly to
british aggression. When he met me in the
lanes and fields he made mouths at me- and
once he flung stones and mud as | passed
him: at table he would kick me silently.
and whenever caught his eye he made
hd'ous gImaccs, mut,cling in his broad
provincial accent, " Mad dog mad dog -
We hang mad dogs hercaway" His ioso-
lence and brutality increased daily, and Mr..
Brand encouraged him. This was the
mystery. Why should he wish this lad to
hate me
There was plot underneath it all which
tormontod myself to discover. Day and
night the thought haunted me, till | felt
growing crazcd with dread and terror.
could not conceal my adherence Of the youth
i was too rcrvous for that nor hide the
fear with which that wicked man inspired
me. was as helpless as the poor pa lie
woman there, and as thoroughly the victim
OF a stronger fate.
On night Master George had been more
than usually intocrable to me. lie had
struck me openly before both father and
mother; had nsuted my misfor,unes, and
spoken with brutal disrespect of my family
1t was a wild winters night, and the howl
ing wind shook the windows and dashed the
trailing ivy-lcaves sharply against the panes
"a fearful night making all visions Of free
dom and escape impossible; a night which
ncccssitatcd one to be content with one s own
tiresldc, apd forbade the idea Of wandering
farther. Yet it was something worse than
death to me to he shut in that mean room,
with its squalid furniture and scan,y fire,
with such companions, and to feel that
could not escape from them-that they
| might threat me, mock me, rcrsecute me as
they would, and | was bound to hear all
without protection or means Of escape. The
stormy night had excited me, and felt less
than ever able to bear all the insoIencc and
brutality heapcd upon me. When Mas
ter George struck me again, end called me
- mad COG" something seemed TO take
possession of me. My tinldty and nervous
ness vanished, and felt as if swept away in
a very tumult of passion. | do not know
now what it was that said or did, but |
remember rising passionately from my place,
and pouring out torrent of bitterness and
reproach. was almost unconscious Of what
| was doing, for | was literally for the
moment Insane; but rememb Der the words,
you shall die . you shall die" rising ike
a scream through the room. have not the
slightest recollection of how left the pallor,
nor how got to my own chamber. but it
was past midnight wher. awoke from " hat
must have been k ind Of swcon, and found
myself lying on the floor.
The wind was still raging, bowling
through the trees outside, tearing down
branches, and scattering the dead leaves like
fakes Of frozen snow upon the ground
Every door and window shook throughout
the old house, and the wild moaning in the
chinneys came, startling, like the cries of
tortured beings. Confused and gddy, |
rose ont of my trance, stiff with cod and
scarcely conscious. But as my brain grew
clearer it grew also feverish and knew there
was no rest for me tonight. My hearing
began to be distrcssngly acute, and every
painful thought and circumstance of my life
rose up before me with the force of living
scenes actually present to my senses. paced
my room for some time in state of despair
wIinging myhands and sobbing violently,
but without tears. By degrees little calm
ness cane to me, and | determined to 20
down stairs for book. would get some
quiet, calm, religious book which would
soothe me like spiritual opiate, and take
me out Of the abyss of misery into which |