The Portland daily press., 1867-11-09

selected story.
che Doctors Observation-Disclosures.
ny John G. WHITTIER.

oe matrony beauty, was feeding chickens at
fine door She uttered an exc aination of de
light, and hurried toward us. PereeNing "a
stranger in the wagon size paused with d.
look of embarrassment. My friend who is
spending a Jew weeks with me-" explained
The doctor. ti
She greeted me ciyiliy and pressed Tie
doctors hand warmly.
"Oh, il is SO long since YOU have called on
us that We have been talking of gong up 10
see you as soon as Robert can gel away iIoii'
his confeld. You don't know now niue iu
CIV has grown lately. You must stop anu see
herr 49,,
.sShe's coming to see me herself, replied
the doctor. reckoning 10 a sweet blue eyed
child who stood in the doorway.
The delighted mother caught up her dar-
ling. and held her before the DOCTOR
doesn't she look like Robert?" she in
CURED His very eyes and forehead; bless
me here is now"
A stout, hale young farmer, in checked
trock and brown straw hat, came up from the
adjoining field, .. .--...
We'll, Robert" said the doctor, show do
matters stand with yon? Well. hope"
"All right, doctor. We've paid off the last
OF the mortgage, and the farm is all free and
clear. Julia and have worked hard, bull we
are none the worse for it."
"You look well and happy, am sure, an
swered the doctor. 81 don't think you are
sorry you took the advice of an old bachelor,
after all.o
The Young wiie's head dropped until her
lips touched those of her child.
"Sorry % exclaimed her husband, mot We
Ii there is anybody happier than we are with
in ten miles Of us, don't know them. Doe
tor, I'll tell you what said to Julia the night
1 brought home that mortgage. Well said
l that debts paid, but there's one debt we
car never pay as long as we lve' | know
it, said she. But DIR. Sinsletary wants no bet
ter reward for his kindness than to see ,ls
live happily together, and do for others what
he has done for u.s.
"Pshawl" said the doctor, catching up his
reins and whip; "you oweme nothing But
must not forget my errand. Poor old Widow
Whiting needs watcher tonight, and she
insists upon having Julia Barnet, and no
body else. What shall tell her?"
"ill go instantly, can seave Lucy now as
well as not
"Good bye, neighborS"
"Good bye, doctor" ~
As we drove off Isaw the doctor draw his
hand hastily across his eyes, and he said
nothing for some minutes.
Public opinion" said he at length. as II
pursuing his meditations aloud, spublic opin-
lou is, in nine cases out OF ten, public folly
and impertinence. We are slaves 10 one an
other-we dare not take counsel of our con-
sciences and affections, but must needs suffer
popular prejudice and custom 10 decide for
us, and at their bidding are sacrificing love
and friendship. all the best hopes of our lives
We do not ask what is best for us, but what
will folks say of it. How few dare to seek
their own happiness by the lights which God
has given them, or have strength to defy the
false pride and the prejudice of the world
and stand fast in the liberty of Christians.
Can anything be more pitabGe than the sight
OF so many who should be choosers and crea
tors under God of their own spheres of utility
and happiness, self-degraded into mere slaves
OF propriety and custom--their true natures
undeveloped, their hearts cramped and shut
up, each afraid of his neishbor, and his neigh
Dor of him, living Lille of unhealthy, deceivins
and being deceived, and forever walking in a
vain show? Here, now, we have left mar
ried couple who are happy because they have
taken counsel Of their honest affection rath-
Ell than OF the opinions of tie multitude, and
have dared TO be true to themselves in def.
ance ofimpertinent gossip ssldesfYa7y
You allude TO young farmer Barnett and
his wife, / suppose" said /. -fr4
"Yes. | will give you their case as an IL
lustration. Julia Atkins was the daughter OF
Ensign Atkins, who lived on the mill road,
just above Deacon Warmers. When she was
ten years old her mother died and in few
Virgins, the tailoress, selfish, shrewd man
aging woman. Julia, poor girl had a hard
time OF 1t, for the ensign, although kind
and affectionate man naturally, was too weak
and yielding to interpose between her and
his strong minded and sharp tongued WIFE,
She had one friend, however, who was always
ready to sympathize with her. Robert Barnet
was The son OF the next door neighbour about
two years older than herself. They had grown
up together as school companions and play-
mates; and often in my drives | used to meet
them, coming home hand in hand from school
or from the woods with berries and nuts. talk
ing and laughing as if there were no scoldine
stepmothers in the world
1t so happened that when Julia was in her
seventeenth year there came a famous writ
ing master to PecaWkin He was a sbowvr
dashy fellow, with a fashionable dress. a wick
ed eye. and a tongue like the old serpent's
when tempting our grandmother Julia was
one OF his scholars, and perhaps the prettiest
OF them ALL The rascal singled her ont from
the fIrSt and the better to accomplish his p,li-
pose, he lett the tavern and took lodgings at
the ensgn's. He soon saw how matters stood
IN the family and governed himself according
ly, taking especial pains to cOnciliate the rnl.
ing authority. The ensisn's wife hated Young
Barnet, and wished to get rid of her daueh.
ter-in-law. The writing master therefore had
fair held. He BATTERED the poor Girl by his
attentions, and praised her beauty. Her NOR
al training had not fitted her to withstand this
seductive influence; no mothers love, with its
quick, instructive sense OF danger threatening
ITS object, interpOsed between her and the
tempter. Her old friend and playmate-he
who alone could save her-had been rudeIv
repulsed from the house by her mOther-in-
law, and, indignant and disguised, he retired
from all competition with his formidable ri
val. Thus abandoned to her own undiscipln
ed imagination, with the experience of a
child and the passions OF a woman, she was
deceived by false pretenses, bewildered9 fasci-
mated and beguied into sin. III
at is the same old story of woman's conf
dence and mans duplicity The rascallv
writing master, under pretense OF visiting a
neighborlng town, left his lodgings and never
returned. The last [ heard Of him he was the
tenant OF western penitentiary. Poor Julia
driven in disgrace from her fathers house. AT
last found refuge in the dwelling of an old Wo
man OF no very creditable character. There T
was called TO visit her; and although not nm
USED 10 scenes OF suffering and sorrow, had
ment to grief, shame, and remorse. Alast
what sorrow was like unto her sorrow Tba,
Dlrtn hour OF her infant was the hour also ef
its DEATH ''' y"
The agony OF her spirit seemed greater
than she could bear. Her eyes were opened
ana She looked upon herself with loathin.,
ana horror. She would admit of no hone. no
consolation; she would listen to no palliation
or excuse for her guilt. l could only direct
her to that source of pardon and peace tn
which the broken and contrite heart never
appeals in vain.
In the meantime Robert Barnet Skinned
on board Labrador vessel. That night he
tore he lett he called on me and put in NV
hand sum OF money, small indeed. but ali
he could then command.
GU will see her often,' he said: do not
let her suffer, for she is more to he ntied
than blamed p'e'
Il told him further that would do all in NV
power for her, and added that l Thought far
better OF her, contrite and penitent as She
was, than Of some who We're busy in hol1ino
her up to shame and censure. III
God bless you for these words They will
be comfort to me-"
las for Julia, God was more merciful to her
tnan man. She rose from her sick he'd hum
oied and thoughtful, but with hopes which
transcribed the world of her SUFFERING and
shame She no longer murmured against her
sorrowiul allotment, but accepted it with oni-
et ana resignation as the fitting penalty of
Toos broken laws, and the needed discinline
.. ue Ter, spirit. She could say with the Psalm
ISL, Inc judgments OF the Lord are trua and
thy Judgment is right, ""s' anu
ouS her eXertions she obtained en-
Ployine1 1 III respectable family. to whom
sue ehuedieu herself by her taitbf,hess
cheering oDedlence and Unaffected met -
her Jrlals mad made her heart to,,aa,. la,
sympathy for all in affiiction.s 'o''oei WIN
"She seemed inevitably drawn to,.u, Il,