Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-08-21
Ml6eellaneons.
THE AUTHOR OF THE SCHON-
BERG-COTTA FAMILY.

BERG-COTTAF FAMILY.
The moment Of our departure from Eng
land had arrived; we were at that point in
a long journey when the feeling Of expecta-
ton for the unknown, is satisfied, and one s
thoughts turn fondly towards home But
one more pleasure was 10 reserve for us-we
we're invited to spend our last night under
the roof Of the author Of the "Schonberg-
Gotta Family. Mrs. Charles lives al Hamp-
stead, one Of the pretty suburban villages
that are sprinkled thickly around London.
About six miles distant, it is perched on a
hill which commands full view of the city.
An hours drive on beautiful summer az
ternoon brought Us to the place, where, af
ter climbing up and winding aboutthe quaint
old streets and lanes we stopped before a
house on the brow Of hill overlooking a
wild landscape What charm in these
English homesl There is such an air Of
taste and comfort, and Jet such an absence
Of pretention The plain brick walls are
covered with ivy. and the flowers in the
window, and vines over the door, give to
the most modest dwelling an air Of refine
ment This sense of beauty is increased
when, as the centre of a picture, kind and
gentle woman appears to give Us welcome
We always form an idea Of an author looks
The 'Schonberg-Co Family is so thor
oughly German book-not only because
the scene is laid in Germany, but in all its
details Of domestic life, it has such a perfect
ooHlear locale that when / first read it, years
since, | took ii for granted that the writer
was German Indeed, it was my first i'm
preston that it was a very old book, writ
ten one or two hundred years ago, and just
brought 10 light Imagine, then, ny sur
Prise at seeing q lady still Young aud emf
neutlv English, OF small, slight figure, whose
modest, almost timid manners at once en-
gagged our interest and sympathy. There is
among women a sort Of intuition Of char
acter, which reveals them to each other. Ii
needed but glance 70 recognize a pure,
transparent nature iu this true English wo-
man. Mrs Charles Is native Of Doyen-
shire, the only child Of member Of parlia-
meut, who died some years since, leaving a
name greatly respected iG that part Of Eng
land. Her mother. lady, Of great texeellenee,
lives with her Mr. Charles is merchant
ofLondon, who, though engaged in business,
shares in the tastes of his wife, and furnishes
her ample means for their qualification.
Thus placed in the most favorable posi-
ton, nothing seems wanting in this beauti
full home, to make the happiness Of a VIC
man, bus the voices Of children. But it is
perhaps this very freedom from family
cares which has given her leisure TO study
and TO write. Her first books we're thefruits Of
years Of reading and observation She had
made herselffamiliar with German literature
and history, especially the history Of the
reformation, and in travels on the continent
had observed the scenes and customs which
shewished to describe Thus fitted for her
task, she put into the Sehonberg Gotta
Family the fruits Of this long preparation
But all this literary culture, she would
hardly have undertaken the labor of writing
books, except from higher motive than
reputation Her object from the first, as
she says herself, with as much truth as sim
pIicity, has been, to do good = It's easy
to see that she is much more preoceupied
with their usefulness than with the fame
they bring to herself 1t was real pleasure
to be able to say 10 her, that on the other
side Of the ocean her books we're in the
hands Of our young people, and made the
delight Of thousands of family circles; to see
her eyes fill with tears Of qualification, and
to have neither to fatter nor to spare the
susoeptibilities of an author for awork which
had been labor of love and charity She
observed life, not with the cold eye of a
philosopher or moralist, but with the heart
Of a woman, full Of pity for ignorance and
misery, and Of sympathy for the poor and
the obscure, especially FOR her own sisters in
England and all other parts Of thelands, who
are lonely aud unfriended, who seem to be
disinherited Of the common enjoyments Of
life, and need to be led to the source of con-
ISOLATION
Onca knowing Mrs. Charles, it IS impos-
sible to regard her writings any longer mere
II from literary or artistic point Of view
since her aim is far higher Sheis not an
author writing for money or fame, but Q
true philanthrophist or missionary, anima,
ted with Christian purpose, to combat igno
rance and impiety, to strengthen faith, and
to soothe human sorrow, by whispering
into the ears OF the unhappy words Of peace
and hope-a noble Christian woman, who
finds in her own heart, OVERCOMING with
goodness, perpetual inspiration. N 4
Eraagelist