The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-06-10

wa "o "0Au u eno P@tsoosSo On 1uee
day evening. The contributions II,
for the benefit of Willie Hirst, th,
lad who VA injured in Hildreth's mil
on Frid.y.'' .5 T..
What sensation this announcement
caused in Chlist's chapel!-ths invita
ton for al to meet on footing of per.
feet equality 1t was discussed in every
house, and almost Immediately consid.
cred impncticable-an innovation the
people thought Mr.: Psrcivsl uuvise 10
attempting, .@ :. +-.s,>.::t 1.
The poor were too long accustomed
to the Indifference Of their superiors to
hope much from Mr.. Perc;val's plan.
The rich scorned the idea of comine
IN coatact with their interiors and
could the minister and his wife hav
heard the remarks Of both, they would
not have been: hopeful about tho success
Of their plan for doing good. =:
Even Mrs. Hildreth-the proudest
woman in the country-on the day ap-
pointed for the first mite society made
it tho subject Of controversy with her
daughter.
| Ms. Hildreth was The widow of a
gentleman who had many years previ-
GUS established = forge in what was
then an unsettled part Of the country.
He bought great deal Of property, io-
vested large sums in business, and
named the place, which under his au-
spices became In time . dourishine
town noted for its thrift and industry. |
When Mr.: Hildreth died the property |
WAS equally divided betveen HI. ,oite, |
son and da~gh<r-the mill falling to !
Charles Hildreth's share.
Charles resembled bis father in mind
and person. He was reserved, gen.
tlemanly man, with shrewd coupte.
nance rather insignificant in form, and
consequential in manner: He possess
ed the qualifications that make men
successful in business; and though not
generous, was just aud honorable in bis
dealings with rich and poor. He was
= member Of church, strictly moral,
and considered himself digni6ed aud
useful citizen; yet the poor d,sliked
and feared him, and pronounced him
"a hard man, who g1oud his workmen
With labor and low wages"
However that might be, Charles Hil-
dreth had no difficulty in procuring
laborers for his mill, which increased in
size every year and gave employment
to hundreds.
The high chimney belched forth
smoke and fire night and, day. The
mighty forge hammers rose and fell.
The never ceasing clamor was the music
Of never ending toll To the Hildreths
tho soot-begrimed workmen were mere
machines to increase their already vast
wealth. They never considered Those
stalwart frames contained hearts that
beat with hopes and fears liko their
own. They felt no interest in "their
homely joys aud destinies obscure"
The Hildreths were justly considered
naughty aud exclusive. They occasion
ally exchanged visits with the leading
families Of fMillwood that was all. Al
great portion of their time was spent1iu
the large cities, where their euly init:
mate friends resided and as they would
not cultivate an acquaintance with
"Millwood," their life at home was spent
in isol>ted luxury. The chapel had
been built and richly endowed by Dir.
Hi,dreth, and the family puuctually st-
tended service. 1t was only on these
occasions the village caught a glimpse
Of aristocratic Mrs. Hildrsth and her
daughter.
When Mr.. Percival first called on the
family, the knowledge Of their high
position did not blind him to the fact of
the mother beng a weak, SILLY woman,
deficient in good sense and judgment.
She was patroniziagly affable to the new
rector, and endeavored to impress him
with sense Of her own importance in
the church and community, and signal
y failed.
He liked the daughter much better,
though tho look that passed over her
face when he suggested better feeling
among th. rarish,oners betrayed pride
and bad trimming. Charlotte Hlldreth
was not only young and beautiful; she
possessed . subtle gift more powerful
than either-the art Of charming.
Some woman inherit nameless grace
of person and manner which attracts At
first sight, Whatever the surroundings
may be. This gift does not, as many
suppose, belong exclusively to high |
birth OF culture: all classes have types |
of the "ounningest pattern Of excelling |
nature !" I have seen it enhanced by
education and refinement, and ael nowl- |
edged its dangerous power. ] have
watched it in tho children Of misfortune
With anxious interest lest it should prove
to them only 4 temptation aud a snare.
| To this charm, perhaps, Charlotte
owed Mr.. Percival's first favorable i'm
lpression of her, which did not change,
though often severely tried by her way