Connecticut western news., 1873-01-10


 him! You cali that folly but Il do the same I. if can and I'd rather have what my father iI and mother left me, than all the money you et piling up just for.the pleasure of being richer than your neighbors." "Never mind, dear, he don't mean no harm 1 " whispered Aunt Betsey, fearing storm. But though Christie's eyes had kindled and her color deepened, her voice was low and stea- dy, and her indignation was of the inward sort. " Uncle likes to try me by saying such things, and this is one reason. why want to go away before get sharp and bitter and distrustful as | he is. don't suppose can make you under stand my feeling, but I'd like to try, and then I'll never speak of it again." and carefully controlling voice and face, Christie slowly ad- | ded, with look that would have been patheti- cally eloquent to one who could have under stood the instincts of a strong nature for light and freedom: t'You say am discontented, proud and ambitious that's true, and I'm glad l of it. am discontented, because I can't help 1 feeling that there is better sort of life than I this dull one made up of everlasting work, with l no object but money. I can't starve my soul ! for the sake of my body, and mean:to get out call it, because hate dependence where there | isn't any love to make it bearable. You don't saXso in words, but knoy you begrudge me home, though you will call me ungrateful when Pm gone. I'm willing to work, but I want work can put my heart into, and feel it does me good, no matter how hard it is. l | only ask for a chance to be a useful, happy l woman and don't think that is. a bad ambi- l 1 did, earn my living honestly and happily, and leave beautiful example behind me- to help one other woman as hers helps me, shall be 1 satisfied.'
 1 Christies voice faltered over the last words,
 for the thoughts and feelings which had been | working withnhe during the last few days had stirred her deeply, and the resolution to cut 'oose from the old life had not been lightly made. MT. Devon had listened behind his pa per to this unusual outpouring with sense of | discomfort which was new to him. But thoNgh IT,, l,oI R not soften him, and when Christie paused with | fearful eyes, her uncle rose, saying, slowly, as | he lighted his candle:
 'sEf I'd refused to let you go before, I'd 1 agree to it now for you need breakin' ID, my
 cirl, and you are goin' where yonll get it, so
 the sooner you're of the better for alI-on | Come, Betsey. we may as wal leave, for we
 cant understand the wants of her higher
 natur' as Christie calls it, and we've ha ecterip
 enough for one night" And with grim laugh
 the old man quilted the field worsted, but in l good order
 sThere, there, dear, hey good cry, and for
 git about 1t Fl" purred Aunt Betsey. the
 heavy footsteps creaked away. for the good
 soul had most old fashioned and dutiful awe
 of her lord and master.
 ''I shan't cry but act; for it is high time
 rds off I've stayed for your sake; now I'm
 more trouble than comfort, and away go.
 Good night, my dear old aunty, and don't look
 troubled, for I'll be landb while stay.
 Having kissed the ola lady, Christie swept
 
 ter which the first step toward freedom
 When it was done, she drew near to her friend
 ly confddnte. the fire and till late into the night
 sat thinking tenderly of the past, braveK of
 the present, hopeful of the future. Twenty
 one tomorrow, and her inheritance head,
 heart, pair of hands; also the dover of most
 New England girls, intelligence, courage and
 common-sense, many practical gifts, all hld-
 den under the shy pride that soon melts in a
 genial atmosphere much romance and cnthu-
 sasm, and the spirit which can rise to heroism
 when the great moment comes.
 Christie was one of that large class of women :who moderately endowed with talents, earnest
 and true-hearted, are driven by necessity, temperament or principle out into the world l to find support, happiness and homes for them- selves. Many turn back discouraged; mere
 accept shadows fer substance, and discover their mistake too late; the weakest lose their , purpose and themselves; but the stronger struggle on, and, after danger and defeat, earn at last the best possession this world can give
 us, the possession of brave and cheerful spir it. rich in self-knowledge, self-control, seE- Help. This was the real desire of Christie's
 heart; this was to be her lesson and reward } and to this happy end she was slowly yet sure- ly brought by the long discipline of life and l labor.
 < Sitting alone there in the night she tried to l strengthen herself with all the good and help
 full memories she could recall, before she f went away to find her place in the great un D known world. She thought of her mother, SC t like herself who had borne the commonplact |, life of home till she could bear it no longer T. Then had gone away to teach, as most countr,
 girls are forced to do. Had net loved ant 0 married poor gentleman and, after fev - years of genuine happiness, untroubled even b, r much care and poverty, had followed him ou of the world leaving her little child tosthe pro l. lection of her brother
 Christie looked back over the long, lonel,
 years she had spent in the old farmhouse n ploddine to school and church, and doing he t tasks with kind Aunt Betsey while child; ant g slowly growing into girlhood, with world o
 romance locked up in heart hungry for lov J. and larger, nobler life.
 + She hsd tried to appease this hunger in man ways but found little help Her fathers ol
 books were aH she could command, and thes h she wore out with much reading. Inheritin d his refined tastes, she found nothing to attrac
 her in the society of the commonplace an
 often coarse people about her. She tried t 7, like the buxom girls whose one ambition wa
 to eget married, and whose subjects of con d versaton were smart bonnets " and nic
 dresses" She tried to believe that the admira
 tion and regard of the bluff young farmers wer 1t worth striving for; but when well-to-d le neighbor laid his acres at her feet, she foun ,s it impossible to accept for her life's companion t. man whose soul was wrapped up in prize cal
 tie and big turnips
 h Uncle Enos never could forgive her for thi g piece of folly, and Christie plainly saw that on ], of three things would surely happen, if she live
 on there with no vent for her full heart an e busy mind. She would either marry Joe But g terf1sld in sheer desperation. and become k farmers household drudge; settle down into l. sour spinster, content to make butter gossi
 nnd R had a 6e5 days W or csb do Wh' r. curb her needs and aspirations till the struggl T. grew too hard, and then, in fit of despair, en
 her life, and leave "a tragic storyto haunt thei
 quiet river.
 le To escape these fates, but one way appeared le to break loose from this narrow life, and go or
 into the world and see what she could do fo ct herself. This idea was full of enchantment fc 70 the eager girl, and, after much earnest though re she had resolved to try it.
 m " If fail, can come back she said to hel 1t self eveL while she scorned the thought l. failure, for with all her shy pride she was bot
 brave and ardent, and her dreams were of tn nv the rosiest sort.
 i'd II won't marry Joe I won't wear myself or P in district school for the mean sum they giv l. 0 woman won't .delve away here where al
 not wanted; and I won't end my life like nt coward because it is duil and haris I'll try n,
 fate as mother did, and perhaps I may succeed
 as well.' And Christe's thoughts went war :" dering away into the dim, sweet past when sh es happy child, lived with loving parents in e. differ ent world from that.
 Lost in these tender memories, she sat ti le the old moon-faced clock behind the.door struo is twelve, then the visions vanished, leaving the Id benison behind them.
 AS she glanced backward at the smoulderin a fire, slender spire of flame shot up from th DC log that had blazed so cheerily, and sh6ne upo it her as she vent. A good omen, grateful
 accepted then, and remembered often in tn ut years to come.
 ,d Thus ends the first chapter of Miss Alcott
 sprightly and attractive but thoughtful nc es story which commences in the holiday nunAb Id of Henry Ward Beeoher's Great Literal nc and Family Weeklv-The Christian Union, ar h, will be continued only in that paper. Mi n- AI"ott has found the key to the popular hear tn it is in depicting the true home zte of Americ ne which she makes full of zest, enjoyment ar ls wholesome earnest,es This story will be fo ts lowed in The Christtdr Union by other seria tn from other eminent American pens. Edwal Ill Eggleston, Robertson Gray, Mrs. Harri le Bee her Stowe etc.
 be The Ch11Stidn UnIQn contains contribution