Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-14
fcou.inued fro,n Arst pacc. |

out the best master mariner going; and SO
much thought of by uncle and all down
there; and once he helped to man the
lifeboat--coxswain they said-when one
of the sailors wouldn't 60. How dare
they say such things to father about him ?
And for the minister, too, who scarcely
knows him ~
II seems TO me as if the excessive con-
trast between the two had been a great
bond of attraction: the daring, restless,
pleasure-loving man of action had a charm
Tor her concentred poetic nature, cultiva-
ted all on the wrong side, and probably
she had interested him much in the same
way.
.Dear your father and mother love
you so that if he goes on well they'd be
sure to consent. If he's patient and con-
slant to you." l added.
Her face fell, and she turned away sud-
denly.
Was it doubt whether the gallant and
gay Captain Roberts would be patient
and constant to her? although she would
have suffered any torture rather than con-
iess the feeling even to herself.
l must say l doubted more about the
man at that moment than from anything
her mother had told me- and it was with
real pang that ! said, as she went
toward the door
mind, dear, you've no right to wreck
your life. God gave it you to do better
with than that, even if it did not break
your parents hearts along with your own.
II Captain Roberts is not good, you ought
to try and give him up
II might help him do right-hc told me
so," she said very softly.
aas'And suppose he only helped you to do
wrong? it is too great burden for
woman's shoulders even if it were laid
upon you, Charlia, and nobody has right
to choose it for themselves. He is ten
years older than you arc: didn't you tell
me so ?-and you are such young girl to
think of guiding others
But l havea duty to him now, surely, '
she said in still lower voice.
''If you come to weighing Incompatible
duties, dear, must not the lifelong one TO
YOUR own two come at least first P"
She did not reply. but stood outside the
door for moment irresolute, before she
closed it.
Things went on very quietly in the house
after this. / used to find exquisite little
nosegays on my table-the flowers were
beginning to fade, it is trne, but after one
or two hints as to colors and arrangement,
and the sight of the berries and leaves she
saw me bring in-bits of red Virginian
creeper growing among the following
maple and brown beach, or branches OF
fern and moss, seemed to grow of them
selves in my room. The wax flower
epoch had clearly vanished there was
natural refinement about her which only
wanted word to develop. She did her
duty by her mother with all her might.
fetched and carried and sewed and mend
ed indefatigably and patiently, and was
very tender to her old father when he
came home at night. He was never
weary of listening to her voice, and |
could hear her singing to him half the
evening. In general he asked for his be-
loved hymn tunes, but also very often for
the old Welsh airs which l, too. had
learned to love: 1.-The Rising of the Lark
1.-The Valley of the folding of the Lamb"
maid Meggan of which | had
found the ''Sasneg" had cribbed without
acknowledgment of their origin and had
set to ugly English words, Cease your
funning, Poor Mary Anne" &c.
The most cheerful Of them sounded sad,
however. thought, as she sang them;
there was strange pathOs in her voice, as
if it carried with it the echoes of the old
historical sadness as well as her own,
which made me thrill. used to open my
door to hear her, and she would some
times come and sing to mel saw great
deal of her by snatches; she cared for all
that Twas doing and all that was read
ing, which was not very much though my
niece had sent me down great parcel OF
books-the circulating library of the place
tary rambles and the sitting on the beach
in the open air for hours were very firing,
and came in generally too much exhaust
ed to do more than lie on the horsehair
sofa with book of travels. Besides
which, the period for much reading for
most of us is not when we have all our
time to ourselves, and "nothing else to
do" as is supposed, but when one is at
least moderately busy for other people.
There was not very much perhaps in
Charlia's extreme desire to know more
about "foreign parts and languages
Captain Roberts had been, or might have
to 90, abroad; but she had an appetite for
better things, and she was so interested in
all which we did together that was quite
afraid OF keeping her from her work.
She was left wonderfully free. however. as
" nCt duiC aliu bCl W Abl
mother, who would have made up for the
one thing denied to Charlia by every ten
der indulgence that she could layish upon
her, while her father interferred with her
liberty on this one to him necessary poin,
of discipline.
Charlia's mood varied greatly: she had
asked me to help her in French, which,
like that of Chaucer's prioress, was ''after
the scole Stafford attic bowe, for Frenehe
Of Paris was to hire unknown" but some
times she could hardly keep up her atten-
ton to what we were doing for more than
amoment.
Occasionally she looked so excited and
restless that wondered her parents were
not more uneasy-probably however, she
controlled herself more when with them
a than alone with me. had tabooed all talk
about Captain Robert--it seemed to be
worse than useless but to do her justice.
she did not seem to wish to enter mnch
on the subject-she felt it too deeply.
IL was very near the end of my time