The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-12-02
stItfteD MisftlIanp.

By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

BIZ NArHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
We can be but partially acquainted even
with the events which actually influence
our course through life, and our final des-
tiny. There are innumerable other events
If such they may be called which
come close upon US, yet pass away without
actual results, or even betraylng their near
approach by the reflection OF any light or
shadow across our minds. Could we know all
the vicissitudes of our fortunes, life would
be too full Of hope and fear, exultation or
disappointment, to afford US single hour
of true serenity. This idea may be illus.
trated by page from the secret history'e of
David Swan.
We have nothing to do with David until
We find him at the age of twenty, on tie
high-road from his native place to the city
of Boston, where his uncle, a small dealer
in the grocery line, was to take hIm behind
the counter. Be it enough to say, tina. he
was a native of New Hampshire, born of
respectable parents, and had received an
ordinary school education, with a classic
finish by year at Gimanton Academy
After journeying on foot, from sunrise to
nearly noon of . summers day, Ills weari,
ness and the increasing ,..eat determined
him to sit down in the first convenient
shade: aud a"ait the coming up of the
stage-coach. As if &lanted on purpose
Tor him, there soon appeared a little tuft of
naples, withsa delightful recess in the
midst, and such fresh bubbing spring,
that it seemed never TO have spark led for
any wayfarer but David Swan. Virgin or
not, he kissed il with his thursty lips, and
then flung himself along the brink, pillow,
ing his head upon some shirts and "A pair
of pantaloons, tied up in a striped cotton
handkerchief. The sunheams could not
reach him.; the dust did not yet rise from
the road, after the heavy rain of yesterday;
and his grassy lair suited the youug man
better than a bed of down. The spring
murmured drowsily beside him; the
branches waved dreamiy across the blue
sky overhead; and deep sleep, percIIance
hiding dreams within its depths, fell upon
David Swan. But we are to relate events
which he did not dream of.
While he lay sound asleep in the shade,
other reople were wide awake, and passed
to and fro, afoot, on horseback, and in all
sorts of vehicles, along the sunny road by
his bedchamber. Some looked neither to
the rignC hanu nor tue ieIt, anu knew not
that he was there; some merely glance
that way, without admitting the sumberer
among their busy Thoughts; some laughed
to see how sCundy he slept; an several,
whose hearts were brimming full of scorn,
elected their vanomous superduity on David
Swan. A middie-aged widow, when no
body else was near, thrust her head a little
way into the recess, and vowed that the
young fellow looked charming in his sleep.
A temperance lecturer saw him, and wrought
discourse, as an awful instance of dead
drunkenness by the roadside. But censure,
praise, merriment, scorn, and inditf -rence
were all one, or rather all nothing, to Qavi
Swan.
lie had slept only few moments, when
brown carriage, drawn by handsome
pair of horses, bowled easily along, and was
brought to stand-still nearly in front of
David's resting-place. A linchpin had
fallen out, and permitted one of the heels
to slide off. The damage was slight, and
occasioned mere y momentary alarm 10 an
elderly merchant and his wife, who were
returning to Boston in the carriage. While
the colchman and a servant were replacing
the wheel, the lady and gentlemen sheltered
themselves beneath the maple trees, and
there espied the bubbllng fountain, and
David Swan asleep beside it. Impressed
with the awe which the humblest sleeper
usually sheds around him, the merchant
trod as lightly as the gout would allow; and
his spouse took good heed not to rustic her
silk gown, lest David should start up all Of
q sudden.
GLOW .soundly he sleepsl" whispered
the old geGtlt man. From what a depth
! he draws that easy breath Such sleep us
that, brought on without an opiate, would
be worth half my income; for it would
suppose helth and an untroutled mind
And youth BESIDES" said the lady
Healthy and quiet age does not sleep thus
Our slumber is no more like his, than oul
wakefulness.
| The longer they looked the more did
this elderly couple feel interested in the
unknown youth, to whom tie uayside anG
the maple shade wore as secret chamber
with the rich gloom of damask curtains
broodIng over him. Perceiving that 6
stray sunbeam glimmered down upon his
I face, the lady contrived to twist branct
aside, SO as to intercept it. And having
done this little act of kindness, she begar
to feel ike mother TO him.
"Providence seemed to have laid him
here, whispered she to her husband, SAND
to have brough, Us hither to find him, af-
ter our disappointment in our cousins son
Methinks | can see likeness to our deal
departed Henry. Shall we wsken him?"
"To what purpose ? said the merchant
aesitating We know nothing of tn.
youths character
That open countenance!" replied Iii
wife, in the same hu>hed voice, yet earnest
ly. "This innocent sleep!'
While these Whispers were passing. tn