Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-15
FRANK ENSTEIN
Or
THE MODERN PRoMETHEUs.
BY MRS. M. w. SHELLEY.
CHAPTER XI.

AZ lay on my straw, but / could
not sleep. / thought OF the occur
rences of the day. What chiefly
struck me was the gentle manners
of these people; and | longad to
ioin them, hut dared not. I re-
membered too we'll the treatment ]
had suffered the night before from
the barbarous villagers, and resolved
whatever course of conduct / might
hereafter think il right to pursue,
that for the present / would remain
quietly in my hOvel, watching and
endeavoring to discover the motives
which Influenced their actions.
"The cottagers arose the next
morning before the sun. The
young woman arranged the cottage
and prepared the food, and the
youth departed after the first meal.
"This day was passed in the same
routine as that which preceded it.
The young man Was constantly
employed out OF doors, and the girl
in various laborious occupations
within. The old man, whom l
soon perceiJ ed to be blind. employ
ed his leisure hours on his instru-
ment, or in contemplation. Nothing
could exceed the love and respect
which the younger cottagers eX-
hibited toward their venerable
companion. They performed to-
ward him every little Office of affec-
tion and duty with gentleness, and
he rewarded them by his benevO-
lent smiles.
tThey we're not entirely happy.
The young man and his companion
often went apart, and appeared to
weep. / saw no cause for their un-
happiness, but was deeply affected
by it. If such lovely creatures
were miserable, 1t was less strange
that |, an imperfect and solitary
being, should be wretched. Yet
WHY were these gentle beings un-
happy? They possessed a delight
full house (for such it was to my
eyes), and every luxury; they had
a fire 10 warm them when chill,
and delicious viands when hungry !;
they were dressed in excellent
clothes; and, still more, they en-
ioyed one anothtr's company and
speech, interchanged each day looks
of affection and kindness. What
did their tears imply? Did they
really express pain? l was at first
unable to solve these questions. but
perpetual attention and time, eX.
planned to me many appearances
which were at first enigmatic.
"a considerable period elapsed
before discovered one of the cauS-
es of the uneasiness of this amiable
family; it was poverty, and they
suffered that evil ina very distress
ing degree. Their nOurishment
consisted entirely @ the vegetables
of their garden, and the milk of one
cow, that gave very little during
the winter, when its masters could
procure food to support it.
They often, believe, suffered the
pangs of hunger very pOignantly,
the two young cottagers,
for several times they placed food
before the old man, when they re-
served none for themselves.
"This trait of kindness moved me
| had been accustomed.
during the night, to steal part OF
their store for my own cOnsump
ton, but when / found that in do
ing this | inflicted pain on the cot
tagers, l abstained, and satisfied
myself with berries, nuts and roots,
which | gathered from Il neighbor-
ing wood.
II discovered also another means
through which | was enabled to
assist their labors. | found that
the youth spent great part of each
day in collecting wood for the famI-
ly fire, and during the night often
took his tools, the use of which /
quickly discovered, and brought
home firing sufficient for the con-
of several days.
81 remember that the first time |
did this, the young woman, when
she came TO the door in the morn
ing, appeared greatly astonished on
seeing a great pile OF wood on the
outside. She uttered some words
in "A loud voice, and the youth join
ed her, who also expressed surprise.
observed, with pleasure, that he
lid not go to the forest that day,
but spent it in repairing the cottage,
and cultivatihg the garden.
"By degrees | made discovery
Of still greater moment. l found
that these people possessed a meth
1d of communicating their expert
ance and feelings to one another by
sounds. / perceived that
the words they spoke produced Ell
Lher pleasure or pain, smiles or sad
ness, in the minds and cOuntenanceS
Of the hearers. This was indeed
yodlike science, and | ardently de-
sired to become acquainted with 1t.
But / was baffied in every attempt
made for this purpose. Their
was quick and the
words they uttered, not having any
connection with visible
objects, | Was unable To discover
any cleW by which | could unravel
he mystery of their reference. By
great application, however, and al
Ter having remained during the
space of several revolutions of the
moon in my hOvel, discovered the
names that were given to the most
familiar objects of discourse; ]
learned and applied the words tire,
milk, bread and aCOOd. l learned
also the names of the cOttagers
themselves. The youth and his
had each of them sever
al names, but the old man had only
Dne, which. was father. The girl
was called sister or agatha; ; and the
youth Felir, brother or son. can
moi describe the delight / felt when
learned the ideas appropriated to
each of these sounds, and was able
10 pronounce them. / distinguished
several other words, without being
able as yet TO understand or apply
them; such as good, dearest, a0atdp-
Dy.
1 spent the winter in this manner.
The gentle manners and beauty of
the cottagers greatly endeared them
10 me; when they were unhappy,
felt depressed when they rejOiced
sympathized in their joys. / saw
lew human beings besides them /;
and if any other happened to enter
he cottage, their harsh manners
and rude gait only enhanced to me
the superior accomplishments of my
friends. The old man, could per-
.eive, often endeavored to encOur-
age his children, as sometimes i
found that he called them, to cast
off their melancholy. He would
talk in cheerful accent, with an
of goodness that bestOw-
ed pleasure even upon me. Agatha
listened with respect, her ewes