Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-05-14

attempt to pat little Pearl on the cheek.
But where is this mother of thine? Ali
see" he added, and turning to Gov
ernor Bellingham whispered, This is
the self same child of whom we have
held speech together, and behold here
the unhappy woman, Hester Prynne, her
mother"
'Sayest thou so?7 cried the governor.
''Nay, we might have judged that such
a child's mother must needs be a scarlet
woman and worthy type of her of
Babylon. But she comes at a good
time, and we will look into this matter
forthwith"
Governor Bellingham stepped through
the window into the hall, followed by
his three guests.
Hester Prynne," said he, fixing his
naturally stern regard on the wearer of
the scarlet letter, there hath been much
question concerning thee of late. The
point hath been weightily discussed
whether we, that are of authority and
influence, do well discharge our con-
sciences by trusting an immortal soul,
such as there is in yonder child, to the
guidance of one who hath stumbled and
fallen amid the pitfalls of this world.
Speak, thou, the child's own motherl
Were it not, thinkest thou, for thy little
ones temporal and eternal welfare that
she be taken out of thy charge, and clad
soberly, and disciplined strictly, and in
structed in the truths of heaven and
earth? What canst thou do for the child
in this kind?"
81 can teach my little Pearl what
have learned from this" answered Hes
ter Prynne, laying her finger on the red
token.
Woman, it is thy badge of shame"
replied the stern magistrate. at is be-
cause of the stain which that letter in
dicates that we would transfer thy child
to other hands"
Nevertheless, said the mother calm
ly, though growing more pale, "this
badge hath taught met daily teaches
met is teaching me at this moment
lessons whereof my child may be the
wiser and better, albeit they can profit
nothing to myself"
I'VE will judge warily," said Belling-
ham, "and look well what we are about
to do. Good Master Wilson, pray you
examine this Pearl-since that is her
name-and see whether she hath had
such Christian nurture as BELTS child
of her age"
The old minister seated himself in an
armchair and made an effort to draw
Pearl betwixt his knees. But the child,
unaccustomed to the touch or familiarity
of any but her mother, escaped through
the open window and stood on the upper
step, looking like u wild tropical bird of
rich plumage, ready to take fight into
the upper air. Mr.. Wilson, not little
astonished at this outbreak-for he was
a grandfatherly sort of parsonage, and
usually vast favorite with children
essayed, however, to proceed with the
examination.
"Pearl," said he with great solemnity,
''thou must take heed to instruction,
that so, in due season, thou mayest wear
in thy bosom the pearl of great price.
Canst thou tell me, my child, who made
thee?"
Now Pearl knew well enough who
made her; for Hester Prynne, the daugh-
ter of pious home, very soon after her
talk with the child about her Heavenly
Father, had begun to inform her of those
truths which the human spirit, at what
ever stage of immaturity, imbibes with
such eager interest. Pearl therefore, SO
large were the attainments of her three
years lifetime, could have borne fair
examination in the New England
Primer" or the first column of the West
minister catechisms, although unac-
quainted with the outward form of either
of those celebrated works. But that
perversity which all children have more
or less of, and of which little Pearl had
tenfold portion now, at the most in
opportune moment, took thorough pos
session of her and closed her lips, or i'm
PEELED her to speak words amiss. After
putting her finger in her mouth, with
many ungracious refusals to answer good
Mr.. Wilson's question, the child finally
announced that she had not been made
at all, but had been plucked by her
mother off the bush of wild roses that
grew by the prison door.
This fantasy was probably suggested
by the near proximity Of the governors
red roses as Pearl stood outside of the
window, together with her recollection
of the pink rosebush which she had
passed in coming hither.
Old Roger Chillingworth, with smile
on his face, whispered something in the
young clergyman's ear. Hester Prynne
looked at the man of skill, and even
then, with her fate hanging in the bal
ance, was startled to perceive what a
change had come over his features-how
much uglier they were, how his dark
complexion seemed to have grown dusk
Ter and his figure more misshappen--
since the days when she had Familiarity
known him. She met his eyes for an
instant. but was Immediately constrained
to give all her attention to the scene now
going forward.
"This is awfulr' cried the governor,
slowly recovering from the astonish-
ment into which Pearls response had
thrown him. "Here is child Of three
years old and she cannot tell who made
her! Without question she is equally in
the dark as to her soul-its present de-
pravity and future destinyl Methinks,
gentlemen, we need inquire no further.
Hester caught hold of Pearl and drew
her forcibiy into her arms, confronting
the old Puritan magistrate with almost
a fierce expression. Alone in the world,
cast off by it and with this sole treasure
to keep her heart alive, she felt that she
possessed indefeasible rights against the
world, and was ready to defend them to
the death.
''God gave me the childr cried she.
HE gave her in requital of all things
else, which ye had taken from me. She
is my happinessl-she is my torture
none the lessl Pearl keeps me here in
life! Pearl Furnishes me tool See ye
not she is the scarlet letter, only capable
of being loved, and so endowed with a
million fold the power Of retribution fol
my sin? Ye shall not take herl will
die frstl"
"My poor woman" said the not I'm.
kind old minister, .'the child shall be
well cared for.-far better than thou
canst do it."
"God gave her into my keeping, re-
peated Hester Prynne, raising her voice
almost to shrek. 81 viii not give hel
up!' And here, by a sudden impulse
she turned to the young clergyman, Mr.,
Dimmesdale, at whom up to this mo
ment she had seemed hardly so much al