Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-02

ever stage Oh lmnaiufltNi llnlpc5 WIN |
such eager interest Pearl therefore. so !
large were the attainments of her three |
years lifetime, could have borne q fair |
examination in the New England
Primer" or the first column OF the West
minister calechisms, 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
a tenfold portion now, at the most. in
opportuuo 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 Oh the bush Of wild roses that
grew 10y 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 o smile
on his face, whispered something in the
young clergyman's ear. Hester Prynne
looked at the man of skin, and even
then, with her fate hanging in the bal
snce, was startled to perceive what
/ change had come over his features-how
much uglicr they were, how his dark
complexion seemed TO have grown dusk
Ter and his figure more misshappen-
since the days when she had famiiarly
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 a child of three
years old and she cannot tell who made
herl Without question she is equally in
the dark as to her soul-its present de-
pravity and future destinyi Methinks.
gentlemen, we need inquire no further.
Hester caught hold of Pearl and drew
her forcibly into her arms, confronting
the old Puritan magistrate with almost
a fierce expression. Alone in the world,
cast of by it and with this sole treasure
to keep her heart alive, she felt that she
possessed indcfeasible rights against the
world, and was ready to defend them e
the death.
"God gave me the childr cried she
"He gave her in requital of all thing.
else which ye had taken from me. Sh'
is my happiness.-she is my torture
none the lessl Pearl keeps me here II
life! Pearl panishes me tool See "
not she IS the scarlet letter, only capable
Of being loved. and so endowed with
million fold the power Of retribution 70
my sin? Ye shall not take hor vii
die first"
my poor woman" said the not an
/ kind old minister, "the child shall b
well cared for!-far better than tho
canst do it."
"God gave her into my keeping" II
g peated Hester Prynne, raising her voic
almost to a shrek. II viii not give he
q upr And here, by sudden impulse
3 she turned to the young clergyman, MI
J. Dimmcsdale, at whom up to this IN,
. ment she had seemed hardly so much q
: once to direct her eyes. Speak tho
d for mel" cried she. "Thou vast m
pastor and hadst charge Of my soul On
3 bnowest me better than these men cal
o 1 win not lose the childl Speak for ml
Q Thou knowost-for thou hast sympathit
y which these men lackl Thou knowe.
what is in my heart and what are
mothers rights, and how much Il
b stronger they are when that mother hi
Il but her child and the scarlet lette
u Look thou to i'll ! win not lose the chill,
d Look TO itl'
u At this wild and singular appea
which indicated that Hester Prynne
u situation had provoked her to little le
y than madness, the young minister
once came forward, pale, and holdir
IS his hand over bis heart, as was his Gu
u tom whenever his peculiarly nervol
ID temperament was thrown into agitatio
re He looked now more careworn and EN-
81 ciated than 40 we described him at u
I'd scene of Hester's public ignominy; al
D. whether it were his failing health,
H. whatever the cause might be, his larl
10 dark eyes had a world Of pain in the
ID troubled and melancholy depth.
"There is truth in what she says" b
~ gan the minister with a voice swe,
lie tremulous but powerful, insomuch tn
at the hall re-echoed and the hollow arm
I'd rang with it: truth in what Hester say
n and in the feeling which inspires he
ld God gave her the child, and gave her, to
Id an instructive knowledge Of its natu
and requirements-both seemingly
J pecular-which no other mortal bell
's can possess. And, moreover, is the
ed not quality Of awful sacredness in {
relation between this mother and Il
2! childy
BE- "Ayel-how is that, good Master Dil
n mesdaley interrupted the goven'
.ld Make that plain, pray your
1T must be even So" resumed {
M minister "For, if we deem it 9TH
bis wise, do we not thereby say that t
ies Heavenly Father, the Creator Of
= flesh, hath lightly recognized a deed
he sin, and made Of no account the distiI
lit ton between mhallowed lust and hc
love? This child Of its fathers gu