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i say it that may be should not say it there is not a more independent man in the town of than i am though there is them that s more but i pay my minister s tax d my school tax as regular as any of them mr admired the ingenuity and contentment of this man his enjoyment of the privilege the glorious privilege of every new man of being independent but bis pleasure was somewhat by an appearance of a want of neatness and order which would have so much to the comfort of the and e a v w tale which being a he deemed essential to its he looked at the little stream of water we have mentioned and which the rain had already swollen so much that it seemed to threaten an of the house and observing that neither the complexion of the floor nor of the children seemed to have been by its he remarked to the man that he should think a person of his ingenuity would have contrived some mode of turning the stream why yes sir said the man i suppose i might for have got a book that treats upon and them things but i m calculating to build in the fall and so i think we may as well along till then to build do explain to me how that is to be done why sir said he taking a box from the shelf behind him which had a hole in the centre of the top through which the money was passed in but afforded no facility for withdrawing it my woman and i agreed to save all the cash we could get for two years and i should not be afraid to venture there is thirty dollars there sir the neighbours in these parts are very kind to a poor man one will draw the timber and another will saw the boards and they will all come to raising and bring their own spirits into the bargain oh sir it must be a poor that can t make a turn to get a house over his head mr took ten dollars from his and slipping it into the gap said there is a w a small sum ray friend and i wish it may be so expended as to give to thy new dwelling as will enable thy wife to keep it it will help on the trade too for depend upon it there is nothing makes a house look so inviting to a traveller aa a air our s indifference was by so valuable a you are the most gin man sir said he that ever this way and if i don t remember advice you may say is no such thing as gratitude upon earth by this time the rain had subsided the clouds were rolling over the merry notes of the birds from their welcomed the returning rays of the sun and the deep in the west promised a delightful afternoon the travellers took a kind leave of the grateful and as they drove away said the husband if the days of miracles weren t quite entirely gone by i should think we had entertained angels unawares think you might better say replied the good woman that the angels have entertained us any how that sick lady will be an angel before long she looks as good and as beautiful as one now it was on the evening of this day that mr and mrs arrived at the inn in the village of which as we have before stated was the scene where her excellent and innocent life closed she expressed a desire that she might not be a new tale removed she wished not to have the peace of her mind interrupted by any unnecessary agitation whenever she felt herself a little better she would pass a part of the day in riding never did any one in the full flush of health enjoy more than she from communion with her heavenly father through the visible creation she read with understanding the revelations pf his goodness in the varied expressions of nature s beautiful face do you know said she to her husband that i prefer the narrow of the to the broader lands of the it certainly matters little where our dust is laid if it be consecrated by him who is the and the life but i derive a pleasure which i could not have conceived of from the expectation of having my body repose in this still valley under the shadow of that beautiful hill i too prefer this scenery said mr seeking to turn the conversation for he could not yet but with dread what his courageous wife spoke of with a tone of cheerfulness i prefer it because it has a more domestic aspect there is too a more perfect and intimate union of the sublime and beautiful these mountains tiiat surround us and are so near to us on every side seem to like natural by which the father has secured for his children the gardens he has planted for them by the river s side yes said and they a a temple from which the brightness of his presence is never withdrawn look a england tale said she as the carriage passed over a hill tha rose above the valley and was a crown of to it look how and modestly thai beautiful winds along under the broad shadows of those trees and vines as if it sought to hide the beauty that so brightly whenever a beam of light touches it oh my said she turning fondly to her child i could wish thy path led along these far from the stormy waves of the rude world fer from its and vexation of spirit if that is thy wish my love said her husband looking earnestly at her it shall	6
be mrs s tranquillity had been swept away for a by the rush of thought that pro by casting her mind forward to the of her child but it was only for a moment her g was the trust of a mind long and thoroughly by christian principles her face resumed its repose as she said dear robert i have no wish but to leave all to thy discretion der the guidance of the lord it cannot be deemed strange that mr should have felt a particular interest in scenes for which his wife had expressed such a partiality he looked upon them with much the same feeling that the sight of a person who has been loved by a departed friend they seemed to have a sympathy for him and he lingered at without forming any plan for the future till he was roused from bis by hearing the sale a new england tale of mr s property spoken of he had pass ed the place with and they had together admired its secluded and picturesque situation the house stood at a little distance from the road more than half hid by two elms behind the house the grounds descended gradually to the whose kept them arrayed in beautiful on the opposite side of the river and from its very margin rose a mountain with its rich of beach and tree tree and the images of all sent back by the clear mirror below for the current there was so gentle that in the days of fable a poet might have fancied the genius of the stream had paused to the of the wood air bad no family ties to philadelphia he preferred a country life not to dream away but he hoped there to cultivate and employ a talent for doing i tiiat talent which a noble adventurer declared he moat valued and though there is a m for its exercise wherever any members of the human fa are he sea and land to find new worlds in which to it mr purchased the place and furniture precisely as it had been left on the morning of the sale by jane and her friend mary a tale i chapter iv she half an ai el m her own doubts not hereafter with the saints to tho not a grace appears on search but that she and item goes to church the excellent character of mary bad spoken of to mr bj bis landlady and he was convinced that she was precisely the person to whom be should be satisfied to commit the sa of his family accordingly on the evening of the sale he sent a messenger to mrs s with the following note robert having purchased the place of the late mr would be glad to engage mary hall to take chaise of his family wages and all other matters shall be arranged to her satisfaction he takes the liberty to send by the messenger for jane a work box dressing glass and a few other small articles for which he has bo use and which he hopes she will do him the favour to retain on account of the value they must have in her eyes mrs no notion that any right could be prior to hers in her house she took the note a new england from the servant and notwithstanding he to say ue believed it was not meant for her she read it first with no satisfied air and then turning lo one of the children told her to call to her t ie servant placed the things on the table and left the room so said she to jane who was at her for some explanation of the sudden apparition of the work box c so miss you have seen fit to the first order i took the trouble to give you i should like to know how you dared to leave these things after my positive orders i did not understand your note ma am to contain positive orders and mary and i did not think it was quite right to take the things right pretty judges of right to be sure she a hired a girl and a into the bargain i know how she dares to judge over my head and you miss i tell you once for all i allow no child in my house to know right from wrong children have no reason and they ought to be very thankful when they fall into the hands of those that are capable of judging for them here said she to mary who now entered in obedience to her summons here is a proposal of a place for you from that that buried his wife last week i suppose you call yourself your own mistress and you can do as you like about it but as you are yet a young woman mary and this man is a and nobody knows who i should think it a great for you to live with him for if nothing worse comes of it you may be there is not a person in this town that you are trying to get him for a husband mary was highly gratified with the thought of returning to the place where she had passed a large and portion o her life and did not hesitate to say that she should not stand so in her own light as to refuse so excellent a place that from all she had heard said of mr be was a far above her condition in life and therefore she thought no person would be silly enough to suppose she took the place from ao foolish a design as mrs su and she should take care that her conduct should give no occasion for reproach well said mrs that her counsel was not it does mt to see bow some people strain at a and low a	6
reserved cast mr s benevolent feelings were awakened by her appearance and mary whose chief delight was in on the character of her fa took care to confirm his favourable im by setting in the light her former felicity her present trials and her patience in mary had orders to leave the furniture in a little room that had formerly been assigned to jane precisely as she left it and to tell jane that it was still called and should be considered her room and that beautiful jane said mr to her which thy hand has a tale so trained about the window is still thine these and other instances of delicate attention from mr saved her from the feeling of that she might otherwise have suffered l a months after jane entered her s an unusual had been produced in the village of by an event of rare occurrence this was no than the arrival of a dancing master and the issuing of proposals for a dancing this was regarded by some very zealous persons as a de of the old adversary which if not opposed end in the establishment of bis kingdom the plan of the of was to establish a chain of dancing schools from one extremity of the county to the other and this was looked upon as a mine which would be sprung to the certain of every thing that was virtuous and of good report some the impending sin from their one said that he had searched ihe bible from to and he could not find a text that expressly treated of that but that was because it was a sin loo to of in holy writ he said that dancing was one tale of the most of all the rites of those savage nations that were under the immediate and government of the prince of thia world and finally he referred them to the church documents those precious records of ihe piety and wisdom and of their ancestors and they would there find a rule which any church member from or being present at a ball or dance or or any such assembly of satan and they would moreover find that had been repeatedly punished by from the church and from au christian some of this gentleman s brethren contented themselves by using their influence in private advice and remonstrance and a few said they could not see the sin the danger of the young people s indulging with moderation in the exercise and innocent adapted to their season of life that what the moral and pious had and the excellent approved it did not become them to frown upon but they should use their efforts in the young people within the bounds of moderation the result was that our dancing obtained a few schools and one in the village which enjoyed the privilege of such a light as mrs she filled with alarm lifted up her voice and spared not some of her warmest admirers thought her had more of in it than discretion i a new d tale the violence of the opposition and perhaps aided bj it he school was at length fairly established and some of the elderly of the village who had con dances aft die of satan were heard to confess that when properly regulated they might furnish an amusement not altogether to youth and that they did not in point of propriety suffer by a comparison with the and cushion dances of their younger days at mrs instance two new weekly were appointed on the same evenings with the dancing school the ome to be a conference in the presence of the young people and the other a lecture for them these her daughters were compelled to attend in spite of the bom and turbulent opposition of and the well con of expressed her surprise at jane s patience under the new to be sure jane e said you have not the trial that i have about the dancing school for a poor girl can t expect such accomplishments i do so long to dance it was in the dance edward fell in love with but then these odious these hateful meetings oh have certainly a natural to them you do not always have to attend them mother is ready enough to let you off when there is any hard job to be done in the family wall much as i hate work i had rather work than go to meeting tell me honestly jane would not you like to g a new england sale learn to if you was not obliged to wear deep mourning and could to pay for it jane all used a she was to the of her would sometimes feel the colour come to her cheeks and she felt glow as she replied i learned to dance during the year i spent at mrs b s boarding school la is it possible i never heard you say a word about it no said jane many things have happened to me that you never heard me say a word about oh i dare say miss jane every body knows your cold reserved disposition my sensibility would destroy me if i did not permit it to flow out into a bosom but now jane said she shutting the door and lowering her voice have hit upon a capital plan to cheat mother there is to be a little ball to night after the school and i have promised edward to o with him to it for once jane be generous and lend me a in the first place to get rid of the meeting i am going to put a flannel round my throat to tell my mother it is very sore and i have a head and then i shall go to bed but as soon as she is well out of the i	6
shall get up and dress me and wind that pretty wreath of yours which sure you will lend me around my head and meet just at the tree at uie end of the garden then as to the return you you told mother you could not go to me ng because you was going to with old and i heard tke doctor say be did not believe she would live the night through this is clear luck what mother would call at any rate jou know if she should not be any worse you can sit op till o clock and i will just tap at ed room window and you won t refuse jane to slip the of the outside door for me jane told her she could not take part in her projects but trusting to the impulse of her s good nature to her plan mrs was not on this occasion so keen as usual she had that very day received proposals of marriage from a broken merchant and though be had no idea of her estates and liberty she was a g o deal fluttered with what she would fain have believed to be a compliment to her personal charms every thing succeeded to s most sanguine expectations her mother went to the conference arrayed in all the finery her own wardrobe supplied and crowned with jane s wreath went off to her expecting gallant leaving jane by the bedside of and there the sweet girl kindly watched alone till after the return of the family from the conference till after the bell had summoned the household to the evening prayer and till after the last lingering sound of doors windows c died away the poor old invalid was really in the last ex her breathing grew shorter and more interrupted her eyes assumed a fearful stare and jane s fortitude her and she ventured to call her aunt who had but just en b a n w the room when the poor in the last struggle she grasped jane s hand and as her fingers released hold and the arm fell ber jane raised it i p and gently lay ing it across ber body and retaining the band for a in h r own she said poor how much bard work have done with this band and how many for ine your troubles are all over now you take upon you to say a t deal jane replied her aunt did not give me satisfying evidence of a saving faith but said jane as if she did not quite comprehend the import of her aunt s remark was very faithful over her little that s nothing to the purpose jane answered mrs jane made no reply unless the tear she dropped on ber old friend might be deemed one and mrs added now child you must get the things together to lay her out then saying that s sickness bad been a bill of cost to ber and quite overlooking ber long life of patient and profitable service she gave the most sordid directions as to the selection of provisions for the last wants of the poor jane went out of the room to execute ber orders she bad scarcely gone when mrs beard the window carefully raised and some one said here i am jane go softly and slip the bolt of a tale the west door and don t for the world wake the old lady by any brighter light than the dim night lamp that was burning on the hearth not have mistaken her dark harsh mother for her fair cousin a single glance revealed the truth to mrs the were playing on the wreath of flowers and edward who was known as the ring leader of the ball stood beside she smothered her rage for a few moments and creeping softly to the passage opened the door and admitted the rebel who followed her to s saying oh jane you are a good soul for once i have had an time never try to persuade me not to trick the old woman by this time they had arrived at s room where jane bad just entered with a candle in her hand mrs turned to her child who stood confounded with the sudden detection i have caught you said she almost bursting with rage caught you both then seizing the wreath of flowers which she seemed to look upon as the hoisted flag of successful rebellion she threw it on the floor and crushing it with her foot she grasped the terrified girl and pushed her so violently that she fell on the cold body of the lifeless woman and you continued the furious creature turning to jane is this my reward for you in my bosom you with your smooth face teaching my child to deceive and abuse me but you shall have your reward you shall g a new england tale see whether i am to be by a child in my own house jane had often seen her aunt angry but she had never witnessed passion as this and she was for a moment confounded but like a delicate plant that to the ground before a sudden gust of wind and then is firm and erect as ever she turned to mrs and said ma am i have never deceived or aided others to deceive you i verily believe you lie replied her aunt in a tone of fury jane looked to her cousin who had from the cold body of and sat in sullen silence on a trunk at the foot of the bed said she you do the justice to tell your mother i had no part in your deception but well pleased to have any portion of the storm averted from her own head had not generosity enough to the truth she therefore with her conscience and merely said jane knew	6
i was going i was sure of it i was sure of it always knew she was an artful still waters run deep but she shall be exposed the mask shall be stripped from the aunt said jane in a voice so sweet so composed that it sounded like the breath of music following the of an enraged animal aunt we are in the chamber of death and in a little time you and and all of us shall be as this poor creature as you will then wish your soul to a new england tale be lightened of all injustice spare the innocent now you know i never deceived you knows it am willing to bear any thing it pleases god to lay upon me but i cannot have my good name taken it is all that remains to me this appeal checked for a mo meat she would have replied but she was inter by two coloured women whom she bad sent for to perform the last offices for she restrained her passion gave them the necessary directions and withdrew t her own room where we doubt not she was followed by the of her conscience for however neglected and stifled its still small voice will be heard in darkness and it may seem strange that mrs should have manifested such anxiety to throw the blame of this on jane but however a parent may seek by every flattering vanity can devise to the truth the of a child will convey a reproach and reflect on the author of its existence jane crept to their beds without exchanging a single word felt some shame at her own meanness but levity and selfishness always prevailed in her mind and she soon lost all consciousness of realities and visions of dances and music and moonlight floated in her brain sometimes a change came o er the spirit of her dream and she shrunk from a violent grasp and she felt the icy touch of death and wherever she turned a ray from her cousin mild blue eye fell a n w england tale her and she could not escape from its silent reproach the mother and the daughter might both have envied the repose of the abused orphan who possessed a peace they could not trouble she soon lost all memory of her aunt s rage and her cousin s injustice and sunk into quiet in her dream she saw her mother tenderly smiling on her and heard again and again the last words of the old woman the lord bless you miss jane the lord will bless you for your kindness to old if mrs had not been blinded by self love she might have learnt an invaluable lesson from the melancholy results of her own government but she preferred every evil to the of one of the of power her children denied the a pleasures of youth were driven to sins of a much deeper die than those which mrs sought to avoid could have had even in her eyes for the very worst effects that ever were attributed te dancing or to romance reading cannot equal the secret dislike of a parent s authority the of the heart against a parent s tyranny and the falsehood and meanness that weakness always will employ in the of power and than which nothing will more certainly taint every thing that is pure in the character the cool reflection of the morning pointed out to mrs as the most discreet very line of conduct justice would have dictated she knew she could not jane without exposing new tale and besides she did not care to have it known that her sagacity had been by these children therefore though she appeared at breakfast more and unreasonable than r usual she took no notice of the transactions of the preceding night and they remained secret to all but the actors in them except that we have son to believe from mr s increased attention to jane shortly after that they had been faithfully to him by mary the of whose sympathy it cannot be deemed wonderful our little solitary should seek a new chapter vi these are fine but what bird were tb y plucked there is nothing in new england bo sought for or so highly by au classes of people as the advantages of education a and his wife will deny themselves all other benefits that might result from the gains that have to them from a summer of self denial and toil to give their children the privilege of a during the winter the public or as they are called the are open to the child of the poorest as knowledge is one of the best helps and most certain to virtue we doubtless owe a great portion of the morality of this blessed region where there are no dark corners of ignorance to these wise institutions of our pious ancestors in the fall subsequent to the events we have recorded a school had been opened in the village of of a higher and more expensive order than is common in a country town every mouth was filled with praises of the new teacher and with promises and expectations of the knowledge to be derived from this newly opened fountain all w k a tale bustle and preparation among the young companions of and for the school for though beyond the usual school going age was to complete her education at the new the dancing school had passed without a sigh of regret from jane b ut now she felt severely her her watchful friend mary remarked the melancholy look that was at her aunt s and she inquired of jane why she was so downcast ah mary she replied it is a long time since i have felt the m spirit which the wise man says is medicine to the heart that s	6
true jane but then there s nobody that is there s nobody that has so little reason for it as you have that has a more cheerful look i have great reason to be cheerful mary in token of gratitude for my kind friends here and added she taking mr s infant who playful ly extended her arms to her you and i are too young to be very sad the child felt the tear that the cheek to which she was pressed and looking into jane face with sympathy burst into tears mr entered at this moment and jane hastily the child in mary s lap and tying on her hat bade farewell mr asked for some explanation mary believed nothing particular had happened but she said the poor girl s spirit the life she leads and its no wonder it is a great a new england tale change from a home and mother to such a work house and such a task woman mr had often regretted that it was so little in his power to benefit jane the school occurred to him and as nothing was more improbable than that mrs would herself the expense of attendance he consulted mary as to the best mode of doing it himself without provoking mrs s opposition or of her pride a few days after when the agent for the school presented the list to mrs for her signature she saw there to her utter astonishment jane s name the agent handed her an note from mr in which he said that as it had been customary to send one person from the house be now occupied to the school he had taken the liberty to continue the custom he hoped the measure would meet with mrs s approbation without which it could not go into effect mrs at first said it was impossible she could not spare jane but afterwards she consented to take it into consideration the moment the man had shut the door she turned to jane and misunderstanding the flush of pleasure that brightened her usually pale face she exclaimed and so miss this is one of your plans to slip your neck out of the yoke of duty jane said she had nothing to do with the plan but she trusted her aunt would not oblige her to lose such a golden opportunity of advantage mrs a n tale made various objections and jane them all at last she said there would be a piece of linen to make up for david and that put it quite out of the question for said she i shall not take the girls from their studies and even you miss jane will probably have the grace to think my time more precious than yours well aunt said jane with a smile so sweet that even mrs could not entirely resist its influence if i will get the linen made by witch or fairy may i go why yes replied her aunt as you cannot get it made without or i may safely say you may jane s reliance was on kindness more potent than any modern magic and that very evening with the light bounding st p of hope she went to her friend mary s wh ere after having made her to mr with the grace of earnestness and sincerity she revealed to mary the only obstacle that now opposed her wishes mary at once as jane expected offered to make the linen for her and jane affectionately thanking her said she was sure her aunt would be satisfied for she had often heard her say mary was the best needle woman in the county mrs had seen jane so uniformly and to her wilful administration and in matters she deemed of vastly more con than six months that she h t a new was all to behold her now so in her resolution to accomplish her purpose but jane s and mrs s estimate of the importance of any given object was very different the same fortitude that jane to bear silently and patiently the s wrong her courage in the of a good end mrs had no longer any pretence to op pose jane s wishes and the following day she took her place with her cousins at mr school her education had been very much advanced for her years so that though four years younger than she was after a very careful examination by the teacher with her this was a severe mortification to s pride she seemed to feel her cousin a equality an insult to herself and when she reported the to her mother she said she believed it was all owing to jane s soft answers and pretty face or may be the who takes such ai mighty to jane has mr very likely very likely answered her mother it seems as if every body took that child s part against us jane once more placed n even ground with her companions was like a spring relieved from a pressure she entered on her new pursuits with a vigour that baffled the mean attempts of the family at home to or hinder her course she was not a genius but she had that eager that patient attention to which the greatest of a new philosophers attributed the success which has the envy and of the world there was a perpetual sunshine in that delighted her patron he had thought nothing could be more interesting than jane s pensive dejected sion but he now felt that it was beautiful as well as natural for the plant to its leaves to the bright of the sun and to rejoice in bis beams mary was heard to say quite as often as the beauty of the expression would justify the lord be thanked our dear young lady once more wears the cheerfulness of countenance that a heart in	6
prosperity double duties were laid on jane at but she won her way through them the strict rule of her aunt s house did not allow her to watch with the but she made ance with the gray dawn and learnt by them well the mode recommended by elizabeth smith the value of minutes as well as hours the bad envied her progress the stupid were amazed at it and the generous delighted with it she went rejoicing on her way far before her cousins who stung by her manifest superiority made unwonted exertions and might have fairly with her for the that were to be given had she not often been confused and by the of her temper the winter and the spring winged their rapid light the end of the term which was to close with an exhibition approached the note of a new tale busy preparation was heard in every dwelling the village of we doubt if the expectation of the at de la excited a greater sensation among knights lords and wandering than the anticipation of the exhibition produced upon the young people of labour and skill were employed and exhausted in for the event one day was allotted for the examination of the scholars and the distribution of and another for the exhibition daring which the young men and boys were to display those powers that were developing for the pulpit and the bar and the political the young ladies were with obvious and propriety excluded from any part in the except that on the first drawing aside for they did not know enough of the art to draw the curtain the prize composition was to be read by the writer of it the old and the young seemed alike interested in the glories of the day the part of a king from one of miss sacred was to be and there was a general assembly of the girls of the village to fit his royal a purple shawl was converted by a little girl of ready invention into a royal robe of the crown blazed with which to loo curious scrutiny appeared to be not diamonds but not gold but gold leaf and gold beads of which fashionable new england as tradition goes there were not new england tale sixty strings lent for the occasion by the kind wives of the village an who bad once flourished in the capital completed tbe of tiie crown by four nodding whose bend did certainly awe the world of there might have been some want of in the but this was not marked by the critics of r as not one of the republican audience had ever seen a real cr mn a meeting waa called of the of the school and the meeting house for in the land of the the churches are still named was assigned as the ce of exhibition in order to the seriousness of the the pieces to be spoken were all to be of a moral or religious character music notwithstanding the of independence in the same holy place were pleaded as a precedent was forbidden the arrangement were made according to these from which there was no appeal and neither as usually happens with inevitable evils was there much dissatisfaction one of the boys remarked that he wondered the three of the were did not stop the birds from singing and the sun from shining and all such gay sounds and sights oh that those who throw a pall over the innocent pleasures of life and give in the eye of the young to religion a dark and gloomy aspect would learn some lessons of from the joyous light of the sun and the merry of the birds h j a new england tale a floor was laid over the tops of the which was covered by a carpet lent by the kind mr a chair a present from anne to the first missionary to the indians and which like some other royal gifts had cost more than it came to in its journey from the coast to the interior furnished a very respectable throne less than some that have been filled by real kings for it remained in the middle of the ge while kings were and curtains of divers colours and figures were in a devised manner from one end of the church to the other the day of came and our deserving heroine was crowned with honours which she so well and bore so meekly that she had the sympathy of the whole school except that for the truth must be told of her envious cousins when the for grammar geography history and philosophy were one after another in obedience to the of the delivered to jane by her gratified master burst into tears of spite and mortification and whispered to the young lady next her she may have her triumph now but i will have one worth a hundred to morrow for i am sure that my composition will be preferred to hers to add the zest of curiosity and surprise to the it had been determined that the writer of the successful piece should not be known till the a w and tale of the curtain disclosed the the long expected day arrived one would have from the and that poured in from the neighbouring towns that a cattle show or a hanging or some such merry making matter was going on in village of the church was filled at an early hour and and galleries crowded as we have seen a less holy place at the first appearance of a foreign actor the teacher and the clergyman were in the pulpit the scholars ranged on benches at the opposite of the stage the crowd was hushed into stillness while the clergyman commenced the exercises of the day by an appropriate prayer the curtains were hardly closed before they were again	6
withdrawn and the eager eyes of the assembly fell on a shadow of might have been seen flitting across mr s at this moment while mary who sat in a corner of the gallery half rose from ber sat dawn again tied and her bonnet and in short manifested signs of a vexed spirit signs that in more charitable eyes than mrs s certainly would have gone against the doctrine of perfection was seated on the throne arrayed in a bright scarlet frock a white thrown over her shoulders her hair in imitation of some favourite heroine flowed in over her neck excepting a single with which as she fancied d fa she had her a el brow and to add to this confusion of the d and the pastoral orders instead of the of in the model she had witli blue glass beads who is that that was whispered from one to another the rich widow s daughter the strangers were answered mrs whose maternal pride for maternal tenderness she had not swollen by the consciousness of triumph over jane nodded and whispered to ail within her hearing mj ter sir my daughter ma am you see by the the prize composition is to be spoken by the writer of it rose and d she had requested at she might speak instead of reading her piece and she it with all the airs and graces of a of the beau mon e when she dropped her courtesy and returned to her companions her usually high colour wars heightened by the pride of success and the pleasure of display some were heard to say she is a beauty while others shook their heads and observed the young lady must have great talents to write such a piece but she looked too bold them before the busy hum of comment had an old man with a bald head a keen eye and a very good humoured face rose and said he would make bold to speak a word was suitable to youth but was not necessary a h w tale f o gray hairs he was to spoil a young body s pleasure but he own he did not like to see so much flourish in borrowed that if he read the notice right the young woman was to speak a piece of her own he had no fault to find with the speaking she spoke as smart as a lawyer but he knew them words as well as the and if the school master or the minister would please to walk to his house which was hard by they might read them out of an old boston newspaper that his woman who had been dead ten years come independence had up by the side of his bed to keep the the old man sat down and mr who had all along been a little suspicious of foul play begged the patience of the audience while he himself could make the necessary comparison mrs conscious of the possession of a file of old boston papers and well knowing the was but too probable from one side of the to the other and the conscience stricken girl on the pretence of being seized with a violent tooth left the church the teacher soon returned and was very sorry to be obliged to say that the result of the investigation had been to the young lady s integrity as the piece had undoubtedly been copied from the original essay in the boston paper hoped his school would suffer no from the fault of an individuals he should j a now though the lady had remonstrated against being brought forward under such insist on the composition being read which had been pronounced next best to miss s and which he could assure the audience was unquestionably the curtain was once more withdrawn and dis covered jane seated on the throne looking like the reluctant to receive the honour that was forced upon her she presented a striking contrast to the sovereign she was dressed in a plain black silk frock and a neatly muslin her rich light brown hair was parted on her forehead and put up behind in a handsome comb around which one of her young friends had twisted an od of sweet summer she advanced with so embarrassed an air that even mary thought her triumph cost more than it was worth as she the she held in her hand she ventured once to raise her eyes she saw but one among all the multitude the encouraging of her kind patron met her timid glance and her to proceed which she did in a low and faltering voice that certainly lent no grace but the grace of modesty to the composition the subject was gratitude and the remarks made on the virtue were such as could only come from one whose heart was warmed by its glow mr felt the delicate praise mrs affected to appropriate it to herself she whispered to her next neighbour it b easy to a n w tale write about gratitude j but i am sure her conduct is evil and enough as jane returned to her seat her face ed with the relief of having got through edward exclaimed to the young next him by jove it is the most elegant composition i ver heard from a girl jane has certainly grown very handsome yes replied his friend i always thought her pretty but you prefer her cousin i did prefer her cousin answered but i never noticed jane much before she is but a child and she has always looked so pale and bo sad since the change in her family you know i have no fancy for solemn looks is certainly handsome very handsome she is a uttle devil but for all that she is gay and and amusing it is enough to make any body to live	6
with such a stern woman as mrs the girl has infinite ingenuity in her mother and her pretty face covers a multitude of faults so i should think replied his friend from the character you have given her you will hardly the that have led to the disgrace of this oh no answered but i am sorry for her mortification the exhibition proceeded but as our heroine had no further concern with it neither have we except to say that it was equally honourable to the and pupils the of s a new tale the king was exceedingly admired and some were heard to observe very that they did not believe solomon in all his glory was arrayed like him situation at her aunt s was rendered more painful than ever from the events of the school and the exhibition mrs treated her with every species of in vain jane tried by her usefulness to her aunt to win her favour and by the most patient obedience to her unreasonable commands by silent submission to her into kindness it was all in vain her aunt was more oppressive than ever more rude and more it was not hearing her called the just that provoked their hatred but it was the keen and most disagreeable feeling of self reproach that stung them when the light of her goodness fell upon their evil deeds it was the daily beauty of her life that made them ugly a i and tale chapter vii the cause in justice s equal scales whose beam stands sure vi jane hoped for some favourable change in her condition or some slight of it from the visit of david who had just arrived from college to pass a six weeks with his family at first he seemed to admire his cousin and partly to gratify a passing fancy and partly from opposition to his mother and sisters he treated her with particular attention jane was grateful and returned bis kindness with frankness and but she was soon obliged by the of his manners to treat him with reserve his pride was wounded and he joined the family league against he was a youth of seventeen his passions had been by the authority of his mother but never tamed and now that he was beyond her reach he was continually falling into some excess almost always in disgrace at college and never in favour mr was made acquainted with all the in condition by mary i a new england tale he would have rejoiced to have jane a home but he had no right to interfere be was a stranger and he well knew that mrs would not consent to any arrangement that would deprive her of jane s ill services such services as money could not purchase it was too about this period mr went for the first time to visit philadelphia jane had passed a day of unusual exertion and just at the close of it she obtained her aunt s reluctant leave to pay a visit to mary it was a soft summer evening the valley in deep shadow the sun was sinking behind the western mountains the light clouds with a smiling farewell ray and his last beams lingering on the of the eastern mountain as if parting were sweet sorrow jane s spirits rose elastic as she breathed the open air she felt like one who has just issued from a close pent up sick room and the fresh pure breath of morning she was along sending an involuntary response to the last notes of ihe birds that were on bush and when edward joined her she had often seen him at her aunt s but regarding him as the companion of her cousins she had scarcely noticed him or had been noticed by him he joined her saying it is almost too late to be abroad without a companion i am used replied jane to be without a companion and i do not need one but i hope you do not object to one it be one of the miseries of human life to see a new england tale such a girl as jane walking alone and not be permitted to join her sir said jane confounded bj edward s unexpected gallantry abashed by her simplicity he replied that he was going to walk and should be very happy to attend her jane felt kindness though she knew not how to receive gallantry she thanked him and they walked on together when edward parted her he wondered he had never noticed before how very interesting she was and what a sweet expression she has she smiles and oh added be with a rapture quite in a young man of twenty her eye is in itself a soul jane said mary to her as she entered her room you look as bright as a may morning and i have th t to tell you that will make you yet brighter mr has been here inquiring for mr i had my that it was something about you and though mr was gone i was determined to find out and so i made bold to break the ice and say something about the exhibition and how mr was pleased with the school c and then be said he was quite disappointed to find mr gone he wanted to consult him about a matter of great importance to himself arid to you mr was so kind he said and had shown such an interest in the school that he did not like to take any important step without consulting him and then he spoke very handsomely of those elegant that a new england tale mr presented to the school he said his was so much enlarged that he engage an assistant but as be wished to purchase some maps he must get one who could furnish at least one hundred dollars his sick wife and	6
of secrecy increased the difficulty of the transaction but finally zeal and perseverance mastered every obstacle and mary with sparkling eyes and a face that smiled all over in spite of its habitual put jane in s a new england tale of the hundred dollars this is indeed in the wilderness said jane as she re it but dear mary i am not the less thankful to you for your exertions for me my child you are right replied mary thanks should first ascend to heaven and then they are very apt to descend in heavenly grace upon the feeble instrument but something seems to trouble you i am troubled answered jane i fear mary this sum cannot all have come from the articles you sold you have added some of your no my clear child some and all of my would i gladly give to you but you know my poor blind sister takes all i can earn while god me with health she shall never the town has offered to take her off my hands as they call it but this would be a crying shame to me and besides she added smiling i can t spare her for it is more pleasant working for her than for myself thanks to mr she is now placed in a better situation than could rd for her no jane the money is all i have told mr and you are to enter the school on monday and have engaged a place at mrs s who will be as kind as a to you between now and monday you time to your aunt with the fortune you m have come to and to bed all the tears that are necessary on this occasion a w tale jane had now nothing to do but to these arrangements but so much did she dread the tempest she knew the intelligence would produce that she the day to wear away without opening her lips on the subject the next day arrived the time of was so near she felt her spirits rise equal to the disagreeable task the family were assembled in the dwelling room mrs was engaged in casting up with her son david some of his college accounts a kind of business that never increased her good humour and were seated at a window in a warm about the piece of work on which they were sewing the point in seemed to be to which the mother had assigned the task of finishing it the two younger children were sitting on little chairs near their mother learning a long lesson in the assembly s and every now and then crying out please to speak to david ma he is me david pulled my hair ma am the either received no notice or an angry rebuke from the mother jane was quietly sewing and mentally that she would speak on the dreaded subject the moment her aunt had finished the business at which she was engaged mrs s temper became do much ruffled that she could not understand the accounts so shuffling the papers all together into her desk and turning the key she said angrily to her son her eldest hope you will please to bear in mind sir that all these extravagant bills a n en land talk are charged to you and shall come out of your portion not a cent of them will i ever pay this did not to be a very m ment for communication but she dreaded it so much that she felt impatient to have it off her mind and laying down her work she was fearfully beginning when she was interrupted by a gentle tap at the door a mean looking woman entered who bore the marks of poverty and sorrow and sickness she had a pale half starved infant in her arms and two other little ragged children with her that she had very left at the outer door she very humbly to the lady of the house hoped no offence she had a little business with miss she believed miss had forgotten her it was no wonder she did not blame her sickness and trouble made great changes mrs either did not or affected not to recognise she was aware that old acquaintance might create a claim upon her charity and she did not seem when jane who sat near pushed a chair forward for the poor woman into which she sunk as it appeared from utter inability to stand who do you say you are said mrs after embarrassing the woman by an stare i did not say ma am for i thought may be when you looked at me so severe you would know me let me take your baby while you rest a little said jane a new england tale oh miss he is not for you to take he has had a dreadful spell with the cough and the and the have left him kinder sore and he has not looked so as he does to day since we left jane persisted in her kind offer and the woman turned again to mrs can t you call to mind ma am hat lived five years at your brother squire s yes yes i recollect you now but you married and went away and people should get their where they do their work i did not come to beg replied the woman that may be said mrs but it k a very poor calculation for the people that move into the new countries to come back upon us as soon as they meet with any trouble i wonder our select men don t take it in hand ah ma am said the woman i guess you was never among strangers never knew what it was to long to see your own people oh it is heart sickness that seems to	6
wear away life whether i was or was not i don t know what that to you i should be glad to know what your business is with me if you have any which i very much doubt i am afraid ma am you will not see fit to make it your business said the poor woman and she sighed deeply and hesitated as if she was discouraged from proceeding but the piteous condition of her children stimulated her courage well ma am to begin with the beginning of my new tale troubles as i was i lived five years with your brother troubles exclaimed mrs you had an easy life enough of it there you was always as plump as a and your cheeks as red as a rose i i had nothing to complain of but that i could never get my pay when i wanted it there never was a woman than miss i believe she saved my life once when i had the fever but then every body knew she never had the use of much money she never seemed to care any thing about it when she had any i could ways get it i hope no but every body knows the squire was always a and seldom had the money ready to pay his just i am afraid the child you miss she continued turning to jane who had walked to the window to hide the emotion the woman s remarks produced no replied jane i had rather keep him and the woman it lacked but six weeks of the five years i had lived at the squire s when i was married to when came to a settlement with the squire there was a hundred dollars owing to me we were expecting to move off to a great distance the and pressed very hard for he payment the squire put him off from time to time was a man and did not want to go to law and so the a n land tale of it was that the persuaded him to take his that s a very likely story said mrs impatiently interrupting the narrative i don t believe one word of it well ma am replied mrs i have that must convince you and she took from an old pocket book a small piece of paper and handed it to mrs there is the identical note am you can satisfy yourself jane cast her eye on the slip of paper in her aunt s hand it was but too plainly written in her father s large and singular character mrs coldly returned it saying in a tone it is as good to you now as a piece of white paper then i have nothing in this world said the poor woman bursting into tears but my poor sick destitute children how came you in such a destitute condition inquired mrs who now that he saw the woman had no direct claim on her was willing to hear her story oh answered the poor creature it seemed as if every thing went cross with us there was never a couple went into the new countries with fairer prospects had every way to save enough to buy him a small farm we got to we struck down south and settled just on the edge of lake we had a yoke of oxen but one of them was pretty much beat out on the road and died the very day k a new england tale after we got to our journey s end there was a among the cattle the next winter and we lost the other ox and our cow in the spring took the long working out in the ground in wet weather and that held him fifteen months but he had made some and we worried through and for three years we seemed to be getting along ahead a little then we both took the lake fever we had neither doctor nor nurse our neighbours were two miles off they were more fore handed than we and kind but it was not much they could do for they had a large sick family of their own the fever threw my poor husband into a slow consumption and he died ma am the th of last january and that poor baby was bom the next week after he died it seemed as if nothing could kill me though i have a weakness in my bones by the fever and distress of mind that i expect to carry to my grave with me sometimes my children and i would almost starve to death l ut providence always sent some relief once there was a missionary put up with us he looked like a poor body but he left me two dollars and once a roman catholic priest that was passing over into canada gave me a gold piece and that i saved till i started on my journey while my husband was sick be had great upon his mind about squire s note we had heard like that he had broke but nor i could not believe but what there would be enough to pay the note out of all his grandeur a new england o and so left it in strict charge with me to come back ad soon as i could after the spring opened and so ma am as soon as the roads were a little settled i pulled up and came off my good christian neighbours helped me up to i have been nine weeks getting from there though i was favoured with a great many rides here mrs interrupted the unfortunate saying i cannot see what occasion there was for jou to be nine weeks on the road i have known persons to go from boston to the falls and back again in three weeks ah ma	6
sharp angle in the road concealed them from the house she said here is a hundred dollars i know the debt my father owed you to a good deal more now but this is all i have take it it is not probable that i shall ever be able to pay the rest but i shall forget that i owe it mrs was for a ment dumb with surprise then into tears of gratitude and joy she would have overwhelmed jane with thanks but she stopped her saying no i have only done what was right i have two fa to beg of say nothing to any body in the world of your having received this money from me and added she faltering do not again tell the story of the injustice she would have said but the word choked her i mean do not say to any one that my parents did not pay you oh miss jane replied the grateful creature mind every thing you tell me just as much as if it was spoken to me right out of heaven and we have reason to believe she was quite as faithful to her promise as could have been expect ed for she was never known to make any communication on the when some ef her rustic neighbours expressed their surprise a new at the sudden and inexplicable change in her circumstances she would say she came by it honestly and by the honesty of some people too who she guessed though they did it secretly would be rewarded openly and when she heard jane s name mentioned she would roll up her eyes and say that if every body knew as much as she did they would think that girl was an upon earth these hints were perhaps not quite so much as expected at any rate she was never tempted to disclose the grounds of her opinion jane had a difficult task in her friend mary to her disappointment while she felt a secret delight in the tried of her favourite she could not deny herself the indulgence of a little if you had but waited j e till mr came home he would have advanced the money with all his heart yes but mary yoa recollect mr is not to return these weeks and in the mean time what was to become of the poor woman and her starving children no mary we must deal justly while we have it in our power is it no your great mr who says it is safe to our pleasure but never to delay our duties it seems to me jane replied mary you pick fruit from every good tree no matter whose it grows in well i believe you have done right but i shall tell the story to mr and mrs with a heavy a new tale tell them nothing said jane but that i bad an unexpected call for the money and beg them to mention nothing of the past for i will not provoke aunt jane said mary earnestly you must not deny me the satisfaction of telling bow you have laid out the money no replied jane you cannot hare pleasure without telling why i was obliged thus to lay it out oh added she with more emotion than she had yet shown i have never blamed my father that he left me had he me the inheritance of a good name i would not have exchanged it for all the world can give mary consoled her friend as well as she was able and then reluctantly parted from her to perform her disagreeable duty mr was exceedingly disappointed be said be had already bad an of a very good assistant who could furnish more money than he expected from jane be had preferred jane for no sum could her for the station he wished her to fill he was however obliged to her for so promptly informing him of her determination as he had not yet sent a refusal to the person who had the place mrs not content with which she did sincerely that she could not have jane for an wondered what upon earth she could have done with a hundred dollars and concluded that it would be just like jane though it would not be like any body else in the a new england tale world to pay one of her father s old debts with it will not our readers pardon mary if mrs inferred from the smile of pleasure that brightened her face that she had guessed the truth let that be as it may all parties promised and what is much more extraordinary preserved secrecy and all that was left of jane s hopes and plans was the consciousness of having acted right from right motives could any one have seen the of her heart he would have pronounced that consciousness a treasure that has no equivalent thus our heroine placed in circumstances which would have made some desperate and most discontented by keeping her heart with all diligence proved that out of it are the issues of life she was first resigned and then happy she was on an eminence of virtue to which the and of her aunt s family did not a tale ill chapter viii it may be said of him that hath him o the shoulder but i warrant him heart whole as like it more than years glided away without the occurrence of any incident in the life of our he that would be deemed worthy of record by any persons less interested in her history than mary or the writer of her simple annals the reader shall therefore be allowed to pass over this interval with merely a remark that jane had improved in mortal and immortal graces that the of her character seemed to interest and delight mr almost as much as	6
her mother who had become as faithful as she was a powerful in the evening they were all assembled in the parlour edward entered and his entrance produced a visible sensation in every member of the little circle mrs dropped half a needle full of on her knitting work and gave it to jane to take them a new england up jane seemed to find the task very difficult for a little girl who sat by the stand observed miss jane take up the better than you do you miss them half give me my spectacles i ll do k myself said mrs some people are very easily it was a warm evening in the latter part of september the window was open jane retreated to it and busied herself in pulling the leaves off a rose bush brought matters to a crisis by saying i called mrs to ask of you the favour of miss s company to morrow on the escort i am sorry replied mrs that any young woman s manners who is brought up in my house should a gentleman to believe she will of course ride with him if asked i beg your pardon madam replied edward for be at least had no fear of the mrs i have been so happy as to obtain miss s consent subject to yours is it possible answered mrs sneer quite an for deference from miss not unnecessary however for she probably recollected that to morrow is and indifferent as she is to the privilege of going to meeting she knows that no pleasures ever prevent my going no madam replied the plea of others weigh very light against your duties i a tale before mrs bad made up ber mind ber or not to resent the sarcasm rose and joining jane at the window whispered to ber rouse your spirit for heaven s sake do not sub to such tyranny jane recovered ber po and she replied smiling it is my duty to subdue not rouse my spirit duty exclaimed leave all that ridiculous cant for your aunt i it i have your promise and your promise to me is surely as binding as your duty to your aunt that promise was replied jane and it is no longer in my power to perform it nor in your inclination miss jane was not well pleased that should j at the risk of her with her aunt and to avoid his and her aunt s displeasure she left the room the girl wants spirit said mentally she is tame very tame it is quite absurd for a girl of seventeen to talk about duties he was about to take leave when mrs who knew none of the skilful of accomplished though her clumsy were often as irresistible said don t be in such haste mr may go with you edward s first impulse was to decline the offer but he paused was sitting by her mother and she turned upon him a look of appeal and admiration his which had been by was soothed by this tribute and he said l a new talk if miss is to tbe party i will call for her to morrow miss confessed her with glow of that consoled him for his made the most of the advantage she i gained mrs bad of late though the fort cost her many a groan indulged s sion for dress in the hope that the glittering of bait would attract the prey in this she was not mistaken for though a ed a contempt for the distinctions of dress h been too much flattered for his personal lo permit him to he insensible to them and he handed into his ire pleasure that she was the best dressed an looking girl in the party his still further when he say to one of his i by noble looking pair such i never quantity and never nice as to the qui food it liad penetration enough i in he fortress she t ind so und arts on tliis triumphant day tl a e tj on their return she went out to walk and was whither to direct her steps when she met her friend mr ah jane said he i just came on an errand from my little girl she has succeeded for the first time to day in words together so as to make quite an in sentence and she is so much elated that she has bid me tell thee she cannot go to sleep till dear jane has heard her read jane replied she should be glad to hear her but with none of the animation with which she usually entered into the pleasures of her little friend mr was disappointed but he thought she had been suffering some domestic vexation and they walked on silently after a few moments he said as i am i do not like a t meeting though i should be used to it for except that i must answer the questions of my and am expected by thy friend mary to reply to her praises of i have not much more occasion for the gift of speech than the brothers of la you forget replied jane who felt gently reproached that besides all the use you have for that precious faculty in persuading the stupid and the to adopt your benevolent plans of reform you sometimes condescend to it in behalf of a very humble young friend but that young friend must lay aside her hu so far as to flatter me with the appearance of listening t a new jane was a little disconcerted and mr did not seem quite free from but a h bad roused ber from her he began to on the approach of evening the charms of that hour when the din of toil has and no sound is heard but the sweet sounds of twilight	6
breathing the music of nature s he turned his eye to tlie heavens which in their far blue arch disclosed star after star and then the in brightness spoke of the power that formed and the wisdom that directed them jane was affected by his devotion it was a that a soul into all nature she listened with delight and before they reached the house tranquillity quite restored and the child and were both entirely satisfied with the pleasure she manifested in the improvement of her little favourite but her trials were not over after the lesson was past dear jane said why did not thee go with the party to day i saw them all go past here and mr and were laughing and looked out sharp for thee would not any body take jane did what of all other things she would least have wished to have done she burst into tears the sweet child whose had taken her by surprise crept up into her lap and putting her arms around her neck said affectionately i am sorry for thee dear jane don t cry father would a new england tale have asked thee if he had gone poor jane hid her and her tears on the bosom of her kind but she felt the necessity of saying something but she could not make and she never made mr saw and pitied her confusion he rose and tenderly placing his hand on her head he said my dear young friend thou hast wisely and safely guided thy little bark thus far down the stream of life be still and prudent and thou wilt glide through the dangers that alarm thee he then relieved jane from his presence saying i am going to my library and will send mary to escort thee home jane could not have borne a statement of her case and though it was very clear that mr had detected the lurking weakness of her heart she was soothed by his mode of his knowledge and his counsel persons of genuine sensibility possess a certain tact that them to touch delicate subjects without giving pain this touch as much from a rude and grasp as does the management of a fine instrument in the hands of a skilful surgeon from the and of a vulgar mr had heard the village gossip of edward s divided attentions to the cousins nothing that concerned jane was uninteresting to him and he had watched with eager anxiety the character and conduct of he had never liked the young man but he thought that be had a new england probably injustice and he had too fair a mind to harbour a prejudice perhaps he said to himself i have judged him hardly i am apt to carry my strait coat habits into every thing the young man s extravagant way of talking bis sacrifices to popularity and his and love of pleasure may all have been in my eyes by their opposition to the strict sober ways in which i have been bred at any rate i will loo upon the bright side jane pure lent as she is cannot love such a man as edward ei appears to me to be and she is too i am sure to regard the advantages which excite the of her vulgar aunt the result of mr s was not favourable to still his were so th t they were often mistaken for virtues and virtues he had though none there was nothing in character or history as far as mr could ascertain it that would give him a right to interfere with his advice to jane but still lie felt as if she was on the brink of a precipice and he had no right to warn her of her danger perhaps this was a false delicacy considering the amount of the risk but there are few persons of principle and refinement who do not shrink from with affairs of the heart mr hoped believed that jane would not marry edward but he did not allow enough for the of youth for the of a young lady of seventeen to fall in love for the faith that hopes al things and believes all things it wishes to believe i tale j the fall the winter and the spring wore away and as yet no certain indication appeared of the issue of this to our villagers momentous affair certainly preferred jane and yet he was more at his ease with he could not but perceive the decided of jane but made him always think n ore and better of himself nd this most agreeable of her and reflected a charm on her jane was never less satisfied with herself than during this period of her life a new set of feelings were springing up in her heart over which she felt that she had little control at times her confidence in edward was strong and then suddenly a hasty expression or an unprepared action revealed a trait that the fair proportions of the hero of her imagination s continual projects and busy provoked a spirit of competition which was certainly natural though very wrong hut alas our heroine had who is without them in the beginning of the month of june david came from college involved in debt and in disgrace his youthful follies had into vices and his mother had no patience no forbearance for the faults which she might have traced to her own but for which she found a source that relieved h from responsibility the following was the close of an noisy and bitter between this and son i am ruined utterly ruined if you refuse me the k n w money told me you received a lai ge sum yesterday and tis but one hundred dollars i ask for and wonder you can have the heart to ask replied mrs sobbing	6
with passion not grief you have no feeling you never bad any for my it is but two months yesterday since died and i have no reason to hope for her she died without repentance ha replied david told me that she confessed to her husband her abuse of bis children her love of the bottle which by the by every body knew before and a parcel of stuff that for our i think she might have kept to herself yes yes she did die in a terrible uproar of mind about some things of that kind but she bad no feeling of her lost state by oh the devil grumbled the son and brother if i had nothing to worry my conscience but my state by nature i might get one good night s sleep instead of lying from night till morning like a under a this comment was either unheard or by the mother and she went on david your extravagance is more than i can bear i have been wonderfully supported under my other trials if my children though they are my flesh and blood are not elected the lord is justified in their destruction and i am still i have done my duty and i know not why his chariot wheels a new en land tale it is an easy thing am said david interrupting his mother to be to everlasting destruction but if mind is not equally resigned to the ruin of a child you must lend me the money lend it you have already spent more than your portion in living and i cannot in you any thing thus put a sudden conclusion to the conversation and retreated from the field like a skilful general having exhausted all her as she closed the door david muttered curses on her conscience it will never let her do what she is not inclined to and always finds a reason to back her inclinations the money i must have if fair means will not obtain it foul must m a new england tale ix thought and hell itself turns to favour and to t ix was on the evening of the day on which the we have related bad occurred between young and his mother that jane just as she had parted with after an unusually delightful walk and was entering her aunt s door heard her name pronounced in a low voice she turned and saw an old man emerging from behind a of the house he placed his cr on his lips by way of an to silence and said softly to jane for the love of heaven come to my house to night you i life tell no one and come after the family is in bed but john i do not know the way to your house jane amazed at the strange request you shall have a guide miss don t be afraid tis not like you to be afraid when there is good to be done and i tell vou vou save life and a new england tale every one that knows me knows never tell a lie for any body well said jane after a moment s pause if i go how shall i find the way that s what i am afraid will frighten you most of all but it must be so you know where s grave is on the side of the hill above the river there you will find crazy bet waiting for you she is a poor cracked body but there is nobody i would sooner trust in any trouble besides she is in the secret already and there is no help for it but said jane may i not get some one else to go with me not for the wide world nothing will harm you jane was about to make some further when a sound from the house alarmed the man and he disappeared as suddenly as he had made his john was an old man who had been well known to two or three successive generations in the village he had never had health or strength for hard labour but had gained a by making baskets weaving new seats into old chairs collecting for spring beer and digging roots from the mountains miscellaneous offices which are usually performed by one person where the great principle of a division of labour is yet unknown and unnecessary a of might perhaps have detected in the of the old man s head certain indications a england tale of a of mind and a feeling heart but as we are in that fashionable science we shall simply remark that there was in the mild cast of his large hut sunken eye and the deep worn channels of his face an expression that would lead an observer to think he bad felt and suffered that he possessed the wisdom of reflection as well as the experience of age and that he had been accustomed in nature s silent and solitary places to with the author of nature he inhabited a at some distance from the village but within the pre of the town when the skill of the do was at fault in the case of a sick cow or a child he was called to a consultation and the of the he had administered had sometimes proved so great as to induce a suspicion of a mysterious charm bat the superstitious belief in and magic has vanished with the mists of other times and the awe of john of the mountain as he was called or for s sake john mountain never the period of childhood jane knew john was honest and kind hearted and particularly well disposed to her for he had occasionally brought her a pretty wild flower or a basket of and then he would say ah miss jane i grow old and forgetful but the old man can t forget the kindness that	6
any one to control her resolution was a little shaken but after all she thought it is possible i may a new the without her i tbe course i should take at rate i should be miserable if any evil should come of my neglect of the old man s request there can be do real dangers and i will not imagine any still after the family were all hushed in repose and jane had stolen from her bed and dressed herself for her secret expedition she shrunk from the task before her i do not like this mystery said she mentally i wish i had told my aunt and asked david to go with me or i might have told mary there could have been no harm in that but it is now too late john said i might save ufe and i will think of nothing else she rose from the bed where she had seated herself to lor the last time upon the difficulties before her crept softly down stairs passed her aunt s room and got clear of the house except by a slight growl from the house dog whose dreams she had broken but at her well known kindly patting and lie down lie down he quietly resumed his sleeping posture her courage was stimulated by having surmounted one obstacle the moon had risen and shed its mild lustre over the peace ful scene now thought jane that i have stirred up my thoughts with a manly spirits i wonder what i could have been afraid of anxious to ascertain whether she was to have a new england the doubtful aid of crazy bet s conduct or trust solely to her own she pressed onward to her way to s grave and to avoid the possibility of observation she soon l ft the public road and walked along under the shadow of a low hill which had formerly been the bank of the river but from which it had and left an interval of beautiful meadow between the hill and its present bed the deep of the meadow sparkled with of that seemed in this hour of their to be keeping their merry by the music of the passing stream the way was as yet perfectly familiar to jane after walking some distance ia a straight line she crossed the meadow by a direct path to a lai e tree which had been in part by l j and which now laid across the river and supplied a rude passage to the adventurous the of some of its roots retaining it firmly in the bank fortunately the stream was unusually low and when our heroine reached the further extremity of the fallen trunk she sprang without difficulty over the few feet of water between her and the dry sand of the shore that s well done exclaimed crazy bet in a voice that made the ring and st ting up from the mound strong of heart and light of foot you are a fit for one tliat hates the broad and beaten road and loves the narrow straight way and the high rock sit down and rest you she for jane was out of a n w land tale from ascending the steep bank where crazy bet stood sit down child may sit quiet it is not ti ne for her to rise yet ob bet said jane if you love take those off your head they make you look so wild a heart than jane s would have at bet s appearance she had taken off her old bonnet ai d tied it on a branch of the tree that shaded grave and twisted around her head a full vine by which she had confined of wild flowers that drooped around her pale brow and haggard face her long hair was streaming over her shoulders her little black mantle thrown back leaving her throat and neck bare the excitement of the scene the purpose of the expedition and the moonlight gave to her large black eyes an unusual brightness to jane s earnest entreaty she replied child you know not what you ask take off these indeed every leaf of them has had a prayer said over it there is a charm in every one of them there is not an of the evil one that dares to touch me while i wear them the with his glistening eye springs far me and the big snake that s and ready to dart away from me but said jane in a tone of more timid what have i to guard me bet you and as she spoke she jane s hair back from her pure smooth brow have not you innocence and know you not that is god s a seal in the forehead to keep you from all harm foolish girl sit i say she will not rise yet jane obeyed her command and her spirits replied no bet i am not afraid she wiu rise i believe the dead lie very quiet in their graves yes those may that die in their beds and are buried by the of the bell and lie with a merry company about them in the church yard but i tell you those that row themselves over the dark river never have a quiet night s rest in their cold beds come said jane impatiently rising for mercy s sake let us go i cannot stir from this spot replied bet till the moon gets above that tree and so be quiet while i tell you s story why child i sit here watching by her many a night till her hour comes and then i always go away for the dead don t love to be seen rising from their beds well bet tell me s story and then i hope you will not keep me any longer here and you need not tell me much	6
for you know i hav heard w a thousand times ah but you did not see her as i did when s men went out and she followed them and begged them on her knees for the love of god not to fire upon the prisoners for the story had come that men would cover their front with the and you did not see her when he was brought to her shot through the heart and a n w talk dead as she is now she did not speak a word she fell upon his neck and she clasped her arms him they thought to cut them off it was so hard to get them loose and when they took her from him and the laid her hand on jane s head she was all gone here the very day they put him under the een sod she drowned herself in that deep place under the mourning willow that the boys call s well and they buried her here for the squire and the found it against law and gospel too to give her christian bet told all these circumstances with an expression and action that showed she was living the over while her mind dwelt on them jane was deeply interested and when bet concluded she said poor i never felt so much for lier that s right child now we will go on but first let that tear drop that in the fall on the grave it helps to keep the grass green and the dead like to be cried for she added mournfully they now proceeded crazy bet leading the way with long and hasty strides in a course still ascending the hill till she plunged into a deep wood so richly clothed with foliage as to be to the moon beams and so choked with that jane found it very difficult to keep up with her they soon however emerged into an open space completely surrounded and enclosed by lofty trees crazy n a w tale bet had not spoken since they began their walk she now stopped and turning abruptly to jane do you know said she who are the that meet in this temple the spirits that were sometime but since he went and preached to them they come out from their prison house and worship in the open air and under the light of the blessed heavens it is a beautiful spot said jane i should think all obedient spirits would worship in this of nature say you so then worship with me the fell on her knees jane beside her he had caught a spark of her companion s enthusiasm the of her situation the beauty of the night the novelty of the place on which the moon now riding high in the heavens poured u flood of silver light all to give a high tone to her feelings it is not strange she should have thought she never heard any thing so sublime as the prayer of her conductor who raised her arms and poured out her soul in passages of scripture the most and striking woven together by her own glowing language she concluded suddenly and springing on her feet said to jane now follow me fear not and not for you know what the fearful and jane assured her she bad no but that of being too late you need not think of that he spirit never till i come now turned into the wood bv a narrow a new tale pathway whose entrance laid under the shadow of two young trees crazy bet paused see ye these child said she pointing to the trees i knew two who grew up thus on the spot of earth so lovingly they grew and she pointed to the of the branches young and beautiful was laid to the root of and the other and she pressed her hands on her head and screamed wildly perished here a burst of tears afforded her a poor broken hearted creature murmured jane no child when she then the band is loosened for added she drawing closer to and whispering they put an iron band around her head and when she is in darkness it presses till she thinks she is in the place of the by the light of the moon it sits lightly ye cannot see it but it is there always there jane began now to be alarmed at the excitement of bet s imagination and turning from her abruptly entered the path which after they had proceeded a few yards seemed to be leading into a wild region where are wo going bet she exclaimed through a pass child that none knows but the wild bird and the wild woman have you never heard of the of the mountain yes replied jane but i had rather not go through them to night cannot we go some other way a new england tale nay there is no other way follow me and fear not jane had often heard of the pass called the mountain and she knew it had only been penetrated by a few rash youths of daring and adventurous spirit she was appalled at the thought of entering it in the dead of night and with such a conductor she paused but she could see n way of escape and all her resolution to her id she bet who took no note of her scruples they now entered a which had been made by some tremendous of nature that had rent the mountain asunder and piled rock on rock in the deep abyss the breadth of the passage which was walled in bj the perpendicular sides of the mountain was not id any place more than twenty feet and sometimes so narrow that jane thought she might have extended her arms quite across	6
it v but she had no leisure for critical accuracy her guide pressed on heedless of the difficulties of the way she would pass between huge rocks that had rolled so near together as to leave but a very narrow passage between them then grasping the tangled roots that projected from the side of the mountain and placing her feet in the of the rocks or in the little channels that had been worn by the continual dropping from the mountain she would glide over swiftly and safely as if she had been on the beaten highway they were sometimes compelled in the depths of the to prostrate themselves and creep through narrow a england tale in the rocks it was impossible to and jane felt that she was passing over immense masses of ice the perhaps of a hundred she was and and inspired with almost supernatural courage she though a woman naturally born to fears followed on till they came to an immense rock whose and giant form rested on broken masses v that on every side were this mighty monarch of the scene for the first time crazy bet seemed to remember she had a companion and to give a thought to her safety jane said she go carefully over this lower ledge there is a narrow foot hold there let not your foot slip on the wet leaves or the soft moss i am in the spirit and i must mount to the summit jane obeyed her directions and when without much trouble she had attained the further side of the rock she looked back for crazy bet and saw her standing between heaven and earth on the very point of the high rock she on the branch of a tree she had broken off in her struggle to reach that lofty station the moon had declined a little from the her rays did not penetrate the depths where jane stood but fell in their full brightness on the face of her above her head as we have noticed was dressed with vines and flowers her eyes were in a fine frenzy rolling from earth to heaven and heaven to earth she n t a tale looked like the wild of the savage scene and she seemed to breathe its spirit when after a moment s silence she sang with a powerful and thrilling voice which the sleeping echoes of the mountain the tell them i am said to moses while earth heard in dread and smitten to the heart at once above t around au without voice or sound replied oh lord thou in vain jane called upon her in vain she en treated her to descend she seemed some heavenly vision aiid she stood mute again and motionless till a bird that had been scared from its nest in a of the rock bj the wild sounds fluttered over her and lit on the branch she still held in her hand oh exclaimed she messenger of love and omen of i am content and she swiftly descended the sloping side of the rock which she hardly seemed to touch now said jane soothingly you are rested let us go on rested yes my body is rested but mj has been the way of the eagle in the air you cannot bear the revelation now child come on and do your earthly work they walked on for a few yards when bet aud turned to the left and ascended the tain which was there less steep and rugged than at any place they had passed at a short distance a new tale before her jane perceived glimmering through the trees a faint light heaven be praised said she that must be john s cottage as they came nearer the dog the old man coming out of the door signed to jane to sit down n a log which answered the purpose of a rude door step and then speaking to bet in a f which to jane s ut surprise tee obeyed take off said he you mad those from your head stroke your hair back like a decent christian woman get into the house but mind you say not a word to her crazy bet entered the house and john turning to jane said you are an angel of goodness for coming here to night though i am afraid it will do no good bu since you are here you shall see her see her see what john interrupted jane that s what i must tell you miss but it is a piercing story to tell to one that looks like you it s telling the deeds of the pit to the angels above he then went on to state that a few days before he had been searching the mountains for some roots when his attention was suddenly arrested by a low moaning sound and on going in the direction from whence it came he found a very young looking creature with a ne w born infant wrapped in a shawl and lying in her arms he spoke to the mother but she made no reply and seemed quite unconscious of every things till he attempted to take the child from her she then a new england tale grasped it so firmly that he found it difficult to remove it he called his wife to his assistance and placed the infant in her arms pity for so young a sufferer the old man with unwonted strength and enabled him to bear the mother to his hut there he used the simple his skill dictated but nothing produced any effect till the child with whom the old woman had taken pains revived and cried the sound he said seemed to life in a dead body the mother extended her arms as if to feel for her child and they gently laid it in them she felt the touch of its face	6
and burst into a flood of tears which seemed greatly to relieve her for after that she took a little nourishment and fell into a sweet sleep from which she awoke in a state to make some explanations to her curious but as the account she gave of herself was of necessity interrupted and imperfect we shall take the liberty to avail ourselves of our knowledge of her history and offer our readers a slight sketch of it a new and g chapter x death lies on her like an frost upon the sweetest flower of all the field i t the name of the stranger was mary her parents had gone out to the west indies where at the opening of flattering prospects they both died to the fever of the climate which seldom a northern constitution mary in her infancy had been sent borne to her grand parents who nursed this only of their unfortunate children with fondness they were in humble life and they denied themselves every that they might gratify every wish reasonable and unreasonable of their darling child she affectionate and ar in her nature grew up impetuous and instead of rocking the cradle of age she made the lives of her old parents resemble a fitful april day sunshine and cloud succeeding each other in rapid she loved the old people tenderly passionately when she had just received a favour from them but like other spoiled children she never that love a new england tale by her will to theirs or their wisdom to govern her childish inclinations she grew up fair as the form that in fancy ti loom in light vision round the poet s head most unhappily for her there was a college in the town where she lived and she very early became the favourite of the young whose attentions she received with delight in spite of the and entreaties of her who were well aware that a young and beautiful creature could not with propriety or safety receive the of her in station attracted by her personal charms david more artful more than any of his companions addressed her the most extravagant flattery and on her costly giddy and poor mary was a victim to bis he soothed her with hopes and promises till in consequence of the fear of detection in another transaction where detection would have been dangerous he left and returned to his mother s without giving mary the slightest intimation of his departure she took the desperate resolution of following him she felt certain she should not survive her confinement and hoped to secure the protection of for her infant her tenderness we believe more than her pride induced her to conceal her miseries from her only true friends she thought any thing would be easier for them to bear a n w tale than a knowledge of her and for the few days she remained under their roof and while she was preparing a disguise for her perilous she affected slight sickness and they were alarmed and anxious and insisted on making a bed for her in their room this somewhat embarrassed her proceedings but on the night of her escape she told them with a manner that she could only sleep in her own bed and alone in her own room they did not resist her they never had mary kissed them when she bade them good night with unusual tenderness they went to their beds she wrote a few lines addressed to them praying for their forgiveness expressing her gratitude and her love and telling them that life before her seemed a long and a dark road and she did not wish to go any further in it and begging them not to search for her for in one hour the waves would roll over her she placed the on her table crept out of her window and left for ever the protecting roof of her kind old parents when they awoke to a knowledge of their loss they were overwhelmed with grief their neighbours about them to offer their assistance and consolation and though some of the most penetrating among them suspected the cause of the poor desperation more and kind than persons usually are in such circumstances they spared the old people the light of their a w land tale poor in her and miserable journey which was rendered much longer by her fearfully the public road she obtained a kind shelter at the farmers houses at night where she always contrived to satisfy their curiosity by some plausible account of herself at the end of a week she arrived wearied and exhausted in the neighbourhood of he watched for him in the evening near his s and succeeded in obtaining an interview with him he was enraged that she had followed him and said that it was impossible for him to do any thing for her she told him she asked nothing for herself but she entreated him not to add to his guilt the crime of suffering their unhappy offspring to die with neglect utterly selfish and hard hearted the wretch turned from her without one word of kindness and then that if she was discovered he should be involved in further troubles he returned and gave her a direction which he believed would enable her to find john s cottage on the mountain if she gets there thought he as he left her w she pr dies she will be far out of the way for the present and the future must take care of itself mary with a faint heart followed his direction and the next day she was discovered by old john in the situation we have mentioned perhaps there are some who cannot believe that any being should be so utterly as david but let them remember that be began with a a new england tale more to evil than	6
to good that his s had increased every thing that was bad in him and extinguished every that was good that the continual of his mother s professions and life had led him to an entire of the truths of religion as well as a contempt of its after the old man had finished mary s story er rather so much of it as he had been able to gather from her jane asked him why she had been sent for why he replied after the poor thing had come to herself all her trouble seemed to be about her baby and i did not know what to ad her my woman and i might have done for it for the present but our un is almost set and we could do but a little while i proposed to her to go for and i was sure the sight of her might have softened a heart of flint but she shivered at the bare mention of it she said no no i cannot see that cruel face upon my and then i thought of you and told her if there was any body could bring him to a sense of right it was you and that at any rate you might think of some comfort for her for i told her every body in the village knew you f r the wisest and and at first she and then the sight of her baby seemed to persuade her and she bade me go but she gave me a strict charge that no one should come with you for she said she wished her memory buried with her in the grave when i left her to go to jou i hoped o a new tale you might speak some words of comfort to her that be better than medicine for her and heal the body as well as the mind but when i came back there was a dreadful change the poor little one had gone into a fit and she would take it my wife into her arms and there it died more than an hour ago and she sits up in the bed holding it yet and she has not spoken a word nor turned her eyes from it her cheeks look as if there was a living fire her ob miss jane it is awful to look upon such a fallen star now you are prepared come in may be the sight of you will rouse her jane followed john into his little habitation the old couple had kindly resigned their only bed to the sufferer she was sitting as john had described her fixed as a statue her beautiful black glossy curls which had been so often ad and were in confusion and cluster ed in rich masses over her temples and neck a tear that had started from the fountain of feeling now sealed for ever hung on the dark rich eye lash that fringed her downcast eye jane wondered that any thing so wretched could look so lovely crazy bet was kneeling at the foot of the bed and apparently absorbed in prayer eyes were closed and her lips moved though they no sound the old woman sat in the corner of the fire place smoking a broken pipe to the unusual agitation she felt jane advanced towards the bed speak to er said john jane stooped and laid a new talk ih gently on mary g she raised her eyes for the time and turned them on jane with a look of earnest inquiry and then shaking her head she said iti a low mournful voice no no we cannot be parted you mean to take her to heaven and you say i am and must not go they told me you were coming you need not hide your wings i know you there is none but an angel would look upon me with such pity oh exclaimed jane in an agony can be done for her at least let us take away this dead child it is growing cold in her arms she attempted to take the child and relaxed her hold but as she did so she uttered a faint scream became suddenly pale as marble and fell back on the pillow ah she is gone exclaimed john crazy bet sprang on her feet and raised tier hush said she i heard a voice saying her sins are forgiven she is one come out of great there were a few moments of as perfect stillness as if had all been made dumb and motionless by the stroke of death jane was the first to break silence did she she inquired of the old man express any any hope john shook his head them things did not seem to lay on her mind and i did not think it worth while to disturb her about them ah miss the great thing is how we live not how we die jane felt the anxiety so natural to obtain a new england tale religious expression that should indicate lion in the mind of the departed surely said she it is never too late to repent to beg forgiveness no miss replied john who seemed to have religious notions of his own especially when there has been a short account as this poor child had but the work must be all between the creature and the creator and for my part i don t place much on what people say on a death bed i have lived a long life miss jane and many a one have i seen and heard too when sickness aud distress were heavy upon them and death staring them in the face and they could not sin any more they would seem to repeat and talk as beautiful as any saint but if the	6
lord took his hand from them and they got well they went right back into the old track no miss jane it is the life it is the we must look tow this child he added going to the bed and laying his brown and hand upon her fair young brow now chill and this child was but sixteen she told me so the lord only knows what temptations she has had he it is miss jane that has put that in our hearts that makes us feel sorry for her now and can you think that he is less pitiful than we are i think she will be beaten with few but he concluded solemnly covering his face with his hands we are poor ignorant creatures it is all a mystery after this world we know nothing about it a new england tale yes said jane we do know that all will be right true be replied and it is that should make us lay our fingers on our and be jane had been so much absorbed in the mournful scene that the necessity of her return before the breaking of day bad not occurred to her mind and would not perhaps if john bad not after a few moments pause reminded her of it by saying i am sorry mis jane you have had such a walk for nothing but added to the wise nothing ia vain and you are of so a make that you may have learned some good lessons here you may learn at least that there is nothing to be much grieved for in this world but and some people go through a long life without learning that you liad better return now i will go round the hill with you and show you the this crazy creature should have led you she is in on of her still fits now there is nothing her down like seeing death she will not move from here till after the burying jane looked for the last time on the beautiful form before her and with the and keen feeling of youth wept aloud it is indeed a sore sight said john it makes my old eyes run over as they have not for many a year the lord have mercy on her oh miss it is sad to see beautiful flower cut down in its prime but who would change her condition for his he may go id a new tale on but there is that at his heart s core that will not be jane told the kind old man that she was now ready to go and thej left the hut together he led her by a narrow foot path around the base of the mountain till they came to a part of the way that was known to she then parted from her conductor after inquiring of him if he could inter the bodies secretly he replied that he could without much difficulty and he certainly should for he had given his promise to the young creature who seemed to dread nothing so much as a discovery which might lead to her old pa rents knowing her real fate anxious to reach home in time to avoid the necessity of any jane hastened forward and arrived at her aunt s before the east gave the slightest notice of the approach of day she entered the house carefully and turned into the parlour to look for some refreshment in an adjoining a long walk and a good deal of emotion we believe in real life are very apt to make people even the most refined hungry and thirsty jane had entered the parlour and closed the door after her before she perceived that she was not the only person in it but she started with alarm which certainly was not confined to herself when she saw standing at mrs s desk which was placed at one corner of the room her son david with his mother s pocket book in his hand from which he was in the act of n precious roll of bank bills that had been deposit a new england ed th the day before jane paused for a moment and but for a moment for as the truth ed on her she sprang forward and seizing his arm exclaimed for heaven s sake david put back that money do not load yourself with any more sins he shook her off and hastily the money in his pocket said that he must have it that his mother would not give him enough to save him from destruction that he had told her ruin was hanging over his head that she had driven him to help himself and as to sin he added fiercely i am in too deep already to be frightened by that thought it occurred to jane that he might have been driven to this mode of supplying himself in order to relieve the extreme need of mary and she told him in a hurried manner th events of the ni for a moment he felt the sting of conscience and perhaps a touch of human feeling for he staggered back into a chair and covering his face with his hands m dead mary dead good god hell has no place bad enough for me and then rousing himself he said with a deep tone jane i am a ruined d rate man tou thought too well of me when you imagined it was for that poor girl i was doing this deed no no her cries did not trouble me but there are those whose must be hushed by money curse on them but said jane is there no other way david i will entreat your mother for you a new england tale you yes and she will heed you j much as the does the of hi ey i t ji you i	6
am desperate and car the consequences but he added i will risk of discovery and as he spoke he drew from beneath his and putting the to his breast said to jane give me your solemn promise that you will never betray me or i will put myself beyond the reach of punishment oh said jane will promise any thing do not destroy your soul and body both do you promise then i do most solemnly then said he hastily the pistol and the desk with the false key he had ob then all is as well as it can be my mother will suspect but she will not dare to tell whom and your promise jane makes me secure jane saw he was so determined that any further would he useless and she hurried away to her own apartment where she threw herself upon her bed for the crimes and miseries of others quite exhausted with the of the night she soon fell asleep she was too much distressed and terrified to reflect upon the bad effects that might result from the promise she had doubtless been alarmed by david s threat of self slaughter for confused and desperate as he was he would hardly have proceeded to such an a new tale outrage and besides we have reason to believe the pistol was neither nor loaded but that he had provided himself with it for which might occur in the desperate career in which he hid engaged he had been concerned with two ingenious in hanging the of bank bills his had been detected and imprisoned and they were now ex acting money from him by threatening to disclose his agency in the transaction always careless of himself in and on by the fear of the state prison he resolved without hesitation on this robbery which would not only give him the means of present relief but would supply him with a store for future demands which he had every reason to expect from the character of his comrades a e i chapter xi there is no terror in your threats for i am armed so strong in honesty that they pass by me as the idle windy i respect not jane exhausted by the of the to her custom remained in bed much longer than the other members of the mi ij and did not awake from deep and till the bell called the household to prayers mrs was scrupulous in the attendance of every member of her family at her and evening this jane and cheerfully as she did witb all those that did not require a of principle but still she had often occasion secretly to lament that where there was so much of the form of worship there was so little of its spirit and truth and she sometimes felt an involuntary self reproach that her body should be in the attitude of devotion while her mind was following her aunt through earth sea and skies a new tale r pausing to wonder at the remarkable in of her prayers to the condition and wants of humanity in general and especially to their particular in her own family mrs was fond of the bold and highly language of the and identified herself with the in his exultation over his enemies in his and in hi appeals for vengeance we leave to to decide whether these expressions from the king of are meant for the enemies of the church or whether they are to be to the dim light which the best enjoyed under the at any rate such to us in so questionable a shape ought not to be employed as the medium of a christian s when jane entered the room she found her aunt had begun her which were evidently more confused than usual and when she her voice wrought up to its highest pitch lo i thine enemies o lord lo thine enemies perish all the workers of shall be scattered but my horn shalt thou like the horn of a i shall be with fresh oil mine eye also shall see my desire on my enemies and my ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me jane perceived from her unusual emotion that she must allude to something that touched her own affairs and she that she had already discovered the robbery her conjectures were a new tale when she observed that during the break st her aunt seemed very much agitated but she was at a loss to account for the look she darted on her when one of the children said how your hair looks jane this is the first time i ever saw you come to breakfast without comb ing it jane replied that she had over slept you look more said as if you had been watching au night and crying i should imagine from the of your eyes and now i think of it she added regardless of jane s embarrassment i am sure i heard your door shut in the night and you walking about your room jane was more confused by the expression of her aunt s face than by her cousin s observations what thought she can i have done to provoke her i certainly have done nothing but there is never a storm in the family without my some of its pitiless after breakfast the family dispersed as usual excepting mrs david and jane who remained to assist her aunt in removing the breakfast apparatus mrs neither wishing nor able any longer to restrain her wrath went up to her desk and taking hold of a pocket handkerchief which appeared to lie on the top of it but as she stretched it out showed one end caught and in the desk do you know this handkerchief jane she said in a voice choking with passion a tale yes ma am replied	6
jane turning pale it is mine she ventured as she spoke to look at his eyes were fixed on a newspaper he seemed to be reading not a muscle of his face nor was there the slightest trace of emotion yours said mrs that you could not deny for your name is at full length on it and when did you have it last p last night ma am and who has robbed me of five hundred dollars can you answer to that jane made no reply she saw that her aunt s suspicions rested on her and she perceived at once the cruel in which she had involved herself by her promise to david answer me that repeated mrs violently that i cannot answer you ma am and you mean to deny that you have taken it yourself certainly i do ma am replied jane firmly for she bad now recovered her self possession i am perfectly innocent and i am sure that whatever appearances there may be against me you cannot believe me guilty you do not and do you think to face me down in this way i have evidence enough to satisfy any court of justice was not you heard up in the your guilty face told the story at breakfast than words could tell it david she continued to her son who had thrown down the paper p a tale and walked to the window where be stood with his back to his mother affecting to whistle to a dog without david i call you to witness this handkerchief and what has now been said and remember she does not deny that she left it here one honest feeling had a momentary in david s bosom and he had risen from his seat with the determination to disclose the truth but he was checked by the recollection that he should have to restore the ij which he had not yet disposed of he thought too that his mother knew in her heart who had taken the money that she would not dare to disclose her loss and if she did it would be time enough for him to when jane should be in danger of suffering otherwise than in the opinion of his mother whose opinion he thought not worth caring for therefore when called upon by bis mother he made no reply but turning round and facing the and the accused he looked as composed as any spectator mrs proceeded restore me my money or abide the consequences the consequences i must abide and i do not fear them nor shrink from them for i am innocent and god will protect me at this moment they were interrupted by the entrance of edward and our poor though the instant before she had felt assured and tranquil in her divine burst into tears and left the room she could not endure the thought of degradation in s jl new england tale esteem and she was very sure that her aunt would not lose such an opportunity of her of his good opinion she did not mistake mrs closed the door after jane and herself all unused as she was to the melting mood gave way to a passion of tears and sobs which were as we think a sincere tribute to the loss she had experienced for heaven s sake tell me what is the matter d to young for his impatience for an explanation became irrepressible not on account of the old woman s emotion for she might wept till she was like all tears without provoking an inquiry but jane s distress had excited his anxiety the lord knows replied david there is always a storm in this and h flung out of he room without a more explicit answer turned to mrs z can you tell tne madam what has disturbed miss mrs was provoked that he did not ask what had disturbed her and he determined he should not remain another moment without the communication which she had been turning over in her mind to get it in the most efficient form she said with a that has been used by all from s time down oh i my trial is more than i can endure i could bear they should me and lay waste my place i could be supported under that but it is a grief too heavy for i a new england me to reveal to you the sin and the disgrace and the of one that i have brought up as my own who has fed upon my children s bread madam interrupted you may spare yourself and me any more words i ask for the cause of all this uproar mrs would have replied to what she thought s impertinence but remembering that it was her business to not often him she after again almost his patience by of the hardship of being obliged to the crimes of her relation c the affliction she suffered in doing her duty c c told him with every that emphasis and could lend to them the particulars of her discovery with self command he heard her through and though he was unable to account for the suspicious circumstances he instinctively the conclusion mrs drew from them her astonishment that be neither expressed horror nor indignation nor resentment towards the was not at all when be only replied by a request to speak alone with miss mrs thought he might intend the gathering storm burst on jane s head or perhaps he would advise her to fly at any rate it was not her cue to lay a straw in bis way at present she even went herself and gave the re quest to jane adding to it a remark that as she a new england tale was not fond of keeping out of s way she hardly refuse to come when asked i have no	6
wish to refuse replied jane who ashamed of having betrayed so much emotion had recovered her self possession and stood calm in conscious integrity but hear me ma am said she to her aunt who bad turned and was leaving the room all between us is dissolved for ver i shall not remain another night beneath a roof where i have received little kindness and ere i now suffer the im of a crime of which i cannot think you believe me guilty mrs was for a moment by the power of innocence i know not where i shall go i know not whether your will follow me but i am not nor fearful she passed by her aunt and descended to the parlour no thought altered her cheek her countenance was very serious but the peace of virtue was there her voice did not in the least when she to edward as he closed the door on her entrance into the parlour mr you have no doubt requested to see me in the expectation that i would contradict the statement my aunt must have made to you i cannot for it is all true edward interrupted her i do not wish it jane i believe you are perfectly innocent of that and of every other crime i do not wish you p j a tale even to deny it it is all a devilish contrivance of that wicked woman you are mistaken edward it is not a contrivance the circumstances are as she has tou them to you did not mistake in supposing she heard me up in the night and my aunt did find my handkerchief in her desk no edward she is right in all but the conclusion she draws from these unfortunate circumstances perhaps she added after a moment s pause a kinder judgment would not me a saint replied edward needs no no one shall be permitted to accuse you or suspect you you surely explain these accidental circumstances so that even your aunt malicious as she is will not dare to breathe a poisonous against you angel as you are ah replied jane with a sad smile there are and there ought to be few in angels no mr i have no nation to make i have nothing but of my innocence and my general character to rely upon those who reject this evidence must believe me guilty she rose to leave the room gently drew her back and asked if it was possible she included him among those who could be base enough to distrust her and before she could reply he went on to a passionate declaration of his affections followed by such of eternal k new and truth love and fidelity as are usual on such occasions at another time jane would have paused to examine her heart before she accepted the professions made by her lover and she would have found no tenderness there that might not be controlled and subdued by reason but now driven out from her natural by suspicion and malignant accusation and touched by the confiding affection that refused to suspect her the generosity the that were presented in such striking contrast to the of her she received edward s with the most tender and expressions of gratitude and did not doubt nor did jane at that moment that this gratitude was firmly rooted love edward ardent and impetuous proposed an immediate marriage he argued that it was the only and would be an way of protecting her from the of her aunt jane replied that she had very little reason to fear that her aunt would communicate to any other person her suspicions she had a motive towards you she added that overcame her prudence i have found a refuge in your heart and she cannot injure me while i have that asylum i have too much pride edward to involve you in the reproach i may have to i had formed a plan this morning before your generosity translated me despondency to which i must to for a few at a new england tale least an application h s been made to me o teach some little girls who are not old enough for mr s school my aunt as usual put in her i had almost made up my mind to accept the proposal in spite of it when the events of the came to my aid and decided me at once and i have already announced to my aunt my determination to leave her house i trust that in a few months something will occur to put me beyond the reach of suspicion and reward as well as justify your generous confidence edward entreated protested ai but all in vain he was obliged at length to resign his will to jane s decision edward s next proposal was to announce the engagement immediately on this he insist so earnestly and for it so many good reasons that jane consented mrs was summoned to the parlour and informed of the issue of the conference of which she had expected so different a termination she was surprised and most of all that her impotent victim as she deemed jane should be rescued from her grasp she began the most violent threats and reproaches edward interrupted her by telling her that she dare not repeat the first and from the last her niece would soon be for ever removed as he should require they should in future be perfect strangers mrs felt like a wild animal just she might lash herself to fury but no one her edward left the room saying that h send his servant to convey jane s baggage where a new tale ever she would order it to be sent jane went to her own apartment to make the necessary arrangements there she soon overheard	6
the low of mrs s voice communicating as she inferred from the loud exclamations and her engagement to mrs s spirit was not even by this and after walking up and down scolding at the servants and the children she put on her bat and shawl and out to a to pay a small debt she owed there no passion could from her mind for any length of time the memory of so disagreeable a circumstance as the necessity of paying out money after she had discharged the debt and the master of the shop had given her the change he noticed her examining one of the bills he had handed her with a look of scrutiny and some agitation he said i believe that is a good bill mrs i a little suspicious of it too at first i took it this morning from your son david in payment of a debt that has been standing more than a year i thought myself so lucky to get any thing that i was not very par mrs s seemed to have a for she pushed the bill into the full purse after the others muttering something about the folly of trusting boys being rightly punished by the loss of the debt the fact was that mrs recognised this bill the moment she saw it as one of the parcel she a talk had received the day before and which she had marked at the time for she was eagle eyed in the detection of a these is nothing more subtle more than a habit of it was not to the world alone that mrs played the but the of her own conscience she appeared with hollow arguments and false from the moment she had discovered her loss in the morning she had at bottom believed david guilty she recollected the threats of the preceding day and her first impulse was to charge him with the and to demand the money but then she thought he was violent and determined and tbat without exposing him even mrs shrank from the consequences of exposure to her son she could not regain her money she was at a loss how to account for the appearance of handkerchief but neither that nor jane s subsequent emotion at the breakfast table nor her refusal to make any explanation of the suspicious circumstances enabled mrs to believe that jane had borne any part in the of the transaction such was the involuntary tribute she paid to the tried steadfast virtue of this excellent being still she not restrain the of her passion and it burst as we have seen jane she was at a loss to account for jane s refusal to herself it was impossible for her to conceive of the reasons that controlled jane which would have been no more to mrs than were to the new ropes he snapped a der at tbe call of she felt so fearful at first that any investigation would lead to the discovery of tbe real criminal that she had not com the fact of the handkerchief to any one even to whose discretion indeed she never trusted but after she found that jane was in a from which she would not herself by any explanations she thought herself the mistress of her niece s fate and the moment she saw she determined to extract good out of the evil that had come upon her to dim the lustre of jane s good name that more immediate jewel of her soul and thus to secure for her daughter the prize but mrs it seems was destined to experience on this day how very hard is the way of the her niece s fortunes were suddenly placed beyond her control or reach and nothing remained of all her tyranny and plots but the pitiful and malignant pleasure of believing that jane thought herself in some measure in her power though she knew that she was not after the confirmation of her conjecture at the shop she saw that secrecy was absolutely necessary and she was too discreet to indulge herself with telling of any of the particulars about which she had been so to the young lovers perhaps few ladies old or young were ever less d with baggage than jane and yet so confused was she with the events of the night and morning that the labour of packing a tale up which at another time she would have des patched in twenty minutes seemed to have no more tendency to a termination than such labours usually have in dreams in the midst of her one of the children entered and said mr wished to speak to her she was on the point of sending him an excuse for she felt an involuntary to meet his penetrating eye at this moment when how much she owed to his constant tender friendship she subdued her reluctance and obeyed his summons when she entered the room i am come said he jane to ask thee to walk with me lam an and have nothing to do and thou art so industrious thou hast time to do every thing come get thy hat it is treason against nature sullenly to refuse to enjoy so beautiful a day as this jane made no reply he saw she was agitated and leading her gently to a chair said i fear thou art not well or what is much worse not happy jane would have replied i am not but she checked the words for she felt as if the sentiment they expressed was a breach of fidelity to and instead of them she said hesitatingly i ought not to be perfectly happy till my best i should say one of my best friends knows and what i have done this morning what hast thou done jane exclaimed mr from her extraordinary embarrassment and awkwardness the communication she a new tale was	6
the library door and in the fulness of her heart forgetful of the decorum of knocking she entered and mr sitting with his little girl on his knee mary i am glad to ee thee aid the child i cannot get a word from father he is just as if he was asleep only his eyes are wide open mary regardless of the child s announced the news she bad just heard mr coldly replied that he knew it already and mary left the room a little hurt that he had not condescended to tell her and wondering what made him so indifferent and then wondering whether it was indifference but as she could not relieve her mind she resolved to go immediately to jane with whom the habits of their early lives and her continued kindness had given and established the right of free intercourse she found jane alone and not looking as happy as she expected you have come to give me joy mary she said smiling mournfully as she extended her hand to her friend yes replied mary i came with that intention and you look as if joy was yet to be given well she continued after a pause i thought you and mr were different front every body else in the world but now you puzzle me more than ever i expected to see your aunt look that s natural to her when q a n w i tale any good any one else and who every body knows has been setting her cap every way for ever since she was old enough to think of a husband she has a right to have her eyes as red as a s but there is mr looking as sorrowful as if he had seen some great trouble and could not relieve it and y oil my dear child i have seen you pass through many a dark passage of your life with a happier face than you wear now when u are going to have the pride of the county for your husband to be mistress of the beautiful house on the hill and have every thing heart can desire jane made no explanation nor reply and after a few moments consideration mary to be sure i could wish was more like mr but then he is six or eight years younger than mr and in that time with your you may make him a good deal like mr mr was mary s beau ideal of a man that is if your are blessed it is true i always thought you would not marry any man that was not religious not but what tis au for even professors do it but then jane you are more particular and consistent than a great many professors and i know you think there is nothing hearts together like religion that bead where there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage poor jane had listened to mary s and with considerable calmness but now she laid her head in her friend s lap and gave vent to the feel a new england ta e she had been all day arguing down by a flood of tears ah my dear jane is it there the shoe i sorry te find you have thought of it though if the candle of the lord is lighted np in the heart we ought to look at every thing by that light but now you have decided turn to bright side i know much about mr he is called a young man and who knows what he may become when he sees how good and how beautiful it is to have the whole heart and life ordered and governed by the christian rule i often think to myself jane that your life and mr s too are better than preach ing don t take on so my child she continued soothingly you have scripture for you for the bible says the believing wife may the husband and must mean that her counsel and example shall win him back to the right w and persuade him to walk in the paths of r cheer up my child there is a good before you and i feel as if you had many happy days to come yet those that sow in tears shall reap with joy it is a load off my mind at any rate that you are away from your aunt s and under good mrs s roof i stopped at your aunt s on my way here and she raised a hue and cry about your leaving her house suddenly she said your grand fortune had turned your head she was not disappointed she had never expected any gratitude from you but twas not for worldly hire she did her duty poor poor soul i would not judge her i a new england tale i do believe she has the hope that will perish i just took no notice of her and came as i was passing through the kitchen says io ine mrs may look out for other for now miss jane the only righteous one is gone out from us i sha nt stay to hear nothing but and and prayers but says i you don t object to the prayers yes says she i don t like lip prayers it is nothing but a mockery has too much reason replied jane but now mary you must not think from what you have seen that i am not happy for i have reason to be grateful and i ought to be very very happy ought j thought mary she may be contented and resigned and even cheerful because she ought but happiness is not duty work however she had discretion enough to suppress her homely and patting jane s head affectionately she replied yes my child and if you wish it i will set these tears	6
for tears of joy not sorrow jane smiled at her friend s unwonted and they parted mary confirmed in a favourite notion that every of providence is designed as a trial for the character that all will finally work together for good and that jane was going on in the path to perfection which though no she was not in her partial friend s opinion far from jane was very much relieved by mary s wise suggestions and sincere sympathy a new england tale a sagacious observer of human nature and fortunes has said that if there were more knowledge there would be less envy the history of our heroine is a striking of the truth of this remark when all was darkness without she had been looked upon by the compassionate as an object of pity for they could not see the sunshine of the breast and now that she was considered as the chief favourite of the goddess there was not one that would have envied her if the internal conflict she suffered if that most unpleasant of all feelings with herself had been as visible as her external fortunes were was in too good himself and with jane to find fault with any thing yet he certainly was a little disappointed that in spite of his earnest to the contrary she firmly persisted in the plan of the school nd we fear he was surprised perhaps slightly that she showed no more joy at having secured a to which be ki so many had i a new chapter xii the world is still deceived with ornament in law what plea so and corrupt but being with a ous voice the show of evil of jane entered upon the duties of her new with more energy and interest than could have been reasonably expected from a young lady who had so recently entered into an engagement and one which opened upon her the most flattering prospects she already felt the benefits re from the severe discipline she had suffered in her aunt s family she had a rare habit of putting e f aside of her own inclinations to the will and interests and inclinations of others a superficial survey of the human mind in all its of conditions will convince us that it may be trained lo any thing else bow shall we account for the proud exultation of a savage amidst the his triumphant enemy can inflict or for any of the wonderful phenomena of enterprise of fortitude of patience a new in beings whose physical natures are so constituted that thej instinctive j shrink from suffering our fair young readers if any of that class condescend to read this tale will smile at the idea that jane had any further occasion for the virtues of but she was far from being happy she had not that firm confidence in the character of her lover that could alone have inspired the joy of hope and secured a quiet spirit since her engagement and even before and ever since she had been interested in she had not dared to sound the depths of her heart though quite a in the experience of love she would have been able to detect its she would have been able to ascertain the nature and amount of her affection for had she not been driven by his apparent and the oppression of her relations to a sudden decision we appeal then once more to our fair young readers and trust their justice will to our heroine some praise for her spirited and patient performance of her duties to her young pupils who were very far from imagining that kind and gentle teacher had any thing in the world to trouble her or to engage her mind but their wants and pursuits her did not escape the quickened vision of her friend mr he observed the shadows of anxiety settling on her usually bright and cheerful countenance but even he had no conception of the extent of her busy apprehensions and secret a tale week after week away and seem ed to be no prospect that any thing would occur to free jane from the very unpleasant situation in which her aunt s had placed her became restless and impatient all jane s arguments in favour of their marriage and finally affected to distrust her affection for him if the and sentiment which was in jane s heart of youthful preference and gratitude was not love jane believed it was and she at last yielded a reluctant consent that the marriage should take place at the end of three months even though nothing should occur to release her from her aunt s power it was a few days after this promise bad been given that as she was one day returning from her school joined her your friend robert said he has taken a mighty fancy to me of late i cannot conceive what is the reason of it jane blushed for she thought he might have guessed the reason i am glad of it she replied for he seems to have withdrawn his friendship from me and you are the only person edward to whom i should be resigned to have it transferred ah jane you need not be alarmed he and i should never mix any more than oil and i am sorry for that but which is the oil and which the a new england tale oh he is the oil soft rather while i you know have a character of nay own am positive am hut perhaps it would not be quite modest for me to finish the parallel to confess the truth to you jane i have always had an aversion to they are a very depend upon it pretending sly that s a harsh judgment replied jane with some warmth and a prejudice i think is not mr the only	6
you know why yes the only one i know much of and does he justify your opinion i don t know it takes a great while to find them out and even if should be what he would seem the exception only proves the rule j have always disliked i remember a story my father used to tell when was a child about his being over reached in a most ingenious practised manner by one of the as he called the whole race it was not an of any great moment but no man likes to be in a bargain and my father used to say it gave him an to the very name of a i think your father was in fault replied jane so carelessly to a prejudice which as it seems to have had very slight ground i trust has not taken such deep root that it cannot be easily there is more reason in my judgment than you give me credit for replied edward r a new tale if they are an upright frank people why is the world kept in ignorance of their belief the have no creed and though i have no great faith in the professors of any yet ought to let you know what they do think it is fair and above board you may depend upon it jane the are a people have you ever read any of their books inquired jane i read he replied why my dear girl do you take me for a no never read the books of any and books i believe there are not book l he continued still laughing no i shall never myself to divinity till anne writes sermons and tom hymns jane did not join his laugh but replied there is a book edward that contains the creed of the a creed to which they have never presumed to add any thing nor have they ta ken any thing from it the only creed to which they think it right to require the assent of man and from which no rational man can that book is the bible and she continued earnestly their faith in this creed is shown by their works my dear edward examine their history for their that i shall not while cause has so fair a champion spare me your edward and let me entreat you to look at the life of their wise and a new england tale excellent see him patiently and firmly enduring persecution and and oppression at home giving up his time his fortune his liberty to the cause of suffering humanity in every mode of its appeal to his benevolence follow him with his colony to the wilderness and see him the only one of all the leaders i grieve that i cannot except our fathers the the only one who treated the natives of the land with justice and mercy our fathers edward refused to acknowledge the image of god in the poor indian they affected to believe they were the children of the evil one and hunted them like beasts of prey calling them worse than wolves while and his peaceful people won their confidence their devotion by treating them with even handed justice with kindness and they had their reward they lived among them without without a weapon of defence is it not the friends that have been foremost and most active in efforts for the of slavery among what people do we find most of the of the poor and the oppressed most of those who remember the forgotten and attend to the neglected who into the depths of and plunge into the of there was a mingled expression of and admiration in edward s smile as he replied my dear jane you are almost fit to speak in meeting all that your defence wants in is made a new tale lip by the eloquence of your eye and your glowing cheek i think friendship is a stronger feeling in your heart than love jane be continued with a penetrating look that certainly did not the of her cheek if i and all my ancestors had gone on and the spirit would not have moved you to such enthusiasm in our cause as you manifest for the broad straight brethren of friend edward have you yet to learn of me that i speak least of what i feel most the gentleness of jane s manner and the ten of her voice soothed her lover and he replied forgive me dear jane a little jealousy you know jealousy love to confess ta you the honest truths i felt a little more than usual this evening on the subject of i had just parted with mr and he has been earnestly to me to undertake a reform in our poor laws by which be thinks that we should rid ourselves of the burden of supporting many who are not necessarily de on us and improve the condition of those who are the plan seems to me to be good and and what then edward provoked your dis pleasure why he wished me to take the whole conduct of it he preferred the plan should appear to with me that i should head a petition a new england tale to the and if we succeeded that should the e of the plan still dear edward i see any thing but offence in all this because your eye sight is a little by your partiality do you believe jane that any man would be willing to transfer to another all the merit and praise of a scheme which if it will be a most important benefit to the community will be felt and noticed and applauded by every body there is some design lurking under this garb of i it only exists in the visions of poets or the dreams of youth or perhaps embodied in	6
the fine person of a hero of romance oh my dear edward it does exist it is the principle the spirit of the christian par example of your aunt and of sundry other professors i could mention who if self the wavering balance shake it s never right adjusted is it fair replied jane to condemn a whole class because some of its members are and a commander does but a corps and you the whole from your confidence because a few are treacherous i allow continued jane there are very few who are perfectly disinterested but every christian in proportion to his fidelity to the r a new tale and example of his master will be moved and governed by this principle perhaps edward felt a passing conviction of the truth of jane s at any rate he made no reply and afterwards he the subject and even jane seemed o shrink from it as one upon which they had no feeling the day before entering on the duties of her second m jane determined to indulge herself in a solitary walk to the cottage of old john of the mountain she had purchased some comforts for the old people with a part of her small and she knew if she carried them herself she should double their value she found the way without difficulty for her night walk had impressed it on her memory on her approach to the cottage and as she emerged from the wood she perceived just on its e a slight rising in the form of a grave a wild bush grew beside it jane paused for a moment and one of the flowers she said fragrant and transient thou art a fit emblem of the flower below as she turned from the grave she perceived that a change had been wrought upon john s hut instead of a scarcely dwelling of decayed logs filled in with mud she saw a neat little framed house with a fence around it and a small garden to it enclosed by the logs of the former building jane hastened forward and entered the cottage with the light step of one who goes on an errand of kindness i a new ei i who would have thought said the good dame as she a chair and offered it to jane of your coming all this way to see whether we were above ground yet ah said john there are some in this world a precious few who remember those that every body else forgets i could not forget you my good friends replied jane though john does not come any more to put me in mind of you why miss jane said john i grow old and i have been but twice to the village since that mournful night you was here and then i was in such a worrying matter that i did not think even of you what have you had to disturb you inquired jane i hoped from finding you in this nice new house that all had gone well since i saw you ah replied john i have been greatly favoured but the storm came before the calm miss jane did you never hear of my the whole town was alive with it jane assured john that she had never heard a word of it that had a little school to care of and that she saw very few persons and heard little village news even when it was so im his law suit then miss jane said john if you have time and patience to hear an old man s story i will tell you mine it is fifty years since my bid woman and i settled down in these woods like all our fellow creatures we have had our a new england tale of storms and it has pleased the lord to o tall oar to cut down the little that grew up at our feet and leave us two lonely and bare trunks to feel and resist the winds of heaven as we may two old he continued with a melancholy smile that flourish when every thing has faded about them yes fifty years i have seen the sun come over that mountain every and there is not a tree in all these thick woods but it seems like an old friend to me here my sons and daughters have been born to me and here i have buried them all but poor who you know was lost at sea they died when they were but little children and nobody remembers them but us but they are as fresh in our minds as if it was but yesterday they were playing about us with their laughing eyes and rosy cheeks this has act much to do with my law suit continued john after a pause and clearing his voice only that i shall want some excuse for loving the old so well before i get through with my story i hired this bit of land of a man that s been dead twenty years and it has changed hands many a time since but i have always been able to for the rent it was but a trifle for no one but i would fancy the lately it s come into the hands of the two young by the death of the their father they are two hard hearted wild young miss jane that think all the world was made for them and their pleasure if my memory serves me it a new england tale was just one week after you was here that they were hunting up in these woods with young squire john the oldest took aim at a robin that was singing on the tree just before my door it had built its nest there early in the summer we had fed it with from our table and it was as tame as a chicken i	6
told this to them and begged the little innocent s life so earnestly that the boys laughed but said let the old fool have his way they said it was nonsense to give up to my and told me to take away my hand for i had raised it up to protect the nest or they would fire through it i did take it away and the nest with it and brought it into the house they came swearing in and demanded the bird i refused to give it up they grew more and more angry may be might have brought them to reason but he had walked away they said it was their land and their bird and they would not be by me and they called me and my wife too many a name that was too bad for a decent person s ear they worked themselves up to a fury and then warned me off the ground i made no reply thought when they got over their passion they d forget it but they returned the next day with and threatened to pull the house down on our heads if we did not come out of it i have had a proud spirit in my day miss jane but old age and weakness have tamed it i begged them to spare us our little dwelling with tears in my eyes and my poor old woman prayed she might bring a new england tale out the few goods we had hut oh a fool in his folly is like a hear of her they said they would dust our goods for us and so we came out and turned away our faces but we heard the old house that had sheltered us so long to pieces as you d crush an egg shell in your hand yes and we heard their loud laugh but thank the lord we were too far off to hear the jokes they passed between every peal of laughter ah there is more hope of any thing than of a hard heart in a young body can it be possible interrupted jane that for so slight a cause the could do you such an injury it is even so replied john youth is and will not bear crossing but where did you find a shelter i led my wife down the other side of the mountain to one s a soft feeling creature who has more goodness in his heart than wit in his head and he made us kindly welcome i left my wife there and the next day i came over to the village to see if the law would give me justice of those that had no mercy i should have gone to squire with my case for i knew he was called a fine though he is too to suit me but he was a friend of the and so i applied to the stranger that s lately moved in he proved a raw hand the trial was appointed for the next saturday the day came and all the men in the village were collected at the ta w land tale for was to plead for the and every body likes to hear his silver tongue plead for the exclaimed jane oh yes miss jane for as i told you they are very thick my attorney was a kind of a workman at the law he was afraid of too and he stammered and said one thing and meant another and made such a of it i could not wonder the justice and the people did not think i had a good claim for but still the plain story was so much against the and the people of the village are so friendly like to me that it is rather my belief i should have been if bad not poured out such a power of words that he seemed to take away people s senses he started with what he called a proverb of the law and repeated it so times i think i can never forget it for it seemed to be the hook he hung all his upon it was est est ad cot we have taken the liberty slightly to correct the old man s quotation of the latin which if i rightly understood it means that whoever owns the soil owns all above it to the sky and though it stands to reason it can t be so yet s fine put reason quite out of the question and so the justice decided that the had a right to do what seemed good in their own eyes with my furniture and then he gave me a bit of an and told me i should never make out well in the world if i did not know more of a tale the laws of the land and concluded with i ought to be very thankful i had so little to be destroyed i said nothing but i thought it was late in the day for me to study the laws of the land and my was as much to me as his abundance to him when the trial was over and the invited the justice and the company into the bar room to treat them and through the open door i heard propose a to those who knew how to maintain their rights no said it should be to him how to defend a friend right or wrong thought but said john pausing mj story is too long for you miss jane jane had turned away her head she now assured john she was listening to every word he said and begged him to go on well miss thought i was alone in the room and i just let out my heart as you know a body will when he thinks there is no eye but his that s above sees him i	6
saw nothing before and i but to go upon the town and that s what i always had a dread of for though i have been a poor man all my life miss jane what i had was my own i have been but weakly since i was a boy but my woman and i have been sober and industrious we have always had a shelter for ourselves and sometimes too for a poor creature that had not a better and we wanted but little and we were independent and then you know what the town gives is neither given nor taken with a good will well as i said i a n w tale thought i was alone in the room but i heard a slight noise behind me and there was one who had not followed the multitude he had a clear open face and that look l can t justly describe it miss jane but it seems as if it was the light of good deeds sent back again or may be the seal the lord puts upon his own children and pity and kindness seemed writ in every line of his face do you know who i mean mr she replied in a scarcely audible voice yes yes any body that had ever seen him would guess he beckoned to me to shut the door and asked me if i had any particular attachment to this spot and owned to him as i have to you my about it and he smiled and said he was afraid i was too old to be of it and then asked if i believed i could persuade the young men to sell as much of the land as i should want i was sure i could for i know they are and for money and besides they had had their will and the land was of no use to them and then he told me miss jane that be would give me the money for the land if i could make a bargain with the and enough besides to build me a comfortable little house i could not thank him i tried but i could not and so he just squeezed my hand and said he understood me and charged me to keep it a secret where i got help and i have minded s a new tale him till this day but i could not keep it you you d better stop now john said the old woman for the long walk and the long story have quite miss jane she has had the this half hour jane was obliged to own she did not feel but after drinking some water she made an effort to compose herself and asked the old man what reason he had to think the and were intimate friends why did you never hear miss that it was that got john clear when him for breach of promise i wa summoned to court as a witness it was a terrible black business but it all smooth and after the trial was past i overheard these flattering till they made him believe he was more than mortal at any rate they put such a mist before his eyes that he could not see to choose good from evil else he never would have chosen them for his companions he never would have been led to spend night after night with them at the gambling club at gambling club john where what do you mean and poor jane clasped her hands together and looked at him with an expression of such wretchedness that the old man turned his eyes fr her to his wife and back again to jane as if he would but dared not inquire tlie reason of her emotion a n w england tale i have done wrong he stammered out old fool that i was is your friend miss jane the lord forgive me he added rising and walking to the door jane had risen also and with a trembling hand was tying on her hat and the lord help thee child he continued turning again towards her and keep thee from well well i never should have thought it jane felt by the old man s sympathy and yet it was too sincere too kindly felt to be repressed she was hastening away when said you have forgotten your bundle miss it is for you my good friend she replied and without awaiting their thanks she bade them farewell and was soon out of sight of the old man whose eye followed her quick footsteps till she was hid by the adjoining wood he then turned from the door and raised his hands and his faded eyes glistening with the gathering tears to heaven oh lord he exclaimed have mercy on thy young servant suffer not this child of light to be to a child of dark ness we believe that in all classes and conditions women are more inclined to look on the bright side of matrimony than men in this case after a little consideration said i m a thinking john you take on too much you are a ble for miss jane she is a wise discreet young body and she may cure mr of his faults a n w tale besides be have bis and that s no for a young man but then he is wicked and bard like the no no he an t so bad as but he has been a wilful spoilt from th beginning he is a comely man to look to and he has a tongue in his head but be is all for self all for you might as well undertake to make the stiff branches of that old oak tender and as the of the that groves beside it as to expect miss jane can alter ers no	6
he alone can do it with whom all things are possible we have no right to expect a miracle she has no call to walk upon the sea and we cannot hope a hand will be stretched oa to keep her from sinking it is the girl s beauty has caught him and when that is gone and it is a quickly fading flower she will have no hold whatever on him we know not how long the old man indulged ia his reflections for he was not again interrupted by whose deference for her husband s superior sagacity seems to have been more habitual even her s of old our unhappy heroine pursued her way home her mind filled with thick coming and bitter fancies revolving over and over again the circumstances of john s narrative he had thrown a new light on the character of her lover and she blamed herself that faults had seemed so dim to her which were now so glaring she was not far from com a new england tale ing to the result which we trust our real rs have expected from the integrity and purity of r character if i had remained ignorant of his faults she thought i should have had some excuse i might then have hoped for assistance and blessing in my attempts to reform him it would be presumption to trust now in any efforts i could make and what right have i with my eyes open to rush into a situation where my own weak virtues may be subdued by trials must be assailed by temptation oh when i heard him speak lightly of religion how could i hope he would submit to its and i started at the first thought that he was and yet i have always known there was no basis for principle but religion selfish could i love him and yet and she looked at the other side of the picture his preference of me was purely disinterested an orphan destitute almost an liable to degradation and he has exposed himself to all the i may suffer and does he not deserve the devotion of my life a moment before she would have answered her self in the negative but now she seemed losing herself in a of opposing duties she thought that she ought not to place reliance in john s statements he might have exaggerated s faults in his situation it was natural h should but he had a calm sober way with him every word bore the impress of truth the story of the gambling s a new and club had the scale but john might have been thus after all her jane re entered her home without having come to any though we believe the opinion of a great is against us we doubt if decision of character belongs to the most virtuous a tale chapter xiii it is religion that doth make vows kept but tl ou hast sworn against religion therefore thy latter vow against thy first is in to and better conquest never thou make than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts against these busy loose suggestions john as jane entered mrs s door she met her kind hostess just returning from a walk her face flushed with recent pleasure where upon have you been she ed ah if you had gone with me you would not have come home with such a wo face not a word well for nothing is my rule my dear and so you need not expect to hear where i have been and what superb papers have come from new york for the front rooms and beautiful china and chairs and carpets and a fine for an industrious little lady thai shall be nameless all too grand for a sullen silent deaf and dumb school mistress she added if our cousin bad been out in such a shower of gold we should have been favoured a new england tale with sweet smiles and sweet talk for one year at least but there comes he that will make the bird when it sing to one else and my dear to escape a lover s atmosphere or being melted in it i shall make my escape jane would gladly have followed her but she sat still after hastily throwing aside her hat and seizing the first book that she could lay her hands upon to shelter her embarrassment she sat with her back to the door edward entered and walking up to her looked over her shoulder as if to see what book had so her attention it to be s fruits of solitude curse on all and said he the book rudely and throwing it across the room wherever i go i am crossed by them he walked about and angry jane rose to leave him for now she thought was not the time to come to an explanation but was not in a humour to be opposed in any thing he placed his back against the door and said no jane you shall not leave me now i have much to tell you forgive my violence there is a point beyond which no rational creature can keep his temper i have been ui ed to that point and thank heaven i have not learnt that that can seem what it is not jane trembled excessively had touched the electric chain she sunk into a chair and burst into tears new tale i was right he it is by your authority and at your that i am dog from place to place by that impertinent fellow you have entered into a holy but know miss there is a tradition in our family that no was ever ruled by bis wife and the sooner the lady who is destined to be mine le ms not to interfere in my affairs the more agreeable	6
it will be to me and the more safe for herself jane s indignation was by this strange attack and her composure she said if you mean that i shall understand you you must explain for i am ignorant and innocent of any thing you may suspect me of thank heaven replied i you jane you know in the worst of times i have believed you and it was natural to be offended that you should distrust me you shall know the head and front of my offending the sins that have stirred up such a missionary zeal in that body of will weigh very in the scales of love perhaps said jane gravely i hold a more impartial balance than you expect then you do not me jane for love is and ought to be blind but i am willing to make the trial i will never have it repeated to me that if you knew all you would withdraw your tions from me no one shall say that you have not loved me with all my youthful follies on my head i know you are a little but that is natural to one who has had so much to s a n w fin land tale make her miserable the unhappy are apt to affect religion but you are young and if you can be rescued from this climate and influence edward still rattled on and seemed a little to dread making the promised communication but at last from jane s seriousness that she was anxious and impatient himself to have it over he went on to tell her that from the beginning of their engagement mr had undertaken the o his morals that if he had not been fortified by his to he should have surrendered his confidence to him no gentleman he said no man of honourable feeling no man of sensibility would submit to the interference of a stranger a man not much older than himself in matters that concerned himself alone it was an intolerable if jane was capable of a fair judgment would allow that it was so jane mildly replied that she could only judge from the facts as yet she had heard nothing but said he had imagined he was stating his case in a court of love and not of law but he had no objection since his judge was as sternly just as an old roman father to state facts he could pardon mr his eagerness to make him adopt his plans of improvement in ihe natural and moral world to the first he mi t have been led by his taste for which he believed was unaffected and to the second he pledged by the laws of holy church s still he said none but a would have thought of ng with the affairs of people who were strangers to him however that might be pardon ed as he said before he supposed was bound to that by an oath or an for tender conscience sake sweet judge you do not continued after this misty from which jane could gather nothing but that his prejudices and pride had thrown a dark shadow over all the virtues of mr i cannot look on your against the principles of my excellent friend perhaps replied his practice will be equally in your eyes and now jane i you for once to forget that mr is your excellent friend a man who bestowed some trifling on your childhood and remember the rights of one to whom you at least owe your love though he would neither accept that nor your gratitude as a debt jane assured him she was ready to hear any thing and every thing that he would tell her he replied that he detested that he wished her to enter into his loves and his hates without expecting a reason in their madness bat since you must have the reason will not withhold it as told you i submitted to a thousand little he is plausible and gentlemanly in his manners so there was nothing i could resent till after a con a new and ta e club had turned the scale but john might have been thus after all her jane re entered her home without having come to any though we believe the opinion of a great is against us we doubt if decision of character belongs to the most virtuous a tale chapter xiii it is religion that doth make vows kept but tl ou hast sworn against religion therefore thy latter vow against thy first is in rebellion to and better conquest never thou make than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts against these busy loose suggestions john as jane entered mrs s door she met her kind hostess just returning from a walk her face flushed with recent pleasure where upon have you been she ed ah if you had gone with me you would not have come home with such a wo face not a word nothing for nothing is my rule my dear and so you need not expect to hear where i have been and what superb papers have come from new york for the front rooms and beautiful china and chairs and carpets and a fine for an industrious little lady that shall be nameless all too grand for a sullen silent deaf and dumb school mistress she added if our cousin bad been out in such a shower of gold we should have been favoured a new england with sweet smiles and sweet talk for one year at least but there comes he that will make the bird when it sing to one else and o my dear to escape a lover s atmosphere or being melted in it i shall make my escape jane gladly have followed her but she sat still after hastily throwing aside her hat and seizing	6
the first book that she could lay her hands upon to shelter her embarrassment she sat with her back to the door edward entered and walking up to her looked over her shoulder as if to see what book had so her attention it to be s fruits of solitude curse on all and said he the book rudely and throwing it across the room wherever i go i am crossed by them he walked about and angry jane rose to leave him for now she thought was not the time to come to an explanation but was not in a humour to be opposed in any thing he placed his back against the door and said no jane you shall not leave me now i have much to tell you forgive my there is a point beyond which no rational creature can keep his temper i have been urged to that point and thank heaven i have not learnt that that can seem what it is not jane trembled excessively had touched the electric chain she into a chair and burst into tears new tale i was right be exclaimed it by your authority and at your that i am dog from place to place by that impertinent fellow you have entered into a holy f know miss there is a tradition in our family that no was ever ruled by bis wife and the sooner the lady who is destined to be mine le ms not to interfere in my the more agreeable it will be to me and the more safe for herself jane s indignation was roused by this strange attack and her composure she said if you mean that i shall understand you you must explain yourself for i am ignorant and innocent of any thing you may suspect me of thank heaven replied i believe you jane you know in the worst of times i have believed you and it was natural to be offended that you should distrust me you shall know the head and front of my offending the sins that have stirred up such a missionary zeal in that body of will weigh very light in the scales of love perhaps said jane gravely i hold a more impartial balance than you expect then you do not love me jane for love is and ought to be blind but i am willing to make the trial i will never have it repeated to me that if you knew all you would withdraw your tions from me no one shall say that you have not loved me with all my youthful follies on my head i know you are a little but that is natural to one who has had so much to a new england tale no sudden burst of resentment no girlish that he might with flattery and professions a most generous impulse edward led you to protect an oppressed orphan and i thought the devotion of my heart and my life were a small return to you it is but a few months since is not love an passion but what sacrifices have you made to it oh edward if in the youth and spring of your affection i have not had more power over you what can i hope from the future hope believe every thing jane i will be as as wax in your hands you shall mould me as you will no edward i have tried my power over you and found it wanting broken confidence cannot be restored jane you are rash you are giving up independence protection if you reject me who will defend you from your aunt do you foi et that you are still in her power no replied jane but i have the defence of innocence and i do not fear her it was not your protection it was not independence i sought it was a refuge in your affection that has failed me oh edward she continued rising examine your heart as i have examined mine and you will find the tie is dissolved that bound us there can be no enduring love without sympathy our feelings our pursuits our plans our inclinations are all you are unkind ungrateful jane a new england tale t must bear that reproach as i can but i do not deserve it mr imagined he perceived some in the faltering of her voice and he said do not be jane you are too young too beautiful to treat the follies of youth as if they were give me a few months i will do any thing you require abandon the club give up my friends jane paused for a moment but there was no wavering in her resolution no mr we must part now if i loved you i could not resist the of my heart entreated promised every thing till convinced that jane did not deceive him or herself his vanity and pride and wounded came to his relief land changed his entreaties to he said the that would every human feeling would fit her to be the elect lady of a society he assured her that he would her i am no replied jane and the tears from her eyes k oh i would make any exertions any sacrifices to render yoa what i once thought you i would watch and toil to win you to virtue to heaven if i believed you loved me i could still hope for i know that affection is self and may overcome all things edward she continued with a trembling voice there is one subject and that nearest to my heart on which i discovered soon after our en g we were at utter when i t a new england tale first heard you trifle with the obligations of religion and express a distrust of its truths i felt my heart chill i reproached myself bitterly for having	6
the young men they were directly before him o that it was impossible for him to mistake the design of their meeting confusion exclaimed edward that mr of all men living should have witnessed this scene and then turning to him for mr was approaching him to what sir said he do we owe the favour of your company purely to accident mr or i should say to providence if i may be so happy as to prevent a rash of the laws of god and man stand off sir said edward determined now to brave mr s opposition and witness if you will for you shall not prevent a brave encounter mr had interposed himself between edward and his adversary and he did not move from his station brave encounter he replied pointing a smile of contempt to who was shaking as if he had an that young man s pale cheeks and trembling limbs do not look like to true fear they do not promise the merit of bravery to your ter mr a w england tale the devil take the impertinent fellow exclaimed the elder edward s second proceed to your gentlemen placed himself in an attitude to fire and raised his arm mr remained firm and do you mean to take my fire sir v asked if you continue to stand there the peril be upon yourself the fault rests with you i shall risk taking the fire if you dare risk giving it replied mr coolly curse him said he thinks you are afraid to fire this speech had the intended effect upon give us the signal he said hastily the signal was given and edward discharged pistol the ball mr s arm and passed off without any other injury it was bravely done said he with a contemptuous coolness that increased if any thing could increase the shame felt the he had his passion by the rash and violent act we have been singularly fortunate he continued considering thou all the firing to and two fair marks poor fellow he added turning to so broad a shield as i furnished for thee i should have hoped would have saved some of this fright john had perceived that his friend s courage which the preceding evening had been stimulated by the liquor had vanished with the fog that clouded his reason and they came a england tale on the battle ground he had been vainly endeavouring to screw him up to the sticking point by suggesting in low whispers such motives as he thought might operate upon him but all his efforts were ineffectual was to use a vulgar expression literally scared out of his wits when the signal was given for firing he had to raise his arm but it was all by fear and he could not move it the sound of s pistol completed his dismay he sunk on his knees dropped his pistol said he was willing to own he was no gentleman he would beg mr s pardon and all the gentlemen s pardon he would do any thing almost the gentlemen would say felt his own reputation by his principal s cowardice and passionate and reckless he seized the pistol and would have discharged the contents at but mr seeing his intention caught hold of his arm the pistol from him fired it in the air and threw it from him shame on thee young man he exclaimed does the spirit of murder so possess thee that it matters not whether thy arm is raised against friend or foe he is no friend of mine replied vainly endeavouring to himself from mr s manly grasp he is a coward and by my life and sacred honour oh mr sir interrupted i am your friend sir and all the gentlemen s friend sir i am much obliged to you sir turn a new england tale ing to mr who could not help lai at the eagerness of his cowardice i am for the disturbance gentlemen and i wish you all a good morning gentlemen and so saying he walked off the ground as fast as his trembling limbs could take him mr now released young from his hold and winding his handkerchief around his arm which was slightly bleeding he said i perceive gentlemen there is no further occasion for my i think the experience of this morning will not tempt you to repeat this singular disturbance of the peace of this community the party were all too thoroughly to attempt a reply and separated felt a most humiliating consciousness of his disgrace but he had not sufficient to confess it nor even to express a regret that be had wounded a man who exposed his life to prevent bim from committing a crime the were deprived of the pitiful pleasure of at mr s want of courage the younger brother s arm still ached from his experience of mr s physical strength and they all felt the inferiority of their passionate and reckless fool to the collected disinterested courage of a peaceful man who had risked his life in their quarrel to fill up tlie measure of their mortification had not left the village two hours before several persons arrived there in pursuit of him they informed his new friends that he was not a u a new england tale a name that passes among our northern as with high noble daring and other youthful but that he was a of their own a celebrated who had lived by his wits ascending by regular through the professions of dancing master and actor and that having lately by cleverness in managing the arts of his possessed himself of a large sum of money he had made his as gentleman at the springs after the events of the morning mr felt more anxiety than ever on jane s account and never weary in well doing he determined to	6
make one more effort to rescue from the society and influence of the he an interview with him and without alluding to the events of the morning be remonstrated warmly and kindly against an intimacy of which the degradation and the danger were too evident to need pointing out he trusted himself to speak of jane of her innocence her purity her affection her her at any other time we cannot think edward would have been unmoved by the eloquence of his appeal but now be was exasperated by the of the morning and when mr aid if jane knew all would she not withdraw her affections from thee he replied angrily she shall know all i have a right to expect she will overlook a few such as a n w england tale to every man of spirit she owes m least so much she is bound to by ties that cannot be broken that she certainly cannot break he burst away from mr and went to mrs s where the explanation we have related ensued and put a final termination to their unequal alliance the speculations of villagers are never at rest till they know the wherefore of the slightest movements of the prominent personages that figure on their theatre happily for our heroine who was for a little while to be sheltered from the scrutiny and remarks of her neighbours the affair of the soon became public and sufficiently accounted for s abrupt departure jane would have communicated to mary her kind constant friend mary the issue of her engagement but it so happened that she was at this time absent on a visit to her blind sister she felt it to be just that she should mr with the result of an affair in which he had so benevolent and a care for her happiness perhaps she felt a natural wish that he should know his confidence in her had not been she could not speak to him on the subject for their intercourse had been suspended of late and besides she was habitually reserved about speaking of herself she sat down to address a note to him and after writing a dozen of offended her in some point s a new tale either betrayed a want of delicacy towards or a sentiment of self complacency either expressed too much or little she threw them all into the fire and determined to leave the communication to accident a new tale chapter xiv oh some r the us to see as others see us it a blunder free us and foolish notion what airs in dress an gait e us and e en a few days after s departure mrs entered jane s room hastily our village she exclaimed is the most extraordinary place in the world wonders cease to be wonderful among us what has happened now inquired jane i know not from your face whether to expect good or evil oh evil my dear evil enough to grieve and frighten you your wretched cousin has got himself into a scrape at last from which all the arts of all his family cannot him you know she continued that we saw an account in the new york paper of last week of a robbery committed on the mail stage the robbers have been detected and taken and who it u s a new england tale seems bad assumed a feigned name is among them and the punishment is death said jane in a tone of sorrow and alarm yes so mr says by the laws of the united states against which he has offended mr has been here to request that you dear jane will go to your aunt and say to her that he is ready to render her any services in his power you know he is acquainted in philadelphia where david is imprisoned and he may be of essential use to him my poor aunt and what misery is this for them said jane instinctively her own feelings into their for your aunt it may be replied mrs for i think nothing can quite root out the mother but as for i believe she is too much absorbed in her own to think of david s body or soul i will go immediately to my aunt but what has happened to why it seems during her visit to the west met with an french dancing master who became violently of her and who did not sigh or hope in vain she probably knew his would be an obstacle to her seeing him at and so between them they a scheme to that difficulty by introducing him to mrs as a french physician from paris who should his services to cure her which it is said has a new talk become more troublesome than ever by of a he was to go upon the usual practice of no cure no pay and this exclaimed jane is the sick physician we heard was at my aunt s yes poor fellow and sick enough he has been he arrived just at twilight last week on monday and having tied his horse he was tempt ed by seeing the door of the chaise house half open to go in there to arrange his dress previous to making his appearance before miss lie had hardly entered before old jacob coming along saw the door open and giving the l boys whom he supposed in fault a reversed blessing he shut and fastened it it was chilly weather you know but there the poor fellow was obliged to stay the live long night and till jacob forth to do his morning discovered him half starved and half frozen but said mrs you are prepared to go to your aunt and i am you you may ask the of ob no let me hear the rest of it only be short dear	6
mrs for if any thing is to be done for that wretched young man not a moment should be lost my dear i will be as short as possible but my words will not all run out of my mouth at once as they melted out of s horn well this poor french doctor or whatever he is effected an interview with before he was seen by the mother and though no doubt she was s a shocked by his involuntary ti l she overlooked it and succeeded in him off on the old lady as a foreign physician who had performed sundry marvellous in his western progress mrs submitted her disease to his in the meanwhile he poor wretch as if a judgment had come upon him for his sins has been really and seriously sick in consequence of the exposure to the of a september night in bis and has been watching and nursing him according to the best and most approved to be found in and is it possible ask d jane that aunt should be imposed on for so long a time is ingenious and ready but she is not a match for her quick sighted mother no so it has proved in this case the doctor became better and the patient worse bis pre have had a dreadful e upon the and as the pain increased your aunt be came irritable and suspicious last evening she overheard a conversation between the hopeful lovers which revealed the whole truth to her and what has she done what could she do my dear but turn the good for nothing fellow out of doors and her wrath upon the dreadful news she received from david late last evening must have driven even this provoking out of her troubled mind but said mrs rising and going to window who is that coming through a new england tale our gate as i live what can she be after here aunt has probably sent for me replied jane and she hastened to open the door for her cousin who entered evidently in a flutter i was just going to your mother s said jane stay a moment said i must speak with you come into your room and she hastened forward to jane s apartment she paused a moment on seeing mrs and then beg she would her to speak with her cousin alone mrs left the apartment and turned to jane and was beginning with great eagerness to say something but she paused r her shawl took it and then put it on and then asked jane if she had heard from and without waiting a reply which did not seem to be very ready she continued how glad i was be fought that it was so spirited i wish my lover would fight a it would have been delightful if he had only been wounded jane stared at her cousin as if she had been smitten with distraction she said with more displeasure than was often from her you are an how is it possible that at this time you can waste a thought upon or his oh my spirits run away with me dear jane but i do feel very miserable she replied affecting to wipe away the tears from her dry eyes poor david i am wretched about him he has s new england tale us all i suppose b have heard about every body has heard of cruelty to him and to me oh jane he is the sweetest the most being replied jane coldly i do not like to reproach you in your present affliction but you forget all that is due to your sex by keeping up such an intercourse with a stranger by in this way about a wandering a foreigner a foreigner indeed as if that was against why nay dear foreigners are much more genteel than americans and besides is a count in disguise oh if you could only him speak french it is as soft as an harp now jane darling don t be angry with me i am sure there never was any body so persecuted and unfortunate as i am nobody feels for me it is impossible to feel for those who have no feeling for themselves oh jane you are very cruel replied i have been crying ever since i received poor david s letter and it was about that i came here but you do not seem to have any compassion for our sorrows and i am afraid to ask for what i came for i cannot afford to waste any compassion on unnecessary or imaginary sorrows the real and most horrible calamity that has fallen upon you requires all the exertions and feelings or your friends a w n i tale st that s spoken like yourself dear blessed jane said brightening now i am sure you will not refuse me jou are always so generous and kind i have small means to be generous replied jane but let me know at once what it is you want for i am in haste to go to your mother you are a darling you always was what is it you wish inquired jane again aware that s were always to be interpreted as a to the asking of a favour i wish dear jane replied all her resolution to her aid i wish you to lend me twenty dollars if you had seen david s piteous letter to me you could not refuse it is enough to make any body s heart ache he is down in a dark disagreeable with nothing to eat from morning to night but bread and water he for a little money so earnestly it would make your heart to read his letter mother declares she will not send him a dollar how do you intend sending the money to him asked jane	6
rising and going to her oh watching jane s movements you arc a dear soul it is easy enough getting the money to him i heard this morning that mr is going on to the south he starts this afternoon i shall not mind walking to his house though it is four miles from h re i a tale shall go end i charge him to the money it will ba such a re i and comfort to my her there to be in s eagerness to serve her brother in her newly awakened tenderness for him that jane s for she paused in the midst of counting the money turned round and fixed a look upon her cousin without to notice any thing peculiar in her expression said advancing towards her do be dear jane it is a great way to mr a am afraid i shall be late jane had finished counting the money twenty is it dear p said hastily and with a flutter of joy it there are five dollars more she continued looking at a single bill jane had laid aside let me have that too dear it will not be too much for david i cannot replied jane that is all i have in the world and that i owe to mrs la jane what matter is that you can have as much money as you want of and besides you need not be afraid of losing it i shall soon be of age and then i shall pay you for mo ther can t keep my portion from me one day after that then i will have a cottage says we can have no idea in this country how beautiful a cottage is d la from do dearest let me have the other five said jane disgusted with s and levity and the note in a l n tale drawer i have given all i possess in the world and yoa must be contented with if saw that she should obtain no more she hastily kissed jane and after saying good bye my dear go to mother s and stay till i come she flew out of the house that her false had won so much from her cousin at a short distance from mrs s she joined her lover according to a previous arrangement between them had procured a chaise from a neighbouring which was principally devoted to the of its worthy proprietor and the bis joys to and from the en sundays and lecture days but was occasionally hired out to oblige such persons as might stand in deed of such an accommodation and could to pay what was consistent for it done said the dancing philosopher to his horse after and turning to her he pressed one of her hands to his lips saying adding as he it la nature pointed out the road leading to the dwelling of a justice of the peace a few miles beyond the line which the state of from that of new they arrived at this temple of and of petty about eleven in the morning the justice was at work on his farm a messenger was soon despatched for him with whom he returned in about thirty x i i and tale seemed as many to oar anxious said le but in i it a very the took aside and inquired whether there were any objections to the on the part of the lady s friends objections said it is the most to every body you cannot on being further confessed tl t they came from and being asked why they were not married at the place of the lady s residence he said that some without may wait but for and me it is impossible being examined apart in hke manner declared that her intended husband s impatience nd her own dislike to the formality of a had led them to avoid the usual mode and forms of marriage the justice who derived the chief profits of his office from matches and who had made these inquiries more because it was a common custom than from any scruples of conscience or sense of official duty was perfectly satisfied and after requiring from the bridegroom the usual promise to love and cherish and from the bride to love cherish and obey pronounced them man and wife and recorded the marriage in a book containing a record of similar official acts and of divers suits and the proceedings therein a new e i tbe bride and bridegroom immediately out for the north river to there for new york these things do manage themselves better in france said les qui se i the marriages you make here are as solemn la as to bury le a pair if de little god was paint here would make him work as de justice eh said be after a pause a son without some there should not be some de some of de elegant arts et les you would not be mon you would not be madame was so occupied with the change in her condition and the prospect before her that she did not observe tbe direction in which they were travelling and by mistake they took the road leading back through a iii the mountain towards a village in the vicinity of the one they had left as they ascended the top of a hill their began to his ears at the distant sound of a drum and which the soon perceived to be part of the pride pomp and circumstance of a training tbe village tavern was in full view and within a short distance and the company was performing some marching a little beyond an election of captain had just taken place and the of the citizen had fallen upon a popular favourite who a n w tale had taken his station as commanding officer	6
and was showing his familiarity with the and counter of s manual he had been just promoted from the rank of first lieutenant and previous to the dismissal of his men which was about to take place he drew them up in front of the village store when according to custom and with due regard to economy which made the store a more eligible place for his purposes than the tavern he his gratitude for the honour which had been done him by copious of cherry rum and of st which was or not according to the taste of each individual the men soon began to grow merry and some of them swore that they would not scruple to vote for the captain for major general if they had the choosing of that officer the of felt the influence of the good fellowship and generosity which the captain had set in motion a market for a considerable portion of their was soon furnished by the stimulated of the men and a portion was distributed by the more gallant among them to some spectators of the softer sex who were collected upon the occasion the happy pair in the mean time had arrived at the s attention had not been sufficiently awakened by any thing but the conversation of her husband to notice where she was until she was called to a sense of her embarrassing situation by the landlord s sign as it was gently swinging in the wind between two high a new england ss posts and exhibited a successful specimen of village sign painting the distinguished name of the host and the age of his establishment directed the frenchman to stop turn his horse which he did immediately without understanding the object h said he his still fixed on the young soldiers ii me i shall tell you he went on to signify that he would immediately offer to teach the art of and of using the broad sword that he would instruct them d la mode de napoleon and that after giving a few lessons he would make a in which he would let them se among other things how conquered the world how the cavalry could down flying and how the in such circumstances could defend themselves and that he would in this way make himself during all this time was collecting her wits to know what the emergency required and as soon as s ceased she begged him to turn again thinking she might best avoid observation by seeking shelter in the tavern till dark they immediately alighted and after showing his bride to her apartment descended to give some orders about his horse when to his astonishment he was by the jolly landlord whose name was thomas ha x b a new tale i jou are the man who staid with me a two years ago when i kept house in york state and my chaise to go a and told me to take care of your trunks that had nothing but a big stone in it till you came back i got my horse and chaise continued he seizing the astounded professor of the dancing and military arts by the collar and now i ll take my out of your skin if i get it any other way at this moment the new captain and a considerable number of his merry men entered the house after they had learned the circumstances of the case from what passed between and the landlord one of them cried out ride him on a rail let him take his steps in the air he ought to dance on nothing with a rope round his neck said thomas no no said a third he has steps enough that jacket had better be for one of tar and feathers said je i am very sorry ii mon it was my to not pay thomas and it was his not to be paid i shall show you my when i shall get de ii se de honesty of every body depend upon what can do i am sure every body is gentleman in dis country c est un beau pays by this time one of the had set a of tar on the fire and another at the direction a new d tale of the lieutenant who seemed to take upon himself the command of the party had brought a pillow from a bed in an adjoining room the pillow was very and a sufficient rent made in the the astonished stood aghast as his bewildered mind caught a faint notion of the purpose of these preparations he changed his tones of to those of anger des he exclaimed you are you do not merit to have some to teach la in dis country like a blue said the by the time we get the feathers on him they are hen s feathers said the lieutenant but they ll do now get on to the table and you hand him the of tar you mr le or whatever your name is stand alongside of the table believed his destiny to be ob mon he exclaimed le est c est you is tar tar nothing but stand up to the table was the reply put sur ma on my head et sur habits my clothes habits de my fine clothes for de marriage oh de grace you will spoil all my clothes a new england tale blast your clothes said the pull them off je v u you gentlemen and he deliberately himself of a light blue broad cloth coat an embroidered silk a and an under of fabric he prolonged the operation as much as possible making continued to the compassion of his which only added to their merriment at last all for delay were over every voice was hushed the began to the fatal when all composure of mind the bridegroom and he uttered	6
secrets for them mrs had for very good reasons never before alluded to the robbery of her desk since the morning it was committed but she was now provoked to foul means to support her argument tottering under the assault of facts jane did not condescend to notice the she felt too sincere a pity for the miserable y a woman but still anxious that some be made for david she said j is nothing to bo don fox your unhappy son nothing be has out from me and he is not of me bis blood be upon bi own head i am clear of it my foot on an even place my case is not an uncommon one she as if she would by this vain silence the voice within the saints of old david and samuel and were afflicted as i am with rebellious children i have planted and i have watered and if it is the lord s will to withhold the increase i must submit ob aunt exclaimed jane interrupting and advancing towards her do not do not for your soul s sake indulge any longer this horrible delusion ha ve more children she continued falling knees and taking one of her aunt s bands in both hers and looking like a messenger from heaven be pitiful to them i be merciful to your own soul you deceive yourself you may deceive others but god b not mrs was conscience stricken she sat as motionless as a statue and jane went on with the courage of an to ia their true s her character and conduct she made her realize for a few moments at least the peril of her soul she made her feel that her sound faith her prayers her her g g j ere nothing far worse than nothing a n w i n in his sight who be deceived by the daring the self the of lies of his she described the spiritual of and then presented to mrs wit son s true an image of her ness her pride her domestic and her love of money that could but see that it was her very self there was that in jane s looks s words that was not to be resisted by the wretched woman and like the guilty king when he saw the record on the wall her countenance was changed her thoughts were troubled and her knees smote one against the other at this moment they were inter by the of mr jane rose embarrassed for her aunt and herself and walked to the dow mrs tb speak to rise she could do neither and she sunk back t hair with misery and mr her agitation for the natural wail of a mother and with instinctive benevolence he advanced to her and kindly taking her hand said be composed i pray i have ee that will comfort thee what is it inquired jane eager to the she had raised mrs was still unable to thy son has escaped mrs and is before this beyond the reach of his country s laws here is a letter addressed to thee which came enclosed in one to me mr laid the letter on mrs s lap but she was unable a new england talk to open it or even td hold it h r eyes were ber closed sh to shiver with emotion s be i quite be said she does not p word say to her jane flew to her assistance spoke to ber entreated her to answer bathed her temples and her hand but all without effect ob she exclaimed terrified and i killed her do be so alarmed said mr there is no occasion for it the violence pf her emotion has overcome her it is the voice of nature let us convey her to her bed jane called and they removed her to her own and placed her on b r bed see whispered mr to jane after a few moments she is becoming composed al ready leave her for a little time with do i have much to say to thee jane followed him to the he took both her and said his face radiant with joy jane many daughters have done bat thou them all nay do not tremble unless it be for the sin of having kept from me so long the blessed intelligence of this morning poor jane tried to out an apology for her reserve but mr interrupted her by saying i understand it all i am too old too rigid too to be a young lady a new england oh say not so jane gathering courage from his kindness you have heen my my guardian my kindest friend forgive my silence i feel it all i have always felt it perhaps most when i seemed most insensible most reckless mr looked gratified beyond expression it cost him an effort to interrupt her for there is perhaps nothing more delightful than the praises of those we love but he said nay my sweet friend it will be my turn next if thou dost not stop and we shall indeed be as the french name my a house of i have a great deal to tell thee our joys have clustered what thou jane to another walk to old john s with as strange and a more welcome guide than your fitful night wanderer i have no time to lose in our were brought by a sailor a good natured hardy looking fellow who came to my house this morning i was wonder ing what he could be doing so far from his element when mary who returned to us yesterday opened the door for him and exclaimed with a ludicrous mixture of terror and joy the lord have mercy on us is it you or your the sailor gave her a truly professional and	6
most and replied between crying and laughing i ain no ghost as you may see but excuse me mary for mary had stepped back a little embarrassed by the involuntary freedom of her friend i was so glad i could not help it no no mary i am no ghost y a and but a prodigal that s come back to tbe lord a little better than i went who is indeed the long lost son of our good friend john of the mountain went on to bis to mary who by turns raised her hands and eyes in wonder and devout the of it is for their joy all of re serve he left here ten years ago in despair be cause would not marry him and sailed to the the poor fellow was taken by the and after suffering almost for six years he was so happy as to procure us freedom along with some english after us release he said he could not endure the thought of coming to his father and mother quite destitute for as he said to mary h he was a wild lad and had a fancy to the sea her cruelty would not have driven to leave ther if be had not hoped to get something to comfort their old age he wrote them an account of bis and of an engagement be had made to go to in the service of an english the letters it seems never reached here he went to india many circumstances occurred to advance him in the favour of bis employer his integrity which he said the tears streaming from his eyes was all owing to the and examples of his good old parents and his intelligence thanks to his country which took care to give the poor man learning occasioned in the company s service and sent with some into the interior of in on of great hazard and importance the of attributed ta bim and rewarded bim all came out in the course of his for he spoke not j but with and gratitude he has returned with enough to purchase a farm and give to bis parents all that want of this world and what our friend mary best of all be has come home a having been made one by a missionary of that zealous in india if i have not mary s glistening eye this fact will cost me my housekeeper dear dear mary exclaimed jane brushing a the tears of sympathy nd joy that mr narrative had brought to her eyes and and old oh it is as beautiful a conclusion of their lives as if it had been up by a poet ah jane replied mr there are realities in the kind dispositions of providence more blessed than a poet can dream of and there are virtues in real life he continued smiling that might lend a grace to the page of a it is of those i must now speak not now said jane hastily rising i must go to my aunt at least then take these letters with thee the levity of one will give thee some pain in the other the wretched has done thee late justice now go my blessed friend to thy aunt would that thou minister to her mind a new england talk distracted by these terrible events oh power might be given to voice to awaken her conscience front its deep steep it was a proof of mr s habitual grace that be did not forget at this mo ment that jane could not miracles without supernatural assistance there is not a happier moment of existence than that which a benevolent being when he knows that the object of his solicitude and love has passed safely through trial is victorious oyer temptation and has overcome the world this was the joy that now a thousand fold mr for all his sufferings in the cause of our he would mr have been equally happy in the proved virtue of his favourite if hope had not brightened his dim future with her sweetest visions certainly not he who hath wonderfully made us has in wisdom the principle of self love in our and let the as he will it is neither the work of grace nor of discipline to it but it may and if we would be good it must be modified controlled and made to the benefit and happiness of others mr had no very definite plans for the future but his horizon was brightening with a coming day and without vanity or presumption he trusted all would be well jane returned to her aunt s apartment and found her in a sullen stupor she did not seem to notice at any rate she made no reply to jane s i a n w kind inquiries and she after drawing the curtains the sat down to the p of the letters mr had given to her the first she read was from to mr and as it was not long and was rather characteristic we shall take the to it for the benefit of our readers dear sir ib returning to my lodgings late last i was by a man muffled in a cloak i recognised his voice at once it was our he has a in an ingenious plan of escape from and sails in the morning fer one of the west i ere he will no doubt is e as or in some other character which his training has equally qualified him a precious rascal he is indeed but allow me a phrase of your sir i had no light to him up to justice after he had trusted to me and more than that for he me that he had since his confinement written to the to engage me as counsel and through them he learnt the fact of my being in this city this bound me in	6
some sort to look upon the poor devil as my and as it would have been my duty to get him out of the of the law it would have been most to have put him into them you know since his own cleverness instead of mine has him he has ex to me and he me has d a w to you for be says be us to make them public the particulars of of he old is money i miss imparted to you the that led t the sudden engagement which she hai chosen to me and you have y to learn that there is generosity in the world that may rival the virtue under the shadow of the broad brim pardon i have wiped out all the re i have met with in this finest of been such as to make me look of an obscure village as mere not wi of a sigh from one wh can in tbe broad sunshine of ladies favour and fortune s gifts word more ti of s i rejoice in it sincerely on miss s she deserved to have a little for her in holding herself bound by an promise for having put herself in a tion in which her guilt would have seemed i rent to any one but a poor dog whom love had pro she is too young and too beautiful a victim for the altar of conscience however i forgive her her scruples lier and her and wish her happiness in this world and the next her not to turn here for the sake of advancement there i not when i sh h return to village life stale flat and this gay metropolis has cured me of my rural tastes as i flatter a n w talk fa ion s band has quite by a lucky j met the son of your pro t ge john yesterday the poor dog s will make the all unused as they are to the marvellous i told by way of a welcome to bis country i should pay his expenses home this i hope you sir will accept in of all my sins against the old basket maker with many wishes that you may find a new and more subject for your genius i remain sir your most obedient humble servant n b my regards to miss tell her i look at the windows of our print shops every day in the expectation of seeing among their gay show her lovely figure chosen by one of the sons of a to the stern lady justice whom few seek and none love her scales in dignity f and is this the man thought as she folded the letter that have loved that i fancied loved me aud her heart rose in devout for the escape she had made from an utter wreck of her happiness she next read s letter to mr hi with the particulars of bis late escape which seemed to possess his mind more than any thing else he then said that being about ti en a talk ter on a new voyage he wished to his of as much of its present cargo of sin as he stated and believe with sincerity that he had intended if it ever became necessary to assert jane s innocence but that as long at no believed her guilty he had thought it fair to sup his neck out of the yoke and now that every body might know how good she was be wished mr to make known all the particulars of the transaction he then went on to as as be knew of her visit to the mountain which bad led to her subsequent he express ed no remorse for the past no hope of the his wish to jane had arisen from a deep feeling of her excellence and seemed to be the last ray of just or kindly feeling that his guilty spirit jane bad scarcely finished reading the letters when her attention was called to her aunt who had been thrown into a state of agitation almost to frenzy by the perusal of her son s farewell letter to herself which mr had placed on the pillow beside her believing that it merely contained such account of david s escape and plans as would have a tendency to the anguish of her mind which he still supposed arose solely from her apprehensions for her son s life but mr was too good even to conceive of the bitterness of a malignant exasperated spirit wrought to madness as s was by his mother s absolute refusal to any effort to save his life new tale s the letter was filled with if i have a soul be said eternity will be spent in her who has ruined it but he did not fear the future bell was a to frighten children you he continued neither fear it nor it for if you did your religion would be something besides a cloak to hide your bard cruel heart religion what is it but a dream a pretence i might have believed it if i had seen more like jane whom you have trodden on accused when you her innocent mother mother oh that i must you so as i do it i howl a curse with every breath have destroyed me you it was at taught me when i scarcely knew my right hand from my left that there was no difference between doing right and doing wrong in the sight of the god you worship you taught me that i could do nothing acceptable to him if you taught me truly i have only acted out the nature totally your own words that he gave tp me and i am not to blame for it i could do nothing to save my own	6
soul and according to your own doctrine i stand now a better my moral cousin jane if you have taught me i not to blame the peril be on own soul my mind was a blank and you put your own impressions on it god if there be a god reward you according to your deeds this horrible letter of which we have given a brief and comparatively mild specimen and from that the curses that pointed very z a tale sentence seemed w a little while to swell the of mrs s newly awakened conscience bat alas the impression was transient the chains of delusion were too firmly the of deception too strong to be overcome jane fearful that the violence of her passion would over destroy her reason sought only for the remainder of the day and fee following night to and quiet her she remained by her bedside and silently watched and prayed s sleep was disturbed but she awoke somewhat refreshed and quite composed her first action was to tear david s letter into a thousand fragments she was never known afterwards to allude to its contents nor to her conversation with jane there was a restlessness the remainder of her life which betrayed the secret of conscience still it is believed she her convictions as is reported to done when as his historian says he asked one of his if the doctrine were true that the elect should never fall nor suffer a final nothing more certain replied the preacher then i am safe said the protector for i am sure i was once in a state of grace mrs survived these events but a few years she was finally carried off by the a disease from which she had suffered all her life and which had probably increased the natural of her temper as all evils physical as well a an tale as moral certainly make ua worse if they do not make us better was to ber death bed bat e arrived too late to receive ei the reproaches or forgiveness of her mother jane faithfully attended her through her last illness and most kindly to the diseases of her body her mind no human comfort could reach no earthly skill touch its secret springs the disease was attended with delirium and she had no rational communication with any one from the beginning of ber illness this jane after wards sincerely to mr who re plied i would not sit like the in judgment on the dead thy aunt has gone with ber record to him who alone knows the secrets of tb heart and therefore is alone qualified to judge his creatures but for our benefit md for the sake of those whose is not let us ever remember the wise saying of william a man cannot be the better for that religion for which his neighbour is the worse i have no doubt thy aunt has suffered some natural for her gross failure in the performance of her duties but she felt safe in a sound faith it is reported that one of the said of himself that as he was a but as ii an pope then you believe replied jane that my unhappy aunt deceived herself by her profession undoubtedly ought we to wonder that she effected that on herself by the aid of a new england tale self love of all love the most blinding since we have heard in her funeral sermon her religious experiences detailed as the triumphs of a saint her strict attention on religious commended as if they were the end and not the means of a religious life since we who cannot remember a single gracious act of humility in her whole life have been told as a proof of her gracious state that the last rational words she pronounced were that she was of the chief there seems to be a curious spiritual in the utterance of these words for we cannot say that those who use then mean to in a double sense but they are too often spoken and received as the evidence of a hopeful state professions and have crept in among the to take the place of the and of the ancient church so prone are men to find some easier way to heaven than the path of obedience a new tale chapter god the best r of all marriages combine your in one w have anticipated our story tempted by a natural desire to conclude the history of mrs that its deep shade j ht not interfere with the bright lights that on the destiny of our heroine after the dissolution of her engagement with jane continued her humble of school mistress for some months had from the beginning been one of her pupils and a favourite among them and so did the child love her that mr often thought impulse was as sure a guide for her affections as reason for his care of his child furnished him occasion and excuse when he needed it for frequent intercourse with her and in this intercourse there were none of those mysterious mysterious because inexplicable to all but the parties that so often check the progress of z a new talk affection jane released from the in which she had been bound to was as happy as a captive her tastes and her views were similar to mr s and she in his society a delightful exchange and a rich compensation for the solitude to which her mind and affections had been condemned we are ignorant perhaps jane was of the precise moment when gratitude melted into love and friendship resigned the to his more absolute dominion but it was not long after this nor quite a year and a day the period of mourning usually allotted to a faithful husband her separation from that as she was sitting with mrs in her little parlour mr	6
en with his child after the customary greetings mrs recollected that some domestic duties demanded her presence and saying with an arch smile to mr that she hoped he would overlook her absence she left the room little was sitting on her father s knee she took from his bosom a miniature of her mother which he always wore there and seemed intently studying the face which the artist had with power do the angels look like my mother she asked why my child thought father they might look like her she looks so bright and so good she kissed the picture and after a moment s pause added jane looks like mother all but the cap dost not thee think father jane would look pretty iu a new tale a cap mr kissed his little girl and said nothing s eyes followed the direction of her father s oh jane she exclaimed thou dost not look like mother now thy cheeks are as red as my new doll s the child s observation of her treacherous cheek had certainly no tendency to lessen poor colour she would have been glad to hide her face any where but it was broad daylight and there was now no escape from the de which had been hovering on mr s lips for some weeks and which was now made in spite of s presence it cannot be denied lit deference to the opinion of some very fastidious ladies that jane was prepared for it for though the marks of love are not quite as obvious as the lively describes th et we believe that except in the case of ve wn y lovers cautious they are first observed by the objects of the passion we are warned from attempting to describe the scene to which our little had led the way by the fine remark of a who the language of lovers to the most delicate fruits of a warm climate very delicious where they grow but not capable of much is expressed and understood in a few which would be quite unintelligible to those whose faculties are not quickened by la passion and who therefore cannot be expected to comprehend the of love a new england affection jane released from the in which she had been hound to was as happy as a captive her tastes and her views were similar to mr s and she found in his society a delightful exchange and a rich compensation for the solitude to which her mind and affections had been condemned we are ignorant perhaps jane was of the precise moment when gratitude melted into love and friendship resigned the to his more absolute dominion but it was not long after this nor quite a year and a day the period of mourning usually allotted to a faithful husband after her separation from that as she was sitting with mrs in her little parlour mr entered with his child after the customary greetings mrs recollected that some domestic duties demanded her presence and saying with an arch smile to mr that she hoped he would overlook her absence she left the room little was sitting on her father s knee she took from his bosom a miniature of her mother which he always wore there and seemed intently studying the face which the artist had with power do the angels look like my mother she asked why my child thought father they might look like her she looks so bright and so good she kissed the picture and after a moment s pause added jane looks like mother all but the cap dost not thee think father jane would look pretty iu a new tale a cap mr kissed his little girl and said nothing s eyes followed the direction of her father s oh jane she exclaimed thou dost not look like mother now thy cheeks are as red a my new the child s observation of her treacherous cheek had certainly no tendency to lessen poor jane s colour she would have been glad to hide her face any where but it was broad daylight and there was now no escape from the de which had been hovering on mr s lips for some weeks and which was now made in spite of s presence it cannot be denied lit deference to the opinion of some very fastidious ladies that jane was prepared for it for though the marks of love are not quite as obvious as the lively describes et we believe hat except in the case of ve wn y lovers cautious they are first observed by the objects of the passion we are warned from attempting to describe the scene to which our little had led the way by the fine remark of a who the language of lovers to the most delicate fruits of a warm climate very delicious where they grow but not capable of much is expressed and understood in a few which would be quite unintelligible to those whose faculties are not quickened by la passion and who therefore cannot be expected to comprehend the of love a new affection jane released from the in which she had been bound to was as happy as a captive her tastes and her views were similar to mr s and she in his society a delightful exchange and a rich compensation for the solitude to which her mind and affections had been condemned we are ignorant perhaps jane was of the precise moment when gratitude melted into love and friendship resigned the to his more absolute dominion but it was not long after this nor quite a year and a day the period of mourning usually allotted to a faithful husband her separation from that as she was sitting with mrs in her little parlour mr entered with his child after the customary greetings mrs recollected that some domestic	6
duties demanded her presence and saying with an arch smile to mr that she hoped he would overlook her absence she left the room little was sitting on her father s knee she took from his bosom a miniature of her mother which he always wore there and seemed studying the face which the artist had with power do the angels look like my mother she asked why my child thought father they might look like her she looks so bright and so good she kissed the picture and after a moment s pause added jane looks like mother all but the cap dost not thee think father jane would look pretty iu a new tale a cap mr kissed his little girl and said nothing s eyes followed the direction of her father s oh jane she exclaimed thou dost not look like mother now thy cheeks are as red as my new the child s observation of her treacherous cheek had certainly no tendency to lessen poor jane s colour she would have been glad to hide her face any where but it was broad daylight and there was now no escape from the de which had been hovering on mr s lips for some weeks and which was now made in spite of s presence it cannot be denied deference to the opinion of some very fastidious ladies that jane was prepared for it for though the marks of love are not quite as obvious as the lively describes et we believe except in the case of ve wn y lovers cautious they are first observed by the objects of the passion we are warned from attempting to describe the scene to which our little had led the way by the fine remark of a who the language of lovers to the most delicate fruits of a warm climate very delicious where they grow but not capable of much is expressed and understood in a few which would be quite unintelligible to those whose faculties are not quickened by la passion and who therefore cannot be expected to comprehend the of love a england the result of the interview was to both parties and as this was one of the occasions when the sands of time are diamond sparks it is impossible to say when it would bare come to a conclusion had it not been for little who seemed to over the of that day her father had interpreted his with jane to bis child and bad in rendering the object and the result of it level to her comprehension and she had her joy in loud exclamations and tender caresses till she was no longer noticed she had withdrawn to a window and was amusing herself with at the passengers in the street when she suddenly turned to jane and raising the window at th same moment d d oh there goes mary lecture may i and tell her at this moment e sweet child might have asked any thing ut the chance of a refusal and a ready assent n s no sooner granted than she screamed and beckoned to mary who immediately obeyed her summons mary entered and closing the door after her said i guess thee will not want to go to lecture to day mary for i have a nm st beautiful secret to tell thee hold down thy ear and promise never to tell as long as thy name is mary and then unable any longer to subdue her voice to a whisper she jumped up and clapped her hands and shouted joy joy joy a new tale jane is coming to live with us all the days of her life and is going to be my own mother mary looked to mr and then to jane and read in their faces the confirmation of the happy tidings and to s utter amazement the tears streamed from her eyes oh mary said she turning disappointed away now i am ashamed of thee i thought thee would be as glad as i am but mr and jane knew how to understand this expression of her feelings they advanced to her and gave her their hands she joined them the lord hath heard my prayer she said and she wept aloud i thank thee mary replied mr god grant i may deserve thy confidence if she has prayed for it what then does she cry for said who stood beside her father watching mary s inexplicable emotion and vainly trying to get some clue to it come with me my child and i will tell thee replied her father and he very led out the child and left jane with her faithful friend the moment he had closed the door mary said smiling through her tears of joy it has taken me by surprise at last but for all that i am not quite so blind as you may think do you remember jane telling me one day when you laid your book down to listen to mr who was talking to that since your mother s voice had been silent you had never heard one so sweet as mr s i thought to myself then you seemed to feel i da when i hear the ad of james voice not that i mean to compare myself to or james to mr hot it is the nature of i is the same in the and the low the rich and the poor was that all the ground o your suspicion asked jane smiling at her friend s boasted sagacity no not quite all james has been very for our marriage j and from time to time i have told mr i wished he would look out for some one to take charge of his house and i advised him not to get a very young person for says i they are apt to be i never saw one	6
that was not but jane he smiled and blushed and asked me what made me think that you was so much above the rest of your sex and bo i told him and be never seemed to weary talking about you i am rejoiced replied jane that your partiality to me you to the in our ages oh that is nothing that is in your case it is nothing let us see eleven years in most cases it would be too much to be sure is four years between james and i that is just ri i think but then dear jane you are so from other people you need not go by common rules the overflowing of mary s heart was checked by the entrance of some company as she parted with jane she whispered i shall not think of a tale mr till are married be it sooner or later when i see you in your own ft will be time enough to think of my af there still remained a delicate point to mr bad been brought up a and be had seen no reason to depart from the faith or mode of worship which had come down to him from his and for which he felt on that account as who does not an attachment and veneration he rarely if ever entered into upon religious subjects and probably did not feel much zeal for some of the peculiarities of his he was not disposed to question utility in ordinary operation upon common character he knew how were the of discipline upon the mass of men and he considered the discipline of habits and opinions infinitely more than the direct and coarse interference of power he perceived or thought be perceived that as a body of men the friends were upon the e more happy and prosperous than any other ko ever came among them this circumstance mr ascribed in a considerable degree to the of their opinions habits and lives and to their custom of their family within the limits of their own mr regarded with complacency most of the characteristics of bis own society and those which he could not wholly approve he was yet disposed to regard in the most favourable light but he was no a and talk his understanding was too much elevated and his were too to be confined within the bounds of such ties could not bind a spirit if any peculiarities bad to restrain him in the exercise of his duty or while acting under the strong impulses of his generous nature he would have shaken them off like dew drops from a lion s mane from the society would have been painful to for many reason but the fear of it could not occasion a moment s hesitation in his offering his hand to a woman whom he loved and valued and whose whole life he saw animated by the essential spirit of christianity he determined now to inform his society of his choice and to submit to the censure and from that must follow but mr was saved the painful necessity of breaking ties which were so strong that they might be called natural bonds jane had been early led to inquire into the particular of religion professed by her benefactor and respect for him had probably lent additional weight to every argument in its favour this was natural and it was natural too that after her judgment her early prefer ence she should from motives of delicacy have hesitated to declare it if it cannot be denied that this was won by the virtues of mr it is to be presumed that no christian will deny the power of such an argument if the reader is not disposed to allow that jane s choice of the of her friend was the result a of the purity and of her character the preference she always gave to the spirit over the letter to the practice over the profession she call to her aid the decision of the poet who says that minds are for of various kinds as different are formed for different seed a word had passed between mr and jane on the subject of the mental and of each when a few days after their engagement jane said to him i have a mind to improve the fatal hint of my little friend and see how becoming i can make a cap what dost thou mean jane inquired mr who seemed a little puzzled by the gravity of her face which was not quite in keeping with the of her words seriously she replied with your consent and approbation i mean to be a member by request of your society of friends shall my people be thy people exclaimed mr with great animation this indeed to pure gold the only circumstance that my happiness but do not imagine dear jane that i think it of the least consequence by what name the different members of the christian family are called but you think it right and orderly she replied smiling that the wife should take the name f the husband aa a n w i think it most there remained now no reason for the marriage longer than was rendered necessary by the the admission of a new ber into the friends society it was a beautiful morning in the beginning of may the mist had rolled away from the and with silvery clouds the sides and of the the air was sweet with the herald blossoms of and rising from ber wintry bed was throwing on ber woods and fields her of tender a carriage containing mr mary hall little stopped at mrs door jane arrayed for a journey stood awaiting it on the old john the basket maker was beside her leaning m his cane and good mrs was giving baggage to james who carried it to the carriage farewell dear	6
nd and just at the entrance of a rustic bridge there is a favourite resting place for of all ages one of a line of logs that have been laid down to enable passengers at high water to reach the bridge dry shod affords an inviting seat under the drooping limbs of some tall there the old sit down to rest their weary limbs and read with pensive eye the fond histories that memory has written over the haunts of their secluded lives there too the young in their sports and hardly know why their eyes follow with such delight the silvery little stream that away from them kissing the points of the green meadows and winding and its course as if like a pleased child it would by any pretext its stay nor certainly why no island that water bounds will ever look so beautiful to them as that little speck of one above the j j the poor rich man with its burden of elders and of a summer evening their every leaf lit with the s lamp nor why their eye glances from the white houses of the village street glimmering through the trees and far away over the and waving grain of the and past the line of hills that bound the horizon on one side to on the bald gray peaks of that mountain wall whose indian story the poet has consecrated time will solve to them this why under those on a certain afternoon many years past sat may a pale sickly looking girl talking with harry and beside them may whose ruddy cheek laughing eye and little person presented an almost painful contrast to her stricken sister was examining with a very pleased countenance a new little bible bound in red did mr reed give you your choice of the harry she asked oh no mr reed is too much afraid of exciting our or as he calls it for that he would not even call the books he gave us but he just told us what virtue or rather quality we had been most distinguished for i guess i know what yours was harry said may looking up from weaving a wreath of that grew about them what do you guess why kindness to everybody no not that well then loving everybody harry laughed and shook his head no nor that and opening to the first page school days of the bible he pointed to the following testimony in his master s read it aloud it gives me great pleasure to record here the diligence and success of my esteemed pupil harry and still more to testify to his strict practice of the golden rule of this book do others as ye would they should do unto you there there knew i guessed right you know you couldn t do so if you didn t love everybody could he you were not very far from right replied her sister for i am u re harry could not do so much to make everybody happy if he did not love almost everybody no indeed i do not at least i feel a great difference do you think for instance i love or as well as i love you and no not by a sea full but then it is very true as mother used to tell me if you want to love people or almost love them just do them a kindness think how you can set about to make them happier and the love or something that will answer the purpose will be pretty sure to come it will said with a faint smile otherwise how could we live up to the rule of this book and certainly god never gave us a law that we could not obey if we would o harry i am so glad you got the bible instead of any of the other books for i know you will love it and study it and live after it i will try but then ha ry it seems to me those that are well and strong and at ease can never value the poor rich etc that book as those do who are always sick and suffering pain it was the thing in the world for to allude to her peculiar trials looked and little who had the most marvellous of seeing a bright side to every thing said ia a tender voice and putting her arm round her ter s neck then there is some comfort in being sick is not there v there is there is comfort when you cannot eat nor sleep nor walk abroad in the pure air nor look out upon this beautiful world when neither doctors skill nor friends love can lessen one pang it is then comfort it is life to the dead to read in this blessed book of god s good ness and to sit as it were at the feet f and learn from him who brought life and immortality to light that there is a world where there is no more sickness nor pain where all tears are wiped away there was a pause first broken by asking if those that were well and happy did not love to read the bible too oh yes indeed replied harry i remember mother used to say she read the bible for every thing to make her wiser and better and happier i believe seeing mother so happy over it made me like it more i should think so said i am sure i should not love to read any thing that did not make me happy but here comes what book did you get history of birds school days oh full of pictures how lovely running over the leaves did get a book yes and she has changed it at s store for a pink silk handkerchief how could she	6
i am sorry said it s just like her said and then returning s book she added after all i had rather have harry s bible the more goose you then my book cost twice as much as his bible did it was rather to be sure it did and what is more i can sell it for twice as much ah then i ve caught you sir harry would not sell his bible for any sum so by your own rule harry s is worth the most was somewhat disconcerted he resumed in a lowered tone maybe i should not sell it just for the dollar and a half but then when one knows the value of money one does not like to have so much lying idle money should work as father says if you could reckon interest and compound interest as well as i can miss i guess you would not like to have your money lying idle on a book shelf i don t know what kind of interest compound interest is but i know the interest i take in a pleasant book is better than a handful of money and if i only had the dollar and a half i would give it to you in a minute for that book only had p ah there s the rub you people that despise money never get it and that is what father always says b the poor rich han etc despise it v repeated sighing as she knelt on the log between harry and her sister and bound over s pale forehead the wreath of ominous despise money i would do any thing in the world to get enough to take down to that wonderful new york doctor but there s one comfort she added brightening he might not cure you and then we should feel worse than ever what doctor is sue speaking of asked harry looking up eagerly from his bible explained that a cousin living in new york had written to her of a physician in the city who had been particularly successful in treating diseases of the her cousin had urged s coming to the city and had kindly offered to receive the poor invalid at her house father she said talks of our going but i do not think we can make it out so i don t allow myself to think of it m and when murmuring thoughts rise i remember how many rich people there are who travel the world over and consult all the doctors and are nothing so i put a little patience on the aching place and that as would say is a great comfort when you can t get any thing else when you can t replied harry fixing his eyes on s face where though the cheek was pale and the eye sunken the health of the soul was apparent but can t there be some way contrived we are trying our best at contrivance father you know never has any thing ahead j but he offered himself to let out old by the day and school days save all be towards the journey that will be something i have three dollars left of the last i ever earned and dear little has given me five which aunt mary sent to buy her a cloak and how much will the journey cost father says his last journey down to cost him but ten dollars besides the provision and he carried in the wagon new york is not as far as but horse keeping there is terrible and i dare not think what the s bill may be oh thought harry if i were only rich if i were only worth fifty dollars money he had none but he ran over in his mind all his property there s his dog squire offered me three dollars for i thought i would not sell him for a hundred but he have him and i have been offered two dollars for and two black he liad tamed with infinite pains and what else have i he ran over his little possessions his wearing apparel article by article he had no sundry little but they were out of the class of money value his bible it was new and pretty and would certainly bring a dollar he looked at it lovingly and was obliged again to look at before he mentally added it to the list he resolved on his benevolent traffic and was just saying to morrow i think i shall have something to add to your store when who had taken a seat at some distance and seemed much absorbed started up exclaiming yes in five years at compound interest i ths poor man shall two and a won t be a nest egg harry a tear in s eye had already replied to harry but any reply to was cut off by the appearance of s father philip may com ing down the road philip was a most kind hearted creature and though rather an in worldly matters he had by dint of no one and serving every one rather better than himself kept bright tne links of human brotherhood and made them felt too for his general was uncle as uncle approached it was apparent that the calm current of his feelings had been ruffled little her father s pet with the eye of a loving child was the first to perceive this what s the matter father she asked oh dreadful bad news i don t know how stand it the girls were poor is gone sir how gone what do you mean clean gone r drowned oh dear how sorry i am and poor was exclaimed and while uncle turned away to hide certain of his muscles but it s some comfort any how said the first to recover herself that he was so	6
old he must have died of his own accord before long and that comfort you would have had if it had been me instead of oh father i did not mean nothing child sure i think it is kind of to have a lively dis school position that s always rising over the top of but then it s so inconvenient to lose just now when he s money for us and how in am i ever to get to new york without him don t think of that now father how did the accident happen ah that s the of all it beats all that sam should be so careless you know i let out to sam to plough his meadow you said looked too low in flesh for i wish had taken your warning well you see when sam went to dinner he tied close by the river and somehow the poor backed down the bank into the river and fell on his back and he was tied in such a fashion he could not move one way or the other and the water running into his nostrils and ears and mouth and when sam came back from dinner it was all over with him then said it was wholly owing to sam s carelessness to be sure there was no need on t if it had been me i should have calculated to tie the horse so that if he did back into the river he could have helped himself out better have tied him where there was no danger of such an accident uncle uncle was right in his calculations what were accidents to other men made up the current of events to him but proceeded you can certainly make sam pay for the horse uncle made no reply you mean to get it out of him don t you uncle b r thb poor rich i hate to sam ain t rich but he is not poor i heard him say to father i he was talking of buying the mountain farm he had two hundred dollars clear of the world did not did he t he certainly did and i don t see why yoa make him a present of your horse nor do i see father why you should not be just to yourself said well well i calculate to do what s fair all round but am felt bad i tell you and i did not want to bear down on him but when got the mind of the street do something about speaking to him mentally determined to keep her father up to this resolution the most energetic that could be expected from him and all the fate of poor the parties separated and pro homeward chapter have rather presented some of the humble inhabitants of to our readers a few more preparatory words to ea a better acquaintance philip may was bred a his trade and to c uncle a few hundred dollars would hare to most of countrymen but philip their characteristics energy and sound judgment and all the go qualities that abound with them but lacking these a most kind providence had given him a disposition that made him content without them and quite independent of their results his horizon was bounded by the present hour he literally took no thought for the morrow he married early and in this turning point of life heaven seemed to have taken special care of him never was a wife better calculated by vigour firmness and industry to the destructive tendencies of a husband nor was she like some driving wives thorn in her quiet loving husband s side while she cured all the evils that could be cured in her condition she endured the with cheerfulness a marvellous of the burdens of life before his marriage philip built a house the cost of which far exceeding his means he finished but one end of it and the rest was left for the rains to enter and the winds to whistle through till he took his wife s counsel sold his house paid his debts and bought a snug little dwelling far more comfortable their palace in its best state but before they arrived at this stage in the journey of life both good and evil had chanced to them their ran into an open the surface of which was just on a level with the platform before the house so it had remained a year after the active child began to run the poor rich man etc about and to its mother s and philip always answered now that s just what i am going about next week when his only child was drowned in this seeming was certainly ho time to reproach philip and he who never reproached any one could not be expected to make himself an exception he merely said it was a wonderful providence was drowned that day for the very next he calculated to put a to the ut it was meant so to be he always felt was not long for this world their next child was our friend and she like her drowned sister was born with one of the best mortal gifts a sound constitution which watched over by her wise and mother promised a long life of physical comfort but these prospects were sadly reversed when her father having one day taken her out in his wagon left her holding the reins while he just stepped to speak to a neighbour while he was speaking the horse took fright was thrown out and received an injury that her whole life philip was really grieved by this accident he said it seemed somehow as if it was so to be for he had no thought of taking out that day till he met her in	6
if she were studying it she had on a deep sun bonnet as she raised her head it fell back and disclosed a tear on her cheek and disclosed it too to harry who had come in unobserved and was standing before her she hastily threw down tlie money it rolled on to th floor he picked it up he recognised it and at once understood the whole left the shop first and we believe few ladies though they may have spent hundreds in the splendid shops of have had half the pleasure from their purchases that may had from the acquisition of this two yards of we ask which was richest in the true sense of the word the of and or our little friend and when harry her before she reached her own restored the precious quarter she was not conscious of an wish had they been a little older there might have been some shyness some and but now frankly told him her reluctance to part with it her joy in getting it back again and it by its accustomed she wore it ever after a little nearer the heart than before s last obstacle to leaving home was relieved by an invitation from harry s mother to to pass the time of her sister s absence with her how thoughtful of mrs said after she had gratefully accepted the if there were more of this if a poor ham s persons were more zealous to employ the means of little to their fellow creatures if they considered them as members of their own really brothers and sisters how many burdens would be lightened what a of smiles we should haye on faces now sour and chapter iv a man s it was a lovely morning in june when uncle set forth for new york with his invalid daughter happiness shone through his honest face and there was a slight flush of hope and expectation on s usually pale and tranquil countenance as she half s last sanguine expression you will come home as well as i am i know you will not well oh no but better i expect i mean i hope better then if you are that is to say a great deal better i shall be satisfied you harry i shall be satisfied that it was best for her to go if she is any better i trust we shall all be ed with god s will whatever it may be said ing her eye full of gratitude upon harry harry arranged her cushions as nobody else could the poor rich to support her weak back disposed her cloak so that could draw it around her if the air proved too fresh and taking her willow basket in her hand the last words were spoken and they set forth uncle was in the happiest of his happy he commended the wagon it was just like sitting at home in a rocking chair it is kind o lucky that you are lame or maybe mrs would not have offered to loan us her wagon i was dreadful we should have to go down the north river i tell you when i crossed over it once i was a most scared to death the water went there was nothing but a plank between me and and i thought in my heart i should have gone down and nobody would ever have heard of me again i wonder folks can be so foolish as to go on water when they can travel on solid land but i suppose some do it is pleasanter said to travel at this season where you can see the beautiful fruits of the earth as we do now on all sides of us uncle replied and talked on without disturbing his daughter s quiet and meditation they travelled slowly but he was never impatient and she never wearied for she was an observer and lover of nature the earth was clothed with its richest green was all green but of infinitely varied the young corn was shooting forth the winter wheat already waved over many a fertile the gardens were newly made and clean and full of promise flowers in this month of their abundance the woods and the gardens and and where nothing else a poor man s grew there e and in plenty the young were in the he chickens peeping about the and birds thousands of them singing at their work our travellers were descending a mountain where their view extended over an immense tract of country for the most part richly cultivated i declare exclaimed uncle how much land there is in the world and i don t own a foot on t only our little half acre lot it don t seem hardly right uncle was no and he immediately added but after all i guess i am better off without it it would be a dreadful care contentment with is great gain said youve hit the nail on the head i don t know who should be contented if i ain t i al ways have enough and everybody is friendly to me and you and are worth a of money to me for all what i said about the land i really think i have got my full share we can all have our share in the beauties of s earth without as you say a foot of it rejoined we must feel it is our father s i am sure the richest man in the world cannot take more pleasure in looking at a beautiful prospect than i do or in breathing this sweet sweet air it seems to me father as if every thine i look upon was ready to burst forth in a hymn of praise and there is	6
enough in my heart to make verses of if i only knew how that s the mystery how they do it the poor rich etc i can make one line but i can never get a fellow to it well father as would say it s a comfort to have the feeling though you can t express it was right it is a great comfort and happiness to have the feeling and happy would it be if those who live in the country were more sensible to the beauties of nature if they could see something in the glorious forest besides good wood and timber lots something in the green besides a warm soil something in a besides a mill privilege there is a in every human heart to the ever present and beauties of nature and whose fault is it that this taste is not awakened and directed if the poet and the painter cannot bring down their arts to the level of the poor are there none to be s to them to teach them to read the great book of nature the classes ought not to lose the pleasures that in the country are before them from dawn to twilight pleasures that might and often do the profits of the merchant pent in his city counting house and all the honours the lawyer between the court rooms and his office we only wish that more was made of the privilege of country life that the farmer s wife would steal some moments from her cares to point out to her children the beauties of nature whether amid the hills and valleys of our inland country or on the sublime shores of the ocean over the city too hangs the vault of heaven thick with the witnesses of od power and goodness his are everywhere s return the rich man who lives at home at ease and goes irritated and through the country because he at the the luxuries of his own house who finds the tea bad coffee worse the food ill cooked and table ill served no no silver forks who is obliged to endure the vulgarity of a common and in spite of the inward give a civil answer to whatever questions may be put to him cannot conceive of the luxuries our travellers enjoyed at the simplest inn uncle found out the little histories of all the he met and frankly told his own s pale sweet face attracted general sympathy country people have time for little by the way es and the and her daughters and her inquired into s malady suggested and described similar cases the open hearted of our people is often laughed at but is it not a sign of a life and social spirit chapter v s on the very day she had appointed before leaving home by dint of arranging for her father giving him now a hint and now an impulse returned there had opened swept and d the poor rich man etc the house with plenty of and roses and mrs and some other kind had sent in a store of provisions so that spread her tea table with the abundance and variety that the evening meal in new england fresh and cherry pie smoked beef cheese and were on the table the tea kettle hissing a welcome over the fire and and at the door and gazing at a turn in the road where between two elms that it appeared uncle s wagon and was soon folded in the arms of her loving sister and receiving a welcome less joyful from harry i declare said uncle after the first were passed surveying the table with satisfaction youve set out what i call a tea you beat em all in york they live dreadful poor down there to be sure your aunt lives in a brick house and has a sight of furniture and a of a on her it don t go half so true as our old wooden one and high and such yet she has all her bread to buy by the loaf and the milk is sky blue as to cream i believe they ever heard on t cakes and are scarce i tell you i believe has come there yet for i never saw a spear of it on the table nor a speck of cheese but the worst of all is the water poor would have choked before he would have drank a drop of it and they live in such a dust and s i tho t when we drove in it wai training but they carried on so every day and there is such a stifled up feeling i did pity em persons capable of more accurate comparison than uncle may well pity those who when summer is in its beauty are shut up within the walls of a city deprived of the greatest of all luxuries which even the poorest country people enjoy sweet air ample space pure water and quiet only broken by pleasant sounds and often too have we felt a pity for the citizen similar to uncle s when we have compared the tea table of those we poor in the country with the evening meal of the in town ah father replied you must remember we don t set out such a table very often here i am sure i never could if we had not such kind neighbours but when they are kind it don t seem to me to make much difference whether you are rich or poor s simple remark had an important bearing on that great subject of of condition which the philosopher and sometimes the christian but did not our happy little friend suggest a solution to the riddle has not providence made this the necessary result of the human condition and	6
is not the true principle to be found in the voluntary exercise of those virtues that produce an of benevolent offices if there were a perfect community of goods where would be the opportunity for the exercise of the virtues of justice mercy humility fidelity and gratitude if tax poor rich man tbe rights of the poor of all classes were sally acknowledged if intellectual and moral education were what they should be the deaf would hear and the blind would see and the rich man would no longer look with fear upon the poor man nor the poor with envy on the rich this true is on ite way blessed are those who wait our friends were soon seated at tempting tea table where tried to busy herself with her duties but her eyes continually rested on her sister s pale face and it was all she could do to repress her tears and speak cheerfully when she saw plain indications that had not the advantage from her journey that they had too expected she perceived that instead of the prepared for her declined them all even the warm and c pie and the too which she particularly liked and made her meal of a she took from her bag and a glass of water dared not trust her voice to ask questions made no explanations harry s eyes followed s but he was silent and uncle too happy at getting home to observe the feelings of the parties merely murmured once when refused the cake them new york doctors are when the tea was over could it no longer and the tears streaming from her eyes she said oh tis a comfort to get you home though you an t cured the ice was now broken and much refreshed by her simple meal proceeded to relate the circumstances of her s but as her narrative was prolonged by and broken by the comments of her eager listeners we shall give its purport briefly the pleasure of the journey and the hope of a cure from the far new york doctor wrought wonders on s feeble frame and she arrived at her aunt s she felt more strength and ease than she had experienced for years and but for sharp she said she should have saved harry s money and not consulted the doctor the doctor however was and seemed at once inspired with an interest for his humble patient that was hardly to be expected from s man at the head of his profession and whose attendance was sought at every moment by the first in the land but dr was no common man and was a most rare physician he studied the mind as well as the body he endeavoured to comprehend their delicate relations and bearings upon each other and in his profession he to both he was a religious man in principle and earnestly so in feeling and by getting into the hearts of his into the inner temple by addressing them as religious beings by rousing their faith and fortitude or their submission and patience he was sure as said to find a medicine that would do them good if all failed and if the case was his like the old woman s that with a blessing always cured after an examination he ascertained s malady to a certainty and that it was but he did not shock her by at once telling her this he visited her repeatedly talked patiently d poor rich oyer that subject so interesting to all the long history of her sickness thus by degrees he learned what he was studying the constitution of her mind he found she was judicious rational self denying steadfast humble and patient and he then proceeded to give his advice not with the promise of her but with the well expectation of her life and rendering it comparatively comfortable to her self and useful to others after having gradually prepared her for his opinion he told it and found as he expected that her mind was soon made up to the defeat of her hopes and to the certainty of enduring through life a very painful disease and not merely because it was an inevitable calamity for when she could trust her voice to speak she said i can yet say sir god s will he done but i am so sorry for s and harry s disappointment i am very sorry too said the kind doctor wiping his eyes but it is better for them as well as for you that you should all know the real state of the case oh yes sir far better for i know it is much easier to endure when we are certain there is no help for us your case is not so bad as that my child i said there was no cure there is help if you will strictly to the directions i give you but it will be time enough for that to morrow i now leave you to rest and to seek help and consolation where i am sure from your prompt submission you are in the habit of going for it i am sir and it never fails me and it never will my child happy is it for s doctors and when thej are both in habits of on the great physician the next day met the doctor with a peaceful smile on her face the flush of hope had faded from her cheek but the sweet light of resignation was there you have been to the source of strength and peace child said the doctor and now sit down and we will talk over what is best for the future you have been as you have told me all your life in the habit of taking from various doctors now a is now a mixture now these and now those now some	6
new foreign medicine and now an indian doctor s and worse than all every now and then a course of henceforth take no more of it of any sort it has no more tendency to remove your disease than it would have to restore your leg if it had been off and thrown away my child are all we are obliged to give them to arrest the progress of acute diseases but in ic diseases instead of they and the efforts of nature and confound her opera tions they the stomach and produce a thousand of what you call bad feelings evils worse than the malady they are employed to cure i ll tell you a secret my child the older we doctors grow the less medicine we give and though the world is slow to get wisdom are much less in fashion than when i was a young man don t be persuaded to try this and try that each dose may do you harm and cannot possibly do you any good poor people do not know what an a van thb poor rich man etc they have over the rich in not being able to call the doctor for e ry finger or to keep a medicine chest in their houses i am no but i can usually tell by the looks of the family whether there are plenty of in the cupboard the poor have many for health over the rich i speak of the comparatively poor thank god there are few in our country that would be called poor in other lands few who cannot obtain food and plenty of it they are not like the rich tempted to excess by various and delicately cooked dishes but then from ignorance or carelessness they do not properly prepare their food you have heard the old proverb my child its meaning is too true the lord sends but the devil sends the poor man s flour is as wholesome as the rich man s but his wife makes her bread carelessly and it is sour or heavy or eaten hot and about as as brick a poor woman for want of a little and arrangement gets her work into a meal time is at hand her husband coming in from his work children hungry she makes a little short cake or down before the fire in a spider some half risen is it not so dear me yes sir but how should you know it a physician sees every mode of life and much in his profession by observing them such bread as i have described i have seen accompanied with dutch cheese cakes and of meat done up in half the fine gentlemen and nervous ladies in our city would have been thrown into fits or s by one such meal the poor are saved by the effect of labour in the open air when they are saved but sickness and death often among all our benevolent societies i wish there was one for teaching the poor the arts of health to begin with cooking well plain food why if our poor knew how to manage their means of health and comfort they might live as if ihey were in paradise j sound mind in a sound body will make almost a paradise even of this world i should think so sir said with a sigh but she added modestly i hope tor you do not think we live at home in the way you have described oh no my child certainly not by no means indeed we do not sir though i was only thirteen and my little sister our nine when mother died she had taught us to make her good bread i mixed it and a strong child it we always to have light bread and good butter we always have meat for father thinks he can t do without it three times a day is a hearty too my appetite is poor but our neighbours are very considerate and fm seldom without pie or cake or preserves or something you smile sir i don t wish to have you think we live i don t know how it is in cities but country people are thoughtful of one another and any one out of health has such things sent in cakes and preserves yes sir things that taste and are kind of the poor rich etc to the disease my poor child not to the patient cakes and are only fit for the healthy and for those who can labour or exercise a name that as somebody says the rich give to their labour nor if you mean to enjoy all the comfort your admits of you must these nice things i can sir if it is duty i do not doubt my that you both can and will do whatever believe to be duty and i must have great confidence in those whom i believe able to subdue their to perfect obedience in these matters you will no it a religious duty most persons are by their because they do not bring their religion to bear upon such a small matter as eating or not eating a bit of pie he light of the sun is as essential to the hut as to the palace so religion is as necessary to help us through small duties as great it is easier to suffer with its help than to make a temperate meal without it but there is no need of all this preaching to you my child you i am sure will cheerfully do whatever is necessary to preserve the faculties of your mind and body i calculate to try to do what is about right sir and that is the best possible calculation and will lead to the very best result there is nothing for me	6
to do but to tell you how in my opinion you can best do your duty to your body a poor it is but it contains an immortal treasure and must therefore be taken good care o s return it is not necessary to give the doctors directions in regard to s food in detail her diet was to consist of plain food plainly dressed and when he finished said with a smile as to eating ir i shall be as well off as if i were the richest h in the land for i can easily get the food you convenient for me as well off and far better my dear child i have many to whom i make the same but surrounded as they are by tempting luxuries they are for ever and suffering they do not take to heart the wise saying that they that do the things that please the lord shall receive of the fruit of the tree of immortality but miss there are other matters besides eating to which you must be attentive gentle and regular exercise you must have riding will not suit you that s a real mercy sir for since father has lost his horse i have no way to ride you have a little house keeping what the women call stirring about to do sweeping washing dishes setting tables and so on yes sir but i have let our do it and when i was able taken in sewing because that brought us in a little money you must not sit at your needle none but the strong can bear that your little hardy sister must take that part well that is a comfort as would herself say for i want her to learn the trade and miss sally baker had agreed to teach her for the rent of our back room by all means said the doctor entering with thb poor rich etc the most benevolent interest into s plans let miss sally have the back room then will be handy to call upon to do the heavier work for you must not hit or do any thing that requires strength but i have observed that you can keep yourselves busy about what we men can t describe nor even comprehend your is a source of contentment a rich lady of my acquaintance says she her servants who to go to in all their troubles never thought of that sir but it does the heart to stir about and it is a pleasure to make the most of a little and have things orderly and comfortable oh yes my child the world is full of these small provisions for our happiness if we had but eyes to see them and hearts to feel the but let me proceed to my you must wear drawers and a flannel waistcoat with sleeves all the year round this to an invalid is in our varying climate essential for in no other way can the skin be kept of a warm and regular temperature can you procure the flannel my child i think i can sir and i calculated to get us new gowns next winter but i we can make the old ones do that s right my dear if i could only persuade those who can t afford to get every thing to dispense with new outside garment and furnish themselves with plenty of flannel i would promise a friend of mine that new england artists should paint the goddess of health with flannel drawers in ex hand s to save them half their doctors bills the tor then proceeded to a which at first seemed very extraordinary to but he urged it so and told her that he knew it from experience to be of the first importance in preserving the health of the healthy and the invalid that she resolved whatever trouble it might cost her to follow strictly his advice this advice was that she should every day her whole person in cold water and rub her skin till it was dry and warm he knew she had not for bathing but this might be effected with a tub or even a basin of water and a afterward and after long experience acknowledged that this simple had done her more good than all the medicine she had ever taken finally the doctor charged her not to wear at night the garments she wore in the day not to make up her bed till it was thoroughly not to be afraid of fresh air to let plenty of it into the house and especially if at any time she was so much as to be confined to her bed to have the air of her room constantly changed he said people suffered more from to and fresh air than from any necessary physical evils i cannot he said in conclusion but observe the goodness of providence in making those things which are essential to health to all i mean to all the native population of our country for they can have all that i have prescribed for you miss abundance of simple food warm garments plenty of clean water and pure air the thb p man two last articles more than all the gold of are sadly and neglected at first it must be confessed that was disappointed that the doctor prescribed no medicine no plaster nothing from which she might expect sudden relief but she soon looked calmly and at the case as it was and received most the prospect of dr inspired her with entire confidence and afterward in relating the story to and harry of her long with him she said it seemed to her mysterious he took such an interest in her to them it did not nor could it to any one who knew the patient sufferer nor to any one who knew dr and knew	6
that he valued his profession chiefly as his means doing moral and physical good to his fellow creatures and only think said in conclusion taking from her trunk a note which she had wrapped in her handkerchief that it might get no spot or on it only think after all after his coming to see me six times and staying as long as if he had been a common doctor and had not any other patient only think of his sending me this at last in justice to we shall first give her note to the doctor as we think it marks the dignity integrity and simplicity of her character honoured sir as father and i have to leave to morrow will be much obliged if you will send in your bill this afternoon if convenient as from all that s passed sir you may con s that i ain t in to pay down i t ould make bold to say that you need not scruple as i have a large sum of money by me given to me by my best father and father sends his respectful duty to you sir and i mine with many but neither money nor thanks can pay your kindness and daily respected sir shall i ease my heart by remembering you in my prayers at the throne of grace where we must all appear alike poor and but where may you ever come with a sure foundation of hope through our lord and christ i remain sir your faithful friend and to which note the doctor replied mt good friend i shall preface my answer to your note with letting you a little into my professional affairs i do not make rule to attend the poor for many reasons but principally because i have observed that what is got for nothing is seldom valued i only take care to charge according to their ability to pay you my child are an exception to most of my you have given me a lesson of meek and cheerful submission that is i am your not you mine besides strictly i no doctor s account against you i have prescribed no medicine and given you no advice that any man of sense and experience might not have given therefore my good girl i have no claim on that large sum of money which god bless your best friend for having given you but forget the poor rich not my friend your to remember me in your prayers have much faith in the prayers of saints my parting regards to your good fa ther and please deliver the accompanying as directed they are from my m and daughter who hastily join me in esteem for you and god bless you my dear child your sincere one parcel was directed to miss may s and the other to miss may s best friend father the contents of s parcel proved to be material for a nice winter dress which on turned out an abundance for two and harry s that capital manual for americans from the works of those who have returned from a journey with love tokens in the trunk for the dear ones at home can in the pleasure and gratitude of our humble friends one word more and the affair of the journey is finished twenty dollars were left of harry s gift after all the expenses of the journey were paid it cannot be doubted that as said fifty dollars is a great sum in the hands of the poor him the balance as of course his and when he declined it insisted till he a little hurt said why i should feel just as bad as they would in old times if they had taken back a gift they had laid on the lord s altar but i ll take the money to father to put out for you h ana was agreed on and being fortunately in ted it in a few years to a hundred dollars the income from it was seven a year and this little sum gave to our and liberal more of the real enjoyment of property than is often derived from productive thousands she had die luxury of giving and the feeling that she had in reserve for a wet day chapter vi and sunshine pass over several years in the annals of our young friends the current of their lives had flow ed smoothly on living in rigid obedience to the laws of health as laid down and by dr and to the laws of heaven as applied by her faithful conscience had enjoyed a degree of health and comfort that she had not anticipated at nineteen was an accomplished and what is most rare her health and sunny cheerfulness had been in by her confinement to her needle she was a singular union of sweet temper and and the only we ever heard of that for year after year so far resisted the effects of employment as to sing at her work what is the reason may said an to her that you are always so well e the poor rich man and poor sally baker did not do as much work as you and yet the doctors said it vas sitting so steadily that brought oa her and only see jane mills she is a t to behold and nothing but sewing the doctors say nothing but sewing they may say sally baker used to sit in her uttle store room from morning till night and never let in fresh air any more than if it were poison poor jane did get a little walk when she went to her place in the morning but she was always with her work never could say no and would set up half the night to oblige her customers and after all was to death	6
we were just like sisters to him and it was perfectly natural when he went to live in new x he should like people that had new york ways but it does seem to me strange that harry should ever fancy she has not ways of thinking or acting or feeling oh is handsome they say the best of men are carried away with beauty not harry i am sure and besides i have heard him say i never told you because did not want to flatter you but i heard him say when we went to hear squire s fourth of july the day wore that new pink satin bonnet and somebody said squire never took his eyes from her all the time he was what did harry say harry whispered to me and said he liked your looks a thousand times better than s and sunshine did he did he he would not say so now maybe not i shall always think if he had gone to new york that have come to pass that we expected but i believe it is very hard to keep from being worldly minded in a city when i was in new york as i have often told you the chief conversation was about dress and making money oh how i did long to hear something about something profitable you know i never was in favour of harry s going there i never liked his going into with he d better have sat over his the his life but forget the weakness in his breast i do that was a good reason for giving up his trade but not for going to new york yes but you forget what flattering prospects ke had and she added with a sigh after his parents death he had not much to keep him here and having all his portion of the estate in money he thought it would enable him to carry on business to die greatest advantage in new york he explained all this to our satisfaction then yes and when he told us about his plans and seemed to be in such a hurry to get ahead i was sure he was at sharing with you though he did not seem to think it best to speak out i thought so too but i know i was much to blame for setting my heart that way when i had no more reason and then his always writing and sending something by every opportunity to be sure the letters were directed to you but somehow they always seemed written to me poor rich man and then be was tm to send some present that he knew i should like better than any thing else m the world but it s now a long long time since we have heard from and yet we never suspected any thing no because we never in our lives harry could do any but the right thing it will be very hard to make up our minds to see s husband harry s husband oh it s awful to think of i but if she were only worthy of him if she could make him happy i could be as happy i was going to say but that would not be true but i could be contented for myself and thankful for him both sisters were silent for a few moments said if we can t have things right in this world we can have right feelings let us kneel down and pray together oh yes that is always a comfort the sisters knelt locked in each other s arms was the organ of both their hearts and most earnestly did she pray that they might walk together in integrity and in whatsoever path it should please the almighty to mark out for them even were it through a solitary wilderness that they might remember that their lord and master did not promise his followers their portion in this world that they might humbly and faithfully do the duty appointed them and not because they could not choose what that duty should be she poured forth an earnest petition for their h and sunshine best friend that he might be directed aright that be might be delivered from the many evils and temptations that surrounded him and that she with whom his heart was knit might have the grace as well as the gifts of god when their heart service was over said she felt as if a load were taken from her he she said to who commanded us to pray for our enemies certainly knew what was i us how differently we feel towards any one we earnestly pray for from this time there was no apparent change in the sisters except that pursued her labours with even more than usual and a remark would escape from her that showed the course of her thoughts such as i am sure of having enough to do in this world and that s a real for one can t be very unhappy while there is enough to do that prophecy was was obvious a portion of her was gone and even uncle remarked that she did not sing as she used to he wished she would he had rather hear her than a bird meanwhile watched her with a of the sister s sympathy and the mother s tenderness and daily as she saw that s resolution was carrying her serenely through the storm did she offer her humble to him who she knew was the source of her strength and peace p the poor rich man etc chapter vii love letters three weeks passed and nothing more was heard of s news save that once when in s presence was about the house of and she and her head and had all	6
put it into words before your friend and true lover harry p s i know dear you are not a person to take or refuse a husband for ny thing separate from himself but i may you by what i said above i am still what the world poor particulars in my next s first sensations on s letter were those of perfect and unlimited happiness i always felt she said to as if i knew he loved me and i let s story trouble me for e mom again and again the sisters r ad ver harry s letter seeming in her quiet way letters y i s happy than early in the evening went to her own room uncle made it a rule to go fo bed when the fowls went to there was no faint resemblance in their degree of intellectual life and was left in possession of their little room to pour out her overflowing heart in a letter to harry it was a letter the frank and feeling creature who te it and such a l ter as any lover would be to receive when she went to her was not in bed but just rising from her knees she smiled as she turned towards and saw that her cheeks were wet with tears why w hat s the matter f she asked i have been trying to get courage to look into the future her faltered as she added the time is coming when we must separate oh i never thought of that how could i be so selfish all the she had been building iii the air fell at once to the ground her first impulse was to say no i will never leave you but she had t written a promise to harry to be and she was silent and quite as sorrowful as at the conviction that for the first time in their lives their interests were divided hour after hour she was restless and thoughtful at she came to a conclusion sad enough in some of its aspects but it d she up to her sister put her arm over her and fell asleep repeating to herself it s a comfort any how to resolve to do right well may reflection be called an angel when it suggest duties and the poor rich man etc calls into action principles strong enough to meet them before closed her letter she made the following addition p s dear harry i wrote this letter last and shall send it for why should i if could conceal my real feelings from you since we were at school i have loved you best and only harry for the time to come i must love you only as a brother oh how strange it is that the black and the white are always twisted together in human life last evening i was so happy writing this letter but when i went into the bedroom s face was covered with tears and she spoke of our separation and all flashed upon me at once what could she and father do without me they do now their full part towards keeping the family together but they can neither of them bring in any thing and they would be obliged to look to the town for support is not that awful to think of so you see dear harry i cannot leave them our path is plain and as dear would say may we have grace to walk therein it is very dark now harry but if we only try to do right the day will soon break and grow brighter and brighter please don t say one word to persuade me off my resolution for we are weak creatures at best and we should stand together and strengthen and one another above all don t say a word about my reasons to father and and me dear harry not a bit less your affectionate friend because i can t them by return of post came the following answer from harry dearest father and lot tie that you never shall when i wrote my last it was only to get that blessed little word yes from you for i must make sure of my title before i laid out the future one thing only i am a little hurt at you think i could leave out in my plans a dear sister and friend she has ev been to me and your good father who so much needs some one to care for him ah i have had my reflections too and i think our path is plain before us and with good resolution on our part and s prayers to help us we have grace to walk therein but i must tell you all and then look for your final answer when i invested my in the shoe concern with i expected soon to be in a situation to offer you my hand and begin housekeeping in new york with four members to the family for never once have i thought of dividing you from your father and i did not tell you my hopes and plans because i feared i should not after that have patience to wait as long as prudence required one thing i am sure of dear from my own experience that a virtuous love is the greatest earthly security a young man can have against the temptations and dangers that beset him i am sure my affection for you has made me in business earnest in my pursuits and patient in ray disappointments if i had felt which thank god i never did any n to forbidden pleasures to dangerous company la of the poor rich man etc any sort the thought of you would have been a shield to me knowing you and so and the memory	6
of my excellent mother have given me a reverence for female virtue a belief in the power and beauty of goodness in a woman and to this love naturally follows that pure love that is ordained by to lead to the institution of marriage but what are my thoughts running to laugh at me and i will go back to my business statements when i began business i took lodgings at a s he is a good friend of mine and with him i could live at a small expense in a quiet family i have avoided living or with those who had more means than i for that leads to expense i have never spent a shilling on for which i have now much reason to be thankful for even if i had escaped that dreadful load debts i might like many other young men have acquired habits of expense on the credit of future gains the gains may not come the habits remain like so many when i was asked by a friend to go to an house or the theatre or the or to ke a bottle of porter or drink a glass of i declined i if i did it for my friend s sake this time i might do it for my own the next i had my treats my pleasant thoughts of the time when i should have a table of my own and faces round it that i loved it is sure we can t have every thing in this world and the thing is to make up our mind what we must have and what we can do without you can guess my must have when i found and i were going behind love letters hand i determined to stop short and not as many do put off the evil day deeper and deeper making enemies and making plenty of work for repentance when our affairs were settled up i liad a hundred dollars in my pocket and no one to look me in the face and say i owed him a shilling or had wronged him of one the next thing was to determine on business i should follow you know my breast was much weakened by sitting over my when i was growing fast it is a bad trade to put a growing boy to i could not return to it a farm in one of the free western states seemed to me the happiest lot in the world for a poor man but there were hardships in the beginning and though you and i would not have minded them your father and could not have stood them a farm at i dared not think of a man must have some capital and knowledge practice and skill to go ahead in new england on a farm and i had none of these while i was my good friend mr the determined to move to he advised me to take up his business and offered to sell me his horse and cart on very reasonable terms and to recommend me to his there were many reasons to decide me to take his advice i find exercise in the open air the best medicine for the pain in my breast is a sure and regular business i have observed that the in this city those whose carts are never seen standing before are a healthy cheerful looking class of men they go slowly but surely ahead they can generally manage to take their meals with their and to spend all their evenings thb poor rich man etc at home a great point to a man who faces and home as i do some persons think it is going down a step to go from shop keeping to but you and i have j ir own notions about going up and down and both f it is what is in a man and not what is out him that hum le or him some think most genteel which brings them nearest to be g idle gentlemen but when i am driving on my cart do you think i change places with those slim looking ra in i see up and down the street looking like walking bringing nothing to pass doing nothing with the time god gives them in this world and gives or what oh it would take a minister to answer that i might have gone into trade of some kind but i have not health to be shut up behind a counter and besides in my opinion a shop is a fitting place for women only they being don t be the weaker sex you see now how my case stands i have no debts i have good health for the business i have chosen industry and b faculty i may boast so i think i may marry in this blessed country of ours ere there is sure employment and a man is certain of getting his besides dear if any thing happens to me j you have your trade to depend upon give mj best love to and tell her besides being a main comfort she will be a real help to us for while she is doing the light work your needle will be making money if your father has any es about coming pray tell him the rent of his place will pay for the rent af a room here love letters and save us from near neighbours we may not like am i not calculating but is it not better to calculate beforehand than to afterward i am sure i am right so far as i can to secure independence to your father and and if after all they must take something from us those are so generous in giving will be also generous in receiving and they will not grudge us the best part it being	6
more blessed to give than to receive there is one thing i can scarcely bear the thoughts of taking you all from that pleasant little spot in where you have riches for the eye that all the money in new york cannot buy in the city plenty of sweet air and pure water and your garden and your little with its rose bushes morning glories and of but d all dear there are feelings worth giving up the very best of outward things for and if we secure and kindness and so forth we sha n t have a bad bargain of it shall we we may be what the world calls poor and in my estimation let us begin in the fear and love of god with a determination to do our duty rich in love for one another and at peace with all men and if worst comes to worst why that will be outside poverty i do not fear it do you answer this without fail by return of post much duty and love to your has any one ever calculated the amount of wealth and comfort to be produced to the classes by the of pure water into the of new york health and cleanliness are sources of and of g the poor rich etc my father and and believe me till death your friend and lover harry p s i was so taken up with one subject that i forgot to mention that was married last evening to a miss her father entered into speculation last winter and is said te be rich ih gave reason to expect to him perhaps not in words but the old proverb is actions speak to my mind a who to a girl and then her adds to falsehood i foresaw how this matter would end when i heard that s mother had made that third marriage would have liked a handsome wife but he must have a rich one he has set out in the world for what he calls the main chance i have my main chance too and that depends on you poor but i ll not tell bad news which may not be true in this letter h a and harry had begun life with objects opposite and were destined to illustrate that saying as true now as when ages ago it was first uttered there is that himself rich yet hath nothing there is that himself poor yet hath great riches peep into thb poor rich man s chapter a into the poor rich man s r v e as our readers may have anticipated at entered into harry s views and in a short time she and her family were transferred to a part of a small house in in new york one room served as kitchen parlour and bedroom it furnished only with articles of the first necessity there was a snug bedroom for uncle which he said suited him exactly and a comfortable good sized one for with a neat rag carpet on it because suffered with cold f et and a fireplace in it for must have a fire when she had sick and two windows for all s living was fresh air and the only and the only were in s room because as she said had always some good reason at hand for giving her the best of every thing friends were what the world calls poor but they had affection contentment and they poor we shall see in the meantime let us see if there is not some of terms in this world had got in on the world he had so far secured his main chance that he was engaged in profitable business he lived in thb poor rich man etc a good house furnished and his like the wives of other flourishing young merchants dressed in expensive materials made in th latest fashion neither nor his wife was vicious they were only selfish and with minds and hearts as empty as their were full husband said mrs to her partner who had just come home from wall street to dinner his mind engrossed with some unaccountable rise in the stocks husband mother has been here well what of that she has given up her house what of that why you know what of that as well as i do she does not know what she is to do next we must that s father in law had made some unfortunate as well as fortunate speculations had died and left his wife and an unmarried daughter i am sure i cannot say what she is to do next replied she is lucky to have one daughter well provided for what does she propose she did not propose any thing she sat and cried the whole morning of course she cannot expect to have a home here of course not i told her said i mother if i were to ask husband to invite you here we could not accommodate you for we have not a room to spare you know we must eat in the to keep the in order for company and in the second story there is only the nursery and our bed a into poor rich man s house chamber and one of the third story rooms we must keep for a spare room and when jane gets to be a little older she mu have the back chamber and so said i mother you see if husband were perfectly willing it is impossible she could not have expected it oh no she did not but then a mother is a mother you know and i did not wish to hurt her feelings i presume my dear maria can get a a or teacher in a school i heard er say she had attended to music and painting and french and so	6
on at mrs s school for the last six years so she has i husband but bless you you know how girls learn things at school and she never expected to have to teach expect or not expect td get my money s worth out of these schools i saw on your father s books three hundred dollars a year paid for maria s for the last six years and this is what it has come to can t she teach geography or or some of them useful branches no she never was fond of the useful branches she had quite a pretty taste for music and painting but then people are required to understand them so well to teach them no i don t see as maria can earn any thing but by muslin does that beautifully and if there was only a place where work might be sold without it being known where it came from she might earn considerable and no one be the for it the poor rich man etc nonsense wife i we have not yet got above our relations working for their living though you may not be obliged to why can t your mother take a boarding house and then maria might assist her oh maria can t do any kind of besides she is delicate you know now mother was brought up to it and when i proposed a boarding house she said if she had any security to offer for her rent ah there s the rub i hope she don t expect me to offer for you know my dear i make it an invariable rule never to but in the way of business for those who for me what is to be done husband if she can t get into any way of supporting herself she must live you know and must support her hey no r did not say that but we can t let her suffer what would people say there are always enough to talk you know yes yes well i suppose i must advance the first quarter s rent or something towards it oh a thought strikes me i know a house that will just suit belonging to some old maid or widow or somebody that lives up the country the man that has the care of it ain t particular about security i ll make the bargain for her save her at least a hundred dollars that s just as good to her as if i look the money out of my purse and put it into hers i am glad to do your mother a good turn now and then in this way i ain t one that holds to poor relations nor i i am sure and i told mother so f a peep into the poor rich man s but i told ber not to look to you for says i mother you know we have a very expensive ly and there are certain things we must have and husband says he will always keep on the safe side yes trust for that folks that to go ahead in the world avoid unnecessary expenses has the man been here about the curtains yes and i find the with blue borders cost for each window twenty dollars more than the others bless my soul how is that the are very and expensive i don t make a point of but the blue and is such a lovely contrast and such a match for my carpet if there s any thing i do care about it s a match but the price wife is enormous but it is not more than mrs johnson smith gave for hers are you sure of that positive miss told me so and miss made them up i should not depend on what mrs johnson smith said for she always makes it out that her things cost more than anybody else s but i can rely on miss well if that s the case take the blue and i hope i can afford what johnson smith can but mind and make your bargain with that woman beforehand work is slack just now and she can t afford to lie by with that old blind mother on her hands get your work done as well and as cheap as you can for remember toe the p avoid all but keeps the dinner my dear v i am sure on t know my dear i have been out all the morning servants are good for nothing now a days always trifling away time what jane t seems to me she does nothing but mrs opened the door to inquire and in rushed a pale little girl with a bit of cake in her hand take care said the mother picking np the the child yon should not let jane come into the parlour it s no place for children she would come ma am oh jane my darling go back to the nursery that s a good child mrs in a low voice to the nurse her tell her take her out to walk i can t take her out ma am my foot is lame oh only just t her so to her stop jane and to mother jane shall go in and have on her pretty velvet cap and her cloak trimmed with pink there that s a good girl now she ll go with get out her things make her look like a little beauty the little returned to th nursery and in two minutes was louder than ever having been just that time by her s pre lesson in lying and a peep into the rich poor man s house chapter ix a peep into the rich poor man b rouse seven years had not passed over without those precious to that	6
constitute the poor man s wealth for save a conscience void of there is no treasure to healthy bright well trained children our friend harry and his wife had kept the even of their way no uncommon event had happened to them but as the river of life through a varied country the aspect of their s now varied from what it was when we last saw the floor of the room was partly covered with a carpet and the part visible as clean as hands could make it it was summer and the blinds were closed admitting only light enough to enable the persons within to carry on their occupations uncle is sitting by the half opened window with a year old baby on his lap telling over on its toes that charming this pig went to market and that pig stayed at home aunt was preparing a pot of wholesome soup which like a judicious having boiled the day before she was from every of fat a little girl six years old was binding together for blinds whereby she got from a working only at odd intervals the poor rich han etc half a dollar per week and at the same time teaching a sister something more than two years younger die table sat by her eye seeing every thing and her kind voice as often as the wants or claims of the children rendered her interference necessary her most difficult duty seemed to be to keep in due order a restless noisy little fellow william the twin brother of her eldest girl whom she was teaching to write while at the same time she was and in her art a young girl who had just set the last in a of the most costly material and was holding it up for inspection a slight anxiety till she heard the word her conscious success every part of it every button hole and button and then said there s not a fault in it i could not do one better myself burst into tears anne looked up from her work little mary exclaimed such a big girl cry said she is not really crying and the baby stretched out its neck and put up its lips to offer a kiss of consolation which took smiling through her tears and saying oh fm only crying because your mother has been so good to me well shouted that s a funny thing to cry for that was not all said his mother cries because she has been good herself that s yet we never cry only when we are naughty mrs solved the riddle and so will we a peep into the rich poor man s house was the eldest child of a worthy and very poor neighbour of mrs her father had been for some months by failing from a building and had recently died her mother had lost her health from over exertion had an idiot sister and brothers too young to render the family any assistance mrs the distress of the family after they should have exhausted the father s and knowing that was a aiid good girl and had been well taught plain sewing in a public school offered to instruct her in making a very profitable business to those who are skilled in it and can command work from the first merchant there were some obstacles in the way could only be spared from home at odd intervals and often only at times very inconvenient to but who as said would ever do any good in this world if they made mountains of t those who saw her multiplied cares her bee like industry would rather have said she made of mountains she always received with a smile always found a quiet corner for her and made leisure to attend to her seeing the efforts and sacrifices her kind friend made for her set the right value upon the good she was obtaining and performed her part with fidelity many complaints are made of the low of women s wages some no doubt but for the most part they are paid according to their capacity a well qualified or can except in very rare cases obtain certain employment and good pay a half taught and the rich man careless must take her chance for work at low wages could at all times command work from the most respectable houses was sure of the highest wages and that she knew how to turn to account now my child she had said on the day previous to this on which we have introduced her young friend here is a trial for you i have got leave from my to put it into your hands you must set every in it and if it is done to their satisfaction you are to have as much of their best work as you can do which is as good as a promise of six dollars a week to you a sure support for your poor mother and helpless sister and little brothers better my child to trust to skilful hands than to societies and assistance societies and so on leave those for such as can get nothing better while we use the means of independence that providence has given us but if i should fail mrs why then there is one comfort left we can try again but you will not fail t is stimulated and encouraged to work and as has been seen accomplished her task and no wonder that she shed tears of joy when it was done which we would ask was which richest he who paid fifteen dollars for the or she who earned the dollar by making it and thereby cheered the hearts of the desolate and brought comfort and light to a dreary home or which is happiest richest she who is in luxury	6
and is every day seeking new and expensive pleasure or who like our a the rich poor man s house mrs in some obscure are using their faculties and seizing th r opportunities of doing good never to be known and praised by the world but certainly recorded in the book of life l while the was passing round to be examined and praised by aunt uncle arid all for their joys were in common in this little family entered and had his share in the general pleasure but his brow soon clouded children are quick readers of faces they love what is the matter father asked is that ugly pain in your breast come again no something worse a pain in my heart what is the asked anxiously every eye now turned to it s poor m s troubles again he called me in as i was passing there lay his wife on the floor dead drunk returning from the s she slipped down the cellar stairs and is so black and bruised her head so swollen you would not know her the children were crying and he his hands and i can bear it no longer he every week of his life more than i do and this bad woman it this comes of marrying a poor ignorant ill brought up girl who had nothing but a pretty face to recommend her m says his children are going to destruction she makes them play sends them out begging puts lies into their mouths and last and worse than all gives them rum to drink dear me dear me exclaimed what can be done for them h l the poor rich man he says but one thing he must turn h r adrift he has forgiven and forgiven till he is tired of it ah there is but one being that is tired of the poor fellow has been very patient though but he says for his children s sake he must break up they are going to ruin he has places for them all but little sam no one is willing to take him for the price m can pay not willing to take sam father interrupted mary i should think they would be of all to take sam why mary because he wants taking care of most ah mary that s a rule few go by it s no joke continued to his wife for the poor fellow to board out himself and four children for there s not one of them yet old enough to earn his own living sam s a bright boy said uncle and a poor sickly little fellow that s been neglected said aunt it would be a comfort to see if care and management would not cure him said m can pay half a dollar a week which think will pay for au the poor little fellow can m his present state said think al d said seeming to band j y thinking it was an op her husband smiled well she a peep into the rich poor s added i am superstitious about that the are given and it is our business to improve them and it always makes me feel bad when i t have let one slip by the same never offers twice speak out plain wife hat do you mean v it was now s turn to smile you know what i mean harry it would not be right for us to run into any expense for a neighbour s child but care and kindness we can give they cost us nothing is the best of doctors and i think among us we could cure up little sam and that would be a comfort but asked her husband are you not afraid to bring a child has been in the hands of that bad woman among our children no our children all pull one way and if they see any thing wrong we shall know for they are true and open as the day poor little sam has not been sent into the streets like the other children and if he has caught some of their bad habits surely they may be cured in one so young we have no money to give away husband but of such as we have we can give hope for the lord s blessing upon the gift the whole old and young were of s mind the little boy was brought into the shelter of their fold and soon under the kind and judicious management of and his weak figure was to health and activity his eye brightened and his sallow cheek changed to the natural hue of childhood good principles and good habits were planted and good feeling cherished and he who must have perished in a miserable childhood or the poor rich man have dragged on a mischievous or at best a worthless existence held up his head in after life among his fellows a prosperous useful and respected citizen truly did say god gives the opportunity and well did she improve it i chapter x the rich poor han s tears to the of their marriage glided on without any marked change in the condition of the industry skill and sound judgment saved them from and wants but they had a large family to supply two members as we were about to j uncle and but this would be injustice to them s and her doing i the light saved many an hour which she turned to account at her trade and uncle s skill in baby tending proved also a great economy of i ihe mother s time there are certain persons in this world that are most happily adapted to the miscellaneous office of baby tending they are people that don t care about bringing any thing to pa to great exertions certainly but not positively	6
lazy easy tempered and such as prefer the one horse chaise travelling to the of a railroad such waa thb rich poor s good uncle but with all s diligence and all his wife s expenses exhausted their income save that a small sum was each year as u provision in case of sudden calamity we confess that our friends remained poor in the common of the word but whether those were really so who had few desires ed who were enjoying the essential of life who were giving their children in the home school the very best education and whose humble habitation was the abode of health and contentment we leave for those to decide who have felt chat these goods riches cannot buy william the eldest boy was one morning standing by his father s cart in pearl street when his attention was attracted by a poor man who in coming out of the door of a staggered and catching by the iron railing sunk down on the step half a dozen boys gathered about him one crying he s top heavy another try it again old fellow drunken rascal muttered a passing along i am not drunk faintly replied the old man what is the matter sir asked william drawing near as the other boys perceiving their mistake away i am starved child william looked round for his father he was in the and th boy ran into an and his only shilling returned with a bit of bread and a of hot which the poor man devoured as if he were indeed starving then lifting his grateful eye to william h j j the poor rich man etc and meeting his earnest and glance he burst into tears at this moment appeared and william whispered to him what had occurred recognised the man as a person he had frequently met during the preceding week inquiring for work he put a questions in a tone that inspired the stranger with confidence and in return he told him that he had been a poor english that many years ago his youngest daughter had married and come to america that the last he had heard of her was four years before when he received a hasty in which she informed him that she was a widow and had embarked on board the ship from which she then wrote to return to him that her child exhibiting symptoms of she was ordered off the ship and knew not what was to become of her the father after waiting till as he said he could live and wait no longer had converted his little property into money and come with an elder daughter in search of the lost one he had arrived here at the beginning of the season he had obtained no intelligence of his child his eldest daughter whose and fortitude he mainly relied on took a cold with which she through the winter and had died two weeks before his health was broken his heart gone and his little stock of money expended to the last hunger had driven him forth to seek employment to support a life that had become a burden to him but employment he could not find and when i sunk down here he concluded i was glad the time of release had come the rich poor man s but when that little fellow spoke kindly to i felt as if providence had not forsaken me listened to the story and was silent what do you mean to do about him whispered william rightly his father s per i hardly know oh thought he if mr with were only in town he has and time and a heart for every one s after a moment s consideration he determined go into the not so much to apply to its proprietor for aid as to consult some gentlemen as to what aid had best be to the stranger one suggested the hospital there was no reason for taking him there as he had no disease the was proposed by another replied that a trifling present might save him from the degradation of public charity and in a short time he might earn his own support after his pockets said he had no and then added probably in reply to the contemptuous expression of s face that there was no knowing but the man was an and m he made it a rule never to give to strangers it is a good time to make acquaintance with a stranger said v hen he is dying of starvation turned on his heel and busied himself in giving directions to his clerks who but half the smile of satisfaction wliich hovered on their lips at the good rub as they called it their master had got from a gentleman standing by gave five dollars yon the poor rich man etc have good employ this as you think best for the poor man i have money but no time to give and what time has a new york merchant who is making his thousands and of thousands engrossed as he is with projects and calculations and beset by the hopes and fears that accompany the of riches and their possible loss what time has he for the claims of brotherhood what time to obey the bear ye one another s burdens f what time to imitate his divine master in going about doing good what time to seek the lost raise the fallen strengthen the weak among his brethren the children of one father travellers to one home he may find time for a passing but for pro for advice for patient sympathy for those effective that his knowledge station and influence put within his power he has no time for what consideration does he this treasure time and	6
when conscience shall ask when thou schemes of unlimited wealth examining and counting gains where was thy brother will he not wish to have been the rich poor who in the name of stretched forth his hand to that neglected brother when returned to the steps he communicated the merchant s to the stranger and added if you will get on to my cart and go to my house my wife and i will try to make you comfortable for the present and look out for employment for you against you get your strength the stranger not his face as he thb rich poor man s feebly moved towards the cart expressed more than words could where can he sleep father whispered william some little home i don t know my son but mother will con oh so she will mother always does contrive every thing for everybody most most happy are those children who have william s confidence in the willing active benevolence of their parents the had hit on the right and only sure mode of teaching goodness who upon has harry brought home with him exclaimed uncle who s cart halted before the door sat at the window as usual trotting the baby on his knee was busy at her needle and did not look up till anne exclaimed it s some poor gentleman mother she then rose and seeing her husband the stranger and william standing with the door wide open his kind heart shining through his bright face she opened the inner door drew s rocking chair to the fire threw a dry stick into the stove and the stranger with that expression of cheerful sincere hospitality which what is called high breeding only sir said uncle who would have been disconcerted if had brought home a regiment make your manners little out his welcome while aunt warmed a cup of her particularly nice z cordial she saw the poor man wanted took his wife aside to explain the the poor etc condition and wants this done i knew he said it would be a comfort to you to do what you could for the poor man indeed is it harry and no great trouble either for you know we have plenty of beds and and now poor old mr smith is gone they can spare us our cot and i can make him up a nice comfortable bed in father s room nothing ever puts father out nor father s daughter i think and that is why i am sometimes afraid i shall impose on you impose on me harry in giving me an opportunity to do a kindness that is our chief comfort there are certain persons who services for their fellow creatures as some children learn lessons as a task prescribed by authority this was not s way she never separated the idea of duty from the deep abiding happiness that resulted from its performance an orphan chapter xi an orphan girl mr was the stranger s name boon revived the influence of the as he expressed it kindness was the he wanted and every day he felt its healing power i am not two shillings out of pocket in a week for the poor man said and i think we take as much pleasure in seeing him re at our table as the rich do in their to tell the truth though i suppose no one but would believe it i never did wish to change conditions with them nor i i am sure they must have a great deal of trouble i often pity them not but that i am willing to take trouble but then it must be for something to be got out of it this remark of s led her husband to suggest a project which after various from her was soon after carried into effect they like all good parents rich or poor were intent on the advancement of their children it has been already seen how much our friends were by their early the common and blessing of new england they felt their children to be the gift of god and being religious and reasoning beings they fully realized the s etc their responsibility to him for the use and im of this best of his gifts they were sufficiently acquainted with the condition institutions and of their country to know how to train their children to profit by them and when they became men and women to reflect honour on them they sent them to school but they well knew that schools could do but a small part towards their home was the school in which they were to be taught the first year of their existence by day and by night in sickness and in health and their parents were to set them the copies which they were to follow besides instruction in virtues and manners which if not learned at home are learned nowhere they improved every opportunity of adding to their knowledge henry often devoted a leisure moment to looking over a book stall where ble second hand books are frequently to be obtained at low prices he had lately purchased a work on natural history with good plates and he now proposed that mr who was well acquainted with the subject should give the children some upon it which with the aid of the books might be made very attractive to them suggested that it was a pity such an should be confined to their children and mentioned two or three worthy families whose children might be included this led to an extension of the plan and it was finally concluded to propose a social meeting to be held at the different families included mr was to give a sort of lecture and after that was over the evening was to be passed k we orphan bad that httle back room said we should want for nothing	6
the little back room was an apartment in a back building with an entrance from the landing of the first of stairs it was neatly finished had a of its own with the yard and a closet large enough for a bed attached to it the had long wished to add it to their narrow and more than ever recently for it had been to a woman who from her extreme shyness her being only occasionally by a person who called himself her husband and her having a little girl dressed in and shabby finery they deemed a very neighbour uncle who was the kindest hearted gossip in the world but still a gossip retained his country to know all about his neighbours affairs he was much puzzled by the tenant of the back parlour and day after day repeated to and who can that woman be i can t get sight of her face under that deep bonnet and veil but her walk looks natural and always puts me in mind of some of our folks that s odd said don t you my telling you one day when she was calling her little girl that her voice sounded yes but she can t be any one we ever knew i am sure hope not i hope not too said uncle but i do feel for the little girl she looks so after our children and she s pretty spoken i feel for her too said but i must know something more about her i should i the poor rich man etc feel it to be right to let the children associate her uncle wa de as far as in him lay to remove this objection and to make the most of thb first opportunity of finding out something about the little stranger so the first mild sunny day he stationed himself at the street door with the baby in his arms sure that the little girl who frequently passed in and out would be attracted by the natural of childhood she soon appeared with a in her hand on her way to the pump she would have been extremely pretty but that she wanted the foundation of all childhood s beauty health her eye was sunken her cheeks pale and lips blue and she looked and cold her dress was thin and shabby she had a soiled silk frock slippers down at the heel a faded silk bonnet with artificial flowers a and ear rings and a ragged french shawl a sad contrast was she to anne and who in their with a between them were preceding her at the pump they were dressed in factory and with pockets warm gray calf skin shoes and nice stockings of aunt s knitting on they ran chattering and while the little shivering stranger alone behind them i know very well mary said anne in reply to something from her sister mother don t like us to keep company with girls she don t know but then i know mother would not object to our just speaking kindly to her i ll tell mother about it girl raising her voice we ve filled our i an orphan girl hold up your and fu pump that full the of childhood have more expression than form the stranger held up the till the water ran over it and followed the little girls back with a lighter step as she reached the door step an impatient voice called she ran up the stairs et her within the door and eagerly returned apparently in the hope of again seeing the little but they had gone in and no one was at the door but uncle and the baby so your name is is it he asked eagerly seizing on a starting point to begin his acquaintance yes sir replied gently taking the hand the baby had stretched to snatch her ear ring what pursued uncle smith sir smith ejaculated uncle disappointed at hearing a name that afforded no yes smith at least mother s name is smith then yours is no it is not sir she is not my real mother is not do tell what is your real mother s name my own mother is dead sir well what was her name child t i don t know sir take care baby don t pull my ear so be done poor little captain he never sees such notions our don t wear them but did you never ask your own mother s name yes sir and sh says she ll ell n e all about her one of these days are you sure she is dead thb poor rich man etc sure sir i saw her buried up in the ground the poured down the child s cheeks i declare said uncle brushing his hand across eyes and then drawing close to him is thai person you call mother kind to sir almost always she sometimes she is dreadful sleepy and sometimes she she don t feel well and then she gets angry very easy was your own mother kind to you f my own mother indeed indeed she was always poor little child i i feel for you how long since she died i don t know i know it was winter time and we had not any wood when mrs smith came into our room but it was not last winter and i don t know when it was was this woman up stairs any kin to you t no she did not even know mother before that time she was angry about when she came in but when she saw how sick mother was and that i was lying close to her to warm her for i told you we had not any wood sir she seemed very sorry for mother and she	6
cried and mother sent me of the room and she took care of mother almost all the time till she died it was not long though for i remember there was a bit of the loaf of bread she brought lying by mother when she died now i am afraid she is getting sick just as mother was for she all night before uncle had time for any more was again called and he went an orphan into ms daughter s room to enjoy the next best pleasure to hearing news telling it i so you see he said concluding his story i it was not strange i felt a kind of yearning towards that poor child and since she s turned to f be an orphan neglected little body i hope ti to and mrs you ll take her by the hand never were persons more ready to listen to i such counsel mrs had forbidden all intercourse with the forlorn stranger but the case i now assumed anew aspect and when came home to dinner their duty to the child was dis i in a committee of the whole family uncle i as was his wont spoke first his thoughts i were all on the surface and as soft easily melt they naturally ran into words i it s my firm opinion he said that this miss smith is not a great deal better than she should be i i always suspect your people that ain t and open hearted and what kind of a husband is that she s got that comes in his face buried in the cape of his cloak they ll just bring up that child and she s a capital child i tell you to destruction i feel as if you ought to do something about it what can we do t said appealing to his wife i don t know but as father says i feel as if it would be a comfort to do something i have two pairs of nice warm stockings that would about fit her said aunt and our children are supplied for the winter ob mother said anne t she have thb poor rich han etc one of my warm i can do with one and she looks so and father said if you will only give her the rest i will give her my four shillings towards a pair of good shoes i saw her coming in the other day with her feet so wet and cold that she could not help crying mother said little can t you and aunt contrive her such a as you made for me of old pieces with cotton between them you may take my for the my friends said mr who sat listening with extreme interest to these of the heart may i put in my cannot the little girl come into our evening class she may gain something from my instructions and she cannot fail to profit by intercourse with your children the most cheerfully in this suggestion the warm garments said would only be a present comfort but a good done to her mind would be lasting and she feared no evil to arise to her children while their intercourse with the little stranger was under her own eye blessed are those families who call within their fold some of the wandering of the flock one more point was to be gained the obstacle to a benefit arises from the party to be mrs was desirous to see s present protector some curiosity we do not deny she felt to see face to face the person whose gait and voice had struck her father and herself as familiar but she was mainly anxious to ascertain the child s condition an orphan im and prospects she therefore in the and asked her to tell her another wished to speak with her returned immediately saying her mother was too busy down then and let me know as soon as she is at leisure smiled bowed her head and was seen no more that day the next a similar effort was baffled by a like on the third mrs went herself to the door knocked and some bustle opened a crack just enough to show her face which was died with as she said mother says she don t wish at any time to see strangers then let the door remain while i speak to her she communicated her plan and requested that might regularly attend with the class when she had finished oh please ma am said wait one minute again the door was shut and there were earnest within the latch was then lifted and most joyfully cried i may come i may come there t one thing more delightful than to make a child the expectation that the happiness will lead to permanent good the poor rich man etc chapter society at the poor man s house be ye to all the were arranged and the time arrived for the first as the parties had agreed to call their meeting they all belonged according to the common to the lower orders shame to us that we do not terms to our country our humble friends having no help were obliged to make considerable efforts to effect their meetings but when persons set about in earnest to obtain a moderate good they will find or make a way to compass the means aunt was always at home to see to the youngest children there was a old grandmother in one family another had a kind cousin sally ready to lend a hand and one good mother would manage any way rather than lose such a privilege for her children so at six o clock the prescribed time the members of the thirty parents and children included assembled at the their room had	6
the air of comfort that and judicious arrangement can give to the commonest apartment the bed it must be remembered the were yet obliged to make one room serve for kitchen bedroom and parlour the bed was ii de up as nicely as a shaking s and society at th poor man house red by n the work and the httle and the admiration of the a substantial rag carpet was spread over the middle of the floor the stove a mournful substitute for the cheerful open fireplace of the time was black and shining as stove could be uncle chair and aunt stuffed one stood on side of the stove the window were filled with the prettiest aunt s charge the in pots and the i in well patched and a clock bless the economical artists that have placed within the reach of every poor man domestic friend and faithful stood on the mantel piece a curtain was drawn aside from two book shelves filled with excellent books the most conspicuous were a bible a hymn book the pilgrim s a of universal history history of america the american revolution a life of washington and a constitution of the united states bound up with washington s address underneath these shelves was a pin table with a pile of books and writings books two clearly burning lamps on it and a chair for mr and benches for the children beside it a smaller table was placed in the middle of the room and on it bright as gold two brass which had inherited from her grandmother and which proudly bore two good mould candles of her s running on another table under the glass was a waiter with a nice which covered t simple treat of and butter cakes nuts and apples and on the stove a pot of the poor rich man we none of us harry liad said arranging the with his friends spend a penny at the shop so we may well afford a little family cheer at home where wives and children can partake with us and thus the good things god gives us may be used to our affections may not this be esteemed a mode of obedience to the christian law eating and to the glory of god our details may be tiresome but do they not show that in this country real comforts and even the be t pleasures of life hospitality and charity can be attained by the poor and managing that they are not compelled even the less favoured portions of them to life in painful efforts to keep soul and body together but that by exertion and contrivance they may cultivate their own and their children s minds and hearts and advance them in that upward course open to all let others glory in the countries of luxuries and the arts let us thank god that ours is filled with blessings for the poor man i mr selected the horse and the cow as the most useful animals to man for the subjects of his first lecture he was a sincerely and earnestly religious man and he believed ignorance to be the most fruitful source of and that the more the mind was awakened to the wonders of creation the more it understood of the wisdom and benevolence of the of the creator the more certainly would it reject the bad seed of that is at with such cruel industry society at the poor man s house the children at first thought they knew every thing to be known about horses and cows some of their parents thought so too and looked up to the clock secretly hoping the lecture would not last long but while mr described in the simplest possible terms the structure of these animals the provisions for their own enjoyment and their to the wants of man while ho told particulars of their history and habits in different countries and some anecdotes of them the clock struck seven and the was approaching to eight when he finished he was saluted with the most of all compliments to of oh how short and please mr go on he thanked the audience for their attention said he would put off going on till the next meeting when he expected the children would show him their books with the best drawings they could make of a horse and a cow and as much of his lecture as they could remember neatly written down the children then formed into little knots some playing at jack and some at the was served and sam m now a sturdy boy to a farmer on long island proposed to his companions that they should pick out nuts for the girls while this boyish gallantry was being executed do you really believe william said john all mr said about horses i know very well they are so made as to be strong and fleet and but do you believe a horse has thoughts and feelings i think it s just of a piece with a fairy story that s because john you are not a i ths poor rich man etc horses i am sure father s horse knows than some men and more too when i go into the stable he turns his head and gives me a look that all but says how d ye do will v and he will lay his head against me just as our baby does i that must be feeling john he don t do sh to a he knows as well as i do the places he is in the habit of stopping at and if you could see how impatient he is to get home to his stable at night you would own he had hope or expectation and there must be thought for that thought of the rest and food	6
more than that the poor of to day are the rich of to and the rich of to day the poor of to morrow the are open to all and they fall without favour people too are many of them among the ths poor rich man etc best in society i know some there is mr he has ten talents and a steward is he he and his whole are an honour and blessing to their doing in way all the good they can such a rich man as i despise or rather pity as much as you or any man can but pray do not let us envy him his riches they are something quite independent of himself and can a man be really poorer than he is a poor mind a poor heart that is the poverty to as to rich men being at their ease every new acquisition brings a new want a new responsibility but now candidly would you not be willing to take their wants and with their f i cannot say money is the represent of power the means of extended usefulness and we all have dreams of the wonderful good we should do if we had these means in our hands but this i do know that till we are conscious of and the means we have we ought not to more but let us look at the matter in the right point of view we are all children of one family all are to live here a few years some in one station and some in another we are all of us from the highest to the lowest in our father s field and as we saw so shall toe reap if we labour rightly those words of truth and immense import wiu sound in our ears like a promise and not like a threat we shall work at our posts like faithful children not like slaves and shall be sure of the riches that perish not in the using as to all other riches it c at the poor man s house is not worth our while to or envy them except in some e we have all in this country gifts and means enough as to property i am the poorest man of you all yes yes but youve every thing else what is the little advantage we have in property compared to education and so forth v this argument could not sincerely but anxious to impart some of his sentiments to his friends he proceeded among us working men property is a sign of industry ingenuity and therefore i am anxious to make what excuse i can for being so much poorer than the rest of you you know i began with a broken down constitution and have never been able to perform half the labour of a sound man but i have taken care of what strength i had i selected a healthy business i have been strictly temperate not only in drinking but in eating and this with always a clean cheerful home to come to has made me a man at forty than i was at three and twenty in the meantime i have seen many a lawyer growing rich and just when he has laid up much goods falling a prey to disease contracted sitting at an office table performing labour that some of us might fancy no labour at all but which is proved by its effects to be much harder than our work merchants too whom i remember bright and have gone on laying up their thousands and of thousands going from in their to like kings and at forty five or fifty look at them they have houses and lands and to be sure but do they enjoy them k the poor rich man etc there is john of the house of co why he would give half his fortune to be able to eat those nuts you are eating and go to bed and sleep as you will after them look at his face looks to me like an book written over with dollars and cents as if he had his soul into them and there is of the house of co i remember his hair as black glossy and thick as your john s and his colour as pure red and white now he has a scratch on the top of his head his eyes buried in fat his skin and he lives between his and in continual dread of an how many pearl street merchants over five and thirty are but mercy on us you don t suppose money is with no but i do suppose that those who make it an end and not a means pay the penalty of their folly i do suppose that the labour and anxiety of mind attending the and care of it and the animal it are a very common means of destroying the health now have we not a greater chance for health which we all allow to be the first of earthly blessings than the rich then we have some advantages for the education of our children which they cannot get you may say necessity is a rough but his lessons are best taught the rich cannot buy books or hire masters that will teach their children as thoroughly as ours are taught by circumstances industry ingenuity and self denial besides are not our little society at the poor man s house flocks mutual and mutual kindness societies r they are that s they are and though i must own mine ain t brought up like yours and they do have their little and flashes yet they are open handed to one another and take part with one another in their pleasures and troubles and battles	6
and so on but go on i he as if i were growing richer every you utter before could proceed a hand bell rung loudly and impatiently the well known signal for poor little the children gathered around her to express their to part with her and william in his stumbled over s foot which in rather an position oh mr i beg your pardon said the little fellow there now said that puts me in mind of what x am often grumbling at your children are an exception but how in the name of nature are our children to learn manners in our rough and tumble way of living can you figure that out why manners for the most part are only the signs of qualities if a child has a kind and gentle disposition he will have the outward sign if he have the principle that teaches him to maintain his own rights and not on those of others he will have dignity and deference which i take to be qualities of the best manners as to forms of expression such as my boy used when he stumbled over your foot they are easily taught this i call women s work they are naturally more than wo thb rich man etc there are to be sure certain that are m use by what are called the polite world that wo can know nothing of but they are not essential to the spirit of good manners ours i believe is the only country where those who compose the lower classes have the power and the means of good manners for here there is no sense of degradation from the necessity of labour here if we will the poorest of us can get education enough for our children to make them feel the dignity of their nature and destiny and to make them the real equality of rights on which the institutions of the country are based self respect is the real basis of good manners it makes my blood boil to see the manners of the low bom who come here from the old countries their their meanness their crouching to their when they expect a favour and their impertinence and and downright insolence when the power is in their own hands they are like horses used to being guided and driven and know no more than they would how without harness reins and to do their duty writing this page a has come to my knowledge that my theory of the effect of condition manners our streets since the last snow storm even me side walks are almost with masses of snow and p distinguished exile and his wife who earn an hon y the accomplishments of their more o u returning from their lessons the s il disappointed them m deprived of one leg i i p o se his on the ice they stopped v a street the packed passed them ta i as they drew up to turn the comer o p of compassion also like the f their aid one carried the other all but earned him to his own door ty at the poor s house you say hairy interposed mrs that it is women s work to teach manners to the but don t you think they learn them mostly from example certainly i do manners as well as every thing else man is called an animal you can tell by the actions of a child a year old what sort of people it has lived with if parents are civil and to one another if children never hear from them profane or coarse language they will as naturally grow up well behaved as that candle took the form of the mould it was run in said who was willing to shift off the consequences of some of his short up n inevitable suppose you do set a bright example at home you can t shut your children up they ve got to go out and go to school and hear and see every thing under the sun yes mr replied but it s surprising if they are taken care of at home how little any thing out of doors seems to harm them i tell you what said uncle glad of an opportunity to cut in what our folks call taking care is a pretty considerable it s doing a little here and doing a little there and always doing wife called out to his who had just given her child a for treading on her toe wife i depend on your remembering ail when the both respectfully took their the compensation fa most liberal one which m offered accustomed to countries where the services of the poor have always their money value thb poor rich etc this know pre a dreadful poor and i want you to tell it over to the children poor in spite of all henry s hints continued in the common error of expecting to effect that by which is the work of example patiently repeated day after day and year year the conversation then took a more miscellaneous turn the women talked over their domestic affairs and the men ran upon politics showing themselves sufficiently enlightened and as disinterested as we wish all were at half past nine they separated cheerful and we trust and as they heard the carriages along the streets that were then conveying the earliest of our to their crowded parties we think our humble friends had no reason to contrast their social pleasures with those of the rich but that they might feel that their meeting together as uncle said in this way was a privilege chapter at the rich man s home the labour of the foolish every one of them we change the scene to a fine new house in a fashionable quarter of the city mrs	6
from her own carriage and meets her daughter at die door her face fuu of something she had to society at the rich man s communicate oh mamma she exclaimed who was that that came into s thread and needle store just as you passed a lady with an you bowed to her mrs why jane the lady that was with her asked her when they got into the shop who she bowed to she said that mrs that left her card at my house does she keep a carriage v asked the other lady and then she took up her eye glass and looked after you and said so everybody might have heard her in the shop and a coat of arms no wonder we are a laughing stock to foreigners well answered the and perplexed mother i do wonder what is the harm of it is next to impossible to find a servant that is willing to wear them that s a proof they are genteel and then as to the coat of arms i am sure the man that made the harness said it was the latest pattern he had in his shop that coach she continued has been nothing but a plague to me your father is always about the expense and complaining that the coachman him and john will do nothing but drive the horses and everybody that has a coachman in livery has a footman and your father thinks the waiter can turn into a footman when i want one but he don t know how inconvenient that is nobody knows but them that has them the trials of keeping a carriage one of these trials was met by a ready in r that deserves a more enduring preservation than we can it a gentleman told his coachman to bring him a of fresh water from the pump i can t sir why not thb poor rich man etc then why do you keep one don t ask such silly questions jane a servant entered mrs here are the notes that have come in since you went out mrs took them eagerly she had sent out invitations for a party and she was anxious to know who had accepted and who refused the first she opened was from the teacher of her only son arthur william informing her that master arthur was behind hand in all his studies and that unless his lessons were at home he feared he must dismiss the boy as the reputation of his school depended on the progress of his scholars this is too bad said mrs i wonder what we pay him but to teach mr always said arthur was a when he went to his school but mamma you said arthur could not read when he had been to mr s two years what s that to the purpose miss mr never sent in any complaints i will not make myself a slave to looking after your lessons at home i have not health for it besides your father and i never studied latin and french and philosophy and them things i wonder what you did study mother for shame jane i am sure your father understands every kind of does he mother i did not know he understood any thing tis not my business what the dense is your business taking care of the carriage sin bring up the carriage then the carriage came john to the waiter get into the carriage and bring me a of fresh water the pump society at thb rich man s house it was difficult to decide whether this was said with simplicity or impertinence indeed are those children who with their acquire a contempt for their parents ignorance the next note opened was a p notice to mrs from a that a box of newly arrived would be opened for her pa inspection the next morning very attentive in said mrs when unfortunately the pleasure of being a patron was checked by one of the usual for such distinctions a bill had dropped from within the note which the little girl handed to her mother reading the amount how very provoking exclaimed mrs she might better have it at any other time your father so about the expenses for the party i am sure they are necessary but i can t ask him for the money to pay now that s certain so throw the bill in the fire jane and when sends for the money i can say i haven t got the bill yes mamma and you can say it must have dropped out it did drop you know that s well thought of jane and no lie either thus did this poor child receive from her weak mother a lesson in fraud lying and mrs proceeded in the examination of her notes mrs c oh i knew she would accept i wonder when she ever refused mrs regrets an engagement c what a shame it is for people to lie so she cannot have an engagement a fortnight ahead we have not space to give the l thb rich man returns mrs then read and received in the course of the day she had made a great effort to a party of fa le people she had to use the current word those of her acquaintance that might be suspected of vulgarity and she had left her cards at the houses of who had been all their and their parents before them in the best society she was sure mrs at whose request she had repeatedly to societies would accept and if mrs accepted the would and then the baron de would and then the success of her party was secured upon all this no had been spared the band had been engaged and the party was to be as brilliant as music lights china glass and the	6
in the child and yet he said this is not all her look when she suddenly turns her eye or that imploring expression when she fears she has displeased me put me so in mind of one that s gone her voice too when she speaks low mistress it makes my heart throb and the perspiration stand in the hollow of my hand you have not gained your strength yet replied mrs and a little matter affects you it is not a little matter my good friend i have thought there was a but that is foolish and i will not talk about it it will cost me much to part from her as well as the rest of you but now there is no reason i should you any for the old rule does always hold od an old not forgot where there s loom in the heart there s room m he house we have omitted to mention that had gained the place of assistant teacher in a classical for mr i know sir replied that you can get much more comfort elsewhere than we can you hut a grief and loss it will be to us to part with you i aye been looking forward to your the little back room for told me o day nd poor child she was crying when she said it that her mother was about to going toe t exclaimed the children that is too bad a bustling step in the entry was heard and im after an imperative voice at mrs smith s calling out open the door i say i must with you the door opened and s was heard ia bu so low that not a word could be distinguished the response was sufficiently audible don t cry child i m not going to hurt you but i must speak with your the house is not mine continued the stranger now evidently addressing mrs smith and i have no authority to grant you are behind hand for the last three weeks df you don t pay saturday you must clear day ma am an opportunity was now offered as the landlord s agent the door to speak for the room for mr but he and all the rest were od in their interest for little whose soft footsteps were soon heard on the stairs anne sprang to uie door and it asked to come in ths l rich man etc she will not said anne as went out at the street door she blushed as red as fire and seemed to have something und her cloak what can it meant mrs guessed what it meant for more than once she had observed going out on secret and when she had looked her full in the face the poor child s downcast eye and burning cheek d her secret to mrs truth is stamped with innocence on the soul there they or are together now mrs thought she must no longer scruple to interfere and when returned she went into the entry and closing the door after her said what have you there t she told me not to tell ma am you need not my child i know what it is the of the gin had already betrayed the secret does she take this stuff every day no mrs not now since she has such a fever and cough she x y takes it when she feels awfully my mother never took it though she had dreadful feelings too while spoke she seemed in a flutter of impatience and timidity all eye and ear as if expecting a summons or what was still worse fearing a suspicion of betraying the miserable woman s secret in the meantime was considering what she had beat do that mrs smith s disease must be and her death hastened by the means she took for present relief was certain and was not of a temper to fold her hands and say it is no business of mine an old not she could help a fellow creature it was lier business leave the here she said and tell your mother i wish to speak with her oh i dare not mrs she ll be so angry with me she does not mind speaking with other but she seems to hate to see any of your family vm sure i don t know what the reason is i hear her pray let me go and seized the which mrs had set on the stair and disappeared in a few moments mrs her and tapped at the door opened it and stood aghast while mrs said mrs smith i know you are sick and in trouble let me come in and see if something cannot be done for the door evidently at a sign from within was closed in mrs s face but through the mrs heard a voice that seemed familiar to her half scolding and half crying she again tapped at the door and opened it a crack and said ui a voice whose tremulous softness contrasted with the of her words she says ma m she won t be well go away now she may feel differently by and by mrs s kindness and forbearance touched the heart of the miserable woman but the of the liquor were mounting to her brain and she drew the bed clothes over her head and fell into a heavy sleep from which she was late in the evening by the stealthy entrance of a man who brought her a note from her husband this threw her into violent thb poor rich man during which the man disappeared and who wearied and hungry had asleep across the foot of the bed awakened she w as terrified by mrs	6
smith s apparent and sobs and she obeying her first impulse ran down to the and his wife without any false scruples went to mrs s apartment bidding to remain with aunt they found mrs smith in partly the effect of the gin and partly of a sudden distress which had been communicated to her by the open letter she held in her hand a filthy lace cap stuck on the side of her head her hair hung over her face a tattered french cape and a silk gown served to make more disgusting but not to hide the rags and dirt beneath our friends had scarcely seen the woman when they exchanged significant glances for they both recognised in the wretched person before them in spite of the cheeks eyes and features the of their childhood the beauty of their youthful days grieved and shocked were they but they thought only of and this being most done soon after opened j her eyes and her old acquaintances a new burst of emotion and a violent shrieking ensued no disease is so completely under the control of moral treatment as harry s much is said about the march of and one of the les v proofs of it may be admitted in the of this dis ease of the and of which will be remembered by all who can look back for twenty or thirty y n not forgot energetic voice and his wife s gentle calm manner soon subdued the and restored their patient to a degree of oh i know you and you too harry p she said and we know you replied be glad to do any thing we can you the kindness of s tone brought a flood of tears from this seemed to relieve her and she said in her natural voice but you don t know you don t her utterance was choked we don t said but we can guess and can you speak so kindly to me t there is no reason we should not be kind to you kindness is what you want and we have to give so it may be a comfort to us both oh indeed i do want it said to her present and pressing troubles see here harry she added picking up the note she had dropped do you advise me what to do this comes from my she hesitated she felt this was no time for deception and she added from him i called my husband read the note which was as follows i am blown and must make a voyage up the river to save yourself the police dogs are on the scent to the black trunks you must tell me the truth or i can be of no service to how long have you lived with this man six months the poor man how long bare you known him v the same time harry she replied without raising her eyes with the companion of her innocent days came the feeling of shame do you know what he is taken up for i don t but i guess lor passing bills have you been concerned with answer truly weu he has given me money to and told me to ask no questions and he would tell m no lies i never knew a true note from a one u did you not believe you were passing counter money f i did not know that i was and t is the most i can say harry but as true as i live i have my ear rings and my finger rather than offer this money and i did not use it till i had nothing more the would take that is the truth harry i have not long to i am sure i have not take pity on me harry and save me item finishing my wretched life in the state prison f beg oh think of times in be sure be sure harry will do all he can for you yes that i will no time must be lost stay with her till i return you ain t going to inform against me said the miserable woman springing after him but before he could reply she shrunk back and burst into tears it s so long he said since i have had any ah old acquaintance not forgot to do with anybody i could believe in i am a poor creature i can remember the time when i felt above you and now it seems too much for you to speak to such as me it seemed a great relief to her to confess her faults to the past and looking through the dark way she had trodden to catch now and then a glimpse of her early days with a ling of kind words from she went on as follows oh y vl that have an honest husband and good children and are content to be you don t know the feelings of the fallen l on t you think it s some excuse for me that i had such a poor bringing up the first i can remember was my mother talking about my pretty eyes and so on and my hair and the main thing was to get me handsome outside things how i used to despise clothes and s it was all all of a piece mother said she could not afford to send me to the school but when that dancing school was set up in i was sent to that do you remember i begged uncle to let you go but he would not hear to it he said you danced about your work and you danced to school and that was the dancing for poor folks fa er was right said with a smile at the characteristic reply she had forgotten yes he was indeed right uncle	6
was always reckoned simple minded but i hare known all sorts of people and i can tell you that those who set their minds to do the right thing be they ever so simple go straight ahead while m i the poor rich man etc your bright folks on the right hand and on the left but where was i oh looking back a dreary prospect i grew up a poor ignorant thoughtless vain thing but i was not hard hearted even then had i got into good hands had i married a solid man and had children to take care of i should have been not such a wife and mother as you are but i might have been a decent woman and that was what i had secret to be even when i had a carriage at my command and elegant rooms and furniture poor yes most to be pitied then for then i was most blinded to all good i can see it now even from these depths you know mother married a rich old man what we thought rich and we moved to new york i had always lots of young men after me i lived at the theatre and the public balls and such places and cared for nothing but dress and flattery me i always liked him and if i had married him then but there s no use in looking back i wonder if his conscience would be easy if he could see me the poor ruined wretch i am now hark what noise is that it s only my and playing poor do think harry will get me clear i hope so but had you not better compose yourself and try to get a little sleep sleep i cannot if you knew what a relief it is to me to my heart to have a good person willing to sit down by me as you do as i was when my died and we had an old acquaintance not forgot nothing left and he was going ahead in the world he left me we went to and then came back to new york mother set up the s business temptation was on every side and no wonder that such a poor weak creature as i fell there was nothing to bind me to virtue my mother poor soul died and her death set me to thinking and then if a hand had been stretched out to me in kindness it would have saved tne but the good set their faces against the bad they do i mean common good folks you cannot tell what it is to have the eye of your fellow creature look on you with scorn or turned from as if you were too vile to look upon i have felt this and i went from bad to worse why did not you come to us we would have done what we could for you i was afraid to i did not suppose there was anybody on earth good enough to pity me because i was wicked and for that most needed their pity then you must have there were no true followers of him who came to seek and save those that were lost v maybe i have my own evil courses in part to thank for such thoughts but then is it not strange that human creatures don t make more allowance for one another they say sick folks feel for sick folks sin is the worst of sickness and are there any quite free from it you are right the strong should the the well should look after the sick the poor rich man etc that s what i mean and i yoa are so very good you practise it but it is not strange i dreaded to see your face and all that told me of you and your children bringing up to be a blessing and honour to the land made me more and more ashamed of myself thank god i never had a child i do love you see i am not fit to take care of her but i did not always over her not when not when you were yourself nodded assent she had not courage in words to confess her was true to you continued she seems grateful for your kindness to her does she does feel grateful to me she does and that ought to be a comfort to you it is it is thank god there is one creature on earth the better for my having lived my life oh god forgive me poor when i am gone you will see to her won t you i will do the best i can thank you then i shall die easy as to her i have done but little though i never quite lost sight of my promise to her poor dying mother who was her mother no one that you ever heard of she called her name maria brown i never saw her till she was near her death the night before she died i sat behind her and held her up while she wrote a few lines and taking a miniature from her neck sealed them up together she was so weak she fainted then and when she came to she said she rich man s would direct the packet the next day and tell me what to do with it i slept by her but dear me i had taken some hot gin and water for i was troubled with a cold stomach and i slept sound and late and when i she was dead and cold poor little i never shall forget how she lay with her arms round her mother s neck till they sent a coffin	6
from the it seemed as if the child were there did you not open the packet yes but no names were mentioned her letter was to her father but it was only signed with were they m b eagerly asked as a faint hope dawned upon her m b b no i am pretty sure it was not b it might have been b l i think it was l you have preserved the packet i did carefully but in our last move it was stolen or lost chapter xv the rich man s many house is full where the mind is and the heart is empty and no of mere ought ever to be so sad aa that house it was near ten o clock when henry in of his benevolent designs for at s door and told the servant m thb poor rich man etc in reply to his saying mr was dressing foe a party that he had pressing business and must speak with him the servant left in the entry and entering the drawing room pushed the door to after him but not so close as to prevent hearing the following dialogue there s somebody ma am in the entry wants to speak with mr why did not you tell him he was not at home t because he is ma am tom you know he is going out immediately and it s all the same thing do you know who it is no ma am is it a gentleman he speaks like one ma am you certainly know tom is he a gentleman or only a man i he is dressed like a man ma am tom you must get over me this way i ve told you a hundred times the distinction tom smiled he evidently had in his mind something like the old distinction of the poet though he could not or dared not express it worth makes the the want of it the f well well added mrs show him in and tell mr entered with that air of blended modesty and independence that him certainly with no look of inferiority for he felt none d as mrs s eye fell on his fine hers relaxed and she was in the for a moment of not knowing whether to class the rich man s turn with the somebody s or nobody s but her glance descended to the plain and coarse garments of our friend in time to change a half made courtesy to a salutation an inferior sit down she aid waving her hand to the nearest chair took the offered seat and awaited with what patience he could the of the master of the splendid mansion observing what was before him with a feeling not of envy or but with deep joy and for the virtue and true happiness of his humble home miss jane now a young of twelve years after surveying from top to toe said to her mother in a suppressed but audible voice gentleman p mrs seemed to have what she no doubt thought a truly genteel of the man s presence she was very richly dressed for a ball but as is a common case with poor human nature she was the fault of her faded and time stricken face to her i declare jane she said surveying herself in the mirror i never will get another cap of these flowers are blue as the heavens you selected them yourself mamma to be sure i did but how could i tell how they would look in the evening why don t you wear your new french cap mamma don t be a fool child have not i worn that twice already pull down that oyer my shoulder how it this is the second time has served me this way this gown et like i never go out but i have some i the poor rich man etc trial that spoils all my pleasure let me see you so miss turning to her daughter and pulling from her head a dress cap that she was trying on and arranging with all the airs and graces of a fine lady i have told you a thousand times jane she continued not to be fond of dress well tom what is wanted now that french gentleman ma am what miss jane is to call early for his money and if you d please to give it to me to night i attend to it to night tell him to call again he has called again and again ma am and he says his wife is sick and he looks so distressed like i have not the money by me to night tom shall i ask mr for it ma am no tom the image of the unhappy foreigner haunted tom s imagination and after lingering for a moment with the door in his hand he said maybe ma am don t remember mr gave out the money for mr mrs did remember well that she had received the money and had spent it that very afternoon for a most tempting piece of french a love of a pocket handkerchief that cost only thirty dollars the price of poor s labour for two quarters with an indolent and neglected child shut the door tom she said i can t be about this money now tell mr to call after breakfast tom and withdrew how impertinent tom the rich man s u getting added mrs but this is the way of the servants in this country the now entered and announced that miss a three year old girl had been throwing up the and pie and and so on that she ate at dinner dear me poor thing exclaimed the mother what a weak stomach she has does want me	6
to come up and see her is out ma am out yet f don t know how she could think of going out at all when she told me at tea time that was feverish i thought there was one faithful servant in the world but now give up mrs went to look after her child while was making his own mental comments on the of a parent who expected more fidelity from a for paltry wages than she practised herself all the of th and happiness of a mother fortunately for he had become very impatient he was not long to on this came in dressed and for the party ah harry he said after a momentary surprise is it you how are you v weu thank you what impudence thought miss jane for that man to call my papa i have some private business with you added glancing at the young lady jane said tell your mamma the carriage is waiting these fellows charge so for waiting this last remark was evidently a hint to to be brief the poor rich man etc but wanted no such spur he s condition and wants and knowing that s conscience was of the order he tried to rouse it by recalling to his remembrance the past the days of s innocence and beauty and s devotion to her but it over like a long forgotten dream that would not afford the slightest basis for a claim upon his charity she is in a shocking condition to be sure he said but then i make it an invariable rule never to give but to those that i know to be worthy there is much to be done for our fellow creatures besides giving gifts to the worthy oh i know that and i liberally to several of our institutions but will you do nothing towards encouraging this poor creature to repentance and they never reform if that is true a part of the sin must lie at our doors who afford them no helps but there is no time to discuss this i fear not be able to prove her sincerity she has it seems to me but little while to live if i can save her from the police i shall try hard to keep her where she that her little remnant of life may be spent with her old friends who will care for her body and soul oh if you really think she is going to make a die of it i am willing to give you some for her e took out his and after as rich man s could not but suspect looking for a smaller sum he gave him a five dollar note with the air of one who is an obligation expressed neither surprise nor gratitude but quietly putting up the note he said you know money is not the most important thing i had to ask i want you to go to die police office with me you are a great merchant and your name is well known in the city i am nobody and it may be necessary for me to get my statement come it is not five minutes walk for you why bless you man don t you see i m going out there s my wife coming down stairs now let her go in the carriage you can follow her oh that s she would not go alone into a party for the world can she not wait till your return no it is not reasonable to ask it it s late now and and good night i have wasted my time here said cutting short s excuses and leaving him trying to silence conscience by dwelling on the five dollars he had given by at the folly of going out when people were tired and wanted to go to bed and by joining in his wife s against and au her tribe the rich han etc chapter another rich merchant h v e i will go straight to mr s as he left s it is late to be sure but never too late nor too early with him to do a kind act mr was one of a very rich firm who employed as their he rung at the door and was admitted by jacob a coloured man who had grown gray in mr service walk in sir said he leading the way to the drawing room where mrs with her cloak on was sitting beside her eldest daughter warming her feet while her two eldest sons sat at the table drawings as entered mrs saluted him as she would any other stranger and while one of the young men rose to set a chair for him she made some courteous remarks upon the weather and walking and then after jacob had returned and said mr would be down directly she resumed the conversation with her which s entrance had interrupted did you find madame very ill mother the young lady very ill and wanting every thing no wood no comforts of any sort the poor man has money due to him l ut he says he cannot s h j s why didn t lie let os know sooner k s very for a to beg bat it should not be called begging il if as you and father say we all children of one family when one wants what other has to spare i do not see why the should not ask or the other should think it such a favour to give you have the right feeling about it dear but the difficulty is to reconcile the of life with the spirit of independence and self ance which is so necessary to industry and tion but where is she is sitting with her head has been much worse since you went out	6
and will not leave her i am glad of it many a night has sat by your patiently watching over but added the mother for the first time a child of eight years watching the of her brothers drawing how happens it you are up yet oh mother we hare had such a funny g houses i planning houses what do you mean v an explanation followed by which it appeared that mr contemplated a of houses to rent to those who could to pay only a low rent the houses were to every and comfort with a reasonable per on the money invested had set his to n ths rich for these not so much to test their skill in as their knowledge of the wants of the poor and their zeal for their accommodation amused herself with relating the ous failures and of the boys how one had left out the chimneys and the other the windows to all which listened with eager interest the pressing nature of his business not so much time had passed as has been occupied in relating this scene when mr with and after speaking to turned to his wife my dear is my friend of whom you have often heard me speak mrs s countenance lighted up with that expression so common when a person is first introduced to a stranger whom favourable impressions are entertained modest man that he was was gratified with this involuntary tribute how many opportunities of the bonds of human brotherhood by a friendly look or a kind word are passed by and lost for ever lo is not a word better than a gift but both are with a gracious man communicated his business to mr and without any delay they were on their way to the police office where told as much of s story to mr justice h as he deemed necessary for the purposes of justice and the said justice being more moved was his wont by s in s behalf and by the of so substantial a j as of e great firm of b b and co in his on s testimony and moreover having al s ready appeased the demands of justice by the detection and apprehension of the gang associated with smith vouchsafed to assure that provided the trunk was in the morning no proceedings be against good night mr be said as he parted from his friend at the comer of the i am obliged to you oh no no i am th person obliged i for i go to bed the for having done yon this was a reflecting man and as he walked hurriedly home eager to relieve of a part of her burden he made many reflections upon the different scenes he had witnessed thai evening at his own n s at s and at mr s he was confirmed in his previous conclusion thai riches consist not in the ij of possessions nor poverty in their that the mind li the treasure house and that though poor indeed was not much poorer than and his wife thb chapter a thb ths next day after bad finished his de this good man never upon the and trials of the day without first committing himself and his to him who those that on him was red to rise from her knees and rest her head on the back of the chair so as to screen her face while her bosom heaved and her tears fell on the floor the children to see and to gathered round her one said do you feel sick v another what is the matter t and little who was fresh from a moral lesson she had from her aunt the amount of which that sin in all its was the thing to be cried for in this world asked haye you been naughty t still did not reply till mrs drew her towards her and setting her on her lap said tell me what troubles you oh ma am she answered i know by mr s prayer that my mother as i call her is going to die and then i shall have to go away from you and i shall be all alone in the world the children cast an imploring glance at their as plain as could express ths tell her that our home shall be her our friends her friends the der children knew it belonged to their parents and not to them to give such an assurance i j iu the younger ones thought only of t way to solace the poor child and putting her cheek to mother will be your mother and if you want an aunt you shall a part of aunt little the of the flock and grand s pet echoed s meaning shouting and if you want a shall have a piece of my how certain it is that children will the qualities of the moral in which they parents remembering this should trust more to their examples and expect less from their tears fell from mrs s tears from the fountain of those feelings that have less of earth in them than heaven my good little children she said we will try not to disappoint you wipe away your tears think of another thing mr said in his god is the father of the be sure therefore you cannot be alone in the world come here said mr and turned to him with a brightened face the wise man s sa ring that as the dew the heat so is a word you and i continued the good man have been led into the same fold and please god we will not separate will you live with me and be my little housekeeper or room keeper i have he added turning as	6
if in explanation to si rich man enough for us both say yoa go and with me hung her head the children looked as if ihey were afraid she would say yes ah added mr in a tone of i thought you loved so i do sir but it s so pleasant living here william whose expressions were as im as his feelings clapped his hands and the children all manifested some in one way some in another their is right said mr in a low tone to harry it is so pleasant living here that when i go away i shall have that dismal feeling so that feeling of being oh how many times have i wished the goodness and happiness in your family could be known it would be a lesson to many a proud rich man to many a discontented poor one that s just what i say mr said uncle rubbing his hands i tell you our folks are and the whole secret of it is that every one does their best that is to say lives up to their light and if anybody can do any better that i should like to know how but come the breakfast is while we are as it were the breakfast was despatched went to his daily business aunt and to nursing uncle to a stroll in the sunshine with little mr it being saturday and a sat down in a comer with a book and was setting all to a cure for the in that quiet efficient way where every stroke tells and marks the expert did you learn any thing of poor little s from the woman above asked mr at the first convenient opportunity mrs related all she had learned nothing could well be more unsatisfactory even whose bright healthy moral vision always perceived the first streak of daylight could see nothing comforting in it as she finished mr heaved a sigh and then said you might have thought my proposal to take very strange oh no sir i am sure it is quite natural to feel as if you wanted to stretch a wing over the poor child but but the thing is a girl wants women to look her and i have concluded when is gone to take into our family what mrs with all your children yes sir when one is used to have the care of a good many an addition does not seem to make any difference we always have a little something to spare and poor child might be fed from the that fall from the table but then there are other expenses besides her food yes sir i have considered that and determined as long as my health is spared to work one hour extra every night what i can thus earn will certainly cover all s expenses to us so i see my way quite clear it is a comfort sir not to lose opportunity an argument similar to this we have often heard used by one whose seem only to be limited by the wants of those that come within her sphere thb rich etc and blessed are those who seek comforts dear mrs but this poor woman will she be willing to leave with you she will be glad to her only desire now seems to be for the httle time that remains to do right oh mr i believe there are in wicked courses who would turn from them if they only had some true friend i wish to stay here the little time she has to live does my husband but he will not ran in debt not even to help the distressed which is a great temptation it takes more than one would to keep such a family as ours in necessaries and through the blessing of kind providence upon exertions we have had those and some luxuries too what luxuries asked mr with a smile a good warm fire all day and a fire for s room whenever she wants it plenty of books for the children and a share in a for ourselves and the pleasure of going to bed every saturday night without owing a shilling and a little something in the bank against a wet day and hesitated for really she not remember any thing else that did not come within the large class of necessaries mr finished her list and a shelter and food at your table for a stranger mrs if i could help you to put your kind wishes into operation for is poor woman it would be a real pleasure to me i can poor boy this to me of the or the rich a for the let ite room i in street and pay the rent of hers if you will permit me to be a in your family and retain my place in your s room till this woman has no longer occasion for hers you are very kind air but there is back rent to be paid however we will talk it over when my comes and the best we can the dialogue of our friends was interrupted by the appearance of a gentleman who announced himself as mr and being summoned to s room he was left with mr after a little playful talk with the children mr feeling his way with that delicacy that marks the man who does not the poor from the used among equals in fortune made some remarks about and the aspect of the family that led mr to tell a portion of his own story and to relate the to and their to the poor outcast he spoke of their performance of their domestic duties and of the advancement of their children in knowledge and virtue a country may well boast its equality he said in conclusion that has such families as this	6
in it i never should have what goes on beneath this humble roof if i had not witnessed it here are the genuine fruits of christianity and such fruit as could only come to perfection in a land where the government and institutions are based on the gospel principle of equal rights and equal privileges to all you an englishman mr do the poor rich yon think setting aside tlie greater compensation our working men get than yours they are happier that is setting aside a vast deal sir this superior compensation represents the comforts of life the of education what could have been in my country with his shattered health his children and helpless father in law and invalid sister these independent would have been tenants of the himself most probably there and his children supported by the parish when i see sir that a can bring up a family as he does in such a city as this his boys to be intelligent and independent citizens and his daughters to be respectable well wives and mothers i must think this sir the happiest in the world for the man i believe you are right but we do not make the most of our privileges there is no telling what a nation with our institutions might become if the domestic virtues were better understood and practised by the classes if their foundation were laid in religion and children were brought up from their to be temperate and true and industrious and if every were seized for improving them in knowledge and in the practice of the soul preserving virtues the rich here can make no separating lines which the poor cannot pass it is the poor who fence themselves in with ignorance and press themselves down with and vice if there were more such families as this the rich would feel less exultation in their wealth the poor that there was no degradation in their a for the the rich would get rid of their pride the poor of their jealousy and we should not and in our prayers but practically that we are children of one and that die happiness and advancement of one is the happiness and advancement of all i am added mr in conclusion to have found you here sir here is a trifling sum for the poor woman up stairs it will i hope enable your friends to do what they wish for a far greater than any money i can give mrs entered in time to make and she made them as if the kindness were done to herself mr changed the subject this house must be small your family mrs f yes sir but we contrive to make it do what is your rent r for the whole sir one hundred and fifty dollars for the whole house excepting that poor woman s room wish it were sir but there are two rooms in the garret to persons the best at six the other four shillings a week then there is a good room on this floor that rents at dollars a year and the family in the cellar pay a dollar a week s room is twenty a week and pray mrs what do you get for your hundred and dollars there is this room you see what it is sir a pot of paint and a of always ready keep it decent my husband made this the poor rich man etc she said opening a closet where every thing as neatly and as honey in a hive we could not do with an open in a room where we ate and slept and here open ing a door into a little dark room here is a comfortable place for the children comfortable it was though dark and small by virtue of the most exact order and cleanliness then sir we have the whole of the second which gives us a large comfortable room for my sister another for father and a little room for the children we make out very well sir i know mrs there is a great virtue in this making out but suffer inconvenience when you have sickness in the family why sir she replied with a smile we take care not to get sick often but when we have needed a room for sickness father has turned in with the boys father has such a contented disposition nothing puts him out harry i mean my husband sir says such a disposition as father s is meat drink and lodging pardon my making so many inquiries mrs believe me it is not from curiosity by what contrivance do you turning s eye to mr get a spare room a spare room sir is a blessing i never expect to have but father a disposition so we call his the spare room and put a friend there when we have occasion mr was reminded of a certain system of philosophy which teaches that there is no material world no actual houses furniture c that these are only shadows of ideas ah a c for the thought he my friends are really richer than many that live in four story houses having an important purpose in his inquiries he went on do you not mrs experience serious inconvenience from having so many families under one we do sir i liave often thought the time must come when would feel more for poor people and be more considerate who they put together it is so difficult to keep children from bad company poor things they are not particular you know sir this is the only thing that has ever really worried me about our situation i can contrive to get along with little troubles and what are the little troubles why sir it is something of a trial not	6
to have a decent steps entry and stairs we have no place to store wood so we cannot buy it in summer which would be a great saving to us then the is and not half large enough to furnish water to half the tenants and if we set under the front there is always some one to dispute our right so we have given up rain water and make pump water do since then every one in the house offers us a portion of their rain water so as husband says the peace principle is the best policy mr with after making a calculation exclaimed four hundred and sixty nine dollars is paid for the rent of this house the whole property is not worth four thousand five hundred but so it is all over the city the poor pay rents out of all proportion to the rich with the very poor and vicious this is inevitable they are transient tenants and o the poor rich man etc their pay uncertain but the industrious and honest should not be obliged to endure such evils as you suffer mrs i trust the attention of will be attracted to this subject ask your husband to come to my house this evening i am glad to have begun an acquaintance with you mrs it shall not be my fault if it end here mr went his way aad meditating on the power of the virtues to a home and the good things of this life he repeated mentally those words of which he thought he had witnessed the illustration and seek not what ye shall eat and what ye shall drink neither be ye of doubtful mind for all these things do the nations of the world seek after and your father that ye have need of these things but rather seek ye the kingdom of god and all these things shall be added unto you light in a dark place chapter in a dark place on the morning of mr s call another and very different knocked at mrs s door and inquired if there was not a woman or or something of that sort by the name of smith living there mrs no good and fearful would the inquiry she bade the man enter answering him while she closed the door you need not be so private mistress i am none of her acquaintance i can tell you only as she under two rooms pf me and went away owing me when the stranger entered was reading to mr she pressed his arm whispering i know that man he is horrid cross don t tremble so my child he ll not hurt you oh i ain t afraid of him now but i used to be this was said while mrs was communicating to the man the small that he would get his debt i don t expect much replied the man of the like of her but i ve got something that will bring something more he took from his pocket a handkerchief and it proceeded after that woman left my house she missed a packet the poor rich man etc and came back and made a terrible but another tenant had moved in with a heap of litter and nothing could be found of the packet since t other tenant has packed off two days and we found this away in the closet he took out a small and a letter that was my mother s exclaimed w w child but it s mine now i don t believe continued the man supposing of course that mrs smith was s mother that it ever did belong to your mother but you shall judge good woman to mrs here is the letter the was in the letter he began reading my dear something i can t tell that word it may be father and it may be mother but never mind it goes on on the bed of death and with my poor little girl beside me oh it was my own mother that wrote it screamed don t let him read it forgetting her fears she sprang forward and snatched it repeating with an imploring look to mr and mrs it is mine it was my own mother wrote it mrs soothed her and mr drew her to him whispering an assurance that she should keep it what the dense you child asked the man you are welcome to the letter though i it will make you all kind o to read it the i ll keep myself the i mean the picture won t sell for any thing though i think it s a pretty comely looking person what do you think neighbour it up to mr light in a dark place mr cast his eye on the he recognised an old likeness of himself a sudden his face he took the letter from s hand to him his eye glanced rapidly over it the blood rushed again to bis cheeks coloured deeply his pale forehead and again retreated he threw his arms around laid his head on hers and sobbed out my child mary mary my child mrs guessed the meaning of all this she dismissed the man with the assurance that hie should be paid the small sum due to him and then left mr to compose himself and give to the joyful explanation of what seemed to lier a riddle when she returned she found them calm and as happy as they could be their joy tempered by the following sad letter letter from s mother my dear father on the bed of death and with my little girl who will soon be an orphan beside me i write this my hand is stiff and a cough me i can write but a few lines at a time till last week i hoped to get	6
well consumption is so flattering dear father i never told you any thing but truth about my situation in america but i could not bear to distress you and sister with the whole truth you could not help me so i tried to suffer patiently and i never felt alone for when we no human friend nor help then it is we feel god to be near turned out what i might have expected when he persuaded me to many oa poor rich man tc him against your will and consent he was ways poor we lived comfortably in canada for a while oh what i took in being and making his pay hold out an s pay is small ber and for a while after was bom he seemed to feel what it was to be a father and what he owed to the child god had given him and it seemed hap enough for him to be with us then i wrote you often and you know all about that time father i how soon it passed bad people drew him away from me and bad people and hard drinking ed his heart and often and often when i have gone to meet him in the damp night wild with fear that something had happened to him and waited hours and hours he has come and but poor can t bear to bring up his sins now but oh my poor little child how she has suffered for his faults there were times when the sight of her brought him to a momentary but he had no true joy in her i have seen what bitter drops conscience has poured into the sweet fountain of parental love i have seen him when the tones of innocence and the look of love were cutting reproaches to him poor i suffered father in many ways when and where and how there is no use in telling now i found patience a great help and in the darkest times i could pray for my poor husband had he but turned to the right path i would have welcomed poverty sickness hardship of any sort but light in a dark the wounded spirit that from the sin of those we love who can bear failed in military duty and lost his commission and changed his name to we came to new york this was a dark time father i was sometimes for weeks alone with my child he came to me to die i remembered him who liberally and not i watched him day and night till he died may i not hope for but alas alas his life was a continual of god s laws towards the last his mind was gone poor i went to the british he was v ry ki id to me and from some english people with true english hearts he got money enough to send me and home to you i was on board the ship when as i wrote to you symptoms of the appeared i was sent off and i both had the disease my disappointment it with me i was left low i have worked a little since and sometimes hoped to earn money to go home to you i had spent in my sickness all that was given to me i have written but once hoping always to have better to write but it s all over now don t mourn about it father nor you dear sister it is god s will and never never has it hard to me to bend to his will when poor went astray from his that i felt to be hard the poor rich man etc my little girl i have laid her in his who bade little children come unto him she ia his and indeed indeed my heart is not troubled about her thank you dear father for long ago sending me your forgiveness for what you were so kind as to call my only i think it is easy for the good to forgive as i draw near i am always with you in my dreams i see the white cottage ind the hedge and last night you and sister kissed me there is a woman here kind to me i shall leave a request to the british to send to you god has given me his peace father don t you and sister mourn for me let take my place farewell k more i kiss you and sister your m b death came sooner than mary expected and her child instead of being placed in the s hands was apparently left with no other than the uncertain of a worthless woman but he who never the orphan committed to him had as mr expressed it led this lost lamb into the right fold he mary s letter in h tears tears of natural k death bed sorrow for her sufferings and of gratitude that a husband s that poverty and sickness had all been god s to bring her to heaven chapter xix a bed a profitable in the economy of human life might have been learned in the dying s apartment her last excess her last draught of gin taken in an excited and feverish state had her disease she had a raging fever and her cough was attended by that at each threatened her with instant death after in vain searching for some comfortable garments among the relics of s evil days after turning over stained silk dresses tattered yellow and tangled artificial flowers had furnished from her own stores clean apparel suitable for a sick woman oh please said pointing to th various articles of old finery that hung about the room or over the sides of her broken please put them all out of my sight they seem like so many witnesses	6
against me they me for my sin and folly how good this clean snug cap feels how kind it is of you to lend me these things ths poor rich han etc i have plenty we always calculate to ba e a good store of necessaries and i think if we don t want them they will come in play for somebody and with a little industry and they are easily ot you can buy a dozen such caps as that of mine for the half of what one of yours cost i can t help that now retorted i did not mean to speak so she added after a moment s pause but oh every thing me and i am sure said the gentle i did not mean to hurt your feelings but i did not know but you might think it strange such a poor person as i should boast of abundance you poor you poor oh i can tell you what it is to be poor to be without any worldly possessions is not to be poor for you have a treasure laid up in heaven to be what the world calls is not to be poor for you have god and conscience for friends but to be as i am memory without hope to have no inward peace no store of pleasant thoughts of good done oh this is poverty poverty is outside for a moment s mind would seem to have more even than its natural strength and clearness but such bright intervals were short and succeeded by hours when she seemed to be heavily sleeping away her existence and would long to see her awaken to a consciousness of her life and the little time that remained in preparation for her departure but alas for those who leave their preparation for a death the death bed who to a few suffering hours the work for which life is given who would have thought said s the sisters sat together watching s troubled sleep that you would have lived to nurse her on her death bed it is teaching to look at you and then at her and as said it was teaching it taught that if the laws nature which are the laws of god are obeyed the most delicate constitution may be preserved and that the most vigorous health must be destroyed by a of those laws by strict by regular exercise by prudence and had preserved the little remnant of health left by the cruel accident she had endured in her childhood but what was far better by the religious performance of her duties by contentment both with the gifts and the of providence by forgetting herself and remembering everybody else by loving and a most sure consequence being loved in turn she had preserved that sweet serenity of spirit that shone through her pale face and all those faculties in active operation that slender and fragile as she was made her the comfort of her family the dear aunt of the home she blessed fifteen years before was the picture of health and in possession of the virtues or rather accidents which are usually found with a sound and vigorous constitution she was good humoured bright courageous and kind hearted but alas she was brought up by an ignorant mother in ignorance and me excessive love of the poor rich man etc she was pretty and she wa flattered at home and abroad that love of which all classes of women which grows with their growth and with strength which is cherished by the of their own sex and the flattery of the r which the rich and ruins so many poor girls was one of the most efficient of s do you remember continued how clear and full her eye was and now how sunken and those yellow looking bags about it and her cheeks i remember father used to say they looked like rare dear me how the bones stick out now where the fair round flesh was and how like old it looks where she has had the paint on and her lips what a bright cherry red pair they were dear dear how blue they are and see her neck and arms that were so plump and white now how and they look dear she added i can t help saying it as i turn my eye from to you you seem like a temple in which the spirit of oh what a comfort it is to hare cherished and not abused god s good gifts a gentleman whose uncommon sagacity and rare have had an ample field of observation and employment in the office which he for a long while held of of the house of refuge in this city has said that he believed the love of dress was a most cause of the tion and misery of the young females of the city if this is so should not the begin f the and re fleeting among those who indulgence how can a lady whose presses are with french and simplicity and economy oa her t but this is a subject that demands a volume or rather that examples instead of a death bed hush she is waking and poor awoke from a troubled dream and gasping oh said she as soon as she could speak i thought i was dead and in misery but i am still living and does not the bible say i have almost forgotten all i knew about the bible ut does it not say there a hope for the living yes if they repent of their evil deeds and turn to the lord there is with him does it say so v a fit of interrupted her my mind she continued when she could get her breath my mind is	6
so confused i so given up my thoughts to folly and sin that i can t even think good thoughts how can i repent i am so and as she spoke the words died away on her lips and a sleep came over her from which she started as from a nightmare i have done one good thing she said i was good to that should comfort you said seizing as eagerly as a drowning man catches at a straw at s single recollection but was not kind as you would have been such as i can t be so i did keep my evil life out of her sight i have always paid something extra that she might have a little room to herself that was considerate do you think so dear me if i had only realized how soon it would come to this i should have lived so differently i my god but the other day we were playing together in p the poor high m n etc and now do you think me very very death she added rightly the of her friends faces you cannot have long to live replied in a voice of the tenderest pity then why don t you send for a minister v we will if you wish it i do i do pray be quick went to the door and despatched a messenger while looked eagerly after her but when returned to the bed the poor creature shook her head and said with the awful solemnity of deep conviction what good can he do me it me and my maker her lips then murmured a low broken prayer suddenly stopping she implored to pray for her i cannot pray she said don t let me go to sleep her temples and hands while knelt and pardon for the dying woman as a confiding child asks from a parent she loves her prayer expressed her faith in the of god as revealed by his son her face shone with love and mercy from her soul his faint image but poor was past all comfort when finished she said faintly say it again i could not hear you come nearer i don t see you give me air did mother speak no i mean the minister has he come tell no not that thank you my god it s so sudden help me and thus at intervals broken sentences more and more she continued almost unconscious of th of her a death bed friends till she sunk into a which ended in death the sisters wept oyer her such tears as angels might shed i remember said almost crying my eyes out when mother died i have often cried to see patiently bearing cruel pain and i cried till my tears seemed au spent when my angel baby but i never shed such bitter tears as these there is no sight in this world so sad as the death bed of the sinner but don t you think we were some comfort to her r two days after as and his family according to the village custom of his native place were following the remains of to their last abode they were by a long train of funeral carriages in the first in deep weeds was following the body of his only son william arthur the boy had died suddenly and according to the common saying of a most mysterious disease such mysteries are easily solved if we would honestly look at the truth the boy s stomach had been from infancy by all sorts of and luxuries permitted by his foolish mother the instrument strained to its utmost and a slight accident a trifling excess destroyed him we need not conjecture the reflections of on this occasion when for a little while at least he must have felt his wealth mocking him with its thb poor rich man etc chapter xx the it was early in the october following the winter of s death that mr said one fine day to his children come if mother says yes we ll all go down and see the new house as mother always said yes when any reasonable pleasure was offered to the children hats and were half on before the little was fairly uttered come i half see it if you don t see it said little and come aunt we sha n t call it seeing it if you don t see it said the rest of the children and you and must go mr said and tell us how you like your new quarters and so the truth that governed this family that the good and happiness of one was the good and happiness of all they set forth don t you and walk so fast called out little to his eager brother william i hardly hold up he so is the most thoughtful and careful child you ever had i tell you he takes after me dutiful daughter as she was could not but smile at the particular virtues her father had selected to fix the resemblance on as she replied i wish he may grow up half as good father the conclusion aunt said little don t mr getting this house done so soon for father put you in mind of mr s story about s lamp t i never take much notice of such stories but it puts me in mind of those words in the bible the liberal man liberal things and the good that he that he quickly i never knew anybody like you aunt you always remember something in the bible that seems to suit because dear i read the bible more than all other books and there is something in it fitting all occasions i love to read the bible with you aunt for	6
it seems as if as if what said i know what is in my mind but i don t know as i can express it when our reads it to us it seems as if she read it because she thought she ought to but you seem to read it because you love it none should attempt to impart religious sentiments to children who do not feel them the letter the life where shall we begin first said harry at the kitchen or parlour f parlour are we going to have a parlour oh that s what mother has been making the new carpet for i well here it is you see with nice blinds and a good grate and all finished off neatly so that you will have good reason for keeping every thing p the poor high han etc in order and here is a place for books be opened the doors bless me it is half full already the children crowded round and eagerly took down the books and found them to be presents from each member of the family to each member of the down to to catch flies and mother goose s for little the last grandfather to be nothing new and about the book that was ever writ for children to confess the truth uncle s chief lore was derived from these immortal we wish that some of our friends whom in splendid we have heard and because they had not this elegance here and that improvement there could have heard the exclamations and seen the eyes of our humble friends as they surveyed their new how nice exclaimed anne this parlour will be for our it will seem like a every evening only our own family so it will anne cried uncle rubbing his hands i declare it s as pleasant most as the old house in uncle s eye caught the smile on his daughter s lips i know he added that was kind o shattered when we left and this is and more up but after all it has not that look you are quite right father replied and as she spoke the loving matron s eye turned to her husband there is nothing can have that that our first love has this little bedroom is next to mr s y the conclusion room and big enough for a single bed this be for decided one voice and echoed many others as they passed out of the back room into a small apartment fitted up with presses drawers and and lighted by glazed above the doors on the second floor were three rooms in the largest a and mrs remembering mr with had made in as to what mode of warming her room pr ed at once assigned this to her to be sure this is aunt s said little there is the very picture aunt you was explaining to m at the print shop window when mrs stopped to speak to us christ healing the sick is the right picture for your room said her sister oh mrs with is too good said the grateful mrs is very good but nothing in the world is too good for you aunt and indeed and no indeed was echoed by the children we must not detain our readers with further particulars suffice it to say the rooms were well presses and drawers the kitchen had every convenience to order labour there was a pump that sup plied water from a copious drain a large and close c c and all the from garret to cellar producing such an amount of comfort to a worthy did not as mr by his accounts cost so much as many a single article of ornamental furniture nor twice as much as a the rich man etc single pocket handkerchief or embroidered cape sold daily by mr to the ladies of our city in the evening at their own dwelling the house naturally was the subject of conversation how lucky said uncle that mr to build a house that suits us to a t it is not luck father said harry when things suit precisely mr has studied the condition and wants of the classes he tells me the attention of many rich men has been turned to the miserable of the poorer classes and he says they believe the want of comfort and convenience about them to be a great evil to society they think the of many men may be traced to this cause to say nothing of the crowds huddled together in filthy even the better houses of the poor are to the women they get wearied out with their necessary work and no strength and time left to clean a house that always wants cleaning the poor husband has been working hard all day comes home at night to a filthy dark cold room his wife cross or half sick and and children no wonder he goes out to the comer that looks so light and cheerful then after all father it s the woman and not the house that drives him off ah will the poor wife is we are weak creatures my son and need help on every side i am sure you and mother have not had so many helps have not we i ll tell you some of my helps the conclusion i had a good education i do not mean as to learning that is only one part of it i was taught to use my faculties but first and best of all i early learned to seek the favour of god and the approval of conscience i have always had a cheerful home a clean room to come to clean children and k nice wife your mother has ed her duties great and small as to the small she never has failed a day since	6
we were married to put on her father gown at evening and a clean cap with a bow most always of blue the colour she knows i like best her trade has helped us through many a hard rubbing day and it has given me peace of mind for i know if i were taken from you she could and would support you without running to any societies or assistance societies as to other helps here has been your good grandfather setting us examples of kindness and tending each of you as you came along and your dear aunt always a blessed help ah yes such a comfort interposed and then heaven directed came mr to give you better instruction and finally mr with to help us to a house and take nothing from our independence for he says the rent which does not exceed more than that we now say will yield him eight per cent for the money e has invested he says he can the house lower to me than to some others for he is sure of being paid and sure you will not and as most children do the doors with breaking windows and destroying every way so you see that virtue and good habits and manners which are the les the rich man ber virtues are not only in the sense they are money to you in the class property is a sign of good morals in this country nobody sinks into deep poverty through as your grandfather says except by some ice directly or indirectly there are perhaps a few exceptions i have known one and but one come here is my sermon you no indeed father i always like your preaching but i was thinking of what v that the scholars at our school don t know mr if they did they would not call rich people so hateful children are excellent judges but father their folks tell them observe for yourselves my children and don t trust to what others tell you if you make good use of your bodily eyes and the eyes of your mind you will see that providence has bound the rich and the poor by one chain their interests are the same the of one is the prosperity of all the fountains are with the rich but they are no better than a pool till they flow in streams to the people the enterprise and success of the merchant give us employment and rich rewards for our labour we are on them but they are quite as on us if there were none of these hateful rich people who think you would build and provide for and for the deaf and dumb and the blind i never thought of that father ths there are many older than you my who come to wrong conclusions for want of thinking now harry said uncle who as our readers may be was getting tired and sleepy i don t see the use of so much thinking think ing is dreadful work i tell you the whole of it is you must just do your duty ly and then you ll be contented in this world ana happy in the next and poverty or riches won a straw s difference either way but tis a comfort father said to the poor to feel that there is nothing low in poverty to remember that the greatest wisest and best being that ever appeared on earth had no part nor lot in the riches of this world and that for our he became poor to be sure it is to be sure it is r f note the writer of the preceding pages would not be supposed to want a due respect for the art of medicine that it sometimes and sometimes there can he no but does hot the patient often resort to it and resort to it in vain when if he had studied and obeyed the laws of he would not have needed the aid it cannot give the laws of him who made us are perfect it is a very different thing to blindly with the directions which come to us simply on the authority of a man like ourselves and to with those which claim our obedience on the author ity of the creator the suggestions made in this volume on the use of flannel c for the preservation of health are derived from the admirable and popular work of on and from an observation of the benefit derived from the actual application of his rules we give a few brief from hi work and wish that the whole in a more popular form were in every habitation in our land taking says mr even the lowest estimate of we find the skin endowed i charge of from the system about twenty of waste matter eveiy twenty four hours insensible perspiration from without trouble and without consciousness a large quantity of useless materials and at the same time keeps the skin soft moist and thereby fits it for the performance of its functions as the organ of external sense the perspiration is brought to the surface of the skin and confined there either by clothing or by want of cleanliness there is much reason to suppose that its parts are again absorbed and act on the system as a poison of greater or less power according to its quantity and degree of thereby producing fever and even death itself mr proceeds to many facts to support the theory that diseases are taken in through the skin and the necessity of guarding it the from the effects of of the sheep and cattle which pasture night and day in the to th protection afforded them by their wool similar means have been found effectual in preserving the health of digging and and in grounds where previous to	6
the skins of horses were bestowed on the human race in keeping themselves in good condition and a little attention were paid to diet and clothing nervous diseases and stomach complaints would cease to form so large a catalogue in human miseries q thb poor rich man etc we with we our little book with farther but we conclude with again earnestly dr s the principles of applied to the preservation of health as one of die most important the family library the end i valuable works published bt brothers no cliff street new york the family library consisting of useful works on interesting subjects mo the family classical library mo the boy s and girl s library the common school library wo the library of select novels mo the history of modem europe from the rise of the modern to the present period by wm ll d and wm esq with by an american in vo the historical works of the rev wm p d his history of america v scotland and india lu vo with plates s history of the decline and fall of the roman empire in vo with plates a works i and are and printed uniformly great pains have n taken to render perfect in eveiy respect are decidedly the best ever published in this good s dr john m study of medicine in vo a new edition with additions by and english with copious illustrations and explanations drawn the best writers by m a a new edition en vo life of lord b by t esq in vo portrait voyage of the round the world by j n vo life of gen by wm mo a of the life of william ll d by t vo portrait the life of john with from his miscellaneous papers by his son wm in vo portrait works of rev robert hall with of bis life c in vo s medical die from the last don edition with addition bv m d vo y brothers the life of washington in by francis glass a m vo the lives of the by wm esq letters from the south by j k esq in the life of by nm a narrative of the visit to the american by the from the union of england and wales by d d and ma d d in four years in great britain bv c in specimens of the table talk of s t and his by w l and its by com porter in i mo map of the river of more in small vo the works of more in vo s a new edition by a m d s dictionary in greatly enlarged the political grammar of the united states or complete view of the theory and practice of the of the united states and of the several states by ed ward esq or the i tin tongue by p r es s ex h i the district school by j o a winter in the west by a new in mo france social and political by h l esq me and no fiction by rev dr ran the book of nature being a popular of the general laws and of creation te by j good with his life practical education by mr and miss lives of the of the declaration of mo domestic duties or to married ladies by mrs wm the anecdotes edition to which is added a collection of for traits letters to by rev dr sketches of turkey m sc by an with by brother the note book fi a lives of wonderful characters portraits daring a residence of nearly years in the society and islands by wm in l plates s voyages with a sketch of the author by vo with a portrait life of samuel drew by bis eldest son vo life of mrs by t esq portrait narrative of a voyage to the and atlantic ocean indian ocean by portrait england and the english by the author of in mo observations on professions and in the united states and by i s north american reader s dictionary to s miniature of the by mo s school lives and voyages of and i including an view of the earlier discoveries in the south sea and the his tory of the mo the s leaves by mrs the domestic man of the americans by ro plates wild sports of the west by the a of stories of in s ma vo s voyages round and in mo on the mo a the by sermons by the rev john s to letters from the m by j esq to works of the rev john in ra brown s dictionary of the holy bible yo brown s j ance the or consolation for the afflicted mo s surveying improved and enlarged by vo works published by r brothers the american in england by the author of a year in mo spain by the author of a year in i pain in mo the in north america by c j in an on translated the french of m with additions and by e h court vo letters of the british spy by wm esq with a biography of the author mo modern american by miss p smith mo m lady s dramatic scenes mo the mo e t s travels in the united states and canada mo of by b sa esq imprisonment of i mo life of lord edward by t esq l mo portrait records of my life by n ta v lor esq vo sir edward s narrative of his by miss bi mo of school books by lives and exploits of and rot by m history of the american theatre by vo e d vo french revolution of miller s greece mo of the d s vo annals of county vo sketches of irish character by mrs s c hall	6
s poems mo s poems vo dreams and of a quiet man by t s esq mo by mrs in mo recollections of a housekeeper by mrs the cook s and housekeeper s manual by wm mo art of and life by william lid mo surveying tables mo a i novel in y f the works of mrs perfect edition with history of the jews by tbe bar h h in s life of napoleon by j esq with in s life of by r with a mc life of alexander the great by the j with a map mo natural history of illustrated by in life of lord b by j life of by the o a m with a flat letters on and by sir w history of the bible by the g r in s mo with of a narrative of discovery and adventure in the and regions by popular with maps c life and times of george the with of persons of the fifty years by the r t o with a portrait court and of narrative of discovery and adventure in the earliest ages to the ent time by popular authors with a map and wood lives of eminent painters and by a in history of chivalry and tho by g p r esq with a plate mo life of mary queen c by h g bill is s i portrait history of egypt by the m ll d with history of by j esq with a portrait of games and amusements ancient and modem by h smith mo life of sir by d ll d with a portrait or the holy land by the rot m ll d mo a description of a island and inhabitants with an ac count of the ship and of the fortunes of the plates sacred history of the world as displayed in the creation and to the by s f s a ice in mo and by m ll works published f brothers portrait by dr mo of the em of celebrated female sovereigns by mrs in l mo journal of an expedition to explore the course and termination of the with a narrative of a voyage down that river to its termination by r l j illustrated with and maps in mo concerning the powers and the investigation or truth by j m d f r s mo with the philosophy of the moral feelings by the same mo lives of celebrated travellers by j st john in s mo life of the second by lord in sketches from history plates in indian biography or an historical account of those individuals who have been distinguished among the north american natives as warriors and other remarkable characters bv b b esq with plates in l letters on magic by d d with l mo of ireland bv w c history of british india the most remote period to the present time by eight popular authors with en in mo travels and of baron by w mo letters of on different subjects in natural philosophy with notes and a life of by david ll d with additional notes by j l d with in mo a popular guide to the observation of nature by r esq with on the improvement of society by the general of knowledge by t dick ll d mo the history of by g p r esq with a portrait life of by the rev m ll d in historical view of the progress of discovery on tha more northern of america by p f esq and maps and mo s lectures on poetry and general life of peter the gi at by j esq i of by a works y brothers of by j b mo the principles of applied to the of health and to the im of physical and by am ck m d mo history of the states m ll scenes in our parish the right moral and uie of liberal by o c translated by and in mo by le s portrait by rose s mo by ac and by francis and smart in by pope ac in s plays de br in portrait ford s plays lives of the early of the family or of e and mother and four on a desert island in sunday evenings or an easy introduction to the reading of the bible in the son of a genius by mrs with natural history or uncle philip a with the children about and among the inferior animals with indian traits by the author of indian biography in with or the young traveller m with sketches of the lives of distinguished females by an american lady with the clergyman s orphan and other tales with plates perils of the sea con a narrative of the loss of the east of the x c with the ornaments discovered by uncle philip s conversations the evidences of christianity uncle philip s about m works published hy and brothers uncle philip s about the of uncle philip s history of new york mo tales of the american mo uncle philip s about the whale life of by g w a m portrait the of revelation with itself and with human reason by p n mo and by j scott in portraits life of in mo of the religion in france by edward in portraits s history of the church a new and valuable work vo travels and in by s mo with the life and writings of r c sands with a portrait in vo essays on the principles of morality ice by j with a by rev bush vo discovery c of the source of the by h r esq with maps familiar anecdotes of sir walter scott by the shepherd mo letters of major j to with mo england and america a comparison of the social and political state	6
over a new he obtained from a prosperous who had been a college contemporary for a while the of a new position and the wants of his family were supplied by his labour but excess soon followed returning late in a cold evening from a shop he fell on the ice broke his leg and lay ex posed to the of the weather till rescued and conveyed to his home by a a long and fatal illness followed thb of two evils chapter the least of two evils it was a few days previous to the of the baker s son that lee broke his after he was his family on the of work which his wife obtained from a her time was nearly consumed in attend ance on her husband she had no friends in the city not an acquaintance even excepting her husband s employer and he was not of a character to overcome her natural reluctance to make known the extreme degradation of her condition want starvation stared her in the face still she would not a debt even for a loaf of bread that she saw no possibility of paying she said to her child we can beg if we must but we will not take bread that we cannot pay for the poorest even have some means of education when they can give such a practical lesson in in t had now become necessary to take some to obtain mrs lee was not the woman to sit with her hands folded and repeat that bitter and perplexed what shall i do she applied at a blind factory and obtained for her two youngest girls the one eleven the other nine the sewing of the stays to the blinds by which they earned per week f and thi s b live and let live in the intervals of their daily school she had a plan for but this she would not put into execution without her father s which she foresaw it would be no easy matter to obtain had always been his darling she was his first bom she was pretty and having in his more fortunate days given her some advantages of he looked forward to a time when she might by that prize which is always in a pretty s a fortunate marriage regain the place in society by his the children were asleep lee wretched and restless was tossing on his bed calling at every moment his patient wife from the garment which she was making by a dim light to earn one shilling the air of the room was scarcely tempered by the single stick of wood in the stove and all this misery was the consequence of a base indulgence in a low appetite but the poor paid the penalty in his own person who that looked upon his hair his face his eyes and his and trembling limbs could have recognised him who fifteen years before was one of the most promising young lawyers of after expressing a wish for this and that and complaining of the cold what in heaven s name are we to do he said has never sent to inquire after me v he probably does not know where we it would be easy finding out but people don t take pains to look up poor acquaintances is no worse than the rest of the world lord help thb least of two evils us we may as well come to it first as last we shall starve or to death here won t you stop that sewing every of your needle goes through my nerves you can t earn enough to save us from starvation send me to the it makes little difference where one dies and when i am gone you can manage to scramble on with the rest no richard no we have gone through many a dark day together and we will not separate till it pleases rod to part us l e drew the sheet over his face we have a hard winter before us and we must take measures accordingly the first step should be to reduce the family i am thinking of getting a place for a place what sort of a place v a service place good heavens you are not in earnest i am and if you will hear me patiently you may think me right never never all the talking in the world won t persuade me to to a servant mrs lee thought of the degradation to which her husband s vice had reduced them and she resolutely proceeded we must have relief and that immediately i will not subject my children to being by on charity while they have the means of exertion honest labour is never degrading certainly not to those who are used to it nor to those that need it dear husband as we do it does not or frighten me in the least i have been through all from perfect to our present suffering state and each live and let live degree even ours has its peculiar advantages and temptations and its happiness too happiness echoed lee his wife proceeded i can t but hope will find hers in a faithful performance of her duties i can truly say i have often envied servants when i have heard the merry of laughter in the kitchen and known what anxious hearts there were in the parlour but what is all this to the purpose shall never live in anybody s kitchen it is much to the purpose replied mrs lee answering to the first of his sentence to settle it in our minds that may be good and happy in any position but wife consider recollect how you and i were brought up that is what i try to forget but you ought not voluntarily to	6
will require then followed the customary questions to which mrs lee replied as she had simply that she was a stranger in the city and that she was compelled by the wants consequent on her husband s protracted illness to seek a place for her child it s much the best thing for your child good woman that depends thought poor mrs lee she ventured to ask what service would be required of oh the work i want her for is just nothing at all merely to tend the door bring up messages and occasionally to run of errands you could not find a better place for her i ll give her four dollars a month and if she is civil c c c said miss she ll get plenty of presents the wages are very liberal ma am said mrs lee after a little hesitation but looking for a place oh if you object it is not worth talking it is a place very easy to supply the only objection i have to make ma am you wilt not perhaps think a very unreasonable one my child must be herself for the future and fear the very light work she has here would rather unfit than fit her for the future oh very well as you please a droll objection though hey mary there is no end to the and demands of servants nowadays always something new but it really is a little too much to expect to turn a gentleman s house into a school mrs lee felt her heart rising but she struggled to keep it down and asked with the humility necessary to her forlorn condition if she might take till monday to consider no on the whole i don t think your girl would suit me children that have never lived out are very apt to have their heads full of do let s go mother whispered and they went without one kind word that would intimate they of the same human family with the mistress of the mansion what a goose the woman is said mrs oat as the door closed upon the disappointed yet mrs was not a hard hearted woman she only had never considered the feelings and rights of her in position strange and revelations would there be to the more favoured classes if an scale could be applied mrs lee her way to the the man was civil and looked over his live and let live list mrs street boarding house wants a girl from twelve to fifteen the thing ma am no sir i cannot put my child into a boarding house must not be more nice than wise if she s clever and handy looks so at she ll pick up plenty of presents please to give me another reference here s one in grand street and two in if one shoe another may fit there s mrs tom a lawyer s there s her number grand street there s mrs her husband made a fortune last summer and there s mrs a fashionable s wife so there s a choice for you to mrs tom s they first went mrs after a long dismissed them saying she made it a rule never to take girls that had not lived out they required too much teaching mrs inquired if the child knew how to work and mrs lee warned by her last experience replied that she had herself taken great pains to teach her ah well then said mrs she ll not do i shall have to her the ways of sort of people as you my good woman and those of a gentleman s family are so as they went down mrs s steps mrs lee struggling to hide her emotions from her child said in a cheerful voice well dear we ll go next to mrs s those who know what work is ought to have most consideration for their servant and to mrs s a full mile from looking for a place the office they went the door was opened by a rude dirty boy mrs s eldest hope who to the landing places on the stairs shouted ma i say t you come down there s some body after a place tell em to come up here follow your nose ma am called out the boy and go to where you hear the mrs lee obeyed the direction and passing aa open parlour door she saw two communicating apartments furnished followed her mother and as she reached the bottom of the stairs mr came sliding down on the and as he landed beside her he threw his ana round her neck kissed her cheek and ran shouting out of the house confounded called er mother and would have implored her to turn back but mrs lee was already at the turn of the stairs where she had been met by a irish girl who had half a basin of dirty water at her feet not being in the least aware of the impertinence offered to her child she had sprung for ward to avoid the and was already in the presence of mrs who sat before the open door of the room whence proceeded the that is to say the notes of a cracked piano whereon one of the was you come from the i take it before mrs lee could reply one of the half dozen children in the room shouted out ma t give me my no i say i won t cause he snatched my slate yesterday ite and let li x to me youve as dirty as a pig here blow your nose taking his apron for the office stop your noise and go and comb out your hair it looks like a s nest you re	6
wanting a place for your girl i suppose not here thought poor mrs lee but she merely replied i am looking for one can she do all kinds of work before mrs lee could reply there was another outbreak from who was now indeed ma maria be still she is putting into ear come to me maria maria received a from her mother and went back to her place the young at the piano meanwhile proceeded is your girl handy at work in general resumed mrs she understands work and is as capable as most girls of her age she has always lived at home and has been my only assistant well you both look neat and clean and that is a very good symptom a competent judge thought mrs lee as she looked at the carpet with the furniture and the filthy persons of the mother and children i want continued mrs a girl that s handy in assisting about that can make up beds and sweep out rooms and set tables and wait and tend when the girls have company and understands washing dishes and cleaning knives and is handy at and helping the girls washing i calculate to hire but i have concluded not to keep any steady help but a young looking for a girl can t depend on them irish and husband thinks and so do i the wages is too much mrs lee saw s eye turning with most earnest appeal to her and she was thinking how to break off a treaty to which she was from the first determined not to when they were again interrupted this time by the entrance of the eldest miss followed by a s girl with a which was immediately opened and two hats displayed for the mother s inspection oh ma do say i may have this one said the young lady it s only seven dollars and a half madame i asked ten at first but she said it was so becoming to me it was a pity i should not have it oh is not it a love says it s like mrs mentioning a name well known in the fashionable world and the s world and thence handed down to the to feathers and fi in the city do say yes ma the hat was tried on and gave the daughter to the mother s eye so decidedly the air of bon that the desired yes was promptly spoken this matter settled mrs turned io well child if you are a mind to come and do your best give you three dollars a month and that is more than such a child as you can possibly earn my child cannot undertake the work you expect from her for any wages said mrs lee oh very well very well there are enough that will mrs lee was scarcely out of the room before the mother and young ladies the whole race of who they said expected and let live to do nothing and be paid for it and mrs finished by saying she thought three dollars ous wages at any rate she not a to pay more and she could not and pay seven dollars and a half for a dress hat alas the justice that is concerned in giving a fair and adequate reward to labour is with the expensive gratification of vanity mrs lee was not encouraged by the result of her thus far but long trials had taught her patience and when said as they left the door oh mother let me go home and starve with you she replied in a cheerful tone one swallow does not make a summer nor one frost a winter but mother you will be so tired and it s so dreadful to you to be talked to so by people that don t know you v i am a little tired but that a night s rest will cure and as to being talked to as you call it in this way there are good uses in it it gives me a sense of some of the trials endured by those whose lot is a condition that i never had before it is good for us for a little while at least to take the place of our fellow creatures and feel the weight of their burdens and after all my child it is quite as well to be the humble and questioned place as those who so pain us oh what opportunities are for want of a little consideration if these women had known what a comfort a kind word spoken would have been to they would not have treated us in a way to you we must try not to think too harsh looking for a place ly of our fellow creatures when they do wrong well i shall ry mother but i feel first and afterward you make me think what shall i do when i am away from you again our poor their way to the office and received from the man who no way surprised at these repeated demands three more one to mrs louis in and that being nearest thither mrs lee went mrs louis s establishment indicated the wealth of the proprietor a servant announced mrs lee to her lady do said mrs louis looking up from the last new novel and addressing her go down and speak to i can t be returned with a most favourable report to which her mistress as she did not lift her eyes from her book could have given but half an ear when stopped talking she said she ll do no doubt but i can t speak to her now tell her to call again in an hour or two she looks very tired ma am mrs neither nor heard the child is a child and they have had a	6
tedious long walk mrs louis and if you would please to speak to them now do hush said her mistress looking up from the tale of distress that was her face with tears if the woman is tired tell her to call monday you engaged to go out early monday morning mrs louis how you interrupt me if i am out can t she call again live and let i would not advise you to come if you have another place in view added kindly after delivering mrs louis s message mrs louis has an engagement out and you don t look able to take a long walk for nothing mrs louis was not naturally more selfish than others the sensibility that was poured out over a novel or exhausted upon herself if directed into proper channels would have made her estimate rightly the value of time the expense of labour and the pain of hope deferred to a poor woman would in short have given her that lively sense of the rights and wants of others that is manifest in justice and kindness the next lady to whom her admitted her was a mrs a good humoured easy tempered woman she asked few questions and was satisfied with the answers given all i want she said is a civil obliging child that is handy and willing who will be ready to do a turn for the waiter run out for the help the cook run up and down for the nurses odds and ends you know if my are satisfied i shall be mrs lee hesitated these multiplied seemed to her like a many headed monster but the hope of anything better was fast fading away while she hesitated the cook ent up to know if mrs would lend her a certain dress cap for a pattern i have done with the cap said mrs this mar seem an case but we have heard a lady that her cook a coloured woman offered to lend own new cap for a model looking a place rolling up her eyes laughing and tossing from oat her wardrobe a soiled cap with bows and tell she s welcome to it she was evidently pleased with her own generosity a ell as amused at her woman s vanity well we seem to be agreed she said to mrs lee let your child come on monday there is one favour i would ask before concluding ma am can my child have a room or a bed to herself oh no there is no one i believe more indulgent than i am to my people but this is a stretch a little beyond me pray does have a room to herself at home no ma am i have but one room for my husband myself and my four children i beg your pardon ma am said mrs almost involuntarily there was a gentle dignity in mrs lee s manner that made her feel for a moment in spite of their apparent relative stations as if she were in the presence of a superior she said turning to her maid you know better than i can you make up a separate bed for this little girl no ma am not a comfortable there is not a nor even a blanket out of use why you make us out rather oh no mrs you know i did not mean that there s piles of in the trunk room it s only the servants that is oh ho then we are not quite yet mrs you see how it is resumed mrs to and let mrs lee i should like to gratify you i know a mother has peculiar feelings let her situation in life be what it will but your child will do very well with the cook hey i don t know mrs you remember mary oh it was that drunken wretch that mary objected to sleeping with yes mrs but what you are always making mountains of mrs lee waited anxiously for the explanation of s but however though with mrs lee s scruples did not like to risk offending mrs by telling the truth that the present cook was strongly suspected of her s infirmity at any rate said mrs let your little girl come and try i take a fancy to her this first expression of good will that she had heard that day brought mrs lee almost to a but still she shrunk from exposing to such contact with a stranger of whose good character neither mistress nor maid ventured to give an assurance and it was finally settled that if mrs lee did not find a place to suit her better should come on monday morning and at any rate if she does let her call and let me know said mrs how silly it ii in the woman to strain so at a said mrs after mrs lee s departure when by her own account they live in such a mess at home yes ma am but i suspect she has seen better days looking for a place she never hinted at any such thing no ma am but i somehow feel as if she had and to them that has mrs it must be pretty hard to put up with what we have to down and say nothing about it how ridiculous when everybody says servants have it all their own way nowadays do servants say so mrs i am sure i don t know what they say was not to the or she might have reminded mrs of the lion s comment on the s giving the victory to man over him i do remember resumed mrs to the thinking once while they were here that that poor body had something superior to her condition if so it must he	6
shocking for her to go about so among strangers looking up a place for that nice little girl if she calls monday morning i wilt try and keep her even if she has engaged a place mrs felt a sympathy for a fallen possible lady that she never would have dreamed of for a mere poor woman when mrs lee and again went on their way the lamps were lighting there was still one application to be made and both wearied in body and spirit they proceeded to the upper end of street to a mrs s mrs asked innumerable questions and where mrs lee was bom where she came from when she came to the city how long she had lived in new york how many children she had what was her business what husband s strange she said that and let when your husband was able to earn a by writings he should be so very poor is he a sober man mrs lee s faded cheek glowed as she replied he could scarcely be otherwise in his present condition is he kind to you looked up to her mother with tearful eyes excuse me ma am said mrs lee from answering questions that have nothing to do with my child s hem i understand why have not you put out your child before i wanted her at home the old excuse let me tell you good woman it s a very poor one i am of an infant school i know children can t be taught too early i have an infant school at home replied mrs lee somewhat proudly oh yes i know but your children get such shocking habits about and doing nothing and living all in a what work do you wish to employ my child for ma am oh you should not be too particular i make it a rule that a child should be willing to be called on for anything i have two servants and at most her work will not be worth of there are but two of us i and husband at this juncture mrs was called out and an irish servant who remained in the room asked mrs lee to sit down and kindly drew a low chair for to the fire warm ye child she looking for a place said you look with the cold and being questioned at this way and no use either was exhausted and the kind word and not the concluding intimation opened a fountain of tears child ye should not fret continued her yell be after soon finding a place it is not with you as with them that an t bom in their native land like my poor m mrs s return interrupted tliis flow of kindness and that lady after about wages and making many comments upon the extravagant demands of servants and their nowadays agreed to receive the next monday morning this was almost a measure of desperation on mrs lee s part she had exhausted her day and this was apparently the best situation that had offered the family was small there was an air of order and in the house and that with the kindness of the irish woman s only fellow servant had decided mrs lee sure said this same woman as the door closed mrs lee with a face so changed that she scarcely seemed the same sure you do not mane to give this one the place yon promised to i mean to have two strings to my bow if don t come but sure she ll be after coming well if she does you may take time to look her up another place it s natural yon know i should prefer an american girl and this is the way you ladies keep your word to us and then complain that we are not up to th mark poor god help hei live and let live is the failure in the performance of between and employed so generally complained of confined to one of the parties we ask the experienced chapter iv home on sunday evening mrs lee announced to her family that was to leave home in the morning lee was reduced to and a long interval of enforced though it was had caused him to to some of the feelings of his better days come to my bedside he said you are going out into the world child you ll find it s a selfish world everybody is for number one keep open a jealous eye don t submit to be trampled on i have seen enough of the tyranny of mankind i have no faith in them your mother will tell you a different story your is one of the best of women and her own goodness is a kind of veil between her and the wickedness of the world she puts the best face on everything but she does not seem to have much to say for the place you are going to well there is one consolation you can always change it if you have anything to complain of let us know it don t submit to now i have given you all the advice i can think of but oh my child leaving what shall i do when you are gone t yon have ways been my pride and darling you do everything just right for me you fix my pillow easy and you make my tea just sweet enough and you can always make quiet and the girls are contented when you are in the house oh if i could only do anything for you you can father replied laying her cheek wet with tears to his always speak kind to mother and poor her father and remembered for the first time that others were to suffer severely	6
as well as himself from s departure the poor httle boy who was the object of his sister s intense love and tender care had received a terrible injury when he was three years old from a fall from a horse on which his father in a fit of and in spite of his mother s entreaties and had insisted on placing him the child s back was and his limbs withered but his mind had a development withdrew from her father s bed to prepare s supper he meanwhile was lying in his basket cradle his soft black eye following his sister and tear after tear down his pale cheek she sat down on her accustomed seat beside him he took in silence one or two and then gently pushing away the spoon he said it me i can t eat to night set away the cup of tea and putting her lips to his whispered don t feel so how can i help it oh we must do as mother says look at the s live and let live bright side i shall come home every sunday every sunday and oh how long it will seem sunday comes but it is not of myself i m thinking though it does make the tears come so when i think you won t be here to ask for what i want and always to look pleasant and leave work and come and read to me and sing to me when the other girls want to be doing something else and i can t bear to trouble mother and you are never tired me and i can go to sleep if my breast ever so much when you bend over me and stroke and smile and stroke as if it were always pleasant to do it but it s not for my self only and here he sobbed aloud but i cannot bear to think you must go away from your own home and work all day for people that will only pay you and not love you as we do not as you do replied making an effort to speak calmly but i shall try to make them love me a little it would be hard indeed to work for nothing but money and i do not intend to do so mother says she never saw a family yet where there was not some one to love and some good to do besides just work i shall try it s not very agreeable to have a hungry stomach but a hungry heart must be a great deal worse don t you think so smiled through his tears i should think so but i don t know anything about it for we have always plenty of the best food for our hearts if we have not anything else we must thank mother for that and now me you ll make the best of my going i ll try replied the little fellow with quivering lip and proceeded with all the resolution she could muster to go through her usual occupations her father s evening meal was prepared with as care as that of a more his toast his tea and salt fish must be exactly right to tempt the sense and dis by gross indulgence and he ate and groaned and fretted while his wife and girls sat by on the hardest fare thanks to the sweet uses of labour and they it more than the sick man could have a roman feast i am sure said little lee setting back her chair and throwing herself into s lap i don t know what and i are to do when you are gone do replied kissing her why you are to do all your work and mine into the oh you know that is not what i mean but who will make s t i have taught her how to make it as well as i can yes but sometimes she has bad luck with it and you never have bad luck and she can t call on mother because mother has too much to do already no instead of calling on mother i hope yon will both always be ready to assist her but i must ask her to fix my work when d and let live it me and to put my band on and to do everything that you do and that i can t do well do your best girls try hard to please father never never get out of patience with poor little and always be kind to dear mother be thoughtful girls don t wait till she asks you to do a thing for you know mother is too apt to do things herself rather than to keep asking and asking i think girls it s the we put into our service that it to ourselves and to others you will have a great deal more to do when i am gone but i shan t be sitting with my hands before me and what i earn i shall bring home to mother so though apart we are all working for home come mother let us sit down round s cradle and sing our hymns it won t disturb you will it father l i ion t hear you half the time when you sing singing hymns with her children was mrs lee s habitual sunday evening and never had she seen an hour so dark and disturbed that this exercise did not and her spirits sometimes s thin feeble voice joined the rest and he attempted now to raise it but his tremulous tones soon died away and pressing s hand which held his he i can only join you in my heart mr lee fell asleep and when the singing was finished mrs lee knelt in the	6
midst of her children and commended them to the care of their father in heaven most earnestly did she pray for her who was going forth from the shelter of family love into the that in her temptations she might remember him home who was tempted in all points as we are and yet without sin that in her ignorance and weakness she might seek wisdom and strength from him who and that at last however separated and tried on earth they might all parents and children meet in the bosom of the father as they rose the children kissed their mother and kissed one another it is such worship as this in the of home that in one bundle of life the parent and child that the old and the young for conflict and victory before you go to bed said her mother i must give you some advice it must be general for i cannot foresee the in which you may be placed you cannot greatly if you will keep it in mind that god s eye is upon you and if you love him remember what i have so often told you that it is not the events of life its outward circumstances that are important but the effect they have on our characters the cloudy and the bright day alike soon pass away it is our business to sow the seed and till the ground and then whether bright or cloudy the harvest will come in due season you will have trials your most faithful services may pass without praise thanks or even but be patient my child toil not for praise do not shrink from blame be content with the sense of doing your duty judge yourself honestly and never your own self respect i am a little afraid you fail in the manners suited to your condition i have been so sure that my children respected me that i have not required the outward sign though we and let fi e in a republican country the truth is equal conditions i do not wish you to be i would not have you imitate the manners of foreign a respectful manner my dear child is always fitting from a young person to her elders and modesty civility and gentleness are suited to every relation in life i have known many ladies to their with far more civility than they replied to and i know some who forget in their manners at least that are no longer slaves keep your feelings right towards your and then your manners be very remember the great virtue of that soft answer that away wrath the heads of families have a great many cares that you can know nothing of if they are and unreasonable to you be my child and you may do them good at any rate you will avoid doing evil yourself be and patient kind and generous to the of the family gentle patient and kind i can be but how in the world generous what shall i have to give your time your strength your ingenuity a person who will sit by a child and contrive it amusement for half an hour is far more generous than she who goes out with a full purse and the same child an expensive toy our means of generosity do not depend on our riches your en dear when you have a f walk of a sunday and sat down by poor and made him happy for an hour has often brought tears to my eyes said how i do wish mrs had children something that i could love if you find you cannot love mrs you may find somebody to love that good natured irish girl that will be a comfort and if mrs is cross maybe she will take my part have a care don t have any combination against your employer but mother you would not have me bear everything no my child when there is that which you ought not to bear you must change your place but don t be in haste to do this you will find something disagreeable in every place is in itself a great good especially for a young person you hardly need any other recommendation than that you have lived a long while in any decent family well mother i shall always come home and tell you all my troubles and then do just what you think best no try first to bear your troubles and by bearing overcome them if they are then come to me if you are puzzled as to what you ought to do come to me but don t make mountains of one thing i charge you to be about the private circumstances of a family must be more or less exposed to the persons employed in it and a feeling of honour should restrain them from tale bearing i am afraid there is very little of this the time will come when as the condition of the employed in our country is very much elevated above what that of d and die class is in other country their will be so too this relation is sometimes a very happy one when there is mutual kindness and affection and i may say respect trust on one side and on the other and gratitude on both gratitude mother do you think that i can make a person that pays me for my service grateful to me besides my dear child if you are such a servant as i trust you will be you will render services that money can never pay for but you will understand all this better hereafter when you have seen more of the world serve others from a sense of duty as you have served me from love remember	6
now while mr and i am at breakfast put the parlour in perfect order you must be very smart for as there are only two of us we soon despatch our breakfast another thing child you should yourself eat quick i always do as soon as you have swallowed your breakfast come to me for further directions can i warm my hands before i go in that cold room ma am are you used to having your rooms warmed at home to work in we have but one and that always feels warm your work will warm them it s a bad habit to keep running to the fire i never do was then summoned and made to understand that the cleaning materials were to be delivered over to promptly obeyed the order secretly rejoicing that his labours were to be and little dreaming that and his wife a pair had resolved upon the economical expedient of a young girl in order to let him off in the morning to perform a porter s task at the of co in this mode that safe speculation of the penny saved was achieved and the show without the expense of a man servant kept up while the porter had but the house servant s wages so far from perceiving this was mrs valued herself particularly on her clever expedient why she would say to her acquaintance don t you get german servants i do get them before they going to service know a word of the language and find out the abominable wages and ways of our servants i have had several at half price the best servants i ever had as they t speak english and are utter strangers in the land they are glad to put up with anything they can get in a decent family it is a difficult making them understand but as there are only two of us i and mr we get along very to be sure after a while they learn the language and then they are just as ungrateful as any of the rest and will go as soon as they can better themselves strange that these ungrateful beings should obey the instincts of all animal creation the horse and the cow will take to the best pasture provided the fence is down and thanks to a kind providence there are no fences in our northern land to secure involuntary service and to retain the human animal against his will and interest in any man pasture sat down to her first meal away from home with the fare allowed by mrs was certainly luxurious compared to that of her own home but the voices of mother and children were ringing in her ears s pensive smile seemed wanting for her and even the accustomed sound of her father s voice would have pleasantly broken the mournful silence did not appear was wondering at this when before she had had time to even at rate that miracle of the art she heard the summons of mrs s bell and hastened up stairs what s the matter said mrs your eyes are as red as and let was ashamed of her and glad to attribute her red eyes to that which had in part caused them she said the kitchen ma am you ll get used to that child all smoke i am glad it is not home it is too ridiculous to be home sick for such places as you live in i m never home sick neither should i be thought if i had such a dismal home as this mrs then proceeded to give her directions for her morning work and soon found there was no advantage in the truth of that eternal of mrs there are but two of i and mr for the woman employed all the mind she had in to keep s feet and hands busy as if the necessary labour of tending the street door rubbing furniture and knives going of errands setting tables c c were not enough mrs must have her carpets swept with a short and poor accustomed to consider despatch the soul of business spent an hour every day on her knees brushing off the carpets mrs the while on the great economy of cleaning carpets in this fashion there is no dust raised she said the fine parts of the carpet are not swept off there is nothing worn nothing but my clothes ma am said showing a hole she had worn through her thin but well saved frock this was the case with most new york before the of coal going to b that old that s nothing r yon hot mind wearing oat old clothes child i do i have but old clothes ma am oh well you ll soon earn more but my thought must go to something more important than buying me clothes however was strong and industrious and ac to constant labour mrs s incessant demands would not have exhausted her patience she could even smile when bid to open windows of the spare room and dust it and them up again and rub over with the soft brush the silver that was rubbed yesterday knowing that the same process would be to go over tomorrow the silver meanwhile remaining in rest upon the shelf but when sunday came then came a hard trial to she had looked forward to it as the the day when she was to go out free what time to day can i be spared to go home mrs she asked la child you speak as if your going home was a matter of course your mother made no about that we thought everybody had a part of sunday oh no you are greatly mistaken has every sunday afternoon i allow her great privileges as	6
may be imagined had for her privileges every other sunday she has the whole day to day i expect you to cook the dinner i can t possibly spare you if i get the dinner cooked and e live and let live done can t i just go and see how they au are and who is he v is the youngest not to day child we had best begin as we are going on mr and i always go ta church all day that we consider duty to your work child continued mrs seeing stand as if the question were not settled next sunday will soon be here soon it may be to you mrs but it won t be soon to lying all the time in his basket cradle with nothing to think of but when i am coming i promised him mrs and i must you can t go and there s an end the thought of s tion and she answered modestly but firmly i must go if i never return i suppose you know the consequences of going and not returning child i never pay any wages to anybody that leaves me within the month what shall i do what ought i to do thought mother must have the money to pay her rent i can live without seeing them but but mother h mrs she burst forth let me please will be look ing at the door and listening till i come he must take it out in listening i begin as i mean to go on i always do so just go to your work and think no more about it how easy to give the command how impossible to obey it did go to her work but her thoughts went home bitterly did she regret hav going to ing given a promise to that she could not perform without a duty to her mother that duty after a little reflection she resolved to fulfil still she after her little and tear followed tear as her imagination presented the struggle of expectation and disappointment on his loved countenance observed her emotion she rarely spoke to her seldom even looked at her but now she said what ye child it was kindly spoken and poured out her if that s all said i ll mind the house while you run home after dinner but mrs has forbidden me and won t she be at church and none the wiser i had rather not go so but if you will be just so good as to let me speak to her take your own way child it s all one to me mrs to her petition s name was a potent one she well knew the cause of s late she felt the importance of her and eager to profit by the first symptom of returning good humour she said oh yes if is willing you can change days with her but remember next sunday i must hear no about this home business the run home that had knew was no equivalent for the next sunday s half day but further was out of the question and the poor child like the weaker party in all took what she could get the first free moment found her on her way home and soon after for she went quick as the thoughts of let she was kneeling by with her round his neck and replying to his oh i was afraid you never never would come i was afraid so too and i find i can t come home every then i shall grow old before i see you it seems a year since last monday morning used her best to make in her prolonged absence it was but a forced submission to the inevitable i know you would come if you and that seems hardest of all that s true exclaimed the father it is a shame to make you a slave to people s but i told you how it would be beforehand we can never in any situation my dear said her mother be independent of but as you have only five minutes tell us how you get on was not to distress her mother with any complaints and her answer was guarded and rather unsatisfactory poor mrs lee guessed the meaning of this reserve but hoping a favourable reply to one question she said i am sure you find that a pleasant woman to live with mother that is the one thing i wanted to speak with you about i know is good she is so kind to an orphan girl that comes there she s good too to and to day she was very obliging to me but ever since i went there she has had something against me she does not speak to me if she can help it we sleep to but she never even puts hand over me it is not natural for an irish person yon know more than right mother they are so warm hearted what can be the reason i can t some foolish superstition perhaps but my child good will certainly in the long run overcome evil i will try my best mother i must go now k od by if you only feel as much better as i do for just this little visit you ll kiss me and not shed one tear good by father i hope mother you won t look quite so pale when i come home next time give my love to the girls when they come from sunday school and away she ran without shedding a tear till she was out of chapter vi more rules than right was with when returned s countenance was lowering you ve	6
been in mighty haste she said was afraid mrs would be at home and wanting something and i did not wish you to have the trouble of my work i don t care how soon i have it all but you are sure to keep on the blind side of mrs indeed said i did not know she had a blind side with all s she and had never extracted from her mistress one word it being one of that lady s golden rules not to praise servants lest they should take advantage of it nearly two weeks passed without any ble event in the life of our humble heroine but they were not the father of all leads his faithful children by no barren way for them there are in the most fields while serving others was besides the daily exercise of difficult virtues she was increasing her value by learning to perform domestic offices well mrs had not given her life and her soul to house affairs without and learned in her the most thorough mode of how most accurately to make a bed the best way of cleaning plate and that heavy duty of our mother was mistaken about thing thought she as day after day passed without her winning one smile i shall never make friends here too soon mrs s had that were particularly to her he had an habit of dropping his handkerchief the newspaper his spectacles and leaving his snuff box on the these called forth from his lady that in their e ct were much like a smoky chimney or a shower of hail in the face how strange mr she would exclaim why can you just the newspaper these hooks i always do there you ve than right down your box in the old place if there s anything that tries me it s living in such a litter it s so unnecessary when there are only two of us now our friend had an portion of that sixth sense which a person to see hear feel for others called in polite life tact and by a these little of slip newspaper into the right place picking up the handkerchief before the eye had on it c she had though he was rather like in the selfish independence of his existence begun to sparks of gratitude which appeared in a bless me r and then as his were roused by a sense of the escaped a thank you child an attentive little girl aiid when one evening as he heard his wife s quick step approaching through the entry he a lamp off the table which caught before a drop of oil had touched the carpet he actually thrust his hand into his pocket with the intention of a half dollar as the reward of his signal preservation when he was prevented either by the sudden entrance of mrs or the recollection of one of her economical that it was never best to give presents to servants it always led to expectations f when the and had disappeared some secret thought of his sudden prompted him to ask his what wages she gave that little girl three dollars and a half my dear high con her years and considering are only two of us why no my love i don t think it is and let considering she makes out to do all fl work and a good deal besides indeed i was thinking as you make it a not to give presents that perhaps we could afford now s wages are saved to give her four dollars a month my dear are you you know i make it a rule never to raise wages you would directly give them the idea we a eat value on their services so it would my love you are right replied the husband his natural sense of justice soon lost in his habitual to the strong current of his wife s superior selfishness the next day when mr came home to dinner after two or three extra of snuff and a and ha as he announced to his wife that had given him warning he should leave him when his month was up leave you why what an ungrateful wretch what reason does he give oh he says he must get porter s wages for porter s work l what impertinence but tis astonishing how soon they all learn it here somebody has been talking to him i thought it was a risk to let him out of the house yes that was a mistake as soon as they learn english their working for half price is au over he made out to tell me that the major of a polish exile once told me that a lady concluded an of one of his countrymen who served her in the capacity of waiter by saying with the utmost i assure jou i could not get an american as good for double the pay him we may set down disagreeable but than right the regiment he served iti in was in the city and sick and poor and it was for him he wanted to earn more money foolish fellow i wonder what good money does them well look out for another yoa know i have never failed yet my dear but i think i never was so as now has not been the same since came here what does that mean why has a kind of a cousin yoa know the irish are all one that she has been wild to get here and i had told her she come when applied i liked s looks and her s and those irish are so and hard to teach and was in a desperate hurry to get a place and t other one i could have any time and so concluded	6
to take and has really up about it but i expect she ll con if she don t i must take for i can t part with f i should think it would be easier supplying s place than s my dear give me leave to say you know nothing about it that is not your fault my love for i seldom hear you talk about anything else mrs hardly knew whether to understand this reply as a compliment or sarcasm and answered accordingly to be sure my dear as there are only two of us and everybody says as well as me that it s the most subject in this country and will be as long as we are at the mercy of our servants mrs then proceeded to detail to mr for the live and let live time probably the nature of s vices but rather too for the entertainment of our readers the amount of it was that was a woman of great strength capacity and industry that she accomplished more work than two ordinary women and all her work was well done and that mrs had made it an object as she had stated to to stay by paying her above the average wages and giving her many these cost us nothing as there are only two of us the lady truly thought the saturday night preceding s third sunday at service and the day of her promised visit home arrived stole in about as was her custom and was the first to observe and remark that she did not look well to s eager inquiries she answered that she bad had a sore throat and and burning all day and the people were out and nobody to go for a drop of water and ye u get your death in that cold garret ye will ru have no more of it said bursting into tears and taking on her lap something must be done to night said more in the habit of an evil than crying over it ye need not tell me that replied and wiping away her tears and her sobs she went up stairs and her mistress with the information that she must look out for another in her place as she would not live in the king s palace to be queen of it if she could not have to be with her the lone thing that had nobody in rt than right the wide world to care for her but her though mrs was resolved upon the sacrifice of rather than part with yet it being one of her golden rules never to let servants feel that they have the upper hand she carefully avoided sudden concession and merely said perhaps i can make it an object for you to stay at any rate don t look out for a place till next week i ve something else to do thought poor as she hastened back to the sick child and what in the world am i to do with she met at the kitchen door who shutting it so as not to be overheard said in her most gentle voice i think you did not understand me when i said something must be done to night i meant could not go out of the house for it s a cold storm and she s getting worse every minute now if you will put her into your bed i can sit up in the kitchen and i can keep her drink warm and bring it up to you if we can get her in a perspiration will be better directly that s always mother s way with a sudden cold but said in a softened voice you can t sit up all night and you such a oh yes i ve often done it with our and not felt it and she continued encouraged by s softened manner i ll go first of all to mrs and ask for some for s throat bless your kind heart stop a bit she ll be after sending her home first we ll just get her snug in the bed and then my old lady must make the best of it this mode of proceeding was not according to and let s code which prescribed to her to act openly but this was s affair and she quietly followed her with the lamp while she carried to the now honey said keep a dumb tongue and take this shilling and fetch the stuff from the it will be enough to be after telling her when we can t help it but if the bell should ring and we both out of the kitchen you re not such a natural yon can t give a when it s wanted f but i must give the right one was too much absorbed in and too grateful for s services to be offended by the tion of s reply and she had quite forgotten it when returned sooner than she expected with the and a bag of warmed and which mother said and truly was the best thing in the world to lay to cold feet ah how should ye know ever and ye such a it s having our always sick and mother to teach me poor i all her mother did for her was to bring her into this miserable world poor god help her but hark there s the bell and what is all this up and down stairs for asked who had an pair of ears explained and who proposed putting that sick child to bed in my house and no leave asked i did ma am she was too sick to go out such more rules than right a night and i did not think you would have any objection to my giving up my place to her she was not too sick to	6
come out if she was to go out in future remember i make it a rule to take a i person into my house it s very dangerous we might get our deaths and there are only two of us well i trust will send her off before breakfast don t tell her i know anything about it if she asks me ma am nonsense she won t but if she does you can turn it off without telling a lie i don t wonder thought mother gave me so many many charges about being steadfast in the truth who could have thought that a lady as old as mrs could have as good as told such a child as i am to lie f i guess i find there s not many like mother who thinks everybody ought to try to make everybody else as good as as as happy as they can alas no there are not many governed by these divine principles these moral steam engines s evening was a busy one one of mrs s rules being that whatever was left undone ih work must be done all human were by this lady divided into two parts the work was the the remainder the shell fortunately for work was no evil to her as appeared by her answer to when he said in the course of the evening you too much work for one so little girl she replied oh no work keeps off bad feelings when am so busy i can t think of mother and the same with me when i too f and let live much work i not think of mine poor country people with what blessings has a beneficent providence labour with health and appetite sweet sleep and peace of mind when her last task was done crept softly up stairs was sleeping soundly and too was asleep but her cheek was of a scarlet die and her breathing so oppressed that after another hour s watch repeated her visit to the she found just from her sound sleep by s cough and terrified out of her wits the poor child thought herself dying her terror increased her oppression and she clung around s neck with the grasp of a drowning person lord almighty help us exclaimed she s the last of all my people and she s going could you be after going for the priest this stormy night and the almighty s blessing on you while was uttering these and entreaties was a cloak round we must first take her to the kitchen and put her in a warm bath the waiter and the tub and all is ready i knew she d want it and then you can run for the doctor that lives up the street we ll get the priest if wanted to morrow i ve seen as bad as this and quite easy before morning ye re the almighty s own comfort to me replied her energies with the light of hope and if she wins through poor lamb i ll down on my knees to you for all my ungrateful thoughts this was said while she was hurrying down stairs with her precious burden in her arms regardless of the danger of offending the mistress than right of the house who roused from her cat sleep by the unwonted noise called to know what all the meant stopped and respectfully explained la it s only a cold replied mrs the irish are always scared out of their wits it s hard we can t be allowed to sleep when there s only two of us and she closed the door thinking it was no further her concern than as it invaded her comfort was in the bath and the physician called and his with the had advised was speedily relieved bless the sweet eyes of ye you it was that saved her to me and i it was that wronged ye but true as the word stands in the holy bible i thought that as st paul says i had the right of it will be after me when ye know all the bad luck that s broken my heart we were but five of u in ireland and that was before god rest his soul was killed fighting with the rebellion about the cow that kept poor s breath in her for her mother s husband that was to be was taken off for a soldier and so she fretted herself to death for that it was and not the baby that killed her and then the old gentleman my father that was was took off to the jail for s business and the boys got him out and hid him in the rocks up the country and there of hardship and starvation and and the like he died my own father it was and he that had a kind word for even the dog at his door and then my mother ah her heart was always bending like not breaking went to live with her sister s s wife and with and live her and i came off to america to earn money to fetch them over here i thought it was but asking service and getting it and pay for it the first lady i went to she asked me did i understand the work in a gentleman s family v i said and i did not but i was but she d not take the trouble of a raw hand and so to the next i just rubbed down the truth a bit and said sure there was some things i did not quite understand she asked me would i take lower wages till i learned upon no account i told her for the learning was the of all so she laughed and took me and a happy time i	6
should have had there but the lady found fault with my dress not being smart like e others and i be after buying clothes and my mother and starving like and every month a year to me till they came but i kept my to myself and got another place where work was light plenty of everything spent and wasted and the lady riding all the day and out all the evening but in three months they failed so that place was gone but tliey paid me handsomely good luck to them then i went to another great house where i did my best for my wages were high and paid when i asked for them but the lady was always finding fault with my irish ways as she called them and what ways would she have of me i asked her that was bom and bred and passed all my happy life in ireland save ten miserable months and six days in america with ladies that could find fault with my irish ways and never me better so she called me and i looked out for another place this time my luck changed it was to mrs s i the almighty bless more than right her it was but wages i got there and plenty of work for i was the only one they and he but a and she a woman with plenty of small children but then she laid out the work for me and gave a lift herself when it was heavy and was always taking thought for me and asking when i heard from mother and when a letter came to me there was a rejoicing from the very top to the very least little one in the family mr would say so you ve good news f and then mrs bless her sweet voice you ve good news v and harry their oldest a bright lad he was you ve good news v and so they handed it down to little who could just it out you ve news they were just like the angels in heaven where there was joy with one there was joy with all everything i know i learned there mrs was always telling me there is a right and a wrong way to and she showed me the right way to do this and me the right way to do t ah the ladies were the like of her half the trouble with their people would be over and t other half would not be to of and when the bitter of my mother s death came she cried with me and they all cried from the top of the house down to sure it the heart to have others fret with you oh how could you leave such people t sure and they left me it was a burning day in august when mr fell in a fit the doctors said it all came from writing too constant they moved off into the country i would have gone with them but there was poor yet to be got over mrs recommended me here i told her was it the work i cared for so i was sure of being well paid she said i would get plenty of work and she would see i was well paid and she it was herself that made die bargain for me but sure i would rather live with the for the salt to my than with this woman for the best wages in new york but when you have a for it you can do and bear till you die at last the money went and came and sure i was as as if all ireland had been in my arms and it was au to me my poor father and mother and and my sister that was the last and least of us all lying low and her husband that was to be gone the lord knows where sure i hav wronged you and sorry am i for that same but was not it natural like i should want to snug down under my wing i did not let on to mrs she was my own dare sister s child for the ladies are not fond of getting near kin together lest they should favour one another bad luck to them that would keep all god s blessings to themselves i said she was my cousin and is not she and a more and mrs engaged with her and the steps were scarce cold from her feet when you came with your mother you know the rest but maybe you don t know that when poor came that morning with her bits of things had orders to send her away without calling me and when you came my breast was all on fire and so it kept burning for was and i looking for a place for the and could t s find none and yon every night lying warm at my side when poor little the last of all the was sleeping quite in a cold garret i don t wonder at your feelings should have felt just so if any one had come between me and our but you should have spoken out mother says the simple truth spoken many a sure that s just the truth of it you have me a good lesson it s learning of them good to us it was in a pet that i was when i gave mrs warning but til find a place for and me now that i am rid of the bad blood it all seems but not to poor did it all seem quite so her nice sense of right bade her her place in s favour s wants it was not easy to supply was sure of pro some place and though she dreaded the horrid business of going	6
in such freshness and warmth god is love and affection is the principle in his creatures by addressing this principle the poorest of our brethren may be the irish come to us with their habits formed they require edge energy and patience on the part of their some of them may be and but for the most part do they not repay real disinterested kindness with fidelity and affection it is very common to say there is no use in trying to teach an irish person is an irish person less than any other who has arrived to maturity in ignorance we know it requires great virtue and above all patience on the part of the mistress but let her think of the missionary who her country to carry light to the distant and bless god who brings the ignorant to the light of her home and makes that the field of her and chapter vii to or to up ye women are at ease hear my ye care less daughters give ear unto my speech i surely the time will in this country where the elements of general prosperity have not been destroyed by the foolish and wicked of men when the poor will have less need of the passive virtues and be sure of a field and harvest for the active ones when no father like poor lee will by or any other vice for all vice is more or less de prostrate his family in the dust when physical intellectual and moral education will have raised the level of our race and brought it to as near an to equality of condition as it is capable of in its present state of existence one important step to this happy result is in the power of every mistress of a family she must first enter into the sentiment which was so well expressed by lord who in his last will in making some to his servants calls them his unfortunate friends his in nothing but position when she this an instance of almost in the of a duty to one of these in to cure or to she will make an effort to raise the character of domestic to the position they occupy in a new order of things and the new relations they sustain among us was received at home with an outbreak of joy that was not till it was found her vice was not ended but only to be transferred to another place and as mrs lee could not afford to lose a day s it was decided that should the next morning apply to mrs who might possibly still want her mrs lee s objections to the place were by her sing necessities early monday morning again set forth and was most cordially received by mrs you have come just in time my little girl she said i have had two in your place the one went away because the work was too hard only six servants in the house and nothing but odds and ends to do but she was a lazy mortal the other went i don t know for what some she and the cook relied i believe are apt to be cross you know but you must not mind that i shut my eyes to their faults if they will only cook my dinner well do what she tells you and don t run to me with complaints if my servants will get into here at the time of the horrid of the a mr his wife and children were among the passengers the small boat was putting off from the ship with a bare possibility that it might return mr s wife children and other relatives were in it there was still one place this he insisted on p to his nursery maid saying this girl has left her home m ray service and protection she was saved the boat never r ed to the did not do more for the cause of virtue by this last act of existence than many men achieve in a lifetime t g lit hot water i beg i may not be witb it i wish you to be civil and obliging to everybody the waiter may impose a little now and then he will sometimes but he is so good i let him do as he pleases try and please she is very good though a little old but i never cross her mind your p s and q s with the wet nurse everybody must with a wet nurse always be ready to run an for mary she hates to move off her chair and always do what tells you what she wants done must be done be ready to do any little matter for the children and try to please everybody there s no hard work you see only odds and ends had not experience enough to know that to work a little in everybody s field is much harder than to bring to perfection a comer of one mrs s kindly manner pleased her so different she thought from mrs so mrs s was something like a cup always running over upon what chanced to be near her however to do her justice she was very kindly disposed though from the want of judgment and reflection her benevolence like steam was lost in noisy and useless mrs was the wife of a rich merchant she had always lived in as far as she had thought about the matter she believed this was the station providence had allotted her and she fancied also that there was a certain class bom to understand and perform domestic service while she and all in her were to enjoy its results she knew no more of that science which every woman should study domestic economy than the	6

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