The Union and journal. [volume], February 24, 1860, Image 1

About The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882

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LOUIS 0. CO WAX,]
"ETERNAL HOSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF OPPRESSION OVER THE MIND OR BODY OF MAN."—Jofferaon.
[EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Volume xyi.
BIDDEFORD, ME., FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 21. I860.
NUMBER 9.
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|}octrg.
A WINTER MORNINO.
The kecr, elcar air—the splendid sight—
We waken to a world of ice ;
Where all things are enshrined in light.
As by souic genie's quaint dcvicc.
•Tlx Winter'* jubilee—this day
lib stores tfleir conntUw treasure* yield,
Sec how the diamond glances play,
Iu ceaseless Maw, from tree and field.
The cold, bare sj>ot, whore late we ranged,
Tbc naked wood* are teen uo more.
This earth to fairy land in changed.
With glitteriog silver -ho tel o'er.
A shower of gems Is strewed around ;
The flowers of winter, rich and rare,
KtiMes and sapphires deck the grouud.
The topas, emerald, all are there.
The morning sun, with cloullews ra\*.
His powerless splendor round ns streams ;
From crusted hough*. and twinkling sprays.
Fly back unloosed tbc rainbow beams.
With more than summer beauty fair.
The trves in winter's garb are shown ;
What a rich halo melts iu air,
Arouud their crystal bran:hc« thrown !
And yeeterday—how chained the view
From what then charmed us; when the sky
Hung, with its dim and watery hue.
O'er all the soft, still prospect nigh.
The distant proves, arrryed in white.
Might then like things unreal seem,
.lust shown a while iu silvery light.
The fictions of a poct'a dream.
Like shadowy gnives upon that shore
O'er which Elysium's twilight lay.
By bards aud sages feigned of yore.
Ere broke ou earth heaven's brighter day.
O, God of Nature? with what might
Of beauty, showered on all below.
Thy guiding power would lead aright
Earth's wauderer all thy lovo to know *
UtiscdJancjoiLS.
My Stop-Son—How I Won Hiin.
When 1 was a little girl, not m<>re than
twelve yean* of agt\ Auguxtine Saithaide,
then a young man of twenty, came to teach
our winter tcbool; ami, without wudiing or
knowing it, taught mo one lemon I never
oould unlearn. It wan |.»v< 'a my*tcriou«
|r**on. That lore wa<« no myth of a childish
fanev, no jack-a-lant*-rn of the brain, I Hit a
holy, pure and deathlemi nality. And the
low ol toy young heart Uvauie a hidden idol,
won»hip|»wf in wcret, alone ami unknown by
ita author. When, at thuch»«of achou), he
gave a parting kiiw, bade me he a good girl
and not lorget what he had taught me, he
little dreamed what he had taught me. 1
did not forget; and when many yeaiw later,
ho came to our village to »vk lor me, and a*
lie Kiid, teach me another hiwon which I wan
too voung to learn then, he found the tank
eaiiier than he had anticijvited, for lie had
unwittingly taught me the rudiimtita along
with my grammar, geography, ami' Adam'«
old;' when he used to l«Ml me ao carefully
over the icy place* and lift me acnm< the
slouglia; when, atanding up in the dignity
of liii* manhood, in the full Mature of moral
integrity, with hi* gnat intellect toweling
far above hi* aurr lunding*. he could stoop
down gracefully without appearing to atoop,
iiiid «o simplify hie greativ-m* that it could be
umh-ratood and appreciated hva little child;
and I.nit. though u»>t h-unt, when.with gentle
t mdernem he would amooth out the awkward
I nom«tim< M m.'ule in my recitation*.
beruusn of studying liitu full oil to the neg
lect of my (took*. As 1 was miring, it wit* no
hard task fur Augustus to tea<*h me love's
hi* m, hut there KM a lion in the way—he
wan a widower »•».! Im.l one child, a bi>T.—
However much I loTfd Au|^iiitini>, could I
take upon myself the fearful n-sp..n*ihilitT ol
becoming a stepmother? My howl Mid,
• Louisa, you are not equal to ^ .. ^
n»V heart, which 1 believe n„ArW| *richt
mid.4 For the great lore you b.-ar Auguatine,'
you can do bo and dare all thing*; fj0 no|
rob your livea through weekn.iw „r f«*r nf
the happineas of a union you so earnestly
C"*vet.' So I listened to my heart, left thV
cradling arms of my parents, and with my
• hand clasped lirrnly yet tenderly in that of
my nohle teacher, went forth with hiin to
learn the realitie* of life.
" So you m, girl*, how it happened that
I became a drpaothtr. IJ *m near forty
year* ago, and it seems I Kit yesterday when
we set out on life'a uiwrvn journey together,
followed by the pity, blame, and good wish
es of all our friends, far and near, and wo
lived through it all.
» Augu«tine S>uth»ide wan a nobl»» type ol
true manhood. I did not base my hope* of
happiness on a sandy foundation, nor trust
to a broken reed for suppoit, when I gart
him the wealth of my young heart's tirnt
love; nor did I over louk in vuin to him Tor
counsel, sympathy and cumulation in all the
rears that we walked Imnd in hund together,
llut, dear children, you all remember my
Augustine, how rood, how noble he was,and
how much you all loved him. I need not re
mind you of hw virtues, Tor his life-path wus
lengthened out until it lay hceide your own
many a year, and yet I never tire o'f talking
of th« g«»od oh! man, and would like to tell
vou ol many pleasant passages iu hi* history,
but I fear, if I begin u|»>u that theme, 1 shall
wear tho evening awuv without raving a
wortl about hi* son, my stepson, ami he is
the one I ought to speak of now, for you aw
all ao worried about Molly, her husband,
und his parent and children.
'* 1 married not onl v into a family, but a
whole community. My stc|H»>n, little Ed
ward, had one grandpa, two grandma*, and
fifteen uncles and aunts, all living within
two hours' ride of us, and all feeling a deep
interest in one way or another in tne child.
His mother had been dead nearly three years,
and during the most of that time he had liv
ed among his "relatives, a lew we»>ks at a
place, until the little fellow hardly knew
what it was to live at home ; and as some of
his relative were servant*, sjmo masters, and
others still were playmates for him, as a
natural consequence of Mich training, he was
at the tiiooofnia recall to the paternal hearth
very unsettled in his habits.
44 It w.is a pleasant evening in June when
we met for the tint time in the home that
has now been ours for so many years.—
Wearied with the j.>urney und the tiresome
mode of travelling—there were no railroads
then, and we came by stage a long two days'
ride—how I hailed with delight, too great
for words to esprtm, the sight of the com
fortable looking dwelling that Augustine
tainted out to mu as our house.
" 'Home at lost,* said my hushanil, as we
walked up the shudy lane that led through
the garden of rwk», in tho midst of which
stood with open door and lighted jxirch the
urk to which iny heart flew, I waring an olive
branch in all iti* hopes ami aspirations.—
lioinu at lust, echoed iiit heart, us wu enter
ed the portal.
"' Look, liouimi,* kIi] Augustine ; 44 in
not thin inviting ? The light I ruin the par
lor mantle in Rending out a welcome, and here
the lirst to greet us in our little Kdward.'
" Ere 1 could reply, an eager voice cried
out: •
44 4 Father has cotno! father ha* come!'
and the next moment u bright-oyed little lad
of ten summers came bounding into tho
hall.
44 lie was folded lovingly to hi* father'#
lu art for it moment, und then presented to
ine. 1 do not think he had noticed my pres
ence until hit father placed hid hand in mine,
paying, us ho did so :
44 4 This in our Hon, Louisa. Kdward,
darling, thin is your mother.'
44 lie look.nl up into my faco, hit* lip quiv
ered, nnd then his eyes dropped uj«»n the
tloor. 1 bent over und kissed him, aud wliis
pered, for I dare not trust uiy voice to speak
aloud, the tender name his latlier culled him,
4 Kdwanl, darling.' He drew u long breath
an if be were sufficating, and, withdrawing
his hand from mine, ran oil" into the kitelion,
ami called his Aunt K;i*y, who wan out su
perintending supper.
44 Aunt Kwy soon made her appearance
and p»ve uh the warm right hand of friend
ship with an camntm* that could not lie
in is taken ; making uie (eel from the lint, ul
way* cany and ut home in her presence. But
Kdward wuii an shv of uie on a young part
ridge, hiding his lace on bin father'sshoulder
i( 1 sjHike to him, and replying in monosylla
bles to every question answerable in that
manner. 1 thought 1 would try and get ac
quainted with Kdward as soon an 1 could, for
1 wished to become next to his father iu his
a Sections, but all my endeavors to please and
interest him teemed vainly spent.
" I'hv lirst evening pawcu awayana no on
ly looked at me one©. He built) ino good
night when he retired to hit* sheping-room,
but hLet buck was toward me. Aunt Kasy ex
cused him, saying he won ho Uwhful. I pitied
him for hi* ttoshlulness. I knew very well
how to pity bushful children, und thai rais
ed ine several degrees in her esteem. I had
made the gin*! woman my friend hy sympa
thising with her favorite nephew. Sheo|>en
ed her whole heart, und took me in for Au
gustine's Nike, us well as for that of his
ehild. She knew he would get along well
after ii few days ; that there wan nothing
like sympathy to win the hearts of the little
ones.* Children would be children, and we
must not look fur perfection in theui. Ed
ward wan a very good boy, but rather odd
about wmie thing*. When I eume to under
stand his whole heart I should almost wor
ship liitn. Si I brought out the kind-heart
ed luily, ami Augustine allowed her to enjoy
her opinion while she sat with us, hut when
we wen* alone, with a grieved look, lit) in
formed ine of his *on> determination, con
fessed to him tlat evening, not to own me
for u mother.
• I did not expect thin from him,' said
Augustine ; 4 lie husalways been so affection
ate toward me, ami I cannot account Air it
unit** some one has hia«ct^hir< mind against
the idea of having a rt -piiiothcr ; for beseem
ed almost wild with delight when I inform
ed him who would take kind cure of liiiu,
und thnt utter she cuiuu to live with us we
could live together at home all the time —
There b in surely been mischief wrought dur
| ingmy a'wnce; but Louisa, my love, do
not lie disheartened. I will teach hiiu
obedience to you, while the same power in
vou that taught the father canntit fail to
teach the son respect, confidence und love.
It*.* hopeful, my little wife; my warmest
•viniKithiew and ties ires are with you.'
" Thus comfort^ iumI encoura^l, I ri>t
•■d happily upon hit hoi**. "ow Ter7 c"n*
IRk-nt 1 was that we ^!iuuM l>o the Tory beet
of friends soon. I, who Dover Tot had an
enemy in iuy life, surely would nT>t look for
one in the heart of a little ehild. No, the
warui, winny heart of childhood was no lurk
ing place for coldnew* and distrust. Children
naturally lore women; they alwav* want
some one to call mother, e*|>» cially In their
houra of sorrow, lie would, he mu*t, eome
to uie and find a friend ami coin for tcr when
hi* heart van weary with i»* burden of child
i»b wimiwK. Thus I confidently reamed,
but dart", weeks ami mouth*, rolfcd by with
out giving me even a token that my theory
*m correct. Kdward was always ciril and
obedient, and oven respectful in his deport
ment toward mo, but oh ! so cold, distant
and lunU, that my heart ached painfully
U-neath it* 11mil of cruslied and dying hoj»ee.
" Aunt Ka»y left u* after a few davs to re
turn to her family, and after *he wan" gone 1
thought surely he would return to me in his
loneliness, but no. h« rluag clt»er to his
father and retreated further «vnd further still
from me. A»g<wtine was pnim.il to witmw
the coldness of hi* child toward her whom he
had taken to hi* heart and hou« to fill the
place of the dc|tarted wife and mother, but
he forbore saying aught to him, fearing that
somo ill-timed remark might only tend to
widen tho gulf Iwtween tho two with whom
he shared his whole hcurt.
*• Thus tho summer passed away, the
autumn was nearly spent; all tho unclw,
aunts, cousins and grandparents hud Tisited
us, sumo spending a week or more with us,
and euch leaving tho effect of their visit with
clouds or sunshine, us their nature* were1
cloudv or sunshiny.
" Then wc were left to ourselves until tho
commencement of tho Christmus festivities,
tho anniversary of which wo are now celebrat
ing, when Mrs. Itcnt, a widowed sister of
Kdward'w mother, came to spend the1 twelve
days' with us, and, liking tho accommoda
tions well, concluded to remain during the
winter. I was rather sorry she had chosen
our homo for her winter ouurters, for sho
Was very self-willed, and what waMyetworee,
paid but little homngo at tho shrine of truth,
hbouitually found away f<ir her will,and for
this reason I feared her, yet I feared far more
for Kdward than for myself, for her influence
orer him was almost without limit. Sho
seemed to idolixo the child, am) w«wtld not
allow his wishes U> 1)0 crossed if she could
prevent it. I soou leurnod that 1 was no
f>ody in her estimation (although hy myself
I was thought to ho unite a fine woman for
the times,) and that Kdward found mo loss
attractive than ever before ; he was still civ
il and obt dient, but as sunless in all his (tear
ing towards mo as tho northern side of an
iceberg. Dear girls, don't smilo at my com
parisons; if you ever had felt, what I hopo
you never may, tho awful dullness of unre
auited affection, you would understand how
I felt then.
" Augustine saw it all, and was planning
a way in which to relieve tho house of Mrs.
Bent's | rea'nee, telling her in so muny words
that her ro mi was more desirablo than her
company, when ho was called uway upon
im|H>rtant business, which would detain him
from hotuoseverul weeks. With his kind,en
cour.iging face bent down closo to mine, be
whispered, * Hope, hope, dear I/tuisa, and
live us cheerfully as you can ; your sunshine
will thaw them yet.* I could only answer
with a sigh, and turn nwav and weep. It
was hard for his sympathizing s>ul to leave
mo so unpleasantly situated, but he must go.
Then, with a bcnodiction of' Peace be and
abide with you,' breathed us u parting bless
ing upon us, ho was gone.
•' Alone ! Uh, what a sense ol desolation
fettled down upon my soui when his Moved
form wan lost in the distance ! I had every
thins around mo for my comfort that my
heart eould ask, ererything but tho lore of
hid child ; and that Iwon withheld, all cane,
eouifort and luxury were an empty nothings
to u:e. Must it always lie thus ? Would
the light never come to chase away the thick
darkness that shrouded all joy and robbed all
peaeo of its peace (ulners! Oh, my heart!
my heart! I cried to myself, will its yearn
ing never be satisfied? How can I live so?
I cannot—I must not. Life was not given
tor such a cruel purpose, lint what can I
do? 1 lone and pray, lalior and wait! Aye,
that I will. It is always darkest just More
tho dawn, llow often docs the cloud of thick
darkness bear in its foldsa long covcted bless
ing ! So came tho hour of sorrow to me.
" A few davs after Augustino loft homo,
one of Kdward'ti schoolmates came to invito
liitn to ioin an evening skating partv ujion a
pond about half a mile distant. It was a
dark, cold night in mid-winter, but Kdward,
who thought only of the lino sjiort with his
Mcliuolfellows, asked eagerly, ' Can I go?'—
lie always asked leave to go out in tho even
ing, instead of running headlong no one
knew where, and he was perfectly obedient
too—in this lie was a model boy. Mark this,
little hoys, and little girls too, its observance
as a rule will bring you a life-long blessing,
as it has to Kdward. Before I eould reply,
for I paused to think of the danger to which
he would b? ex|>o*cd if he went, and the dis
appointment he would feel ii lie remained lit
home, Mrs. Bent caught the troubled expres
sion of my countenance, and very promptly
informed )iim that ho could go there or any
where else he wished to enjoy himself; she
did not Miove in keepiug children mowed up
at homo all the time! Tho boy took his
leave, and Edward, looking very happy, was
about to follow him, when (called him back.
I felt then, if ever I was to realize my }n#i
tion, I was in his mother's steud. It seemed
as though the voice of tho departed spoke to
me, saying,• lie faithful to my little one/
1 said to my heart I will stand in my pro|ter
place, and ilraw the child to mo if I can.—
Mrs. lJcqt scowled ; Edwaid came back
with a wondering look. With a silent lilt
ing up of my soul for heavenly aid, 1 ad
dressed Mm.:
" ' Edward, ray son, I wish you to remain
at home this evening ; it in not safe for you
to go out upon tha pond when it is bo dark,
ana it is very cold too. Hurk ! bear how
the wind I'lowtt "
" 4 I fear neither dark nor cold, wind nor
water,' replied ho.
Brave boy!' slid Mrs. Bent. • Pear
ine, Mrs. Soutliside, don't go to making a
girlish coward of him.'
u 4 1 will not hurui him, Mm. Bent, hut
rather will do liim all the good I run. Will
you please allow us to talk without inter
ruption ?'
" Muttering to herself something about my
having more 1 spunk ' than sho imagine<l
fnun such a meek face, she ariw and left the
room. After she bad closed the door, I held
out my hand to Edward, who Mood gazing
in the tire with a mingled expression of an
p'rand defiance uj«on his countenance, and
a*kcd him to come and sit beside me, for I
wished to talk with him aeriounly. He ad
vanced a step and then stopped, saying, • 1
am near enough—talk away.' It wan the
first saucy word and the lant ho ever addnvs
ed to me. 1 did not heed it. I knew he
waiatigry with me. and ho thought justly,
because I wished him to remain at home.
41 Edward, my dear bov,' said I tenderly,
41 know it is very hard lor you to bo denied
this evening's sport with your play-fellows.;
but it is dangerous sport; your father is a1>
sent, and without his approval can you wish
to go where you may perhaps lose your
Ufor
•"Hut the hoy* dosicate tnere aiinosi ev
ery night, an*! don't get killed.'
"4 Yes, but it was only lust week that
three of them hroke through and caiuo near
being drowned before they were rescued, and
knowing this T dare not trust you on tho
pond in tho evening.'
" • Aunt Kent ii'nt afraid—she said I
might go.'
" 1 If your own dear mother was alivo and
b<T® where I tun, do you think she would bo
willing to havo her littlo son out on tho
dtirk, cold ice at play, where he would he ex
]H*ed every moment to danger? And would
you wish to leave her alone, tearing and
grieving for you, while you wasgono against
her wishee?'
••' Oh no, no, ao ! I would not di^. any
thing to make ray mother feel bad.' •
" Edward, your dear mother i* not here to
watch over you, and she cannot come again,
but I havo come to fill her placo u* fur as I
cuii; tu lovo and cherish you an eho would,
and with your father to lead you in tho way
whom you will find tho most mil happinem.
Oh; tny son, conio to mo an you would to
lhut dear mother, and let me fx* your friend.
If you only knew how tenderly I loved you,
I am mire you would.'
" 4 I)o you lovo me?' His faco brightened,
he drew a little nearer, and hesitated.
- "4 Yes, dear child, I lore you very, very
much. Come to my arms and tell mc of your
other mother, all tliat you .can remember,
that I may learn to be liko her to you.—
Como, darling lot us confide in.each other.'
The word* were scarcely spoken before bo
was folded in my arms, Lis face laid close to
initio, sobbing—
44 4 Oh, I'm so glad, I'm so clad you love
me! 'May I lovo you as I did my mother?
May I ?
44 4 Yet, ye«, but why do you ask ?'
•'4 Because—shall I tell V
44 4 Yes, tell me all.'
44 4 Because Aunt Buu* and almost every
body, Kiid that stepmothers always hated
children, and 1 thought you hated me, but
I've found out you don't. Oh, I'tn so glad
we'll have glorious times now, won't wo !'
4 4 4 Ay, that we will, and how happy
father will bo when ho returns to lind us so
khppy !*
••' I am glad I did not go oil to skate, now
I can Ioto you—but, mother, are you not
tired of holding such a great boy?'
" • Oh, no, you may sit hero until l>ed
tnno if you wish,'I replied, prcninc a kiss
ii|m>ii liik lowy cheek, lie answered with a
kiss, the lint ho ever gave me, and with his
face nestled closo to tnino, child-like, ho ask
ed mo if 1 would not tell him a rtory.
" • I had won my step-son, and from that
hour until this our lives have flowed on
sweetlv together, like a pleasant ]walm.—
Mrs. bent, finding her kingdom departed
from her, wiiiely abdicated the throne, and
left U8 to pursue our way in peace, ultho'
she remained our guest during the winter.
Augustino returned to find the heart* of his
household united, and here I will concludc
my story, only begging of you to let Molly
alono, or, if you will worry about her, t/on'i,
don't meddle with the chiidivn, if you love
them."
Undo Abol nnd Littlo Edward,
UY 1IAKRIXT DEECUKR STOWE.
Were anv of you Inirn in New England,
in tho good old cuteehii<ing, school-going, or
derly times? If you were you must remem
ber my Uncle Awl, the moit perpendicular,
upright, downright, good man, that over ta
ilored six days and rested on tho SahUith.—
You remember his hard, weather-beaten
countenance, whero every huo seemed to be
drawn with a pen of iron and the point of a
diamond ; his considcruto gray eyes that
moved over tho objects as if it were not lx*t
to be in a hurry about seeing ; tho circum
spect opening and shutting of his mouth ;
his down-sitting and up-rising, all of which
appeared to be jierforiiicd with a conviction
aforethought, in short, tho wholo ordering
of his lifo and oonvcrsution, which was, ac
cording to tho tenor of tho military order,
" to [the right about face—forward—
march!"
>iow, if you have supposed irom an mis
trian^ulariHin of exterior that thin good man
liatl nothing kindly within, you are much
mistaken. You often find tho greenest gram
under u enow drift; and though my undo'*
inind wasnotexaetlv of the flower garden kind
still there wan an ahundaneo of wholesome
and kindly vegetation there. It is true he
seldom laughed, and never joked himself;
hut no man had a more serious and weighty
conviction of what a good joke wan in an
other ; and when souio excellent witticism
wan dispensed in his presence, you might seo
Uncle AWs face slowly relax into an ex
Iiression of solemn satisfaction, and he would
ook at tho author with a certain quiet won
der, as if it wasiutonishing how such a thing
lould ever come into a man's head. Uncle
Abel ulso had some relish for the fine arts,
in proof whereof I might adduce the pleasure
with which ho gazed at tho plates in his
family Bihle: the likenet* whereof I presume
you never any of you saw; and ho was also
such an eminent muxiciau that ho could go
through the singing l>ook at a sitting without
the least fatigue, heating timo like a wind
mill all tho way. lie had, too, a liberal
hand—though his liberality wa« by the mlo
of three and practice, lie did to his neigh
l>ors exactly as ho would lw done by—he
loved some things in thisworld sincerely—ho
loved his (iod much, hut ho honored and
feared him more; he was exact with others,
he was more exact with himself—and expect
ed his (iod to bo nioro exact still, hvery
thing in Uncle A lid's house was in the sumo
time, 11 ice, manner and form year's end to
year's end. There won old Master Hose, a
•log after bis own heart, who always walked
as if he wan learning, the multiplication
table* There was tho old clock forever tick
ing away in the kitchen corner. There w»;jo
the never failing supply of red peppers and
onions hanging over tho chimney. There
was tho yenrly hollyhocks and morning
glories blooming around the windows. There
wus tho '"best room" with its sanded floor,
and evergreen asparagus bushes, its cupboard
with u ^liirn door in oiih corner, and thu
stand with the Biblo and almanac on it in
tho other. There was Aunt llctsy, who
never looked any older, hcruuao sho always
looked as old ns she could; who always
dried her catnip and wormwood tho Inst of
September, and began to clean house the first
of .May. In short, this was tho land of con
tinuance.
Old Timo never seeme«l to take it into hid
head to practice either addition, subtraction
or multiplication on the sum total. This
Aunt Betty, aforenamed, wax the neatest and
uxwt efficient niece of human Machinery that
ever operated 111 forty placcs at once. She
was always everywhere predominating over
and seeing to errrything ; and though my
unclo had been twice married, Aunt IletsvV
rule and authority had never been broken.
She reigned over Fiis wives when living, and
reigned after them when dead ; and so seem
ed likely to reign to the end of the chapter.
Hut uiy uncle's last wife left Aunt Betsy u
much less tractable subject to manage than
had ever fallen to her lot before. Little Ed
ward was the child of my uncle's old ago,
and a brighter, merrier little hlonom never
grew on tho edge of an avalanche. He h id
been committed to tho nursing of bis grand
mamma until ho arrived at tho age of in
discretion, and then my old uncle's heart
yearned towards him, and be was wnt for at
borne, llis introduction into tho family ex
cited a terrible sensation. Never was there
such a contemner ofdignities.sueh a violator
of such high places and sanetitiw, as this
very Master Edward. It was all in vain to
teach him decorum Ho was -tiio most out
rageously merry little elf that ever shook a
head of curls, and it was all the satno to him
whether it was Sabbath day, or any other
day. Ho laughed and frolicked with every
body and everything that cam© in his way,
not even excepting his solemn old father; and
when you saw him with his arms round tho
old man's neck, and his bright blue eyes
and blooming cheek pressing out by tho black
faco of Uncle Abel, you almost fancied that
you saw spring carenaing winter. Undo
Abel's metaphysics were sorely ponied how
to bring this ttpurkling, dancing compound
of spirit and mutter into any reasonable
shape, for lo did mischief with an energy
and per*ov< ranco that wero truly astonishing.
()ne« ho scoured tho floor with Aunt Betsy's
snuff, and once ho spent half an hour in
trying to make Rose wear her spectacles.
In short, there was no use but tho right one
to which ho did not put everything that
came in his way. But Uncle ADel was most
of all puzzled to know what to do with him
on the Sahhath, for <n that day Master Ed
ward seemed to exert himself jmrticularly to
be entertaining. •'Edwnrd must not play
on Sunday," his father would say, and then
Edward would shako liia curls over his eyes
and wall: out of tho room as gravo as the
catechi»m, but tho next moment you might
seo pussy scampering in dismay through tho
••best room" with Edward at her heels, to
tho manifest discomfort of Aunt Betsy and
all others in authority.
At hut my undo cutuo to a conclusion mnt
'it wasn't in natur to U>acii him hotter, and
that ho would no moro koop Sunday than
tho brook down in tho lot." My poor uncle!
ho did not know what wan tho* mutter with
his heart; but certain it was ho had lost
«• i* r _ IJI 1 II&aI. tJM l
rubbing hit* spectacles a quarter of an hour
longer than common, when Aunt Betsy was
detailing his witticisms and clover doings.
But in progress of timo our horo compassed
bin third yenr and arrived at tho dignity of
going to school. Ho went illustriously
through tho spcllingliook, attacked tho cate
chism, went from "man's chief end" to tho
"Commandments" in a fortnight, and at Inst
catno homo inordiitarilv merry, to toll bin
father he had got to "Amen." After thin
ho made a regular business of saying over
tho whole every Sunday evening, standing
with hid hands folded in front, and his
checked apron smoothed down, again giving
a glance over his shoulder to seo if papa is
attending. Being of a very benevolent turn
of mind, homnde several efforts to to teach
Hose the catechism, in which ho succeeded
us well as could bo expected. In short,
without further detail, Master Kdward bado
fair to Itvcoiuo a literary wonder But alas!
for poor little Kdward, his merry dance was
soon over. A day came when ho sickcned.
Aunt Betsy tried her whole herbarium, but
in vain ; he grow rapidly worso und worse
His father sickened in heart, but said noth
ing; he staid by his bedsido day and night,
trying nil menus to savu hiui with uflceting
pertinacity. "Can't you think of anything
moro, doctor?" said ho to tho physician,
when everything had Ik-en tried in vain.—
"Nothing," answered tho physician. A
slight convulsion passed over my uncle's
face. "Then the Lord's will bo done !" said
bo. Just nt that moment a ray of tho set
ting sun pirrced tho cheeked curtains and
glrntnrd flko nn nngel's mnile across tho faer
of the little sufferer. He awoke from a dis
turbed sleet). "Oh, dear, oh, I am so sick !"
he gasped feebly. His father raised him in
his arms—ho breathed easier and looked up
with a grateful smile.
.lust l lien IiihoIiI playmate, tli«^ cat, cnw
; cd the floor. •'There goes pussy," said ho,
1 "Oil, dear, I Mull not piny,with pussy any
i mope." At that moment ft deadly change
pissed over hit* fare, lie looko«l up to bin fath
er with an imploring cxprewion ami put out
his hands. Tliero wax one moment of ago
ny, and tlio BWect feature* nettled with n
Hinilo of peace, and mortality Wiia swallowed
up in lile. My unclc laid him down and
looked otio moment at his beautiful face—it
was too much for his pride, uml ho lifted up
liin voice and wept.
Tlio next morning wan tlio .Sald>ath, the
funeral day, and it row) with breath all in
cense and cheek all bloom. Undo Abel was
calm and collected as ever; but in bin face
there was a sorrow-stricken expression that
could not l>o mistaken. I remember him at
family prayers, liending over the great Biblo
and beginning the t«alm, " Iiord thou bant
been our dwelling filaeo in all generations."
ApiMirentlv he was touched by tlio melancholy
anil splendor of the poetry, for after reading
a few verses bo stopped. There was a dead
sileneo interrupted only by tho tick of tlio
clock. Ho cleared his voico repeatedly, and
tried to go on, but in vain. Ho closed tho
book and knelt in prayer. Tho energy of
sorrow hroko through his formal reverence,
and bis langtuigo flowed forth with a deep
and sorrowful jiathos which I never havo for
gotten. Tho God so much reverenced, so
much feared, seemed to draw near to him as
a friend and comforter, to bo his refuge and
strength, "a very present help in tune of
troublo." My uncle arose—I saw him walk
towards the room of the departed one—1 fol
lowed and stood with him over tho dead. Ho
uncovered his face. It was set with tho seal
of death, but oh, bow surprisingly lovely was
the impression ! Tho brilliancy of life was
guno; but tlio face was touched with myste
rious, triumplmnthrightness which seems like
the dawning of heaven. My undo looked
long and steadily. He felt tho l>cauty of
w hat ho gaa-d on ; his henrt was softened,
but bo bad no words for bis feelings. He
left tho room unconsciously, andstwod at tho
j frontdoor. The bcllswero rinsing Tor cliurcli;
tlio morning was bright and birds were sink
ing merrily, und the little jx»t squirrel of lit
tle Edward vu frolicking about the door.
My uncle wutchcd him ns ho rnn, first up
one tree, then another, then orer the fence,
whisking his brush and chnttering as if noth
ing was the matter. With a deep sigh Un
cle Abel broke forth, "How happy that crea
turo is ! Well, tlio Lord's will bo dono."—
That day the dust w;u committed to thodust
amid the lamentations of all who had known
littlo Edward. Years have passed since then
and my uncle has long l»«<en gathered to his
fathers, but his just and upright spirit has
entered the liberty of the sons of Goo. Yce,
the good man may have opinions which the
philosophical scorn, weakness at which the
thoughtless smile, but death shall changu
him into all that is enlightened, wise and re
fined, " He shall shino as the brightness of
tho firmament and as the stars forurc* and
ever."
Anetpotk or Extra Billy Smith.—Mr.
Giddings lectured in New York Monday
night. Whilst describing the memorable
proceedings against John (Juincy Adams, he
1* reported as firing a rather racy reminis
cence. He said that on the ei^ht day, as
Mr. Adams was speaking, he had bccomo im
patient under the constant interruption hy
southern men, among whom was Mr. Smitfi
of Virginia. "He had been a large mail
contractor, and at tho end of every year he
demanded extra compensation until tho clerks
of tho department had given him the sobri- j
quct of 'Extra Billy.' II® »* the "am0 man»
you recollect, who, oil hurt Christmas day,
took tho ecg nogg in Congrvw, and now I
l>eliovo ho in called 'Kgg-nogg Smith.' Mr.
Smith aixwe, and the itpcuker *aid: 'The
gontleman from Maamcbufetts lm» the floor.'
•1 know that,' said Mr. Smith ; 'but I want
to mako a suggestion for the benefit of tbe
gentleman from MasNichnsctta.' Mr. Adams
turned around with a scowl, and *nid, 'iNfon
tnli auiilio'—which means, 'I desire no imch
aid.' tyqt Mr. Smith, liko many others, had
forgotten" his Latin, ami ■tood Ktill, not
knowing what to answer. Turning to Chris
topher Morgan, hu said : 'Morgan, what the
doTil does that mean ?' Mr. Mtrgan was
something of a wag, and said : 'Why you
ncti tho old gentleman has become perfectly
enraged, and ho is telling you to go to—you
know tho place where' (pointing downwards)
Mr. Smith recoilcd back into his chair an if
ho had been shot, and so fur as myknowH
edge goes, never again alluded to tho name
of tho old man until b» bad been J«««l »uvcn
years."
"TIIK ATTITUDE OF PAIITIE*."
A 8PEECH DELIVERED BY
FRAN CIS P. BLAIR. Jr.,'.OF MISSOURI,
In Ihe C««pfr Inaillutr. New fork.
January 25, 18G0.
I/tHirs and Grntlnnrn :—To fx* summoned
by tin; distinguished men of tho Republican
|>arty to addnw tho country through it* nil*
pervading metropolis on the important issues
of un epoch, which ull Iwlievo will influence
it* destiny for up s, in n high ami honornhlo
distinction, of which I am profoundly sensi
hie. I owe this prominence to Missouri, and
to tho attitude she holds ig the very heart of
the republic. Her introduction into the Un
ion wan finalized hy a pacification which
wni hnilod by patriots everywhere, hut espec
ially in tho South, as quieting former con
troversy about a disturbing domestic institu
tion, at war with the element!! of freedom,
which imbued at thelteginning tho State and
National Governments. That compact of
peaco to which she set her seal as the party
most interested, was broken without having
first taken a vote of her people to indieato
her wish on n question touciiing so nearly
her honor, an well as her inter sts. Now tho
vital enquiry recurs again—what is to bo
done to givo repose to tho discordant element
among our institutions, which Iias destroyed
tho compact on which it rested, carried civil
war into tho Territory from which, by agmv
ment, it won self-excluded, and now daringly
threatens to crush the Union itself, unless
permitted to command in the ehoico ot tho
Chief Magistrate of tho United States. How
over glozing politicians may sophisticate
about tho old doctrine of tho power of Con
gress over tho Territories—the new one,
which would givo it to tho iitst settlers, and
take it from tho representatives of tho whole
people in Congress, and that still newer one
which would take it from both and resign it
to tho Supremo Court—no man can honestly
deny tho blunt kUUunent I have made of tl»e
all-controlling events which have product
the present hostilo array of parties, nor the
issue which the aggressive party throughout
this contest now presents as its ultimatum.
Missouri has over Ihmmi a Republican State,
Republican in tliat sense in which Jeflerson
employoel tho term to defino the party which
elevate*! him to power, Sbo owe*s her birth
to Jeflferron and tho Republican party—that
li>H<r»l j»»irtv which acquired tbo .Miiwissippi
and tho far West, and tho shon* of the J'u
cific, and devoted all to thn Union. Do the
Republican* of the present day maintain tho
sumo liberal principles which marked tho ca
reer of Jefferson in all its aspects, or do mod
ern Democrats more thoroughly adhere to
what werv then held an t|jo essential* of Re
publicanism? This is a question which his
tory will settle ; I will not now invoke that
umpire to pass upon the resemblance) which
existing parti'* l>cur to tho Republican par
ty of Jefferson's time, except as to that pe
culiar feature which has such jwwer over
thoso in lovo with it, as to turn by its aspect
everything (or thotn into its own likencm.—
Is thero anything in the eye of u devotee of
tho "peculiar institution," that concerns
tho Government of tho country, that is not
shaped, tinged, and contndled by it? The
Constitution will not ho allowed to exist
without it. Tho Union must lie broken down
if it stands in the way of its extension: Con
gnus must sacrifice tho time-honored com
pact universally received by successive gen
erations us implying a just limit upon such
extension. Tho President must giv« ull his
influence, and tho force of all his civil func
tionaries, sustained by the military power,
to ceHTec the reluctant mass of emigrants to
admit slavery among them, and the Supreme
Court must reverse all its nnve-elcnt* to es
tablish tho principle that slavery, as an in
stitution, is tho property of slaveholders,
which they may carry wfth them wherever
they have the right to go themselves. Now,
was this tho Republican doctrine of the davs
of Washington and Jefferson? Was it the
doctrine of lx>th the first and last Congress
of the Confederacy thut undertook te> exclude
slavery by tho onlinanco "regulating" the
Territories? Was it tho doctrine of the Con
stitution, which used the very word regulate,
as used in tho Congmw ot Confederation in
exerting tho power te» confer it upon the Con
gn^s of tho Union? W as it the doctrine of
the next Congress convoked by Wellington,
which confirmed, and with htssignature, the
onlinanco of 1787? Was it tho doctrino of
every President, Cabinet, Congress,or Court,
of tho United State* down to Pierce's time,
nil having eontrtmiieo in cither passing,
signing, or recognizing in their appropriate
spheres, the organization of every Territory
under the ordinance excluding slavery ? The
whole history of the Republic from it* foun
dation shown that slavery was held to be a
local institution, to he tolerated only in thiwe
State* into which it had been thrust, and
which were gradually to !*• reliered fnun the
incubus us the growth of tho white popula
tion rendered tno sutwtitution ol free lal*>r
pomible. History doea not hand down the
name of a inan who contributed to build up
our Republican Government, who declare*
himself for tho perpetuution nnd propagn
tion of slavery. The embodied South mark*
ed it* reprobation of tho institution in con
senting to the addition of tlu Africau slave
tnuio, and by branding it as a piracy. Wash
ington declared the sentiment of all his en
lightened countrymen when he wroto to Ia
fayotte, and through him to Kurope, that ho
looked forward to a time when our Union
would become " a confederacy of Free
State*and Jefleraon later and mere em
phatically admonished the South that this
must be *o, or tho fate of St. Domingo await
ed It.
•••••••
To what is retrograde impulse in t por
tion of our poople to be attributed ? Not, I
yenturu to say, to the unbiased feeling or
judgment of the slaveholders. I have been
I ami liar with this claw of peoplo all my llfo.
Bom and reared among tho farmers of Ken
tucky, deriving all my early notions of do
mestic relations from a rac« exclusively Vir
ginian, wliilo my public life lias been devo
ted to Missouri, and that of my father (with
whom 1 feel that I have always lived, al
though apart from him) spent nctwocn tho
two groat slave States of tho Potomac, I can
not 1)0 ignorant of tho character and viewi
of the mutt prominent and important chua
of the commanding slavo States. Tho deca
dence of those great States is not to be as*
crilicd to the character of its princijwl citi
zens, but to tho fault of the institution with
which tliuy have labored. Tho world's hU
tory does not show a better race of men than
tho farmers of tho States to which 1 have al
luded. They are of the best stock of that
middle clars that built up tho glorv of the
country from whence they came. Ihey in
herit the sterling common huh, Um» baoavo
1 Mt fooling, tho firm temper, the lofty spirit
that led tho way to tho civilization or this
Continent. They havo never, and do not
now, look upou slavery as a good to be
sought by rapine, aud drugged by cruelty to
our shores—out as an evil thrust upon us,
producing tho ilifferenco in the prosperity of
tho North and South visible to every eye.—
They are not tho disturbers of the peace of
theV'nion. They do not wish to abandon
tho fertile regions of tho South which now lie
open to slavo labor, tho greater portion yet
untouched, to force it on Territories which
should bo roscrvcd for tho free white race
among them, deprived of occupations, and
the means of maintaining a foothold in their
native soil, from which slavery, if it contin
ues, must ultimately remove them. They do
not favor fresh im|>ortations, a policy which
must hasten this exilo ol tho fro white race,
reduce tho valuo of slavo and landed proper
ty, render it more difficult to dispoao of, or
to retain advantageously. Least of all do
they desiro to dissolvo tho Union, either to
extend slavery, or as an experiment to make
more suro tho institution wlieroitnow exists
in peace.
The non-slaveholders are ol the same strain,
vigorous in mintl and body, bravo, luw-ahid
ing.jiud patriotic; more disposed to suffer
while evils aro sufferahlo, than to right
themselves by abolishing the forms to which
they am accustomed. They will continuo to
enuuro tlio oppression that tho presenco of
slavery obliges them to encounter, while
bare subsistence is attainable ; whilo •• hunt
ing, fishing, and occasional juhs," or little
tenement* held ut will on wasted field, or
tho wilderness among tho hills, supply food,
they may submit to their fate like stoics in
despair; but when tlicy are driven generally
to tho other alternative, which Mr. Ham
mond, the most distinguished Senator of tho
South, pointed to as tho last, but not un
usual, resource in South Carolina, that of
••seducing tho slaves to steal for their sup
jtort." I think there will ho danger of con
vulsion. A class already drjren to tho ex
tremities by slavery, which hove been so
depicted by Southern men of tho highest
distinction, and which have recently, in
lxmlslana, led to the appointment of Vigil
ance Committee* and Lvnch law, to drivo
flux of new hordes of negroes from Africa.
This would make tho price of lal>or so low,
that the utmost industry of the white laborer
would notyield bread to a familr. It would
compcl them all to take refuge in tho Peon
age system of Mexico, where the whole lu
Itoring population receive food und raiment
from the landholder, and, ns debtors, bind
themselves and families to his estate, to work
out a constantly accumulating debt, making
the bondage hereditary; or drivo them at
once from their nativo land to the Territories
for new home*, where it is proposed to follow
up the king's colonial system for tho South,
and pour in successive cargoes of Africans to
swarm in the Territories; to create new slavo
States, and subject the white laborers there
again to tho alternatives already described
by their own members of Congress. The
non-slaveholders of the South, constituting
nine-tenths of the population, excluding
slaves, cannot, when tney understand it,
consent to the policy of propagating slavery
with such fatal results to themselves ; much
less would they, knowing it, contributo to
severance of the Union to effect this object,
by lending themselves to the attempt to drive
a Republican IVsident from a station, tho
influence of which ho will exert to give them
and their children homesteads in the rich
reigona of tho West, thus securing them
from tho encroachment of slavery.
The slaveholders arc combined to a man
under tho leaden who undertake tho cham
pionship of their come. They am well
aware, however, that tho inanities who made
the late fumy at Harper's Ferry, and thoao
who approve it, consist of a mere handful.
Proof that the slaveholders themselves, whilo
tho Altolition concoction has been bubbling
up in its cflervrneence constantly, have never
felt an apprehension,is found in the fact that
slavo property lion l>een always rising in
valuo in the face of false alarms. Tho mine,
and all. its underground pn-|iarationfl, tho
work of years of eloipiencc and steal thy effort
on the |«rt of tho very few who favor such
schemes, nm at last laid op»n by an ex
plosion. Old Ilrown, tho First Consul of
the embryo Republic, is srnt to Klha in a
condition never to return ; tho rest of the
pmnd army have found a llercsina in tho
Potomac, and now, after the ohmqaira, sol
diers am springing up from dragon'■ teeth
nlong the .Southern f>onlcr», and comuernit
tion in in every countenance looking out for
tho ghost* of fflemln. Dot* any man bailors
that thin terror, in tho hitherto unterrifled
Commonwealth, is real? It is nothing but
a piece of fine acting—Kean In the part of
Kichiird on the field of Bosworth. T!;s
draiuiitic effort" work wondent on tho igno
rant, and, while the declainiera continue to
appall the oar with the outcry that tho Black
Kepuhiican party of tho North are in tho
plot, that they will olect a I'nwident to stir
up tho negroes to inaurroction, ami that thoy
propose to wrap the South in tho flimta of
civil and •enrile war, tho raluo of all the
projierty of thin doomed region continue* to
increase, and the rlareholdcr knows and
feels that hi* falsely accused party adversa
ries at tho North, with their iTcsident in
power, would moTe down, if necc—iiy, the
whole force of its million* of freemen, to pat
down insurrection at home, or in ration from
abroad. There need* no better testimony
to this fact than the trumpet-mouthed pro
clamation of Southern men in Congress, that
the commanding psrty in the free Staled
approve and lend their aid to ouch schemes
a* John BrownSufkpoae Republican Rep
reaeneatlvos should go through the slave
States, and announce to the oppressed of all
colors tho purpose of the North to abet
Brown's project of universal emancipation,
would they not be treated as incendiaries?
Why, then, are the Southern Representatives