way! and not in a close carriage, either. O yes-I can leave herSeraphina Wells 'll come in and sit here-ma likes Seraphinadon't you, ma? don't you like Seraphina Wells?" 66 Not much," said the old lady. "She aint much but a giddygo-round. No, I don't like her.' But I "Just hear that, now!" said Miss Morsel. "But she does like her, for all. Well, I'll get ready, dear, as soon as I can. don't know whether I ought to go-I felt so down this morning.' "That's the very reason why you should go," said Rosalie, smiling. "It will cheer you up. "O the snow is beautiful!" said Hulda. "Snows aint much now-a-days," said old Mrs. Morsel, rubbing her hand back and forth over her knee. "They aint like the snows in my time. They wouldn't hardly ha' been called a flurry of snow in my time." "Did you ever!" said Miss Morsel, pausing on her way to the closet. I shouldn't wonder if she'd say the people were worse then, too." feel to-day, Mrs. Morsel?" said Rosalie, coming "How do you close to her chair. "How should I feel?" said the old woman, pettishly, but with more energy than she had before spoken. "How would you feel if you was shut up in this chair with nobody to speak to, and no home nor nothing? The folks that has the world thinks it's easy to do without it. I tell you it isn't—its hard. It's a bad world, but I want it.' 66 There is a better world," said Rosalie, gently; "do you want that?" 66 Suppose I want both?" said Mrs. Morsel, in the same tone. "What then?" "Then make sure of the best first. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing 66 66 Ay-that's what you say," replied Mrs. Morsel, rubbing her hand back and forth. "That's what you say. I should like to see you try it once! Easy work to learn Bible verses, and say 'em." "Yes, it is much easier than to follow them," said Rosalie; "I know that. But then, you believe the Bible words, whether I obey them or not; and isn't it pleasant to think of heaven when we have a poor home on earth? and to remember, that if not one friend ever comes to see us, yet that the angels of God are ever about his children, and that the Lord Jesus has promised to be always with those that serve him?" The old woman's hand moved yet, but it was with a nervous, unsteady action, and her face in vain tried to maintain its cold, dissatisfied look. Rosalie had stooped down, and laid her hand upon the arm of the chair while she was speaking; and now one of the old shrivelled hands was laid tremblingly upon hers. "That's true that about the angels," she said, in a shaking voice; "but I'm not one of them they should come to. What did you come here for?" 66 Yes, I'll go," said Miss Morsel, coming back with her bonnet on. "It is queer, isn't it? but I never can hear sleigh bells with. out wanting to run after 'em. I often think there must be a little perverseness tucked away in some corner of my existence.' "Things always is tucked away in corners," said old Mrs. Morsel, sinking back into her chair and her old manner at once. 'Corners aint no other use in a house." "That aint much use, to my mind," said Miss Morsel. "However, I'm going, ma, so good-bye." She went-and, to use her own expression, was cheered up higher than ever.' Leaving poor friends and poor circumstances behind, the sleigh now glided on to the other extreme of the city, as of life; and before a large house in State-street, Hiram once more drew up. The door was quickly opened, and merely inquiring if Miss Arnet was at home, Rosalie sought the young lady up-stairs. There she sat in her dressing-room, ensconced in wrapper and cushions-a book in her hand, her hair in the hands of her maid. Book and maid were at once dismissed; and seating Rosalie among the cushions, Miss Arnet stood before her to talk and arrange her hair at the same time. "Where have you been? and what has made you do so unwonted a thing as to come here ?" Truly, the simple desire to see you," said Rosalie "The pleasantest reason in the world-and the rarest. What did that woman do with my comb? Poor little Hulda, you look tired to death. Where have you been whisked to this morning?" "O we've been sleigh riding with Miss Morsel," said Hulda, with a look that bore out Miss Arnet's words. Marion lifted up eyes and hands, which were by this time disengaged. "You poor child! there wouldn't be the least atom of me left after such an experience. Here," she continued, picking up Hulda and depositing her upon the sofa, "wont that make you forget Miss Morsel? Don't pull down my hair, pet, in the intensity of your gratitude. Are my sofa cushions nice?" 66 66 Very nice!" said Hulda, smiling. Then lie still there, and go to sleep-I sha'n't let Rosalie go for one good hour." 'I "But why don't you come to see us as you used to?" said Hulda, when she had at last taken her arms from Miss Arnet's neck. asked Thornton the other day, and he said"What did he say?" inquired Marion. "I don't believe I know," said Hulda; "it was so many queer words. He said he couldn't undertake-to account for young ladies' freaks. Yes, that was it, because I said it over and over for fear I should forget it." Marion sprang up, and crossing the room to where Rosalie sat, she said, in a kind of indignant undertone, 66 "Is that the way I am understood? Is that what he thinks of me?" 66 No," was the quiet and sad reply. Miss Arnet knelt down by her side, and leaning her elbows on the chair arm, went on in the same vehement way, "Then what does he mean by saying so? It is cruel to say what he does not think!-it is unjust!" 66 He is neither to you, Marion. He is only cruel and unjust to himself." 66 Then what does this mean?" she repeated, but more quietly. "It means only that he is not happy," said his sister, sorrowfully. "You do not wonder at that?" Marion's head dropped lower, and rested upon her hands. "What can I do?" she said, at length. "I will never subject myself to the miseries I have seen in my own uncle's family. Rosalie! he has ruined himself-he has ruined them-in mind, character, and estate; and when he came here one night, and said he had been playing with Thornton For a minute the room was absolutely still, and the figures there might have been statues. 66 I told Thornton at once," said Miss Arnet, raising her head, "that unless he would promise me never to play for money again, I would have no more to do with him than with the rest of the world. And he would not give the promise said he would not be dictated to by any woman-as if it was not more for his sake than my own, after all! "Do you blame me?" she said, after another pause. 66 'No.' But the word was spoken with such evident pain, that Miss Arnet put her arms about Rosalie, and tried every word of soothing she could think of. "I am very, very wrong to go this all over to you again!-you have enough of your own to bear. Only it is such a relief to speak out. Alie! what is the matter? you are not well-you are perfectly white." "Yes, quite well," Rosalie said. But the bitterness of the thoughts and feelings that had been at work could no longer be kept in. Speak out Rosalie never did, now; but the sorrow that for a few moments held her in its strong grasp, told of heart sickness such as Marion could hardly comprehend. She was almost as much frightened as grieved. "I don't know where my common sense went to this morning," she said, when Rosalie had once looked up and given the assurance that there was nothing new the matter. "It is a perfect shame for me to lean upon you-little frail thing that you are and younger than I am to begin with. I should think you would hate me, Rosalie, for bringing this upon you." My dear child, you have not brought it." "Well, but don't call me child," said Miss Arnet, trying to take down her cousin's hands, "because it's really absurd for me to look up to you-I shall not do it any more, if I can help it. For the future, Alie, you may lean upon me. But, indeed, I have hard work sometimes. Mamma, you know, takes different ground-says I have behaved shockingly, and she has no patience with me. And it is not a light thing to see such a change in a friend one has always had." His sister knew that. But she sat up now, and pushing the hair back off her face with an expression of quiet patience, she said, gently "I do not blame you, dear-I could not have advised you to do otherwise than you have done." 66 'Perhaps it will all turn out well yet," said Marion, looking at her anxiously. Perhaps he will change his mind." 66 It may be that God will change it," said his sister, though the calm words trembled a little-and Miss Arnet knew then why she looked up to her. "The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath done harder things than that." And as her face once more rested on her hands, Rosalie added, 666 'Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee!'" No more was said; and after a few moments Hulda was aroused, and they went home. CHAPTER XII. I dare do all that may become a man; "WHAT a confoundedly stupid thing it is that people can't do as they choose!" said Thornton, throwing down the paper one morning. "Do you think so?" said his sister. "Now I think that much of the confusion of the world is because people will do as they choose." 66 What else should they do?" "That depends in the choice Choice is a poor reason if there be no reason "Now here," continued Thornton without heeding her, "here has this precious court-martial dismissed Captain Lewis from the army, just because he chose to play cards." "Chose to gamble;" said Rosalie. "Call it what you like,” said Thornton,-" I can't for the life of me see whose concern it was but his own. Why shouldn't he gamble-if it amuses him?" 66 Why shouldn't he cut throats if it amuses him?" "He may for what I care." "What are the reasons given for his dismissal?" said Rosalie,"what is the verdict?" "Here it is, in full." "Head Quarters, &c. 66 6 'At a general court-martial, whereof Colonel Thomas Parker was president, was tried Captain Charles Lewis, of the 29th regiment, on the following charge and specifications: 666 666 Charge-Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Specification 1. Holding a faro-bank at his quarters near Buffalo, about the 6th November, 1812. 666 Specification 2. Gambling with his own waiter, and other soldiers, at faro, same time and place. 66 6 'Specification 3. same time and place. Winning and receiving money of soldiers, 666 Specification 4. Boasting to his waiter, that he had won 60 dollars with a pack of cards, about the same time and place. 666 "To which charge and specifications the prisoner pleaded not guilty of the charge-guilty of the first and third specifications, and not guilty of the fourth. "The court, after mature deliberation, find the prisoner, Captain Charles Lewis, guilty of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th specifications; and guilty of the charge preferred against him; and sentence him to be dismissed the service of the United States. "The General approves the sentence; and Captain Charles Lewis is accordingly dismissed the service of the United States. "Pretty specimen of impertinent and unjust interference, isn't it!" said Thornton, when he had finished. "I know too little of military law to say whether it be unjust or no; but I should sooner call it humanity than impertinence-if it makes Captain Lewis ashamed of what does not become the gentleman and ruins the man.' "What nonsense you do talk!" said Thornton angrily; "just because you know nothing about the matter-or think nothing. 66 'Just because I know and think. O Thornton, you should not defend gambling!-it has lost us too much.' "Lost! how do you know that I ever lost anything?” "I know of one most precious thing,-I need not seek further." "It will be time enough to remind me of that when I have forgotten it," said the young man with an uneasy change of posture. She left her seat, and kneeling down by him leant her head on his shoulder. "Is it possible that you can remember and disregard it? What would I not do-what would I not bear, to save you from these false friends-these degrading and ruining pursuits! To see you take the part of a man and a Christian in the world. To see you live for something more than the day's laugh and the night's amusement. O Thornton, is it worthy of you? while this command stands unerased. I am the Almighty God. Walk before me and be thou perfect.' He was looking down, somewhat sullenly; and neither by word nor look did he answer her words, nor the hand that drew back the hair from his forehead as caressingly as if he had been a child, nor the earnest eyes that he knew were studying his face. In his secret mind, Thornton felt very much as if he were Captain Lewis just hearing Major Bankhead dismiss him the service, but if Rosalie's power was strong so also was his resistance. "And you think," he said, "that people's hearts are always open to the view of their fellow-creatures,-that secret good and evil do not exist." 66 I think anything else," said his sister. "But I must believe the words of Christ, and he says, Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." How tenderly it was spoken! and yet how gravely too. Thornton |