Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1858 — Original Tale [ARTICLE]

Original Tale

INKLINGS OF IDLEVILLE. WaiTTSR SXrKBIgLT BOR THE RINBSKLAER OAEETTK, * BY QUIZ. ■ - ? 1 (continued.) CHAPTER XXIII. 9 Bhe hath a tear for pity, and a hand Open as day for melting charity.— Shakipxarb. Six years, of course, had made changes in Idleville; but they were not of a character to promote the interests of the place. At one time during this period a question of importance had arisen, and continued for a year to occupy the attention of many.in the town, nnd was a matter of discussion upnir every occasion that offered. A company of enterprising individuals—-not of Idleville—having long contemplated the construction of a railroad through the vicinity, put the project into execution. As the work progressed, hope, which for a time had almost ceased to exist amosng the interested, began to revive, and gigantic plans, of a pecuniary nature, were to be carried out immediately after the completion of the road. A number of citizens, seeing an opening for investments, dabbled in ‘the stocks with exalted expectations. Suddenly, however, and at a igoment they deemed themselves safest, information wag received that operations upon the enterprise were to be suspended. Those who received, notice first, sold th~’ . .! ■

at considerable discount to who were unacquainted with the depreciation. The victims railed loudly, the more shrewd laughed, whereupon the former, in many instances, instituted suits. against the latter, and the only people of Idleville who ever reaped fruits from the grand undertaking, were lawyers. The incomplete grading and occasional piles of rails, remained as a memento of the exciting time, and to recall to the minds of some recollections of courtroom debates, and musty papers tied.up with red tape . nd tucked away in the pigeon-holes of desks in the rusty court house. Mr. Wise, by these speculations, found his wealth considerably increased, and with the accession he seeded to grow in his already great haughtiness of character. He carried himself with a more lofty air; patronized all he came in contact with who had advanced to nearly a similar position with him, and treated those some distance below him with contempt.' At home he was the same cold, inflexible man, more resembling a block of stone, endowed with instincts—anything but animated. The usual air of quiet stiffness char.

acterized the house, and Mrs. Wise was as calm and unobtrusive as ever. Edith, the gentle child who seldom had anything to say, though advanced in years, retained much of the disposition possessed? in her earlier days. Instead of gazing listlessly at the fire, however, she employed her evenings with books, and sometimes when her father was engaged in his study, she? entertained her mother through the same source. To the causual observer she was not attractive, for seeing nothing but the mere school-girl, a simple remark, perhaps, was all the attention she elicited; and unaccustomed to the introduction of conversational topics, a silence generally followed her monosylabic answers. There was a sweetness about her manner however, that won upon the hearts of those who became acquainted with hiir better. At times she could be drawn from the seeming apathy; the dark eyes would beam with intelligence, and she would give utterance to expressions of a nature at once evincing an observant and thoughtful mind, frequently of sufficient depth to interest those more matured. Her father seldom talked with her, and she had not yet learned to overeejne altogether that aw* she had expe-

rienced toward him from her earliest recollection, therefore, when she desired information it was obtained from her mother, for to her was left, almost entirely, the rearing and guidance of the child. There were times, however, when she would awaken the attention of Mr. Wise, but such moments were seldom and brief, and he generally concluded his remarks by referring her to the maternal parent, with the admonition that he was busy and did not wish to be bothered. Deprived, in a great measure, of the association and participation in the simple enjoyments of those near her own age, she sought out amusements of her own, and finally succeeded to that extent when she preferred solitude and her quiet pursuits to the noisy mirth of her school mates. When the weather was pleasant and her attendance not required by her teacher, she would spend whole days rambling among the hills and fie.lds in the vicinity of the town, returning with floral specimens innumerable, or su-’h natural curiosities as she was able to gather from her limited grounds of operation. Her chamber, when she had reached the age of fourteen, presented the appearance of a miniature museum, filled with objects of beauty and instruction, and among these, with books necessary to assist her in the modes of investigation, she spent most of< her leisure hours.

One evening Mr. Wise and his wife were engaged at their customary occupation when Edith entered, and throwing a shawl to one side, which had also served as a protection to her head, drew a chair to the fire. Het face was quite red with the cold, and she could scarce keep from shivering; as the chills run through her frame. Mr. Wise looked up from his reading, as she seated “Where have you been, Edith!” he inquired, turning over a leaf of his book. “To the old house on the other side of the common, sir.” The habitual contraction of his brow deepened at this reply, given in a tone that evinced the child’s anticipation of a reprimand. “What business had you in such a place!” inquired he, looking at her severely. “He was sick, father!” “Who!” “The odd little man who lives there, and of whom the people are afraid.” “How came you acquainted with such a character!”

“I have known him for a good, while, father.” “That is no answer; bow did you become acquainted with him!” continued Mr. Wise, unrelenting in his severity of manner, and laying his book upon the stand. “I went to see him because ” “Becaus’fe what!” he exclaimed, as Edith hesitated. “He asked me to come.” “A good reason, forsooth. Do you go every where because you are asked 7 ’’ “No, sir; but he is such a queer creature.” “Don’t let me hear of your visiting the place again.”- ’ “But he is sick, father.” “Do you set yourself up as nurse for all the paupers in the town?” exclaimed Mr. Wise, taking up his book again. “Remember whose child you are, and let those whose duty‘it is, attend to him.” “But no one will go to him, father,” she continued, pleadingly. “It makes-no difference, you have no business there,” he replied, and was about resuming his reading. might die, then, in that cheerless place, father.”

“Then society .would be rid of a useless incumbrancer there are too many such as he already—mere drones upon those foolish enough to support them.” “But is it right, father, to let hitn suffer when it is so easy to relieve him!” “You are wearisome, child'; say no more and obey my orders,” answered Mr. Wise, as he reopened his book.

Edith, accustomed to comply with his slightest commands, seldom questioning, remained silent and her father, self-satisfied, took no further notice of her. He had not answered her last question, and as she thought ol it, it puzzled her to conjecture why; nor was she able to assign a reason by the time the hour for retiring arrived. As the little clock cn the man-le struck nine, she took a lamp, very quietly, and went to her chamber. A few moments after, she heard her mother pass by the door, going to her own aparment. Edith stepped out into the hall and called to her.

“Mother, is it right!” she inquired, putting her hands upon the parent’s shoulders, and looking up earnestly into her face. “Yon must obey your father, my child,” answered her mother, imprinting * kiss upon Edith’s forehead. ■ t

“But mother, is it right to let human beings suffer when we can help them; you have taught me that H is not, yet father ” “Did not contradict it—he only wished you to stay away—if the man is ill he will be attended to, my child,” said Mrs. Wise, with a quiet smile. “But you know mother, no one will go there.” “You mistake, child; there are those here who will see that he wants for nothing—the town has a few at least, who can sympathize with the unfortunate, and relieve them if need be.” “Who are they, mother!” “Never mind,-pow—-1 would not tell you if I were not sure your father said it would be attended to by those the duty devolved upon, and he was right.” “I can’t think who you mean,” said Edith, calling to mind nil of the inhabitants she knew. “Are you sure he will be cared for!” . -;i

“Yes, I am quite sure—so you go to bed, you will get coli| standing here,” and Mrs. Wise turned away to her own room. It was a hard task for the mother to instill into the /mind of her daughter, those principles of goodness, and at the same time avoid comling in contact with the teachings of her husband. When Mr. Wise acted as he had upon the occasion just Stated, Edith invariably sought her mother, upon whom it devolved to assign a plausable reason for his conduct, without imbruing the child with his opinions. She had, so far, succeeded in causing Edith to esteem her father; to believe he had correct motives when he did not cljoose to explain. Therefore, in this, as in many other instances, she retired, confident in the assurence of her mother, and with no less regard Tor her father, and went to sleep thinking of DureJklying sick at his dilapidated house. Even then her thoughts did not seem wholly separated from him, for his image flitted about,'and she saw it frequently in har

She thought once that she was wandering with him over some unknown region, and he was .assisting her in procuring shells and pebbles; that he had dropped something of his usual surliness of manner, and pursued the task he had undertaken quite willingly. Suddenly they came upon a group of men engaged in digging up the soil, and separating from the loosened earth small particles of yellow dust. They were all a shabby,fierce-looking set, and as she glanced from one to another, thought she had never seen men with such forbidding aspects. Presently her gaze rested on one face which seemed familiar to her, notwithstanding it was covered with a thick, black beard, and the hair hung long and neglected down his shoulders. As she approached this individual, he ceased hie work for a moment, and bent his eyes sternly upon her and her companion, and then without anyapparent provocation, deliberately drew a pistol from his breast and shot thedwarf. With a half-sup-pressed shriek, she started forward to Catch the wounded man.? The movement awoke her, and tremblingly she listened and endeavored to peer through the surrounding darkness. Thoughall was still, it was sometime before the child could realize she had been dreaming, and at last with a sigh of relief she pank back upon her piilow. (to BE CONTINUED.)