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'" ••^i^T^mvjf iiJi^i.-j^jw; rvy^v^-- 
 
 \ 
 
 ^Al^ 
 
 THE PEOPtRTV OF 
 
 THE LAW SOCIETY 
 
 LILLIAN; 
 
 ou, 
 
 WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 A NARRATIVE CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY HISTORY OF CA3TADA 
 AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 
 
 BT 
 
 I 
 
 CHARLES SHRIMPTON. 
 
 <^»-»- 
 
 NEW TOBK: 
 
 N. TIBBALS & CO., 
 37 Park Row and 146 Nassau Strebt. 
 
 1868. 
 
 i 
 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, 
 
 By CHARLES 8HRIMPT0N, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Southern District of New York. 
 
 IN 
 
 ^. 
 
 \) 
 
 yh C-}o 
 
 4 
 
PRELIMINABT. 
 
 In the publication of the work here presented to the 
 reader, the author has been actuated by no selfish pur- 
 pose. The thought of principal importance in issuing 
 a book for general perusal should be — what will be the 
 probable influence it will exert : is it trashy in its na- 
 ture, or vicious in its spirit ; will it offend or corrupt 
 the moral sense, or to any extent injure the intellect, by 
 debasing it with impure thoughts and demoralizing im- 
 agery ? Or, on the contrary, is it, in design and execu- 
 tion, adapted, by its portrayal of character, to give a 
 winning beauty to virtue, and to exert a controlling in- 
 fluence for good on the mind of the Reader ? Is it, in a 
 word, such a production, that parents can place it in the 
 hands of their children with the conviction that, while 
 they will be interested and informed, they will receive 
 no detriment from its perusal ? The author, conscious 
 of his rectitude in this regard, leaves his work to win its 
 way to public favor, rather by its intrinsic character 
 and moral value, than by any pretensions.to literary ex- 
 cellence. 
 
' • '.. 
 
LILLIAN; 
 
 OR, WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 On one of those stormj'^ nights that can perhaps b« 
 experienced only in Lower Canada, when it is impossible 
 to judge with certainty how soon the wind '^"ill veer, or 
 from which point of the compass it will next come, — the 
 snow driving with a fury and an impetuosity that may 
 emphatically be termed Canadian, or whirling in every 
 direction in eddies, large and small, according to the size 
 of the obstruction that diverts it or impedes its progress, 
 and in places forming drifts that must be seen to fully 
 realize their magnitude, — while such a storm is raging, 
 we will enter one of those snug and comfortable white- 
 washed cottages in the neighborhood of the Quebec 
 Barracks, in the city of Montreal, as it appeared in the 
 latter part of the last century. But before doing so we 
 will take a cursory glance at its exterior. 
 
 A substantial edifice, known as a frame-building, 
 erected with an eye to shelter its occupants from the 
 biting blast of such a night as this, with its tight-fitting 
 doors and window-frames and double sashes, with all 
 the outside joints and interstices well plastered over, 
 
6 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 it was well adapted to keep Jack Frost at bay. The 
 building was what might be called a story and a half, 
 with four dormer windows in the high, steep-slanting 
 roof, and four windows below, two on each side of the 
 door. The door was sheltered from the snow by a tem- 
 porary porch, with outside door. This porch was in- 
 tended for winter use only, and would be removed in 
 early spring. At some distance, in front of the building, 
 there was a painted picket-fence, which enclosed a nicely 
 laid out flower-garden ; but nothing of this could be seen 
 on the night in question, owing to the deep covering of 
 snow. In the rear of the building was a spacious yard, 
 with stable, coach-house, wood-shed, and all other con- 
 veniences comporting with respectability. On the front 
 door was a brass knocker, with a neatly engraved door- 
 plate, bearing the name of " Captain Walters," — these at 
 all times being kept scrupulously clean and bright. 
 The doors and windows, as also the picket-fence, were 
 painted a light green. The whole of the exterior ap- 
 pearance of the place would impress the mind of the be- 
 holder that comfort and neatness of no common order 
 reigned within. On entering the cottage, this impression 
 would be increased by the unmistakable evidences that 
 woman's hand and eye, and taste of no ordinary grade, 
 had been at work, not less by the quantity or quality of 
 the articles there presented to view, than by the skill 
 displayed in the arrangement and disposition of shade 
 and color, and in the classification. 
 
 We shall not describe the material or color of the nice 
 curtains, the elaborate pattern of the rich Turkey car- 
 pet, or the kind of wood of which the varied furniture 
 was made, or the ingenious workmanship and costly 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 I 
 
 carving of the same. All these things must be judged 
 of from the taste and character of the occupants, as they 
 become more fully developed in our narrative. Suffice 
 it to say, that one of the most important and conspicu- 
 ous objects, to our taste, was a very neat bookcase of 
 no mean dimensions, and filled to its utmost capacity 
 with a choice and well-selected library. The proprietors 
 must have been no mean linguists, judging from the 
 array of works in the modern as well as the ancient 
 languages there represented ; while, from the wide 
 range of subjects embraced in the higher branches of 
 science and literature, they must, in every sense of the 
 word, be well read and highly tutored. In the room on 
 the other side of the entrance hall there was an elegant 
 piano, from one of the most celebrated London makers ; 
 and a large assortment of music lay close at hand, on a 
 small table. In the centre of each of the rooms there 
 was the ever-present and essential requisite, in that laud 
 of frost and snow, the large, square, Canadian stove, and 
 near by, a large box full of hard maple firewood. 
 
 This hasty glance at the exterior and interior of the 
 dwelling, will give us some crude idea of the standing, 
 the characters, and the tastes of the occupants. Now, 
 on the evening already alluded to, in one of those rooms 
 there sat a female. She had just left her piano, and 
 was about to take up her sewing. On the work-table 
 there stood a beautiful branch candlestick, with four 
 wax candles. It might be seen, at a glance, that she 
 was a person of no ordinary character ; in every sense 
 of the word, a true woman. "We are not going to de- 
 scribe her eyes, though they were the blackest of the 
 black, steady and penetrating — possessing, at the same 
 
8 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 n 
 
 time, an expression of soft and melting tenderness. Nor 
 shall we give a long, glowing word-picture of her hair, 
 though it was of the richest luxuriance, and glossy raven 
 hue, with a slight tendency to curl. Her form was 
 plump and finely rounded ; her countenance expressive, 
 and exhibiting high intelligence, calm and placid when 
 at rest, but often lighted up by a most bewitching smile, 
 and then wit and wisdom would hold high revel on her 
 lips, although, at all times, she displayed more than com- 
 mon firmness. Her stature was rather above the medium 
 height, with a nice adjustment uf breadth ; her step 
 clean ; and, in fact, her every movement mani- 
 
 was 
 
 fested refinement and grace. Her voice, manner, coun- 
 tenance, and deportment showed very clearly to the ob- 
 server that more than an ordinary amount of sorrow had 
 fallen to her lot. Holding her sewing in her hand, as 
 though in a state of hesitancy, casting a momentary and 
 furtive glance towards the window, as though listening 
 for the sound of some expected footfall, then consulting 
 the elegant gold watch that she had just taken from her 
 girdle, she looked, with a steady gaze, at the light of 
 the wax tapers, as though revolving some weighty sub- 
 ject in her mind ; and ever and anon a deep-drawn sigh 
 would escape her, which would heave her bosom and 
 give still greater dimensions to her well-developed 
 form. 
 
 At length there was the sound of the opening wicket, 
 and the well-known cough — sure notice, and welcome 
 password to the inner citadel of that true woman's heart 
 — and, quick as thought, with an elastic bound, she was 
 at the door, and the bolt withdrawn. Be not afraid, ye 
 loving couple, for it is not our purpose to say one word 
 
 III 
 
»•'^ 
 
 WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 9 
 
 «ibout that or any other of your fond greetings 1 But 
 she did say — 
 
 *' Robert, I am so glad that you dre cone 1 What 
 a nif^ht is this to be out, and you so ill able to bear it 1" 
 
 " Yes, ny Eliza, it is ; but you know that garrison 
 duty must be attended to, let it be foul or fair weather.'* 
 
 " Oh, yris, \ ao know all that ; but I know, also, that 
 you are not so able as you used to be to stand such ex- 
 cessive fatigue, before you were so severely wounded, 
 and your long sickness in consequence.'^ 
 
 " Well, I do feel a little the worse for wear on that 
 account ; but I trust that time and patience, and the 
 blessing of God seconding your very affectionate nurs- 
 ing, will eventually bring all right again with me." 
 
 " Oh, I know that you are always so patient, Robert, 
 and not given to complaining, however much you may 
 suflfer ; but does not this very severe cold night affect 
 you, and cause your wounds to be more painful ?" 
 
 " Rather painful, my dear ; but you know that a sol- 
 dier must with courage live, or must with courage 
 die." 
 
 " Yes, my dear Robert ; but it is not only that kind of 
 courage that will nerve the arm in the deadly conflict 
 with the foe, or even to do bravely the arduous duties 
 of life, that is necessary, but that more difficult bravery, 
 to take a bold and decided stand on the side of virtue 
 and the cause of God." 
 
 " Oh, yes ; I feel that every day of my life. I know 
 that it is fur easier to brave death at the cannon's 
 mouth, or to encounter the storm and tempest on such 
 a night as this in the performance of our most arduous 
 duties, than to contend with the vain and vicious, or to 
 
 1* 
 
II 
 
 10 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 bear up against their supercilious laugh or cutting 
 jests ; but if they did it to the green tree, will they not 
 also do it to the dry ?" 
 
 " Yes, my dear Robert, that is true ; and with so 
 bright and so beautiful an example before us, ought we 
 not to bear the cross, as seeing Him who is invisible V* 
 
 " Certainly, my own Eliza ; and, when seeing Him by 
 the eye of faith, it lightens the burden, because He bears 
 th« heaviest portion with us. 
 
 " And althoUtj'h our good name may be evil spoken 
 of, and the cold and piercing blast may rage without, 
 if we have peace of conscience and conjugal lov^ at 
 home, with the smile of Heaven to cheer our hearts, we 
 may then bravely dare and do, and leave all the conse- 
 quences to God. But now, my dear Eliza, we will join 
 in the evening hymn of praise to Him who has led us 
 by a way that we knew not, and then, by prayer and 
 supplication, commit our way to Him, and crave His 
 fatherly help and guidance for the future. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 11 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The last chapter closed with a portrayal of the calm 
 and peaceful termination of the day in the dwelling of 
 Captain Walters. We will now introduce the reader to 
 a very different scene. It is the oflBcers' mess-room of 
 the same regiment to which Captain Walters belonged. 
 
 ♦The band of the regiment, under the able leadership 
 of the German bandmaster, had just closed their exer- 
 cises for the evening, as usual, with the national air of 
 *' God save the King." The officers had just partaken 
 of a sumptuous repast, which term it is intended shall 
 convey a more than ordinary significance ; for each of 
 the gentlemen composing that company may be sup- 
 posed to occupy a high position as to his capacity, judg- 
 ing from the quality and quantity of the viands placed 
 before them, and the amount of culinary skill expended 
 in their preparation. And any defect or deficiency as 
 to either, or in the manipulation of the French cook, 
 would have been detected by the veriest tyro present ; 
 and then, judging from the antecedents of the parties, 
 could any flaw have been detecced, they were not the 
 men to allow it to pass unnoticed, or, however innocent 
 the man or trifling the cause, to suffer any fault or de- 
 ficiency to pass unreproved ; nor did they, under any 
 circumstance, use the most gentle or refined language. 
 For these gentlemen (we had almost said these men, 
 but perhaps that term might be considered discourteous 
 
12 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 lii 
 
 n 
 
 i 
 
 i ] 
 
 on our part, which it is our wish to avoid ; we know, 
 however, that there is often a wide difference between 
 the term, as well as the real character of " man" and 
 "gentleman," but it is not our purpose to discuss 
 here that question, or to canvass on which side of 
 the scale preponderates real worth, but simply to no- 
 tice the supposed antecedents of these gentlemen), de- 
 scended from the ranks of the old aristocratic families 
 of England. They had, of course, been deeply imbued 
 with the exalted notions of class privileges held at the 
 date to which we are now alluding. They had been, 
 from earliest infancy, held aloof from contact with what 
 they were pleased to call the lower orders. 
 
 As a general thing, they traced the line of their an- 
 cestry to the companions in arms of William, the Con- 
 queror of England ; hence it was presumed that a purer 
 blood flowed in their veins than in the veins of the 
 common people ; while, as a privileged class, they held 
 a monopoly in the few leading seats of learning then 
 in the land, which had the tendency to still more widen 
 the chasm above alluded to. They had also, from time 
 far back in the history of the nation, laid special clairc, 
 as a not to be disputed right, to all places of trust and 
 emolument both in Church and State ; all tending to tho 
 result of an oppressive and extravagant government 
 and a bigoted and an intolerant Church, while the 
 masses of the people were neglected, ignorant, and im- 
 moral. 
 
 Then we may naturally suppose that these gentlemen 
 would not be much improved in their morals when 
 relieved of the very slight restraints that may have 
 held them while under the parental roof, and of the 
 
.M 
 ■^■M 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 13 
 
 loose curb that restrained their rampant passions while 
 nnder tutors, they having now become, in a great meas- 
 ure, the arbiters of their own actions. And when we 
 consider that the younger part had been successively 
 thrown into the company of those already schooled by 
 thorough culture among these fashionable rakes, and 
 the aptness also of the young to copy from those older 
 than themselves, especially in the darker shades of 
 character — their pertness and wish to shine — it is not 
 diflficult to conceive of their ability to contribute their 
 share in supplying fuel to this seething cauldron of 
 fashionable vice. 
 
 From a necessarily hasty and general view of the 
 company now before us, as they appear in the oflBcers' 
 mess-room, and from general appearances, we judged 
 that they were a goodly and noble-looking company. 
 We will, however, be more special and personal in our 
 survey and remarks, and endeavor with an impartial 
 judgment to portray the personal appearance of a few, 
 and to f'ketch their moral character ; for that, after all, 
 is our main object and aim. 
 
 Of course, the highest in point of oflfice must claim 
 our first regard, and for other reasons than merely being 
 the highest in office. He appeared to be the oldest, and 
 had no doubt been a dashing fellow in his time. The 
 Colonel bore all the marks of being a man of the world 
 and a highly polished gentleuiii- , "asy and afl'able in 
 his manners among his compeers, and, at will, could 
 throw just enough of hauteur into his bearing to be- 
 speak at all times due deference and respect from all the 
 officers in the regiment under his command ; but he 
 held in supreme contempt any and every person who in 
 
14 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 any way attempted to question the dignity or t*iie respec- 
 tability of his office. He was tall in stature, noble in 
 his figure and general carriage ; with an eye large, 
 clear, dark in color, and penetrating ; a prominent Ro- 
 man nose ; a deeply bronzed countenance, with all the 
 indications of having seen much and severe service. 
 But there had been other influences at work, that had 
 most seriously aflFected that fine and noble frame, than 
 had been encountered in the service of his country. 
 He had been a valetudinarian— his fine constitution had 
 been emaciated by his vices far more than by the hard 
 professional service that he had seen ; and, to use a sig- 
 nificant expression, he was indeed a patched-up man. 
 Gambling and wine were the deities at whose shrine he had 
 been a most devout worshipper ; and withal he had been 
 no inattentive votary at the more material, but perhaps 
 not less enervating, cuisine delicacies. Now he was tor- 
 mented with gout, together with a legion of other dis- 
 eases, that caused him to totter on in the imbecility of 
 a premature old age ; notwithstanding which, the fires 
 of former dissipation still smouldered within him, and 
 the smirking frivolities which would but ill become even 
 the boy not out of his teens, subjected him to the ridi- 
 cule and contempt of all true admirers of manly virtue. 
 
 The next to be presented, in the order of rank, is the 
 major. This gentleman was a kind of nondescript : had 
 a large, full face, with an unmeaning expression, blotched 
 all over, the natural result of vicious indulgence ; a 
 remarkably wide mouth, and large, protruding lips ; 
 with a tongue far too big even for his capacious mouth, 
 BO that, when he spoke, it gave a kind of abrupt and 
 uneven blurt to his expression. To add still more to 
 

 woman's endueanoe. 
 
 15 
 
 the ludicrous, he was at all times a loud, vociferous 
 talker, even on the most trivial subject, if any thing 
 that he ever spoke of could be dignified by that term ; 
 for, in general, his conversation was shallow and trifling 
 in the extreme, and, to use a well-known expression, 
 uttered as though he had plums in his mouth : .to which 
 might be added, for aught we know to the contrary, a 
 quantity of tl^^'ck, sticky fluid in his throat, so that his 
 voice resembled a sound between a mumble and a gur- 
 gle. He had a large, ungainly person, surmounting a pair 
 of feet that appeared to have been fastened to the wrong 
 owner ; and even that but lately, as he had not yet ar- 
 rived at a just appreciation of their use for straightfor- 
 ward locomotion. Nor did it only appear that these 
 feet had been misapplied as to person : there seems to 
 have been another grand mistake, for they were not an 
 exact pair by a very long way. But, notwithstanding 
 all these peculiarities, he was evidently a general favor- 
 ite among the whole of the officers and men of the regi- 
 ment, although each paid his attentions to him from 
 diflFerent and widely divergent motives. One thing was 
 certain, that he was one of the best-tempered men, inofien- 
 sive, and of an amiable disposition. The keen, pointed 
 witticism, the plain, coarse, rude joke, might be flung at 
 him ; his person or manners might be ridiculed and bur- 
 lesqued : still he was always ready with as hearty a 
 laugh as the most hilarious or joyous and fun-loving 
 spirit present. He was also very wealthy ; and who 
 ever yet lost the chance of flattering a rich fool, where 
 any thing might be made out of him by the operation ? 
 He had been the spoiled child of his mother, and in his 
 youthful days had spent most of his time in company of 
 
16 
 
 n 
 
 ii; 
 
 H 
 
 LILLtAN; OB, 
 
 the ladies. At the time of which we are writing, he 
 seldom lost an opportunity of attending their social 
 parties ; or of accompanying them, or rather they accom- 
 panying him, in their rides to view the grand and pic- 
 turesque scenery in the neighborhood of Mcjntreal, — all of 
 which were at his expense. Most of his lady acquaint- 
 ances knew just what kind of a smile would reach his 
 kind and tender heart ; and, in their strolls past the few 
 stores that were then to be found in St. Paul street or 
 Notre Dame street, they knew that it was necessary 
 only to admire that beautiful love of a silk dress, or 
 that very handsome hat or bonnet, in a half-careless, 
 nonchalant way, to draw upon his purse, as well ais to 
 reach his heart. And so great was his infatuation 
 with the ladies, that, if all the kings of Christendom had 
 made the most urgent demands for his presence, there 
 would not have been one short moment necessary to in- 
 duce him to decide in their favor. It was certain, how- 
 ever, that the king's service was never known to suffer 
 much from his absence, and equally so that the same 
 was never much benefited by his presence. The in- 
 quiry might justly be made. What on earth brought 
 him at all into the British army ? Why, the same cause 
 that, from time to time, has brought others. It was, 
 perhaps, first of all, his own wish or whim ; and he 
 being thought, by his powerful friends, and especially 
 his wealthy and titled mother, too great a fool for the 
 church, he was, by a well-conceived but private under- 
 standing, foisted upon the army. Through the influence 
 of his friends at headquarters he had been, from time to 
 time, promoted over the heads of the really talented and 
 meritorious, but who had no friend at "■ court." Now 
 
 
f 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 IT 
 
 
 that he was in the highway of promotion, from t'lese 
 and such-like causes, he could not fail to be borne on- 
 ward from rank to rank, without the least thought or 
 effort of his own, until he attained the elevated position 
 of general, although many doubted his ever making a 
 Marlborough. 
 
 Not the least remarkable of the members of this 
 mess-room company was Captain Andrews, a gentleman 
 of very few words. His eyes looked unutterable things 
 — keen, penetrating, and searching, as though capable 
 of reading one through and through. At the first ap- 
 proach of anj'^ person, there appeared to be a kind of 
 slow, calculating process going on in his own mind, as 
 though taking the full mental and moral measure of the 
 man for his ulterior use and benefit, and which, by his 
 own mental culture, he seemed well calculated to ac- 
 complish. And when he had apparently finished the 
 process in his own mind, he seemed to exercise great 
 caution and wariness, like the stealthy approaches of a 
 cat. Aiming to gain your good opinion, and firmly se- 
 cure your confidence, with oily words, and soft insinu- 
 ating maimers, a stranger to him would be led to sup- 
 pose that he was a man of undoubted probity. In any 
 and all cases of diflficulty he seemed to be perfectly at 
 home ; for, with native shrewdness and sagacity, he 
 would at once take in the length and breadth of the sub 
 ject brought before him, and give his advice as though 
 prompted by inspiration, — the inspiration being propor- 
 tionably quickened where it was likely to bring grist to 
 his own mill. His own personal interests seemed to be 
 the grand moving impulse of his entire nature ; he 
 appeared to be completely absorbed in self. His whole 
 
18 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 I 
 
 \i 1 
 n 
 
 manhood presented something of the qualities of the 
 magnet, in its mysterious workings of positive and neg- 
 ative poles, as there was, indeed, an irresistible law 
 that urged his whole being in the direction where gold 
 was to be gained. And he was repelled as powerfully 
 from the opposite direction, where there was the least 
 probability of a draw upon his purse. There was no 
 soft spot in his heart that was ever known to yield to 
 the plaint of the suflFering child of want. He was of 
 rather a tall, thin, wiry frame ; harsh features, sunken 
 cheeks, and very deep-set eyes, and large, overhanging 
 eyebrows ; of a yellowib^i, jaundiced-like complexion ; 
 head inclined a little forward when walking, or, rather, 
 his forward movement was between a walk and a creep, 
 as though he was always on the lookout for something 
 that he feared to meet. He had something of the cast 
 of the Jew in his character, being always on hand where 
 there was a needy borrower who had ample security to 
 tender ; and the amount of interest that he would demand 
 was never regulated by any considerations suggested 
 by conscience. 
 
 Lieutenant Broughton was a man of quite an opposite 
 character to that of Captain Andrews. This man was 
 utterly reckless of person, property, and character ; his 
 disposition was at once vengeful and cruel, with appa- 
 rently no more feeling than the nether millstone — utterly 
 regardless of all evil consequences that might follow 
 either to himself or to others from his outrageous con- 
 duct. He was almost always in difficulties witj his 
 brother officers, the subalterns, or private men in his 
 company, or with some of the civilians with whom he 
 might have any dealings. Although he had many 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 19 
 
 \7ealthy relatires, who heir* higjh oflBce under govern- 
 ment, and a very rich father, who allowed him a hand- 
 oome sum over and above his pay, yet, from his spend- 
 thrift conduct, he was almost always without cash in 
 his pocket or at his command. His position as an officer 
 in the British army gave him at once character and in- 
 fluence in the community, and with any of the trades- 
 people wherever the regiment might be stationed ; but 
 their confidence was pretty sure to be abused by his 
 reckless purchases, and then in his equal recklessness 
 in fulfilling his promises to pay — and very many were 
 his victims. In this way, poor but honest hard-working 
 mechanics, it might be with small capital but large 
 families, were often irretrievably involved. He would 
 purchase a valuable carriage or a set of harness, which 
 he would use for a short time, and then, when deterio- 
 rated perhaps more than half their value, for some 
 frivolous pretext he would return them to the maker 
 without any recompense ; so derelict was he to all moral 
 principle. His haughty and imperious manners to those 
 with whom he came in contact, plainly told how deeply 
 he was impressed with the consciousness of his own 
 greatness, and that the whole world was bound to ren- 
 der him the most abject obedience ; while, at the same 
 time, he was a complete sycophant to his superiors. 
 "With a frame tall and full, he was a fine commanding per- 
 son ; and his face was handsome, of which it might be 
 seen he was not a little vain. He had the voice of a 
 lion, and a kind of dare-devil spirit to correspond. Woe 
 be to the poor unhappy being who came within the 
 lash of his ire 1 
 
 Lieutenant Darlington was one of the youngest mem- 
 
so 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 U I 
 
 bers of the mess-room, and quite a curiosity in his way : 
 of rather a small figure, his nose large and sharp- 
 pointed, face thin and long, without a single good fea- 
 ture in his countenance. His head was far too large, in 
 proportion to the size of his body, and placed upon a 
 pair of shoulders whose outlines presented no very strong 
 claims to beauty. His arms were too long, and dangling : 
 at the ends of these were a pair of clumsy hands, awk- 
 ward in the extreme, and jerking in all their motions. 
 His legs, what there was of them, were too close at the 
 knees and far too wide apart at the feet, to be any thing 
 like graceful in their movements ; while the toes were 
 outward bound. He would have been a very useful 
 companion in the fields at early morning, when the dew 
 was heavy on the grass, for the great breadth that 
 would be swept over by his wide-set feet would clear 
 the grass of the dew, so that one might follow him in 
 the same path with comparatively dry boots. He was 
 most fastidious as to the placing and appearance of his 
 frowsy red hair, and the cut of his scarcely perceptible 
 whiskers. His boots always of the most jet-black pol- 
 ish ; his clothes of the latest cut and of the extremest 
 fashion ; his French hat placed in the most jaunty way 
 upon his head ; furnished with gold-headed cane, and 
 eye-glass stuck fast over one of his little twinking gray 
 eyes, and held there by the contraction of the upper and 
 lower muscles of the face ; — thus fully decked and 
 trimmed, he issued forth as though he had just stepped 
 out of a bandbox. Redolent with choice odors, he was 
 like Milton's angel, who shook his plumes and filled the 
 circuit wide with rich perfume. It was clear to the 
 dullest perception that he considered himself a perfect 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 SI 
 
 lady-killer, and supposed himself to be the observed of 
 all observers. Indeed so he was, and he comported him- 
 self accordingly. And it was quite amusing to observe 
 the way in which he would wink and smirk at the fe- 
 males as he passed them in the street, the boldness and 
 the effrontery with which he would peer under their 
 bonnets, and the pert yet unmeaning remarks that he 
 would pass upon them to his companion. But he was 
 an officer in the service of his Britannic Majesty, and 
 that, like charity, was sufficient to cover a multitude of 
 faults and failings. 
 
 There was one person whom we would not wish to 
 overlook, or have it supposed that we slighted him in 
 the most distant way, as, by the position he occupied 
 and the sacred character of his office, he certainly should 
 have been the first noticed lu our sketches ; but, how- 
 ever, better late than never. 
 
 This gentleman was no less a person than the Rev. 
 James Wilson, M. A., chaplain of the regiment. Edu- 
 cated at the celebrated University of Oxford, it might 
 have been said, so far as literary attainments were in 
 question, that he did very high honor to his Alma Mater. 
 He was a eon of a poor, or, rather, a comparatively 
 poor man, who held the office of under-steward to a 
 very wealthy nobleman in one of the midland counties 
 of England. 
 
 This son of the nobleman's steward had been a very 
 smart and intelligent boy in the village school, and had 
 made such progress in all the departments of learning 
 therein taught, that he had attracted the special notice 
 of the village clergyman, who was ever ready to assist 
 him in his higher studies, and so prepare him for col- 
 
 m 
 
! i 
 
 Hi 
 
 1; I 
 
 ilii 
 
 22 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 lege, if that could by any poBsibility bo brought abcjut ; 
 which, by his friendly interest and influence with the 
 said nobleman, in whose service young Wilson's father 
 then was, was happily accomplished ; for it so happened 
 that fliis nobleman had a younger son who was on the 
 eve of going to Oxford to complete his education, and 
 
 the noble Lord H concluded that he would be at 
 
 the expense of young Wilson's education on the very 
 easy condition that he would be a kind of waiting-man 
 on this scion of nobility during his stay at this cele- 
 brated seat of learning. Thus the whole thing was soon 
 arranged, so far as young Wilson was concerned ; for 
 when a young man of a lively imagination and an ar- 
 dent temperament is thirsting after knowledge, every 
 avenue that may open up to his laudable ambition will 
 be considered by him as something like a god-send. 
 The preliminaries— so far as the understanding of the 
 conditions, and the necessary preparations and outfit for 
 the life-journey of these young aspirants after fame and 
 honors— were soon completed, and the happy pair com- 
 fortably domiciled in the ancient and grim city of silk 
 gowns and tasselled square caps. 
 
 At the same time, it is most true that these young men 
 were not fairly mated as to their dispositions and gen- 
 eral tastes, and the means at their disposal for gratify- 
 ing their inclinations ; but this inequality might, per- 
 haps, prove to be no great detriment to young Wilson's 
 advancement in learning. Suffice it to say, that the ira- 
 periousness of the one was very prudently and com- 
 mendably submitted to by the other ; for the very good 
 reason, that, to have been in the least degree refractory, 
 might have proved the literary death of the one who 
 
 ! !| 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 23 
 
 would most keenly have felt the stroke that cut ofl' for- 
 ever his brightest hopes. His mental and moral tuition 
 and restraint had, doubtless, a lifelong influence on 
 young Wilson's mind, as it so far removed all the 
 rougher asperities of his nature, and smoothed down the 
 inequalities of his naturally ardent temperament, that 
 he ever after continued one of the most docile of men. 
 But, as a first-class education is not considered complete 
 without two years' travel on the continent of Europe, 
 at the close of his studies at college, this young noble- 
 man commenced his journeyings, and chose his fellow- 
 student as his companion. Here again young Wilson 
 considered himself favored by fortune in being selected 
 as the ti?.velling companion of his college associate. 
 At the termination of their travels, it was the purpose of 
 
 Lord H to place his son as an officer in the British 
 
 army, a..d it so happened that the regiment selected for 
 that purpose was the one now before us. In his intro- 
 duction to the regiment, this son of noble parentage was 
 received and treated with great and marked respect, 
 and high deference, befitting his powerful connections, 
 was paid to him ; yet he felt isolated and alone, all the 
 officers being utter strangers to him. He, perhaps for 
 the first time in his life, inwardly experienced the want 
 of a familiar face, and a longing for an associate, even 
 should his position be somewhat lower than that held by 
 himself. Who should be so naturally suggested to his 
 mind as the young literary companion of his college 
 life and travels? Though not his equal in position as 
 to birth or wealth, he might be raised to respectability 
 by the influence of his father, by becoming the chaplain 
 of the regiment to which he belonged ; and thus tho 
 
 ■.*>£ 
 
 A si' 
 
i; 'if 
 
 24 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 !iir 
 
 sacred office would at once give him something like 
 equality, that would be tacitly acknowledged on all 
 hands. The young officer, turning this subject over in 
 his mind, was not long in ac^ting on the suggestion ; 
 and the first expression of his wish to his noble and 
 indulgent parent, was promptly responded to by him, 
 and joyfully acceded to by this sprig of divinit3\ 
 
 The reader may by this time be supposed to be suffi- 
 ciently acquainted with the antecedents of the Rev. 
 James Wilson, M. A., chaplain of the regiment, who was 
 consequently an acknowledged member, ex officio, of the 
 regimental mess-room. He had been very remarkable, 
 from his early youth, for his staid and demure deport- 
 ment ; but, since the sacred character of clergyman had 
 been added to that of student, it had seemed to add a 
 proportionate degree of stiff, consequential dignity to 
 his general bearing. His words were few, cold, and 
 formal ; his dress was without a wrinkle, and close- 
 fitting ; his coat had the military-clerical cut, and was 
 buttoned close up to the chin; and, with his stiff-starched 
 white cravat, it appeared as though he had completely 
 lost the use of that beautiful appendage of nature in his 
 neck, the universal joint, for if any object presented it- 
 self to him, either on the right hand or the left, the head 
 could not by any possibility make an independent move- 
 ment — the whole frame had to go simultaneously with 
 it. It could not but appear to the close observer that 
 there had been one grand radical defect in his educa- 
 tion — his head had been cultivated at the expense of 
 his heart ; in fact, he seemed to have ro heart, no affec- 
 tion, no sympathy, while, at the same time, the sacred 
 office which he had assumed was continually making' 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 25 
 
 demands on his heart for sympathy and commiseration. 
 But the wounded, the diseased, the sick, the dying, 
 were all treated in a cold official manner ; and in his 
 pastoral visits to such, having read his prayers accord- 
 ing to the prescribed ritual, he would feel a self-satis- 
 faction, and depart, persuaded that he had fully done 
 his duty. He appeared to be totally unaware that his 
 patients had understanding, that they had feeling, 
 or that they had any thing like a conscience, let alone 
 an awakened conscience ; for these things were far be- 
 yond his depth, beyond his reach. And then the 
 training that he had undergone, under the imperious 
 sway of the young nobleman, at college, when and 
 where it was considered more than his soul was worth 
 to reprove any thing like sin in his case 1 "We may 
 just mention one circumstance, that proved to be the 
 turning point, and controlled him in all their after actions 
 in their intercourse of college life. It occurred at the 
 c(jmmencemcnt of their residence there. There had been 
 something connected with the conduct of the young 
 lord that called forth the sharp reprehension of Wilson ; 
 when this scion of noble birth assumed a very grave 
 and dignified air, approached him, and said, in a sub- 
 dued tou'j of voice, and with slow and measured terms, 
 something like the following : 
 
 " Now, my sweet and lovely boy, and my very ami- 
 able monitor, let us understand each other, and be sure 
 that there is no mistake on your part ;" and looking 
 very earnestly at him, as though the more completely to 
 rivet his attention, he added, " Do you take in my mean- 
 ing, mj^ boy ?" 
 
 Young Wilson, who st(H)d before him, quite thunder- 
 
 8 
 
T 
 
 26 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 struck at bis attitude and manner, and the tone of voice 
 in which this was uttered, seemed to assent by a gentle 
 inclination of the head. 
 
 •' Well, good, so far," said his lordship. " Then it is 
 properly understood that this is the last time you will 
 attempt to lecture me on my conduct while we are to- 
 gether in this college ; and," he concluded, " let it be 
 further understood that, should you possibly so far for- 
 get yourself as to offend again in this particular, then 
 and there I will give you such an infernal thrashing as 
 your loving and affectionate father never gave his dar- 
 ling son." 
 
 After this these two hopeful young gentlemen parted ; 
 the one chuckling over the victory he was certain he 
 had gained, and the other in utter consternation. Wil- 
 son submitted without question, and the lesson he had 
 received completely cowed his spirit for the remainder 
 of his life. Subsequently, when thrown into the midst 
 of a number of fiery spirits similar to the one which had 
 gained such a mastery over him, he appeared to lose 
 what little of personal and independent identity re- 
 mained. He was reduced to the character of a mere 
 machine. His duties were all routine — the same dull 
 round each week, the year through. Whether he read 
 his one sermon per week, accompanied by the beautiful 
 church liturgy, which he was sure to spoil by the " mouth- 
 ing" manner of his reading, or the occasional perlorm- 
 ance of the funeral service over a deceased member of 
 the regiment, the whole was done with the most aston- * 
 ishing listlessness, and delivered in a drawling, monoto- 
 nous tone of voice. He was a man of no moral weight 
 whatever in the regiment. If he ever had the least idea 
 
 'li! 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 27 
 
 of reproving sin in any of the officers of the mess-room, 
 one glance of his patron was always sure to seal his 
 lips, and was sufficient to cause his tongue to cleave to 
 the roof of his mouth. But we must say that he always 
 submitted with the best possible grace, and even an ap- 
 proving smile was never reluctantly given when he 
 thought that it was required of him to sanction any 
 of the coarse jests of the mess-room. Thus he led a 
 kind of smooth and quiet life, as he had no very stern 
 or strict moral principles to disturb the equanimity of 
 his mind. But when, by any chance, a person gave 
 expression, in the most distant way, to any remark that 
 was likely to lower the character of the Church, his mind 
 would at once take tlie alarm. Under such circum- 
 stances his blind zeal knew no bounds ; his language 
 would be strong, pointed, and virulent. On such occa- 
 sions his disposition wt)uld display unmitigated rancor, 
 as though he had been nursed on double-distilled acetic 
 acid, and his features became wrinkled and puckered up 
 into such sharp points and acute angles as to induce 
 the impression on the beholder that they would be ad- 
 mirably adapted for a nutmeg-grater ; while the thought 
 would inevitably suggest itself, Can it be possible that 
 this man is a true follower of the meek and gentle 
 Saviour, and a teacher of that gospel whose very essence 
 is love ? As a general thing, he was one of those soft, 
 unmeaning characters who find especial favor with a 
 certain class of antiquated maiden ladies ; and in their 
 company he spent most of his time. 
 
 At the place we commenced our sketches, and onward, 
 tiius far, we have taken a kind of general glance at the 
 members of the regimental mess-room. And perhaps 
 
 ^'!:i 
 
 I 
 
 It, 
 
 1^. 
 
 j» 
 
:ili 
 
 1 ; 
 lii' 
 
 '111 
 
 28 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 the reader may have surmised our opinion of their 
 morals to be not of the most favorable cast. But we do 
 not wish for a moment to be charged with being indis- 
 criminating, or harshly censorious. There may, in tiie 
 judgment of many, be offered a very strong plea in pal- 
 liation of their manners. We have already stated that 
 they had been raised under the strong and controlling 
 influences of high family associations— of political, reli- 
 gious, and social ties carried down from generation to 
 generation ; while the time of which we are now 
 writing may perhaps be justly considered as one of the 
 most corrupt periods of English history. The king 
 fickle-minded and imbecile, the queen shrewd, designing, 
 and intriguing — for all that may be truly said of old 
 Queen Charlotte — the sons of this royal pair, with only 
 one exception, quite naturally stood in the very front 
 rank of moral depravity ; and the influence of their ex- 
 ample en the morals of the nation was far more disas- 
 trous than that of the corrupt court of King Charles. 
 
 Thus, the youth of the land, being surrounded, and as 
 it were tied down by the chains of a strongly controlling 
 evil example, riveted fast by their own impulsive nature, 
 seemed to be almost beyond the reach of a reclaiming 
 religious influence. But notwithstanding all this, they 
 were, almost to a man, stanch advocates of, and stern 
 sticklers for the Prayer-book and the national Church. 
 But, instead of this proving any restraint to their 
 actions, it appeared to steel their hearts against simple 
 gospel truth ; to build them up in their self-righteous- 
 ness ; and to close their minds to the approach of aught 
 of an evangelical tendency. All their vices were of a 
 fashionable grade, and, according to their own code, 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 29 
 
 highly meritorious. They would claim it as a kind of 
 merit, to be able to drink the greatest number of bot- 
 tles of wine. Their amours were an especial theme 
 for their boasting ; and every additional female heart 
 that any one of them might have been the means of 
 breaking, was as much a cause for tiieir self-gratulation 
 as would be to the callous-hearted Indian a fresh vic- 
 tim that might yield another scalp to his already numer- 
 ous trophies. 
 
 If thus much might be said of the officers of the regi- 
 ment, much more, and perhaps of even a more degrading 
 character, may be said of the eight or nine hundred pri- 
 vate men of the regiment. This being the case, it may 
 be truly said, as a general thing, that the quartering of 
 a regiment in any neighborhood is fraught with mischief, 
 and might prove one of the most disastrous curses that 
 could possibly be inflicted upon it. Lewd women and 
 debauchery of every kind follt)W in its trail, the direful 
 influence of which, on the young and middle-aged of the 
 locality, it is not possible to measure. Happy, thrice 
 happy that time, when nations shall learn war no more, 
 and when regiments will be unnecessary for security 
 against an external foe, or for the assurance of internal 
 peace and prosperity 1 
 
 Now let us enter the regimental mess-room, and take 
 our seat, so as to be silent but close observers of all 
 that may be said or done. We shall soon perceive that 
 we are in the company of highly-educated and polished 
 gentlemen, by the free interchange of lofty thought and 
 classic sentiment, and that careless abandon that cannot 
 by any possibility be assumed by the uninitiated or un- 
 lettered. Their correct quotations from ancient and 
 
 8» 
 
 B 
 
lli' 
 
 
 i 
 
 !■ i 
 
 Wi|i 
 
 !-:i|:|i 
 
 80 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 modern authors ; their familiar discussions of abstruse 
 questions of logic ; their extensive reference to incidents 
 of history, and the copious flow from their lips of fine 
 thought selected from the best popular authors of the 
 day ; the keen wit that is, at will, thrown sparkling in 
 every direction and in the richest profusion, that gives 
 the impression that the source whence it springs is 
 actually exhaustless ; the biting, stinging, and barbed 
 repartee, that is hurled back as with a giant's hand ; 
 and yet all this with a boisterous merriment and an 
 exuberance of good feeling, that plainly tells that the 
 fire of high intellect has the power to light up, and to 
 warm, but not the capability to burn. In fact, it seems 
 the very arena of fun without frivolity ; of frolic with- 
 out aimless childishness. And this continues with a 
 high, gentlemanly, dignified bearing, until the deep po- 
 tations from the bottle circulate far too long, and an^ 
 partaken of too freely. For then a wild and bewildered 
 rant spoils the whole scene : the polished gentleman 
 merges into the drivelling and jabbering maniac, and the 
 ripe scholar is lost in the untutored boor ; and at 
 length the whole company "issue forth as sons of 
 Belial, fraught with insolence and wine." 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Ill 
 
 We would now request the reader to accompany us 
 to where we shall witness a scene of quite a different 
 and opposite character to the one described in the pre- 
 ceding chapter. 
 
 It is the Sabbath morning. Entering the gate of the 
 barrack-yard, opposite the river St. Lawrence, inclining 
 to the left, we proceed in a diagonal course across the 
 yard to the angle in that direction. Entering the door- 
 way, we ascend the flight of steps, at the top of which 
 wc find a door right opposite. On entering this room, 
 we see a kind of rough desk, made of unpainted boards, 
 on which lay a Bible and hymn-book. The entire re- 
 maining space of this room is occupied by a number of 
 benches or seats, corresponding with the desk ; the 
 whole thing appearing as though it had been fitted up 
 in a temporary way to accommodate quite a number of 
 people. At a little after 10 o'clock, on looking through 
 the room-window, we sljall see the whole of the regi- 
 ment, officers and men, mustering in the barrack-yard 
 in response to the call of the drum. The men are with- 
 out muskets, and only with their side-arms : they are 
 neat, clean, and prim. After going through all the 
 necessary preliminaries, they are marched out of the 
 yard, led by the regimental band. They are going to 
 the English Church in N6tre-Dame street, to listen to a 
 
 M 
 
 ■ > :l'.'< 
 
 i.iis 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 I'M 
 
 

 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 I M 
 
 11 
 
 li 
 
 sermon delivered by the t;loqnont Rev. James Wilson, 
 M. A., chaplain of tlie regiment. 
 
 But after the call of the roll, and before the departure 
 of the regiment to the English church, we see quite a 
 number of men step out of the lanks — full liberty of 
 conscience being allowed every man to W(jrship God 
 according to the dictates of his own jud'gment. A num- 
 ber of these men make their way to the room already 
 described. They come in with a serious, thouglitful 
 countenance, and with a marked, steady deportment. 
 With becoming reverence they bow the knee, and, with 
 covered face, appear to enter upon the duties of the mo- 
 ment with devotional fervor. And not only were there 
 the men who left the ranks, but there came in quite a 
 large number of women, so that the room was well filled. 
 And among the rest, came Captain Walters and Mrs. 
 Walters, who, without the least appearance of assump- 
 tion on account of their rank, took their seats the same 
 as the rest. 
 
 The company were not kept long waiting before a 
 sergeant of the regiment made his appearance. He 
 walked up with measured step and stately deportment 
 to the desk, and after a few moments spent in silent 
 communing with, and commending himself and his work 
 to God, in a pleasing, mellow, full, though subdued tone 
 of voice, gave out one of Charles Wesley's beautiful and 
 spirit-stirring hymns. Then, in a vocal response led 
 by the remarkably fine and cultivated voices of Captain 
 and Mrs. Walters, the whole audience joined with a 
 hearty good-will,— so that, what with the sentiment of the 
 hymn, the soul-stirring tune, and the spirit in which it 
 was sung, the whole in strict harmony with the highest 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 33 
 
 
 and purest devotion, it seomed to vie with the choir before 
 the throne. This was followed by an extemporaneous 
 prayer, of deep, powerful, searching confession, suppli- 
 cation, praise, and adoration ; after which another hymn 
 was sung-, and then the text was enunciated. 
 
 Sergeant Johnson was evidently a man mighty in 
 word ; and the very intimate acquaintance he appeared 
 to have with the scriptures of truth, exhibited to his 
 hearers that he was a workman who needed not to be 
 ashamed, — rightly dividing the word of truth, and afford- 
 ing to each a portion of meat in due season. At the 
 conclusion of these services, Mr. Johnson announced 
 that brother Captain Walters would address them ou 
 the following Sabbath morning. 
 
 It may be remarked, that, at the time of which we 
 are now writing, which was in the latter part of the 
 year '83 of the last century, there were but very few 
 people who spoke the English language in Montreal 
 except those belonging to the British army, and in the 
 government offices ; and scarcely an individual who 
 made a public profession of attachment to the cause of 
 God — that is, who enjoyed personal religion. Conse- 
 quently, there was no regular and stated evangel- 
 ical ministry, in accordance with the revival movements 
 that were witnessed in England. So that it may be 
 supposed that the few persons who had attended the 
 heart-searching ministry of Whitfield and the Wesleys, 
 in England, would feel the want of social, spiritual inter- 
 course, when they were in a foreign land. And such 
 Montreal must have been considered at that early date : 
 although it was then, and indeed had been for some 
 time, under the British rule, its people were foreign in 
 
 
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 ill 
 
 •P 
 
 m 
 
 ill 
 
 
 \^ 
 
 

 34 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 their habits, their feelings, and in their most cherished 
 opinions. This being the case, what so natural as that 
 the truly enlightened and spiritually-minded should secik 
 each other out, and so make arrangements whereby they 
 might be mutually edified, and, in fact, maintain a firm 
 standing in their Christian character and experience ? 
 
 We have just been made acquainted with the manner 
 and spirit in which this association was formed and 
 their meetings carried on ; and it must have been per- 
 ceived that a more than ordinary degree of fraternal 
 good-feeling subsisted among them. It was an under- 
 standing among them, that while they were in their 
 social capacity together, as worshippers of their one 
 God and common Father, all distinctions of office and 
 rank should merge in that of brother and sister in the 
 Lord. Hence it was usual, in their social gatherings, to 
 greet each other as Brother Walters, Brother Johnson, 
 Sister Walters, Sister Johnson ; and so of all the rest, 
 to the lowest brother or sister who was an acknowledged 
 member of their little band. And every fresh or new 
 disciple would be greeted with a right hearty good-will, 
 if they gave clear and decided evidence of their Chris- 
 tian sincerity. But when once outside of their humble 
 but highly cherished and consecrated spot, where they 
 held sweet counsel, it was properly understood that all 
 the general routine of regimental salutes should be 
 scrupulously observed. 
 
 But then it must not be thought that Captain Wal- 
 ters, or his very kind-hearted lady, assumed any thing 
 like a cold, stiff sanctimoniousness, or frigid formality ; 
 no, their manners and address were free, open, easy 
 and aflfable to all, yet tempered by a dignified de- 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 35 
 
 meanor which won the praise and the blessing of the 
 roughest and the most rugged warrior in the ranks. 
 There was not a female connected with the regiment, 
 whatever mijirht be her need, from sickness or otherwise, 
 but was sure to find Mrs. Walters in the right place at 
 the right time. Her purse, her larder, her conserves or 
 preserves, yielded up their contributions in no scanty 
 measure : in fact, like her Divine Master whom she 
 served, she went about doing good. 
 
 Mrs. Walters had been one day out making purchases 
 at one of the drygoods stores in St. Paul street, for the 
 supply of clothing that was needed by a female, wife of 
 one of the men in the regiment, who had just brought 
 into the world a bouncing boy. As she was walking 
 along the street at a rapid pace, with the bundle of 
 flannel and other small articles under her arm — for she 
 was not ashamed to carry a bundle along the street, and 
 especially wiieu it was for a charitable purpose — it being 
 just when the dusk of evening was drawing its sable 
 mantle over the heavens, she was accosted, close by the 
 corner of one of those dark, narrow streets, that lead 
 down to the river from St. Paul street, by an old woman, 
 who was closely muffled up in a dark-colored cloak, and 
 who handed her a small package. It might have been 
 seen in a moment that a more than ordinary degree of 
 emotion agitated her whole frame ; and on receiving 
 the package from the old woman, she at the same time 
 made a most desperate effort to seize the hand that 
 gave it to her. But just at that instant, a roughly 
 dressed man was passing, who, trying to push past the 
 two, from some cause fell down, and in his fall was 
 nearly the cause of Mrs. Walters meeting with the same 
 
 
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 misfortune. The man, in the bewilderment of the mo- 
 nient, seemed to bo as much confused as was Mrs. Wal- 
 ters : quickly gathering? himself up, he looked around, 
 and seeing the bundle and small package on the path- 
 way, picked them up and clumsily handing thorn to her, 
 said : " I'm mighty sorry, ma'am, but hope you isn't 'urt ; 
 may be them's yours." 
 
 She appeared not at all to notice him or his speech, 
 though holding out the articles in his hand towards her ; 
 but soon recovering herself a little, said : " Oh, did you 
 see the way that person went ?" 
 
 He, with a kind of vacant look, and in an uncouth 
 manner, said : " Oh, you's frightened, ma'am ; maybe 
 you'll soon cum to ;" and so saying, went hastily on his 
 way. 
 
 With agitated manner and unsteady step Mrs. Wal- 
 ters went her way, and arrived at her home in no very 
 calm state of ;y;ind. She found Captain Walters waiting 
 for her, to whom she related all the circumstances of 
 the case just as they occurred. After she had completed 
 her narration, she exclaimed — 
 
 " Oh, my dear Eobert, what can all this mean ? This 
 is the fourth time that I have met this same person un- 
 der similar attendant circumstances, but at far distant 
 times and at far distant places. The first time that I 
 saw her was in the north of England, when about to 
 leave school, where I had been from childhood — in fact, 
 from a time earlier than my recollection extends. The 
 next time, as you may recollect, was when we were at the 
 watering-place in Leamington, soon after our marriage ; 
 and the third time was just after the death of our two 
 dear children, and you were away from me and lay sick 
 
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 WOMAN S ENDURANCE. 
 
 87 
 
 and wounded amonf? strangers in a strange land. My 
 dear Robert, there has always appeared to me to be a 
 deep mystery hanging over my birth, my parentage, 
 and, in fact, all my history, tiuit I have in vain attempted 
 to nnravel. Oil, my dear, wliut sliall I do ? This is too 
 much for me — it is more than I can boar !" And after 
 this a violent paroxysm of grii'f shook her whole frame. 
 
 That woman, generally so calm, so self-possessed, so 
 resolute, appeared to shake and quiver like a leaf in 
 the wind, or like the pliant willow bending before the 
 passing storm. All the eflforts of her husband appeared 
 to be lost while endeavoring to calm down her agitated 
 spirit, and the wonted soothing influence of his voice 
 had ceased to charm. So he concluded that it would bo 
 the best to allow her inward sorrow to spend its own 
 force, and which was, in a little while, greatly relieved 
 by a copious flow of tears. Then, after sitting in silence 
 for some time, he gently approached her, and, drawing 
 her to his bosom, softly whispered in her ear — 
 
 "My own Eliza, your husband is by your side ; is not 
 he more tiian all the world to you ?" 
 
 These expressions, like a talisman, touched the secret 
 springs of her woman's heart, and, with a vehemence 
 prompted by a pure and ardent afiection, she threw her 
 arms around his neck, and, smiling through her tears, 
 said — 
 
 " My dear Robert, am not I a foolish being ? I have 
 been prying after a secret that might perhaps bring sor- 
 row instead of affording joy, while I have been lightly 
 esteeming those richer blessings that have been so abun- 
 dantly clustering around my path all through life, and 
 never more so than at this moment." On the utterance 
 
 
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 38 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 of which, with a fond embrace, a lovely and loving 
 smile, and a profusion of kisses, she seemed to be her- 
 self again. 
 
 After sitting for some time in silence, her husband 
 inquired — 
 
 " But, my own Eliza, what about the small package 
 that you say this mysterious being handed to you V 
 
 " Oh, yes," she said ; " the thought of that had gone 
 from my mind," and, on taking the package from her 
 pocket, she exclaimed — *' See, here it is." 
 
 Captain Walters took it from her, and began to open 
 it ; but he had to remove wrapper after wrapper, string 
 after string, before the contents were disclosed. At 
 length he found a slip of paper upon which was written 
 the following words, in a remarkably handsome female 
 hand : " Jehovah reigneth • let the earth rejoice 1" and, 
 " What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know here- 
 after." After unfolding several more wrappers, he found 
 a nearly new Bank of England note, of the value of five 
 hundred pounds sterling. As soon as Mrs. Walters 
 saw the writing and the sterling bank-note, in a kind 
 of wild frenzy she exclaimed — 
 
 " My dear Robert, what shall I do ? They are the 
 exact resemblance of the other three. My dear Robert, 
 what can all this mean ?" 
 
 In the early history of Montreal, and especially of 
 that period to which this part of our narrative refers, 
 the inhabitants were few in number ; consequently very 
 extensive accommodations were not required for the 
 parties who then came to town to supply the people with 
 farm and garden produce. It was not required then 
 to have such large and elegant stone edifices as the 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 39 
 
 city can now boast of as their market-places. It may 
 be in the memory of many now living in the city of Mon- 
 treal — not to mention that ubiquitous personage, the 
 oldest inhabitant — that there was a building of not very 
 preiantious appearance standing on the same, or nearly 
 OD the same site whereon the Montreal custom-house 
 now stands. It was the old market : though it had 
 been new sometime, it must have been a long while 
 ago. At the time to which we have reference it was in 
 full operation, as it was the chief if not the onlj'^ place 
 of resort for the town and country people, as of all par- 
 ties in any way connected with the garrison, and where 
 all the delicacies of the season were sure to be found. 
 But it is not the old market with which we have now 
 specially to do, any further than to place the reader's at- 
 tention on the locality. 
 
 It may be remembered that there was a row of old- 
 fashioned, dark-looking houses, built in the old French 
 style, standing between the old market-place and the 
 river-front, with entrances from the river-side as well 
 as from the market side. One of these old buildings 
 was at that time a tavern. 
 
 Into one of the rooms of the centre house of the row 
 already alluded to, and on the same night on which oc- 
 curred the encounter of Mrs. Walters with the person in 
 St. Paul street, there has just entered an apparently 
 old woman, muffled up in a large dark cloak, but alert 
 in her movements and light of stop. 
 
 On taking a look into that room, we discover, instead 
 of the old woman just observed to enter it, a lady in the 
 prime of life, arrayed in the richest attire and in the 
 very height of fashion ; and what appears to be a black 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 cloak, is lying on the table. Taking her seat in the large, 
 old-fashioned armchair, she anxiously looks towards the 
 door, seemingly expecting some one. Soon there is heard 
 a gentle rap at the door : the lady answered the call, and 
 requested the visitor to enter. The door opened, and 
 a man made his appearance, dressed as a livery servant, 
 holding over his left arm what appeared to be an old, 
 soiled, and ragged coat, and a pair of pantaloons o^ *he 
 same character ; and he held an old misshapen hat in 
 his right hand. On his entrance into the room he stood 
 at a respectful distance from the lady, who soon opened 
 the conversation by saying — 
 
 " Well, Thomas, how do you consider the thing was 
 carried out ? I hope you acted all through according 
 to my instructions." 
 
 " Yes, my lady, in every particular," was the answer 
 the man made. 
 
 " Are you sure that she got the small package safe ?" 
 
 " Yes ; in the hurry and confusion of the moment she 
 let the package fall to the ground, with something else 
 that she had in her hand, a small bundle, both of which 
 I picked up and handed to her, for she seemed scarcely 
 to know what she was doing ; but I kept my eye on 
 the package, and saw her put it in her pocket. In a 
 rambling way she asked me who that person was, and 
 where she was gone ; but I said just what you told me 
 to say, and then left her. That is all that I know or saw 
 of her." 
 
 " Well done, Thomas 1" said the lady. " That was 
 all right. I must give you a little praise for your 
 adroitness. I suppose, Thomas," said the lady, " that 
 you sometimes consider my conduct and proceedings a 
 
 ^,3 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 41 
 
 little erratic, governed by vag-ary or whim, oi prompted 
 by woman's waywardness, and for which you think there 
 is neither rhyme nor reason ?" 
 
 " Well, my lady," said the man, "I must say that I 
 have often thoup^ht your cojiduct a little strange in some 
 things ; but knowing, as I do, your shrewdness and 
 penetration, and your firm reliance on a superintending 
 Providence, I cannot but suppose that you have some 
 far-off object in view. With this conviction on ray mind, 
 I have no wish or inclination to pry into your secrets, 
 but to assist you in the accomplishment of your purpose, 
 whatever that may be ; and I am pleased to find that 
 my present conduct meets with your approval." 
 
 " That is all right, Thomas, and this is as I have al- 
 ways found you ; and I trust that my past injunctions 
 will at all timea be strictly observed by you — that is, 
 that all these things shall be kept profoundly secret 
 between us. And as you place such confidence in me 
 and my judgment, you aro perfectly right in saying that 
 I have a firm reliance and implicit confidence in a su- 
 perintending Providence. I feel something like the an- 
 cient Israel of God, when they were requested to stand 
 still that they might see His salvation, and anon the 
 enemies of God and His chosen people were over- 
 whelmed, while they themselves were placed safe be- 
 yond the reach of their crafty and vengeful foes. It 
 sometimes takes long, as men call long, for Jehovah to 
 work out his purposes : but be assured that He sees the 
 end from the beginning ; and as the immutable princi- 
 ples of justice and truth cannot be finally subverted, 
 the wicked shall eventually be taken in their own craft- 
 iness. The wisdom, the love, as well as the justice 
 
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 of God, must triumph, and all men shall either adore 
 Him in their deliverance, or fall beneath the crushing- 
 vengeance of His judgments. As the ancient heathen 
 said, * The mills of the gods grind slow, but they grind 
 exceedingly small."' 
 
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 woman's endurance. 
 
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 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 M 
 
 In order that the reader may be better acquainted 
 with a very important portion of the life of Captain 
 Walters, and also that of his very estimable wife, as 
 well as to open up a fair view of very peculiar traits of 
 character which were called into exercise by their posi- 
 tion and the circumstances through which they passed, 
 it will be necessary for us to refer back for a period 
 of about three years, as they cover a very stirring and 
 important chapter in the history of the North American 
 continent. It is not onr intention to give any more of 
 this than is essentially necessary to the development of 
 the personal history and moral character of the principal 
 parties in our narrative. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that, at the latter part of the year 
 1119 and the beginning of the year 1780, all parties 
 were busily employed, in the city of Montreal, in pre- 
 paring for a grand and (as some of the leading men de- 
 clared and fully intended that it should be) a final 
 termination of the struggle then going on between 
 British rule, on the one side, and a determined and 
 indomitable spirit of freedom on the other. 
 
 An imposing force was collected, and all the plans of 
 the campaign were duly considered ; for the wise heads 
 who had then the full direction of affairs concluded that 
 the rebellion, as they termed it, must and should be 
 
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 crushed. On the completion of these plans, the cohorts 
 were led forth in all the pomp and circumstance of 
 glorious war, the brains of the commander busy with all 
 the modes and manoeuvres of field tactics, as they were 
 then practised between the contending armies of Europe, 
 where the generals had large masses of troops under 
 their control, and extensive and open plains over which 
 to move them ; where the skilful commander could cope 
 with a wary and wily foe on something like equal 
 terms ; and where, if any original movement should be 
 made that was not included in the general code of mil- 
 itary warfare, it would be sure to be criticized, and 
 praised or blamed, according to its success or failure. 
 Hence, as a general thing, the commanders were very 
 careful not to step out of the acknowledged routine of 
 the school in which they had received their instructions. 
 But, on the occasion now before us, all the old routines 
 were completely at fault ; for, instead of wide and ex- 
 tensive plains, they found dark, silent, and vast forests, 
 where there was no room to move or to form their well 
 and systematically drilled forces. To think of moving 
 in mass or solid squares would be madness, let alone 
 their deploying to form an extensive line, or, if in line, 
 to change their front either to the right or left. They 
 had to march through narrow defiles, or through pas- 
 sages that had been cut through the dense forests by 
 the axe, to open up a pathway to connect distant local- 
 ities. 
 
 Vast preparations had been made for their reception 
 by throwing every impediment in their way, such as 
 destroying what temporary bridges there were, sinking 
 deep trenches across their path, and felling the huge 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 45 
 
 trees to impede the progress of man and horse, and 
 especially to entangle the artillery. In fact, every ob- 
 stacle that skill and ingenuity could invent or suggest 
 was thrown in the way of the advance of the British 
 army. 
 
 No foe appeared in large masses to contend with the 
 British, unless quite sure that they had them inextri- 
 cably fixed in some well-laid snare, when a continual 
 fusilade was kept up from unseen parties, from every 
 quarter, — from the right, the left, the front, the rear ; 
 and night or day was all the same to them. 
 
 One universal spirit appeared to inspire the breasts 
 of the sons of freedom and to nerve their arms, for, at 
 every discharge of their trusty rifles, one less remained 
 of those they considered the instruments of their op- 
 pressors. Hence the British soldiers were perpetually 
 harassed and distressed, their officers perplexed, and 
 their commander completely bewildered. Every tree 
 proved to be a covert for a foe, and from behind every 
 large stone or projecting rock the unerring marksman 
 sent a special leaden messenger, with a full and free 
 discharge from the British service of some officer or 
 private. 
 
 Engaged in this contest was the regiment to which 
 Captain Walters belonged ; and we may believe that, as 
 a general thing, it would act with as much heroism, and 
 suffer with as much fortitude, as any other regiment of 
 the line. There is, however, one incident of special hero- 
 ism to which we must necessarily refer, as it is connected 
 with the main features of our narrative ; and we will en- 
 deavor to be faithful in its recital. 
 
 Several desperate attacks had been made on the 
 
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 camp. It was noticed that the parties who made these 
 fierce onslaughts generally came from one direction, 
 and it was concluded to send a detachment to oppose 
 the next approach of the foe that might be made, and, 
 if the resistance should prove successful, then to follow 
 up the party, and, if possible, break up their rendez- 
 vous. It so happened that Captain Walters was the 
 oflBcer who was selected for this hazardous and impor- 
 tant enterprise, with permission to make his own selec- 
 tion of such men from the whole regiment as, in his 
 judgment, were the best fitted for the object. Captain 
 Walters felt the full weight of responsibility of the 
 commission, and well knew how deeply his standing and 
 reputation were involved, as well as that of the regi- 
 ment and the army at large, and, therefore, in selecting 
 his men and making preparations to resist the attack, 
 he exercised all the care and skill that human prudence 
 could suggest. 
 
 When all was ready, taking advantage of the dark- 
 ness of night, they sallied forth from the camp. Wa- 
 rily, and with cautious and stealthy step, they threaded 
 their devious way through the tangled brushwood of 
 the forest, with a skilful pilot or scout a little way in 
 advance of the main body, ever ready to give warning 
 of the least intimation of an approaching foe. They 
 had advanced some distance when the scout discerned 
 an object advancing with the same stealthy caution that 
 he himself observed. But he, believing himself as yet 
 unseen, which proved true, lay down, so as to allow the 
 one approaching to pass him a little to the left ; then, as 
 he lay, quickly taking aim, sent an arrow througli the 
 body of his victim, penetrating his heart — causing hira 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 47 
 
 : ( !'; 
 
 to spring upward and then fall heavily on his face, dead. 
 This action of the scout proved to his party a sufficient 
 signal of the approach of danger, and they at once 
 made preparation for an onslaught. But other eyes as 
 wakefi I as their own had witnessed the deed, for the 
 American party had taken the precaution to double their 
 scouts, — one on the trail of him who was shot, who as 
 quickly gave his own party notice that foes were near 
 at hand. 
 
 Here, then, these prowling parties, each sternly bent 
 on slaughter, just as the gray dawn began to tinge the 
 eastern horizon, met face to face, so far as that could 
 be in this dense forest. But the opposing party, seeing 
 the compact array in which Captain Walters had formed 
 his men, who, with fixed bayonets, awaited only the 
 word of command to charge them, made a hasty retreat 
 after pouring in a deadly volley from their rifles. Cap- 
 tain Walters then ordered the volley to be returned, 
 which had as fatal an effect on the retreating party. 
 Immediately ordering a rapid advance in pursuit, he soon 
 came up with the enemy in an open space, or large clear- 
 ing in the woods, in which was a large frame-building 
 that appeared to be the rendezvous of which they were 
 in search. With perfect coolness and consummate skill 
 he made his dispositions, and his company, both men 
 and officers, seemed inspired with the same cool ardor 
 as himself. But there now opened up before them a 
 sight that might well shake the courage of these heroic 
 men. A company of the enemy, surpassing them- 
 selves in number, armed to the very teeth, and under 
 the command of an able mind, drew up before them. It 
 might be seen, by the fixedness of every muscle in each 
 
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48 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 h;i I 
 
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 countenance, that they possessed the spirit both to 
 dare and to do : every musket was grasped with a rip^id 
 firmness, every foot seemed locked to the ground. Hud 
 they been so many marble statues they could not have 
 appeared more stern and invulnerable. Every man fixed 
 his eye with steady look on his commander, an'^t Iheir 
 every movement seemed under the control of his stern 
 will. There might be seen, also, that mutual confidence^ 
 the leader in the man and the man in the leader, that 
 goes far to secure the success of an enterprise. 
 
 Now, when troops such as these are placed in hostile 
 position, awaiting the word of command to attack, sus- 
 pense is associated with something akin to awe ; and 
 at length, when the charge is sounded, quick as the 
 flash of lightning the shock and tumult of battle begin. 
 The clash and clangor of steel, the shout, fury, and con- 
 fusion of the combatants make the woods ring again. 
 As the cries of the combatants rang out in the death- 
 struggle, it was as if the infernal host had escaped 
 from the lower regions, and were then and there holding 
 high carnival. It seemed, indeed, as though the future 
 well-being, if not the very existence of their respective 
 nations, might have depended on their endurance, their 
 firm nerve, and their strong will, so determined and 
 vengeful was the strife. 
 
 In the general mHee, Captain Walters had been very 
 severely wounded in the left shoulder and the left thitrli ; 
 but still, with praiseworthy coolness and self-devotiun, 
 he was always to be found wherever duty called him, or 
 danger seemed most imminent ; and thus it happened 
 he came in contact with the commanding officer of the 
 opposing force, and each, with drawn sword in hand 
 
. I 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 49 
 
 (both as truo as the steel they bore), demanded of the 
 other to surrender. Neither seemed willing to comply, 
 iind both assumed a posture of deffence. It was soon 
 discernible that neither of them would prove a novice 
 in the art of self-defence. Their swords were soon 
 crossed, and with celerity and consummate tact every 
 thrust was parried, every cut dexterously guarded, and 
 every lunge adroitly tlirown aside. And such was the 
 effect of this cool, masterly exhibition of science, that 
 the attention of the other combatants was irresistibly 
 drawn to them, they actually forgetting for the moment 
 that they themselves had been in deadly conflict. All 
 this time the wounds of Captain Walters were bleeding 
 profusely, and he began to feel their ill effects upon his 
 wliole system. From the loss of blood, his movements 
 were growing unsteady ; his countenance became pale 
 and livid, and gave indication of exhaustion. The keen 
 eye of his opponent saw all this, and soon discovered 
 that he had the advantage, and that he might have dis- 
 patched Walters with comparative ease. But, lowering 
 his sword in token of his purpose, he placed it in his 
 left hand, and, at the same time stepping forward with 
 his right hand extended, said — 
 
 ** Sir, I am not a dastard, thus to take advantage of 
 a brave man. You and your companions in arms have 
 fought nobly, and won undying laurels." 
 
 But before he had finished speaking, the excitement 
 ceasing, from loss of bkxxi Captain Walters swooned 
 away. The generous action of the American captain 
 had its effect on his followers, and soon melted all those 
 stern warrior-hearts, causing them to vio with each 
 other in acts of kindness,' and especially in their atten- 
 
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 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
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 tions to the wounded and the dying. The large building 
 already alluded to was soon put in requisition, and tlioso 
 who had so lately levelled the musket and wielded the 
 Bword were now found to be the kindest and tenderest 
 of nurses. They had met at the first with the dark side 
 of humanity towards each other ; but now a brighter 
 side was seen, thus forming a beautiful contrast. " Oh, 
 that kings would know that they are men, and men th-^t 
 they are brethren !" But Captain Walters received 
 special care and most marked attention from the Ami;i- 
 ican captain, whose name was Baldwin. 
 
 It so happened that the residence of Captain Baldwin 
 was but a few miles distant, and there he at once de- 
 cided to have Captain Walters conveyed, where he would 
 be surrounded with home comforts, be attended with 
 greater care, and have the benefit of his own family 
 physician. This arrangement was speedily carried into 
 effect, and Captain Walters was received and attended 
 to with as much kindness, and even affection, as he could 
 desire. His wounds proved of a far more serious nature 
 than was at first supposed. On examination it was dis- 
 covered that he had been wounded by a musket or pistol 
 shot in both the thigh and shoulder. The balls still re- 
 mained, and that there would be much diflBculty in ex- 
 tracting them, giving excessive pain to the patient, 
 seemed evident from their being firmly imbedded among 
 the muscles. 
 
 Although Captain Walters was so highly favored, 
 considering the circumstances that had brought him 
 there, — appearing in the first instance as an enemy, now 
 treated as a friend, and cared for in every possible way, 
 —still there was one absent for whom his soul yearned. 
 
 ai 
 
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 woman's endurance. 
 
 51 
 
 and he was heard to softly mention her name and to ex- 
 pre88 a wish tiiat iiis wife might be informed of his 
 present condition. Tiie deHire was no sooner uttered 
 than it was caught at by Captain Baldwin, with the 
 full and hearty assurance that his wish should be 
 promptly complied with, at all hazards. 
 
 It was now more than four months since Captain 
 Walters had left his family at Alimtreal — that family 
 that was more than all the world to him, every member 
 of which was closely entwined around his heat by the 
 tendcrest of all earthly ties. But now he was far away 
 from them, severely wounded, confined to his bed, and 
 among strangers, if he might not justly say in an en- 
 emy's country ; and although thus cared for, and at- 
 tended to with sympathy and kindness, and every wish 
 or desire anticipated, still he was often heard uttering, 
 in an almost inaudible voice, " Eliza, my own Eliza I and 
 my own dear little pets !" 
 
 But his Eliza, though not wounded in body or laid 
 on a bed of sickness, was still more deeply wounded in 
 her heart, and grieving under torn and lacerated aflfec- 
 tions. She had mourned her absent lord with a true 
 womanly affection ; her prayers had daily ascended in 
 his behalf ; his very image had attended her in her 
 sleeping as well as her waking hours. In that absence 
 she had been buoyed up by the encouraging hope that 
 he would return to bless her with his presence, to soothe 
 her with his words, and to cheer her by his wonted 
 smile ; but she was now mourning for the absence of 
 those who were lost to her, without the palliating 
 thought that they would ever return to her fond mater- 
 nal embrace. 
 
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52 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 Captain and Mrs. Walters had been blessed with the 
 birth of two beautiful, lovely, and loving children, a 
 boy and a girl, who had been the means of cementing 
 their hearts, if that could have been at all possible, still 
 more closely, and more completely moulding their souls 
 into unison. At the time that Captain Walters had 
 started with the military expedition from Montreal, they 
 werc^ at the respective ages of four and three. The 
 eldest vTas a little girl, Elizabeth, generally called the 
 " black-eyed beauty." She appeared like an angel 
 enshrined in clay, her form was so sylph-like and 
 agile, and so graceful was she in all her movements. 
 With her merry laugh, which was peculiarly her own, 
 she was the very life and centre of joy to the whole 
 household, indeed to the entire neighborhood. The boy, 
 Eobert, was more thoughtful and taciturn. Young as 
 he was (three years old) he would astonish by his re- 
 marks, and very often puzzle by his questions. To say 
 that these children were charming, the loveliest of the 
 lovely, would be only a reiteration of the universal senti- 
 ment expressed by all who saw them. Early trained to 
 the culture of refinement by their excellent mother, to- 
 gether with their own sweet dispositions and aptitude to 
 learn, they were at once objects of admiration as well as 
 of love ; and it was a pleasure of no ordi'aary character 
 to listen to them as they joined in their evening hymn 
 of praise, led by the mother's sweet, full, and mellow 
 voice, and accompanied by her on the piano. 
 
 Was it any wonder, then, that these two lovely young 
 cherubs should be esteemed as their mother's pride and 
 their father's pets? It would, indeed, rather have been 
 a wonder if it had been otheLwise. But, in about a 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 63 
 
 month after their father left them, then bloominj^ in 
 health, the little boy sickened with the smallpox, which 
 soon appeared to be of a most virulent type. Every 
 remedy was promptly administered that the physician's 
 skill or a mother's ;.ffection could suggest, but all to no 
 purpose. On the advice of the physician, the little girl, 
 Elizabeth, was removed from the infected house, and 
 sent to reside with a family in the neighborhood, to 
 prevent, if possible, this very contagious disease being 
 communicated to her. But this very prudent precaution 
 proved to be of no avail whatever ; for she, in a very 
 short time, sickened with the same dire complaint, and 
 was brought home to the sorrowing and heart- stricken 
 mother. It would be in vain for us to attempt to de- 
 scribe the unremitting labor of that mother, whose pure 
 affection supported her in her toils and watchings, both 
 day and night, during those sad wei ks, amidst these her 
 accumulated and keen sorrows. But all her labor, her 
 affection, and her unwearied attention were of no avail. 
 The demand had been made upon her household, and 
 the contribution, however painful, had to be submitted 
 to ; she had to render her quota to help fill up the shin- 
 ing ranks before the throne of God. The precious de- 
 posit that had been placed under her charge had, most 
 certainly, been watched over with a care and assiduity 
 befitting their priceless value and their high destiny. 
 She had, at the first, received them, as comparative 
 blanks that had to be filled up — as rough blocks from 
 the quarry of nature ; but she had filled them up, had 
 polished and beautified them, and had delivered them 
 back to their Owner as gems of the first water Though 
 thus stricken down with deep sorrow, she at length 
 
 s^i ' : .. 
 
 l! 
 
 ! m .1 
 
 
 ■ i ^n 
 
 n 1 
 
54 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 \\ :\l 
 
 V. 1 
 
 ■'i 'i 
 i 1 
 
 submitted with true Christian fortitude ; consequently, 
 there was none of that loud, boisterous, raving, outside 
 grief, that rather shows its shallowness than its depth 
 and power— more like the noisy ripple of the tiny rivu- 
 let, than the broad, deep, and even flow of the noble 
 river. It is true that, when they were carried forth and 
 deposited in the grave,— or, as it may be termed, the 
 Christian's night-room, where the body, the outward 
 dress of the spirit, is laid by until it will be required 
 again at the morning of the first resurrection,— she did 
 feel the loneliness of her situation in all its blank, dark 
 dreariness : but she well knew that there was One 
 whose eye was ever over her for good, and whose ear 
 was open to her every plaint : and persuaded that she 
 had now close relationships above — that up there were 
 safely housed her darling little ones, that they were now 
 safe in the bosom of her heavenly Father — she had ever 
 a celestial halo around her sorrow. 
 
 But there was one thing that was calculated to give 
 point to all her other sorrows, and that was, that her 
 husband had not faithfully carried out his promise that 
 he would write, at the very furthest, once a week. To 
 all the letters that she had written to him, she had not 
 as yet received one in return, and she could not unravel 
 the deep and aflflictire mystery. She knew that his love 
 was true, and that his affection was firm and pure. She 
 herself had been breathing out her very soul upon paper ; 
 her full breast had found relief in narrating her sorrows 
 with her pen ; and she often asked herself, why was 
 there no response ? She hoped, she feared, and at times 
 she was led to dread that there might be something 
 wrong ; some fatal mishap might have befallen the ob> 
 
 
 m 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 55 
 
 m 
 
 jftct of her solicitude. And this state of suspense, in 
 her case, was hard to bear ; for she was of a highly 
 sensitive nature, and, keenly alive to both joys and 
 sorrows, could fully appreciate the one, but at all times 
 suifered most keenly under the other. 
 
 But, if it will not be anticipating a part of our narra- 
 tive, we will just mention here, to avoid any unpleasant 
 misgivings in the mind of the reader, that Captain Wal- 
 ters had most scrupulously, in every sense of the word, 
 been faithful to his promise, and had perhaps written 
 as many, if not more letters than bis wife ; but none 
 had ever reached their destination, so that there was 
 mutual disappointment. This was owing to the letters 
 being intercepted by parties who had completely cut 
 oflf communications with the headquarters of the British 
 army and the city of Montreal. 
 
 ' ! M 
 
 '■If'' 
 
 J f 
 
 ,.i&if 
 
56 
 
 lilliak; or, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 i" i !, ,1 
 
 On the promise of Captain Baldwin to Captain Wal- 
 ters, that he would promptly make arrangements to con- 
 vey information to Mrs. Walters, he at once sent Lieu- 
 tenant Wyndham, the oflBcer next in command under 
 Captain Walters, — he having given his parole of honor, 
 with a polite note to the ioramander of the British 
 forces, stating his wish, and the ardent desire of Captain 
 Walters to see his wife. And, as there were at that 
 time no regular post-roads, or any stages to convey 
 parties from place to place, Captain Baldwin generously 
 placed at the service of the lieutenant his own carriage 
 and span of horses, with the understanding that if it were 
 the desire of Mrs. Walters to return with him, she was 
 at perfect liberty to do so. 
 
 So far so good. But it was essentially necessary that 
 a pass, or permit, should be procured from both the 
 American and British authorities, to allow this arrange- 
 ment to be consummated. Such was the high estimation 
 in which both Captain Baldwin and Captain Walters 
 were held by every individual in their respective armies, 
 that a statement of the case was no sooner made than 
 the pass was granted. 
 
 Thus fully prepared to carry out the wishes of all 
 parties interested, Lieutenant Wyndham at once started 
 on his mission of love. But between three and four hun- 
 dred miles to travel was not so pleasant and easy a 
 
 H^l. 
 
woman's endueance. 
 
 57 
 
 task at that time as at this day of railroad and steam- 
 boat communication through the same district of coun- 
 try. Suffice it, however, to say, that after a wearisome 
 and toilsome travel of nearly two weeks, he arrived at 
 his destination in Montreal, and, as gently and kindly 
 as his own rough nature would allow, broke by degrees 
 the whole state of things to Mrs. Walters, who received 
 the news with something like a calm resignation, that 
 was quite unexpected on the part of the lieutenant, and 
 even perplexing. This might partly be accounted for 
 from the fact that this information in some measure 
 quieted the worse fears that had of late been agitating 
 her mind, for she now learned that her husband was 
 alive ; and then, of late her mind had been schooled to 
 sorrow, and therefore not so liable to be urged into a 
 sudden gust of grief as it otherwise might have been. 
 
 But there was communicated to the lieutenant news 
 that for the moment completely unmauned him. He ap- 
 peared to be in a state of consternation on being told 
 of the death of his little favorite, Elizabeth, and of his 
 romping pet, Robert ; and, greatly moved at the start- 
 ling announcement, exclaimed — 
 
 " Alas 1 what will Captain Walters say and do when 
 he hears all this ?" 
 
 Ah I this touchied a tender chord in the heart of Mrs. 
 Walters. " Yes," she said, " what will Walters sny 
 and do, indeed ?" at the same time seeming in a musing 
 mood, and with a look on vacancy. But she was soon 
 brought back to her self-possession, and in a calm man- 
 ner and subdued tone of voice said — 
 
 " I wish I could go to him and be with him in his 
 sickness." 
 
 3* 
 
 l! 
 
 V}; 
 
 i 3 
 
 H- 
 
58 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 The lieutenant then expressed to her that that was 
 the one object of his mission, and that he only waited 
 her commands, and her desires should be implicitly com- 
 plied with. 
 
 She was told that Captain Walters had given utter- 
 ance to the ardent wish to have her with him ; and in 
 obedience to that desire he had come to inform her. On 
 learning this she could not hesitate for a moment, but 
 commenced preparations for her departure, which were 
 soon completed. And as she had not any tender charge 
 to detain her at home, or even to divert her thoughts, 
 there was only one grand absorbing thought that swayed 
 her mind and her woman's heart, and that was her hus- 
 band. Now that she had placed her mind on him so 
 intensely, time and distance seemed to lengthen indefi- 
 nitely, as the one passed, or as the fleet horses short- 
 ened the other. Her impatience was on several occa- 
 sions almost on the point of leading her to the use of 
 indiscreet expressions, by complaining of the sleepy 
 driver and the lazy horses. But at the same time 
 there was enough to try the skill and patience of the 
 driver, and to test to the utmost the strength of the 
 horses, by the almost insurmountable difficulties of the 
 road. 
 
 A.t length, however, her ardent desires were realized, 
 and she was once more beside her husband. But that 
 first meeting tongue or pen would utterly fail to por- 
 tray : it was the looks of love ; it was passion without 
 words ; it was the soft but silent embrace of pure affec- 
 tion. But, oh what a change a few months had wrought 
 in those so lately blooming forms 1 Pain and sorrow of 
 heart—yes, deeply wounded affections— had changed 
 
 .^i 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 59 
 
 tho one ; and severe wounds and bodily pain had sorely 
 reduced the other. 
 
 Almost the first question that was asked by the hus- 
 band and father, when the ebullition of afifection had a 
 little subsided, was : " But how are my darling little 
 pets, Eliza ?» 
 
 She, with an averted eye and an assumed calmness 
 of manner, replied: "They are well, and perfectly 
 bappy." 
 
 But he, in the excitement of the moment, kept plying 
 ier with all kinds of questions ; and in fact every con- 
 ceivable shade of a reason was urged by him for her to 
 inform him all about his children. But evading all his 
 questions with shrewd womanly tact, she urged him to 
 keep quiet, as his extreme weakness unfitted him to 
 converse long ; that she had told aim they were well 
 and happy, and when he was mo.e able to talk, she 
 wonld then answer all his questions : now that she was 
 with him, he had nothing to do but to get well ; which 
 she trusted a lew days or weeks at furthest would fully 
 accomplish. 
 
 There was one subject that required an explanation 
 between Captain Walters and his wife, and that was, 
 why no letters had passed between them. This was 
 explained according to the statement already made, that 
 although the letters had been written and sent, accord- 
 ing to the word mutually pledged, yet ^y some mys- 
 terious cause they had failed in being delivered. 
 
 We would here state, that after Captain Walters had 
 been placed under the care of Captain Baldwin's, family 
 physician, the latter had used his utmost skill in his treat- 
 ment ; but notwithstanding all his attention, there was 
 
 ii •' 
 
 M U 
 
 K "1 
 
60 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 t, 
 
 excessive suffering on the part of the patient, The ball 
 had imbedded itself so firmly imong the muscles of the 
 left shoulder, that it proved a most difficult procedure to 
 extract it ; and it required no less dexterity to treat 
 that in the left thigh. The result proved most satis- 
 factorily that Dr. Smith was fully equal to the task he 
 had undertaken ; but notwithstanding all this skill and 
 tenderness, he could not prevent nature from pursuing 
 her own course. Serious inflammation ensued, and a 
 general prostration of his whole system, followed by 
 fever of a most malignant type ; so that for some time 
 his life appeared to be trembling in the balance : and his 
 noble mind, too, b' 'iffered from the shock as to drift 
 from its moorings 
 
 It was well for Mrs. Walters that all this had been 
 gone through before her arrival ; but still he was suffer- 
 ing from the effects of illness, and it required all her 
 skill to insure his recovery. But we must say that 
 no one could, from all appearances, be, better qualified 
 than she was for this purpose — quick in all her per- 
 ceptions, ready in her movements, tender in her appli- 
 ances, yet firm in her command over her own suscepti- 
 bilities. There was nothing morbid or mawkish in her 
 mind or manner ; every thing was quite natural, easy, 
 and graceful, — so much so that the physician compli. 
 mented her by saying that it was really a great privi- 
 lege to be sick, where the patient could be blessed with 
 the attendance of such a nurse. 
 
 At length, every thing seemed to be progressing, as 
 regarded the health and strength of Captain Walters, 
 as favorably as could be reasonably expected. 
 
 But still there was often a great restlessness about 
 
 hin 
 wli 
 hei 
 tlu 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 61 
 
 I ^: 
 
 him. He would frequently inquire about his little pets, 
 where their mother had left them, and how was their 
 health when she came away — did they often talk about 
 their father, and had they grown much since he left — 
 and, as he often looked in the glass, seeing his own 
 altered appearance, he wondered if his pets would know 
 him when he returned to them — and many questions 
 such as these, that often put to a very severe test his 
 wife's ingenuitj' to evade their force ; and they made 
 great demands on her resolution, to enable her to sup- 
 press her emotion. 
 
 One day, as they sat by themselves, each had re- 
 mained some time silent, apparently musing on some 
 absorbing subject, in regard to the present or the past, 
 when the captain said : " My dear, you never mention 
 our children except when I ask you a quection concern- 
 ing them ; and even then you answer me evasively." 
 
 " Well, my dear Kobert," said she, " if I do not say 
 much about them, I do assure you that I think a great 
 deal about them — my sweet little angels." 
 
 At this the captain started, reclaiming: " Angels 1 
 what do you mean, my dear ?" 
 
 " Now, my dear Robert, my dear love, x see that you 
 are so very nervous that you cannot bear at present to 
 refer to any thing that will have the most distant ten- 
 dency to excite ; and to quiet you on this one topic, I 
 tell you once for all, that they are perfe-" tly happy now, 
 as I have said so many times before." 
 
 He again seemed agitated as before the emotion was 
 strong within, and, with an attempt at suppression, he 
 muttered to himself the words, "Happy now — happy 
 now — what does that mean ?" 
 
 n-l! 
 
 r 
 
 m f 
 
 I i 
 
 R 
 
 P-! << 
 
62 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Time sped onward ; but he left the marks of his ad- 
 vancing footprints, ineffaceable in the stirring period to 
 which we are now referring. Freedom had erected her 
 standard, and it was floating in the breeze : her sons, 
 too, had drawn the sword, and had thrown awuy the 
 scabbard. And that sword was destined never to be 
 idle ; but to do deeds of daring worthy of fame,. so long 
 as there is to be found a single tyrant on the face of 
 the earth, who shall be foolhardy enough to attempt to 
 stay its onward progress. 
 
 When Captain Walters had sufficiently recovered to 
 be able to converse freely, without danger, the above 
 and kindred topics engaged much of their attention, 
 and he found in Captain Baldwin a spirit somewhat con- 
 genial with his own, — a man who had seen much of the 
 world, and a close observer of human nature, he had 
 read intelligently things, times, and circumstances, as 
 well as men and books. He was a ripe scholar, having 
 won high academic honors in one of the famed universi- 
 ties on the continent of Europe ; and then, to crown the 
 whole, he was a very pious man. His most excellent 
 and amiable wife was a helpmeet indeed for him. So 
 that, from what we have already seen of Captain and 
 Mrs. Walters, it may very naturally be supposed that 
 there must have grown up among them all, something 
 more than an ordinary attachment. And then v aptain 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 63 
 
 Baldwin, like himself, ever manifested an open, upright, 
 and straightforward candor, that completely banished 
 all reserve. 
 
 One day they had been talking quite freely upon a 
 number of subjects of a general nature, and relating in- 
 cidents of their own lives, and circumstances with which 
 they hud become acquainted or had seen in their travels, 
 when, after a short lull in the conversation, Captain 
 Baldwin rather abruptly exclaimed : 
 
 " Oh, by-the-by, Walters, I have often wondered how 
 Jt was that you got hold of that system of sword-exer- 
 cise ; — Qo let me know." 
 
 Captain "Walters responded by remarking : " To tell 
 you the truth, Baldwin, I have as often had the same 
 idea haunting my brain as to how, and where, you came 
 by that same system, when I was under the impression 
 that I was the only one on this continent who had ever 
 learned it." 
 
 " Well," said Captain Baldwin, " as I was the first to 
 ask the question, after yon have given me your relation, 
 I will in return inform you how I attained the know- 
 ledge and practice of the same system." 
 
 With this understanding between them. Captain Wal- 
 ters made the following statement. " At the close of my 
 college studies, my father intended that I should take a 
 two years' stroll over the continent of Europe, to enable 
 me to gain a more familiar knowledge of the world 
 before seriously settling down to my professicm, which 
 he wished, as indeed was my own choice, should be that 
 of the army. Being fully equipped with a supply of 
 the * sinews of war' in ray purse, and a great number 
 of letters of introduction to some of the first families 
 
 
 .;'. 
 
 f.' ri 
 
 !'■! 
 
 ! 'mi 
 
 , t 
 
 Hi'. 
 
 { I i 
 
 1 {}. *» 
 
 -. I 
 
64 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
 residing on the route that it was intended I should 
 take, and with a heart as buoyant as that of a new- 
 fledged eagle, I set out upon my journey. And as 
 there was a seast^n of comparative peace at that time 
 in Europe, I found no difficulties to impede my onward 
 progress. 
 
 " As is usually the case at the early opening of spring, 
 all the highways of travel on the continent of Europe 
 were thronged with the very elite of society ; and you 
 may suppose that a young man of my flattering pros- 
 pects would feel himself perfectly at home in such com- 
 pany. But, as it was my destination to be a soldier, I 
 suppose a little pardonable pride, as well as a good 
 degree of ambition, induced >vq to select for my asso- 
 ciates gentlemen of the same predilections. And it so 
 happened, that as I was on the point of leaving Ger- 
 many and entering the eastern frontiers of Switzerland, 
 I fell in company with a noble-looking gentleman and 
 his son, a fine, intelligent youth, and I suppose some- 
 where about my own age. It required very little cere- 
 mony for two young men so circumstanced to form an 
 intimacy, and especiallj' as we were bound nearly on 
 the same course in our travels. And then it would take 
 no very long time, and still less labor, for two ardent 
 young minds, just entering upon the great world, by an 
 assimilation of tastes, to form an intimate friendship ; 
 and, in short, we did become devoted and inseparable 
 companions for the entire of our future continental 
 travels. And this close intimacy with the son, of course 
 brought me in constant contact with the father, a Prus- 
 sian officer, and a special favorite of Frederick the 
 Great. At that time, this gentleman was considered 
 
I!i"; 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 C5 
 
 tlio boflt swordHman in the Prussian army, if not on the 
 coiitinont of Eiiropo. 
 
 " It lias sornutiniCH suggested itself that a little 
 Helfishness miglit have prompted the lather's sedulous 
 uttcntions to ma ; for while he was instructing me in 
 the art of self-defence, he was also comi)lcting his own 
 son's education in the masterly use of the sword. After 
 imparting his instructions, he would then leave us to 
 put in practice the theory that he had laid down. Inde- 
 pendent of the cuts, the guards, and the parries, he was 
 always very emphatic in requiring the firm grasp of the 
 sword, the rigid arm, with at the same time the free, 
 flexible, and unrestrained play of the wrist, the steady 
 and fixed gaze of the eye placed on the eye of one's op. 
 ponent. These, with an unswerving nerve, were a few 
 of the instructions that were considered of prime impor- 
 tance by him, and to be observed like the laws of the 
 Miides and Persians. It was not long before each of 
 us became completely infatuated with this exercise, and 
 entirely oblivious to all other pursuits ; while the father 
 would often stand for hours, and gaze in raptures as we 
 were each trying to catch the other off his guard. 
 
 " But, at the expiration of the time allotted for my 
 travels, you may be very sure that we parted with 
 many regrets, and with sincere protestations of undying 
 friendship ; and many promises were plighted to con- 
 tinue our correspondence by letter. For some short 
 time we were faithful to our pledges, and quite a num- 
 ber of epistles of a highly interesting character passed 
 between us. Owing, however, to the troubles that 
 sprang up on the continent of Europe, as well as in 
 this country, I have for some years entirely lost sight 
 
 m 
 
 I '*''f 
 
 \ ! I i ' 
 
 f i ■ f^h 
 
 ^ > lb? i 
 
 ^:: [ li ■ 
 ^ ' ft . . 
 
 (I 
 
M 
 
 if 4 
 
 , i,l 
 
 iiii 
 
 66 
 
 lilLLIAN; OB 
 
 both or father and son ; but have ofter- thought tliat I 
 should mucii like to hear of Colonel Schwartz or his 
 
 V 
 
 eon. 
 
 At the mention of t!)ip ;^''me Captain Baldwin started 
 with extreme surprise : and seizing- with great energy 
 the arm of Captain Wallers, in stentorian voice cried 
 out, " What name was thatT' 
 
 At the violence of this mcvement Captain Walters 
 was completely bewildered ; anvl Mrs. Walters, who was 
 sitting at a small talile with her sewing, and listening 
 to the conversation in silence, struck with a kind of 
 amazement, with one bound was by the side of her hus- 
 band. Her small stauJ flew In one direction, her sewing 
 in another, her scissors here, her thimble there — all was 
 in a state of perfect confusion. 
 
 Captain Baldwin on looking around him and seeing 
 what he had done, with a hearty laugh said : " How 
 ridiculously I have acted I how could I have so far for- 
 gotten myself! But all this wants explaining: and 
 then you, may judge for yourselves whether it was not 
 natural for me to feel a little excited under the circum- 
 stances." 
 
 " Well," said Captain Walters, " let us have the ex- 
 planation, for there must be something very remarkable 
 and well worth the hearing, and I am all impatience to 
 have it." 
 
 " Hold on a little," said Captain Baldwin ; " I tliink 
 that it would be as well for me, in the firtt place, to give 
 my version as to the way in which I obtained the know-, 
 ledge of that system of sword-exercise, and then I shall 
 perhaps be found to be killing two birds with one 
 stone." 
 
 
 I 
 
 Wiilt 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 67 
 
 And po, sill parties being cooled down, and Mrs. 
 Walters liiiviiio- collected her scattered apparatus and 
 nuiterial, and the company having again taken their 
 seats, Captain Walters said : 
 
 " Now, Haldwin, have the kindness to favor us with 
 your narration ; for, since your la.=!t flare-up, I am more 
 curious tFian ever. There appears to be some deep 
 mystery involved, and I am waiting to hear it unrav- 
 elled." 
 
 Captain Baldwin at once commenced : 
 
 " Tlien," said he, " you must know that my father was 
 a merchant in the good old city of Boston, and quite 
 unlike your English aristocracy, for he was the maker 
 of his own fortunes. He began life with little more than 
 a good stout heart, a clear head, and a pair of ready 
 and willing hands. By strict integrity, and untiring 
 industry and patience, he succeeded in accumulating 
 quite a handsome property. Thus, finding that circum- 
 stances were so propitious, and fortune smiling upon 
 his honest labors, he C(jncluded that I, his eldest son, 
 should be fully qualified, ho far as mental culture was 
 in question, to join him in hi« general enterprise. And 
 even in the alternative of a long and prosperous life or 
 an early death, I was destJrKjd to succeed him as princi- 
 pal in his extensive commercial engagements. To this 
 end, the best seats of learning that this country then 
 afforded were selected for my tuition. 
 
 " As our house had very extensive connections on the 
 continent of Europe, as well as in other parts of the 
 world, my father had been obliged to depend for much 
 of his correspondence to the faithfulness of foreigners in 
 translating the letters. Determined that I should rot 
 
 
 If 
 
 I II: 
 
 h 
 
 M 
 
 'S 
 
 •Mt 
 
68 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 be subjected to the same inconvenience, or be liable to 
 suffer the same losses to which he had been exposed 
 through the want of a liberal education, he decided, after 
 mature deliberation, to send me to the celebrated Uni- 
 versity at Bonn, in Westphalia, Prussia, where I would 
 be able to acquire a thorough general knowledge, and 
 proficiency in all the languages that I might need in 
 my future commercial transactions. 
 
 " Nothing could have been more congenial to my own 
 tastes and inclinations, or more gratifying to my ardent 
 thirst for knowledge, than was this arrangement. It 
 was in full accordance with my then impulsive nature, 
 and I promptly made up my mind that my father's 
 highest hopes and best wishes should meet with a com- 
 plete response on my part. 
 
 It would be at once tedious and unnecessary for me 
 to state minutely all the preparations for the voyage, or 
 to narrate the incidents that occurred while on the pas- 
 sage itself, which, dear knows ! was long and dreary 
 enough. Suffice it to say, that after many a toss and 
 tumble in one of the diminutive vessels of those daj's, I 
 arrived in Liverpool. From there I again started on 
 my journey, and, after many stoppages and delays, I 
 was at length pleased to find myself at my destination. 
 You may be sure that I had a good deal of the 'cute 
 Yankee about me, and that I set myself to my studies 
 with a will. While many of my classmates were merely 
 dragging along to kill time with the study of only a few 
 subjects, I resolved to take a wide range in my pur- 
 suits, with a full determination, at the same time, to 
 thoroughly understand whatever came under ly notice. 
 I had not been long at college befoi- I gained a reputa- 
 
 * 
 
 and til 
 cation 
 
 ful, 
 

 woman's endurance. 
 
 60 
 
 tion for great industry, and some of the professors were 
 pleased to point to me as an example to the more lazy 
 and thoughtless students, on account of my close appli- 
 cation and prof ''"ncy in learning. There was another 
 thing that appearc J to be in my favor, and that was my 
 being an American. For this reason, my company was 
 generally acceptable in most of the best families of the 
 neighborhood. Among the rest, I was often invited to 
 spend whatjever spare time I might have at a gentle- 
 man's mansion, a few "^iles distant from the college ; 
 and, as the invitation was a general one, I, as often as 
 1 possibly could, took advantage of the gentleman's 
 kindness, as it proved the means of relieving the ennui 
 of college life. To tell you the truth, there was another 
 great attraction ; for he had two fine, blooming, beauti- 
 ful, and highly educated daughters, and three intelli- 
 gent and active sons. I am not going to say whether 
 it was the daughters or the sons that proved to be the 
 main inducement for my lequent visits, or in which I 
 felt the deepest interest. But, allow me to say that the 
 sons always seemed to be the very pride of their father, 
 and on whos" education he had bf^stowed the greatest 
 attention ; for they were each of them destined to the 
 same profession as himself, which was that of a soldier. 
 When I first arrived at college, the eldest son had al- 
 ready been in the Prussian army for some years. The 
 other two were then at college, and the elder of these 
 became my college chum and my constant companion, 
 Every sparo moment of our college life was spent in the 
 practice of the sword-exercise, of whicli the lather ap- 
 peared tj b« a most consummate master. IIo would 
 occasionallT take the sword himself, to test our skill, 
 
 li 
 
 
 ■J 
 
I 
 
 
 70 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 and to sec for himself that all our movements were 
 according to rule, or, as he would often say, his own 
 perfect system. And then the eldest son often paid a 
 visit to his home, and he would be sure to have me 
 practise with him at the same sport, for such it seemed 
 to be to us all ; and I can assure you that those were 
 some of the most pleasant hours of my life. The eldest 
 son appeared to be deeply interested in my accounts of 
 America. His curiosity was so far excited, that he 
 would, on every occasion that might ofler, be making 
 all kinds of inquiries. As the political sky appeared to 
 be rather lowering, he would very often throw out a 
 hint that it might pt-ove to be a field where laurels 
 could bo gathered in his line. And so, by the time that 
 my college course was completed, he had fully made up 
 his mind that he would accompany me back to my 
 native shore. He fcrnd but little opposition in procur- 
 ing the necessary leave of absence from his regiment, 
 through the powerful and prevailing influence of his 
 father. And thus, with the necessary outfit, when all the 
 other arrangements were made, we started on our long 
 and perilous journey, and, after all its incidents and ad- 
 ventures, safely arrived at the port of Bostcm. On our 
 arrival, finding that the political atmosphere was in such 
 a state of dire confusion, and portending storms cf more 
 than ordinary magnitude, I, for one, determined to throw 
 myself into its very midst, and take a hand in the^ause 
 of my suffering and bleeding country. Having been, 
 for the last few years, much in the company of military 
 men in Prussia, and being of a naturally inquisitive 
 turn of mind, I had gained a good deal of information on 
 the subject of military tactics ; and concluding that I 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
•e 
 n 
 a 
 e 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 71 
 
 should be of most service to my country as a fighting 
 man, I at once joined the patriot army. 
 
 " Now," said Captain Baldwin, " I have given you a 
 somewhat rambling account of the way in which I be- 
 came acquainted with that system of sword exercise." 
 
 " But," said Captain Walters, " you have not told us 
 the name of the Prussian officer, or of the sons.'* 
 
 " Well," replied Captain Baldwin, " if you promise 
 me not to lose your wonted equilibrium, I will tell you 
 their names." 
 
 " Oh, yes 1" said Captain Walters ; " but, after the 
 startling evidence that you have just now given us, 
 what a remarkable example you are of that patience 
 you are so zealously preaching upl But at all events 
 let us have it, and I will be all attention." 
 
 "Well, then," said Captain Baldwin, "that same 
 Prussian officer is none other than your noble-looking 
 Switzerland traveller, and his son, the youthful com- 
 panion of your continental rambles. Thus is explained 
 whac proved so great a mystery to both of us — how 
 we learned the same system of sword-exercise, each 
 having been instructed by the same master. It will 
 gratify you to learn that I expect that same youthful 
 companion of yours to pay me a visit in the course of 
 this week or the next." 
 
 At this announcement Captain Walters seemed to be 
 almost frantic with delight, and impatient for the arri- 
 val of his old friend. His inquiries were put in all the 
 forms that his excited imagination could suggest, — so 
 much so, indeed, that his wife was obliged to again and 
 again suggest to hirii (hat his nerves were as yet far 
 too weak to bear further excitement. 
 
 P ) 
 
 I i 
 
 IS\ 
 
 !'( 
 
 
 ' ( I 
 
 ^.i^-> 
 
 
72 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 At about this period of our narrative there came on a 
 visit a sister of Mrs. Baldwin. These two ladies were 
 natives of one of the New England States, and of the 
 pure stock of the Pilgrim Fathers. They were both of 
 them prim and precise in all their movements, and very 
 methodical in their words and actions ; but, when tiie 
 outside crust of their apparently cold, formal manners 
 had been broken through by a little familiar conversa- 
 tion, and this supported by entire, honest confidence, 
 it was then found that they had the kindest hearts and 
 the most genial and amiable dispositions. They were 
 perfect patterns of thrift and frugality. There were no 
 bits or odds and ends lost in their housekeeping ; but 
 each of these had its appropriate use and place, and 
 every such trifle contributed to swell the general savings 
 of the year ; and it might be seen that all their in-door 
 arrangements were formed with a single eye to com- 
 fort. 
 
 The'x moral sentiments, and their views of the pro- 
 prieties of life, had such a oneness with the whole of the 
 community in which they had been reared, that any 
 deviation from the general typo would have been con- 
 templated with something like horror. In fact, the 
 sharpness of the manners, and the sternness of the moral 
 Bentiments of these ladies had, from their uniformity and 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 78 
 
 rigidity, somewhat of the general character of cast- 
 irou ; but, when we contemplate their theology, their re- 
 ligious views and sentiments, and the influence these 
 had in the formation of their whole character, they pre- 
 sent to our view somewhat of the characteristics of 
 cast-steel. But we cannot bring ourselves to think that 
 all this was meaningless, or without a purpose, in the 
 cradle of the great American nation. No 1 These New 
 England dames were to be the nursing, the foster- 
 mothers of the young Republic, and to give it a start 
 deeply imbued with the very spirit of unswerving 
 virtue. 
 
 Now, it may be supposed that all this would present 
 an entirely new phase of life and of human nature to 
 Mrs. Walters. She had been brought up in the midst of 
 the very cream or upper class of polished society, and 
 both her manners and her mind had been formed on that 
 general model. She could use her needle or her pencil 
 with unsurpassed skill ; the charms of music, when she 
 put forth her powers, either with fingers or voice, ap- 
 peared with surprising brilliancy ; but with all these 
 accomplishments, and more, in the department of house- 
 keeping she was a novice. Notwithstanding that she 
 had resided for a few years in the city of Paris with a 
 wealthy lady acquaintance and companion, whose friend- 
 ship she had formed when at school, so that she had had 
 all the advantages which wealth and an extensive inter- 
 course witli the higliest grades of fashionable society 
 could possibly confer ; yet there had always been a care- 
 ful and watchful eye over her, and an almost maternal 
 affection for her, in the per«on of a very prudent and 
 pious female, who had beetf born to wealth and station, 
 
 'f; I 
 
 ,*1 
 
 » •'18 
 
 
 iy 
 
 I 
 
74 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 ii . 
 
 but who, through reverses, had found it necessary to 
 occupy this subordinate position ; and then, her ex- 
 penses had at all times been defrayed in some very 
 mysterious way that she had never been fully able to 
 comprehend. 
 
 Added to all the advantages of high position and 
 thorough mental culture, she had a true woman's per- 
 ception, which often proved a safeguard, and which 
 enabled her to see almost at a single glance the real 
 character of parties into whose company she was thrown ; 
 and she had, in a high degree, woman's apt facility in 
 accommodating herself to the whims and wayward 
 wishes of others, without in th« least compromising her 
 own mild dignity. 
 
 There appeared to be a mutual recognition, on the 
 part of Mrs. Walters and these two New England 
 ladies, of those higher and nobler traits of character with 
 which they were so abundantly endowed ; though it 
 must, in candor, be acknowledged that each of them 
 soon discovered that there were discrepancies of opin- 
 ion between them on many subjects, both national and 
 religious. They had the sterling good sense to waive all 
 allusion to those comparatively trifling points of differ- 
 ence, and to meet on those broad, grand truths that 
 mainly affected their common humanity. They could, a 
 and very often did, pray with each other at a common 
 throne of grace, and talk sweetly over those precious 
 truths that related to their personal salvation through 
 Christ alone. / 
 
 It does not, however, come within the range of our 
 purpose to moralize on detached incidents, but to give a 
 faithful narration of the lives of the individuals before 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 75 
 
 118, in order that we may illustrate a grand principle in- 
 volved in the moral government of the world, as well as 
 in that of individuals. 
 
 After the sister of Mrs. Baldwin had been about a 
 week on her visit, it was arranged that Mrs. Walters 
 should return home with her. That home lay in a south- 
 erly direction, somewhat more than fifty miles distant, 
 and not very far from where the city of Albany now 
 stands. It was considered that Captain Walters, now 
 so far recovered, and still gaining strength every day, 
 would not suffer very seriously from his wife's short ab- 
 sence ; but he had now been more than six months in a 
 state of extreme suffering from his wounds, which had 
 made serious inroads upon his system, and, indeed, much 
 affected his noble manly appearance. 
 
 The long and severe winter was now past ; the for- 
 ests were again clothed in their beautiful foliage ; 
 Nature had put on her holiday dress, and was now vocal 
 with the song of birds, the bark of the squirrel, and the 
 continual hum of unnumbered insects. On the com- 
 pletion of the arrangements for the homeward journey 
 of Mrs. Brewster, accompanied by Mrs. Walters, the 
 rude home-made wagon, with its wooden springs, was 
 brought to the door at very early dawn. 
 
 At the time of which we are writing, it was no trifling 
 matter to go on a journey of fifty miles through the 
 forests in that sparsely settled country. The party had 
 to be well armed, both male and female, as it was no 
 very uncommon occurrence for travellers of that day to 
 meet with most unwelcome foes in the prowling wolf 
 or sly and savage panther, if not the equally dreaded 
 roving Indian. 
 
 i I' ' 
 
 I 
 
 i i 
 
76 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 Notwithstanding all the obstacles that impeded their 
 progress, from the abominably bad roads or otherwise, 
 thanks to the span of sturdy horses and a skilful driver, 
 they were fortunate enough to arrive at their destina- 
 tion a little before the sun had set in the west. 
 
 Mrs. Walters found the comfortable farm-house of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Brewster almost the counterpart of the one 
 that she had left — every part so c- <in, so neat ; every 
 thing in its place, and a place 1(.:' every thing. It was 
 no diflBcult matter for her to feel herself perfectly at 
 home, and especially after the warm and right hearty 
 greeting that she received from the cheerful and t)peu 
 countenance of Mr. Brewster. 
 
 Although Mrs. Walters appeared to be a silent ob- 
 server, she was none the less a watchful student. She 
 was laying in a large store of frugal maxims, and tak- 
 ing those lessons in housekeeping which might prove no 
 very great burden to carry, even should they never be 
 required in practice ; but, if ever she should be thrown, 
 by the revolving wheel of time, and by the possible 
 changing of circumstances, into a position that might 
 call them into requisition, she would then be able to 
 turn them to good and profitable account. ( And where 
 is there a daughter, a sister, a wife, or a mother who 
 can so scan the future as to say with confidence what 
 they may or may not require ? j 
 
 After Mrs. Walters had gone, and her husband was 
 left to the free exercise of his own thoughts and actions, 
 he felt excessively lonely. He could not rest, for five 
 minutes in succession, in any one place or position. He 
 would sit down in his easy-chair, then as hastily start 
 up ; would walk to the window, whistle or hum a tune, 
 
 ,1!, , 
 

 woman's endurance. 
 
 17 
 
 take a walk in tho ffardou, or talk iionsonHe to tlio 
 chickens. If lie met any of tlio family, ho would ask 
 for the hundredth time when they thought Captain 
 Schwartz would arrive, and which way he would be 
 likely to come ; or if they thought, were he to take a 
 walk in a certain direction, there would be any proba- 
 bility of his meeting him. In fact, he was a torment to 
 himself, and a perfect bore to all who came near him ; 
 such had been the enervating influence of the very try- 
 ing season through which he had come. 
 
 And then he had no congenial company to divert his 
 mind or engage him in conversation ; for Captain Bald- 
 win, as was his custom, had been away for some days 
 on his professional duty, and was not expected back for 
 some time to come. 
 
 Quite unlooked-for, Captain Baldwin arrived at home 
 after Mrs. Walters had been gone about four days. On 
 his arrival, he went straight to the room of Captain 
 Walters, and, after a very warm greeting, presented a 
 small paper package to him, saying — 
 
 " Walters, here is something that may prove interest- 
 ing to you. It came into my possession a few days 
 ago. Although we have now rather warm work on hand, 
 I thought that I would just run away for once in my 
 life and bring it to you. I have not time to say much to 
 you, but I see that you are getting along bravely, and 
 it is my impression that you will be able to stand a 
 pretty tough tug with the sword by the time that your 
 old friend Captain Schwartz is here, which cannot now 
 be long." 
 
 After about three hours' stay, allowing just sufficient 
 time for his horse to feed and rest himself a little, Cap- 
 
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 ;,s> 
 
 if Hi 
 
 ^i. 
 
 
 >\ 
 
 
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 ti 
 
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 Bit 
 
 T 
 
 
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78 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 I 
 
 I: 
 
 tain Baldwin again vaulted into liiH saddle, and was 
 Boon lost to the sight of liis anxious but heroic and 
 patriotic family. 
 
 Caj)tain Walters, on the reception of the package 
 from Captain Baldwin, wondering what it could con- 
 tain, sat down in his chair, and, with a small table be- 
 fore him, began very impatiently to untie and unfold 
 it ; when, lo and behold 1 he discovered that there was 
 every letter that he had written to his wife from the 
 day when he first started with the army from Montreal. 
 
 And to his astonishment and joy, there too was every 
 letter that had been written to him by his wife ; and all 
 these placed in the package in the exact consecutive 
 order in which they had been sent. To his delight, not 
 one of them had been opened ; for their contents were 
 of too sacred a character for idle, prying curiosity to 
 see. 
 
 With eager though anxious mind, and as far as he 
 could with steady eye, but with a trembling hand, he 
 began to read the first letter — in fact to devour the very 
 words and thoughts. His lips quivered ; the color of 
 his cheeks rapidly came and went ; there was a flutter 
 at his heart — yes, at his heart — but there was a rich 
 and delicious feast to his soul, while he scanned over 
 these gushings forth of affection from the full, pure heart 
 of a loving woman. He read on and on — one, two, 
 three, four — but at the fifth letter, it appeared as though 
 there were whispered fears from the lips of tender affec- 
 tion that all was not right with the health of their dar- 
 ling little Robert. In the sixth letter, there was some- 
 thing very ominous in the guarded, cautious selection 
 of terms. What was the matter with him, he could 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 TJ^ 
 
 not SCO clearly. Ho rubbed Iji'h cycH ; ho tr.ed to road 
 aj^aiii and again ; was it possible — did lio road aright — 
 did the letter say small-pox, or was he in a dream 'i 
 Was it true that his little pet was past all hopes of 
 r(^c(>very — had the foul disease baffled the utmost skill 
 of the physician I 
 
 The letter fell from his hand, but after a while he took 
 it up again : he read on, and on ; but the pious breath- 
 ings of his wife's deep devotional spirit found no echo, 
 met with no response from his own crushed nature. 
 Was it really so — was there no hope, no gleam of light 
 to gladden his darkened, downcast spirit ? He would 
 sec ; perhaps the next letter might convey better news 
 — migiit afford some slight consolation. With sorrow 
 too deep for tears, listlessly and with a hesitancy be- 
 tween hope and fear, he takes the next letter. He slowly 
 opens it — he reads — but oh ! blank dismay — despair 
 is depicted in every feature : body and mind at once lay 
 prostrate. 
 
 From the reading of the last letter, the whole truth 
 had with the force and quickness of the lightning's flash 
 broke upon his mind — he was childless. For he ther« 
 found faithfully and minutely recorded the successive 
 stages of the sickness of his two darling children — his 
 Robert and his Elizabeth — together with the hour and 
 minute of their death. 
 
 When ho came to himself again, he was a changed 
 man. It was well for him that he was alone, that there 
 might be no witness of such deep sorrow, that nature 
 might be left to spend its force, without the interference 
 of kind, officious sympathy. The heart has its sor- 
 rows — of the aflfections — far too deep and strong to 
 
 m 
 
 El' 
 
 M 
 
 ' ;i 
 
 miS 
 
 i •■ffi 
 
 a, >.d 
 
 j-y 
 
 m 
 
80 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 ! t! 
 
 be assuaged l)y kiiulnoss i'loni others ; therefore let 
 it sorrow in silence, and alone ; for it is a luxury 
 that the stoic, the unreflecting, and the unfeeling know 
 not of. The rough and coarsely constituted mind may 
 look askance, and wonder, if not even sneer, at the deep 
 sorrows or the lofty joys of the refined and sensitive 
 soul, neither of which can they understand : their very 
 nature and aflSnities lead them to seek other associa- 
 tions, and exhibit far different manifestations. 
 
 After Captain Walters had remained for several hours 
 in a state of complete prostration, the full realities of 
 his situation, in all their jpreadth, certainty, and dis- 
 tinctness, seemed to loom tp before him. In a more 
 calm and self-possessed state of mind, with clp-^pcd 
 hands and uplifted eyes, he breathed forth : " Oh, my 
 Father, help me 1" 
 
 This one short simple petition was enough. A num- 
 ber of precious promises exactly suited to his state, 
 came crowding over his mind : his eye of faith saw 
 these as he never saw them before — and he felt their 
 force. He now thought that he could see the hand of 
 God in all these trials, and that they were designed by 
 his Heavenly Father to bring him to himself. And he 
 could now fervently and sincerely say, and pray with a 
 contrite spirit : " Oh ! my Heavenly Father I I pray 
 thee to sanctify all these my heavy afflictions to my 
 spiritual well-being, and enable me to glorify thy name." 
 In this chastened and humble frame of mind, he took the 
 remainder of his wife's letters, as well as those that he 
 had already read, and perused them again and again. 
 And their words, dictated as they had been by the 
 sweetness and the breathings forth of a pure and di« 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 it 
 
 rinely instructed soul, were now fully appreciated by 
 him. He wo'ild often fall upon his knees, and, under 
 the influence of a self-sacrificing spirit, dedicate himself, 
 body, soul, and spirit, a living sacrifice to God, for the 
 remainder of his life. In the fulness of his heart, he 
 asked that this laying of the gift upon the altar might be 
 owned of God, and be fully ratified and sealed upon his 
 conscience by the blood of the everlasting covenant. 
 
 Ev'^r after this, the soldier of an earthly monarch 
 became a bold and devoted soldier of the Cross of Christ. 
 He was indeed a new man. His spirit, his conversa- 
 tion — indeed, his whole walk and conduct — gave clear 
 and unmistakable evidence that he had been with Jesus. 
 For this ever after appeared to be the only theme on 
 which he delighted to dwell. And whenever he alluded 
 to his children, with fervor of spirit he would say : " Oh I 
 I shall go to them, but they will never return to me." 
 
 He would often say to himself : " Oh, yes I my own 
 dear Eliza might well say that they are perfectly happy 
 now ; for they are, indeed, my sweet little angels I" 
 
 From that time forth he became a living epistle, seen 
 and read of all men. In the glow and fervor of his new- 
 born spirit, he was continually urging all whom he came 
 near to seek an interest in the merits of the Saviour ; 
 and in the holy aspirations of his own soul, he seemed 
 all athirst for the mind that was in Christ. He would 
 often exclaim in the language of the Psalmist : " It is 
 good for me that I have been afflicted ; that I might 
 learn thy statutes." But after all, there was nothing 
 noisy, nothing boisterous. All was calm, serious, solid ; 
 and strong good sense seemed to dictate all his words 
 and regulate all his actions. 
 
 4^ 
 
 ■ a* (. 
 
 1 \ 
 
 'i 
 
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 .1 ' 
 
 H- 1 
 
82 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 Mrs. Walterii had spent the time at the home of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Brewster, comfortable as they could possibly 
 make her ; for they thought and made much of their 
 guest, and saw clearly that she was a person of no ordi- 
 nary character. When the time came for her to return 
 to her husband, there was a feeling of mutual regret. 
 She had become acquainted with true, genuine American 
 character, as seen within the domestic circle ; and she 
 knew how to appreciate the beautiful in virtue, though 
 clothed in a rustic and homely garb, and buried in the 
 backwoods, far beyond the ken of the gay and fashion- 
 able world. She had learned lessons of real utility, that 
 could never have been gained in any other direction on 
 the face of the globe. For necessity, with the New Eng- 
 land dames, had indeed been the mother of invention j 
 and this might be seen in the entire routine of domestic 
 labor. 
 
 She had now seen a fair sample of a people new, 
 as it were, in their origin, and unique in their individ- 
 uality, but who were destined to give form and shape 
 to a mighty nation, if not eventually to have a power- 
 fully controlling influence on the social and political 
 state of the world at large. She mourned within her 
 own heart that there ever should be a desire in any 
 quarter, or in any way, to oppress such a sterling and 
 noble-minded people ; or that they should ever be visited 
 by war — that greatest of all national scourges and 
 curses. But she felt that all that she, a feeble woman, 
 «ould do under the circumstances, was to pray that men 
 might be led to cultivate the principles of peace, and 
 learn war no more : that peace might yet reign between 
 people so nearly allied as those who were then engaged 
 
 m 
 
WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 83 
 
 in such a deadly, and on one side she was sure, aimless 
 and useless strife. 
 
 But the time came for her departure, and on each side 
 there was given a few trifles as mementoes of an undy- 
 ing friendship. Though, as they expressed themselves, 
 severed for a while on earth, they were sure to meet 
 again where there would be no war's alarms, and no 
 regrets of parting friends. 
 
 There were no special events to notice in her homeward 
 trip, other than the general ones of jolts and jars, the 
 threading of the intricacies of forest paths, and perils 
 from the crossings of bridgeless brooks. She had not re- 
 ceived up to this time any information of the train of cir- 
 cumstances with which the reader is already acquainted, 
 and of the reception by her husband of all the letters 
 which she had written to him from Montreal, and the 
 very pleasing result. Upon the arrival of the vehicle 
 at the door of Captain Baldwin's house, the first person 
 who hailed her appearance was her husband — his coun- 
 tenance all radiant with smiles. 
 
 With an adroitnes that, for the moment, completely 
 surprised her, he handed her down, and her quick eye 
 soon detected that there was something more than 
 usual to be observed in his manner and behavior. And 
 then her ear caught something that was very peculiar 
 in his voice : so subdued, yet clear and sweet, that she 
 looked at him intently, but said not a word on the sub- 
 ject. He seemed to have all the vivacity and buoyancy 
 of spirit of his younger days ; but this was seasoned 
 with the steady gravity and wisdom of age. She won- 
 dered, and pondered in her heart the cause of this great 
 change. She saw, too, that his conduct was quite easy 
 
 lis Ht.- )•■ 
 
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 M 
 
 'ill 
 
 84 
 
 lilliak; or, 
 
 and natural — nothing assumed for effect's sake. Ho 
 could talk with her, but his speech was seasoned with 
 grace, and there was even a warm emotion in all that 
 he said. 
 
 She concluded that there was only one thing that 
 could by any possibility produce, in so short a time, 
 such a change as she saw in her husband. But, as a 
 prudent woman, she awaited the development of circum- 
 stances in their own time and way. He himself was 
 not at all hasty in his explanation, but went about the 
 matter coolly and calmly. At length he brought the 
 bundle of letters which he had received from Captain 
 Baldwin, and placing them in his wife's hand, said : 
 " My own dear Eliza, here is every letter that you wrote 
 to me from Montreal. I have read and re-read every 
 word of them." 
 
 All this was done and said so calmly, and with such 
 self-possession, that she now actually felt alarmed ; and 
 while he was thus cool, she was soon everwhelmed with 
 her feelings, and gave vent to them in a flood of tears. 
 He then drew her to his bosom, and in a gentle whisper, 
 said : " My own, and my ever dear Eliza ! you were 
 correct in what you said ; for they are perfectly happy 
 now. They are indeed our — yes I our — sweet little 
 angels I" 
 
 " But, my dear," said Mrs. Walters, " they are not ac- 
 tually lost to us. No, for we shall again fondle them in 
 our arms, and press them to our bosoms." 
 
 " I am sure of all this, my dear," said Captain W al- 
 ters ; "for, after reading your letters, ami somewhat 
 imbibing your spirit, my Heavenly Father so clearly 
 and fully revealed himself to me, that there is not now 
 
 a d 
 
 epi 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 85 
 
 a doubt upon my mind, or the faintest cloud to dim my 
 epiritual sky. Let us praise His holy name 1" 
 
 And this so lately sorrowful couple fell upon their 
 knees, and were soon so deeply engaged with God in 
 prayer, that they appeared to be lost to all outward 
 things. When, at length, they arose from their knees, 
 it might have been seen that they had indeed received a 
 full baptism of the Spirit. And now they plighted their 
 vows to spend and be spent for God. 
 
 In a few days after the occurrence of the circum- 
 stances above narrated, Captain Baldwin was brought 
 home — carried by six men on a litter. He had been 
 engaged in a severe contest, and been wounded by a 
 musket-ball, that had entered between the collar-bone 
 and the joint of the right shoulder. All hands were at 
 once on the alert to render all the aid they could to the 
 wounded man ; but, in the hurry and confusion of the 
 moment, some appeared to be at a complete loss what 
 to do for the best. Captain Walters, however, was from 
 the first as cool and collected as though nothing more 
 than ordinary had happened : not that there was any 
 want of feeling on his part, for he at once laid the pa- 
 tient in bed, and dressed the wound with as much skill 
 as a practical physician, and with as much tenderness 
 as the most feeling mother would have shown to a sick 
 babe. He was never for a moment from the bedside ; 
 every breath was noticed ; every whisper attended to ; 
 every want promptly supplied. In fact, every relief was 
 afforded that the necessities of the case required. If 
 Captain Walters had been brought up from his early 
 youth in a hospital, he could not have felt more at home, 
 to all appearance, than when attending to his sick 
 
 i ! I 
 
 
 ;!:■' I'i ! 
 
 ' i 
 
 ," 
 
1 : 
 
 •Si 
 
 :;i^' i 
 
 
 86 
 
 LILLtAN; OR, 
 
 friend. He was indeed unremitting and unwearied in 
 
 his attentions. 
 
 When the family physician arrived, he declared that 
 skill and kindness could not have been more judiciously 
 employed, and he questioned whetlier he could have 
 done as well himself. On examining' the wound, he said 
 there were no bones broken ; and he thought, when the 
 inflammation had subsided a little, the ball might be 
 extracted without much diflBculty, and with compara- 
 tively little suffering. Thus they were led to put the 
 most favorable construction on the case. 
 
 Captain Baldwin himself had from the very first ex- 
 hibited the greatest equanimity of mind. But for the 
 faintness which he felt from loss of blood, and the 
 excessive pain that he endured from the inflammation of 
 the wound, no person would have supposed that there 
 had been any thing very seriously the matter with him. 
 He had always been remarkable for a high flow of 
 generous and noble feeling, and this had placed him far 
 above the reach of petty annoyances. And now that ho 
 was called upon to suffer a little confinement, there was 
 nothing like fretfulness or a repining spirit manifested, 
 but rather a merry, happy buoyancy of mind. 
 
 About a week after Captain Baldwin had been placed 
 on the sick-list, and just as the day was drawing to a 
 close, it was announced that there was a stranger ap- 
 proaching the house on horseback. It was soon seen 
 by his dress and accoutrements, as well as by the trap- 
 pings on his horse, that he was a mili^try man. It was 
 not long before he was recognized as the long-expected 
 Captain Schwartz. The greeting was at once cordial 
 and confidential between him and Captain Baldwin It 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 87 
 
 had beon arranged beforehand, between Captain Bald- 
 win and Captain Walters, on the suggestion of the 
 former, that there should be no mention made of the 
 presence of the latter, in order to increase, if possible, 
 the agreeable surprise that this would prove to Captain 
 Schwartz. So that, after the introductory ceremony of 
 the two friends already in the secret. Captain Baldwin, 
 in a kind of off-hand way, said : " Oh ! by-the-by, 
 Schwartz, I have a gentleman here with whom I wish 
 to make you acquainted." 
 
 On the presentation of these two, Captain Schwartz 
 eyed Captain Walters as though there was a kind of 
 recognition going on in his own mind, that very visibly 
 betrayed itself both in his looks and conduct ; and, turn- 
 ing to Captain Baldwin, he said in a kind of half-medi- 
 tative way : "What did you say this gentleman's name 
 was, Baldwin ?" 
 
 " Oh," said Captain Baldwin, " that is a friend of mine 
 — his name is Walters." 
 
 Captain Schwartz, looking still more puzzled than 
 before, said : " Walters ! Walters !" and looking him 
 full iii the face, he inquired : " Have you, or had you 
 ever, a brother ?" 
 
 Captain Walters, imitating the New England twang- 
 in his speech, replied : " Well, I guess I had once." 
 
 Captain Schwartz hung down his head and muttered 
 something to himself, part of which was : " The same 
 name, that is sure ; and as like as two peas." 
 
 The parties who were in the secret enjoyed this 
 amazingly, and were not at all backward in posing Cap- 
 tain Schwartz as to what he could be thinking about — 
 insinuating that he was bewitched. 
 
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88 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
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 Captain Baldwin, with great apparent candor, coming 
 to his relief, requested that he would explain to him tho 
 difficulty under which he appeared to be laboring, 
 
 "Well," said Captain Schwartz, "some eleven or 
 twelve years ago, as I was travelling on the continent 
 of Europe with my father, we fell in company with a 
 young Englishman of the name of Walters, the same as 
 that of your friend ; and I do declare, that if I had met 
 him in any other place, and under other circumstances, 
 I should have had no hesitation whatever in saying that 
 this was the same person." 
 
 " Yes," said Captain Baldwin ; " but you see how 
 easily we may be deceived. And I have no doubt that 
 you, as well as myself, have seen individuals whom we 
 supposed very like each other ; yet if we could have 
 seen those same persons stand together, we should have 
 been able at once to discover our mistake." 
 
 " Well," said Captain Schwartz, " after this I shall 
 never place any reliance on my own perceptive powers ;" 
 at the same time scrutinizing the features and person of 
 Captain Walters, and again saying : " Well, I am com- 
 pletely deceived this time, I must acknowledge." 
 
 On this declaration being made by Captain Schwartz, 
 Captain Walters, thinking that this scene of deception 
 had gone far enough, stepped forth with extended hand, 
 and assuming his own natural voice, said : " Well, my 
 old friend Schwartz, how do you do ? I am so glad to 
 see you 1" 
 
 On this sudden transition of affairs, the confusion of 
 Captain Schwartz appeared to be still more confounded. 
 He looked at Captain Baldwin, then at Captain Walters, 
 and he actually seemed for some moments to be unable, 
 
 wit 
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 hen 
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 woman's endurance. 
 
 89 
 
 with any thinjj^ like certainty, to realize his trnc posi- 
 tion, as to whether ho was in a dnjani or rcuilly vviih) 
 avvnke. But after Captain Baldwin had enjoyed a good 
 hearty laugh at his expense, and a short explanation 
 had been givon, the two old rri(;nds were warm in their 
 congratulations, and (juite overjoyed at this nnexpected 
 meeting. 
 
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 CHAPTER VIIT. 
 
 It may very naturally be supposed that three such 
 men, who had so extensively seen the world, and from 
 so many standpoints studiously contemplated it in the 
 mass, as well as in the individual character, could not 
 be long in want of congenial subjects for conversation. 
 x\nd so rapidly the time wore away, that it was far past 
 the hour of midnight before they separated, each be- 
 taking himself to his couch, though sleep proved reluc- 
 tant to be wooed to their relief. 
 
 Among the many topics that came cnder their notice 
 for future discussion, it may be supposed that one very 
 fruitful subject would be — and to which they would 
 often allude — the principles of liberty that were then 
 animating the breasts of American patriots. On this 
 theme Captain Baldwin was a perfect enthusiast ; yet 
 he was always careful to use no language that might 
 wound, or in the least interfere with the views or feel- 
 ings of Captain Walters. Captain Walters would listen 
 apparently with great interest, but said little or nothing 
 on these subjects ; though on one occasion he did make 
 the remark, that he was a subject and a soldier of the 
 British crown, and could not conscientiously interfere 
 with these opposing national politics, as it would ill 
 become him to exhibit any thing like dereliction to his 
 oath of allegiance. " But," said he, " I am fully con- 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 91 
 
 vinced tliat these principles must have a inoHt ttHl iiiud- 
 ing influence on the governmentH of Europe." 
 
 " Influence 1" said Captain Schwartz, with vehemence, 
 " why, they will spread over Europe like wildfire ; and 
 will inaugurate quite a new state of things. This pe- 
 riod and these circumstances will prove another start- 
 ing-point in the world's great and grand drama. Men 
 will awake as from the deep sleep of ages ; they will 
 begin to think for themselves ; and they will see and 
 feel that they are a power in the world : they will assert 
 their claims and demand their rights. But my mind is 
 deeply impressed with the most fearful forebodings ; for 
 in the first awakenings of men who have been so long 
 kept in the dark, and so heavily oppressed as the people 
 of Europe, the fiery spirits that will be evolved by cir- 
 cumstances, will act upon and urge onward the indis- 
 creet, and will let loose the unbridled passions of the 
 masses to deeds of blood and wrong the direst and the 
 darkest ; and all this will be done in the name and for 
 the cause of liberty." 
 
 " Why, this has not been the case with us," said Cap- 
 tain Baldwin. " It is true that there have been, as 
 might have been expected in a civil war, isolated cases 
 of brutal butchery on both sides of the contestants ; but 
 the people, as well as those who have been the leading 
 minds in the movement, have from the very first had a 
 definite object in view, and they have never for one mo- 
 ment swerved from that path which was sure to bring 
 them eventually to the desired goal." 
 
 " Ah, yes," said Captain Schwartz ; " but you must 
 remember that your leaders and your people had been 
 schooled to just thinking and right acting. The prin- 
 
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 ciples of the Pilgrim Fathers had moulded the national 
 sentiment, and shaped their morals. It was love of true 
 national liberty that at the first brought your fathers 
 and mothers to the shores of New England. And they 
 /'brought with them the open Bible, that palladium of 
 civil and religious freedom. 
 
 " The descendants of those fathers and mothers have, 
 from their cradles, breathed the air of liberty, and been 
 nurtured in its principles, while at the same time they 
 have been reared in a state of society characterized by 
 almost primitive simplicity, far away from those old 
 systems that had so long corrupted, cramped, and ener- 
 vated all the native energies of man. J t was, therefore, 
 contrary to the very nature of things to suppose that 
 such a people, and so circumstanced, would long brook 
 the restraints and oppressions of despotism. Here 
 you had a people fully prepared and every waj'^ worthy 
 of the freedom which they demanded ; and it has been 
 the potency of the public will that has wrenched the 
 rod from the hand of the oppressor. But, at the pres- 
 ent moment, things are far otherwise in Europe ; th9 
 masses are there purposely kept in ignorance, that the 
 will of the ruler may sway them to suit his owr dinistor 
 purposes ; and if the people once get a glimpse of the 
 flimsy barriers that hold them in restraint, those bar- 
 riers will prove but as the merest cobweb before the first 
 general uprising. The popular fury once fully aroused, 
 will, in its frenzy, blindly strike friend and foe alike, and, 
 in its madness, may eventually even destroy itself. So, 
 when casting its horoscope through the coming century, 
 the mind shudders at the prospect it reveals to the peo- 
 ple of Europe I" 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 93 
 
 " But," said Captain Baldwin, " would you rather that 
 things should continue as they are — that the people 
 should be kept in ignorance, and be considered only as 
 the vtssals and drudges of those who are pleased to 
 entitle themselves the upper class, or the higher orders, 
 and so avoid that state of things which your imagina- 
 tion has portrayed ?" 
 
 " Why," said Captain Schartz, " I am fully persuaded 
 things cannot continue in their present state ; for I, very 
 early in life, learned a sentiment from my mother that 
 has had a controlling influence on my own opinions and 
 actions, and by which I have been able to judge of those 
 of other people. It is this — ' Jehovah reigneth ; let the 
 earth rejoice.' " 
 
 On the utterance of these words Captain Walters 
 gave a start, and looked most intently at the speaker. 
 The reader will have little trouble in divining the caus« 
 of this, when he recollects that the above are the words 
 always found in the letters received by Mrs. Walters 
 from the Black Phantom. 
 
 • But Captain Schwartz continued : " It is and ever has 
 been deeply impressed upon my very heart, that the 
 present state of things among men is an infraction on 
 the laws of the universe. Every thing appears out of 
 joint — the guilty great are triumphant, and the virtuous 
 poor are oppressed. There is only one way by which I 
 can reconcile this state of things with the thought that 
 God still holds the reins of government in His own 
 hands ; and that is, that He is now allowing the guilty 
 rulers sufficient time to fill up the measure of their ini- 
 quity. And it is my firm conviction that the governors, 
 both in Church and State, in Eujope, have nearly ar- 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 rived at the o point. The principles that are to consum- 
 mate pU this are those that are n^w working in the 
 minds of you Americans— principles that must raise 
 your nation to a high point of greatness and prosperity. 
 Other nations and people, seeing your wealth and 
 power, will emulate your conduct and follow your exam- 
 ple. This must be so ; for men, like children, are imita- 
 tive. The course of principles is ever onward. Man is 
 a progressive being, and nations must advance, unless 
 kept back by selfish rulers and unwise laws. / 
 
 " There is one great and crying evil in Europe, that 
 must, while it lasts, render almost futile the exertions of 
 the poor man to secure a homestead for himself and 
 family, while it retards the material prosperity of na- 
 tions. I refer to monopoly of the land. Surely the day 
 cannot be far distant when the landless will assert their 
 claims to a portion of this, as the indisputable right of 
 every man who haa the means to purchase. This cen- 
 tury is far in advance of the last in many points, and 
 yet people at this day only see men as trees walking ; 
 but your people have made a grand move in advance, 
 that must give accelerated speed to the world's progress. 
 And so, from this starting-point, the wildest fancy may 
 not be able to picture forth the degree of light and 
 knowledge that will actually blaze forth and spread 
 over the world in the coming centurj' ; and the man who 
 is a lover of his kind cannot contemplate the future, after 
 the present threatening clouds have cleared away, with- 
 out the most exultant feelings — for freedom, and her 
 twin-sister, knowledge, must spread over the nations, 
 and draw all men within their kindly grasp." 
 
 "Then," said Captain Walters, "you suppose that 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 95 
 
 tlic capacity of man will enlarge with favoring circum- 
 Htances ?" 
 
 " No, not by any means," said Captain Schwartz ; " for 
 it is not within the power of man or of circumstances to 
 give intellect. They may, and very often do, foster it, 
 but never confer it. The will of man has no control in 
 the case whatever. You may prepare your ground, and 
 use your own judgment in the selection of the kinds and 
 quality of the fruit-trees that you intend shall form your 
 orchard ; and you may, to a very great extent, control 
 and mould your flocks and herds, by careful selections 
 and prudent crossings : but where is the man who shall 
 say and determine, at the commencement of his domestic 
 life, I will have so many sons, and beforehand make a 
 selection from the intellectual or sensible arts that they 
 shall pursue, irrespective of the mental provisions of 
 nature ? But he may train the whole of his family to 
 virtuous habits, and start them in useful and honorable 
 pursuits ; and these will prove of more sterling value, 
 both to themselves and to the community in which they 
 reside, than the most brilliant endowments of genius. 
 The spirit of genius is a coy vagrant ; man has no bait 
 to lure her to his embrace, or to induce her to do his 
 bidding. She is erratic in her movemeuts : now she 
 may make choice of a region in the sunny south, — at an- 
 other time in the frozen clime of the north. She eludes 
 the pampered sons of sloth and the effeminate circle, 
 and often selects for her favorite the obscure and the 
 poor. Men of might or of power cannot claim her pres- 
 ence or command her obedience. Constantino might, 
 by his authority, make choice of the beautiful site on 
 the shore of the Bosphorus on wliich to build the city of 
 
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 96 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 Constantinople ; but, with all the resources of the 
 Roman empire at his command, he could not evoke the 
 spirit of genius, or infuse the talents of a Phydias into 
 any of his numerous subjects to adorn it. The increase 
 of wealth, and the consequent corruption of manners, 
 has driven the spirit of genius from those places which 
 aforetime were her favorite haunts. And all men are 
 now more or less practical sophists ; they reason falsely, 
 and they act still worse. The clergyman, by continually 
 poring over his dogmas, influenced by the contractcu 
 views and principles of sect, contracts his own intellect 
 The physician, by spending his time and having his 
 attention all absorbed in prescribing to the physical ne- 
 cessities of his patients, too often circumscribes the ex- 
 tent of his own mental vision. The lawyer is often so 
 one-sided and technical as to warp his judgment ; for, 
 assiduously intent in his study of statute and common 
 law, he foregoes those higher ranges of thought that 
 would warm, and cheer, and elevate his soul. Thus it 
 may be said that all men are walking in a vain show, 
 tcr their very professions, without great care, have a 
 direct tendency to clip the wings of their fancy and cir- 
 cumscribe the range of their imagination. -^ 
 
 " And then it is my impression," continued Captain 
 Schwartz, " that there never will be an intellect able to 
 produce works to surpass those of Homer, so far as in- 
 vention and the pure spirit of poetry are in question. 
 And again, as to a knowledge of the secret workings of 
 the human heart — and, indeed, of that microcosm, man 
 — none of the modern authors as yet have equalled, let 
 alone surpassed, the ancients ; and it is a question with 
 me whether future writers v<^ill accomplish more. But 
 
 I 
 
F^'u "I A^'W'W' i'*"- " ■'■r"*i^* '■"'•I I. 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 97 
 
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 indeed it matWrs little, so far as the real happiness of 
 man and the well-being of society are to be influenced. 
 But what I wish to say is, that that knowledge and all 
 that freedom which are now confined to a favored class, 
 will then be so equally diffused over the general com- 
 munity, that every unit in society shall count for its 
 full value, and every individual feel his full weight and 
 importance, and, well instructed to that end, have his 
 say on all questions of public import : that there shall 
 be no one single privilege claimed by any portion of the 
 community that shall not be equally and alike the iu- 
 
 \ heritance of all." 
 
 \ "Then, is it your opinion," said Captain Walters, "that 
 to possess all the privileges of a member of the body 
 politic, and the unrestricted exercise of freedom of 
 speech on all subjects, and to have all the avenues of 
 knowledge open to his inspection, and his acquirements 
 in proportion, — that these will constitute the chief well- 
 being of man and of society ?" 
 
 " No, I would not be understood to mean that," said 
 Captain Schwartz ; " but this I will say, that oppression 
 and ignorance were never yet known to foster the kind- 
 lier feelings and sentiments of the human heart, or the 
 virtues of every-day life, for both the oppressor and the 
 oppressed equally suffer. And these virtues, after all, 
 are the true and solid basis, as well as the strong bonds 
 of human society, and more likely to be cultivated in 
 that community where there is the recognition of mutual 
 rights in the governor and the governed. Where there 
 is the want of virtue on the part of either, there wHl be 
 found the sure indications of public decay ; and if not 
 arrested, the destruction of the whole fabric of society 
 
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 98 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 and of its well-being, sooner or later, is morally certain. 
 But where virtue reigns, and the people are well in- 
 structed in their duties, — where there is a healthy and 
 active public sentiment, a wise government, and a 
 thrifty and industrious people, — there national prosper- 
 ity, and general as well as individual happiness, must 
 be secure. And let me add to this, that where every 
 man's heart and affections are schooled to virtue, these 
 will prove of more sterling worth in the ultimate re- 
 sults than if every man were a Homer, a Virgil, or a 
 Milton." 
 
 "Yes," said Captain Baldwin, "those are the grand 
 principles advocated by some of our leading men, and 
 which have animated us in our long and severe struggle : 
 and it appears to me as though Providence has most 
 signally interposed in our behalf ; for, though in com- 
 parative poverty, poorly clad, and scantily equipped for 
 the fearful contest, still, with a firm and unswerving 
 trust in the God of battles, victory has at length perched 
 upon our banners, and success come in answer to our 
 prayers." 
 
 " That ia perfectly correct," said Captain Schwartz ; 
 *' God has indeed vindicated his own truth. And how 
 could it have been otherwise, with such a people and 
 with such leaders ? for they were at once faithful to 
 their country and their God. And then the world has 
 never seen associated in one company such a number of 
 wise heads, warm hearts, and such disinterested patriots 
 as the signers of your Declaration of Independence. 
 Surely^ the God of providence must have had something 
 to do in the raising up of such men, at such a time, and 
 for such a purpose. And then the one man, the one 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 99 
 
 groat and good man, the noble Washington — emphati- 
 cally the Father of his country — long may he live to 
 enjoy the laurels he has so honorably and triumphantly 
 won I" 
 
 " I am pretty well convinced," said Captain Walters, 
 " that Providence has indeed fought your battles ; for, 
 while there have been wise counsels and prudence on 
 your side, with a paucity of the essential materials of 
 war, we have had all the necessary equipments and a 
 more than ordinarily well-drilled army. But there has 
 been confusion in our councils and bewilderment in our 
 aims, and our actions have been without results ; as 
 though it were ordered, by a power above that of man, 
 that you should succeed in your purposes." 
 
 " You may rely upon it," said Captain chwartz, 
 "that though God may appear to be long and often 
 mysterious in working out His own purposes, either in 
 national or individual cases, yet nothing is more certain 
 than that the results will at length vindicate His power, 
 wisdom, and goodness ; and, as I have remarked before, 
 it has been, under God, the strong arm and stern will 
 of the people, influenced by the pure principles of pa- 
 triotism, that have not only succeeded in conquering 
 their own freedom, but in winning from all true lovers 
 of their kind the meed of praise and admiration that 
 will be echoed and re-echoed through all time. Next 
 only to the devotion and worship we owe to the Su- 
 preme Being, the sentiments and feelings of true pa- 
 triotism are perhaps the strongest and the purest that 
 can sway the human breast ; and when these have 
 prompted to the defence or support of one's country, 
 they have produced the highest and noblest characters 
 
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 If; 13 
 
100 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 HiJ 
 
 that have ever adorned the history of our race. How 
 unlike the mercenary, who sluggishly and mechanically 
 buckles on his armor, or takes his place in the ranks, 
 looking more at the paltry pittance that may be doled 
 out to him, than to those invigorating principles that 
 actuate tho soul and nerve the arm of the true citizen 
 soldier 1 The latter feels that he is fighting for the 
 country that he loves, though he may not own a single 
 acre of its soil, — to which he is bound by ties dearer and 
 stronger than all others that bind him to the world and 
 to life. He holds his personal ease and comfort, his 
 property, his blood, his domestic relations, yea; and even 
 life itself, at a cheap rate, if he supposes that by such 
 sacrifices he may aid in saving and perpetuating his 
 beloved country, with all its cherished institutions. 
 How patiently and submissively will he submit to the 
 hardest labor, to the tiresome drill, the long and toil- 
 some march ; how firmly stand in the ranks under the 
 hottest fire, and with unfaltering courage dare and do 
 in the fiercely-contested battle ! And how emphatically 
 do these remarks apply to your noble American citizen 
 soldiers in their late national contest ! Never has there 
 been in any conflict, in all this world's history, so much 
 to call forth all that is pure, and good, and holy in tho 
 great national heart. You have been placed before 
 earth and high heaven, as it were, by a train of associa- 
 tions, that have exhibited you as one of the best speci- 
 mens of social beauty and personal independence." 
 
 " But, after all," said Captain Schwartz, "it is to be 
 hoped that the people will not be led to say in their na- 
 tional voice, * Mine own arm hath wrought out this great 
 deliverance j' and, in their pride, forgot the arm that 
 
T"' 
 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 101 
 
 has been made bare in their behalf, for there is a Provi- 
 dence that raises and rules nations. And was it at all 
 necessary to illustrate this point, the whole course of the 
 world's history is strewed with incidents that might be 
 brought forth to prove the position. It is much more 
 difficult to account for the stupid blindness of some men 
 in denying a special Providence, than it is to bring co- 
 gent reasons to prove it. However much men or na- 
 tions may build themselves up in the false persuasion 
 that their disregard of the laws of justice and humanity 
 are unnoticed or unrecorded, they may be assured they 
 will eventually be most fearfully undeceived." 
 
102 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Such were the themes that frequently occupied the 
 attention and employed the hours of these men, and 
 few in that day were better able to discuss those, as 
 well as other kindred subjects. But the time now drew 
 near for them to part company. They had been brought 
 together by a train of remarkable, if not indeed myste- 
 rious associations, but each of them had done his duty 
 from conscientious motives, although they had taken 
 quite opposite sides in the late national contest. Cap- 
 tain Walters had fought under the banners of him 
 whom the others considered p 3 a despot, and their op- 
 pressor ; but the brave and intrepid opponents in arms 
 had merged in the gentleman, the scholar, and the Chris- 
 tian brother. A friendship had been formed and ce- 
 mented between them, that was, to all appearance, des- 
 tined to continue for life, and which they had full assur- 
 ance of being renewed in a better world ; and although 
 each had to take his diflferent and widely divergent road 
 in life, yet their sympathies wete so entwined, that they 
 felt, and warmly expressed, a deep interest in each 
 other's well-being. So much so was this the case, that, 
 as the day approached for their departure, it appeared 
 painfully too soon, and the parting itself was more like 
 the separation of loving brothers than of stern warriors 
 who had so lately exhibited their prowess in deadly con* 
 flict on the battle-field. 
 
 1 
 
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W U M A N "M E X I) it U a NC R . 
 
 103 
 
 Before tlioy parted, Ciiplain Baldwin Haid to Captain 
 WalterH, " that, altlioiigh he and his people had been 
 engaged in waging war against the English govern- 
 ment, he, for his part, was enabled to distinguish be- 
 tween that governnient and the English people : that 
 the Tory aristocracy had far too long held the undis- 
 puted control cf that government, and had most cruelly 
 oppressed their own people, as well as exhibited a de- 
 termination to oppress the Americans ; but that there 
 had not been wanting noble examples of men who had 
 dared to brave the ire of those despots, and in their 
 very teeth, in both houses of the British Parliament, 
 had dauntlcssly vindicated the Americans and their 
 cause : that the very names of Barr6, of Wilkes, of the 
 elder Chatham, and other kindred spirits, were, and 
 would be forever, engraven on the hearts of all true 
 Americans. And," said he, " I believe the time will 
 come when the people of England themselves will assert 
 their own claims to political, civil, and religious enfran- 
 chisement. In their struggles, peaceable or otherwise, 
 to that end, they most undoubtedly will have the sym- 
 pathies of the entire American people." 
 
 The parting of the women was characteristic of fe- 
 male friends. There had been made great preparations 
 for this most important event. Mrs. Baldwin was de- 
 termined to show her appreciation of the character of 
 Mrs. Walters by the largeness of her contributions for 
 her comfort while travelling. She had made a collection 
 of every kind of fruit produced on their farm, and these 
 were in every conceivable way of preservation. She 
 had selected a large cake of the best white maple- 
 sugar, and a quantity of honey in the comb, as well as 
 
 'lii^ 
 
104 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 '1 -': ; 
 
 \i -li 
 
 some in a purified • state. She had cakes and sweet- 
 meats, got up in her own peculiar way. These, she 
 said, would be so nice for Brother and Sister Walters to 
 eat on their journey North. 
 
 But it would be useless to enumerate all the articles 
 with which Mrs. Walters was loaded ; suflSce it to say, 
 that all was done with true American munificence. But 
 we must not omit to mention that there was included in 
 this general outfit, a roll of written receipts in her own 
 handwriting, and embracing information in almost every 
 department of frugal housekeeping. Arid then, as a 
 finishing stroke to all, thefe was carefully folded up 
 with the written receipts a copy of the celebrated " Poor 
 Richard." 
 
 There were many little mementoes of a more imper- 
 ishable nature given on both sides — intended to keep 
 alive in their memories, m all their after-days, the very 
 agreeable association that had subsisted among them 
 for so many months. Of these, the most highly prized 
 on all sides, perhaps, were admirable portraits of these 
 friends, painted in oil-colors by the accomplished Mrs. 
 Walters. Thus, Mrs. Walters took along with her the 
 likenesses of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin and their little boy 
 and girl ; those of Mr. and Mrs. Brewster and their little 
 girl ; and also that of Captain Schwartz. She left with 
 each of the families, portraits of herself and husband. 
 All were earnest in their declarations that these paint- 
 ings should ever be esteemed as the most sacred and 
 valued of their possessions. 
 
 The day at length arrived for the separation — ^the men 
 with hearty shaking of hands, and the women and chil- 
 dren with ardent and affectionate embraces — all, by 
 
 
.:,ir 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 105 
 
 their tearful eyes and sad countenances, exhibiting more 
 distinctly than words could have done, the inward pangs 
 under which they were laboring. They did not separate, 
 however, until they had, in a season of devout prayer, 
 most fervently committed each other to God, and to the 
 word of His grace, which was able to build them up in 
 their most holy faith, and to give them inii«^ritance 
 among those who are sanctified. 
 
 It would, perhaps, be useless to attempt to give any 
 account of their journey northward, to the city of Mon- 
 treal. The roads thitherward had not been improved 
 since their last travel over them. SuflSce to say, that 
 they successfully surmounted all difficulties, and arrived 
 pretty well used up with the fatigues of the journey ; 
 and especially Captain Walters, who suflfered severely 
 from his wounds, which were not yet quite healed — the 
 jolting of the wagon, from the roughness of the roads, 
 causing excessive pain. 
 
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 106 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 CHAPTER X. 
 
 It may be remembered that we left Captain and Mrs. 
 Walters in a state of bewilderment in their own dwell- 
 ing in Montreal, after the adventure of Mrs. Walters 
 with an aged female in St. Paul street ; and the reader 
 has not forgotten our proposal to turn back in our nar- 
 rative for about the space of three years, that we might 
 have a more perfect view of the main characters in our 
 history — developed by a train of very remarkable cir- 
 cumstances, in which they were called to suffer, and by 
 which their piety and trust in God were put to a severe 
 test, but out of which they came like gold purified. 
 
 We will now again take up the thread of our nar- 
 rative where we left it as noticed above. 
 
 It is late in an evening of the very early spring of 
 the year 1184. Mrs. Walters had been waiting very 
 anxiously, and longer than usual, for the return of her 
 husband. He at length was heard to approach the front 
 door by his expectant wife, who was promptly ready as 
 usual ta admit him. 
 
 Aftt. r the first affectionate salutation, the keen eye of 
 the loving wife saw that all was not right with the mind 
 of her husband. She drew her chair close to his side, 
 and taking his hand in her own, and looking him affec- 
 tionately in the face, said : " My dear Robert, what is 
 it that is giving your mind so much uneasiness ?" 
 
 ■1 f. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 107 
 
 With seeming reluctance he replied : " Not much, my 
 dear ; or rather, nothing more than usual." 
 
 She responded kindly : " Now I know there is, for I 
 see clearly that you are ill at ease. Will you not inform 
 your wife, my dear, that she may grieve with you, or 
 else join in laying your plaint Ijefore the mercy-seat ?" 
 
 *' Oh I my dear love, my only love I that is indeed the 
 only place to which you and I should carry our sorrows 
 — the only place where we shall meet with genuine 
 sympathy — where we are sure not to meet with the 
 ribald jest or sarcastic jeer — where we shall not have 
 our purest motives maligned, our judgments impugned." 
 
 " Oh I my dear Robert, I think I know now what 
 oppresses you. Has not the Rev. Mr. Wilson been 
 again stirring up his partisans against you ?" 
 
 *' Yes, he has, my dear ; and is it not passing strange 
 that the most recklessly wicked r.\aj go to any lengths 
 in their conduct before him without rebuke ? The mo- 
 ment, however, that one becomes in earnest for the sal- 
 vation of one's soul, not only the men of the world, but 
 members of the Church, set up a hue-and-cry after him, 
 as though he were not fit to live. I know that you, as 
 well as myself, have often suffered most severely from 
 his malignant and prejudiced spirit." 
 
 " Sure the hands of Christ have been wounded in the 
 house of His pretended friends," said Mrs. Walters. 
 
 "Yes, that is so," said her h^isband ; "and seeing 
 that his remarks are received by the members of the 
 mess-room with such zest, he allows no opportunity to 
 pass without throwing them out. It is the same with 
 his companions of the mess-room. If by a look or a 
 word I indicate an indignant resentment of their inso 
 
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 lence, I am met with the remark : * Oh, Walters, you 
 ■tnow that you are converted — you should bear these 
 things like a saint, to maintain the character of your re- 
 ligion I' I have seen the day that I would have resented 
 this sort of conduct — when they would not have dared 
 to take these liberties ; but now they know that I am 
 bound over to keep the peace by the Prince of Peace, 
 and they are dastardly enough to take advantage of one 
 who is governed by the mild spirit of the gospel, as I 
 profess to be.'' 
 
 " Well, my dear," said his wife, " you know that he 
 who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suflfer perse- 
 cution. We have only to connect the present with the 
 future, and commit our cause into the hands of our 
 heavenly Father, who will eventually see to it that full 
 justice is done to all parties." 
 
 " I do indeed know all that," said her husband, " oth- 
 erwise I should certainly sink under the evil spirit of 
 resentment. I sincerely believe that there is not on 
 this earth such another place for unblushing sin and de- 
 pravity as a regimental mess-foom, and often wish that 
 I were well out of it." 
 
 "So do I, my dear Robert," said Mrs. Walters, with 
 vehemence, " but I do not at present see how that can 
 be accomplished. We are not like any other people I 
 know of. We have neither of us any place on this wide 
 globe that we can call our home but this our own 
 dwelling. At least this is the case with me, for I never 
 had a home — no place where I could enjoy the dear 
 relationship of father or mother, brother or sister, and 
 this has ever made me feel lonely and disconsolate 
 indeed." 
 
WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 09 
 
 " That is emphatically so, my dear," responded her 
 husband. *' In my own case, too — niy eldest brother, 
 who inherited the family title and entailed estate, has 
 been living so extravagantly that he will soon be so in- 
 volved that it will be utterly beyond his power to assist 
 me in any way. Neither he nor I has influence with 
 the Government, we not agreeing in our political views 
 with the party in power ; and so I can luok for nothing 
 from that quarter. And as you say, then we have no 
 place but this our dwelling, and I have no home but 
 with my own loving wife. In fact, I have no depen- 
 dence but what arises from my profession, and that is 
 doubtless the cause of my treatment by the members of 
 the mess-room — they, without exception, being very 
 wealthy or in expectation of being so ; and to be poor 
 and religious, in their estimation, is to be undeserving 
 of respect. Although not one of the officers of the regi- 
 ment is more attentive to his duties than I am, and have 
 always been, I am overlooked ; while those who have 
 no claim to it make rapid advancement, simply because 
 they have influential friends at headquarters. I have 
 no doubt that the vain coxcombs annoy me for some 
 supposed excellence they think I possess, and in which 
 they feel themselves deficient. Such, however, is poor 
 human nature, and I can well afford to pity them, and 
 do so with all my heart. But seriously, my dear, I have 
 of late had thoughts of selling out my commission and 
 of leaving the army altogether. I have pictured to my- 
 self a way of life that I think would be far more con- 
 genial to my tastes and feelings ; but there is one great 
 obstacle that stands in the way, and at present appears 
 to me insurmountable.'' 
 
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 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 " Well, my dear, what is this way of life ? You know 
 j^our wife would gladly do her part to assist in any way 
 that would be congenial to the tastes and feelings of 
 her husband, and no one would be more willing to sec- 
 ond your endeavors to overcome an obstacle you deem 
 insurmountable." 
 
 " My dear," said her husband, with a pleasant smile, 
 ** it is this : I am afraid that you would not be willing 
 to become a farmer's wife." 
 
 " And," said Mrs. Walters, " has my husband serious 
 thoughts of becoming a farmer ?" 
 
 " Indeed he has," said the Captain, '* and has had for 
 some time past ; but I have been afraid of mentioning 
 it to you lest I should bring you uneasiness. But I 
 have thought over this subject, and have concluded that 
 it would be more quiet and independent than the disa- 
 greeable life I now lead." 
 
 " Well, well 1 to tell you the truth, Robert," said his 
 wife, at the same time clasping her hands together, 
 with a hearty laugh, " I, too, have had the same thoughts, 
 but did not like to mention them to you for fear of un- 
 settling your mind ; but now that the truth is out, let 
 me tell you that I shall prove one of the best-managing 
 and most industrious of farmers' wives you can find, ex- 
 cepting, perhaps, the New England dames. Let me 
 toll you that I served quite an apprenticeship under 
 that very excellent housekeeper, Mrs. Baldwin, and can 
 assure you that I was more than a casual observer. 
 Indeed, I have often thought that it was a mysterious 
 Providence that led me there, to prepare me for a more 
 useful and active life ; for you know that the whole of 
 my education tended another way, though I often feel 
 
WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 Ill 
 
 thankful that my heart was not neglected, while my 
 feet and my fingers, my tongue and my brain were in- 
 structed." 
 
 " Well, wife, this conversation is at once new i\nd un- 
 expected to each of us ; and as you have so candidly 
 spoken your mind on this subject, the sooner we set to 
 work the better, to place matters in proper train for the 
 undertaking." 
 
 " I say amen with all my heart, Robert," said Mrs. 
 Walters, " and shall be highly pleased on your account, 
 for you will then be free from the harassing circum- 
 stances which now annoy you." 
 
 From this mutual understanding, and perfect agree- 
 ment in their sentiments, it might naturally be expected 
 that there would be unity of action between them. 
 And it was so, for whatever one proposed the other was 
 sure to approve. This eventful evening, that was to be 
 the turning-point in their lives, was closed by committing 
 themselves and all their plans to the God and Father 
 whom they served. 
 
 The following morning found them more determined, 
 if possible, in their purpose, and more firmly fixed in 
 their resolution. They were infatuated with their new 
 scheme, and set to work with a right good-will. Ex- 
 tensive purchases were made of suitable material for 
 clothing. A selection was made of domestic utensils 
 proper for a large and respectable farm-house, and these 
 of sufficient variety and of the best make and material. 
 Scarcely a day passed without numberless suggestions 
 being made as to what would be necessary — this would 
 be so nice — that would be wanted for such and such a 
 purpose. If there had been at their elbows an old dame 
 
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 from the backwoods— who, with her scanty supply of 
 household utensils, had been using one and the same 
 thing for half a hundred different purposes — her risible 
 muscles would have been brought into play at this man- 
 ifestation of extreme simplicity, and at what she would 
 have deemed sheer extravagance. But they were in 
 earnest, and meant to do as they thought right — often 
 saying that it was to no purpose to suffer inconvenience 
 when, by the expenditure of a little money, it could be 
 avoided. 
 
 They had already made choice of a locality where they 
 intended to make their future home. A detachment of 
 the regiment had been sent with a number of the " Uni- 
 ted Empire Loyalists" (or, as they were generally called, 
 U. E. L's.) to Upper Canada. This party had returned 
 with such glowing descriptions of the beauties of the 
 district of country surrounding the Bay of Quint6, as to 
 induce Captain Walters to select that neighborhood for 
 his intended residence. Consequently, he had procured 
 a government grant of one thousand acres of land, that 
 being the allowance to an officer of the British army 
 who wished to make his home in Canada. The distance 
 was upwards of three hundred miles, and at that time 
 the roads, if that name could be given to tracks through 
 the woods, were of the roughest kind : nor was there any 
 regular mode of conveyance. But these were difficul- 
 ties that could, in part, be surmounted, for horses would 
 be required on their farm, and they might as well pur- 
 chase them in Lower Canada, where, as the Captain said, 
 were to be found horses of the pure Normandy breed. 
 He was loud in his praises of the Canadian horses, ex- 
 tolling their many excellent points — their short neck, 
 
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 woman's endurance. 
 
 113 
 
 Bmall head and ears, keen clenv bi'^glit lively eyes, full 
 deep cliest, strong clean limbs, and their great endur- 
 ance either in harness or under the saddle ; while a very 
 important consideration in their favor was, that they 
 could be kept in good condition on very little food. 
 These horses would take them all the distance, and they 
 would thus avoid the knavery and imposition of trickish 
 teamsters on the road. And then wagons would be 
 wanted ; but where to get them was the question, as 
 there was scarcely such a thing to be found in all Lower 
 Canada, the French habitants^ all using unsightly and 
 primitive-looking carts. They hoped to procure these 
 from some one of the Americans who occasionally 
 brought articles to Montreal for sale; and this they did. 
 
 So intent were they on their proposed undertaking, 
 that it fully occupied their hands and minds by day, and 
 very often was the subject of their dreams at night. In 
 a little more than a month all their arrangements were 
 completed. Captain Walters had sold his commission 
 to an aspiring lieutenant in the regiment, who happened 
 to have the ready cash by him. This of course would 
 have to be ratified by the authorities at home ; but that 
 was a matter easily arranged under the circumstances. 
 
 When the time came for Captain Walters to bid fare- 
 well to the members of the regimental mess-room, there 
 appeared to be an exhibition of sincere regret on the 
 part of a majority of the oflScers, — some of them declar- 
 ing that, after all, Walters was a fine fellow, a good 
 soldier, and a brave man. But others, who were not 
 inclined to be on friendly terms with him, while appa- 
 rently approving the compliment, accompanied their 
 approval with a sinister smile ; — " Yes, a pretty fair 
 
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 -sort of lH)y, if it wen; not for his (luoor notions of lol'- 
 ^ion, and \m submission to petticoat govornniont." 
 This lust rornark was nuts for the liev. Mr. AVilson, 
 who was the same cold impassive being as usual, and 
 who scarcely deigned to return the hearty shake of the 
 hand, and the cheerful farewell of the Captain. He 
 merely said, in an almost inaudible tone, " Good-by, 
 Captain Walters," and then sharply and abruptly turned 
 on his heel away. It might have been seen that Cap- 
 tain Walters observed, and indeed felt pained at this 
 indecorous conduct, so utterly unbecoming the sacred 
 character of the reverend gentleman. But, although he 
 felt the gross indignity, his own amiable disposition, 
 independent of his Christian spirit, led him to look with 
 compassion on the frailities of one who ought to know 
 and do better. 
 
 What most afflicted the Captain and his wife was, 
 parting from the little loving company with whom they 
 had so often taken sweet counsel ; but this had to be 
 done, however painful it might prove. 
 
 At length, on the Sabbath morning, with many a 
 heavy heart, sorrowful countenance, and tearful eye, 
 they met in their little room for the last time. The 
 service, conducted by brother Sergeant Johnson, in 
 his usual acceptable way, was solemn and impressive, 
 appropriate to the occasion. Such was the feeling that 
 pervaded the meeting, that the speaker's voice was fre- 
 quently almost lost amidst the loud sobs of the sorrow- 
 ing company. After the address of Sargent Johnson, 
 the brethren and sisters had an opportunity of breathing 
 forth their aspirations in prayer to their God and Father 
 in behalf of Brother and Sister Walters. And, oh ! such 
 
woman's enduranck. 
 
 115 
 
 prayers! One who had previously visited the Eng;HHh 
 ciiurch, and listiiiicd to tho service as conducted by the 
 ciiaplain of the regiment, assisted by tiie grand music 
 on the organ, and then had joined this little secluded 
 band of heavenly-minded and ardent worshippers of 
 God — if he had any thing like spiritual perceptions, or 
 were capable of appreciating the good, the lovely, and 
 the holy, would have needed little time to decide in 
 which place were the acceptable worshippers. But, 
 however that may be, God saw and listened, approved, 
 blessed, and favored the meeting with his special pres- 
 ence : their hearts were indeed melted into union with 
 each other, and with their living Head ; while the room 
 appeared to be filled with His glory. 
 
 Not the least touching part of *Ms highly interesting 
 interview, and that which afiected Captain and Mrs. 
 Walters personally, was the eagerness of all present to 
 give some token by which they desired to be remem- 
 bered. It might have caused a smile in a disinterested 
 spectator to have noticed how this was carried out, and 
 the little trifles that were brought and presented. They 
 had nothing greater or better to give. Yet each was 
 received with a lovely grace by Mrs. Walters, and the 
 very smallest acknowledged with as much feeling as if 
 it had been a diamond of priceless value. But what 
 appeared most to touch the heart of Mrs. Walters, was 
 a mother, neatly dressed, and holding in her arms a 
 lovely child, who, approaching her with great modesty, 
 presented a small paper, and, as distinctly as she was 
 able, through her sobs and tears, said that there was a 
 lock of hair she had just cut from the head of her baby, 
 for which she had been so kind as to provide its first 
 
 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 t)utfit of clotliing. She would have it named after her, 
 Hhe said, so that in future, when lookinj^ ut that lock of 
 hair, she would bo reminded of her little Eliza. Mrs. 
 WalterH drew her purse from her pocket, and wishinjr 
 to make it appear as if only depositin^j the paper in it 
 for safekeeping, at the same time took from it a silver 
 crown-piece. Then, taking the baby from its mother, 
 she slipped the piece into her hand, and tenderly kissing 
 the little beauty, returned it to its mother, with the most 
 earnest injunctions to bring it up for God. Thus, after 
 many a promise given, and many a wish expressed to 
 meet each other in heaven, the parting moment at 
 length arrived. 
 
 After the above trying scene was over — when every 
 tie that had held them in Montreal seemed to be broken, 
 and, like a vessel loosened from its moorings, they were 
 about to drift away upon the wide world — they appeared 
 to act with greater freedom in making their prepara- 
 tions for their long and perilous journey. The spirits 
 of Captain Walters were buoyant and hopeful,, for he 
 felt that he was now freed from the trammels of mili- 
 tary espionage. He felt that he was now on the high 
 road to independence, peace, and comfort. He was 
 going to occupy a farm of a thousand acres, wheic I e 
 would have a chance of shaping his fortunes — where he 
 would stand high among his neighbors, and be at liberty 
 to select his friends and acquaintance. 
 
T 
 
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 WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 117 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The morning of their departure at length arrived, and 
 it may not be ainiss to ts?ke a glance at the external 
 appearance of things. We say (!xternal, for we will not 
 attempt an enumeration of the boxes, trunks, and pack- 
 ages, and their contents. 
 
 In the first place, we may mention the two heavy, 
 strongly-built wagons, with the best of canvas covers to 
 secure their contents from the weather, and to serve as 
 shelters eit er by day or night. These wagons, loaded 
 to their utmost capacity, were each to be drawn by 
 four choice Canadian horses ; and we must say tliat 
 Captain Walters had exhibited good taste and sound 
 judgment in their selection. One team was composed 
 of four blacks, and the other of four beautiful browns. 
 We must not forget to mention that, as the Captain 
 often prided himself on having been in his younger days 
 a crack English sportsman, he had provided himself 
 with four high-bred sporting-dogs — two fine hounds and 
 two spaniels : these, with his trusty and favorite Man- 
 ton, were deemed essential to the outfit of a gentleman 
 farmer, and might assist to while away his leisure 
 hours. The Captain had also an eye to his future want 
 of laborers on his farm. There happened to be two 
 men in his Company who had been born and brought 
 up in a rural district in England, and who had from 
 
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 early childhood boon acquainted with the routine and 
 toil of farm-labor. The name of one was Joseph Brown, 
 that of the other William Jones. The education of these 
 men had been neglected in their youth, for they had not 
 been a single day at school ; and had never been within 
 a church or chapel in their native land, before they 
 were marched there according to the regulations of the 
 British army. There had been a great sameness in 
 their modes of life, but there was a difference in their 
 ages at the time they now come under our notice. 
 Brown was about thirty-eight — Jones was eight years 
 youijger ; both were strong and firmly-built men, of 
 exuberant spirits, and in fine health. They had been 
 for some years humble and consistent members of the 
 little Christian society that had been formed in the regi- 
 ment. And although at their first union with that small 
 Company neither of them was able to distinguish one 
 letter of the alphabet from another, yet, by very close 
 and patient study, Jones had become able to read the 
 Testament, as well as the hymn-book. Brown was not 
 quite so proficient a scholar, and had to spell many 
 words, and skip others, that were beyond his comprehen- 
 sion. Both had charming voices, and had been noted 
 from their boyhood for singing the love-ditties of their 
 native land. 
 
 It must be admitted that these men were but too true 
 a type of a large class from the same grade of society 
 in the country that gave them birth ; but where the 
 fault of their ignorance lay we are not going now to 
 investigate. Our purpose now is not so much with their 
 antecedents as with their present personal history. Cap- 
 tain Walters had i)roposed to them to purchase their 
 
TT 
 
 woman's endurance, 
 
 119 
 
 discharge from the British service, if they were willing 
 to accompany him as assistants and laborers on his 
 farm. The subject was no sooner broached than it was 
 acceded to by them, with protestations of ever being 
 faithful to his will and wishes. 
 
 These men had wives, and we must not pass them by 
 without notice, for each was quite a character in her 
 own way. Mrs. Brown, as is often the case, was more 
 highly gifted than her husband. She was keen, pru- 
 dent, circumspect, and withal remarkably neat in her 
 person, highly industrious, always on goods terms with 
 herself and every one else, generally with a good-natured 
 smile on her fine open countenance, and of a really gen- 
 erous disposition. She had always a good word for 
 everybody, save one who intentionally insulted her, or 
 did her some serious injury, in which case her keen 
 and cutting sarcasm made them cautious in their future 
 intercom se with her. She restrained the rude or un- 
 mannerly ; but inspired with respect those who could 
 appreciate proper womanly independence. She had 
 made and saved a considerable sum of money by wash- 
 ing and mending for the men of the Company. Pru- 
 dent in her general management, she could make a little 
 money go a great way. A favorite with the whole regi- 
 ment, she was spoken well of by all, and highly es- 
 teemed by Captain and Mrs. Walters. Mrs. Brown 
 had a remarkably intelligent boy, six or seven years 
 of age at the time his parents started with Captain 
 Walters. 
 
 Mrs. Jones was a person of but few words, very pious 
 in her way, and apparently so in her own estimation. 
 She could not see how some people's consciences allowed 
 
 
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 them to talk so freely, or to be so loose in their conduct 
 before others. She was apt to form a too rigid opinion 
 of persons and their actions, and thus to the most trivial 
 word or act, was often given an undue importance. 
 Judging, or rather misjudging others, she became fret- 
 ful, peevish, and irritable in temper. Always disquiet- 
 ins herself about trifles, she was unfitted to form friend- 
 ships ; consequently she was destined to travel through 
 life solitary and sad. But notwithstanding all this, she 
 was ever honest in purpose, trustworthy in her dealings, 
 and in every sense of the word, pure-minded. She was 
 fully aware of her imfirmities — of the uncvenness of lier 
 temper — and would often speak of them with sorrow 
 and contrition of spirit. Mrs. Jones had a daughter of 
 about five years of age, very pretty, and verj' shrewd 
 and intelligent for her years. 
 
 There was another individual connected with the es- 
 tablishment of Captain Walters, that we must not over- 
 look on any account, as he is destined to occupy a prom- 
 inent and highly important part in our narrative. This is 
 Jean Baptiste, a Frencli Canadian — a kind of shrivelled up 
 little fellow, nimble as a squirrel and merry as a cricket. 
 He could not speak English fluently ; but that was not 
 of much consequence, as both Captain and Mrs. Walters 
 spoke French with facility. Baptiste was a kind of 
 necessity, as not one of the eight horses could under- 
 stand an English keeper ; but he could address them in 
 a way they had been used to. It appeared to be his 
 greatest delight to be stroking them, patting them, talk- 
 ing and singing to them ; and they appeared fully to 
 appreciate all this, as there seemed to be a perfect un- 
 derstanding between tlieni and him. And it is not re- 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 121 
 
 markable that they were most obedient and docile when 
 he had the command of them. 
 
 Thus, we find that on the morning of their departure 
 from Montreal, this company was composed -of nine per- 
 sons — Captain and Mrs. Walters ; Mr. and Mrs. Brown, 
 and little boy ; Mr. and Mrs. Jones, and little girl ; with 
 our little friend, the facetious Jean Baptiste. All were 
 astir at early dawn, with an outfit to meet all present 
 or future, real or supposed wants, so far as human pru- 
 dence and foresight could devise. As they were not 
 j^oing through a sandy, arid desert, where no water was 
 to be found, but emphatically a land of large rivers and 
 streams, tlujy had no need to carry that essential beve- 
 rage with them. 
 
 It was a morning in early spring, if that term is at all 
 applicable to Lower Canada, where there are only two 
 seasons in the year, winter and summer — seven months 
 of tlie former and five of the latter ; for so sudden is the 
 transition from winter to summer, that, when the frost 
 breaks up, the extreme heat of the sun soon melts the 
 snow, however abundant it may be. The farmer may 
 tlien pursue his labor, plough his land and deposit his 
 seed ; for the frost never penetrates the ground as in 
 milder regions, having been protected by its covering 
 of snow. 
 
 Thus — on this beautiful morning, with a bright sun 
 and a bulriiy atniospliere, all nature smiling, as if exult- 
 ant at its liberation from th(^ iron bands of winter that 
 iiad held it in their rigid grasp — all things were ready 
 fur the word of command to start, each being at his post 
 with true military precision. The Captain considering 
 himself entitled to the post of honor, takes the lines of 
 
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 122 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 the first team, with Brown on the seat, at Jiis left hand. 
 The little Frenchman, Jean Baptiste, according: to the 
 already arranged plan, took the control of the other 
 team, with Jones beside hira. The women and children 
 were comfortably seated in the first wagon, under the 
 shelter of the canvas cover. 
 
 The word given, with a sharp crack of the whip, 
 and the noble teams, with their heavily laden wagons, 
 are on their route. Wending their way along the un- 
 paved and muddy N6tre Dame street, they were soon 
 beyond the city limits, and outside the ramparts, which 
 at that time were near where McGill street now runs. 
 
 Our travellers were no sooner beyond the ramparts, 
 than they had an intimation of the character of the roads 
 over which they would be compelled to drag their loads. 
 They took what has of late years been called the lower 
 road to La Chine, and found it low enough and bad 
 enough in all conscience ; for the French Canadians, 
 from their first occupancy of Lower Canada, have been 
 utterly regardless of any thing like public improve- 
 ments. Nothing more clearly exhibits the absence of 
 thrift, than the wretched state of their public highways. 
 
 The progress made by the subjects of our narrative 
 may be judged of from the fact that, early in the morn- 
 ing as it was when they left Montreal, it was late at 
 night before they accomplished the first nine miles to 
 La Chine. Bad as the whole of the road had been found, 
 one or two places were especially trying to their temper, 
 and had made pretty strong demands on their patience, 
 and put the strength of the horses to a severe test. 
 
 We have already stated that Captain Walters took 
 the command of the leudinjj: team, Wiiether in this case 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 123 
 
 IW' 
 
 !' y 
 
 it was really the badness of the road, or a want of skill 
 in the driver, wo will not say ; but so it happened, that, 
 as he was driving through a swampy spot, the wheels 
 suddenly sank down to the hubs, and there he was held 
 fast. He employed the whip and his voice, but to no 
 purpose. He turned his horses to the right, then to the 
 left ; but every movement only made matters still worse, 
 as it caused the wheels to settle more deeply in the 
 mud. In his exertion, it was evident that he was suifer- 
 ing extreme agony from his wounds. 
 
 When things had arrived at this state, Baptiste, de- 
 scending from his own seat, went forward to make a 
 personal inspection ; and when he fully comprehended 
 the nature of the case, giving a peculiar shrug of the 
 shoulders, he for a few moments apparently pondered 
 what was best to be done. Then starting back to his 
 own team, and loosing them from the wagon, he brought 
 them to the front, hitched them on to the end of the 
 wagon-pole with a long stout chain, and then stepped 
 back a little, when the eight horses, in prompt obedi- 
 ence to a gentle word from him, laid their shoulders to 
 the work : the trace-chains began to creak, and the 
 heavily laden wagon was moved gently from its position. 
 When the wagon was drawn a little distance and placed 
 on firmer ground, Baptiste detached his horses, and the 
 respective teams took up their line of march, Baptiste 
 avoiding the faulty spot that had proved a trap to the 
 Captain. 
 
 If the mind of Captain Walters, at that moment, had 
 been capable of calm reflection, he might have come to 
 the conclusion that some persons arc not altogether 
 qualifii^d to take the lead and command under all cir- 
 
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124 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
 cumstances ; but it sometimes requires very severe 
 practical lessons to teach such people, and it no less 
 needs a capacity and disposition in the pupil to read the 
 lesson. It was so in the present case, for they had not 
 proceeded far when a similar, if not worse, disaster be- 
 fell them. They came to a spot of swampy ground, 
 where the tangled roots of trees lay athwart the track, 
 and between the ribbed elevations of which there were 
 deep cavities. When the wheels got wedged in one of 
 these places, neither man nor horse was able to move 
 them. In such a case it required the skill of the prac- 
 tical Canadian teamster to extricate them. Approaching 
 a locality where were two roads, one a little divergent 
 to the right hand, but uniting again a little distance 
 ahead, it happened that the Captain took the one that 
 proved to be the worst of the two. As he got to about 
 the middle of the worst part of the swamp, down went 
 the fore-wheels between two large rib-like roots, where 
 they remained, utterly beyond the power of the horses 
 to remove them. The wagon going down with great 
 force and a sudden jar, it so frightened the women and 
 children that they screamed aloud ; while the Captain 
 suffered excruciating pain from his wounds, especially 
 the one in his shoulder. This time the Captain was un- 
 able, and made no effort to extricate the wagon, but 
 motioned to Baptiste to come forward. Tiie latter, see- 
 ing the serious state of the case, raised his hands in 
 bewilderment, with the exclamation, " Mon Dieu .'" 
 Brown and Jones were as much at a loss as two chil- 
 dren could have been ; while the Captain was still more 
 so, quite unable to give any useful or rational advice 
 or directions. Not so, however, with Bai)tiste who, after 
 
 
WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 125 
 
 I»ia momentary surprise, went straight to liis tool-box, 
 which was secured conveniently under the body of the 
 wagon, from which he took liis axe, and going a little 
 way into tlie bush, selected a young hickory-tree about 
 six inches in diameter, which he soon cut down and 
 formed into a lever. Collecting a number of large stones 
 to form a fulcrum, he set the other two men to work to 
 carry them close to the wagon. Then, by a skilful ap- 
 pliance of his lever and fulcrum — with the main strength 
 of the men, and indeed of tlie women too — the wagon 
 was raised a little at a time, and stones and pieces of 
 wood introduced under the wheels, to retain them in their 
 position. 
 
 Captain Walters now found, by bitter experience, 
 that his strength was not equal to the severe labor de- 
 manded of him. Thanks to the superior practical skill 
 of little Baptiste, they were finally relieved from their 
 disagreeable difficulty ; and, after some hours of lost 
 time, and with exhausted strength, they proceeded on 
 their way. At nearly the close of this eventful day 
 they accomplished the first nine miles of their journey. 
 
 Wearied in body and mind, it was with no small de- 
 gree of pleasure they drove up to the front of the small 
 log-cabin dignified by the name of tavern. To their 
 surprise and disappointment, however, they found that 
 the only acconmiodations this place afforded for their 
 horses was an open shed by the roadside : as for them- 
 selves, they spread their own blankets and covers on 
 the floor of the cabin, and there slept as they best 
 could, — the men turning in with the horses in the open 
 shed. But, poor and forbidding as these accommoda- 
 tions were, a keen appetite gave relish to their supper 
 
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126 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
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 and their weary linibs brought refreshinont to body and 
 spirit in a profound sleep. 
 
 We have here a pretty fair specimen of the toils, 
 mishaps, and inconveniences to which travellers were 
 subjected a little more than half a century ago in Lower 
 Canada. 
 
 The next morning the sun rose brilliant as ever, and 
 our travellers were a^tir to take advantage of the cool 
 hours of early day. After attending to the feeding of 
 their horses and their own requirements in that line, 
 our travellers were soon pursuing their journey along 
 the margin of the noble River St. Lawrence. Here 
 they were especially impressed with the view of the 
 beauty and grandeur of the landscape, — the mountain 
 away in the distance on the right hand, and on the left 
 the river widening into an expansive lake studded with 
 islands covered with a luxuriant and varied foliage. 
 And then, all nature in her dress of vivid green, the 
 varied forms of hill and dale, land and water, presented . 
 a scene of picturesque beauty but rarely equalled. 
 Turning their attention to the implements and agricul- 
 tural appliances of the habitants, they found them of the 
 rudest construction and most simple forma. The plough 
 was of a most primitive cast, merely the crotch of a 
 tree with a sharpened point to serve as coulter, and 
 drawn by a poor, scraggy, under-sized horse, yoked with 
 a milch-cow, with hip-bones ready to start through its 
 skin, — and these just moving at a snail's pace. 
 
 Our travellers at length arrived at a place some miles 
 north of La Chine, where a French Canadian resided 
 who made a scanty subsistence by ferrying people and 
 their vehicles over the river. The conveyance was by 
 
II IP 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 127 
 
 large flat-boats, or batteaux, as the;y were generally 
 called, on to which the horses and loaded wagons were 
 driven, and then pli(jd across the broad stream with oars. 
 As there wei;p but two of these boats, and one of thein 
 happened to be on the other side of the river at the 
 time, which is several miles wide at this place, the 
 man in charge had to hoist a signal for the other boat 
 to come over, as the two wagons and eight horses would 
 have been an overload for one. Though this slow move- 
 ment occupied considerable time, it had to be submitted 
 to as one of the ordinary annoyances of those days. 
 
 While thus waiting for the boat to come fi'om the 
 other side of the river, Captain and Mrs. Walters had 
 leisure to take a stroll a little way along the bank of 
 the river, and to contemplate the unsurpassed grandeur 
 of the scenery presented to their view at this place. 
 We mention these two, as they were the only persons 
 in the company who had an eye for the beautiful and 
 sublime in nature. The two children were especially 
 delighted, and exhibited their pleasure in frolics and 
 gambols, and by forming fragrant and beautiful nose- 
 gays from the profusion of wild-flowers growing around. 
 After waiting for some considerable time, the boat ar- 
 rived : the teams were driven on board, and oflf they 
 started ; but slowly they moved over the turbid waters 
 of the Ottawa, for it is at this point the confluence of the 
 two rivers, the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa, takes 
 place. A great curiosity is here presented in the clearly- 
 defined line that marks the first contact of the two 
 streams, and which is continued for a number of miles. 
 It is not, however, our object to point out the curiosities 
 or to contemplate the beauties of nature, as we have 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 other things in view which claim our more special 
 attention. The voyage across tlic river in the unwitiidy 
 craft, from its feeble power of propulsion, was one of 
 excessive lassitude, from the absence of any thing like 
 excitement and the seemingly long time it occupied. 
 On their arrival upon the other side, the day was tar 
 spent ; but, as the horses were comparatively fresh from 
 the long rest they had had, they determined to make the 
 most of the remainder of the daylight. Then they had 
 a tolerably good road on the bank of the St. Lawrence, 
 with the grand cascade rapids on their left hand. 
 
 It would be useless to attempt to describe these 
 rapids, with their boiling, tossing, tumbling, foaming 
 waters : all mere word-painting would be tame and 
 meaningless. It was on the bank of the river, and 
 under the shade of a luxuriant grove, that they made up 
 their minds to take their rest for the night. Under the 
 general guidance and instructions of Baptiste, the other 
 two men attended to the horses, while the women were 
 directed in all the camping arrangements and the ' cook- 
 ing of their evening meal ; after partaking of which, 
 they were hushed to sleep by the lullaby of the dashing 
 and foaming waters of the rapids. It was well for them 
 that they had so alert and diligent a person in their 
 company as Baptiste. By his directions Brown and Jones 
 collected a large quantity of dry wood, and placed it in 
 piles, at equal distances, in a circle around their camp. 
 A little while after sunset these piles of wood were 
 lighted up, as a protection against the approach of 
 wolves, — of whose presence they were soon made aware 
 by their continual howl all through the night, atti acted, 
 no doubt, by the smell of the evening meal. And it 
 
Tf 
 
 woman's endubance. 
 
 129 
 
 IE ' 
 
 proved a very fortunate circumstance for Captain Wal- 
 ters that he had two such trusty men as Brown and 
 Jones. They had been so long in the army, and so used 
 to obeying orders, that it was only required to indicate 
 his wisli to have it fulfilled without a murmur. Owing 
 to the comparative absence of excitement on the past 
 day, and the sound sleep he had enjoyed through the 
 night, and the ever-watchful care of Mrs. Walters, 
 tiie Captain appeared greatly invigorited the next morn- 
 ing. So, after a hearty breakfast, the horses were har- 
 nessed up, and our travellers were again soon dashing 
 along at a lively pace, making the best of their time on 
 a good hard road. This smart pace was continued until 
 noon, when our company came to a favorable spot, under 
 the shade of a few stately elm-trees, where they could 
 rest and feed their horses, as well as take their own re- 
 freshment. While these things were being attended to, 
 their attention was directed to the approach of a better 
 kind of vehicle, drawn by a very handsome pair of 
 dappled-gray horses. As these came near, the driver 
 slackened his pace until, as he passed, it was reduced 
 to a very slow walk, which gave the female who was 
 inside an opportunity to scrutinize the party with in- 
 tense steadiness. When the captain and his wife saw 
 that the female manifested an inclination to speak to 
 tiiem, they arose and saluted her gracefully. They were 
 about to invite her to alight and partake of their hos- 
 pitality, as there was no place of refreshment within 
 many miles, when the driver made an abrupt start and 
 left them with the words of invitation upon their lips, 
 and with impressions upon their minds not at all favor- 
 able to the good manners of the fair stranger. Recov- 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 ered somewhat from the perturbation of mind occasioned 
 by this incident, Mrs. Walters said to her husband — 
 
 " Why, Robert, I surely have seen those horses be- 
 fore I" 
 
 *' Wljy, yes," said the captain, " I ought to know 
 them, for I have frequently seen them in Montreal." 
 Then, showing a little of wounded dignity, he said : 
 " And there is one other thing I am sure of — that the 
 person in the carriage is not a lady, for the least she 
 could have done would have been to return our salute." 
 
 After this little adventure, the frugal meal finished, 
 they were soon again wending their way on their west- 
 ern track. Our travellers were now getting into a part 
 of the country where the appearances of even the rude 
 civilization of Lower Canada were less frequently' mot 
 with. The uninvaded forest was vast, gloomy, silent, 
 and, except at nigls;, solitary, when it was vocal with 
 hideous and discordant sounds. The day had again 
 closed, like the previous one, with little or nothing to 
 mar the equanimitj'^ of the minds of the entire party. 
 
 Little Baptiste appeared to be in his glory while giv- 
 ing to his subordinates, in his broken English, general 
 orders for the night ; for he was now the tacitly ac- 
 knowledged commander-in-chief of the entire party. 
 After setting all things in order, he brought out his 
 violin, on which he was no mean performer, and great 
 was the delight of the whole company when he awoke 
 the echoes of the neighboring woods by his enlivening 
 strains. Still sweeter, however, in their estimation, it 
 was, and more in accordance with the higher aspirations 
 of their grateful hearts, when Captain and Mrs. Walters, 
 accompanied by all present, and by Baptiste with his 
 
 wv 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 131 
 
 violin, struck up their evening hymn. The simple was 
 raised to the sublime in this chanting, in those solitary 
 woods, of one of the sweet songs of Zion. So, with calm 
 spirits and resigned wills, after setting their watch and 
 making other necessary arrangements for the night, 
 they retired to rest. They were awakened, however, a 
 little after midnight, in the greatest trepidation of mind, 
 by heavy thunder, accompanied by vivid flashes of light- 
 ning that illumined the entire forest around them with a 
 lurid glare, and then for a moment involved them in a 
 tenfold deeper darkness than before. In the crashing of 
 the thunder, it appeared as if hundreds of wolves around 
 them set up a hideous howl. The dogs were whining, 
 the horses making efforts to break their tethers, the 
 children screaming, the women frantic with fear, and 
 even the hearts of the men failing them in utter conster- 
 nation. From that time until light broke in the morn- 
 ing they were deluged with rain, and terrified by loud 
 thunder and occasional flashes of lightning. 
 
 What were their feelings of thankfulness, however, 
 when they came to see in the morning the very narrow 
 escape they had made with their lives ! Within a hun- 
 dred yards of the place where they had encamped for 
 the night lay the remains of a huge oak, one of the mon- 
 archs of the forest, which had been so shivered that the 
 fibres of its trunk were separated like the untwisted and 
 open strands of a thick rope. It had been struck by the 
 electric fluid, a circumstance of not rare occurrence in 
 the forests of North America. 
 
 Notwithstanding the severe trials of the night, the 
 sun rose in the morning with a bright and smiling face, 
 as though nothing untoward had happened. The at 
 
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 132 
 
 LILLIAir; OR 
 
 mosphore was relieved of its oppressiveness, and all 
 nature seemed refreshed with the copious shower of 
 rain ihat had fallen. The spirits of the company, too, 
 partook of the general hilarity. 
 
 At an early hour man and horse were ready to resume 
 their journey, but from the wet state of the ground little 
 progress could be made, as the wheels sunk deep into 
 the saturated soil ; and they had little choice of road, 
 as, away on their right hand lay an extended cedar 
 swamp, and on their left the margin of the river. Thus 
 they had to travel for some miles along a kind of natural 
 mound raised between the Uw. Owing to the very 
 copious rain the past night, this cedar swamp, a recep- 
 tacle for the water from the adjacent district, was con- 
 siderably overflown ; and as there was only one outlet 
 for the water, and that ran a^^ross a low place in the 
 mound on which our company were driving, it presented 
 a very serious obstacle to their further progress. True, 
 some attempt had been made to form a kind of bridge 
 across this gulch, by spanning it with the trunks of two 
 trees, and then laying across these a number of round 
 logs, so as to fill up the space from bank to bank, and 
 then tying the ends with strong withs to hold them in 
 their place. But it so happened that these logs were 
 afloat at this time, owing to the high state of the water, 
 so that there was no firm footing either for man or 
 horse, let alone taking two such heavily-loaded wagons 
 over. 
 
 Here was a dilemma. There was no choice of roads, 
 and no room to turn back, as the mound was too narrow 
 for the long-geared wagons. Therefore thay must either 
 find out some method to pass over this gulch, or wait 
 
■" ri5?>^" 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 133 
 
 some days for the water in the swamp to subside. 
 When the two men and the Captain fully realized the 
 state of things, and the apparently inextricable position 
 in which they were placed, they looked at each other with 
 blank dismay. They looked this way and that, back- 
 ward and forward. One su^rffested to swim the horses 
 
 •C5&^ 
 
 over ; another, to lay a narrow path over in some way, 
 and the party each to carry a package, trunk, or box 
 across upon their shoulders : with many other schemes 
 equally impracticable. In this dilemma, fortunately for 
 the party, Baptiste was again at hand. Wielded by 
 him, who descended down to the edge of the swamp, 
 the ready axe, with nimble and effective stroke, soon 
 brought down tree after tree. These, being divested of 
 their branches and cut into proper lengths, were earned 
 by the other men to the bridge, and laid on to the logs 
 already there, until their added weight gave it solidity, 
 and raised it above the level of the water. Thus at 
 length the whole party, by the skill of the one who was 
 apparently the most feeble and the least likely to ■ ren- 
 der such efficient aid, were led over what seemed, but a 
 short time before, an impassable gulf 
 
 By the time they had well got ovei and come to a 
 place a mile or two further on the road, where they 
 found a suitable camping-ground, the shades of evening 
 were fast gathering around them. This day had given 
 another proof that travelling was no child's play amidst 
 the difficulties that beset the explorers and first settlers 
 of North America. The place where they rested this 
 night was lonely and dismal in the extreme, far away 
 from any human dwelling ; and the only sound that 
 broke the stillnest^ of the night was the dull gurgle 
 
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 134 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 of the flowing waters of the St. Lawrence. The approach 
 of night was welcome, and after the de\otion8 of the 
 evening, and the usual precautions being taken, the ma- 
 jority of the company were soon oblivious to the forbid- 
 ding surroundings of the locality. Tiie position of sen- 
 tinel for this night fell upon Brown, who, as he measured 
 with military step his round, happened to look upward, 
 when he saw in the branches of a tree a little ahead 
 of him two bright points of light. Prompted by the 
 feelings of the moment, he hastily retreated to where 
 Baptiste lay enfolded in his blanket, on a little brushwood 
 under one of the wagons. It only required a gentle 
 touch to arouse him to consciousness ; and, more by the 
 manner of Brown than by his words, he was soon aware 
 that there must be something more than usual on hand. 
 His first impulse was to seize his ever-ready rifle, and, 
 following the steps of his conductor, his attention was 
 directed to what has already been referred to. Baptiste 
 knew at once the full danger of his position, and that 
 it dQQianded coolness of mind, firmness of nerve, and 
 steadiness of aim, for he had a sly and cruel foe to con- 
 tend with. But, nothing daunted at this, he raised his 
 rifle, and as the sharp crack sounded through the woods, 
 it was instantly followed by a shrill, piercing cry, and 
 a sound caused by the fall of a heavy body. Prompted 
 by his curiosity, and a wish, perhaps, to be in at the 
 death. Brown ran instantly to the spot, thinking the 
 danger was over. Baptiste rapidly followed him, and, 
 catching him by the arm, cried out at the top of his 
 voice — 
 
 " You fool 1 what for you do dat ? Suppose you go 
 dare, you be oue dead mau vare soon." 
 
 
WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 135 
 
 Going then to the four dogs, which had been fully 
 aroused by the sound of the gun, Baptiste let them loose, 
 when they started for the fallen and expiring brute ; 
 but they were too experienced to trust themselves within 
 the reach of his teeth or claws. Very little of their 
 assistance was required, however ; for the aim of Bap- 
 tiste had been so true, that, after a few vain attempts 
 to grasp the dogs, lashing his long tail, and tearing up 
 the bushes and earth in his rage, the death-struggle was 
 soon over. On examining the creature, they found it 
 to be a North American male panther of the largest 
 dimensions. It was fortunate that Brown happened to 
 see him when he did, for had he passed underneath the 
 tree where the panther was patiently awaiting his prey, 
 he must have become his victim. When they found 
 that the brute was quite dead, all hands lent their aid 
 to drag him within the limits of the camp ; and, as the 
 women and children, as well as all the men, had been 
 aroused by the unusual stir, they all had an opportunity 
 of examining one of the most dangerous and destruc- 
 tive beasts of prey that range the forests of North 
 America. They were particularly struck with the size 
 and strength of his teeth and the length of his claws. 
 In a little time }3aptiste was busy with his knife, divest- 
 ing the animal of his beautiful skin ; which, as he 
 claimed the sole disposal of the prize, with head, tail, 
 and feet still attached, he presented to Mrs. Walters, 
 with the promise that he would cure and dress it for 
 her in true Indian style at the first opportunity ; it would 
 then make a very handsome robe for her sleigh, when 
 they were settled on their farm. 
 
 By the time the party had somewhat recovered from 
 
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 136 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 the excitement consequent on the incident just narrated, 
 the first glimmerings of morning admonished them to 
 make preparation for the prosecution of their journey; 
 and so, after attending to the necessities of both man 
 and beast, they were soon threading their way as best 
 they could through the intricacies and entanglements of 
 the dark and dreary forest. 
 
 At this part of their journey their progress was slow 
 and tedious in the extreme, for, what with the obstruc- 
 tions that lay in the pathway, in the form of trunks of 
 fallen trees, and branches scattered around that had been 
 riven from the parent stem by the force of storms, the 
 strength and patience of man and horse were often put 
 to a severe test. 
 
 The keen eye of Mrs. Walters might frequently have 
 been seen casting scrutinizing glances, and scanning 
 with deep interest the anxious and care-worn counte- 
 nance of her husband. Captain Walters was beginning 
 to feel that travelling with his heavily-encumbered 
 wagons through a comparatively new and unbroken 
 country, was not as easy as the routine of military duty. 
 In moments of more than ordinary pressure on his 
 strength and patience, might be seen fearful indications 
 of failing strength. But a cheerful expression from his 
 aflfectionate wife, with allusions to the comforts of a 
 future home when quietly and snugly settled on their 
 farm, acted like a charm on his spirits and his strength, 
 and reihvigorated him. Though often Mrs. Walters her- 
 self felt as if she were hoping against hope, she had the 
 prudence and self-restraint to hide from hia observation 
 the deep depression of her own heart. 
 
 An accident that befell them at this part of their jour- 
 
 
^ 
 
 WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 137 
 
 noy appeared, at the time, to be f)nc of the most disas- 
 trous that could have liappencd iiinler the circumstances. 
 Indeed, the majority of them tliought it would put a stop 
 to their further proj^ress ; and in fact it did throw tiie 
 whole company into a state of perfect consternation. 
 
 Captain Walters, for that day, had taken command of 
 the leading team ; and it must be said in his behalf, 
 that the experience he had gained had taught him to 
 accommodate his movements to the intricacies of the 
 road. He had more than once exhibited his skill and 
 coolness in driving through difficult defiles and narrow 
 passes. But he now came to a place where the road 
 led between two large trees, that would barely allow the 
 wagons to pass without coming in contact with one or 
 the other. He was fully sensible of the task now be- 
 fore him ; and he therefore braced himself firmly in hia 
 seat, grasping the reins securely in either hand. Then, 
 with a kind and gentle word to his team, he approached 
 the plac« with a slow and steady caution, measuring the 
 narrow space, at the same time, with his eye. On the 
 clearance of the fore-wheels, he appeared in a moment 
 to breathe with greater freedom ; but at that moment 
 up started a covey of birds, and by their flutter and 
 flapping just before the leaders of his team, caused them 
 to give a side spring and sudden start, that brought 
 the near hind-wheel in collision with the trunk of the 
 tree, that, in the twinkling of an eye, snapped off the 
 axle, so that the heavily-loaded wagon came with a sud- 
 den jerk to the ground. 
 
 Here then, was a dilemma, which, for the moment, 
 seemed beyond remedy, as there was not a wheelwright 
 or a blacksmith within a hundred miles. What were 
 
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 138 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 they to do under these trying ciroiimstaneos ? TIi(M(; 
 the wagon hiy, firmly wedged in between tlie two large 
 trees I All stood looking on in sad and silent amaze- 
 ment. Even the two children appeared fully conscious 
 of their perilous position, for their tears fell free and 
 fast. Mrs. Walters, who had thus far borne up so nobly, 
 and striven to hide her own impressions — who always 
 had a ready word of wit or of wisdom to break the spell 
 of her husband's despondency — had not now a word to 
 utter ; her own fortitude seemed to yield and sink, on 
 seeing the complete prostration of his physical powers. 
 The whole group seemed at their wits' end : even Baptiste 
 had lost all his sprightliness and energy, who stood 
 crossing himself and muttering, "lion Dieu ! Mon 
 Dieu !" To add to their discomfort, the day was near 
 its close, and the locality where they were was not one 
 they would have selected for their night's encampment. 
 But in this case they had to make a virtue of necessity, 
 and bestir themselves to set things in order for the ap- 
 proaching night, as there was no moon to light them 
 should they be belated in their work. So, all hands 
 were soon busy, attending to their allotted departments 
 — Brown and Jones looking after and grooming the 
 horses ; Baptiste actively employed with his axe in pre- 
 paring fuel for the women to cook the supper, as well 
 as collecting, from the great quantity of broken-oif 
 branches that lay scattered around, a supply for their 
 night-fires. These were placed in heaps at short dis- 
 tances around their camp, in order that they might be 
 lighted the last thing before retiring to rest for the night. 
 The women had been cooking a savory supper — the 
 remains of a fine fat young deer, shot by Captain 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 i;)9 
 
 Walters two days before. With keen appetites the 
 whole party had sat down, and partaken with moie than 
 common relish of the rich and abundant feast, when, just 
 at the close of their supper, Baptiste suddenly sprang 
 to his feet. His quick, keen ear, had caught an ominous 
 sound coming from the leeward ; and who has ever 
 heard that very peculiar sound without fear and trem- 
 bling ? The sound was soon answered from the opposite 
 direction, followed by another, another, and still another, 
 until the surrounding forest became vocal with the din 
 of the hideous howl. 
 
 From the first well-known note of warning that fell 
 upon the ear of Baptiste, he comprehended their danger. 
 He knew that prompt action was necessary for their 
 safety, and he bestirred himself accordingly. The wo- 
 men were quickly at work kindling the piles of wood 
 prepared for that purpose. Baptiste had soon his trusty 
 rifle in full trim for action — Brown and Jones the heavy 
 English muskets they had procured from the regimental 
 armory. Captain Walters had his double-barrelled Man- 
 ton, and a fine American rifle besides. Each had his 
 piece nady charged with ball, and plenty of ammunition 
 near at hand. The horses were well secured ; the dogs 
 made fast ; and the women and children safely placed 
 under the canvas cover of the wagon. Perched on the 
 tops of the wagons, to give the greatest range to their 
 vision, the men awaited the advance of the coming foe. 
 
 It appeared that the rich odor from the cooking sup. 
 per, carried by the wind, had been snified by a hungry 
 wolf, and lured him from his lair. By a peculiar call, 
 well known to the backwoodsman, he had summoned 
 his gaunt and greedy fellows to assist him in the on- 
 
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 140 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 slaught ; for, however much he muy wish to partake of 
 tlie feast alone, if opposition is to be encountered, his 
 own native cowardice shrinks from th(i attack. It is 
 only in the company of numbers that the wolf is bold. 
 And it must be said, that, if numbers were calculati'd 
 to inspire with courage, they were not wanting on this 
 occasion, for they came trooping from every direction ; 
 and the howl that had at first been just faintly heard, 
 from its distance, now gathered force and volume from 
 its nearer approach. 
 
 Such were the overwhelming and absorbing interests 
 of the moment, that the disaster of the broken axle was 
 not once thought of. The minds of the men were 
 wrought up to the highest pitch of determined but cool 
 courage. They had so arranged their procedure, that 
 each was to face and fire in opposite directions, so as to 
 spread the greater confusion among the savage brutes. 
 The surrounding woods were well lit up by the bright 
 and clear blaze of the cordon of fire, which kept the 
 savages at bay, and at the same time enabled the men 
 to take steady and deliberate aim. And every shot told. 
 What with the sounds of the rattling musketry, and the 
 howls, growls, and snarlings of the savage herd, as 
 these reverberated through the neighboring woods, it 
 was such a scene as neither eloquent tongue nor ready 
 pen would find it easy to portray. Suffice it to say, that 
 the unremitting fire kept up by the four men, directed 
 with skill and sustained by such energy, was, to the 
 relief of the whole party, crowned with success ; for tlie 
 entire pack, thinned in numbers, slunk away, and long 
 before the dawn oi* day, the neighboring forest was as 
 silent as though nothing more than usual had occurred 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 141 
 
 of 
 lis 
 18 
 d. 
 
 .'d 
 liis 
 
 through the night to awaken its echoes. Indeed, so 
 quiet had the place been for the last few hours of the 
 night, that the women and children were enjoying a 
 sour.d and refreshing sleep. 
 
 No sooner did the day dawn than Baptiste gave evi- 
 dence that he had not been idle through the night, and 
 that the fracas with the wolves had not fully diverted 
 his thoughts from their misfortune of the previous day, 
 for in the early light he commenced his measures, acting, 
 and directing others in his broken English, as one who 
 knew what he was about. Right manfullv and intelli- 
 gently he set to work ; yet, with all his skill, it re(iuir( I 
 much manual strength and labor to extricate the impris- 
 oned wagon, but that was finally accomplished. 
 
 The first object was to release the fractured axle that 
 lay beneath the wagon. That done, he placed the 
 broken ends in line, so as to obtain the original length. 
 Then, with axe in hand and with peering eye, he selected 
 a proper stick to replace the broken axle. He was not 
 long in bringing a rock-maple sapling to a spot con- 
 venient for him to operate upon it ; and now began to 
 appear the resources of his mind and his handicraft skill. 
 In the first place, he rough-hewed the stick into some 
 general shape as to length and form ; and his minute 
 mechanical knowledge was plainly exhibited in giving 
 it (to use the technical term of the craft) the proper 
 " creep." It was now seen that he could use the axe 
 with as much facility as the Yankee uses his jack-knife 
 But it would be useless and tedious to follow Baptiste 
 through all his manipulations in fittiiig his axle and 
 remounting the wagon. Suffice it to say thnt all was 
 completed in a workmanlike style, and in as short a 
 
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 142 
 
 LILLIAN! OR 
 
 time as many a professional mechanic could have done 
 it, with all the appliances of a well-arranged establish- 
 ment. And what was the delight of the whole party to 
 find once more wagon and horses placed in line of 
 march, and all ready for a start 1 
 
 Before the party proceed on their westward journey, 
 we will take a look at the scenes disclosed on the battle- 
 field of the previous night. Captain Walters had, early 
 in the morning, taken a stroll around the field of slaugh- 
 ter, when he fully comprehended the calamity they had 
 escaped. The number of slain was far greater than ho 
 could have supposed, and among the wounded were 
 quite a number so crippled as to be unable to crawl to 
 any distance. Some of these were, with their wonted 
 cunning, simulating death. He dispatched several by 
 beating out their brains with a club. It was a remark- 
 able feature in the scene, that quite a number were 
 actually torn to pieces and partly devoured, — proving 
 that they^ like many another gang of villains, are not 
 only ever ready to prey upon others, but also, at the 
 first chance that offers, to devour each other. 
 
 When all things were ready for a start, and the Cap- 
 tain about to take his place upon the second wagon, his 
 eye fell upon the tiny form of Baptiste as he sat on the 
 seat of the front wagon, with the lines all ready gath- 
 ered up in his hands, waiting for the word of command. 
 As he looked upon him, he reflected — My worthy Bap- 
 tiste, what should we have done without thee, thou little 
 bit of shrivelled-up skin and bone ? 
 
 With free and grateful hearts they sped on their waj^ ; 
 and as the day was fast drawing to a close, it was again 
 necessary to think of looking out for a proper cami)ing- 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 143 
 
 ground for the night. But as the road at this part was 
 tolerably good, they concluded to continue their travel 
 for a few miles further. After proceeding some time, 
 what was their surprise to find themselves suddenly 
 brought up by the margin of a broad, deep, and rapid 
 stream I Just a little to the right hand, up the stream, 
 lay a large boat or batteau, with two men, who ap- 
 peared to have the management of it ; and a little way 
 from where the boat was moored were two good-sized, 
 decent-looking, whitewashed log-cabins. On a close 
 view they found good outhouses, and there was a 
 general appearance of thrift. They learned with much 
 phuisure that they, with their horses, could be accom- 
 modated for the night. But what was their surprise at 
 finding, in one of the stables or outhouses, the self-same 
 team of dappled grays that had so abruptly passed them 
 on the road, when only a few days from Montreal I 
 
 The general appearance of the place and its surround- 
 ings was one of remarkable rural beauty, and, secluded 
 as it was from the outside world, the occupants of the 
 spot seemed to be completely cut ofiF from all intercourse 
 with civilization. They gave little evidence of knowing 
 what was passing beyond their own precincts, and 
 seemed, from their lack of curiosity, to care still less. 
 They were not living in an age or within the circle of 
 newspapers or periodical light literature, so that they 
 had nothing to create or foster mental appetite. Retired 
 and undisturbed as was the life these simple and uncul- 
 tivated people led in this far-oflf wilderness, it could not 
 but prove an incident of more than common interest to 
 be thus invaded. 
 
 But their semi-rustic manners were associated with a 
 
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 144 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 certain easy courtesy, and it might be seen that there 
 was a Htrong desire on their part to please. This, how- 
 ever, will create no surprise when it is understood that 
 tiiey were French Canadians ; as it is a well-known 
 fact that the French never lose their characteristic 
 national politeness. These persons had retired to this 
 distant locality for the purpose of hunting, or of barter- 
 ing with the Indians for the valuable furs which • that 
 time abounded in these parts ; and besides h ig, 
 trading with the Indians, fishing, and cultivating their 
 land, which appeared to be of the richest kind, they had 
 sometimes a chance of making a little money by ferry- 
 ing parties in their boat over the river. 
 
 As soon as Captain and Mrs. Walters were made 
 aware of the presence of the female who had so uncere- 
 moniously passed them on the road, their curiosity be- 
 came excited to learn all they could about her. It 
 appeared that Mrs. Brown had been deeply exercised in 
 a somewhat similar way ; for, as soon as the oppor- 
 tunity offered, she yielded to her very inquisitive spirit, 
 and was soon in deep and earnest conversation with the 
 man in company with the stranger. Mrs. Brown — 
 whose tongue was, mechanically speaking, of double- 
 action speed — was quite eloquent in imparting all she 
 knew that could be said in praise of Captain or Mrs. 
 Walters ; but at the same time she was very cautious in 
 not committing herself too far in answering all his ques- 
 tions, and what she did answer were only as baits 
 thrown out to lure him into the meshes of her toils. 
 But she might as well have attempted to penetrate the 
 secrets of the upper or nether world as to draw from 
 him any information as to who the fair stranger was. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 145 
 
 for as to that his mouth seemed hermetically sealed. 
 And what was the disappointment of Mrs. Walters, who 
 had trusted that the case was perfectly safe in the 
 hands of Mrs. Brown, but who now learned that not 
 only had her own personal application for an interview 
 been refused, but that Mrs. Brown's wily-woman's-wind- 
 ings had been entirely at fault ! 
 
 When the Captain found they had such good quarters, 
 he concluded to remain for a few days, that tlie whole 
 party might recruit their strength, and refit any little 
 thing that might have been deranged. He and Mrs. 
 Walters became really anxious to know something of 
 the female who so sedulously shrouded herself frotn their 
 observation. They concluded that on the following day 
 they would try some little stratagem to draw her forth, 
 and by some proffered kindness ingratiate themselves in 
 her favor ; the}'^ might thus acquire an agreeable com- 
 panion for the remainder of their journey, if they were 
 going the same way. But, what was their astonishment 
 to find, on the following morning, that the lady and her 
 man had gone over the river more than an hour before 
 sunrise, and had left no clue as to who they were, or 
 their destination I 
 
 Before we follow the narrative of our own company, 
 we will give a short conversation that passed between 
 this lady and her man-servant — as follows. 
 
 " Well, Thomas," she said, " w(^ are again free from 
 the intrusion of company, of prying eyes and listening 
 ears, and I may now speak at our leisure and in freedom, 
 which I did not have the opportunity of doing during 
 our stay at the last place. How do you think things 
 were conducted ? Have tlrcy any knowledge or recol- 
 
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146 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 ( : <i'\ '■ 
 
 lection of us — as to who we are, or that they have seen 
 us before ?" 
 
 " No, my lady," said the man, with great respect ; 
 " they were not able to judge with regard to you, for 
 they could not get even a glimpse of your person. One 
 of the females tried hard to draw something from me 
 by asking all sorts of questions, but it was to no pur- 
 pose, for I remained mum to all. I suppose she thought 
 she was giving me a great deal of information by telling 
 me so much about the Captain and his lady : she little 
 thought that I knew a great deal more about them than 
 she did. They all appeared to have some knowledge 
 about the horses, but I think they were not able to re- 
 cognize me in this disguise, however ; they made no 
 allusion from which I could infer that they did." 
 
 " That is all very well, Thomas," said the lady ; " I 
 am very glad that I exchanged my horses before I left 
 Montreal, otherwise the disguise might not have been 
 so completely maintained. Now, Thomas," said the 
 lady, " you must drive so as not to be too far ahead, so 
 '.hat I may have a sight of them now and then. I sup>- 
 y>08e you consider my conduct very strange, Thomas, 
 and that I am on something like a wild-goose chase ?" 
 
 " My lady," said the man, " I will not question either 
 your wisdom or your prudence, but one thing I am sure 
 of, that you must have most extraordinary patience." 
 
 " Thomas," said the lady, " the ways of Providence 
 are sometimes slow in their movements, and it requires 
 prudence, and sometimes great patience, to wait for 
 their full development ; but I firmly believe that my ex- 
 pectations will meet with their consummation in His 
 own good time." 
 
 Hi' 
 
WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 147 
 
 Captain Walters and his party having stayed a few 
 days, according to their purpose, found themselves, as 
 well as their horses, very much the better for the rest 
 they had enjoyed And having made all the prepara- 
 tions for the prosecution of their journey, they were 
 taken over the river at early dawn. They entered the 
 dense woods, where the axe of the white man had 
 scarcely ever disturbed the echoes, except here and 
 there, just to clear away the obstructions that lay in the 
 path of the solitary traveller. Their progress was slow, 
 indeed, and often most harassing to both man and horse, 
 — sometimes perplexed by the intricacies and sinuosities 
 of the forest path, and again by soft swampy places 
 where the wheels would sink to the very hubs, or jolted 
 out of their skin by passing over the corduroy roads. 
 Very often they had to go througl. the tiresome process 
 of taking the wagons over swampy places singly, with 
 the eight horses. Thus, they would unite the teams, 
 and even then it would be very diflScult for the eight 
 horses to drag the wagon through such places on to firm 
 ground ; let alone the loss of time in going over the 
 same space three times. Thus days and weeks had 
 passed away, and, in consequence of detentions from ob- 
 structions, and delays from various causes, they had not 
 yet averaged eight miles a day. Those were not the 
 days of steam and the telegraph. But, though long, 
 slow, and tedious had been their journey, and many and 
 weary their steps, they were at length gratified by their 
 arrival on the banks of the beautiful Bay of Quinte, in 
 the neighborhood of where Belleville now stands. From 
 this place they journeyed on until they came to the head 
 of the bay opposite Trenton, at the place where the river 
 
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 148 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 Trent forms a junction with the Bay of Quinte. It was 
 at this place where the government land agent for that 
 district of country then resided, to whom the Captain 
 stated his case and exhibited his documents, when ho 
 was directed by the agent to proceed to the shores of 
 Lake Ontario, a little beyond where Brighton is now 
 situated, — to which place a day's hard driving over the 
 sand eventually brought them. 
 
 As the Captain was a settler of more than ordinary 
 rn(;aus and appearance, the agent not only pointed out 
 a very valuable lot on his map that hung up in his of- 
 fice, but actually volunteered to go with him to the spot 
 where it lay, which was an unusual procedure for him. 
 After all his labor and anxiety, the Captain had now a 
 chance of seeing his farm, and, as the agent was with 
 him for the purpose of pointing it out, he lost no time in 
 setting out in search of it. 
 
 This, however, was an undertaking of no small labor, 
 and even risk, for they had to scramble through tre^ s 
 and rank undergrowth of brush and bramble. They av 
 length discovered the " lot," undistinguished from the 
 contiguous land — there was no fence to mark its outline 
 — save by small pickets driven into the ground at cer- 
 tain distances, with the number of the lot, range, and 
 concession painted on them, and these could never have 
 been discovered by the uninitiated eye. 
 
 Here, then, was the Captain and his party at their 
 journey's end ; and it was very natural for them to feel 
 desirous and even anxious to meet with a suitable place 
 of shelter and of rest. But it was now nearly the close 
 of day, and they found that they must camp for the 
 night in the open air, as had of late been their practice, 
 
•^rr^-^^^ 
 
 Lt 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 149 
 
 The arrangements for this were soon made, for in their 
 cuse it might be said that practice had made them per- 
 fect. So easy is it, after a little rough-and-tumble with 
 untoward events, to accommodate one's self to circum- 
 stances I 
 
 The party, after having gone through their usual rou- 
 tine, and closed the labors of the day with their devo- 
 tional evening exercises, gladly retired to their places 
 of rest. But there was no rest for the Captain, who had 
 appeared more than usually sad and thoughtful after 
 having seen his farm, viewed its surroundings, and re- 
 flected on his present position and future prospects. In 
 fact, his appearance for a number of days had excited a 
 deep interest in the mind of his ever attentive and affec- 
 tionate wife. 
 
 They had both entered upon this enterprise with 
 enthusiasm — they had been captivated by the rural 
 beauties, the abundant crops, and the domestic comfort 
 and thrift they had seen on the farm and in the home 
 of Captain Baldwin and his very excellent New England 
 wife. It is equally true, however, that in what had so 
 charmed them, they had seen only the results of long 
 years of hard labor and of large expenditure. But so 
 deeply had their superficial view been impressed upon 
 their minds, that they jnelded themselves to its influence, 
 although they were so utterly unfitted, by nature, con- 
 stitution, and education, for these to tliem untried scenes 
 of life. Hence, in the inception of the enterprise and 
 succeeding preparations, they had given little time to 
 reflection. It was evident they were wanting in worldly 
 wisdom and prudence. How many a moment was al- 
 lowed them, in their long journey, to consider whether 
 
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150 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 thej' had done wisely in leaving the comparatively slight 
 annoyances of a soldier's life, with which they had be- 
 come somewhat familiar, and running headlong into a 
 course that had thus, far been crowded with disasters, 
 and the end of which they did not even now see I 
 
 It had appeared to our travellers in their last day's 
 journey, that they were in a perfect wilderness, as they 
 had not been made aware of the presence of human 
 beings. But on the following morning, at an early 
 hour, they were undeceived on this point by a crowd of 
 men and boys, while more were seen emerging from the 
 woods in different directions. The news had been 
 carried through the concession, from cabin to cabin, that 
 a fresh batch of settlers had come in — with a glowing 
 description of the number and splendid appearance of 
 their horses. 
 
 The very mention of fine horses acted like magic in 
 arousing the curiosity of the rustic youth through a wide 
 circuit. These, from an inherent and universal love of 
 the horse, were moved to come and see for themselves. 
 So that by noon there was collected quite a numerous 
 company of most uncouth-looking specimens of humanity, 
 clad in the homeliest garbs, and with countenances little 
 indicative of intelligence. Then there was a rudeness 
 and ignorant familiarity, that shocked the sensibility of 
 (yaptain Walters and his wife. What most surprised 
 them was, that they could not obtain a direct answer to 
 any question put to them. They appeared as if devoid 
 of comprehension. The Captain asked a tall, lank-sided, 
 raw-boned lad, if he supposed it at all possible for him 
 to rent a suitable dwelling-house contiguous to his es- 
 tate. The lad looked at the Captain with a kind of dull, 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 151 
 
 vacant stare, and a broad grin, and then turning to 
 another lad juat the counterpart to himself, said : "What 
 docs he say, Dick ?" 
 
 To which Dick responded, in a coarse, husky drawl : 
 " I dunno — that 'ere chap's green." 
 
 The Captain, and in fact the whole of his party, found 
 that they were out of their element in such company. 
 Quite disconcerted by this interview with those who 
 were to be their future neighbors, they moodily sat down, 
 or silently sauntered about, apparently without any aim 
 or definite purpose in view. 
 
 This state of painful inactivity and suspense was in- 
 terrupted by the approach of a portly-looking man, 
 dressed in the garb of a Quaker, with broad-brimmed 
 hat. He stepped up to the Captain with a composed 
 countenance and a bland expression, at the same time 
 putting out his hand, which was most heartily responded 
 to by the Captain. 
 
 The stranger said : " Friend, I give thee greeting, 
 and a cordial welcome to our settlement. I have been 
 given to understand that it is thy purpose to settle 
 among us. Thy name, friend ?" 
 
 " My name is Walters," was the prompt reply. 
 
 " Well, friend Walters, ray name is Obadiah Crooks, 
 and my advice is ever at thy service. Now let me learn 
 from thy own mouth as to what are thy real wishes uud 
 intentions." 
 
 The conversation of Obadiah proved to be a great 
 relief to the Captain ; and the generous, open candor, 
 and kind spirit that he manifested, really touched his 
 heart, and with great freedom he responded : That he 
 had been a captain in the British army, but that he had 
 
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152 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
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 loft it — had sold out his commission — prompted by moral 
 and relig-ioub scruples, and a wish to lead for the future 
 an independent and peaceful life. With this end in 
 view, he had obtained from the goverwment a grant of 
 one thousand acres of land. He had been given to un- 
 derstand by the land-agent, that the place where they 
 then were was to be his future home ; and he felt 
 pleased to think that he had oo opportunely met with a 
 person who seemed willing, and in every way so able, 
 to render him a little assistance, as this mode of life 
 was quite new to him. 
 
 *' Well, friend Walters," said Crooks, " I feel glad that 
 thou hast given up the carnal weapons for the peaceful, 
 and in every way more useful, employment of the axe 
 and the plough. I must say that it is but little asnist- 
 ance that I can render thee : I said that my advice is ever 
 at thy service. I will tell thee, friend Walters, that this 
 is quite a new settlement, and as yet the improvements 
 are very small. The people are very poor, and our ac- 
 commodations very scanty, — so much so, that there is 
 not a single cabin in all this concession big enough 
 to hold thy family, ^nd I have been thinking that 
 there is only one of two ways for thee to act : one is, 
 for some of our people to take one of thy party to re- 
 main with them for a few days, and so distribute them 
 among us, until thou canst raise a log-cabin of thy own. 
 If thou adopt this plan, I shall be willing to take that 
 little boy. The other way is, for thee and thy people 
 to camp here, and to call a bee to put up a cabin for 
 thee. And then, I do not know what thou wilt do with 
 all thy horses, for the critters must have sor^^ithing to 
 eat. And thou wilt have nothing for them to do for, 
 
 
-TW ' 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 163 
 
 at the least, ^ay twelve months ; so that thou must bo 
 at the expense of feeding them without having any 
 profit from their labor." 
 
 If the Captain had observed the countenance of his 
 friend Crooks at the time he was thus speaking in such 
 deprecating terms of his horses — the keen twinkle of his 
 eyes, as they were scanning with deep meaning those 
 animals as they stood fastened at a little distance from 
 him — and if he could at that moment have penetrated 
 his mind, and discovered the under-current of thought 
 that was flowing there — he would certainly have been 
 more guarded in his expressions of confidence, and more 
 cautious in his future dealings with him. But we do not 
 wish to speak to the dispraise of Obadiah personally, 
 for he had only imbibed the spivit of the community in 
 which he dwelt, and which had been fostered by favor- 
 ing circumstances. And tie hal been such an apt pupil, 
 that he had profited more than his neighbors, owing to 
 his keener perceptions and his greater adroitness. An 
 individual who Jias been used to city life, has always 
 found that whatever article he may have wanted to pur- 
 chase, has been ofiered at a definite price. On the con- 
 trary, should he go into some back or new settlement, 
 he would there find a mode of dealing altogether arbi- 
 trary, and generally by barter. The question is not as 
 to the real value of an article, but ho^ one may obtain 
 a thing of greater value in exchange for one of less : 
 all the arts of duplicity and chicanery are put in requi- 
 sition to accomplish that end ; and he is the smartest 
 man who is best able to do this. 
 
 But to return — all the talk of Obadiah might as well 
 have been delivered in an unknown tongue to Captain 
 
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154 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 Walters. He could not comprehend liow it was that 
 there were no dwellings in the settlement large enough 
 for his family, and that he must camp in that self-same 
 place until a bee could be called to put up a house for 
 him. The greatest of all puzzles to him was how to 
 provide for his fine horses, of which he had hitherto been 
 so proud, but which were now a perplexing encum- 
 brance. But the Captain soon found that he had a great 
 many things to unlearn ; and many more to learn, that 
 were necessary in settling down on a bush farm. 
 
 Our friend Obadich ccntinued : ** If thou concludes 
 to call a bee, which I consider by far the best plan for 
 thee to ad as it will be attended with the least 
 trouble and lujor on all sides, thou canst brash thy 
 horses for a few days, and by that time thou wilt be 
 better able to decide as to thy future steps." 
 
 " Brash my horses, sir I" exclaimed the Captain. 
 " What am I to understand by that ?" 
 
 ** Well," said the Quaker, " that is to cut the tender 
 branches from such of those young trees as thy horses 
 may relish the best, and so feed them. This is what is 
 called brashing them, and which is often resorted to by 
 settlers on their first coming into the bush with their 
 cattle, and at other times when proper fodder is scarce." 
 
 " Well," said the Captain, " but how must I manage 
 about the bee that you speak of ?" 
 
 " Why," said his friend, " that may be soon man- 
 aged ;" and called out to a man who seemed a leading 
 spirit among the motley company who were rollicking 
 in their childish and senseless fun not far off, " Samuel 
 Barker, a word with thee," at the same time making a 
 jerking motion with his head and hand. 
 
^^^ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 155 
 
 Samuel was sooi? at their side, with his dbep-brown, 
 sunburnt face, and bare neck and breast ; with a 
 slouched hat that had a good part of the brim torn 
 away, and large air-holes in other parts ; a flimsy 
 check-shirt, and tattered, patched pants ; and a pair of 
 rusty-colored boots, that would have been all the better 
 with a few patches under and over, as more than one of 
 his remarkable toes were clearly visible, obtruding them- 
 selves through each of them. Sam was introduced by 
 Obadiah as Samuel Barker, one of the leading men in 
 the concession, able to give advice, and no doubt willing 
 to lend a hand in the required movement. Sam was soon 
 informed as to the object they had in view, which was 
 to call a bee to put up a log-cabin for the new-comers. 
 Sam entered into the thing with all the childish glee 
 that might have marked the conduct of a boy who was 
 about to put on his first new suit. It was with reluc- 
 tance that he waited to hear the formal advice of Oba- 
 diah, or even to satisfy t! 3 reasonable inquiries of the 
 Captain. Bui when released, Sam was back in a trice 
 to his anxious companions, . ho were waiting his return, 
 as they had been querying among themselves the pur- 
 pose for which he had been called. With great self- 
 importance Sam communicated to them the object of his 
 high mission, and was about to give his opinion, when 
 he was abruptly cut short by Tom Williams, who bawled 
 out at the top of his voice — 
 
 " How much whiskey is we to get ? 'Case if there 
 ain't no whiskey, I ain't going to come, no how." 
 
 This proved to be the key-note, and each man ai.d 
 boy chimed in to the same tune : there was no note of 
 discord — no whiskey, no cabin. And Sam was fully 
 
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156 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 commissioned to negotiate with the opposite party, which 
 proved to be a more difficult task than he had antici- 
 pated, as there was strong moral principle on the one 
 side, and on the other tlio decision, " No whiskey, no 
 cabin." 
 
 At this stage of the pioceedinga it was clearly per- 
 ceived that there must be a compromise in some way, or 
 the high contracting parties must fail in their negotia- 
 tions. 
 
 Sam seemed calculating and pondering some further 
 suggestion, when he proposed that, if the Captain would 
 hand over to him so much money, the men would bring 
 their own grub, and then it would not matter to him 
 what they did with the cash. The Captain found it 
 necessary to yield his point, though he handed over 
 the amount to Sam with great reluctance, accompanied 
 with sage advice and good counsel. But the Captain 
 might as well have spoken to the passing breeze, for 
 any good eflfect it produced on Sam. Sam triumphantly 
 carried back his prize to his companions, who celebrated 
 the victory he had won, by an uproarious shout of ap- 
 plause. 
 
 The men now held a consultation among themselves, 
 to determine what each man should bring in the way of 
 eatables the following morning. One was to bring a 
 boiled ham ; another, a piece of beef and a roasted 
 sucking-pig ; another, a roasted turkey : and then there 
 was to be a plentiful supply of boiled and roasted 
 chickens. Pies, puddings, and cakes W'^re promised, 
 for all these were plentiful in the bush. 
 
 After this understanding, the motley group of men 
 and boys soon separated, each wending his way to his 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 167 
 
 own cabin, to give directions to his domestic circle to 
 make preparations for the feast of good things on the 
 following day. 
 
 Many were the hands and heads busily engaged in 
 almost every cabin through the entire settlement. For 
 great were the pleasures anticipated on such a gala-daj' 
 in the bush, where was to be assembled so large a com- 
 pany. 
 
 It might have proved highly amusing, could we have 
 taken a peep into some of those cabins on that memora- 
 l e night — witnessed the perspiring dames, and their 
 beautiful and agile daughters, racking their brains in 
 the effort to excel in the variety, quality, and quantity 
 of their pastry. The aim was to make their things 
 "good." One object they had in view was to astonish 
 the new-comers at the fatness of the land. A very high 
 opinion had already been formed of the character of the 
 strangers, from the reports of the general appearance 
 of their outfit ; and each of the ladies, young and old, 
 wanted to make a favorable impression, to gain their 
 special notice. 
 
 Now that our party were left alone to pursue their 
 own routine, they felt more at their ease ; and many 
 were the remarks made respecting the appearance of 
 their new home, and the character and conduct of those 
 who were to be their future neighbors, if not their asso- 
 ciates and companions. It might have been clearly 
 seen by the look and manner, if not by the words of 
 Captain Walters, that he did not feel altogether in his 
 right place, or among those suited to the cast of his own 
 mind. For there had not, as yet, been a single indi- 
 vidual among those who had been presented to him, with 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 whom he could enjoy the pleasing interchange of profit- 
 able thought. It was true, he had held a conversation 
 with Obadiah Crooks, but there was something so cold 
 and formal, yea, even repulsive in his manner — entirely 
 opposed to his own warm, impulsive, and confiding na- 
 ture — that he could look for nothing like friendship 
 there. 
 
 All this, however, had the direct tendency to cut off 
 all earthly resource, and to lead Captain Walters' mind 
 to higher and nobler thoughts, so that when the moment 
 for the evening devotions of hinwself and wife arrived, 
 his spirit was in that frame of resignation to the Divine 
 will, that he felt as though he could lay all his earthly 
 interests on the altar of s^jli-sacrifice. And, indeed, this 
 feeling was mutual — a sympathy and melting tender- 
 ness, yea, an overwhelming sense of the Divine presence. 
 So that, although they were in the darkness and solita- 
 riness of the primeval woods, and far away from any 
 stately edifice where fashionable congregations meet, 
 yet in their loneliness they could say, " Lo, God is here." 
 And this was enough to calm every fear, and hush to 
 silence every doubt, so that heart and tongue were in 
 full accord, to praise and adore. Never had the echoes 
 of those woods been awakened to such strains of rap- 
 turous melody before ; it was indeed the first dedica- 
 tion and consecration of that spot to God. Thus, calm 
 and serene, they retired ; and sweet were their slumbers 
 on this the first night spent in their western home, for 
 tliey felt the assurance that underneath and around were 
 the everlasting arms. 
 
T^ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 159 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 On the following morning, according to arrangement, 
 the company was at the place of rendezvous at a very 
 early hour. As usual on such occasions, four of the 
 most skilful men are first selected to take the entire 
 management of the four corners of the building. These 
 see that the timbers are properly half-notched, so that 
 their fitting may be all right when the alternate round 
 logs are laid : the notching at the ends forms the cor 
 ners, and holds them firm in their place. The men are 
 then divided into squads, and these squads are told oif, 
 and each assigned to the work he is best qualified to 
 perform. An eligible site being selected, the space is 
 cleared of trees, or other encumbrances, and all things 
 are now ready to begin the erection of the log-cabin. 
 Young elm-trees are chosen, if possible ; and if there are 
 enough of these at hand, they are soon brought down 
 by the sturdy axe-men, and dragged by oxen to the spot 
 where they are wanted, either to the sides or the ends 
 of the building. 
 
 Where skill and numbers are employed, rapid prog- 
 ress may be expected. This is especially the case where 
 a bee is called to raise a log-cabin ; for by noon the 
 four walls are nearly up, and ready for the roof. And, 
 what with the satisfaction they feel in the contempla* 
 tion of the work done, together with the free circulation 
 
 iii. 
 
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 jl 
 
 '■ f, 
 
160 
 
 LILLIAN; OE, 
 
 
 of whiskey, they begin to have a lively time of it by 
 midday. 
 
 During the morning there has been flocking to this 
 centre of attraction the wives and families of the men 
 who have been, at work, bearing along with them the 
 provisions prepared the night previous, and which they 
 intended should be ready by noon for the assembled 
 company, who, when the hour arrives, gather to the 
 feast with keen appetites, glib tongues, and vociferous 
 voices. The scene now presented to our party exhib- 
 ited to their contemplation an entirely new phase of so- 
 cial life. With becoming dignity they stood aloof from 
 the frivolous and childish hilarity of the rustics, though 
 at times it was with very great diflficulty that the 
 Captain repressed a manifestation of his wounded 
 feelings. 
 
 On one occasion Tom Wilson, who seemed to be the 
 bell-wether of the party, had heard Mrs. Walters call her 
 husband " Robert." This was enough for Tom, who, ir 
 a few minutes after, came to the Captain with a glass of 
 whiskey, and in a coarse husky voice, and with exces- 
 sive rudeness, scid — 
 
 " Come, Robert, tak a glass wi' me." But almost in 
 the same breath said — " Robert is too big a w^ord for ray 
 toong. I shall ca' yo' Bob, 'case you're goin' to be one 
 
 o' us." 
 
 This was a home-thrust at the Captain's self-respect, 
 but with gentle firmness he said — 
 
 " My good friend, I do not drink that kind of liquor- 
 it would make me very ill indeed." 
 
 But the Captain t as not to escape with the boorish 
 rudeness of Wilson. A kind of half-grown lad, with 
 
 ji. 
 
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 WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 161 
 
 soarod and deeply pock-marked face, and enormous out- 
 standing- teetli, stood gaping with eyes wide open, and 
 mouth distended with a hideous gi'in, observing tiie 
 doings and sayings of Wilson. This fellow, shortly 
 after — when the Captain, wishing to throw olFa little of 
 his conventional stiffness of manner, was in a friendly 
 and familiar way speaking to one of the men about the 
 dexterous way in which he handled his axe — invited him 
 to try his hand at the same exercise, especially as he 
 was going to be a farmer himself. The Captain, taking 
 the axe, planted several strokes, putting in with all his 
 might, but made little impression on the log, scarcely 
 penetrating the bark, when all eyes were at once direct(3d 
 towards the novice axe-man. Seeing the small results of 
 such great exertion, and the awkward manner in which 
 he wielded his instrument, there was a general laugh at 
 his expense. But what gave a cast of the ludicrous to 
 the scene was that the lad above alluded to, as the Cap- 
 tain was about to give another stroke with the axe, 
 bawled out — 
 
 " Hold on, Bobby ; there is a fly there, and if yo' hits 
 it you'll sure hurt it I'* 
 
 In a moment tlr^e axe fell from the hands of the Cap- 
 tain, — this piece of coarse wit and gross rudeness being 
 too much for his nerves, especially as it brought forth a 
 burst of uproarious merriment at his expense from the 
 lookers-on. He appeared confounded for the moment, 
 but soon regained his self-possession. But this incident 
 seemed to make a deep impression on the heart of Mrs. 
 Walters, who would much rather it had been directed 
 against herself than her husband. 
 
 But others present were not inattentive eipectators, 
 
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 162 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
 and not a little disturbed at this iiidocorous proceeding. 
 Brown and Jones could ill l)rook the indignities, as 
 they considered them, directed against their captain, and 
 were not backward in giving expression to their feel- 
 ings ; but they might as well have spoken to the oxen 
 that were drawing the logs to the building as to men 
 oblivious to all sense of right from frequent potations of 
 whiskey. Presently, Tom Wilson, and Jim Roberts (who 
 seemed to be the equal of Tom in down-right ruffianism), 
 pitted themselves against Jones, taking courage from 
 mutual support. But Jones, though naturally mild and 
 gentle as a lamb, was not the man to allow things to go 
 too far without his "John BuUism" showing a little of 
 his prowess. At length, emboldened by Jones's appa- 
 rent shyness, the two men actually approached him in a 
 menacing manner. Jones retreated a little, which only 
 tended to increase their boldness. On their nearer ap- 
 proach, the form of Jones seemed to swell to gigantic 
 proportions, and, quick as thought, catching them by 
 the back of their necks, one in each hand, he shook them 
 as though he would shake their very bones asunder. 
 He then broiight their heads together with such force 
 that the concussion was heard by all the company on the 
 ground. After repeating this for five or six times, cast- 
 ing them from him with herculean strength, they went 
 whirling, and fell full length on the ground at a distance 
 from him. Jones now walked coolly away from the 
 spot, as composed as if nothing had occurred to ruffle 
 his temper. Not so, however, the two men ; for Toiu 
 Wilson, raising himself upon one elbow, suid — 
 ** Golly, Jim, don't that big follow sque« ^e 1" 
 " I guess he does," said RoLci ts. " It was all your 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 163 
 
 fault ; he warn't goiu' to be ugly till yo' bothered him — 
 and that's jist so," 
 
 Wilson acknowledged the truth of these words, and 
 quickly . ising himself from the ground, started ofl' to* 
 wards Jones, follow(!d by Roberts, and said — 
 
 " By golly I big un, but yourn are pretty strong 
 arms ; but it was all our fault — give us yourn fist, old 
 fellow," at the same time holding out his hand. Jones 
 kindly took the proffered hands of the two men, one in 
 either of his own, and drawing their heads towards him, 
 said, in a loud whisper — 
 
 " Remember that our Captain is neither Robert, Bob, 
 nor Bobby, but Captain Walters — do you understand 
 me ?" He made them repeat the name and title after 
 him several times, to impress it on their memory. Thus 
 these men, and others present, were taught that they 
 could not with impunity overstep the bounds of good 
 behavior. 
 
 After this, the main business of the day went bravely 
 on to its completion. Tiie roof of the cabin was cov- 
 ered with large sheets of birch bark, which had been 
 strip]ied whole from the trunk of the tree. The door 
 and window-places were ftrnished with pieces cut from 
 the solid round logs. The party having the construction 
 of the fireplace ai.d chimney in hand, had it run up 
 above the roof by the time the rest of the cabin was 
 completed. 
 
 Here, then, was the first great requirement of bush 
 lift begun and finished in one day — a log-cabin forty 
 Jnei by twenty-five, divided in nearly the centre in the 
 tnmm way, and with like kind of material, as tlite ends ; 
 and these rooms divided off into separate apaftsaents — 
 
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 as sleeping-rooms or otherwise, to suit tlie wish or con« 
 vcjnieiice of the occupants — by hanging up sheets or 
 counterpanes from the rafters overhead. 
 
 Mrs. Walters had made up her mind, during the daj^ 
 to give the party, and especially the ladies, young and 
 old, an agreeable suprise in the evening. So, she had 
 the large canvas tent which they had brought with them 
 from Montreal, taken out of the wagon and erected by 
 Brown and Jones, under the superintendence of the ever- 
 active Biiptiste, at a distance from the place where the 
 cabin stood. In the centre of this tent a large table 
 was placed, formed by adjusting the boxes and cases 
 that contained the articles they had brought with them. 
 
 Among the latter, Mrs. Walters had several china 
 tea-sets. These she arranged with such taste upon the 
 very handsome table-cloths which covered the temporary 
 table, that the -whole thing presented an appearance of 
 real elegance. And then the tent was lighted up with 
 a number of wax-candles placed in beautiful branch 
 candlesticks. 
 
 Mrs. Walters had supplied herself with an assortment 
 of very choice tea before leaving Montreal ; this being 
 now brought out, the capacious tea-urn was put in 
 requisition, and filled to its brim with the fragrant and 
 delicious beverage. Baptiste was in his glory, with 
 his ruffle-shirt, white apron, light pantaloons and jacket 
 — he was here, and there, and everywhere. The men 
 had cut a number of round logs about the height of 
 chairs, on which boards were laid, to form seats around 
 the table. A large side-table was also erected on one 
 side of the tent, on which was spread out, on trays and 
 dishes, the cakes and bread provided by the ladies. It 
 
or 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 1G.J 
 
 must be acknowledged, that Mrs. Walters was greatly 
 and agreeably surprised when she saw the profusion in 
 which every thing had been supplied — new-laid eggs, 
 the sweetest of fresh butter, and the richest of cream, 
 forming a very conspicuous feature in the feast. 
 
 The arrangements all finished, and the grand display 
 made, Mrs. Walters felt her woman's pride in no small 
 degree excited when she contemplated the scene, and 
 considered the impression all this would make on the 
 minds of the assembled rustics. Brown and Jones, un- 
 der the ever-vigilant eye of Baptiste, acted as sentinels, 
 to prevent the intrusion of any person before the ap- 
 pointed time, that the surprise might prove the more 
 complete. And, indeed, all that was anticipated was 
 more than realized, in the astonishment and bewilder- 
 ment exhibited by the rustics, for they apparently felt, 
 and really acted, as if they had been introduced into a 
 fairy palace. Where such things could have come from, 
 and how they could have been made, far surpassed their 
 comprehension. But when the fragrant tea was served 
 out in those delicate and beautiful china cups and sau- 
 cers, they gave vent to their feelings, and were loud in 
 their praises. But of the eagerness with which they 
 quaffed the delicious beverage, vociferously calling for 
 more and more, we shall not attempt a description. 
 This was little like the decorous tea-parties which the 
 refined and accomplished Captain and Mrs. Walters had 
 been used to giving and attending. 
 
 Long some of this unique party sat, and it was with 
 great reluctance they retired, to make room at the table 
 for the younger branches of their families. These had 
 for some time exhibited, outside the tent, an impatience 
 
 ik I 
 
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■"^TOTiTT ■'wrT-rv- 
 
 166 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 difficult to restrain ; and when admitted, any attempt at 
 restraint was utterly futile. They cor.ld only be com- 
 pared to a company of wild, unbroken colts — some of 
 them dirty and ragged as they were wild. Captain 
 Walters stood by his wife at this moment, and whis- 
 pered in her ear — 
 
 " My dear, one of the negative blessings of heaven 
 will be, that there will be no unruly half-grown boys 
 and jrirls there." She nodded her assent with a smile. 
 
 It was not long before the exultant feelings of Mrs. 
 Walters received a check, as was evidenced by the 
 gloom, and indeed momentary frown, upon her counte- 
 nance. And no wonder ; for, at the first round of the 
 cups of tea, served out to this herd of young incorrigi- 
 bles, one of the boys struck the elbow of the girl who 
 stood next to him, splashing the scalding hot tea over 
 her face and hands, and dashing the beautiful china cup 
 and saucer upon the fine table-cloth, and thence to the 
 ground, in a thousand pieces. This was followed by a 
 loud laugh by all the gawky and giddy throng, who ap- 
 peared quite unconscious of the mischief they had done 
 in breaking a part of a beautiful and expensive china 
 tea-set, and which could not be replaced under the cir- 
 cumstances. As misfortunes seldom come alone, we 
 T ould say that through the recklessness of this untamed 
 herd — no other term could so appropriately designate 
 them — at the very least half a dozen mishaps occurred 
 of a character similar to the one above described, during 
 the evening. 
 
 At length the toils, the pleasures, and the vexations 
 of this eventful day came to a close, and the com[)any, 
 with different and verj conflicting feelings, separated. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 167 
 
 But before doing so, the men had built up a large log- 
 fire in the capacious fireplace of the newly-erected 
 cabin. 
 
 Weary, and more than ordinarily thoughtful and sad, 
 our company, after reading the Ninety-first Psalm, and 
 committing themselves to the safe-keeping of their heav- 
 enly Father for the night, retired to their oVftceB of 
 rest. 
 
 Early on the following morning, the Captain and hi8 
 wife entered the new log-cabin, and examined it and ith 
 surroundings with serious and thoughtful faces. It was 
 evident that their minds were ill at ease, that something 
 was pressing heavily on their hearts ; and especially was 
 this the case with the Captain, who said, in a soliloquiz- 
 ing way — 
 
 " This puts me in mind of the old song, of the neat 
 little cottage with the ground for the floor. This, I must 
 say, is a neat cottage indeed I How it can in any way 
 be made fit for human beings to dwell in, I am at a loss 
 to tell." 
 
 Then turning to his wife, with a melancholy smile on 
 his face, he said — 
 
 " My dear Eliza, where will you place your piano, and 
 where shall we put the library ? I must tell you can- 
 didly, my dear, that I begin to be afraid we have missed 
 our way ; that we did not give ourselves time to reflect — 
 to view things as they are— ^to think coolly and calmly ; 
 that we acted upon the spur of the moment, and were 
 too much under the influence of our imagination. We 
 were captivated by the thrift and domestic peace and 
 comfort of Captain Baldwin and his family. And the i 
 we thought it would be something great and respect- 
 
 
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168 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 able to have a farm of a thousand acres, and be able to 
 lead an independent and happy life. We have a farm, 
 indeed, and it may be a thousand acres for aught I 
 know ; but I know, too, that there is not the thousandth 
 part of one acre on which we might raise a single 
 mess of vegetables, or even herbs suflficient to render 
 savory a single pot of soup, without the expenditure of 
 great toil and a good amount of cash. I feel, at this 
 moment, like a fish out of water. I am out of my proper 
 place. It seems as though I had awoke from a deep 
 sleep, a bewildering dream ; and now that I am come to 
 this state of consciousness, I think I see things in their 
 true light, and as I see them, I feel confounded. I see 
 now that we have taken the entire direction of our 
 affairs into our own hands, and have left the path in 
 which a kind Providence had placed us, and for whicli 
 our education and habits of life had fitted and prepared 
 us. We were perplexed and frightened with a compar- 
 atively few unpleasant trials and difficulties with which 
 that path was strewn ; but now we are in a patli in 
 which we find real troubles, and in which, I am afraid, 
 we shall meet insurmountable difficulties. Unfitted as 
 we are by education and habit for' the labors and duties 
 that will be demanded of us, I feel that the prospect be- 
 fore us is at once gloomy and disheartening. Sur- 
 rounded, too, by a herd of untutored and uncouth boors 
 — I had almost said savages — both young and old, my 
 dear Eliza, my patience is nearly exhausted,, althougii I 
 have been so short a time amongst them. But as all 
 other avenues, save the one we have chosen, appear 
 closed against us, we are denied the liberty of ciioice. 
 But were it otherwise, what are we fit for, either in the 
 
WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 169 
 
 to 
 
 I 
 
 th 
 
 le 
 is 
 
 dopartmcnts of manual or mental employment ? The 
 mechanic, by continual toil, procures a comfortable sub- 
 sistence for himself and family. The patient drudge, 
 cooped up in his little store, begins life with small cap- 
 ital, and, by successive turnings of his penny, eventu- 
 ally attains to competence and a respectable position 
 among his fellow-men. Happy men 1 Alas 1 at this 
 moment I am almost led to envy the day-laborer, with 
 pick and spade, pursuing his allotted toil, who, albeit 
 his earnings are small, yet has robust health, with sound 
 and refreshing sleep at night." 
 
 " My dear Robert," said his wife, " you are at this 
 moment in a morbid state of mind — you are looking at 
 tilings on their dark side. How do you know but that 
 Providence has had very much to do in bringing us to 
 this place, and putting us in our present position ? For 
 there are higher and vastly more important duties and 
 labors than the menial or even the mental avocations 
 of life ; and a class of mind with clear moral percep- 
 tions and convictions, and a strong sense of duty, is re- 
 (juired to occupy that position and to perform that work. 
 My dear husband," said she, " we have been led by a 
 train of circumstances and events which it would bo 
 hard to undo ; it would indeed be difficult, if not utterly 
 impossible, for us to retrace our steps. If this be the 
 case, then would it not be the part of true wisdom and 
 high manly courage to awake still more to your present 
 moral position, and arouse yourself still further to your 
 present duties and high responsibilities ? You seem to 
 bewail your lot in life, that you have not the kind of 
 talent and the physical hardihood that is required in 
 this place ; and thus you quail before the magnitude of 
 
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 L I Ti L I A X ; OR, 
 
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 the labor before you. You are supposing that you are 
 nnfitted to fell trees in this forest ; that you cannot 
 wield the axe ; that you cannot cultivate the soil ; and 
 that you cannot plant, and sow, and reap. The dark, 
 and dense, and tangled woods alarm you ; you are 
 measuring your strength with those giant, massive oaks, 
 with their gnarled and kii ty trunks ; and then you 
 suppose that this cabin, built of such rough material, 
 and of such rude workmanship, is unfit for a habitation. 
 It is my impression that there is a denser and ranker 
 growth of moral evils to be eradicated, compared to 
 which this dense and tangled forest presents but a 
 vague and faint idea of labor. The woodraaip may, with 
 his axe, his strong muscle, and determined will, make 
 sure headway with his work in felling these trees. But 
 what are his labor and its results, compared with the 
 mightier and noblfr task of operating on the mass of 
 mind that we saw here yesterday, and with which you 
 were so much displeased ? And then you seem to de- 
 spair of this building ever being made sufficiently com- 
 fortable, or even fit to dwell in. Why, my dear Robert, 
 you may hew, and paint, and beautify the rougliest and 
 most unshapely log that forms a part of this cabin, and 
 by labor, with skill, render the whole building one of 
 comfort and convenience. Yet how impotent is human 
 zeal, intelligence, and labor, in the great task of pre- 
 paring the ignorant, rough, and uncouth beings we had 
 here last night to become fit temples for the Holy Ghost 
 to dwell in I But what is impossible to man is possible 
 with God. We know that He makes use of human in- 
 strumentality and agency to accomplish His purposes. 
 And if we should be so far honored as to be made His 
 
1:1 
 
 WOMANS ENDITRANCE. 
 
 171 
 
 instruments in enlightening and saving one of thoBO 
 precious, priceless, blood-bought, deathless spirits, God 
 would be more pleased, angels will have more cause to 
 rejoice, and we ourselves, in time and eternity, shall 
 recollect the event with more real and substantial de- 
 light, than if you had with one swoop levelled this entire 
 forest." 
 
 " Now, my dear Robert, it is well to have a clear view 
 of one's mission ; and," said she, looking her husband 
 steadily in the face, " Robert, can you have any doubt 
 of yours ; or can you plead as an excuse a want of 
 talent, or in any way an unfitness, to go forth with the 
 sword of the Spirit — the all-powerful weapon of Divine 
 truth — to cut down and clear away the tall and strong 
 trees of error, and uproot the thick and tangled under- 
 growth of vice ; and, under Divine aid and influence, to 
 labor to so cleanse, build up, and beautify these souls, so 
 as to render them habitations for the Holy Ghost ; to 
 endeavor to break up the fallow-ground of their hearts, 
 and to plant and sow the seeds of every virtue ? Now 
 what do you say, Robert — will you, like Jonah, flee from 
 your responsibilities, and thus incur the Divine dis- 
 pleasure, deterred from their performance by difficulties, 
 or frightened by their magnitude ? Or will you say 
 with the great Apostle, ' None of these things move me, 
 neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may win 
 souls to Christ?'" 
 
 At the close of this warm and impassioned address, 
 the Captain stood before his wife as though spell-bound ; 
 after musing for a few moments, he said — 
 
 " My dear Eliza, you have touched the right chord in 
 my heart. I was wandering away ; I was forgetting 
 
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 till 
 
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 172 
 
 L I L L T A iV ; O It , 
 
 myself ; but you have, by your clear staternent of rii^ 
 work, my duties, and high responsibilities, brought mo 
 buck to a state of mind proper for their due performance ; 
 though you have not at all diminished the magnitude of 
 the work to which I alluded, nor shown my ability to 
 be adequate to its accomplishment. Yet, you have 
 shown me where my real strength is to be drawn from ; 
 and you have opened up a new field of thought, and 
 given abundant food for reflection. I trust I shall hence- 
 forth not only be diligent in the business of life, but 
 likewise fervent in spirit, and endeavor to carry out 
 your suggestions, and enter every open door that may 
 be presented where good may be done ; and that, de- 
 pending on our blessed Lord, I shall be more determined 
 than ever to go forth, making mention of His righteous- 
 ness, and His only." 
 
 After this, there was no hanging back from dutj^ and 
 no shrinking from the heaviest cross-bearing. Oh 1 
 happy the man who has such a wife as was Mrs. Wal- 
 ters, to stand by him in his dark moments ; to urge him 
 on iu the right ; to counsel and lovingly assist him in 
 all the onerous duties of life I The Captain now felt 
 that the best place for him was, where he might be the 
 means of accomplishing the greatest amount of good, 
 both by precept and example. And surely there was full 
 scope for his largest desires in the settlement in which 
 he had cast his lot, for the families there were as sheep 
 without a shepherd. 
 
 lijj 
 
WOMAN S ENDURANCE. 
 
 173 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 He now set to work, with a right good-will, to rendei 
 his new home as comfortable as the nature of things 
 would admit. All the party had learned to accommo- 
 date themselves to circumstances. 
 
 The Captain engaged men to cut down the trees, and 
 clear a large space, and prepare it for a crop. He made 
 arrangements with a carpenter to erect a commodious 
 framehousc, with suitable out-buildings, from drawings 
 he had himself executed. 
 
 A few days after the erection of the log-cabin, the 
 Captain was observing the men at work felling trees and 
 clearing a space of ground for a garden, when he saw 
 Obadiah Crooks coming towards him. The Captain ad- 
 vanced to meet him, and greeted him by a right hearty 
 shake of the hand, and a warm and friendly salutation — 
 presenting a perfect contrast to the cold and formal ap- 
 proaches of the Quaker. Obadiah, taking a glance at 
 the cabin, and at the men at work, said — 
 
 " I see, friend Walters, thee has been making a little 
 progress. I sent my yoke of oxen, with a man to drive 
 them, to assist thee in the raising of thy cabin : I trust 
 thee was pleased with the way in which they did thy 
 work." 
 
 The Captain was warm in his acknowledgments of 
 the kindness of Obadiah, and praised highly the way in 
 
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174 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
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 wljicli the oxen and their driver had gone througli their 
 day's work ; when Obadiah said — 
 
 *' Friend Walters, will it be agreeable to thee to take 
 a walk a little way with me in this direction ?" pointing 
 to a part of the woods where the eight horses were 
 grazing on the scanty supply of grass, or browsing on 
 the low and tender branches of the trees. 
 
 When the Captain and Obadiah had got a little way 
 from the men at work, as already alluded to, one of 
 them ill-naturedly said — 
 
 " Tom Wilson said, ' Crook has got our new master 
 in tow, and he'll bleed him as sure as my name's Tom.'" 
 
 The Quaker had already been looking at the horses, 
 very narrowly and closely noticing all their [ jints, for 
 he was a thorough judge of horse-flesh. And to say the 
 truth, he was no less a judge of human nature ; for he 
 knew well all the arts by which the cunning and un- 
 scrupulous man lures his victim into his toils. But after 
 all, to speak truth, Obadiah was a good man, as a 
 general thing : it v/as only where there was any bar- 
 gain-making on hand, that an all-grasping selfishness 
 gained the mastery over him. Coming up with the 
 horses, Obadiah said — 
 
 " Friend Walters, I suppose thee finds that my words 
 were true, that thy horses will prove a great encum- 
 brance to thee. Hast thou thought of any way of dis- 
 posing of them ?" 
 
 " Why, no," said tlie Captain ; " I should not like to 
 part with my horses, they are such very choice ones. 
 You see that they are of the pure Normandy breed : you 
 ean tell that by their small head, short, thick-set neck, 
 and clean, strong limbs. And then it will not be very 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 175 
 
 expensive to keep tlieiii, even should I have to pnrchasi' 
 their food through the winter, as they will maintain 
 their present good condition on very little feed," 
 
 The remarks of the Captain, and especially those in 
 praise of his horses, had made a deep impression on 
 Obadiah's mind ; and although he maintained a cold ini- 
 passiveness in his manner, yet his eyes twinkled and 
 snapped again, as he continued, looking at the fine 
 animals — 
 
 " All that thou says may be very true ; but thee sees 
 that a less nunber than eight horses will serve thy 
 purpose for some years to come. And then," continued 
 Obadiah, " thee must have at the least one yoke of oxen, 
 as thee will find that horses are not steady enough to 
 work in the bush, as that kind of work will harass t.iem, 
 and fret them to death ; so that, as I say, thee must 
 have one yoke of oxen." 
 
 " Well," said the Captain, " I suppose that I must have 
 some oxen, as you say ; they are better adapted for the 
 work in the bush by their patient drudgery than horses, 
 and I might then, as you say, do with a less number 
 than eight horses." 
 
 " That is just so," said the Quaker, at the same time 
 drawing nearer to the Captain ; and lowering his voice 
 with an apparently confiding look and manner, he con- 
 tinued — 
 
 *' Friend Walters, I shall have it in my power to do 
 thee many a kindness, and in many ways, .and I have a 
 strong wish to be a good neighbor with thee. I have 
 been thinking, as I have two yoke of very fine young 
 oxen, I will let thee have my best yoke for that span of 
 horses" — at the same time pointing to the span of horses 
 
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 176 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 he had already selected from the lot — " thee knows that 
 my oxcii are young and strong." 
 
 The Captain looked, first at the Quaker and then at 
 the horses, and then back at the Quaker, as if in gPeat 
 perplexity. At length he said — 
 
 " But, Mr. Crooks, I do not know what my horses 
 would sell for in this neighborhood, and I am quite as 
 ignorant of the value of your oxen." 
 
 " That may be all very true," said the acute Obadiah ; 
 " but thee can judge which will do thy work in the bush 
 the best, and so give thee the most satisfaction." 
 
 Finally, after much chaffering, the Captain, thongh 
 not very willingly, acceded to the wishes of the wily 
 Quaker, who departed with the span of horses for the 
 yoke of oxen — the former of a value, at the least, thrice 
 that of the oxen. 
 
 This transaction was soon noised abroad throughout 
 the Concession, and very freely commented on, in every 
 variety of language and spirit ; though it was plain that 
 the best-disposed individual in the neighborhood, while 
 blaming the overreaching spirit of Obadiah, would have 
 had no objection to making the same exchange, could 
 he have had the same favorable chance. But, wisdom 
 is seldom good till it is bought : and so it proved in this 
 case ; for, dearly bought though it was, it turned out to 
 be a valuable lesson to the Captain. While it proved 
 that he, from his inexperience and simplicity, was no 
 match for the keen trading propensities of his neighbors, 
 it placed him fully on his guard. He ever after made it 
 a standing rule never to trade with any one in the Con- 
 cession in the way of barter ; but, if he was in want of 
 any article, be it food or whatever else, to take it at its 
 
 «9 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 177 
 
 cash value, and pay for it on the spot. The same rule 
 he observed when he had any thing to dispose of. In 
 this way he soon established a character for straight- 
 forward, honest dealing. 
 
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 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 As the CaptiJm had, from the very first Sabbath after 
 leaving Montreal, appropriated that day to its proper 
 sanctified use, so he continued to do now that he was 
 settled in his new home in the bush. And, at the sug- 
 gestion of Mrs. Walters, who said that they did not 
 wish to eat their morsel alone, the canvas tent was 
 fitted up with desk and seats, for the accommodation of 
 any one of the neighbors who might feel disposed to 
 join with them in their Sabbath exercises. The very 
 novelty of the thing was a sufficient attraction to many, 
 who came to see and hear what new thing had come 
 among them ; and then, the majority who came were 
 especially delighted with the singing. But, as for the 
 weighty and important truths that were enunciated by 
 the Captain, though delivered with affectionate fervor, 
 and addressed home to the heart with great force and 
 point, they were listened to with impatience by the gap- 
 ing and wondering company. 
 
 But, notwithstanding this unpropitious state of things, 
 the meetings were continued for a number of weeks, 
 though the minds of many who participated ihoieiii 
 seemed to be utterly impervious to moral or r>^li^ious 
 impressions. One day, however, late 'n the aitf i^nfioi^ 
 the wife of Sam Barker came to request the Captuiia to 
 go with her to see her husband ; saying he was ^kk, 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 179 
 
 
 and at the samft time expressing serious apprehensions 
 that he was " losing his head ;" that for some time he 
 had had scarcely any sleep at night, yet was half asleep 
 through the day ; that he went moping about, and talk- 
 ing to himself in a most awful way ; that she had once 
 or twice caught him on his knees, or laying p.i full 
 length on the ground behind some bushes, and Or the 
 life of her she could not get a sensible word out of him ; 
 and he was moaning and crying 'most all the time. And 
 she wanted the Captain to come and see him, as he 
 was a very knowledgeable man, for she could not tell 
 what in the world was the matter with him herself. 
 
 The Captain smiled at the simplicity of the woman's 
 narration, and, truly surmising the real nature of the 
 bodily and mental malady of her husband, unhesitatingly 
 accompanied her to her home. When he arrived at the 
 place, he found Sam in a wretched state of mind : his 
 heart had been stricken, and the strong man bowed be- 
 fore the stroke. He felt unable to account for, or to 
 explain the nature of his malady, or the state of his 
 mind : he could only say he had been a bad man all his 
 life, that he felt sure of going to hell, and knew that he 
 deserved it. The Captain found him excessively igno- 
 rant, but adapting, as near as he could, his remarks to 
 the man's capacity and present state of mind, he sought 
 to explain to him the way of salvation, pointing out to 
 him that Jesus came into the world to save just such as 
 he, for He came to save sinners ; and after reading to 
 him portions of the word of God suited to his case, and 
 sponding a short time in prayer, left him to the further 
 workings of his own mind, and to the leading and en« 
 lightening influences of the Holy Spirit. 
 
180 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 On the day after the above occurrence the wife of 
 Tom Wilson came to the Captain, in a very disconsolate 
 state, declaring that something very bad was come over 
 her man ; that she thought he was surely luny ; that he 
 said that God was awful cross with him, and tliat the 
 devil was going to be no use to him no more, and he 
 warn't going to be no use to the devil, any how you can 
 fix it. 
 
 " Oh, sir," said she, " he is in a awfu' bad way ; he's 
 a* the time doin' the wrang thing first and the first thing 
 wrang, so yo' see that things are out a' round." 
 
 " Well," said the Captain, " shall I go and see your 
 husband, Mrs. Wilson ?" 
 
 " Oh, golly, no 1" said she, " for he ain't at a' pleased 
 wi' yo' ; for he said that yo' talked a' about him in yer 
 preach last Sunday. And that he knowed that Jim 
 Roberts had bin tellin' yo' a' about him ; but he says 
 yo's a mighty smart man." 
 
 "Well, if that is the case," said the Captain, "I owe 
 it to my own character to go and see your husband, and 
 at the same time I can vindicate Mr. Roberts. Tlie fact 
 is, Mrs. Wilson, your husband now sees himself in a 
 glass that he has never looked into before, and he is 
 alarmed at what it shows him." 
 
 " Oh, no, s'ir, that ain't so, cause we ain't got only one 
 glass i' the shanty, and that's a' broke !" 
 
 " But that is not what I mean, Mrs. Wilsc n," said the 
 Captain ; " I mean that the Divine Spirit is enlightening 
 his judgment, and alarming his conscience, by holding 
 up before his newly-opened mind the purity of the Divine 
 law, and showing how he has exposed himself to its con- 
 demnation by having broken its enactments." 
 
I" 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 181 
 
 " Well," said Mrs. Wilson, " we ain't go* no larnin' 
 here 1' the bush, but maybe a' yo' say is just so." 
 
 The Captain went with Mrs. Wilson to see her man, 
 as she called her husband, and found him under deep 
 convictions of soul for sin. 
 
 Wilson seemed much surprised to hear that the Cap- 
 tain had not spoken on the last Sabbath from any special 
 personal knowledge of his case, and that neither Rob- 
 erts nor any other person had had any communication 
 with him on the subject. 
 
 One very remarkable circumstance made a deep im- 
 pression on the mind of the Captain — namely, that not 
 only was there a great change in the manner and con- 
 duct of these two noted men, from the wild, reckless 
 abandonment that had so offended him when he first saw 
 them ; but their softened countenances and subdued 
 spirits, evidenced a transformation of the inner man to 
 such an extent that they would hardly be recognized as 
 the same men. 
 
 After talking, reading, and praying with Wilson, he 
 turned his steps towards his home. His own soul deeply 
 imbued with the spirit of his Divine Master, with ardent, 
 grateful emotions he cried out : " What hath God 
 wrought !" These things were no less gratifying to 
 Mrs. Walters than they had been to her husband. Jones 
 and Brown united with their wives in a full chorus of 
 glory to God for His marvellous goodness. Our old 
 friend Baptiste had also come to know the value of ex- 
 perimental religion. Thus, the whole of our company, 
 firm in faith and ardent worshippers, were continual in 
 prayers, unitedly and singly, in private and in public, 
 beseeching God to deepen, extend, and continue His 
 
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182 
 
 Ti I L L I A N ; OR, 
 
 work in His own way, irrespective of the meanness or 
 ignorance of the instrumentality emph)yed. 
 
 On the following Sabbath, at the stated time of meet- 
 ing, a greater nilliiber of hearers assenjbled than ovoi' 
 before. But that was not all : so great attention was 
 paid to the speaker, there was miicIi a drinking in of the 
 word spoken — this reacting on the mind and manner of 
 the speaker — that a sympathy was felt, a sense of the 
 Divine power and presence, such as was experienced 
 when, in the days of old, God appeared to be vindicating 
 his own name. Sinners were pricked to the heart, and 
 pleaded earnestly for mercy. One remarkable feature 
 in this scefte was, that Tom Wilson and Sam Barker, 
 with faces radiant with smiles, were actively and 
 earnestly employed in going from penitent to penitent, 
 endeavoring, in their simple way, to direct them to 
 Jesus. 
 
 What a striking and delightful contrast this scene 
 presented, to that of the day on which the bee was called 
 to erect the log-cabin I But such is the change the gos- 
 pel invariably produces, when it has free course and is 
 glorified ; when it is divested of the clumsy and cum- 
 bering machinery — the contrivances of short-sighted 
 man. This appeared to be the beginning of good days, 
 but oh I how often are our brightest prospects and 
 sweetest hopes blighted — ending in disappointment ! 
 
 Captain Walters had for some time exhibited indica- 
 tions of failing health, which, sensible as he was of his 
 jihysical condition, he endeavored to screen, if possible, 
 from the observation of his wife. But her eye, with 
 delicate scrutiny, penetrated the secret ; yet she hid her 
 fears from her husband, and only exhibited her anxiety 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 183 
 
 by increased tenderness, and attention to all his wants 
 and wishes. Tiioiigh she ever approached him with 
 loving words and winning smiles, many were the tears 
 she shed in secret on his accf)unt. 
 
 The Captain, notwithstanding his feeble health, con- 
 tinn<'<l in iahors more abunrhint. His frame house and 
 out-buiidi/jgs were urged rapidly to completion, as he 
 wislied tf> occupy i\ii;in before the severe weather of 
 winter set in. llu liad also a number of man at work 
 felling trees on his land. As it would be too late to 
 burn the logs that season, green as tiiey were, he was 
 advised to have them slashed that fall and thioiigh the 
 winter. Tlie Captain, at a loss to know what was meant 
 by slashing^ was informed that it was merely to cut down 
 the trees, and let them lie just where they fell : not to 
 lose time in lopping off the boughs or cutting up the 
 trunks into log-lengths, but to allow them time to dry 
 as they lay : then, early in the spring, to cut them up, 
 and form them into winrows, so that he might take ad- 
 vantage of the first spell of fine, dry weather, to burn 
 them off. 
 
 But what appeared to exert an influence the most 
 absorbing on the minds of Captain Walters and his wife 
 was the spiritual well-being of their neighbors ; and if 
 ever laborers in their Lord's vineyard had cause to ac- 
 knowledge the hand of God in their work. Captain and 
 Mrs. Walters undoubtedly had. They felt the tremen- 
 dous importance of their high mission. In his view the 
 sacred desk was not designed to be an arena in which 
 to exhibit any of the clap-traps of the mere orator, for 
 the purpose of creating a sensation. Nor was the Cap- 
 tain like the pseudo-divine, who fritters away his pre* 
 
184 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 cious moments in the discussion of some comparatively 
 frivolous point of school-divinity. No I Well read, 
 and thoroughly versed in the divine word, he made that 
 the man of his counsel, and the armory out of which to 
 select his most potent weapons. The burning, fiery, 
 flashing missiles that he threw amongst his hearers were 
 the weighty truths of revelation. Salvation, through 
 the all-atoning blood and sacrifice of Christ, was the 
 theme on which he delighted to dwell, and of which he 
 never tired. True it was, he had not been licensed, nor 
 had he received his commission from man, or been or- 
 dained by those high in clerical office. It was the 
 finger of God that had written the divine law upon his 
 heart, and the inspiration of His Holy Spirit that had 
 opened up before his willing and inquiring mind the 
 precious truths of revelation ; and thus inspired and 
 equipped, many were the wounded, and the slain, and 
 the healed, through his instrumentality, in his short but 
 eventful Christian warfare. He had balm as well as 
 bane for the human heart. Yes 1 having startled the 
 sinner's soul with the thunders of Sinai, he led his 
 stricken, smitten, and bleeding heart penitent to Mount 
 Zion. 
 
 
n 
 
 
 woman's endtjrancf. 
 
 185 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 On a very bright day in the month of Novornbcr, 
 during that period known in Nortli Amoiica as Indian 
 Hummer — when a general lull, a eerone quiet, pervades 
 all nature, with scarcely (>noug-h breeze to stir the tini- 
 est twig — when the feathered tenants of the grove have 
 niin^rated to softer climes and sunnier skies — a strauirer 
 approached the new habitation of Captain Walters. 
 The Captain was at that moment in the front of iiis new 
 dwelling, giving some directions regarding a picket- 
 fence which two men were employed in erecting. On 
 the approach of the stranger, the quick eye of tlie Cap- 
 tain could discern at once that he was well-bred, and 
 he soon found him to be a highly educated gentleman — 
 a very rare sight in. that place. His dress, his manners, 
 his words of introduction, and indeed his very spirit, as 
 it beamed through his noble countenance, all spoke un- 
 mistakably in his favor. The ease of the gentleman 
 was exhibited in the simple movement of the hand, as it 
 was put forth to meet the free and hearty salutation of 
 the Captain. It required but a short time for two intel- 
 ligent and well-instructed men to flow, as it were, into 
 each other's good graces. But tiiis was especially so, 
 under the circumstances, with Captain Walters, who of 
 late had been completely cut ofiF from intercourse with 
 
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186 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 superior minds, cxceptijig his own wife. In this rospccrt 
 he had been like a cliained eagle, or a giant among 
 dwarfs. The cramped and tiny minds of those by whom 
 he was surrounded, and with whom he must hold much 
 intercourse, were clouded l)y vague and vulgar preju- 
 dices, and all their action prompted and urged on by the 
 low incentives of selfishness. It is true, a great and 
 salutary change had been efiected in the moral aspect 
 •f things, that grace had in a good degree subdued their 
 passions and even new-moulded their hearts ; but it was 
 not within its province to inform and expand their intel- 
 lect. And so the Captain, while he rejoiced in the evi- 
 dences of grace around him, felt deeply the need of asso- 
 ciation with some congenial ii.tellect. It was now his 
 great good fortune to meet with a friend such as he had 
 been wishing for ; and it was equally gratifying to the 
 stranger that Providence had directed his steps to the 
 dwolling of this estimable couple. 
 
 We have already partially indicated the general ap- 
 pearance of the stranger. Tall and stoutly formed, he 
 evidently possessed great strenirth. His hair was long, 
 straight, and black ; his eye black and piercing, and 
 restless at times ; his forehead high an'' broad, with the 
 remainder of the head well balanced ; the color of iiis 
 face approaching a brown, yet with mixture of a whiter 
 cast. In fact, it might have been seen from the general 
 cast of his features, as well as from his personal ap{)ear- 
 ance, that he was of Indian descent, and one of nature's 
 noblemen. Without further noticing his personal ap- 
 pearance in this connection, we would state that his 
 father was an Indian chief, and one of the most remark- 
 able men of his day and nation — noted at once for his 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 187 
 
 
 bravery in war, and wise counsel in peace. His niotlur 
 was Frcncli, and liad been the wife of a French ofiicer 
 who was wounded in the wars with the Indians, and in 
 that state was captured by them, together with his 
 young and beautiful wife, who evinced her love by her 
 determination not to leave her husband under such ver^'' 
 trying circumstances. During the confinement of the 
 young French oflBcer by his wounds, the chief of the 
 tribe of Indians exhibited more than ordinary humanity 
 .and intelligence, and was at once assiduous in his atten- 
 tions and gentle in his spirit towards the captive officer 
 and his amiable spouse. But notwithstanding the sooth- 
 ing presence of a loving wife, and all the remedies that 
 the Indian chief could apply, his wounds at length 
 proved fatal, and dying, he left his wife to the tender 
 mercies of the red-man. But the red-man's breost, as 
 well as that of a whiter skin, may be swayed by gen- 
 tle emotions. He had compassion ; he soothed the sor- 
 rows of his fair captive ; he gained her confidence by 
 his delicate guardianship of her honor ; and feeling safe 
 in his keeping, she confided in his plighted vows. After 
 this, the step was short but sure, for they loved ; and 
 when two hearts are thus closely knit, seeming incon- 
 gruities are lost sight of, for the union of hands follows 
 where the heart leads the way. In the course of time, 
 the result of this union was the birth of a boy. It might 
 have been expected that this boy would possess and ex- 
 hibit seme of the general traits of character of each of 
 his parents : and indeed it was so ; for the vigor of the 
 father's mind and person was strongly marked in him, 
 and this, united with his mother's vivacity and spright- 
 liness, tended to produce a character of quite an original 
 
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188 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 crtst. Very early in life there were developed that dar- 
 ing courage and strong w*!l, together with personal dex- 
 terity, that soon placed him at the head and far in the 
 front in all the athletic sports of Indian pastime and 
 practice. He would lead the way in the hazardous en- 
 terprise, and carry away the palm of victory from older 
 and stronger boys than himself. He was, though so 
 young, always alert in the hunt of the wild beast of the 
 forest, and the celerity of his movements ever placed 
 him first in the chase. Indeed, it appeared that he pos- 
 sessed all the germs of greatness," that required only a 
 C(Higenial soil and fostering influences to mature. And 
 then the kindlier feelings and emotions of the heart had 
 no small share in softening the rougher and wilder in- 
 stincts of his nature ; so that, to see him under the 
 influence of the extremes of his nature — of his dark and 
 turbulent passions on the one hand, and of his better 
 feelings and sentiments on the other — one could scarcely 
 be persuaded that he was one and the same person. 
 But there was a trait in his character that gave value 
 and force to all the rest — he was at once attentive and 
 obedient to his mother, and she exercised unbounded in- 
 fluence over him for good. 
 
 Very early in life, this boy gave marked evidence of 
 sterling mental talent, and his mother being a woman of 
 cultivated mind and high attainments, was fully capable 
 of nurturing and directing the aspirations of the eager 
 youth. When she had exhausted all her own intellec- 
 tual resources, her boy was sent, through the influence 
 of a Catholic priest, to the Montreal College, where he 
 won laurels, and established a name. And his fame as 
 a scholar, and a youth of remarkable shrewdness and 
 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 180 
 
 great prudence, being at the same time intimately ac- 
 quainted with the French, English, and Indian lan- 
 guages, clearly pointed him out as an eligible and fit 
 persop to act as agent of the English Government to 
 the various tribes of Indians then scattered through Up- 
 per Canada. So, without any solicitations on his own 
 part, at the close of his college studies he was selected 
 by the representatives of the British Government, and 
 endowed with full powers as chief agent and superin- 
 tendent of all the Indian tribes in Upper Canada. The 
 office itself brought him into frequent and close inter- 
 course with the officers of the government, which had 
 the tendency, together with the polish of the French 
 manners and spirit, that he had drunk in, as it were, 
 with his mother's milk, to give a high degree of refine- 
 ment to his general deportment. 
 
 The native goodness of his own heart had induced 
 him to introduce many ameliorations into his charge, so 
 that he had become quite a popular favorite wherever 
 his name and work had become known. And although 
 we have introduced him as a stranger personally to Cap- 
 tain Walters, yet his fame had already reached there 
 before himself, and he had only to mention his name to 
 render the introduction complete. He, too, had no need 
 to be informed about Captain Walters and his amiable 
 and very excellent wife, for he had already heard pleas- 
 ing representations of their present doings, as well as of 
 their antecedents while residing in Montreal ; and it was 
 owing to the high notions he had formed of their charac- 
 ter that he had thus sought this interview with them : 
 and be ever after congratulated himscilf that he had 
 been so highly favored in forming such a friendship. 
 
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 Ti T T, L T A X ; OR, 
 
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 We would say, that the Indian name of this young 
 man's father was indicative of the character that he 
 bore in his own tribe as a stanch and unflinching war- 
 rior, and signified, " The rock that breasts the storm." 
 His mother's name was Le Clair, and that was the name 
 given to her son, and by which he was known. And, 
 as Mr. Le Clair resided at quite a distance from the 
 home of Captain Walters, and being on this day of his 
 introduction on a mission of some importance, he h^d 
 but a short time to spend with them, beyond partaking 
 with them of a very excellently cooked dinner : after 
 which he took his leave, with many and pressing invita- 
 tions to renew his visit, and prolong his stay ; which 
 was responded to with strong assurances as to the high 
 degree of pleasure with which he should avail h mself 
 of the privilege. 
 
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woman's endurance. 
 
 191 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 On the day after the visit of Mr. Le Clair, there were 
 two visitors who in character and personal appearance 
 were the very opposites of that gentleman. These were 
 a decrepid and aged female, accompanied by a no less 
 infirm old man, with clothes much the worse for wear. 
 They slowly approached the house, scrutinizing the sur- , 
 roundings — the female closely enveloped in a black 
 cloak, and peering from a large hood. They made their 
 way to the door of the new dwelling, and requested a 
 drink of water. Mrs. Walters invited them in, and 
 handed each of them a chair. Regardless of pressing 
 solicitations, the female would not divest herself of her 
 hood and cloak. She was keenly observant of every 
 movement made by the members of the family, and scru- 
 tinized every part of the room, and every object it con- 
 tained. A short time after these strangers had been 
 seated Captain Walters entered the room, and at once 
 attracted the intense gaze of the stranger. She kept 
 her black and piercing eyes so steadily upon him — as 
 if reading him through and through — that the Captain 
 felt really uncomfortable. Soon after, hastily rising 
 from their seats, the strangers abruptly left the house, 
 rejecting pressing invitations to partake of refresh- 
 ments ; and it made their conduct the more strange, that 
 dinner was already on the table. Many were the sur- 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 mises as to who they were, whence they were, and what 
 could have prompted them to act so strangely. Another 
 thing made a deep impression on the minds of the Cap- 
 tain and his wife — that although the two mysterious 
 beings, on their arrival, seemed so decrepid that they 
 could scarcely walk, yet, when they left, they skipped 
 along as nimbly as if running for a wager. The mys- 
 tery was still further increased, when, as Mrs. Brown 
 was cleaning up the room after dinner, and adjusting 
 the cushion of the chair on which the strange female 
 had sat, there fell from under the cushion a letter, which, 
 on taking it up, she found was addressed, " Mrs. Eliza 
 Walters," to whom she straightway took it. The mo- 
 ment Mrs, Walters looked upon the letter she became 
 enervated, her color came and went, her lips moved in- 
 voluntarily, yet had lost the power of utterance ; her 
 whole frame, indeed, was in a violent tremor, and she 
 had almost lost the power of self-support. 
 
 At this moment the Captain entered the room, and 
 seeing her in so alarming a condition, he sprang to her 
 side, but such was the perturbed state of his own mind, 
 that he was quite unable to articulate an inquiry as to 
 the cause of what he witnessed. Mrs. Brown was no 
 less confused : all that she could do, when she had ral- 
 lied a little, was to point to the lot I or that' lay on the 
 floor. The sight of the letter increased the perplexity 
 of the Captain, for it brought vividly to his mind, as it 
 had already to that of his wife, former incidents of the 
 same kind. 
 
 This state of things — all this agitation and confusion 
 — was not simply the result of the presentation of the 
 letter by Mrs. Brown. On the contrary, it was the sud- 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 193 
 
 den flash of memories and convictions through the brain, 
 and instantly associating these with the mysterious fe- 
 male and the letter, that produced all this mental per- 
 turbation. Mrs. Brown rightly judged, when she con- 
 cluded that to bring the mind of each to its wonted 
 tone the surest restorative would be a short and quiet 
 repose. So, laying Mrs. Walters gently on the couch, 
 she left her and the Captain in silence, that their agi- 
 tated minds and perturbed feelings might spend their 
 force, and subside of themselves. 
 
 After Mrs. Brown had left her patients, and again 
 wont about her work of clearing up and setting things 
 to rights, the little daughter of Mrs. Jones came to her 
 and said — 
 
 " Mrs. Brown, that was not a; old woman that had 
 that big cloak on." 
 
 " Oh," said Mrs. Brown, " go away, what do you know 
 about it ?" 
 
 *' Why," said the little girl, " I do know ; 'cause I 
 could see, for I stood close beside her, and I was look- 
 ing right in her face, and I'm sure that sne wasn't an 
 old woman, but a very nice young woman ; and when 
 she seen me looking at her, she jumped up and went 
 right away." 
 
 This simple and straight forward tale of the little girl 
 set Mrs. Brown musing, and guessing, and wondering ; 
 and when the first chance offered, she related her state- 
 ment to the two most interested parties. It tended not 
 in the least, however, to dissipate the darkness by which 
 they were surrounded. 
 
 After Mrs. Walters had somewhat recovered her com- 
 posure of mind, she said — 
 
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194 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 " My dear Robert, am I always to be made the sport 
 of these very singular and mysterious doings ? Is there 
 not in the world a spot to be found suflBcieutly retired to 
 hide us from the intrusion of that horrid black phantom ?" 
 
 " Why, my dear Eliza," said her husband, *' I can as- 
 sure you that I am as much at a loss to answer that 
 question as you are. But I, however, feel disposed, if I 
 could only see the way, to use every means within my 
 power to unravel the enigma. I am completely at a loss 
 to account for the motive that can induce these erratic 
 beings thus to follow and act towards us in the way 
 they do. Let me look at the letter, and see if that will 
 aflford us any clue, or throw any light on the subject ?" 
 
 The Captain took the letter, and saw that, as all the 
 others had been, it was directed in a remarkable neat 
 and beautiful female hand. Breaking the seal, he found 
 that its contents were the counterpart of the previous 
 ones. The same aphorism, a quotation from the Ninety- 
 seventh Psalm, " The Lord reigneth, let the earth re- 
 joice ;" and a quotation from the Gospel of St. John, 
 " What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know 
 hereafter f and, as before, a Bank of England five hun- 
 dred pound sterling note. Having read and re-read the 
 letter, the Captain sat musing in silence for some mo- 
 ments, and then handed the note and the letter to his 
 wife, who received them as if in a state of listless stupor. 
 
 At this stage of things, Mrs. Brown came into the 
 room, and reiterating what Mrs. Jones's little girl had 
 said, about the age of the strange woman as she called 
 her, she said she felt inclined to believe her, for she was 
 always a pvying little thing ; and then she was sure 
 the little puss told the truth — she would sooner trust to 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 195 
 
 
 her woni than many a grown-up person's. This, without 
 removing* any diflSculties, or solving any of the perplexi- 
 ties by which they were surrounded, gave a new turn 
 to their thoughts. At length, Mrs. Walters said with a 
 kind of half-musing, vacant look — 
 
 " Is it possible I Not an old woman ? Will my past 
 life furnish any clue that will lead my mind to fix on 
 any person whom I could suppose capable of acting in 
 so erratic a way as this — tantalizing me with these dark 
 and hidden doings, and sucii vague promises of future 
 developments — first wounding my very heart, and then 
 applying the salve of her lavish wealth?" On uttering 
 these words — holding up the sterling bank-note, looking 
 at it herself, and calling the attention of her husband to 
 it — with a sorrowful look, and a mournful expression, 
 she said — 
 
 " I have no recollection of any mother or father, any 
 sister or brother — who am I, what am I, where am I 
 from '/" 
 
 These words were expressed with so much feeling, 
 yea, with such agony, that they seemed as though 
 wrung from her inmost soul. Her husband throwing 
 his arms around her, exclaimed — 
 
 " My own dear Eliza, you are the wife of Robert Wal- 
 ters, is not that enough, and better than father or mo- 
 ther, or sister or brother ?" 
 
 " Oh !" said she, " was it not sufficient for me to bear 
 my lot alone, instead of linking the destiny of another 
 to my sorrows ? Better had he sought the hand of some 
 rustic maid, who had been nurtured in a domestic circle 
 that was blest with the sweet memories of a father's and 
 a mother's love ; but my being is a blank, with no ves- 
 
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196 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 tiges of the early loves of kindred to relate to my huH- 
 band 1" 
 
 " Oh, my own dear Eliza I" said her husband, " if yoii 
 have no loved relatives to praise, you have none to 
 blame ; and if you have none to cherish and bless you, 
 you have none to discard and malign you. But, my own 
 dear love, there is one heart that feels for you, and there 
 is one bosom on which you may recline with perfect 
 f'-eedom, and with entire safety, and which you may 
 make the depositary of the inmost thoughts of your 
 soul. Tiiere is one who is fully able to appreciate your 
 worth, and who sympathizes with you in all your sor- 
 rows — you have a husband." 
 
 At the utterance of these expressions by her husband, 
 her whole frame shook, and with an utterance, hsilf-aloud, 
 half-choked with grief, she questioned with herself — 
 
 " Yes ; but how long shall I have him ? Oh I the 
 future, still darker than the past !" 
 
 Catching the import of these words, and noticing the 
 manner in which they were spoken, her husband was 
 confounded ; for they revealed to his mind that she had 
 penetrated what he deemed a secret buried within his 
 own breast. To meet this new development he had no 
 soothing balm to offer — no word or sentiment that would 
 reach the case. With an almost involuntary motion he 
 fell on his knees, and drawing his wife gently down to 
 the same position, at that fountain of hope and consola- 
 tion always accessible to the sorrowing and the suffer- 
 ing, they mutely and unitedly breathed forth the aspi- 
 rations of their sadly smitten hearts. 
 
 
WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 197 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 
 ! 
 
 As there appears to be considerable importance at- 
 tached to the doings of the two strange beings who 
 have caused such consternation in the new residence of 
 Captain Walters, we will just follow them, and if possi- 
 ble overtake those fleet horses, as they are moving east- 
 ward, in the direction of the town, or rather the village 
 of Kingston. But surely they are not the same persons. 
 Instead of a black cloak and large hood^ the lady has a 
 neat travelling-dress, with a plain but handsome bon- 
 net : the man, a suit of livery, as being the servant of 
 some titled and wealthy family. 
 
 They arrived at a small tavern by the roadside, where 
 they intend to remain for the night, and where it ap- 
 peared they had remained the night previous, with the 
 understanding that they were to return and spend this 
 night also. Of course, suitable preparations had been 
 made for their reception, as they appeared to be above 
 the common grade of travellers in that section of coun- 
 try. After partaking of a supper that would have done 
 no discredit to a hotel of more pretentious appearance, 
 the servant-man was summoned into the presence of the 
 lady, who was seated in the best room of the house, 
 though of rather circumscribed dimensions. When the 
 man entered, the lady interrogated him — 
 
 " Well, Thomas, what do you think of the new home 
 of Captain Walters ?" . 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 " Vi hy, my lady," said the man, " I was thinking what 
 would tlie neighbors consider about such a grand h()us(i 
 as that in the bush. I should think that they would 
 conclude it was something above their log-shanties." 
 
 " Yes," said the lady, " but you know that Captain 
 Walters is a man of correct taste and large views, and 
 that nothing less would satisfy him." 
 
 " Yes, and Mrs. Walters, too," said the man, " In that 
 respect, as well as in many others, they seem as though 
 their minds had been cast in the same mould. And then 
 if the house presents such a f .»: appearance now, what 
 will it be when it is all finished ? But, I am afraid Cap- 
 tain Walters is not going to enjoy it long, even if he 
 lives to see it finished, if I may judge from his looks." 
 
 " Ah 1 did you notice that, Thomas ?" said the lady. 
 "I can assure you I was so greatly shocked when I 
 saw him, that I could not take my eyes o£F him ; and I 
 have no doubt he observed my viewing him so intently. 
 Thrown off my guard by that pretty, intelligent-looking 
 little girl who so steadily gazed into my face, and 
 almost so far forgetting myself as to take her in my lap 
 and give her a kiss, and becoming alarmed lest Captain 
 Walters and his wife should notice the way in which I 
 acted, I jumped up and left." 
 
 " Well, my lady," said the man, " you took me by sur- 
 prise ;.and I was still more astonished to see that you 
 had forgotten your lameness. Compelled to follow your 
 example, my crutch was of no use, any furtlier than to 
 enable me to keep up with you. I have no doubt they 
 consider us two most remarkable beings, judging from 
 our droll appearance and strange conduct." 
 
 " Well, I suppose they do, Thomas," said the lady j 
 
' 
 
 (in 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 199 
 
 " and it may be a long time before they will have any 
 explanation from me, for Providence sometimes moves 
 slow ; but I am not doubtful of the result. Although 
 the present state of things may appear dark and mys- 
 terious to them, yet eventually the truth and justice of 
 God shall shine forth as the light." 
 
 "But, my lady," said the man, "what if the Captain 
 and Mrs. Walters should be both dead and in their 
 graves, before these great results that you look for are 
 realized — what good will it do them ?" 
 
 " Well, Thomas," said she, " if there were no hereafter, 
 iliey alone might be the sufferers, and without the least 
 chance of enjoying any compensation ; but the clearest 
 and brightest display of results is reserved for a more 
 iiUing place, and a more appropriate season, and where 
 the innocent and the guilty will be far more capable of 
 appreciating the blessings they enjcy, or the evils they 
 endure." 
 
 '* W^ell, my lady," said the man, " not knowing the 
 object you have in view, of course I am not able to give 
 an opinion as to the propriety of your present proceed- 
 ings ; but I am satisfied in my own mind of your pru- 
 dence and the soundness of your judgment. From this 
 persuasion, I have no doubt that if I could see things in 
 all their bearings as I suppose you see them, I should 
 act just as you do." • 
 
 " Thomas, the views and feelings you have expressed 
 are right," said the lady ; " for, from your knowledge of 
 me you conclude that I act from just principles, although 
 you are not able to look through my present actions 
 to the far-off results that I contemplate. The proceed- 
 ings of Providence are frequently dark and mysterious, 
 
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 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 and often involve the innocent and the virtuous in laby- 
 rinths of sorrow and distress, from which the sufferer 
 can see no possible way of extricating himself. In 
 such cases, would it not be wise to say, with hum- 
 ble resignation to the stern necessities of the moment, 
 * It is the Lord, let Him do as seemeth wise or good 
 in His sight?' and then to ask for patience to for- 
 tify the soul, that it may, without a murmur, wait the 
 full developments that Heaven contemplates. Thus, 
 whether Captain or Mrs. Walters, or you, or even I my- 
 self, live or die, and though hand join in hand against 
 it, the will of God will and must be vindicated, though 
 it were necessary that He should use the entire universe 
 as agents to accomplish His purposes. In fact, Thomas, 
 the state and circumstances of man in this world are ill- 
 adapted for the full apportionment of rewards to virtue 
 or punishment to vice. We see men, pure and holy 
 though they be, become the victims and the sport of bad 
 men, who plague, distress, and torment them, throughout 
 the whole course of their earthly existence. These, 
 without a higher state, could have no compensation for 
 their sufferings. Reason, and all the better impulses 
 of our nature, revolt at such an idea. It is in strict 
 accordance with the highest and purest aspirations of 
 the best and noblest minds, that there will be a loftier 
 and wider sphere, where the now latent powers, and the 
 clipped wings of man's higher nature, will be brought 
 out and let loose amidst a boundless range of untold 
 delights. And then, earthly courts cannot apportion 
 punishment to crime. A man, if guilty of taking the life 
 of one of his fellow-men, may pay the forfeit of his life 
 for the crime : he can lose no more from earthly justice 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 201 
 
 if he takes the lives of a hundred. But it may be ex- 
 pected to be far otherwise in the punishments inflicted 
 by infinite justice, at the bar of God, where duration 
 can be added to intensity of suifering. It may appear 
 strange to us, that there are men who would try to per- 
 suade us that there is a universe without law, or a law 
 without penalty. 
 
 " But now, Thomas, I wish to start early in the morn- 
 ing on our journey homeward, and of course you will 
 strictly observe your usual silence and secrecy as to 
 where we have been, or any of our doings — so, good- 
 night." 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A FEW days after the appearance of the strange man 
 and woman at the residence of Captain Walters, Mr. 
 Le Clair again gave them a call, on returning from his 
 mission to a tribe of Indians located near the shore of 
 Rice Lake. It might have been supposed, from the very 
 familiar way in which he introduced himself, and the 
 equally hearty reception that was given to him, by both 
 Captain and Mrs, Walters, that they had been friends of 
 long standing. Th3 address of both was easy and cor- 
 dial, without the most distant approach to formality. 
 Whether they sat enjoying themselves in a colloquial 
 way in the house ; or without, in surveying the great im- 
 provements by which the Captain had in so short a time 
 made such a transformation in his surroundings ; or 
 ascended the little eminence close by, which afforded a 
 view of a wide expanse of Lake Ontario ; or contem- 
 plated the dark woods in the rear of their house — either 
 of these themes was sufficient to put in requisition those 
 fine conversational powers with which they were blessed. 
 And then they mutually took great pleasure in survey- 
 ing the beauties of nature ; and few localities could 
 have been selected where such an assemblage of beau- 
 ties were to be seen. 
 
 So very pleasant and agreeable was the companion- 
 ship of these choice spirits, that they made the most 
 
 
 llv^B^^ 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 203 
 
 of the high intellectual treat thus afforded them. As it 
 was now Saturday afternoon, but little persuasion was 
 found necessary to induce Mr. Le Clair to prolong his 
 stay until Monday morning. After the toils of the week, 
 the preparations for their evening's devotions were at- 
 tended to with a proper and becoming spirit. The Sat- 
 urday night's gathering of the domestic circle was usu 
 allv one of peculiar interest and enjoyment, and, accord- 
 ing to their designation, emphatically the preparation of 
 the Sabbath. This was an entirely new thing to Mr. 
 Le Clair, and it might have been supposed, judging from 
 his strict Catholic education, and, indeed, from all his 
 previous life and associations, that there would be a little 
 reluctance evinced on his part to joining such exercises. 
 But, as there was no alternative, without a violation of 
 good manners, he acquiesced rather than concurred,— 
 keeping his attention fully directed, however, to every 
 thing done, and the utterance of every sentiment. The 
 Captain was a little nervous, feeling that his Christianity 
 was on trial, not only before a keen judge, but a death- 
 less spirit, that might hear on that night for either weal 
 or woe. And his heart was all aglow — not with any 
 exhibition of rant or wildfire, but with a spirit of devo- 
 tion, kindled up by flashes of fire, as it were from the 
 very altar of God. And soon this was felt by, and even 
 actuated every spiritual worshipper there, for there was 
 freedom of spirit and softening of hearts. It might 
 have been seen that there was already a strong conflict 
 going on within Mr. Le Clair — between his heart, his in- 
 tellect, and his strong will ; which, though he restrained 
 himself, and observed rather an awkward silence, was 
 evinced more plainly by his manner than it could have 
 
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 204 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
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 been by words. The services of the evening closed, 
 and each one retired to rest, without eliciting from Mr. 
 Le Clair a syllable as to the estimate he had formed of 
 this to him novel proceeding. He found, however, on 
 his retirement to the silence of his own room, and when 
 left to his own undisturbed reflections, that the impres- 
 sions on his mind were deep, but at the same time quite 
 undefinable. Entirely new developments of his inner 
 nature seemed opened up to his view, of the existence 
 of which until now he had been utterly unconscious. 
 He now saw and felt that he occupied an entirely new 
 position — to himself, to his God, and to the world : that 
 the whole of his life had been little better than that of 
 a visionary dreamer. His heart was troubled with con- 
 victions of his responsibilities, and his soul smitten with 
 cfv^erwhelming thoughts of its utter barrenness of the 
 appropriate fruits now demanded, and dread of the con- 
 sequences, if the enactments of the divine law against 
 the transgressor should be put in execution. These dis- 
 tracting and bewildering thoughts drove sleep from his 
 eyes, peace from his mind, and rest from his body. Thus 
 he passed the night in a state of great disquietude, for 
 which neither his former views of religion nor the 
 maxims of his philosophy, furnished a remedy. It was 
 the conflict of a strong mind grappling with mighty 
 truths. But, the combatants were unequal, for his heart 
 eventually succumbed to the superior power, and he 
 fell as one slain by the Spirit of God. 
 
 The next day, the Sabbath, dawned clear and . bright, 
 though there had been some heavy gusts of wind and 
 a shower of rain during the night. And in keeping with 
 this outward appearance of things, the dwellers in that 
 
 
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 woman's endurance. 
 
 205 
 
 habitation still retained the spiritual forvoi acquired on 
 the previous evening. This was evinced At very early 
 dawn, by the songs chanted by the melodious voices of 
 the women, while employed in their domestic avoca- 
 tions ; and the men at their necessary labor of feeding 
 and attending to the horses and cattle, made the neigh- 
 boring woods ring while singing the praises of their 
 God and Father. 
 
 When the mind and body are in possession of ordi- 
 nary health and vigor, even the preacher of the gospel 
 may go through the labors of his sacred oflSce on the 
 Sabbath in a kind of cold, professional, routine way ; 
 but when health is failing, and death, looming up in the 
 distance, is approaching with certain and rapid strides, 
 it gives earnestness of manner and unwonted pathos to 
 the prearber in the enunciation of truth. This was 
 especially the case with Captain Walters on this highly 
 interesting and memorable Sabbath. Indeed there was 
 a combination of circumstances and influences that 
 tended to increase and intensify this feeling, and give 
 his mind unusual fervor. His was at all times an active 
 mind ; but on this day it might have been seen, to use 
 an apt figure, that " the sword was far too keen for the 
 scabbard." 
 
 The Captain had been impressed with feelings of 
 sanctified delight, within the past few days, on observing 
 the power of divine truth over the hearts of some of the 
 rough, uncultivated beings who have already passed 
 before us. And now he gathd'ed from the unmistakable 
 manner of Mr. Le Clair that deep impressions had been 
 made on his mind, although he had not, by the utter- 
 ance of a word, alluded to the subject. But it was evi- 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 dent that ho was nursing his grief, and that the barbed 
 arrows of the Almighty were rankling in his heart. 
 The Captain had been so blessed on the night before, 
 and had received such clear evidence of the Divine favor, 
 that now, on this beautiful Sabbath morning, his assur- 
 ance of the smiles of God was without a cloud to disturb 
 his serenity. Thus prepared, with his work before him, 
 and his armor all bright and ready for the contest, diflS- 
 culties vanished before him like the mist receding before 
 the piercing rays of the sun. He was serious without 
 being morose, and cheerful without being frivolous ; for 
 there was Christian joy in his heart which smoothed his 
 spirit, illuminated his countenance, and dictated all his 
 words. How fully he exemplified, on that morning, the 
 spirit and disposition of his divine Master ! And again, 
 whon the hour of their morning family devotion arrived, 
 they had still further evidence that the resources of 
 divine love had not been exhausted by the abundant 
 blessings they had received on the previous evening ; 
 and this was felt by each in the speechless awe fhat 
 pervaded every mind present. 
 
 When the time of public service arrived, the large 
 room that had been fitted up for the purpose was now 
 filled by an orderly company of men, women, and chil- 
 dren, — so thorough had been the reformation of manners 
 through the neighborhood, the gospel having brought 
 within its benign influence almost every member of 
 every household. Here it was made evident that the 
 gospel has a moral moulding force, far surpassing in its 
 prompt and direct action the best-devised educational 
 system, and the ni(jst stringently enforced police lav/^s. 
 
 A good part of the company now before us were under 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 207 
 
 M, 
 
 the influence of their first love, for they listened to the 
 word spoken wi i such fixedness of attention that every 
 word seemed to tell, as it met with a hearty response, — 
 though this was evidenced rather by manner than by 
 words. Even the hardest sinner there gave clear evi- 
 dence that his heart was not altogether without suscep- 
 tibility — some little spot where the good seed might 
 germinate, however much he struggled to smother his 
 convictions, and thus involve himself in a more serious 
 responsibility by quenching the Spirit. 
 
 At the close of this day, on which the arm of the God 
 of Israel had been so signally made bare, and quite a 
 number brought within the consecrated circle of divine 
 influence, all acknowledged that it had been as one of 
 the days of the Son of Man with power 
 
 But not the least interesting case was that of Mr. Le 
 Clair, who had come merely as a casual visitor, had par- 
 taken of the hospitalities of Captain Walters and his 
 wife, and, with more than ordinary relish, enjoyed some 
 hours of social intercourse. But all this was as naught 
 to the discoveries that had now been unfolded before his , 
 awakened conscience, and those whelming influences 
 which had swept before them as cobwebs his long- 
 cherished opinions, and even broken up the deep caverns 
 of his heart, and probed all the profounder recesses of 
 his soul, so that things long buried there and forgotten 
 were thrown up to the surface, and there exposed before 
 him in all their sad and hideous deformity ; while, to 
 give a still deeper shade to this dark picture, the con- 
 trast was presented to his startled soul of the enact- 
 ments of the divine law of God, that requires truth and 
 purity in the heart, and strict righteousness in the whole 
 
 rB-'i 
 
 
208 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 conduct. In this state of utter consternation, looking 
 around him for some support, some refuge, some conso- 
 lation, and finding none, he cried out in the bitterness of 
 his spirit, " Oh 1 wretched man that I am, who shall de- 
 liver me from this body of sin and death ?" 
 
 It was well for him that there were not those present 
 who would have imposed on him the performance of 
 some penance, the endurance of some severe bodily 
 pain, as a remedy for his spiritual diseases and mental 
 afflictions. But happy indeed was it for him that there 
 were those there who were able and willing to point 
 him to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the 
 world, whom, by simple faith in His merits and atoning 
 sacrifice, he would find an all-sufficient Saviour, ready 
 to meet his every requirement. And so it proved ; for, 
 although it was difficult for him fully to comprehend 
 at first the simplicity of saving faith, still, when he got 
 a glimpse of the Redeemer as having fulfilled the de- 
 mands of the divine law by dying in his stead, and saw 
 that through the shedding of His precious blood the sin- 
 ner might go free, he grasped at ths idea as if in despe- 
 ration, and at that instant light broke upon his mind, 
 and divine love filled his sou! — he was indeed a new 
 man. Now he breathed in a higher, purer moral atmos- 
 phere ; new and nobler thoughts struck athwart his 
 brain ; strange emotions swayed his soul ; feelings full 
 and strong welled up from the deep fountains of his 
 heart, and his tongue became eloquent with praise. 
 
 But the labors of this day proved too much for the en- 
 feebled and exhausted frame of Captain Walters. It is 
 true, his joy was full, but his physical strength was not 
 equal to the demands of the spirit. He therefore found 
 
woman's KNTiUUANCE. 
 
 209 
 
 of 
 
 
 ft noroRsary to rctiro oarly to \>o([. But ov(!n wlion 
 tli(3r(!, tlio activity of his inind drove aloop IVoiii Iuh cycH, 
 iiiid li(} piiHsod a woary and restless iiig-ht. And it was 
 not till his mind had attained its ordinary cotnposnre, 
 that rest came to his wearied frame. Thus it is evident 
 that any unusual, long-continued strain upon our spir- 
 itual susceptibilities must be at the expense of our phys- 
 ical force. 
 
 During the prostration of the Captain's physical 
 strength, his wife proved herself indeed a ministering 
 angel. So attentive was she to his least want or faint- 
 est desire, that no mother could have hovered over the 
 priceless object of her affections with more yearning of 
 soul ; and unbounded was her delight when, after a ft.'W 
 days of quiet anr" ^est, accompanied by her own assidu- 
 ous attentions, he appeared to be fully restort;d to his 
 wonted strength, and to give flattering indications of 
 returning permanent health. 
 
 When Monday morning arrived, Mr. Le Clair, having 
 important business on hand which required dispatch, felt 
 it his duty to depart ; but strong ties now bound his 
 heart to the spot where he had so unexpectfedly become 
 possessed of hitherto unknown joys. He appeared to 
 linger in a state of painful suspense ; nor was it without 
 a strong effort that he finally tore himself away from 
 the place, accompanying his farewell with an expression 
 of gratitude, and that he must be permitted often to 
 call and see his spiritual father and mother, and the 
 place of his second birth — a place that must ever be 
 dear to him while memory remained. 
 
 t f 
 
 ■' ''1 '. 
 
 
 1 a\ 
 
 * *■ 
 
 ■t ■- ■; 
 
 
 1 ' ■' 
 
 
 ( :■ / 
 
 \ I- . 5 
 
210 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A FEW weeks after the circumstances occurred as 
 narrated above, an event transpired which we nust 
 state, as it will so clearly' portray the frame of mind of 
 Captain Walters, and the correct moral principles on 
 wliich he acted, and how strongly the love of God and 
 man swayed his heart and regulated his whole conduct. 
 
 In the Concession, where the Captain had fixed his 
 residence, there was a family who had recently arrived 
 from England. The husband and father of this family 
 was apparently above the comipon average of men of 
 his class, in endowments of mind and general intelli- 
 gence ; and he was at once prudent, sober, and highly 
 industrious. But his wife was not at all adapted for a 
 rough-and-tumble strife with the world. With a weak, 
 diminutive body, and a more imbecile mind, she was by 
 no means a meet companion for her husband. And then 
 she was of a remarkably cold temperament, conse- 
 quently heartless and selfish, and unappreciative of any 
 tenderness or kindness shown to her. Her habits, in 
 her domestic relations, were not those that became a 
 wife and a mother. She was inprovident and thriftless, 
 knowing not the value of mojey. She seemed not to 
 feel the importance of instilling the principles of truth 
 and right into the minds of her offspring, and this was a 
 Bource of continual disquietude to her partner. And not 
 
WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 211 
 
 ouly was Rho Diuh deticicMit in nxitital, moral, und pltys- 
 ical qualiticH, wliich had a direct tendency to connUM- 
 act tlie influence of her husband, who was especially di;- 
 sirous to .maintain a standing in society ; but there was 
 a still greater evil superadded, the source of pungent 
 sorrow and heart-consuming grief — she was a confirmed 
 inebriate. She was equally deaf to remonstrance, 
 threats, persuasion, or entreaties. 
 
 Thus; not having the co-operation and support of his 
 wife, this afiQictcd man flagged in his e£forts to rise in 
 the world ; and under the pressure of these untoward 
 influences and circumstances, was fast making his way 
 with gray hairs and sorrow to the grave. But he wished 
 to make an effort, before his death, to place his children, 
 if possible, under a more healthful moral atmosphere, as 
 he had an interesting family of three daughters and one 
 son. At the earnest request of the father, Mrs. Walters 
 had taken the eldest daughter, that she might, as he 
 said, have an opportunity of learning something that 
 would qualify her for filling some useful position in life. 
 Her name was Elizabeth, but she was always called by 
 that of Betsey. She was a girl of some pretensions to 
 beauty, but had inherited from her mother one dangerous 
 weakness — an empty pride, that exhibited itself in in- 
 ordinate fondness of dress and show. This had been 
 tiie cause of great anxiety to her father, and he desired 
 that Mrs. Walters would do her best to restrain this 
 baneful propensity. 
 
 Betsey was remarkable for a lively and active spirit. 
 Her disposition was one of the best, for she neither 
 thought nor said evil of any one ; and never returned 
 evil for evil, however ill or harshly she might have been 
 
 A^-\ 
 
 
 VI* 
 
 k' 
 
212 
 
 LILLIAX; OR, 
 
 E '^ < 
 
 treated by tliem. Her riHginf?, merry iaug-li, and native 
 wit, spread sunshine wherever she was. Hence, she 
 soon became a general favorite with the family, and 
 with all who knew her. It was Betsey here, and Betsey 
 there, and with lig-ht heart and nimble foot did she 
 respond to every call. She would often exclaim : " Dear 
 me, I Avonder what would be done if you had no Betsey 
 to call upon I" She was remarkably clean in her per- 
 son, and particular in her dress ; every pin was attended 
 to, and every string properly tied. Such was the con- 
 fidence placed in her fidelity, that distrust or doubt was 
 never thought of in connection with Betsey. In this 
 way, the domestic affairs of the house went on smoothly 
 and regularly, without jar or discord. But, in the course 
 of time, a little trinket or two were missing from tlie 
 place of safe-keeping, where they had been put by Mrs. 
 Walters. Then another, and still another disappeared. 
 This caused much talk and no little flutter among the 
 members of the household. Mrs. Walters had often 
 spoken of the thing to the Captain, and received from 
 him a strict injunction to say as little about it in the 
 house as possible, but to leave the management of tlie 
 whole thing in his hands. 
 
 The Captain was, from first to last, perfectly silent on 
 the subject, but always on the alert. He tliou^lit that 
 he saw a great change in the spirit and manner of Bet- 
 sey ; for instead of being livel}' and merry, she had 
 become mopish and taciturn. She was pettish in her 
 conduct and pert in her words to all around her. From 
 being prim and neat in her dress, she had become care- 
 less and slatternly ; and her fine head of dark-brown 
 hair, that had always been tastefully done up, was now 
 

 woman's endurance. 
 
 213 
 
 left loose and tangled. And then there was an evident 
 sign of guilt in her countenance ; for she could no longer, 
 as had been her wont, look with the steady and fearless 
 gaze of innocence in the face of one with whom she was 
 talking. All this had not escaped the scrutinizing eye 
 of the Captain, who judged, and judged rightly, that 
 there must be a cause for all this change in Betsey. 
 But still, he was at a loss as to the best mode of pro- 
 cedure under the circumstances ; knowing well, that if 
 questioned about the missing articles, she would d(.'iiy 
 all knowledge of them. At length he formed his plan of 
 operations, and the result will show that it was no less 
 the dictate of prudence than of mercy. Looking out for 
 a favorable opportunity of having a word with Betsey in 
 private, it was not long before it ofiered itself ; and 
 going close up to her, he said in a quiet, calm way — 
 
 "Betsey, I want to have a word with you — coiiio 
 along with me." 
 
 Betsey, it was evident, was greatly alarmed ; but, 
 assuming the tone and manner of over-done confidence, 
 said in a pert way — 
 
 " What do you want with me ?" 
 
 The Captain, without appearing to notice her embar- 
 rassment, said in a more commanding way, and in a 
 firmer tone — 
 
 " Betsey, come this way." 
 
 She promptly obeyed the summons, and moving in a 
 dogged way, followed him into her own room. On their 
 arrival there, the Captain locked the door, putting the 
 key in his pocket ; and then turning to her, he said — 
 
 " Betsey, I want to look in your trunk ; let me have 
 the key." 
 
 
 m- 
 
m m 
 
 214 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 PI 
 
 Betsey, with a face of crimson hue, her eyes flashing 
 with passion, her lips quivering, and all her frame trem- 
 bling with rage, said — 
 
 " No, indeed ; no person shall look into my trunk. 
 What do you want with my trunk ? There is nothing 
 in it belonging to you ; and if there is, I have not put it 
 there." 
 
 All this outburst of fury was met with calm and cool 
 resolution on the part of the Captain, who said, without 
 the least movement of a muscle of his face — 
 
 *' Betsey, I demand your key ; or, if j'^ou refuse to 
 give it to me, I will break it open myself ;" at the same 
 time taking out of his pocket a hammer, a pair of pin- 
 cers, and a stout chisel. 
 
 At the sight of these implements Betsey quailed, and 
 stood confounded before him, but drew the key from her 
 pocket and handed it to him ; at the same time most 
 strenuously declaring, that if there was any thing 
 therein belonging to him, it must have been put there 
 by some one else. 
 
 The Captain heeded not a word she said, but delibe- 
 rately unlocked the trunk ; when, lo and beliold 1 stowed 
 away in different parts, were all the lost articles, 
 wrapped up in bits of rags. Among them was a num- 
 ber of valuable trinket presents, that had been given to 
 Mrs. Walters in her young days, and which were prized 
 by her above all money value. All were brought out of 
 the trunk, and laid upon the table before Betsey, who 
 was still stout in protestations of her own innocence, 
 charging the crime to some other person. But the Cap- 
 tain, pointing to the things on the table, and looking 
 Betsey steadily in the face, said — 
 
 

 woman's endurance. 
 
 315 
 
 iUHli 
 
 "Now, Betsey, I suppose you expect that I will seni 
 for an ofiBcer of justice to take you to jail, and have you 
 tried for this very grave offence, the penalty for which 
 would be a long imprisonment ; but no, Betsey, I will 
 not do this, I will not so expose you. If I do not send 
 you to jail, I suppose you conclude that I will send you 
 home to your father and mother, with my reasons for 
 such a step. That might prove the means of breaking 
 their hearts, and bringing down their gray hairs with 
 sorrow to the grave. No, Betsey, I will not do this. 
 But, if I am thus lenient, you cannot but expect that I 
 will by all means inform Mrs. Walters. And then, of 
 course, all in the house must know about this, that all 
 suspicion may be removed from them, and placed where 
 it rightfully belongs. But no," said the Captain, " this 
 is between you and me, and shall ever remain so ; I will 
 not expose you, Betsey." 
 
 At the utterance of these words Betsey showed evi- 
 dent signs of relenting ; when the Captain taking a 
 neatly bound Testament from his pocket, presented it to 
 her, saying — 
 
 "Betsey, I have learned the sentiments that have 
 prompted my conduct from this Book. Take you this 
 and read it, and treasure up its truths in your heart ; 
 and in all your future days regulate your conduct by its 
 precepts ; and you will then be kept from the power of 
 temptation, and forever free from any fear of exposure." 
 
 All this was spoken with so much feeling, and with 
 such deep sympathy for the erring girl before him, that 
 her heart was softened, and her stubbornness vanished. 
 He had won on her better nature ; her pent up feelings 
 burst forth, and a copious flow of tears came to her 
 
 
 i ': I, 
 
 ISf'' 
 
216 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 6i,. 
 
 i'vSl 
 
 relief, and, falling down before him, she clasped his 
 knees in her arms, and with an agony of soul cried 
 out — 
 
 " Oh, Captain Walters, you have saved me from ruin. 
 My father, my more than father, how can I ever repay 
 you for all this ?" 
 
 The Captain very tenderly raised her from her knees, 
 and told her that she should thank God and not him. 
 All, he said, he should exact of her was, that she should 
 keep her own counsel, and replace every article whore 
 she found it. Before he left the room he prayed with 
 and for her ; and then unlocking the door, he left her to 
 her own meditations. Agreeable to his directions, every 
 article that had been so mysteriously taken away, was 
 silently and secretly deposited in the places from which 
 they had been taken, to the astonishment of every mem- 
 ber of the family. And this was often spoken of by Mrs. 
 Walters to her husband, but he himself observed the 
 strict secrecy he had imposed on Betsey. 
 
 After the occurrence of the above circumstances, it 
 was really astonishing to see the transformation in the 
 appearance and general behavior of Betsey. She liud 
 not been restored to that buoyant hilarity that so strong- 
 ly marked her character when she was first introduced 
 to our notice ; there was not that hearty, ringing laugli, 
 that gave token of the innocent and light-minded girl. 
 But she had now entirely lost that guilty look, that 
 sideward glancing of the eye, when spoken to. Her 
 dress gave evidence of more thoughtful care, without 
 any of the show-off air that had been so noticeable bo- 
 fore. Yet there was nothing of the prim and precise 
 prude about her ; every thing was easy, steady, and 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 217 
 
 knees, 
 
 ot him. 
 
 should 
 
 natural — she had become so womanly, so thoughtful, 
 and even graceful. And when there was any thing of 
 a pleasing nature introduced, her intelligent face was 
 immediately lighted up by a smile as sweet as it was 
 natural. And then she moved about the house with so 
 noiseless a tread, and every department of her duty wus 
 performed in so satisfactory a way, that she elicited 
 praise from every one. At the least intimation given 
 by the Captain of a wish or a want, Betsey flew, as it 
 were, to its performance. But while she was thus 
 prompt, there was care observed, as if nothing could be 
 done too well for Captain Walters. Indeed, she was so 
 completely controlled by the desire to serve and gratify 
 him, that if she thought he had any unexpressed wish, 
 it was a source of pain to her. This change was a 
 subject of wonder and remark to all in the house ; but 
 they knew not the secret spring of action that moved so 
 sweetly the grateful heart of Betsey. In her feelings 
 and expressions of sorrow she was only second to Mrs. 
 Walters herself, as she saw the daily, and indeed hourly 
 waning health and strength of the Captain. This proved 
 a strong tie between Mrs. Walters and Betsey, for the 
 former could not be insensible to conduct exhibiting so 
 strongly a desire to serve him who was the chief object 
 of her own love and solicitude. And such was the con- 
 fidence with which she had inspired the heart of Mrs. 
 Walters, that the latter always felt easy in her mind 
 when she knew that Betsey was within hailing distance 
 of her husband. What tended to raise still higher her 
 appreciation of Betsey's worth as a tender nurse, was 
 that on several occasions of late, when, on gently open- 
 ing the door which opened into her husband's room, she 
 
 10 
 
■ 
 
 i 
 
 218 
 
 T. I fi li I A N j OR, 
 
 had observed Betsey on her knees, deeply eng-ag-ed with 
 the Captain in an act of devotion. Betsey was at once 
 tireless and sleepless in her attentions to the Captain, 
 for it mattered not whether it was night or day, when 
 there was a demand for her services, she was ever at 
 hand. 
 
 Fortunate indeed was it for Mrs. Walters that she 
 had such an assistant in this time of her sore affliction, 
 feeling as she did that she was about to be left lonely 
 in the world, and cut off as it were from civilization. 
 There was not in the world, so far as she knew, a single 
 individual with whom she could claim kindred. No 
 wonder if at times she was sad and melancholy. But 
 her husband's mind was calm and serene, so far had the 
 grace of God gained the control of his soul. However, 
 he still felt, and felt deeply, for his wife. Knowing 
 that he was about to leave her a widow indeed, and 
 lonely in the wide, wide world, he endeavored, feelingly 
 and affectionately, to soothe her sorrow. With perspi- 
 cuity and force he often adduced those precious prom- 
 ises suited to her case. Sorrowful and sad as she might 
 be on her own account, she could not but rejoice on be- 
 half of her husband, seeing him so confident in Jeshu- 
 run's covenant-keeping God. 
 
 It was now nearly the close of the winter season, and 
 at times, such was the flattering appearance of the dis- 
 ease of Captain Walters, they were led to hope that, od 
 the arrival of the warm and inspiriting weather ol* 
 spring, he might rally, as he was yet comparatively 
 young. But as often were these flattering and decep- 
 tive expectations cut off by a relapse that generally left 
 him still weaker. The hectic flush on his cheek, and 
 

 woman's El^DURANCE. 
 
 219 
 
 the larj>-o, cloar, but g:la8sy eye, told all too plainly that 
 the destroyer was pursuing his track with undeviuting 
 and unfaltering step. But still he lingered on and on. 
 The balmy breezes of spring and the enlivening warmth 
 of the vernal sun exerted their magic influences over the 
 face of nature, inviting the feathered wanderers to re- 
 turn from the too ardent south ; inducing the various 
 chrysalids to open their prison-doors, and send forth 
 their gaudy, spangled inmates, to give variety and 
 beauty to the scene ; and more than all, renewing the 
 glories of the vegetable world : but all these were pow- 
 erless to allure or bribe from his purpose the foe that 
 was preying upon the vitals of Captain Walters. 
 
 It may be supposed that, under the circumstances, the 
 immediate family of Captain Walters were not the only 
 ones who felt a deep anxiety on his behalf. No. He 
 had been the chief instrument, under God, of a move- 
 ment of no ordinary magnitude and importance, and 
 which had been the means of associating him with the 
 destiny of the deathless spirits of some of those who re- 
 sided in the neighborhood. And it would be no wonder, 
 then, to find that many and anxious were the inquiries 
 daily made regarding his health, and that numerous and 
 fervent were the prayers continually ascending to the 
 throne of grace for him and his. It was not that they, 
 in their beneficence, had clothed the naked and fed the 
 hungry, or visited the sick and suffering in their cabins, 
 though this had been done ; but that they had been in- 
 strumental, in the hand of God, in bringing them to the 
 knowledge of salvation through the blood of ^he Lamb, 
 and of putting them in possession of the peace of Qod 
 that passeth understanding. These people, so lately 
 
I 
 
 220 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 immersed in semi-barbsirisni, were now so far humanized 
 that their hearts were ready to break at tlie thongiit of 
 losing by death him whom they could call father in the 
 Lord. And their sympathies were not the mere expres- 
 sions of their lips, but were evidenced by the presenta- 
 tion of many little trifles — not of much worth in them- 
 selves,, but of value as showing a disposition in the 
 giver, that said in the very act, I would do more if I 
 could. But neither the affection of a tender-hearted wife, 
 the ever-ready assiduities of the members of his own 
 family, nor the prayers, sympathy, and ardent solicitude 
 of their neighbors, could stay the onward march of the 
 foe, for nearer, and still nearer, he comes. 
 
 On a day in the early part of June, when all nature 
 was dressed in her gayest attire, radiant with beauty 
 and teeming with life on every hand, the carriage of 
 Mr. Le Clair was driven into the yard. On entering 
 the residence of Mr. Walters, what a contrast to the 
 outside appearance of things, as he had just viewed 
 them, is presented I There every thing is bright and 
 joyous : here there is sadness on every face, and every 
 tongue is held as by the very spirit of silence ; and who- 
 ever he speaks to responds in a low whisper, and all 
 seem as though afraid of hearing the sound of their own 
 footfall. 
 
 Mr. Le Clair was introduced into the room of the 
 dying man of God, and found him with his faculties 
 in full vigor, his soul all aglow with love to God, and 
 his confidence strong in His promise that He would 
 support him while passing through the dark valley of 
 death. He informed Mr, Le Clair that he had selected 
 him to assist in the last sad duties required for the dead, 
 
1 
 1 < 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 221 
 
 and trusted he would see that his remains were depos- 
 ited in the little mound he had himself selected, and 
 where he had superintended the planting of a number of 
 young trees that in time would grow up and form a 
 shade over the resting-place of all that remained on earth 
 of Robert Walters. And those green trees would be all 
 the monument he desired to be raised to his memory. 
 
 " Except the monuments that have been raised in 
 many a human heart," said Mr. Le Clair, " and cemented 
 by tears of true and sincere affection, that will be more 
 durable and of higher estimation than tablets of marble 
 or brass." 
 
 At this Captain Walters said, with a pleasing smile 
 lighting up his noble and intellectual face — " Not unto 
 us, Lord 1 but unto Thy name be all the praise." 
 
 The Captain continued, with ebbs and flows of feeling, 
 sometimes reviving, and then again subsiding from very 
 weakness, when his words were few and his voice feeble. 
 But, with what little strength he had, his words were 
 full of fervor, and his visions of glory clear and beauti- 
 ful ; for his spirit was fully ripe for association with the 
 blessed. 
 
 The best criterion, perhaps, by which to judge of the 
 esteem in which a man has been held in life, is by the 
 numbers who attend his funeral, and especially when 
 that attendance is associated with the deep sympathies 
 of their hearts. If this be true, never was man more 
 highly esteemed than in the instance before us, for if 
 every mother there had lost the darling of her heart, 
 and every father his first-born, their sorrow could not 
 have been more deep or general than it was at the fu- 
 neral of Captain Walters. 
 
 tr 
 
 ii- ■• 
 
 
 ^m 
 
222 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
 |i I 
 
 The sccno bc^o-ais all doscription, for the requiem 
 there clianted vvus the wailiiiiifs of riven hearts, and the 
 ritual rehearsed was tlie S(jI)S oi' pure alTection. But 
 chief among the mourners was Mrs. Walters and Bc^tscy. 
 The contrast presented by these two was so stron<;']y 
 marked as to be noticed by a number of persons. While 
 the sorrow of Mrs. Walters was evinced by deep emo- 
 tion, there was yet a strong controlling power that held 
 a tight rein upon her feelings ; and then she mourned 
 as one not without hope. But, on the part of Betsey, 
 there was a wild abandonment to feeling that was 
 alarming, and it seemed as if coercion might be re- 
 quired to get her from the coflBn. Indeed, many thought 
 her reason was dethroned, for, in the bewilderment of 
 her frenzy she cried out — 
 
 " Oh, he saved me from ruin, my more than father I 
 How can I part with him, my best, my very best friend 1 
 What should I have been but for him ?" 
 
 This was considered by the lookers on as the wild 
 ravings of a maniac ; but still, it was treasured up in the 
 memory of more than one of those who were present. 
 Poor little Baptiste exhibited somewhat of the keen 
 sensibility of a woman, by the pungency of his sorrow, 
 and the abundant flow of his tears. And the two trusty 
 men who had been the stalwart companions in arn.s of 
 Captain Walters, Jones and Brown, stood like two 
 statues beside the coflBn ; but they were swayed by 
 deep inward sorrow, though with less outward manifes- 
 tation. But their wives and their two little children 
 were quite obstreperous under their sad bereavement. 
 A fine specimen of dignity and manly sorrow, there 
 stood Mr. Le Clair, and perhaps no opportunity could 
 
 \. 
 
■woman's endurance. 
 
 223 
 
 of 
 
 have been given to «liow the genuine firnnioss of tlic 
 Indian character like the present. All tiie characteris- 
 tics of the two nations iVom which he derived his origin 
 were strongly portrayed in him — there was a ready and 
 pleasing aflability softening the sterner sadness of the 
 moment. 
 
 Keen and deep as was the sorrow of all present, there 
 was a stern necessity for terminating this scene, for the 
 shades of evening began to notify them that time was 
 moving onward ; and when the last kiss was imprinted 
 on that fair and noble forehead by his stricken-hearted 
 widow, the remains were forever closed to the contem- 
 plation of human eyes, and solemnly conveyed to their 
 last resting-place, a spot which had been selected, as 
 has been already noticed, by the Captain himself, and 
 one of surpassing beauty — a mound of considerable ele- 
 vation, supposed to have been the burial-place of some 
 ancient tribe of Indians. Besides being a place strongly 
 marked by nature, it had been further ornamented by 
 the planting of a choice selection of young trees, that 
 would eventually add greatly to the picturesque beauty 
 of the spot. There rests, in that ancient mound, the 
 ashes of the late Captain Robert Walters, and there they 
 will remain until the trump of the angel of God shall 
 call them forth, to join in the glories of the first resur- 
 rection. 
 
 Right faithfully and delicately had Mr. Le Clair car- 
 ried out the wishes and injunctions of his late friend, 
 and after oflfering his condolence, and giving his advice 
 on some subjects that had been submitted to his judg- 
 ment by Mrs. Walters, he departed to attend to the 
 transaction of business connected with his own afifairs 
 
 r 
 
 
 <', - i. 
 
aw 
 
 ; SI 
 
 224 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
 But before his departure a promise was given, and with 
 mournful pleasure responded to, that he would occa- 
 sion.'illy call, and thus ko(»p up the friendship that had 
 been formed under more pleasing auspices. At the 
 same time, Mr. Le Clair said that should any emergtnicy 
 arise in which she might need the advice or assistance 
 of a friend, it would always afford him high gratification 
 to serve her. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 225 
 
 V' 
 
 W 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Deep, wide, and long-enduring was the chasm that 
 had been made in that once happy family circle. That 
 significant old Saxon term hx)use-bond well expresses the 
 close relationship, the strong controlling tie that binds 
 the household together — the man at the head of the 
 family, the husband. When he is removed by death, or 
 otherwise, the family union is in a good degree dis- 
 rupted, and is often subjected to disintegration. That 
 this was not the case with the family circle of the late 
 Captain Walters, was owing to the strong mind and 
 controlling influence of Mrs. Walters. She had clearness 
 of perception to see her proper woman's sphere, and 
 strength of will to enable her to meet all the demands of 
 her responsible position. She now found that the do- 
 mestic knowledge she had acquired under the tuition of 
 the skilful and prudent Mrs. Baldwin, might be put in 
 requisition with the best eflfects. What she had often 
 said was now verified — that there was a providence in 
 her having been so mysteriously thrown into the com- 
 pany of that estimable lady. And it was with no small 
 profit to herself, and to her family, that she had so closely 
 studied the precepts of poor Richard, and stored up in 
 her memory and reduced to practice the numerous reci- 
 pes so carefully written out for her by Mrs. Baldwin. 
 She showed herself, indeed, by her aptitude and her 
 
 10* 
 
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 226 
 
 LILLIAN; O R, 
 
 ability to accommodate herself to circumstances, a su- 
 perior manager of a farm-house. And then she had such 
 nerve and such mental energy, and had so increased her 
 muscular force, that she was placed far in advance of 
 those puny females who are startled by every breath of 
 cold air, or shrink from a storm that might reach their 
 dainty persons or ruffle their dress. Yet, with all this, 
 there was nothing coarse, or rough, or masculine in her 
 appearance or manner. No ! there was associated with 
 the busy and thrifty housewife, the high polish of a cul- 
 tivated taste, and the amiability of disposition of a Chris- 
 tian lady. Anc' while she bore herself with dignity, from 
 an innate sense of self-respect, yet she "would listen kindly 
 to the plaint of sorrow or the tale of woe, when uttered 
 by the humble and the poor ; and her hand was ever 
 ready to obey the dictates of her compassionate heart. 
 
 Under her able management, all the plans and contem- 
 plated improvements of her late husband were prose- 
 cuted and consummated with becoming vigor — giving 
 employnient to a number of poor but industrious men, 
 and thus sustaining their dependent families. And such 
 was the willing deference paid to her, that she had only 
 to indicate a wish, to meet with a ready and swift com- 
 pliance. Some minds are so peculiarly fitted to rule, 
 that without apparently exercising authority, they bend 
 all wills to their purposes. So it was with Mrs. Wal- 
 ters ; and hence it may be supposed that things moved 
 on smoothly, with little friction, both within-doors and 
 on the farm. Carrying out the intentions of her late 
 husband, one hundred acres of the bush were cut down 
 by the opening of spring, and all ready to be burned off 
 ftt the first spell of fine weather. 
 
'■• ^ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 227 
 
 An event of no small moment now occurred in the 
 family — the sickness and death of Betsey, and this under 
 very remarkable and exciting circumstances. After tlie 
 death of Captain Walters, there appeared to be deep 
 and undefinable effects left upon her mind. She seemed 
 to be brooding over some inward sorrow, other than that 
 occasioned by the death of Captain Walters. The minds 
 of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Jones had become possessed of 
 very strange notions from the wild manner and inco- 
 herent expressions that she let fall at the funeral. In 
 about three months after that event, she was seized with 
 violent typhoid, apparently the effects of the deep sorrow 
 that overwhelmed her, which soon reduced her to a state 
 of childlike helplessness, and disturbed the balance of 
 her mind. During this state of mental aberration, she 
 would start as if seized with excessive terror, and cry 
 out — 
 
 " Yes, it was I who stole them — I took every one of 
 them I" 
 
 She would then subside, and remain for a short time 
 in a state of stupor ; and then again shriek out — 
 
 " It was the devil prompted me ; he helped me to take 
 them, and my own wicked heart said, * Yes, take them 1* 
 Oh 1 I was foolish and wicked 1" 
 
 After this, in a calm manner, and with a subdued tone 
 of voice, she would say — 
 
 " I wonder who it was that told Captain Walters that 
 I had them all in my trunk 1 Oh 1 it was God who told 
 him, to save me from going to hell 1" 
 
 And then, in a softer and more gentle way, she would 
 Bay— 
 
 " Oh 1 how good it was in Captain Walters not to tell 
 
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 228 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 my father and mother, and not to send rae to jail 1 And 
 then he told me that he would not tell Mrs. Walters — 
 neither did he ; was not that good of him 1 But I put 
 them all back again where I got them. And was not 
 that a pretty Testament he gave me 1 Oh ! what a 
 sweet prayer he made to God for me, when we knelt 
 down before he left the room !" 
 
 All this was spoken in short, bi'^Lon sentences, at 
 different times through the days and nights of her sick- 
 ness. She had indeed tilled her soul with remorse, and 
 embittered her last moments. Often, as she lay, she 
 seemed as if talking to some one, with her eyes fixed on 
 vacancy ; and the theme of all her talk was the crime 
 of which she had been guilty, in purloining the articles 
 intrusted to her care. 
 
 But the ears of Mrs. Walters, as well as of the two 
 women, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Jones, were attentive to 
 catch every word, yea, half a word. All t'li- was as- 
 sociated with the wild words and frantic acii > i? of Bet- 
 sey on the day of the funeral ; and they now i-oi ..luded 
 that there had been good reason for her conduct. Mrs. 
 Walters said very little on the subject, except words of 
 pity and compassion. But when Betsey alluded to the 
 silence of her late husband, and of his goodness in not 
 exposing her, she said — 
 
 " Yes, it was just like the goodness and the tender- 
 ness of his heart. He was like his Lord and Master — 
 he would not break the bruised reed." 
 
 But Mrs. Brown was full of all sorts of surmisings, 
 and wonderiiigs, and suggestions. And Mrs. Jones, at 
 every wild expression uttered by Betsey, would raise 
 her hands, expressive of holy horror, and give still 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 229 
 
 w 
 
 r 
 
 i ' 
 
 greater expansion to her large eyes, soliloquizing in an 
 undertone — 
 
 " Well, who would ever have thought it 1 Dear me, 
 I'm sure there's no knowing who to trust ! Mercy upon 
 us 1 surely, the world must be coming to an end, there 
 is so much wickedness now-a-days 1" 
 
 The fever was of such a virulent type that it made 
 short work with Betsey. Although she had a few lucid 
 moments, yet these were embittered by the recollection 
 of her sins. They had indeed planted her dying pillow 
 with thorns. She had, however, done all that lay in her 
 power to rectify the crime of which she had been guilty, 
 and as some small atonement, she had made a full and 
 clear statement to Mrs. Walters before her death ; and 
 under her clear and pointed instructions, had been able 
 to throw her soul, with all its interests, on Christ. Yet 
 her death was not like that of Captain Walters — calm, 
 clear, confident, and gloriously triumphant. 
 
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 230 
 
 LILLIAN; 
 
 OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Between three and four months after the death of 
 Betsey, Mr. Le Clair paid a visit to Mrs. Walters ; and 
 though ho was received with great cordiality by her, 
 yet there was an apparent restraint at times in the man- 
 ners of both. It was true they held friendly and familiai' 
 converse on general subjects. On one occasion they 
 walked in company to the little picturesque mound 
 where lay entombed the remains of her late husband. 
 Both exhibited great propriety in their conduct. While 
 she evinced a true womanly feeling on her part, there 
 was on his an exhibition of becoming respect to her 
 heart-sorrows. It might have been that they both felt 
 a delicacy, induced by the change in their relative posi- 
 tion. She was now free from her marital bonds, and yet 
 in the bloom of youth, and withal of a highly sympa- 
 thetic nature. He was one year older than she, and 
 with a heart as tender as it was good and pure. So 
 devoid was he of all guile, that he carried truth and 
 honesty in his very looks ; and the words of prudence 
 and wisdom were ever flowing from his lips. 
 
 The time came for Mr. Le Clair to leave. Mrs. Wal- 
 ters gave him an invitation to renew his visit, to whicli 
 lie warmly responded, promising that he would most 
 assuredly avail himself of the privilege. 
 
 Mrs. Walters felt still more lonely for the visit of Mr. 
 Le Clair, as it had been to her a momentary gleam of 
 
^i \,«(: 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 231 
 
 sunshine, which, vanishing with his departure, had left, 
 by contrast, a deeper gk)om upon her mind. Her feel- 
 ing's were disturbed, and her thoughts all confusion, 
 and she now felt her loneliness pressing with crushing 
 weight upon her spirits. Of all the desolation felt at 
 any time by the human heart, that of the mourning 
 widow is doubtless the deepest, especially where she 
 mourns the loss of such a partner as Captain Walters. 
 But the heart is so self-adjusting, that it bends and soon 
 accommodates itself to circumstances ; and especially 
 as in the case of Mrs. Walters, who was governed by 
 an enlightened acknowledgment of, and trust in, the all- 
 disposing providence of Heaven. But, with all her trust 
 and resignation, she was still a woman, and now felt 
 her woman's need — a sustaining arm on which to lean. 
 She felt that she was still in the world, and had to con- 
 tend in the world's battles. And she found that, how- 
 ever highly organized and endowed, physically and men- 
 tally, woman has her own sphere of action, and out of it 
 she is out of her place. Siie had learned, too, that to 
 meet all the requirements of a household, and to com- 
 plete the arrangements of a home, a sterner and stur- 
 dier nature is required than woman's. 
 
 Mr. Le Clair, after his departure, felt somewhat at a 
 loss to define his state of mind. He had been pleased, 
 it was true, with the mental resources, and the endow- 
 ments of mind of Mrs. W^ alters, and by her fine per- 
 sonal appearance ; but her moral virtues, which are 
 the greatest ornament of a woman, had, unknown to 
 himself, completely carried him captive, so that she had 
 now entire possession of his heart, and was the object 
 that, day and night, occupied his thoughts. 
 
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 232 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 Mr. Le Clair was not long in determining on another 
 visit to the home of Mrs. Walters. But he found his 
 business such, that his time would be fully occupied for 
 the coming two weeks. He questioned with himself, 
 audibly — 
 
 " Is it possible that two whole weeks must pass be- 
 fore I can see her again ?" 
 
 A gentleman close at his side, and who had observed 
 his very unusual manner and absent-mindedness, caught 
 up the words, and said to him in a kind of bantering, 
 half-serious way — 
 
 " Why, what is come over you, Le Clair ; who is this 
 bewitching fair one that has thus been drawing on your 
 head and heart, and whom you so ardently desire to see 
 again so soon ?" 
 
 Le Clair started as though he had been caught in the 
 commission of a grave oifence, and his face became suf- 
 fused as if he were stricken with a deep consciousness 
 of guilt. He stammered out some incoherent remark 
 that only made matters worse, and, hanging down his 
 head, tried to hide his confusion by fumbling among 
 some papers in his desk. The gentleman read his 
 thoughts as if they had been written on his brow, and 
 with tormenting coolness said — 
 
 " Why, Le Clair, I have always imagined your heart 
 to be made of stone, and that you were doomed to live 
 and die a batchelor. Who can this be, that has thus 
 caught you in the silken meshes of her toils ?" 
 
 Mr. Le Clair protested upon his word and honor that 
 his friend was never more mistaken — that he had never 
 yet seen the woman who offered suflScient inductements 
 to him to take her as his wife. It might be from fas* 
 
 
WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 233 
 
 11 
 
 • •'<;■ 
 
 tidiousuess of taste, but he had ever turned with a kind 
 of loathing from the excessive frivolities of the opposite 
 sex. 
 
 All this was said with a calm and candid seriousness 
 that threw his friend altogether off the track ; but ho 
 said — 
 
 " Well, we shall see what we shall see, however. 
 All that I have got to say is, that you are either in love 
 or something worse." 
 
 Although Mr. Le Clair had been so positive in his 
 denial of his being in love, he spoke in all sincerity, for 
 his feelings and the state of his mind were a mystery to 
 himself. He was in such a state that nothing went right 
 with him. If he wrote, there was confusion of ideas, 
 and he made sorry work with his books ; and as to run- 
 ning up a column of figures, why, he might as well have 
 attempted to grasp the passing cloud. He could not 
 fix his mind for two minutes in succession. It was far 
 away — at, as he called it, " Sweet-brier Grove," a name 
 he had given to the residence of Mrs. Walters, on ac- 
 count of the abundance of that shrub growing in the 
 neighborhood. Suffice it to say, he passed the fourteen 
 days most restlessly. He seemed relieved when the 
 morning at length dawned on which he had proposed to 
 himself to renew his visit to " Sweet-brier Grove," and 
 for which, the past week, he had been making more 
 than ordinary preparations. 
 
 On the morning in question, under considerable trepi- 
 dation, he started on his eventful journey. It was a 
 very beautiful day in early autumn, and the various 
 foliage of the forest was tinged by gentle touches of 
 frost. The hues of the surrounding woods were a lively 
 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 i(iprostfntatIon of Mr. Le Clair's mind autl lieart, agitulcd 
 as they were by conflicting thoughts and fcolings, from 
 the S(jn)bre shades of doubt to the florid tints of liopc. 
 In tiiis state, nearly at the close of day, he arrived in 
 sight of "Sweet-brier Grove." There now appeared to 
 be something strange and unusual disturbing his inner 
 self — there was a fluttering of the heart, a bewilderment 
 of ideas. He had heretofore always gone up boldly to 
 the house of Mrs. Walters, without hesitancy ; but now 
 what a change had come over him ! Long might he 
 have remained in this state of bewilderment, sitting in 
 his vehicle in the silent and solitary wood, had not our 
 friend Baptiste very opportunely come up, returning 
 from a commission on which he had been sent by Mrs. 
 Walters. On recognizing Mr. Le Clair, he introduced 
 himself vcsry politely in fluent French, which in a mo- 
 ment broke the spell by which the former had been 
 bound. This was a very fortunate circumstance for him, 
 for Baptiste's loquaciousness provoked a similar vein of 
 talkativeness in Mr. Le Clair ; and thus occupied, in a 
 short time they arrived at the house, where Baptiste, 
 ever ready and alert, took the horse of Mr. Le Clair 
 under his special management. The door was promptly 
 opened by Mrs. Walters, for his approach had been ob- 
 served by the little daughter of Mrs. Jones. 
 
 The door being thrown open, it must be confessed that 
 Mr. Le Clair, on meeting Mrs. Walters, manifested some 
 confusion. On the part of that lady it must be said 
 that she was not altogether devoid of embarrassment : 
 but she put out her hand, which was taken and held by 
 her visitor in a manner that convoyed the unmistakable 
 language of the heart ; while a smile played over her 
 
.,M 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 235 
 
 ■.r 
 
 features, the beaming forth of a pure soul, the simple 
 but certain lan^-uage of ingenuous love. 
 
 Mr. Le Clair now found that it was not by set speech, 
 or by formal words, that the soul can divine the mean- 
 ing of a kindred soul. He learned that there is a mute 
 eloquence, far more expressive than the language of the 
 tongue. 
 
 Little ceremony was necessary to induct the welcome 
 visitor : not so easy, however, to calm the gentle flutter, 
 or to hush the soft whisperings of the little winged 
 myth that was nestling so cozily in each of their hearts. 
 But at this stage of their acquaintance it was evident 
 that, although they could not fully decipher the charac- 
 ters that were being written on the inner scroll of their 
 own natures, they could read distinctly the true devo- 
 tion of their honest purpose. 
 
 Although every thing appeared propitious to the views 
 and wishes of Mr. Le Clair, yet there was a restraint 
 upon his own freedom of speech that he could not throw 
 off. He was no bold and artful pretender, with a flow 
 of flowery flattery upon his tongue, or words expressing 
 feelings that were foreign to his heart. So far from this 
 being the case, he was all true and genuine emotion ; 
 but this emotion, pent up in his own breast, actually be- 
 came painful for want of utterance ; and he was often 
 on the point of making a declaration of his attachment, 
 but as often his courage or self-confidence failed him. 
 
 This was observed by Mrs. Walters, who, with wo- 
 man's penetration and adroitness, but without making any 
 direct advances, sought to remove any little impediment 
 that slie supposed calculated to embarrass him. But 
 all this was to no purpose ; for while there was elo- 
 
236 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
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 qiience in the oyo, in tlio whole countenance, and in all 
 liis manners, still words were not at his will. And this 
 state of things continued during the whole of the time 
 allotted for his stay, and he actually left Mrs. Walters 
 without having made any explicit expression of his 
 sentiments. 
 
 Before he left his home, he had made arrangements 
 with the subordinates in his office for his return at a 
 certain time, aa there was urgent business on hand re- 
 quiring his presence. When the stated morning arrived, 
 the indications of the weather were any thing rather 
 than pleasant — in fact, there were signs of an impending 
 storm. But as Mr. Le Clair was a man of business, and 
 at the same time full of vigor, no trifle could deter him 
 when his purpose was once formed. But in this case 
 he had to encounter the entreaties and persuasicms of 
 Mrs. Walters ; for she felt for his health and comfort, 
 and even for his safety. It would be so very dangerous 
 for him to venture out on such a morning, when vast 
 volumes of dense black clouds were looming up in the 
 distance. She declared that if he did go, she would 
 have no peace of mind ; and she would be so impatient 
 to hear if his health had sufiered from exposure to the 
 cold and wet I All this was expressed by Mrs. Walters 
 with more than ordinary feeling, and it so touched the 
 heart of Mr. Le Clair that he asked, in faltering tones — 
 
 " Then, are the health and safety of Charles Le Clair 
 so very precious in the estimation of Mrs. Walters ?" 
 
 This was spoken in such a tone of voice, and with so 
 much meaning in his countenance, that, in a moment, 
 her face and neck were su£fused with a crimson flush. 
 This involuntary exhibition was a sufficient and a signifi- 
 
WOMAN'S ENl URANCE. 
 
 237 
 
 id in all 
 And this 
 the time 
 
 Walt,; 18 
 
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 gements 
 urn at a 
 hand re- 
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 g ratlier 
 ipending 
 less, and 
 Pter him 
 his case 
 sions of 
 comfort, 
 ngerous 
 lion vast 
 3 in the 
 e would 
 npatient 
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 Walters 
 hed the 
 tones — 
 l(e Clair 
 rs ?" 
 with so 
 lonient, 
 n flush, 
 signifi- 
 
 cant answer to his question. Yet this chance was lost 
 to him by his extn'me diffidence, and she adroitly turned 
 the subject by some ofl'-lumd remark. It so happencxl 
 that Mrs. Walters was relieved of her fears as to the 
 istoiin, and Mr. Le Clair was enabled to carry out his 
 original resolve, as, contrary to their expectations, the 
 clouds dispersed, and it proved a bright and pleasant 
 day. After his departure, she followed him with her eyes 
 until intervening objects shielded him from her sight. 
 
 It will of course be supposed, from the character of our 
 narrative, that the attachment of Mrs. Walters and Mr. 
 Le Clair was strong as well as mutual : and, indeed, no 
 wonder, for each had been captivated by the goodness 
 of the other's heart and many sterling virtues. The 
 longer they were in each other's company, and ob8erv(.'d 
 the developments of each other's true character, the 
 more deeply they were enamored ; and it must be re- 
 membered that neither of them was of an age to bo 
 pleased by vain fancies or allured by trifles. It must 
 have been something really genuine, and far above the 
 common order of person and of intellect, to exert such a 
 controlling influence on two such minds. It may not 
 be altogether a mere play upon words to say that, in 
 reality, it wjis Mrs. Walters who went away, and Mr, 
 Le Clair who remained at "Sweet-brier Grove;" for 
 they had so completely merged their identity, that self in 
 each was lost in contemplating the other. Such being 
 the case, it may be supposed that but little time would 
 be allowed to transpire before Mr. Le Clair would so 
 bend circumstances as to enable him to go where such 
 strong attachment led the way ; and Mrs. Walters waa 
 astonished and delighted to see Mr. Le Clair return ii 
 
 
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 238 
 
 L I Fi fi I A N ; OR, 
 
 iCH 
 
 !ii 
 
 l)ut a few days aftor ho had left her. It mig-lit bo row 
 said tliat Mr. L(; Clair wjis the formal and acknowledp^cd 
 suitor of Mrs. Walters. A great change had taken 
 place in his spirit and manners, for he appeared inspired 
 with greater confidence, though devoid of any approach 
 to a vain presumption. At the first opportunity that 
 offered, in a calm and modest way he informed Mrs. 
 Walters of the purport of his vis' md that he had been 
 impelled to this step by the d mpression that her 
 
 virtues had made upon his heart. Mrs. Walters, re- 
 sponding with great dignity, but at the same time with 
 much feeling, said she could not be insensible to the 
 high opinion of her to which he had been pleased to 
 give expression ; that she held his word and his integ- 
 rity in the highest estimation, believing that he was not 
 one to lightly use words in a sense he did not intend, 
 and to which his actions would not conform. Thus, 
 then, this remarkable pair had at length come to a full 
 and intelligent understanding with each other as to 
 their wishes and purposes. But theirs was not a love 
 that exhibited itself only in words or unmeaning out- 
 ward manifestations. In the case of Mr. Lo Clair, 
 moulded as his nature and character had been, there 
 was something startling in his earnestness when he was 
 once fully aroused to action. But while he was impelled 
 onward by the force, and indeed at times fury, of that 
 part of his nature derived from his Indian ancestry, 
 this was modified and elevated by the high-toned gal- 
 lantry which he had inherited from the nationality of 
 his mother. In making a proffer of his hand to Mrs. 
 Walters, she was quite sure that his whole being was 
 included, and that his faith would be as stable as the 
 
 .lllln; 
 
W O M A N S E N D IJ R A N € E. 
 
 239 
 
 laws of tho universe ; and Mr. Lc Clair had no Ichh con- 
 fidence in tlie faith of Mrs. Walters. 
 
 These being the feelinf^a, and tliis the relative posi- 
 tion of the parties, the final result can hardly be a 
 subject for conjecture. In the course of some three 
 months after the avowal of their attachment, and a little 
 more than two years after the death of Captain Walters, 
 this noble pair were united in the bonds of holy wed- 
 lock. From what the reader has learned of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Le Clair, for we must now give her that designa- 
 tion, he will naturally infer that their character, as it 
 has been developed, was carried out in their wedded 
 life. And that was the case ; for their affections wen; 
 based upon a mutual and just appreciation of their 
 matured judgments and cultivated minds. And while 
 these endure, reciprocal admiration and love must en- 
 dure. Their love was of natural growth, sprung from 
 a germ that had taken deep root in their warm, sympa- 
 thetic hearts, and been favored by congenial influences, 
 which now so matured the appropriate fruit, that it 
 promised to be both abundant and perennial in its sup- 
 ply. Unlike the tender hot-house plant, which withers 
 and dies when it comes in contact with the icy winds 
 that before swept around, but could not touch it, it ap- 
 pears more beautiful and vigorous from the storms that 
 visit it. In this case there was an amiable urbanity, a 
 moral beauty, a vigor and vitality, exhibited in all their 
 intercourse and relationships in life, that not only en- 
 deared them to each other, but to every one with whom 
 they came in contact. And then, unlike the young and 
 inexperienced couple, who, having just left the parental 
 roof, are about to encounter untried labors, responsibi* 
 
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 ■,/ M 
 
 W\ 
 
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 240 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 HIIIJI 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 II 
 
 lities, and duties, they had been severely schooled in 
 the great battle of every-day life, and their mental and 
 moral resources were adequate to every demand that 
 might be made upon them. 
 
 Mr. Le Clair now found that it would prove more to 
 his convenience, as well as be more in accordance with 
 his inclination, to break up his establishment in Kings- 
 ton, and remove his office to his new home ; especially 
 as the greater number of the Indian tribes over which 
 he had superintendence were located within a short dis- 
 tance of " Sweet-brier Grove." By making this change 
 in his residence and his place of business, all the re- 
 quirements of those Indians might be more promptly 
 attended to. It was soon found that the Indians them- 
 selves were pleased with this change, from the facilities 
 it gave them. Great numbers, also, now called daily at 
 the office of the " Chief," as they styled Mr. Le Clair. 
 
 But while this arrangement aff()rded greater conve- 
 nience, it had not only greatly augmented the business 
 of Mr. Le Clair, but had also subjected him to number- 
 less annoyances. Every little want, every frivolous dis- 
 pute, and all kinds of imaginary grievances, were car- 
 ried at once to him. Though his patience was often 
 sorely tried, yet his firmness, decision, discriminating 
 judgment, and, above all, his cool and even temper, 
 generally enabled him to succeed in satisfying all 
 parties. 
 
 There was a very perceptible change iu the home 
 establishment of Mr, and Mrs. Le Clair ; although there 
 had been no lack of vigilance and energy on the part of 
 Mrs. Le Clair prior to her marriage, for, considering her 
 antecedents, she had certainly accomplished wonders. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 241 
 
 But after Mr. Le Clair assumed authority, with his nat- 
 ural energy, he brought his peculiar habits of system 
 to bear on the out-door operations of the farm, and the 
 effc^'X was almost magical. The attention of Mrs. Le 
 Clair was given to her own special department, and more 
 congenial sphere. Consequently, all things were done 
 to better purpose, in-doors as well as out. Thus, from 
 their combined exertions, they soon became patterns of 
 thrift, and models of general good management. Mr. 
 Le Clair was not slow in discerning the value of the 
 services of our little French friend Baptiste. And Bap- 
 tiste himself felt as proud, and appeared as dignified in 
 his deportment, as though he had been a first minister 
 of state. He was a kind of generalissimo over all the 
 operations, both in-doors and out, ever as faithful and 
 prompt in all thin_ s, as if his life depended on their 
 correct performance. Jones and Brown also became 
 strongly attached to Mr. Le Clair ; and docile in their 
 temper and disposition, were patient in pursuing all the 
 labors of the farm. The women, too, while busy with 
 their hands, were as glib with their tongues as ever. 
 
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242 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
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 If 
 
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 ii 
 
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 Siii! 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 We must now refer to an event that will have an 
 important bearing, and exert a controlling influence on 
 the future of our narrative — an event that might have 
 been expected under the circumstances. 
 
 Mrs. Le Clair, in the course of time, found herself as 
 women wish to be who love their lords ; and at length, 
 to the great joy of every member of the household, gave 
 birth to a girl-child. This, a strong bond of union, drew 
 still closer the hearts of the parents. Many were they 
 who came to offer their congratulations. But the more 
 numerous were the poor Indians, the untutored children 
 of the forest, who seemed to vie with ei^h other in their 
 expressions of exultant joy at the birth o^ a daughter to 
 tlieir Chief. They had made preparations to celebrate 
 tlie auspicious event in their own way, and appointed 
 their own time. They came on the day designated, in 
 full Indian costume, determined to give full scope to 
 tlieir feelings in the performance of their characteristic 
 sports — the festive dance, feats of strength, wrestling, 
 showing their fleetnoss in the foot-race ; but, above all, 
 their favorite ball-game. A serio-comic turn was given 
 to the sports by the introduction of an old, shrivelled, and 
 withered crone, who was led into the chamber where 
 lay the mother and infant daughter. This old woman 
 was accompanied by a number of squaws. She was 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 243 
 
 formally introduced to Mrs. Le Clair by the wives of 
 two Indian chiefs. On approaching the couch, while 
 she was goinj^ through a course of strange and uncouth 
 gesticulations, she uttered what appeared to be a kind 
 of cabalistic terms. She closely examined the child, 
 peered into its eyes, looking for marks on its forehead, 
 and scrutinizing each of its hands. She then stood 
 musing for some time, apparently pondering the char- 
 acter and portents of the marks and signs she had been 
 tracing on the person of the infant before her. At 
 length she burst out into a loud laugh, trying to mimic 
 childish gayety. Then she wept bitterly, wringing her 
 hands, pulling at her hair, and going through many other 
 gestures, as though she were the subject of deep sorrow. 
 With a sudden transition, she then burst into loud and 
 long-continued laughter, at the same time pointing tow- 
 ards the rising sun, and making an attempt to walk 
 majestically ; and, as though she were grandly dressed, 
 adjusting the different parts of her dress, shaking it, and 
 laying the folds in proper trim, all the time looking into 
 the large mirror. All this, and more, that she went 
 through, indicated, according to the interpretaticm of 
 one of the squaws present, that the infant would enjoy 
 much pleasure in early life ; but later, experience deep 
 sorrow for a time ; which would, however, unexpectedly 
 and suddenly, be turned into joy and gladness. Through 
 the whole of her after-life, she would be surrounded with 
 pomp and splendor, and occupy a position of high dig- 
 nity and social respectability. All this would occur in 
 a far-off eastern direction. At the conclusion of this 
 ceremony, several of the young squaws stepped forward, 
 and presented beautiful Indian trinkets and ornaments, 
 
 m,:; 
 
 m 
 
 n 
 
 
 ', ( 
 
 *<■ 
 
 ■t-» 
 
 -iLiii- 
 
 
I 
 
 mil 
 
 244 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 placing them on the head, arms, and neck of the infant, 
 giving her a most grotesque appearance. The cere- 
 mony shocked the religious sensibilities of Mrs. Jones, 
 who, raising her hands in holy horror, and uttering short 
 ejaculations of bewildered astonishment, left the room, 
 declaiming against such blasphemous proceedings, as 
 she termed them. But Mrs. Brown enjoyed the thing 
 vastly, as merely an innocent amusement, gratifying to 
 the poor ignorant Indians. The judgment of Mrs. Le 
 Clair vibrated between that of her two women. She 
 was not altogether pleased with the cabalistic incanta- 
 tions of the old crone, yet she had too much prudence 
 to attempt to arrest her proceedings ; for the Indians, 
 both male and female, regard with veneration the senior 
 female member of their tribe. They place implicit faith 
 in her oracular character, being persuaded that she is 
 gifted by the great Spirit with second-sight, and the 
 interpretation of signs. And to have called this in 
 question, might have so raised their passions, as to 
 make them irreconcilable and vindictive enemies. 
 
 Among the company crowded into the chamber of Mrs. 
 Le Clair, was an old woman, in a black cloak, with a 
 large black hood. This person appeared to pay marked 
 attention to every object in the room, as well as to listen 
 attentively to every passing remark. But the great 
 centre of her scrutiny was the mother and her infant, 
 for she seemed determined to carry away with her every 
 lineament of their features, deeply imprinted on her own 
 mind. 
 
 In the evening of the day on which these events oc- 
 curred, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Jones were sitting work- 
 ing at their sewing, with other members of the family, 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 245 
 
 
 The conversation very naturally turned upon the re- 
 markable incidents of the day. They dwelt more espe- 
 cially upon the strange doings and sayings of the old 
 Indian fortune-teller, as they called her. We have al- 
 ready alluded to Mrs. Jones, whose religious sentiments 
 were so shocked by what she considered the blasphe- 
 mous utterances of the old witch. It may be thought 
 that she still felt the abhorrence she manifested when 
 they were first uttered. Not so ; for after sitting some 
 time in a musing mood, she at lengtii made the remark, 
 " Dear me, it would be very strange, if all that the old 
 woman said about baby was to come to pass — would it 
 not ?" This remark proved a key-note, for incident after 
 incident was now narrated, in confirmation of a once 
 popular belief, that some old people were gifted with 
 second-sight, by which they were able to read the des- 
 tiny of others. iuiS. Jones herself was as positive as 
 any of the company in affirming these things ; and even 
 Mrs. Le Clair was impressed somewhat in the same 
 way ; at least, slie hoped that her darling was born to 
 a better state of things than had fallen to her lot, and 
 that the brightest visibns depicted by the old woman 
 might be more than realized by her darling infant 
 daughter. In fact, the entire party, who were at first 
 startled by the actions and declarations of the ignorant 
 old Indian, were now willing to be persuaded that tliere 
 might, after all, be some truth in what she had prognos- 
 ticated. And we might here ask, where is there a mind, 
 however intelligent or highly cultivated, that is entirely 
 devoid of superstition and credulity ? 
 
 On the following morning, there was a new excite- 
 nient, but of a different character from the one above 
 
 Sl-'t 
 
 ■:i 
 
iiii 
 
 liiilii 
 
 
 
 mi 
 
 'I 
 
 illiilii 
 
 m 
 ^ m 
 
 246 
 
 LILLIAN; Olv 
 
 alluded to. Far on in the morning, as the women were 
 putting things to rights, and clearing up the chaniber of 
 Mrs. Le Clair — and it must he remembered that it was 
 the same room in which me Indian women had assem- 
 bled, together with the old woman with the black cloak 
 and hood — as the little girl of Mrs. Jones was carrying 
 a chair across the room, there fell from uuderi^eath the 
 cushion a letter, which she picked up, and handed to her 
 mother ; and Mrs. Jones seeing that the letter was di- 
 rected to Mr&. Le Clair, gave it to her. The peace and 
 tranquillity reigning in that room prior to the appear- 
 ance of the letter, were now broken by one who seemed 
 smitten with a sudden and hear^rending sorrow. The 
 two women were confounded, feeling their inability to 
 arrest, by any condolence they could offer, the torrent 
 of tears they saw falling before them. They were 
 alarmed for the personal safety of Mrs. Le Clair, the 
 event happening at so critical a stage of her convales- 
 cence. In the height of the excitement and confusion, 
 Mr. Le Clair stepped into the room, whence he had re- 
 tired but a few minutes before, leaving his wife com- 
 posed and tranquil : now, to hi» astonishment, he found 
 not only his wife, but all the family, affected by a com- 
 mon sympathy, bathed in tears. Mr. Le Clair, in the 
 excitement of the moment, asked a series of questions, 
 before one could be answered. Was his wife in danger, 
 was the baby taken suddenly ill, or what other sad 
 calamity had befallen the family ? The only answer he 
 received was given by his wife, who simply pointed to 
 the yet unopened letter, which lay by her on the bed. 
 Mr. Le Clair took the letter, and, holding it up between 
 his finger and thumb, said — 
 
m 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 247 
 
 
 "Why, my dear, your alarm is all imagij>ary, for there 
 is nothing here to uffoct you thus." 
 
 " My dear Charles," said his wife, " it is the mystery, 
 it is the black phantom, that I have so fully explained 
 to you before I" 
 
 " Why," asked Mr. Le Clair, " has she been here to- 
 day with this letter ?" 
 
 " Oh, no I'* said his wife ; " yesterday she was among* 
 the crowd. I noticed her ; and now, 1 recollect, I had 
 strange emotions on seeing the black cloak and hood. 
 At the time, I took her to be some one connected with 
 the Indians, and so thought no more of her. But when 
 the letter was produced, the whole thing flashed upon 
 my mind — I saw and felt that I was still the victim of 
 that mysterious '>eing — who is ever near me, ever ac- 
 tive. My dear f Charles, am I thus to be followed to the 
 grave ; is there no possibility of my eluding her, or of 
 discovering her home, if she has one on earth ?" 
 
 After musing for some time, Mr. Le Clair at length 
 said — 
 
 " Yes, I think there is a possibility of finding out who 
 she is, and where she comes from. I will put upon her 
 trail some of my keenest, shrewdest Indian scouts. Per- 
 haps," he continued, " the letter itself contains a solution 
 of the enigma — let us see," at the same time handing it 
 to his wife, saying, " It > your letter, my dear." 
 
 " My dear Charles, I give you full liberty to peruse 
 it." 
 
 Opening it, he found it to contain, as all the others 
 had, a sterling five hundred pound Bank of England 
 note, with the Scriptural quotations as before ; but to 
 the note was attached a slip of paper, on which was 
 
 ..!■■ i ;■ 
 
 ■V ! 
 
 m 
 
 i'l 
 
248 
 
 LILLtAN; OR, 
 
 written, " To purchase a new frock for your little daugli- 
 ter." For some time Mr. Le Clair sat pondering the 
 contents of the letter. He at length said — 
 
 " Well, my dear, there is really great mystery in this, 
 and I do not wonder at your anxiety of mind, when I 
 consider all the circumstances. But at all events, who- 
 ever and whatever she may be, she appears to take a 
 deep interest in your well-being ; and it is my impres- 
 sion that she has some object in view which will ulti- 
 mately be found of great importance. It is n^.y counsel 
 that yon wait patiently for the full development of 
 events. We might reasonably presume that if she has 
 hitherto been able to elude all your attempts to unmask 
 her, she will be equally successful in the future. That 
 consideration, however, shall not deter me from my pur- 
 pose of discovering, if possible, her hiding-place. If 
 necessary, I will scour the whole country, for I have the 
 right agents for that work at my command." 
 
 The views of Mr. Le Clair met the approbation of his 
 wife ; and she well knew that what her husband had 
 with such emphasis declared to be his purpose, he would 
 execute with his accustomed energy. 
 
 Mr. Le Clair forthwith made, from among the Indians 
 within his district, a selection of men at once shrewd 
 and of tried courage and endurance. Giving them pre- 
 cise instructions, he allotted to each the portion of coun- 
 try he was to investigate, and sent them forth, inspired 
 with somewhat of his own zeal in the cause. 
 
 That the reader may be somewhat informed of the 
 proceedings of the mysterious being who caused all the 
 anxiety and unhappiness of which the home of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Le Clair was now the scene, we will introduce hira 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 249 
 
 to a party and a place with wnom and which he is al- 
 ready acquainted. At a small tavern by the roadside, 
 on the way to Kingston, and about half-way between 
 that town and " Sweet-Brier Grove," the people were all 
 hurry and activity on the niglit in question ; for a lady- 
 traveller, with her man-servant, had arrived, and was 
 to take supper; and remain for the night. Some time 
 after the lady had partaken of a sumptuous repast, and 
 retired to the sitting-room, her man-servant was sum- 
 moned to her presence. 
 
 " Well, Thomas," she inquired, " what do you think of 
 the home of the late Captain Walters, and the present 
 home of Mr. and Mrs. Le Clair ?" 
 
 " Why," said the man, " I could not have supposed 
 it possible that skill and labor could have made such a 
 wonderful transformation in the short space of a little 
 more than five years." 
 
 " I presume," said the lady, " that the skill should 
 mostly be credited to Captain Walters, and the principal 
 part of the labor, in carrying out the original design, to 
 the present occupants." 
 
 " That may be so," said the man ; " and if Captain 
 Walters could only see how completely his plans and 
 purposes have been carried out, it would afford him high 
 satisfaction." 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said the lady ; " but I see a vast dif- 
 ference between the late Captain Walters and Mr. Le 
 Clair ; for the first, with all his endowments, natural 
 and acquired, was of far too keen susceptibilities for 
 the rough-and-tumble wrestling with the world. But I 
 see that Mr. Le Clair grapples with his opponents^ 
 men, and things, and circumstances — without gloves. 
 
 W' 
 
j 
 
 I 
 
 ■'I 
 
 I 
 
 250 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 His stern will, clear perceptions, and sound judgment, 
 are powerful aids in the contest. These impressions 
 lead me to conclude that we must, in the future, be more 
 cautious in all our movements ; and I have resolved to 
 move far away from my present residence to some more 
 retired locality. But, Thomas," continued the lady, " did 
 you make the acquaintance of any of the Indians, male 
 or female ?" 
 
 *' Not much, my lady," said the man ; " but I heard 
 some of the women say, that one of the old Indians 
 had prophesied that the little daughter of Mrs. Le Clair 
 was born to be a great lady some day — somewhere a 
 great way off." 
 
 " Yes, I heard her," said the lady. " It seems all very 
 strange. I am not superstitious, nor ready to give heed 
 to old wives* tales or fables, but somehow, that old wo- 
 man's sayings and doings have found a weak spot in my 
 nature — I know not what to make of them. Her say- 
 ings seem to give nerve and force to my present pur- 
 pose, for, if her predictions do come to pass, it will only 
 be the fulfilment of my present expectations, and the 
 realization of my long-cherished hopes. But I feel per- 
 fectly willing to wait, and allow providence to work 
 out its own purposes ; and when I see the result, I shall 
 be satisfied, whatever it may be. 
 
 " But now, Thomas," said the lady, " we must be away 
 early in the morning ; our present and future plans and 
 purposes admit of no delay ; for, depend upon it, we 
 may expect untiring pursuers on our path, so that we 
 must endeavor to have the advantage of a good start. 
 To this end, we must put to the test the fleetness of our 
 horses, as well as our own skill and prudence. 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 251 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 We must now return to the main object of our nar ra- 
 ti e. It was soon found that the little stranger proved 
 tc be a great centre of attraction. Each day brought 
 seme new visitor to the mansion, with a contribution of 
 good wishes and admiration of the beauty of the baby ; 
 and each was delighted with the privilege of fondling 
 with it on their lap, or cutting antics with it around the 
 room. There was considerable discussion between Mr. 
 and Mrs. Le Clair as to the name that should be given 
 to their young daughter. It was at length decided that 
 she should be called Lillian. This met with universal 
 approval ; but she was generally called by its abbre- 
 viated synonym, Lilly. 
 
 Mrs. Le Clair had now added to all the duties and 
 labors incident to a large family and the management of 
 a farm-house, those of a maternal character ; and she 
 fully realized and felt the weight and importance of her 
 new responsibilities. She began early with the deter- 
 mination, as far as lay in her power, to mould the mind 
 of her tender charge in some conformity to her own will. 
 She soon found, however, that there were strong antag- 
 onistic powers, and deep-rooted principles of evil in the 
 very nature of the child, that would exercise to the 
 utmost her love, her wisdom, and her patience. She 
 found, too, that nature bad been lavish of her favors in 
 
 ■M: 
 
 
 
 .1-) 
 
 
 "iifis^ 
 
 li 
 
w 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 ^jjiil 
 
 •'.111 
 'it 
 
 iiiiilfl 
 
 I" :,i"lif 
 
 iillii 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 i'iiii 
 
 ijiili 
 m 
 
 252 
 
 LILLIAN; OK 
 
 the raoulding of the person of her daughter. This waa 
 often u source of intense anxiety ; for people, uninindCul 
 of the radical injury thoy were inflictino', would often 
 praise her beauty, at tlie risk of prompting iier pride 
 and influting her vanity. Thus, the mother had a 
 double task, in trying to counteract the influence of the 
 inconsiderate conduct of others on the mind of Lillian, 
 and in curbing those passions which, if allowed to 
 gather strength, would not only prOve destructive to her 
 own peace, but be a torment to all connected with her. 
 
 It was an enlightened policy in the mother that in- 
 duced her to cultivate at once, in the mind of her daugh- 
 ter, a pro|?er and wholesome degree of fear, ncjt to loosen 
 for a moment or injure in the least those tender cords 
 of affection, that entwine and bind fast together the 
 hearts of a mother and her child. But, at the same 
 time, she let her distinctly understand, that passion was 
 a fault in her nature that must be curbed ; and that 
 disobedience to her word and wishes must not go unre- 
 buked. At the same time, to correct any waywardness, 
 she lent all assistance possible to her child, by leading 
 her by gentle admonition, rather than driving her by 
 boisterous commands or angry threats. She made it a 
 point, in all her intercourse with Lillian, never to wound 
 her sensibilities, or blunt those sweet affections that 
 spontaneously gush forth from the young heart, in the 
 early recognition of the mother. But, by every little 
 art that a mother's love could devise, she tried to keep 
 these in their early freshness ; and threw out those shm- 
 der tendrils, each • slight indeed, but which, combining 
 at length, form a band of love, that time, nor distance, 
 nor untoward circumstance can sever. 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 253 
 
 liud a 
 of the 
 
 Lillian, 
 
 .ved to 
 to her 
 
 h her. 
 
 hat in- 
 
 We are not here going to introduce any remarks as 
 to the superlative beauty of this or that baby, or that 
 there is only one beauty, and every mother has it ; but 
 we do say, that nature really did make an extra effort 
 when Lillian was produced. And as she advanced in 
 age, and her form became developed, each sucuesaive 
 month seemed to add some new feature, and to give a 
 higher degree of perfection to her entire being. 
 
 As we have already noticed in the case of Mr. Le 
 Clair, that his personal appearance gave clear indica- 
 tion of his Indian and French origin, developing traits 
 of both, which, harmoniously mingling, resulted in a 
 high degree of beauty ; so in the case of Lillian, she 
 gave clear proof that she had a good share of Indian 
 blood in her veins, while some of her features evidenced 
 a derivation from the same source. But all this was 
 considerably modified by the moulding she had received 
 from her ojiiglish mother. As the Indian features and 
 nature had been softened and refined in Mr. Le Clair 
 by his French mother, so this process of transformation 
 had been carried on in the person of Lillian, producing 
 one of those brilliant and charming creatures so often to 
 be met with in the South, the result of a mixture of races. 
 Lillian, growing apace, soon gave evidence that she 
 had an imperious nature. When quite young, with an 
 irascible temper, she could assume a terrible sternness 
 of countenance, and a masculine rigidity of muscle that 
 was as unyielding as her despotic will. At times, coer- 
 cion was of no avail ; and soft, affectionate words, had 
 no more influence over her than they would have had on 
 the passing wind. Often, when this was the case, would 
 Mrs. Le Clair clasp her child to her bosom, and in an 
 
 
 i 
 
 
Tf 
 
 254 
 
 LILLIAN; OK, 
 
 i ' 
 
 agony exclaim, " Oh I what have I done to bring such a 
 being as this into the world 1" But the mother's love 
 bore her up, and with untiring patience she urged both 
 mental and moral influences ; and, as the child's intellect 
 expanded, she instilled the sentiments and imparted the 
 instruction suited to its comprehensi(jn. On this point, 
 however, the mother appeared to have but little trouble, 
 for Lillian's mind, like her person, proved to be above the 
 common cast, with a memory most accurately retentive. 
 Thus the labor of instruction, while it was a duty, be- 
 came a pleasuic, because the pupil was apt at learning 
 and eager to advance. And then, this acquisition of 
 knowledge, and the improvement of her mind, proved to 
 be a powerful weapon in her own behalf, that she was 
 taught to wield against her passions ; and as her mind 
 became informed, and her judgment matured, she did 
 arrive at the conviction, that her passions were her frail- 
 ties, and, in part, her deadliest foes. 
 
 Deep was her mother's commiseration as she saw evi- 
 dences of the fierce strife that was being carried on in 
 the mind of Lillian, between the convictions of her bet- 
 tT judgment and her deplorable passions. After an ac- 
 cess of passion, when reflection came, and the calmer 
 mood of her mind returned, the mother's love would 
 prompt those feelings that soothed and swayed the 
 softened heart of her child. And at such times, and un- 
 der the influence of such impressions, often would tiia<, 
 subdued girl bury her face in her mother's lap, and we(,'p 
 bitter tears over these sad exhibitions of her turbulent 
 nature. 
 
 01., what opposites met in that nature, that girl of 
 bright and sparkling genius, possessing those amiable 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 255 
 
 qualities of mind and disposition, and such surpassing- 
 beauty of person I If any other woman than Mrs. Le 
 Clair had had this mysterious being under her charge — 
 this incongruous creature, this inexplicable mixtrie f>f 
 opposites — Ihe better part of her nature would have been 
 irretrievably overborne by her lower propensities. It 
 was, under 'God, the wisdom and patience of Mrs. Le 
 Clair, prompted by her untiring love, that not only saved 
 Lillian from such a fate, but eventually sent her forth 
 as a beautiful example of what a mother may accomplish, 
 under the most unpropitious circumstances, with un- 
 tractable and forbidding materials. 
 
 It must, however, be said in Lillian's favor, that, not- 
 withstanding the extreme unevenness of her nature, she 
 was a general favorite, owing to her ingenuousness and 
 the open honesty of her heart. To guile, or deception 
 of any kind, she was a perfect stranger, and she despised 
 them in others. But however much she was the favor- 
 ite with others, she was especially so with the Indians, 
 for those simple children of the forest seldom visited the 
 office of Mr. Le Clair without bringing some little token 
 of their rej^jard to Lillian ; and from this source she had 
 accurnulat<'d quite an extensive and valuable assortment 
 of Indian curiosities. These consisted of every variety 
 of needle-work in beads and moose-hair, and beautiful 
 speciinens of work with birch-bark. 
 
 What seemed to be received with the most delight, 
 and enjoyed with the greatest glee, was a beautiful and 
 elaborately ornamented bow with a quiver full of arrows. 
 This present suit(jd exactly the restless and rampant 
 spirit of Lillian, for confinement, for any length of time 
 at once, was to her unendurable. And this bow, with 
 
 ifit ■'' ■ ■ ■■ 
 
 ,"'^■1' 
 
 IS, 
 
 i . :i 
 
 
 J. 
 
256 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 the quiver slung over her shoulder, was her constant 
 companion. By continued practice, so proficient did she 
 become as an archer, that but few of the Indian boys 
 or girls could surpass her in the exercise ; and many a 
 bird and squirrel, and other small animal, became vic- 
 tims to her correct and steady lim. This, beyond 
 doubt, was in part owing to the minute inut'ictions of 
 ti»e Indian from whom she received the gift, as to the 
 proper position, the right handling of the bow, and ad- 
 justing of the arrow. It was with this, as with every 
 thing else to which she turned her attention — that one 
 thing or subject, or Vv'hatever it might be, monopolized 
 for the time the concentrated force of all the powers of 
 lier mind. 
 
 Such was the ardor of Lillian's nature, the energy she 
 put forth, and the clearness of her perceptions, that the 
 tedious process of patient mental drudgery was unne- 
 cessary, for she reached results by intuition, as it were. 
 Her mother had from comparative infancy, by a gradual, 
 easy, and pleasant process, opened up to the mind of 
 her daughter the general elements of knowledge ; so 
 that she could at a very early age read with fluency, and 
 understand clearly what she read. But music seemed 
 to captivate her the most, for her emotional nature was 
 stirred through all its depths when listening t(i others, or 
 when her own nimble fingers were sweeping over the keys 
 of the piano ; and for brilliancy of execution she bid fair 
 to rival even her mother. Her voice, too, while yet 
 uneducated, gave promise of being one of surpassing 
 power and svve<;tness. This proved a kind of sufcty- 
 valve >r her passionate md vehement spirit ; for the 
 gushiugs forth . :' her wild nature iu song often rapt her 
 
r '^ 
 
 WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 257 
 
 own soul, while they held those who listened spell-bound 
 witli delight. 
 
 It was often a source of unalloyed pleasure to Lillian 
 to sit and listen to the old Indian squaws, while they re- 
 lated to her the legendary tales of battles, victories, 
 triumphs, and exciting love-stories still current among 
 the neighboring tribes. These, together with memorable 
 incidents and thrilling narrations of the adventures of 
 remarkable individuals, were interwoven with the his- 
 tory of some of the tribes connected with her own an- 
 cestry, and, depicted in their glowing and expressive 
 language, and adorned with the florid imagery peculiar 
 to these depositaries of Indian lore, so infatuated Lil- 
 lian, and so fired her imagination, that she gloried in, 
 and would often boast of her descent from a long line 
 of intrepid warriors. Thus, by intercourse with the In- 
 dians, both young and old, she not only became initiated 
 in .1 the mj'^steries of Indian lore, and an adept in all 
 their sports, but could converse with fluency in their 
 language. 
 
 The restless and roving disposition of Lillian kept 
 her so constantly on the move, that in walking, and in 
 exerciser demanding agility or fleetness, she" would 
 weary the most robust and active of her playmates. 
 She ut length found a companion and playmate who was 
 her equal in feats of agility and fleetness, and one that 
 she could not so easily out-exercise, and with whom she 
 could romp, jump, wrestle, and run to her heart's con- 
 tent. Tliis playmate was a fine, young Newfoundland 
 dog. She soon succeeded in making Rollo her obedient 
 servitor, as well as faithful fiiend, which had not al- 
 ways been the case with h^ f<ufj»er playmates. The 
 
 if 
 
 / -■.:!-!■ 
 
 .;'. ■( 
 
w 
 
 1 
 
 258 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 sagacious and docile animal seemed to take a special 
 pride in going through all the tricks and pranks that 
 Lillian taught him ; and some of these were of a mar- 
 vellous kind, exhibiting great intelligence. One great 
 delight of Lillian was to go to the shore of the neigh- 
 boring Lake Ontario, in the waters of which, clad in 
 her light bathing-dress, she and Rollo would enjoy them- 
 selves in sports, as they had done on the land ; and it 
 was not easy to decide which of the two was the better 
 swimmer, Lillian or Rollo. 
 
 Lillian was again fortunate in discovering a pet, a 
 wild creature, with a disposition almost a match for her 
 ©wu — a young colt, untamed, and apparently untama- 
 ble. This colt, of a vicious disposition, would permit no 
 one to approach her without an exhibition of her fiery 
 spirit. But, by some mysterious impulse or freak, the 
 colt was attracted to Lillian, who was quite willing to 
 improve the opportunity, and she did all she could to 
 ingratiate herself in her favor. Soon the friendship be- 
 came so strong, that neither was contented apart from 
 the other ; so that Lillian, the dog Rollo, and the colt, to 
 which Lillian gave the name of Polly, were almost con- 
 stant and congenial companions. But Lillian was the 
 controlling spirit of the trio, and it must be admitted 
 that she, at times, was rather imperious in her sway. 
 But, notwitiistanding this, Polly could ill brook the first 
 attempt that Lillian made to put bitt in her moutn, or 
 saddle on her back. Polly seemed to look upon this 
 attempt to control her freedom as a step too far. The 
 brute soon found, however, that Lillian was master oi 
 the situation, that her will was law, and that she her- 
 self, rebellious as she felt, must submit. But when 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 259 
 
 Lillian carried her authority so far as to place herself 
 on that saddle, Polly could restrain herself no lonj^^er, 
 but breaking out into open rebellion, pranced and reared, 
 exhibiting in every way her impotent rage. If the ct)lt 
 had been tarne and submissive, it would not have bcjen 
 in accordance with the taste of Lillian ; as it was, she 
 was in her element, and the more frantic the steed, the 
 more excited the rider became, until she screamed with 
 delight. The colt and Lillian, however, soon came to 
 an understanding with each other— one was to rule, the 
 other to obey. 
 
 It was one of the chief delights of Lillian — accompa- 
 nied by Rollo, and mounted on Polly, with her bow in 
 hand, and her quiver full of arrows slung over her shoul- 
 der — to exhibit her skill in archery, or the use of the 
 bow. 
 
 Many were the wild adventures and narrow escapes 
 of Lillian. We will relate a single instance, which will 
 suffice to show her spirit and courage. Early one morn- 
 ing, in the autumn that succeeded Lillian's fifteenth 
 summer, she was taking her accustomed ride on her 
 favorite pony Polly, when she was led by her daring 
 spirit to a greater distance into the woods than usual. 
 When about to return, by a narrow and intricate path, 
 she was met by a full-grown black bear. The brute 
 seemed to be the only one of the party that was at all 
 confused by this unexpected meeting ; for Lillian, calm 
 and courageous as she was, coolly brouglit her bow to 
 position, and placing the arrow with care, with prompt 
 aim and strong arm sent the missile with such force, 
 that, entering the eye and penetrating the brain of the 
 huge beast, it laid him sprawling on the ground. With 
 
260 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 the cool deportment )f a veteran sportsman, Lillian sur- 
 veyed her g-ame, and finding it too bulky for her to 
 remove single-handed, she started for home, to relate 
 her encounter and its successful result. A party was 
 promptly dispatched to bring home the valuable prize, 
 the fruit of Lillian's skill and courage. It would be 
 useless here to speculate on the danger Lillian would 
 have been placed in, had the wound inflicted on the bear 
 not proved fatal. All wonder at Lillian's success as an 
 archer will subside, when it is understood that she had 
 been under the tuition of an Indian the most skilful of 
 his tribe in the use of the bow. 
 
 ::'!l!|i 
 
woman's ENDURAirCE. 
 
 261 
 
 an sur- 
 lier to 
 relate 
 
 ty was 
 prize, 
 
 uld be 
 would 
 
 e bear 
 as an 
 
 le had 
 
 ilful of 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 During all the early days and years of Lillian's life, 
 every faculty of her mother, physical and mental, had 
 been deeply and incessantly exercised in her behalf; 
 and now, as she advanced in years, the mother's solici- 
 tude became still more intense, for she saw that a being" 
 of such fine personal attractions must be exposed to 
 great perils. But her fears were calmed and her mis- 
 givings silenced by the reflection, that although the per- 
 sonal beauty of Lillian was so admiringly recognized by 
 every one else, yet she herself seemed utterly uncon- 
 scious of its possession. And then, the purity of her 
 mind was evinced by a frankness and artless simplicity 
 of manners, that irresistibly commanded the respect 
 and esteem of all who made her acquaintance. 
 
 In all the intercourse of Lillian with the youth of the 
 neighborhood, as she felt, so she ever exhibited her 
 superiority, and they were quite willing to yield her 
 proper homage. From her nature, it was not possible 
 she should treat them otherwise. Yet her conduct was 
 devoid of all arrogant, supercilious assumption. She 
 owed this, in part, to the wise tuition of her mother, but 
 more, perhaps, to the nobleness of her own mind, and 
 the dignity of her nature. 
 
 Lillian was now approaching a critical period of her 
 life, when, according to the decision she should make, 
 she would direct her bark for sunny seas or stormy 
 
 .■I'i t 
 
 ■ ''.' 'X J. ,; (I 
 
 ■i 
 
 :'-l^ 
 
262 
 
 L I Ti L I AN; OR, 
 
 III 
 
 m 
 
 gulfa — for vvpal or woo. Her heart as yet was callow, 
 fresh, mirthful, and g:irH8h. Wild she was, and playful 
 as the young" fawn. It might be said that love, with her 
 was out of the question, as, among the rustics of the 
 neighborhood, there was no youth who durst aspire to 
 her hand. But she was happy, for she was approached 
 by no evil, guarded as she ever was by her parents' 
 vigilant care. And she was supremely happy in the 
 sweet assurance of her consciousness that she was the 
 centre of attraction to their loving hearts. 
 
 This little circle of father, mother, and daughter, 
 was now the centre of admiring observation to their 
 own domestics, as well as to their neighbors for a wide 
 circuit. Every thing, both within doors and on their 
 now large and well-cultivated farm, bore the marks of 
 high prosperity. Providence seemed to smile upon them, 
 and the minds of Mr. and Mrs. Le Clair were at ease 
 with regard alike to the present and to the future. But 
 they did not, like too many under similar circumstances, 
 arrogate to themselves the praise for the acquisition of 
 so many blessings. They knew who it was that thus 
 caused their cup to run over, blessing them in basket 
 and in store. 
 
 It has doubtless been observed, from our narrative 
 thus far, that Mr. Le Clair was a man of more than 
 ordinary vigor of body and mind. His official position 
 would naturally enlarge his capacity, and bring his 
 talents to a state of high proficiency. And this was 
 the case ; yet his talents were often put to a severe 
 test by the difficult questions he was called upon to 
 solve, in connection with the fierce passions and bit- 
 terly vengeful spirits ho had to contend against. He 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 263 
 
 callow, 
 1 playful 
 with her, 
 s of the 
 ispire to 
 )roached 
 parents' 
 '' in the 
 was the 
 
 aughter, 
 to their 
 r a wide 
 on their 
 fiarks of 
 on them, 
 at ease 
 re. But 
 stances, 
 ^ition of 
 lat thus 
 1 basket 
 
 arrative 
 >re than 
 position 
 •ing his 
 liis was 
 severe 
 upon to 
 -nd bit- 
 st. He 
 
 was far nlDre successful than some of his best friends 
 had anticipated ; but, having employed the right njoans 
 to secure it, they said that he deserved success. Mr. Lo 
 Clair found less difficulty in fashioning the general fea- 
 tures of his farm to his taste and purposes, than in 
 keeping under proper restraint the passionate and ob- 
 durate natures of the Indians under his charge. A case 
 Roou arose that defied his skill and tact, and which he 
 failed amicably to adjust to the satisfaction of the parties 
 interested. Two of the most turbulent beings among all 
 the tribes within his jurisdiction had had a serious dis- 
 agreement about the division of the spoils of a hunting 
 excursion. After long wrangling between themselves 
 without arriving at any result, they agreed to refer the 
 subject in dispute to the decision of their Chief. When 
 the case was brought up for his adjudication, Mr. Le 
 Clair, fearing the worst effects, whichever way it might 
 terminate, formed the resolution, let the consequences 
 be what they might, to judge between the two litigants 
 according to the principles of strict justice. After hear- 
 ing both sides of the case, he found, as he had antici- 
 pated, that the Indian who had the weakest side of the 
 plea was in almost continual altercation with nearly 
 every member of his tribe, and was at once hated and 
 feared by them all ; and that, consequently, the case 
 must be decided against him. 
 
 Mr. Le Clair gave his view of the case in a frank and 
 clear statement, and awarded the disputed points so as 
 to satisfy every member of the tribe except the irritable 
 savage who had lost his suit. This fellow left the com- 
 pany and the presence of Mr. Le Clair with a ferocious 
 look, muttering threats of vengeance against some one. 
 
 V9 
 
If 
 
 264 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 The thing pasRed over for the time beinf^, and little was 
 said or thought on the subject. However, docp, black 
 revenge was rankling in the bad heart of the desperate 
 Indian. Within a month after the decision in the above 
 case, Mr. Le Clair was found lying dead at a short dis- 
 tance from his own house, with his heart pierced by an 
 Indian arr -w. 
 
 The no us of this dark deed flew in every direction, 
 causing consternation and the deepest indignation wher- 
 ever it came. So general and overwhelming was the 
 sorrow, that every private interest was lost sight of, and 
 tears flowed freely, — a deserved tribute to the memory 
 of the lamented dead. But, as may be supposed, no- 
 where did this calamity press so heavily as in his own 
 home, on the hearts of his own sorrow-stricken lovod 
 ones. Mrs. Le Cl.iir received the fatal news with 
 blank paralyzing dismay. No tears would come to her 
 relief. Oh I that silent agony of the soul ! There was 
 little outward manifestation of her feelings, scarcely a 
 ripple on the surface ; it was all deep down in those 
 depths where the inward nature is wrung with unutter- 
 able torture — evidenced by the unstrung and nerveless 
 frame, the blanched countenance, the fixed and glassy 
 eye, the bloodless and wordless lips. Her recognition 
 of person and place seemed lost ; her whole being wasj 
 stunned and blasted, as if the withering hand of fate 
 had struck her down. That wise, that good, that vir- 
 tuous woman, who from early youth had obeyed the 
 dictates of an enlightened conscience, and followed the 
 leadings of a higher intelligence — on her had fallen a 
 train of evils beyond her own power to remove, without 
 fault on her part, either in their origin or consummation. 
 
 , ■ 1 
 
 Mi ,. 
 
 m 
 
woman's ENDI'RANCE. 
 
 2fi5 
 
 Why is it, Heaven I that the good, the noble in heart 
 and soul, are made to pass through the lire, and wade 
 througli such deep waters ? 
 
 But, how was it with Lillian ? The contrast was 
 great between Mrs. Le Clair and her daughter. The 
 one, bowed down and thoroughly broken in spirit, was 
 the personification of deep, silent sorrow. The other 
 was terrible as the roused tigress. She wished to hunt 
 down the murderer of her father. If she could only 
 catch him, she would tear him to pieces — she would tor- 
 ture and slay him. Nothing could allay her maniac 
 fury and soothe that terribly excited being, until the fires 
 raging in her breast burned themselves out. Even then, 
 her entire frame shook and heaved with convulsiv*-, 
 throes, long after the first paroxysms of her wrath had 
 subsided — like the dead swell of the ocean, after having 
 been lashed to fury by the storm. 
 
 How changed was that so lately quiet and happy 
 home ! Every member of that family circle was pros- 
 trated by the fatal blow. They mourned the loss of one 
 whose place could not be supplied. 
 
 After a searching investigation of the cause and man- 
 ner of the death of Mr. Le Clair, but one conclusion could 
 be arrived at ; and that was, that he had been murdered 
 hy the dark-minded villain against whom, in the litiga- 
 tion of his suit, Mr. Le Clair had so righteously decided. 
 The next point to be (Considered was, how to arrest the 
 guilty fugitive. He was known to be daring, cunning, 
 and unscrupulous, and no one would dare to attack him 
 openly. As to stratagem, he was a match for the whole 
 tribe. It was concluded by the neighboring tribes that 
 they would hunt him down like a wild beast. 
 
 12 
 
 
266 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 I 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 m 
 
 M 
 
 
 Though thus united in purpose and prompt in action, 
 they soon found their design not easy of accomplish- 
 ment ; for, after the perpetration of the foul deed, the 
 fiend had started off in a direct northern line. It y^uh 
 not possible to find his trail, as he had left no footprints 
 or any other indications that marked his line of progress 
 through the dense and tangled forest. Weeks and 
 months passed, but without any trace or tidings of the 
 outlawed vagabond. At length a party of his tribe, far 
 away in the North on a hunting excursion, had their at- 
 tention attracted by the trunk of a large oak-tree which 
 had been riven and prostrated by a stroke of lightning. 
 The party approached the spot to examine the thing 
 more closely, and found, to their utter astonishment, 
 close to the shattered and blasted tree, the entire bare 
 and bleached bones of what, on examination, proved to 
 be the remains of an Indian. Their suspicions were at 
 once excited that these bones might prove to be the re- 
 mains of the man who had murdered Mr. Le Clair. A 
 bow and arrows, and a number of Indian ornaments 
 and other articles, found at the spot, confirmed them in 
 tiie correctness of their conjecture. Another proof this, 
 that though the guilty one may escape punishment by his 
 f<^llow-man, he is sure at length to meet the vengeance 
 of Heaven. It was generally supposed that the wretch 
 liad taken shelter under the spreading branches of the 
 tree, to screen himself from a passing storm, and that, 
 being attacked and devoured by wolves, his dhelter 
 proved his ruin. 
 
 But, to return to the home of the late Mr. Le Clair, 
 Fearful indeed to his family were the results of their 
 sudden bereavement. Before this calamity, Mrs. Le 
 
 
 i 
 
 liti^ 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 267 
 
 
 Clair hud known what it was to ondiiro the loss of a 
 fond husband in the death of Captain Walters. But 
 tJiat affliction came upon her by slow degrees, so that 
 she had time and opportunity afforded her to nerve her- 
 self, and to brace her mind to meet it. But in this case, * 
 so sudden w^s the shock, that it gnve her mind no 
 chance to rally its forces ; and her native energy, which 
 had so often carried her triumphantly through other 
 trying scenes, was now paralyzed and impotent. Both 
 mother ar^d daughter seemed at times as if brought to 
 the very verge of life. But their vigorous constitutions, 
 with tender care, carried them through, and they were 
 soon in the enjoyment of their wonted health. Yet, a 
 chill had passed over their spirits that seemed to have 
 new-moulded their natures, and to have given a subdued 
 tone to their whole being. Mrs. Le Clair was most cer- 
 tainly a sadder woman. She sometimes thought, she 
 would say, that she was a centre where the ills of life 
 converged, directing their barbed sliafts at her very 
 soul. In spite of her efft^rts to fortify h(;r mind with the 
 higher sentiments of divine truth, these thoughts would 
 too often intrude. But this sad event had accomplished 
 for Lillian what other occurrences in her past life were 
 powerless to effect, for she came out of this fiery ordeal a 
 sedate and thoughtful woman. Prior to this, no sorrow 
 had ever touched her heart ; but now her nature was 
 softened, her spirit humbled, and her slumbering sym- 
 pathies for her mother fully aroused. The memories of 
 her father were now clustering around her heart, afford- 
 ing inexhaustible and elevating subjects for reflection. 
 She now saw his virtues, which she had not appreciated 
 in the living parent, stand out in bold and striking promi- 
 
■M'' 
 
 268 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 ! 
 t 
 
 •'! II' 
 
 If 
 
 p 
 
 4:!{v 
 
 nence. And these sympathies and memories proved, as 
 it were, a ballast, to steady her hitherto wild and erratic 
 nature. She had grown wiser at a fearful expense, but 
 the lessons she had learned, and the discipline she had 
 been subjected to, might yet be of priceless value to 
 her. To employ language that will fully meet her case, 
 we would say that she was decidedly more domestic in 
 all her habits. 
 
 Lillian had, by nature, a strong and vigorous intellect, 
 and her mind had been highly cultivated by both father 
 and mother. Her imagination had been excited and 
 fed by listening to the old Indian squaws, who related 
 the glowing legendary tales current among their tribes ; 
 and her fancy was of the liveliest type. As she had 
 become of late more reflective, she would often sit by 
 herself in silence, as though musing on some deeply 
 absorbing subject. Then again, she would warble some 
 plaintive tune, as though actuated by a superhuman 
 agency. Indeed, she seemed inspired by the very spirit 
 of song, for she would often breathe forth her very soul 
 in entrancing melody. 
 
 One day, when Lillian was bordering on the age of 
 seventeen, she had wandered away some distance from 
 the house, near to the neighbjring woods, and within 
 sight of the banks of Lake Ontario. Sitting down on 
 the trunk of a fallen tree, while the luxuriant foliage of 
 a large maple formed a canopy that shielded her from 
 the rays of the sun, she was soon lost, in this seclusion, 
 in one of her dreamy fits, her eye wandering over the 
 expanse of water before her. She plucked a beautiful 
 wild-rose from its stem, and, in a state of mental abstrac- 
 tion, separated the rose leaf by leaf, laying the leaves 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 269 
 
 on her lap. She would now and again raise her eyes, 
 survey the lake and the woods, and then look tow- 
 ards the house, her home. A deep sig-h would now and 
 tlien escape her, when she would pluck another rose, 
 then another, and still another, until on her lap, and all 
 around her, lay the wreck of many roses. At length, 
 as though she had been seized with somewhat of her old 
 wild spirit, she struck up one of her favorite love-ditties. 
 At once, she seemed to be completely beside herself; 
 her soul seemed rapt, and her spirit ready to take wing 
 and fly away. The very woods, too, seemed inspired, 
 for echo answered to echo, with such varied cadence, 
 that it was as if a company of minstrels were chanting 
 praises in unearthly strains. Whtn she had finished 
 the song, she again relapsed into silence and musing 
 as before. But hark I what is that she hears ? It was 
 surely the same tune that she herself had just been war- 
 bling. Was it the Great Spirit of whom the old squaw 
 had so often spoken, who was thus answering her from 
 his dwelling-place ? If not, what could it be, she had 
 never heard any thing like it before ? Her mind, im- 
 pressed with a kind of awe, was agitated, and in this 
 state she started for her home. It was more of a reli- 
 gious feeling with which she was impressed than alarm, 
 for she was not so easily frightened ; but this was so 
 very strange I When she arrived at home, she tried in 
 the best way she could to explain to her mother this 
 strange and wonderful music ; but it was utterly unex- 
 plainable, it was so unearthly — it must be the Great 
 Spirit. Her mother came to the conclusion that Lillian, 
 falling asleep in one of her musing fits, had been dream- 
 ing, and awaking from her dream, had started home 
 
 ■%u 
 
270 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 I:' 
 
 
 in a fright. Lillian's protestations to the contrary di 1 
 not change the mind of Mrs. Lo Clair, who still believed 
 her daughter must in some way be mistaken. Thouo-h 
 fully satisfied, Lillian determined on investigating the 
 matter further, and for this purpose visited the same 
 place on the following afternoon. Arriving there, she 
 chanted one of her sweetest songs, which she had no 
 sooner concluded, than she heard the same strain re- 
 peated, but with a soft, flowing sweetness to which her 
 ear was a stranger. She now became fully enlightened 
 as to the nature and source of the sweet strains with 
 which she had been so enraptured — some person, hear- 
 ing her sing, had responded by repeating the same tune 
 on the flute. Her curiosity was so far excited, that 
 she wished for a more intimate knowledge of the per- 
 former who could produce such dulcet melody from his 
 instrument. Her wish was sooner gratified than she 
 had anticipated. On turning her attention and direct- 
 ing her steps towards a narrow path that led through 
 a dense undergrowth of brush into the woods, a man 
 emerged from this path, and fully confronted her. He 
 was dressed in the prim uniform of a sergeant of the 
 English army. They were both greatly confused, stand- 
 ing silently contemplating each other, as if, for the mo- 
 ment, they had lost all power of utterance. At length, 
 the sergeant, raising his cap in a very graceful manner, 
 said— *- 
 
 " Excuse me, Miss ; I hope I am not rudely intruding 
 myself on your privacy ?" 
 
 Lillian, greatly embarrassed, and with face suffused 
 with blushes, replied — 
 
 " I have been too venturesome, I fear, in coming thus 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 271 
 
 far alone ; but I was attracted by music executed by 
 some person playing on the flute." 
 
 " Yes," said the sergeant, holding out a beautiful 
 silver-mounted flute, with a number of silver keys at- 
 taclied, " it was I wiio was playing, in response to some 
 delightful vocal strains that reached my ear from this 
 direction. I heard a melody that used to be a favorite 
 one of my mother's — one with which she used to delight 
 me when a boy. You may be sure that, as I listened, 
 my mind was stirred with sweet memories of other days 
 and places, and of loved ones I may never see again. 
 If I have grown too stern for tears, believe me, Miss, 
 that I find my heart still in possession of all its native 
 tenderness." 
 
 As he uttered these words, gazing upon the lovely 
 girl before him, his soul seemed speaking from every 
 feature ; so that it was not so much the words as the 
 impressive manner of their delivery that gave a still 
 deeper tinge to the blushes on the face of Lillian, He 
 had excited her sympathy, and with much feeling she 
 asked — 
 
 " Have you a mother ?" 
 
 " I had," was the laconic reply. 
 
 " Have you a father, then ?" asked Lillian, with much 
 simplicity and assured confidence. 
 
 " I had one," was again the reply of the sergeant. 
 
 At this stage of the interview Lillian began to show 
 signs of restlessness, and, looking in the direction of her 
 home, said, with much feeling — 
 
 "Excuse me, sir, 1 must be going ; my mother wil! 
 be expecting me, and will consider me as tarrying Uh> 
 long ;" at the same time, with a gentle movemeni Oi" 
 
 'r i. 
 
 m-: 
 
272 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 m 
 
 
 lier hand and an inclination of her head, in her tender 
 musical tones taking leave of him with, " Good-day, sir," 
 she turned to go towards her home. The sergeant, re- 
 spectfully raising his cap, and with much gallantry 
 thrown into a graceful bow, bade her adieu. But the 
 sergeant found it not easy to leave the spot, for he stood 
 there, looking after Lillian, admiring the dignity and 
 grace of her movement as she receded from him. The 
 words escaped his lips, *' Wliat a beautiful girl ! what a 
 brilliant creaUu'e 1" We would inform the reader that 
 Sergeant George Hargreaves belonged to a regiment 
 then stationed in Canada, and the company of this regi- 
 ment to which he was attached was then on detached 
 duty close by the residence of Mrs. Le Clair. They had 
 been placed there, only a few days before the above in- 
 terview took place, in consequence of some apprehended 
 difficulty with one of the tribes of Indians and some of 
 the farmers on the outskirts of the white settlements. 
 
 As Lillian wended her way homeward, she found that 
 she carried with her a new image imprinted on her heart. 
 When she arrived at home, she informed her mother 
 that she had found out all about the music she had heard 
 in the woods — that it was a person playing on a flute ; 
 but she said as little as possible about the performer 
 himself. However, if she said little, she thought much, 
 and felt still more ; for Cupid had shot his arrows, and 
 they had entered her heart. Previous to the above in- 
 terview, Lillian had had 1itt!(! if aay mtercovirse with 
 people of the outside .vorld. Eor u< qr.aintance had been 
 confined to the sons and daugni,ci» of the neighboring 
 farmers, and to the Indians who visited her father's 
 office on aflfairs connected with their own personal inter- 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 273 
 
 tender 
 
 o • 
 
 
 eats, or those of their different tribes ; so that, when 
 she first saw Sergeant Hargreaves, with his handsome, 
 manly form and features, his neat-fitting dress, his su- 
 perior action, and his dashing manner, she at once con- 
 cluded that he must, of course, be of high rank in the 
 army, and that he must be good, as h- spoke so tenderly 
 of his mother. With this general catline, her imagina- 
 tion was not slow in filling up a picture suited to her 
 fancy, and this picture was engraven in deep and in- 
 effaceable characters on her soul. It was the same with 
 Hargreaves in regard to Lillian : although he had trav-' 
 elled and seen much of the world, and his heart had 
 been thus far impervious to the charms of the fairer 
 sex, yet now, when he saw Lillian, it yielded like the 
 delicate rose to the influence of the genial shower and 
 the life-awakening rays of the sun. The appearance 
 and manners of Lillian had carried his heart captive ; but 
 there was a doubt whether she could ever be his. He was 
 but a sergeant ; and if she belonged to an aristocratic 
 family, might not his profession and inferior position 
 prove insuperable obstacles to his suit ? At all events, 
 on the morrow he would call at their residence. Sleep 
 made but fitful visits to the eyes of Hargreaves during 
 the intervening night — his thoughts were with Lillian, 
 fluttering in ecstasy around her, admiringly contem- 
 plating her fine form, her lofty mien, the sparkling 
 splendor of her eyes, every feature of her noble counte- 
 nance. 
 
 Hargreaves paid the purposed visit on the following 
 morning, with a trembling heart and many misgivings. 
 He did not forget, however, to take his flute with him, 
 the magic influence of which had already been acknowl- 
 
 12* 
 
 I I't i 
 
~rqpr 
 
 !i 
 
 m 
 
 P 
 
 274 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 edged by Lillian. He introduced himself with a (;oiir- 
 teous freedom, explaining the cause of himself and his 
 company being in the neighborhood ; then, in an off- 
 hand way, alluded to his interview of the previous even- 
 ing with Lillian, attracted thither by hearing her sing 
 an air with which he was familiar, having learned it 
 from his motlier when a boy at home. 
 
 He kept the conversation going in a spirited and 
 agreeable style for some time, when, observing the ele- 
 eant piano, with a pile of music close by it, he, without 
 showing much apparent interest in the thing, approached 
 it, and, sitting down on the stool, swept his fingers over 
 the keys, eliciting a burst of admiration from both Lillian 
 and her mother. Then, playing the tune he had hoard 
 Lillian sing the day before — exciting and interesting still 
 more deeply those whose good opinion he wished to se- 
 cure, and having, as ho no doubt divined, made an im- 
 pression on their minds favorable to himself — with all 
 the suavity that he could throw into his manner, urging 
 the calls of duty, iie left them. But he was not allowed 
 to depart without receiving an invitation, while his eom- 
 pany remained in the neighborhood, and as opportunity 
 offered, to pay them a visit. 
 
 After Hargreaves had left the house, Mrs. Le Clair 
 and Lillian expressed the opinion that, while a finished 
 musician, his manners were those of a polished gentle- 
 man. In the course of their conversation, Mrs. Le Clair 
 was pained by the revelation of a fact she had before 
 little dreamed jf. Lillian, she saw, from her exagger- 
 ated praise of the personal appearance and mental at- 
 tractions of the gay-looking and gifted sergeant, had 
 lost control of her feelings ^ and she began to throw 
 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 275 
 
 out words of caution, and to urge disparaging probabili- 
 ties in regard to the stranger. The diflference, she said, 
 between the rank and position of her first husband, Cap- 
 tain Walters, and this Hargrcaves, who was only a ser- 
 geant, was too great. But this was now a waste of 
 words ; it came too late, for the mischief was already 
 done, if there was mischief in it ; it was like throwing 
 oil upon the smouldering fire. As usual in such cases, 
 her mother's words but increased her fervor in defending 
 Hargreaves. A man who so prided himself in recollec- 
 tions of his mother, she pleaded, and cherished such feel- 
 ings in her regard, must have a pure and tender heart, 
 and certainly could not be a bad man. 
 
 Sergeant Hargreaves visited the house of Mrs. Le 
 Clair on the following morning ; for, with heart en- 
 thralled and vibrating between hope and fear, he could 
 have no happiness but in assurance of the success of 
 his suit. He was yet ignorant of the influence he was 
 exerting over the heart of Lillian. When he made his 
 appearance, be might have perceived by her manner, 
 and the hearty reception she gave him, that his presence 
 was not unwelcome. Though Mrs. Le Clair exhibited 
 her usual affability, and seemed to give a cordial recep- 
 tion to Hargreaves, yet there was a strong under-current 
 setting in an opposite direction. She, however, knew 
 the resolute mind and determined will of Lillian, and 
 rightly concluded, that if the passion of lovf once gained 
 possession of her heart, it would overbear all obstacles, 
 and even a mother's arguments, commands, and entreaties 
 be powerless to control it or change its course — it would 
 burn on. As we have said before, if there was mischief 
 Id that, it was already accomplished. Lillian had lost 
 
 i. 1 
 
276 
 
 LILLIAN; OU, 
 
 all control over her feelings, so strong was the passion 
 of love in her heart. The presence of Hargreaves had 
 now become necessary to her p(Mi(3e and happiness ; for, 
 (luring- his absence, slie was restless and unKatisficd with 
 every thing. It was the same with Hargreaves, who 
 was never himself while out of the company of Lilliun ; 
 hence all the time he could command was spent in iier 
 society. 
 
 Mrs. Le Clair observed with a painful interest the 
 scene passing before her in her own home, and in which 
 Lillian was, to her, the most prominent object, but which 
 she had been powerless to change in any way. She 
 dreaded the loss of her only child, in her now widowed 
 and lonely state. And then she knew, herself, what it 
 was to be a soldier's wife, to have no settled resting- 
 place, but to be a wanderer over the world, even with 
 the privileges and advantages at the command of a 
 captain. Then, how must it be with the wife of a ser- 
 geant, at the best but little superior to one of a private 
 soldier ? It was agonizing to reflect on the exposure to 
 temptation, the dangers and discomforts to which Lillian 
 would be subjected. All this she urged on her daughter, 
 but to no purpose. She frankly and calmly informed her 
 mother, that but one choice was left her — between 
 George Hargreaves as her husband, with whatever con- 
 sequences might follow, or an early grave. Mrs, Le 
 Clair was eventually compelled to yield, though with a 
 tardy and unwilling acquiescence. 
 
 When things had come to this state, Hargreaves him- 
 self began to take a more sober view of circumstances 
 than he had hitherto done ; and asked himself, what, if 
 he did marry Lillian, would he do with so beautiful a 
 
 Slli 
 
■^ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 277 
 
 1 .11 
 
 creature, either on the march, in camp, or in barracks ? 
 So perplexed was his mind with those thoughts, tliat he 
 ventured to throw out a hint on tliis subject to Lillian 
 He soon found that he was stepping on sacred ground. 
 Jlis thought was no i^ooner hroac.'jied, tiian Lillian, fully 
 comprehending its import, directed a look tfjwards him 
 that see;ned to penetrate his inner being, for he quailed 
 before her. She proudly asked him if he doubted the 
 purity or the sincerity of her Jove, or the strength of her 
 mindl* iint the candid and manly avowal of his fyll and ... 
 entire confidence in her at once calmed her excited spirit, 
 and the current of their love went gmoothly on as ever. 
 
 After this, not a day passed without their spending a 
 portion of it in each other's company ; and at each in- 
 terview some new feature in their character was devel- 
 oped, which tended to strengthen their attaeiiment : 
 they each found in the other some mental excellence, 
 some accomplishment, that they little dreamed of at 
 their first acquaintance. 
 
 When he first met Lillian, Hargreaves saw she was 
 beautiful, but she might prove to be an uninformed rus- 
 tic girl, brought up in the woods, and who had asso- 
 ciated only with the untutored youngsters of the neigh- 
 borhood. What was his surprise when he found her 
 able to converse fluently in several languages, while her 
 knowledge of music was of a high order ; with a voice, 
 in power and sweetness, of rare excellence, and nothing 
 of the rustic in her bearing and manners ! She, on the 
 other hand, found in the sergeant at once the polished 
 gentleman and the ripe scholar. 
 
 In this connection, we may as well give the reader 
 some general idea of the antecedents of Hargreaves. 
 
 •i',:viv 
 
I'll 
 
 I 
 
 IS 
 
 278 
 
 L I L L I A X ; OR, 
 
 He was a younger son of an aristocratic family in the 
 south of England, which had been reduced in circum- 
 stances by being engaged in a long and expensive law- 
 suit, the whole estate having been thrown into tiie Court 
 of Chancery. Although he had received a high classical 
 education, yet Ilargreaves had been so reduced as to 
 be without any present means of obtaining a living. 
 Being of too proud a spirit to labor in a subordinate 
 position, or to be dependent on relatives without labor, 
 and aho of a romantic turn of mind and fond of ad- 
 venture, he went to a distant part of the country, where 
 he was not personally known, and there enlisted as a 
 common soldier, with the determination of raising him- 
 self in the army by his own merit. At the time of his 
 first introduction to our notice, in his interview with 
 Lillian, he was about twenty-three years of age ; and 
 in the short space of two years, had, by good behavior 
 and strict attention to the duties of his. station, risen to 
 the position of sergeant in the company to which he 
 belonged, with a fair prospect of still further advance- 
 ment. 
 
 Here, then, Hargreaves and Lillian are presented to 
 us, as a couple of young, ardent, and romantic beings, 
 comparatively ignorant of the world, and of the stern 
 realities and demands of the world's life. Hence, to 
 rush into each other's arms and link their fortunes for 
 life, was a present bliss ; and they were not anxious to 
 pry far into the future. As usual, in such cases, tlie 
 good wishes and congratulations of the young and un- 
 thinking outweigh the doubts and surmisings of cooler 
 and more thoughtful heads. But, be it for weal or for 
 woe, the union was now a fact, to the joy of the two 
 
r-Tf1 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 279 
 
 most deeply interested. After tli * miptialn, none could 
 be more happy than the wedded pair just launched upon 
 a summer sea, with a favoring breeze, their bark well- 
 provisioned, and bound for elysian climes. But, meta- 
 phor apart, as far as material necc saries and even lux- 
 uries were concerned, tlioy wore amply provided ; and so 
 on that score their hearts were at ease. 
 
 Lillian, soon after her union with Hargreaves, was 
 deeply pained by the arrival of marching orders for 
 the company to which he belonged. Of course he 
 had to go with the command. Here was now realized 
 one of the contingencies that had so perplexed and 
 afiBicted the mind of Mrs. Le Clair, and now it came 
 home with all its distressing force to the mind and heart 
 of Lillian. She had to leave her mother, and her home, 
 with all its tender associations and terrible recollections. 
 She visited the grave of her murdered father, and, as 
 she had often done, bedewed it with her tears. But, 
 when the moment came for her to bid adieu to her fond 
 njother, she manifested intense sorrow. In a paroxysm 
 of agony she cried out — 
 
 " My mother I oh, my mother, how can I leave you ! 
 you, to whom I am so deeply indebted — you, who have 
 borne so mildly with my wild freaks, and so patiently 
 striven to inform my ignorance, and correct all my way- 
 wardness — you, to whom I owe whatever of good I pos- 
 sess I But I know the nature of the vows I have as- 
 sumed ; and I know, too, that my heart and my person 
 now belong to another, and duty demands our separa- 
 tion, however painful it may prove to our feelings. 
 But, mother, when I cease to remember you, when my 
 warmest affections cool in the least towards you, may 
 
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 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
 1.0 ^1^ 1^ 
 
 ^^ss Itt IM 12.2 
 
 11.1 l.-^Ka 
 
 HiotDgraphic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporalion 
 
 
 23 WIST MAIN STRUT 
 
 WraSTH,N.Y. 14SW 
 
 (716) •72-4503 
 
 
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 280 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 Heaven no longer smile upon me 1 But, mother, that 
 can never be ; no, never will I forget you, my mother !" 
 
 Her mother was deeply moved at this passionate dis- 
 play of Lillian's vehement feelings, and the wounds of 
 her heart seemed to be opened afresh. She, however, 
 had more command over herself than had Lillian ; for 
 she had already been led through deep waters, had been 
 in many a fiery furnace, and had not come out of them 
 altogether unscathed, and still bore the marks of them 
 burned into her very soul. Bowing with deep submission 
 to this heavy affliction, she held her peace, fully believ- 
 ing and acknowledging that this, as well as other be- 
 reavements she had endured, were among the "all 
 things" that would eventually work together for her 
 good. 
 
 After the departure of Lillian with her husband, Mrs. 
 Le Clair calmly considered her situation, and felt all the 
 loneliness of her condition. But a comparatively short 
 time previous to this, she was happy in the possession 
 of every earthly good, — with a loving and tender husband, 
 and a daughter, who, with unsurpassed attractions, had a 
 heart as pure as it was affectionate, she was rich in all 
 the blessings an indulgent Provide iCe could bestow. 
 But now she was a widow ; and, to add to all her other 
 sorrows, she had lost her daughter, her only child — 
 leaving a dreary blank in that household of which she 
 had been the chief ornament. But, stricken and smitten 
 as she was, she bravely bore up, and with her usual 
 fortitude met every duty, assiduously supervising every 
 department of labor that required her attention on the 
 farm, as well as the more immediate household woi'k. 
 A:j if a stranger to fatigue, she was up early, and late 
 
 in 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 281 
 
 took rest ; and she had the pleasing satisfaction to 
 know, that not only was hers the largest, but that it 
 was also the best cultivated farm in all that district, 
 and promised the finest and most abundant crops. 
 
 There had been a good deal of private gossip at Lil- 
 lian's expense between Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown, both 
 before and after her marriage with Sergeant Hargreaves. 
 It had been a matter of astonishment with them that 
 Lillian did not look higher than a sergeant for a hus- 
 band ; and they were much surprised that Mrs. Le Clair 
 did not use her authority, and not allow her daughter to 
 marry a stranger like Hargreaves. Why, in their esti- 
 mation, it was no better than if she had married a pri- 
 vate soldier 1 
 
 " As to that," said Mrs. Jones, " he may be reduced 
 to a private yet, for what one knows, if he should get 
 out with any of the officers." 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Brown, " for I've often and 
 often known that to be the case." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, and so have I," said Mrs. Jones ; " and 
 then what'U become of all the fine things the old Indian 
 witch said about her ? But," she continued, " I always 
 thought, and said, that it was nothing but downright 
 blasphemy ; and it has all come to what I always thought 
 it would — that it would all end in smoke." 
 
 We give merely an outline of what was the general 
 tone of their conversation ; but, as we have said, this 
 was all private. 
 
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 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 We will DOW follow Lillian and her husband, and 
 learn how circumstances go with them. Lillian had 
 been provided with a private conveyance to Montreal, 
 she not wishing to go with the baggage of the company. 
 When they arrived in Montreal, Hargreaves procured 
 private lodgings for his wife, in a retired place not far 
 from the barracks ; and in this place, free from the in- 
 trusion of the inquisitive and the prying eyes of the 
 curious, they enjoyed themselves and were happy. But 
 Lillian, who had aforetime roamed abroad at will, and 
 breathed the pure and invigorating air of heaven, could 
 not act the reclusec By the directions of her husband, 
 as well as to gratify her own wishes, she would often 
 stroll along the bank of the noble St. Lawrence, admir- 
 ing the grandeur of the scenery, and rambling whither- 
 soever her inclination led her. But a person of her ap- 
 pearance could not long pursue this course without at- 
 tracting the observation of men, and especially that of 
 the officers of the regiment to which Hargreaves be- 
 longed. One might presume that it was (at the latter 
 part of the last century, though, of course, it is not so 
 now) the main object of the lives of a majority of the 
 officers of the^British army to find out, to admire, to 
 insult, if not to seduce, beautiful women. It appeared 
 that one of the younger officers had noticed Lillian while 
 
"riSfS* 
 
 ^ 
 
 woman's endurance 
 
 283 
 
 H '- 
 
 on one of her excursive rambles. He was especially 
 attracted by her fine figure aud majestic mien : of more 
 than these he was not able to judge, for her face was 
 covered by a heavy veil. But he had seen enough lo 
 excite his c\.riosity, and was not long in communicating 
 the knowledge of his discovery to some of his chums. 
 This information caused quite a flutter among the mem- 
 bers of the oflBcers' mess-room. Inquiry was made, and 
 conjecture exhausted, as to who this strange beauty 
 could be. On the morrow, to learn who she was and 
 her place of fesidence, scouts were thrown out in every 
 direction, who visited every place where it was under- 
 stood she was in the habit of taking her accustomed 
 walks. 
 
 The mystery these conspirators against female virtue 
 had set out to solve remained for some days undevel- 
 oped ; but this was not for want of vigilance in the 
 pursuers of mischief At length, however, these harpies 
 were so far successful as to find out that Lillian was a 
 married woman, the wife of Sergeant Hargreaves. They 
 were surprised at this discovery, and disappointed ; but 
 they were not dismayed, for it could not be supposed 
 that a sergeant would be allowed to stand as an ob- 
 stacle in the way of the attainment of the wishes of his 
 superiors. They therefore laid their heads together and 
 set their wits to work to obtain possession of the coveted 
 prize. Many schemes were suggested, discussed, and 
 then laid aside, as being impracticable. But there was 
 one of these officers — and we are not sure thatjte waa 
 more deeply steeped in vice, or that his soul was more 
 oblivious of virtue than the rest — who suggested that 
 Hargreaves should be dispatched on some message that 
 
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 1 
 
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 r:'. 
 
 iiiii 
 
 ii..ii 
 
 'I' 
 
 284 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
 would require his absence from the regiment foi ten 
 days or a fortnight. This would afford them ample lime 
 to accomplish their diabolical purpose. The scheme so 
 deliberately planned was soon in process of execution. 
 Hargreaves, with a file of men, was sent to a distant 
 locality to arrest a deserter, who, the command had 
 lately been informed, was residing at the place indi- 
 cated in the warrant. No sooner had Hargreaves been 
 started on his journey, than the officers who had joined 
 in this nefarious plot were all on the alert. They visited 
 all the places which Lillian was known to have fre- 
 quented, but to no purpose. She was not to be found 
 for some time, and that for the very good reason that 
 she had never left her own room since her husband went 
 away. But at length, her patience having been severely 
 tested, and anxious for the return of her husband, Lillian 
 stepped to the door, and was standing there, her eyes 
 glancing one way and another, when one of the boldest 
 and most dashing officers of the regiment came suddenly 
 up to her, and in a very polite and gallant way raised 
 his hat, and making his obeisance, said — 
 
 " Mrs. Hargreaves, I presume ?" 
 
 Lillian, with a dignified air, and without much embar- 
 rassment, said, " Yes, sir." 
 
 He then said, " I have, for some time, felt a strong 
 desire to make your acquaintance, I have heard so much 
 of your personal attractions ; but now I find that the 
 half has not been told me. Where has so much excel- 
 lence been hiding itself until now, my sweet creature ?" 
 
 As tne officer was thus proceeding with his empty and 
 fulsome flattery, Lillian kept stepping backwards, while 
 the officer continued his advance towards her, until they 
 
WOMAN S ENDURANCE. 
 
 285 
 
 t foi ten 
 nple lime 
 cheiiie so 
 xecution. 
 a tlistaiit 
 »and had 
 ace indi- 
 ^ves been 
 *d joined 
 y visited 
 lave fre- 
 5e found 
 son that 
 "id went 
 severely 
 ii Lillian 
 tier eyes 
 i boldest 
 uddenly 
 Y raised 
 
 embar- 
 
 strong" 
 o much 
 lat the 
 
 excel- 
 ture ?" 
 'ty and 
 , while 
 il they 
 
 were both within the room, when he closed the door. 
 Lillian's face became sufifused with a deep scarlet ; but 
 this was not like the blushes that often came in response 
 to the fond caresses of her husband. It was an unmis- 
 takable indication of stern resentment, and an indignant 
 rebuke of her insulted womanhood. Her eyes flashed 
 dreadful fire — her whole frame became rigid, and seemed 
 to assume vaster proportions. The officer seeing this, 
 and supposing it to be evidence of fear, presumed to 
 place his hand upon her bare shoulder, saying at the 
 same time, " Do not be alarmed, my sweet angel." The 
 words were scarcely out of his mouth when Lillian ex- 
 hibited somewhat of her old rage, for, like the aroused 
 tigress, she flew at him, and caught him with a gripe 
 from which he was utterly unable to extricate himself. 
 And then, with more than masculine strength, she 
 dashed him with such force to the floor, that for a mo- 
 ment he appeared stunned. Now, with one hand she 
 held a firm gripe on his throat, and plied his face with 
 the other with such vigor, that it was soon so disfigured 
 that his friends would hardly have recognized him. 
 
 At this stage of things, who should open the door 
 and step into the room but her husband. As may be 
 supposed, he stood there confounded, immovable, for a 
 moment. But when his first feeling of amazement, which 
 was but for a moment, had subsided, he sprang forward 
 and endeavored to lift his wife from off her prostrate 
 victim ; but so tenacious was her grasp upon his; throat, 
 that it was only by an exertion of his main strength 
 he could make her let go her hold. And even then he 
 with difficulty restrained her, as she seemed determined 
 to take his life. In fact, there was something superhu* 
 
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 286 
 
 LILLI AN; OR, 
 
 man in her wrath and in her whole appearance — so much 
 80, that even her husband was terrified at the siglit. 
 Her Indian blood was boiling within her — her brain waa 
 on fire — and she was consequently regardless of any 
 results that might follow. It was fortunate for the of- 
 ficer, and even for Lillian herself, that Hargreaves made 
 his appearance when he did, for the oflScer might, other- 
 wise, in a short time have been with those beyond the 
 flood. 
 
 "While Hargreaves and Lillian were thus wrestling, he 
 to restrain her, and she, fierce as a tiger, striving to re- 
 new the attack, the oflBcer, thus liberated, was not slow 
 in making good his retreat, with his handkerchief over 
 his disfigured face, making his way as best he could to 
 his quarters. When there, he sent for the surgeon of 
 the regiment, to whom he made a lame and impotent 
 excuse for the condition in which that gentleman found 
 him ; and it was only to two or three of the officers, 
 who were in the secret of the plot, that he made a state- 
 ment of his experience in his encounter with Lillian. 
 He declared that Lillian was, beyond all question, tlie 
 most beautiful woman he had ever seen ; but, he said, 
 she is a perfect she-devil. 
 
 It was some time before Lillian calmed down suffi- 
 ciently to give Hargreaves any thing like an intelligible 
 statement of the above circumstances, a part of which ho 
 had himself witnessed. Having heard the whole story, 
 he could not but approve of the conduct of Lillian, al- 
 though he foresaw that trouble to himself was almost 
 sure to arise out of this untoward event. And it was 
 not long before he found, to his intense mortification, 
 that nearly all the officers of the regiment made it a 
 
 : i! 
 
 11 , i 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 287 
 
 
 -SO much 
 \ic sight. 
 >rain was 
 s of any 
 ^r the of. 
 voa made 
 ht, other- 
 yond the 
 
 't^'ng, he 
 nff to re- 
 not slow 
 •iof over 
 could to 
 >'geon of 
 impotent 
 »n found 
 officers, 
 a state- 
 Lillian, 
 tion, the 
 he said, 
 
 'n suffi- 
 Jlliffible 
 hich he 
 3 story, 
 lian, al- 
 almost 
 it was 
 cation, 
 de it a 
 
 point to outrage his feelings in every possible way. 
 They soon found a paltry pretext as an excuse to break 
 him as a sergeant, and reduce him to the ranks, al- 
 though he had purposely been on his guard, highly ex- 
 emplary in all his words and actions, and attentive to 
 his duty. But, guilty or not, they had injured him, 
 therefore they could not forgive him. They had been 
 disappointed in their nefarious schemes upon the honor 
 and virtue of his wife, therefore they made him the ob- 
 ject at which they aimed their envenomed darts. The 
 military profession, through all its grades, is a system 
 of espionage and sycophancy, the inferior cringing to 
 the superior, and the superior lording it over the infe- 
 rior. Hence, if it was desired by a superior officer to 
 make his inferior an offender for a word even, he had 
 always his tools at hand, to assist lim in carrying out 
 his purpose — ready to swear away the character of the 
 innocent. And oh, how sadly, was this put in practice 
 in the case of George Hargreaves 1 Every ear being 
 closed against him, there was "^n tribunal to which he 
 could submit his complaints. He was but a private 
 soldier, and it was his duty to submit without a mur- 
 mur, however harsh and overbearing might be the con- 
 duct of his superiors. Such was the dictum of his 
 self-constituted judges. He now clearly saw that evil 
 was hedging him around, and that he was without any 
 way of escape. With feelings tortured by the insult's 
 and contumely he was daily suffering, it would be no 
 wonder if a word should escape him, in some measure 
 expressive of a sense of the unmerited wrongs he was 
 enduring. We give an instance in point. Thcj second 
 lieutenant, a small, beardless upstart, was inspe^.ting the 
 
 
 .■;< 
 
288 
 
 L I L L 1 A X ; O II , 
 
 'I 
 
 1 ;■ 
 
 arms and accoutrements of the company, and on coming 
 to Hargreaves, who was always one of the trimmest, 
 and cleanest-looking men of the company, unjustly 
 taunted him with being negligent and dirty. On hear- 
 ing this aspersion cast upon him, Hargreaves turned, 
 and said, with some abruptness, that when he cleaned 
 them, he left not a spot upon them. The boy-oflBcer, 
 with- an assumption of false dignity, and his face red- 
 dening with rage, said, " Do you charge me with being 
 a liar, sir ?" and calling a corporal and a file of men, 
 ordered them to take Hargreaves to the guard-house. 
 It was easy for the officer to bring witnesses who, with 
 a little coloring of the circumstances, could make out of 
 this a gross act of disobedience when on duty and in 
 the ranks ; and, as the maintenance of strict discipline 
 in the regiment was indispensable, this aggravated case 
 could not be overlooked, and must not be allowed to 
 pass unpunished. 
 
 A case was soon made out against Hargreaves, and 
 a court-marshal convened for his ti'ial. We would re- 
 mark here, that Hargreaves had scrupulously kept from 
 Lillian the knowledge of all the annoyances he had en- 
 dured, from a fear that she might charge herself with 
 being the cause of all his suflering, by the deserved 
 chastisement she had inflicted on the officer who insulted 
 her. When she did first hear that hp ^as placed in the 
 guard-hen se, and was about to be tried by court-martial, 
 she was greatly excited ; and with untiring solicitude, 
 availing herself of every chance to obtain a hearing, she 
 pleaded earnestly for his release. But she sued in vain ; 
 they were determined on avenging the shame and suf- 
 fering of a brother officer. Nothing, therefore, would 
 
1" 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 289 
 
 satisfy them but the disj^race of their victim, as a fitting 
 atonement for their wounded pride and disappointed 
 hist. As the self-created judges of Hargreaves had all 
 things their own way, it was easy for them to select 
 their tools as members of the court-martial. 
 
 When the day arrived for this court to convene and 
 sit in solenm dignity to carry out the farce of a trial, 
 the manacled victim was brought before them ; and 
 while he stood there, in all tlie dignity of conscious 
 innocence, not one of his guilty judges could meet the 
 steady gaze of his flashing eye. But the purpose of 
 tiiese nien was to try, to condemn, to punish, and it was 
 to mask their purpose with the forms of law, that the 
 Judge-Advocate delivered his pomp':^us harangue, and 
 the few suborned witnesses were all examined. From 
 the address of the Judge- Advocate, one would have 
 thought that the prisoner had been guilty of treason, or 
 some other high crime against Government. He espe- 
 cially dwelt upon the great necessity of curbing the 
 insuboidination of the common soldier ; and descanted 
 upon the great disparity that existed between them and 
 the oflBcers of the British army, who were invariably 
 selected from the upper and educated classes. And 
 that the different grades might fully understand their 
 proper level, and the duties of their separate stations, 
 and tljat the lower might not infringe upon the upper 
 with impunity, he called upon the members of the 
 court-martial to make an example of the prisoner be- 
 fore them, as a warning tt) every common soldier in this, 
 or any other regiment under the British crown. After 
 this insult to humanity and common sense, to say nothing 
 of justice, the court were left alone with closed doors, to 
 
 13 
 
 I' 
 
 W-^ 
 
290 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 ri l 
 
 bring in their findinj^, which was an easy matter, and 
 quickly done. The findings of the court wore, that the 
 prisoner, George Hargreavos, had been guilty of gross 
 insubordination in the ranks, using impertinent and in- 
 sulting language to his officer, while that officer was 
 performing his official duty, according to the usages. and 
 general practice of the British army. And that the said 
 court, each and all of them, declare the prisoner guilty, 
 and adjudge him to the infliction and punishment of nine 
 hundred lashes, to be received on his bare back. Pray- 
 ing that this verdict may be sanctioned and approved 
 by the general commanding this military district ; and 
 that he appoint the time and place for said verdict to be 
 put in execution. 
 
 At the time when this transaction occurred, Montreal 
 was included in the military district of Quebec, in which 
 city the general commanding then resided. As, how- 
 ever, the general was expected to be up in Montreal in 
 a few days, the case of Hargreaves was kept in abeyance 
 until his arrival. The general came as expected, and, 
 Avithout inquiry or investigation, endorsed the findings 
 of the court-martial, by affixing his signature, and ap- 
 pointing Monday morning of the following week as. the 
 time, and the barrack-yard as the place, for the consum- 
 mation of this iniquitous and inhuman infraction of the 
 laws of our common humanity. On the finding of the 
 court, the sentence, and the order of the general in com- 
 mand being communicated to Hargreaves, as he lay in 
 the dark, damp dungeon of the guard-house, the only 
 expressions to which he gave utterance were, *' My God I 
 is it so ? can it be possible ?" However deeply his mind 
 may have been exercised, there was no perceptible alter* 
 
|: 
 
 Hf 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 201 
 
 ation in liis outward appearance. It was not a stolid 
 liar(ln(>88 or stoical indiiforence that supported him, but 
 a manly courage, inspired by a consciousness of his in- 
 nocence of any actual or intended wrong. The only re- 
 quest he made was, that ho might bo permitted to see 
 his wife. He knew well that the principal aim and 
 design of his persecutors was to punish him, in order to 
 bring grief to "ler heart, as tlic only satisfaction they 
 could obtain to their fierce hate. 
 
 When the deeply stricken Lillian entered the cell 
 where her husband was confined, and was made fully 
 aware of the lengths to which these fiends in human 
 form, defiant at once of all right, of truth, and of justice, 
 were determined to go, her heart sank within her, as 
 she hung upon his breast and wept bitter tears. With 
 deep emotion, she asked : " Oh, my dear George, do you 
 blame me for all this ?" Tenderly and affectionately he 
 begged her to banish all such thoughts from her mind ; 
 connselling her, as they had been brought into this inex- 
 tricable and inexplicable maze of suffering without any 
 misdoings on their part, to allow providence to solve its 
 own enigma ; that, if it should be that we can have no 
 redress or satisfaction in this world, we may be sure 
 there will be full compensation in the next. After 
 deeply sympathizing with each other, and piously com- 
 mitting their cause into His hands who seeth the end 
 from the beginning, Lillian left her husband, and with 
 hasty steps and a sad heart retired to her own room. 
 And when there, as sooti as she could collect her 
 thoughts, she sat down and wrote to her mother a state- 
 ment of the above painful events. 
 
 
 m -8 
 
292 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 * ■,!. 
 
 i 1 ■S'i 
 
 As there will be some time intervening beiore the 
 carryin<^ out of the sentence in the case of Hargrea^ es, 
 we wiU take advantage of the interim to pay a visit to 
 the upper province, and learn how things are progress- 
 ing on the farm of Mrs. Le Clair, the late home of Lillian. 
 It must be understood that the events of our narrative 
 which are now being developed, are at least twenty 
 years in advance of the arrival of Captain and Mrs. 
 Walters at their new home. At that time it was a dense 
 forest ; the woodman's axe had scarcely made any im- 
 pression ; and it was difficult for a novice to thread his 
 way through the tangled brush, or to follow the winding 
 and intricate paths that had been formed by the red- 
 man, and the scarcely less savage animals with which 
 it abounded. But now there was a complete transform- 
 ation : fruitful fields and smiling plenty blessed and 
 rewarded those who had spent years of patient toil for 
 this pleasing result. The ornamental trees and shrubs 
 that had been planted by Captain Walters, or soon after 
 his death, now, by their vigorous growth, their luxuri- 
 ant and beautiful foliage, lent a special charm to the 
 scene, that captivated the eye and gratified the taste of 
 the lover of the picturesque. And as may be supposed, 
 great and important changes had taken place in the per- 
 sonal and relative positions of all the parties composing 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 the original company. Mr. Brown and Mr. Jones had 
 each been presented with valuable allotments of land 
 by Mrs. Le Clair ; and by their industry and skilful 
 management, had brought their improvements to a high 
 state of perfection. The son of Brown and the daugh- 
 ter of Jones, arrived at mature age, had linked their for- 
 tunes for life ; and having been presented with a snug 
 little farm by Mrs. Le Clair, were living in hopes of soon 
 being surrounded 'by little pledges of their aflfection, to 
 sweeten and adorn the future of their domestic life. 
 Our old acquaintance, the facetious little Baptiste, now 
 grown gray, feels the weight of years pressing heavily. 
 Still, he appears to be a useful appendage to the home 
 of Mrs. Le Clair. There was not much of him to look 
 at when in the prime and vigor of life ; but he is now 
 dwindled down to a mere shadow. Small in person 
 as he may be, his consequential dignity and self-impor- 
 tance have expanded to vaster proportions. But Bap- 
 tiste must soon be gathered to kir, fathers, and these 
 pages may be the only voucher of his ever having lived. 
 The one who has been the principal theme of our narra- 
 tive, does not present the bloom and vigor that she did 
 when she first came under our notice. A period of more 
 than twenty years has elapsed, and made sad work with 
 the frame and figure of Mrs. Le Clair. But it has not 
 been effected so much by the wear of time, as by the 
 events through which she has had to pass. Her heart- 
 sorrows have borne heavily upon her ; and though her 
 tongue rr ay be mute and uncomplaining, still that noble 
 countenance is a teller of sad tales. Although present- 
 ing the appearance of a careworn matron, yet she has 
 such elasticity of mind and mental vigor, that, if her 
 
 ,■ I 
 
iws»!fpi" 
 
 294 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 III' 
 
 i ' li 
 
 words are few, they are weighty. And her personal 
 influence is greater, as there is a more implicit obedience 
 accorded to her wishes ; indeed, a profound deference is 
 paid to her. This was seen in the progress made in all 
 the operations on the farm in the year that Lillian left 
 her home. It had been better and more extensively 
 cultivated, and had yielded a more abundant crop than 
 in any former year. And that crop had been carefully 
 gathered and successfully garnered, so that her mind 
 was comparatively at ease as to the future, and her 
 time was more at her own command. She was thus left 
 at liberty to give full scope to the benevolence of her 
 disposition ; and as Providence had been so bountiful to 
 her, she felt and acted as though she were only the al- 
 moner of Heaven. Many a naked family were clothed, 
 many a sad and sorrowful heart was made glad, by her 
 sympathy and her material aid. 
 
 One day Mrs. Le Clair started on one of her errands 
 of mercy to a poor family in the neighborhood, and her 
 own heart felt, as the good and pure under like circum- 
 stances always feel, that in blessing she was blest. On 
 returning, when at some distance from her home — 
 that home which, but a few hours before, she had left 
 abounding with such plenty — she was alarmed at seeing 
 dense volumes of smoke filling the entire atmosphere. 
 Her worst fears were excited ; for, judging from the 
 direction in which the smoke was blown by the wind, it 
 might prove to be her own property that was then in 
 flames. And sure enough, as she emerged from the 
 woods, there was spread out before her one vast sheet 
 of flame, enveloping all that she possessed on earth, 
 excepting what she then had with her. She saw all her 
 
-*i!!W 
 
 9I»1 - 
 
 iH:^ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 295 
 
 )nal 
 Nice 
 je is 
 all 
 I left 
 rely 
 111 an 
 
 own domestics, as well as numbers of her neighbors, 
 running about in a state of bewilderment, and unable to 
 arrest the devouring element, or to save any of her 
 property, either from the house or any of the outbuild- 
 ings. Owing to the long spell of dry weather, and the 
 consequent parched state of every thing, the flames 
 made very quick work. Horses, cows, grain, fodder of 
 every kind, the house, with all its valuable furniture, 
 and many souvenirs that she prized above all money 
 value, all were swept away, nothing remaining but a 
 smouldering heap of ruins. Baptiste had been with 
 Mrs. Le Clair as her driver, and on seeing the extent of 
 the disaster he wept bitterly. Mrs. Le Clair herself sat 
 motionless and speechless, more like a statue than a 
 living human being, so apparently lost was she to all 
 consciousness. The vast clouds of smoke soon attracted 
 the attention of the neighboring farmers, who crowded 
 to the spot, on foot, on horseback, and in wagons. But 
 80 complete and quick had been the work of destruction, 
 that all these parties could do, was to utter lamentations 
 at the desolation. They expressed themselves as being 
 ready and willing, by all the means in their power, 
 whether by personal exertions or by material aid, to 
 contribute towards the restoration of the home of one 
 whom they all respected and admired, for the largeness 
 of her benevolence and the overflowing goodness of her 
 
 heart. 
 
 Mrs. Le Clair still sat in her wagon, silent and immov- 
 able, until Mrs. Brown directed Baptiste to drive her to 
 her own house. So prostrated was she on arriving there, 
 that she was carried from the wagon to the house like a 
 child. This was another severe blow to her mental and 
 
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 ' 
 
1 
 
 m 
 
 m^ 
 
 -f 
 
 
 296 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 !■■; I 
 
 ) ■. *i ■ 
 
 I 'i 
 
 physical constitution, and she lay for some days without 
 exhibiting much thought, or expressing any anxiety re- 
 specting the irreparable loss she had sustained. But at 
 length, her mental forces rallying a little, she asked 
 where she was, and why they had brought her there. 
 Then, in a thoughtful mood and with a serious look, she 
 said she had been in a dream, and had dreamt that she 
 saw a large fire. In this way she passed through suc- 
 cessive stages of mental recuperation, until full con- 
 sciousness returned. At length, when fully restored, 
 she was informed of the nature and extent of her mis- 
 fortunes. All were surprised at the submission with 
 which she bowed to the dispensations of Providence, for 
 she murmured not, but said — " The Lord gave, and the 
 Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the 
 Lord." 
 
 When she became able to leave the house, she re- 
 quested Baptiste to hitch the horse up to the wagon, 
 and drive her to see the place of her former but now 
 desolate home. While she was contemplating the scene, 
 a falling tear now and then evidenced her regrets. In 
 the sadness of her mind, and the desolateness of her 
 more than widowed heart, she was driven to the place 
 where the remains of her two husbands lay in their 
 beautifully-sequestered graves, and where she herself, 
 too, expected soon to retire to her final rest. And now, 
 on returning to the comfortable home of Mrs. Brown, 
 her mind was depressed with a deep sense of her own 
 homeless and desolate state. 
 
 In this state of mental depression, with gloomy fore- 
 bodings as to the future, Mrs. Le Clair began to think of 
 Lillian. A number of letters had already passed between 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 297 
 
 them, breathing all the tender sympathies that we might 
 suppose would flow from two such hearts, and one de- 
 tailing to the other their daily experiences, and the 
 course of events as connected with themselves. Mrs. 
 Lc Clair concluded to sit down and write to Lillian, giv- 
 ing her a full statement of her late disastrous misfor- 
 tune. The letter finished, she dispatched it by the first 
 coil. cyance. On the third day after sending her letter 
 she was gratified by the receipt of one from Lillian, sup- 
 posing it contained some cheering news that would ex- 
 ercise a soothing influence over her own mind. But 
 when she opened and read it, and found it to contain a 
 narration of the circumstances with which the reader is 
 already acquainted — the rude attack on her own person 
 by the officer, the subsequent ill-treatment to which her 
 husband had been subjected in consequence, his being 
 reduced to the ranks, the false and malicious charge 
 brought against him, his trial by court-martial, and his 
 sentence to undergo the infliction of nine hundred 
 lashes — when Mrs. Le Clair had read this fatal letter, 
 her cup of sorrow was full and overflowing. No tears 
 came to her relief when she was struck down by her 
 own late misfortune ; but now, when she read of the 
 distress and sufferings of her own daughter Lillian, she 
 wept as though her heart would break. She was now 
 more deeply impressed with the thought of her own 
 utter helplessness ; for she had no means at her disposal, 
 and indeed no resources whatever, wherewith to supply 
 the wants or assuage the sorrows of her suffering and 
 dear daughter Lillian. 
 
 Mrs. Le Clair had for some time sat steeped in sor- 
 row and affliction, having read and re-read the letter of 
 
 18* 
 
 i.-l 
 
 l-i 
 
 ■' 
 
 . :, i 
 
 '1 . ■<\ 
 
 < A 
 
298 
 
 LILLIAN; ORy 
 
 Lillian, and so deeply absorbed in her own sad thoughts 
 as to be entirely oblivious of every thing around her — 
 when, in this state of sad and perplexed reflections, a 
 carriage of more than common beauty and finish, and 
 drawn by a pair of dashing, spirited horses, drove up to 
 the wicket-gate in front of Mr. Brown's house, and from 
 it alighted a lady, attired in a rich and fashionable trav- 
 elling dress, who straightway approached the door and 
 inquired for Mrs. Le Clair. On being introduced to 
 Mrs. Le Clair, she took her hand and saluted her with a 
 warm and hearty kiss, saying that she was sorry to 
 find he;* in such deep distress. She bade her to cheer 
 up, for brighter days were now before her, and she would 
 be compensated for her long years of suffering. All 
 this, however, fell upon the ears of Mrs. Le Clair as 
 words without meaning — in her case especially, for, as 
 she said, her life had been one of sorrow, and, so far as 
 this life was concerned, she had scarcely a gleam of 
 hope in the future ; but still she felt thankful that she 
 could look forward with confidence to that world where 
 the weary were at rest, and where the wicked would 
 cease from troubling. On saying this, she handed the 
 letter of Lillian to the lady to read, who, after reading 
 it, returned it to Mrs. Le Clair, at the same time assur- 
 ing her that she had long sympathized with her in her 
 Bufferings ; that she had never lost sight of her ; that 
 she had always kept a watchful eye over her from her 
 childhood ; that, though unknown to her, she had ever 
 taken a deep interest in her welfare ; that she had al- 
 ways seen that she was well cared for, and all her 
 wants fully supplied. All this seemed very strange 
 to Mrs. Le Clair, who rose from her chair, and 
 
 Mil 
 
™ 
 
 woman's endurance 
 
 299 
 
 
 his 
 
 looking steadily at the lady, asked, in an earnest 
 manner — " 'V\^hy, who are you ?" 
 
 At this, the lady stepped outside the door ; and in a few- 
 minutes returning with her driver, presented a complete 
 transformation in appearance — dressed, in fact, as the 
 reader will remember to have seen them in other partrf 
 of our narrative. The grotesque-looking couple ap 
 proaching Mrs. Le Clair, asked if sha had ever seen 
 them before. Mrs. Le Clair, looking at them in a kind 
 of dreamy bewilderment for some moments, cried out. 
 with much agitation in her manner, " Why, it is the 
 black phantom I What can all this mean ?" and again 
 sat down in her chair, overcome by her feelings. 
 
 The lady, throwing off the cloak and hood, and clasp- 
 ing Mrs. Le Clair in her arms with affectionate tender- 
 ness, said — 
 
 " My dear, I am your own father's sister, and have 
 from your infancy been as a mother to you : for the se- 
 crecy I have maintained, I will give you reasons here- 
 after. But we have other and more important work on 
 hand to occupy our immediate attention. However, bear 
 this in mind, that all your present wants of every de- 
 scription are cared for ; and I now trust that, by the 
 blessing of God, your future days of happiness and 
 peace will prove some compensation for the sorrows 
 you have endured. As I have always written in the 
 letters you have received from me, * What thou knowest 
 not now, thou shalt know hereafter.' There will be a 
 full development of my wishes and plans, which, I trust, 
 will not only satisfy you of the propriety of my conduct 
 under the circumstances, but which will make it clear 
 that Providence will not allow the wicked so far to 
 
 
 im 
 
 
 M: 
 
 A'l 
 
 
 •li : ' * 
 
300 
 
 LILLIAN ; O R, 
 
 ' rl 
 
 h 
 
 
 triumph in their selfish and nofarioua schemes as finally 
 to escape punishment ; or virtue eventually to go un- 
 vindicated and unrewarded. It is true, your patience 
 has often been put to a severe test, and my faith sorolj 
 tried ; but, my dear, I firmly believe that your Christian 
 virtues and graces will come out of this fiery ordeal as 
 gold purified, and that you will yet be able to say, as I 
 •wrote in my letters, that * Jehovah reigneth, let the earth 
 rejoice.' " 
 
 The news was soon spread abroad that an important 
 change for the better had taken place in the circum- 
 stances of Mrs. Lg Clair, and hearty were the greetings 
 and congratulations she received. So deep and wide- 
 spread had been the sympathy in her behalf, that prep- 
 arations had already been extensively made to replace 
 by new buildings those that had been destroyed by the 
 late fire. But now these preparations were rendered 
 unnecessary ; yet her gratitude to her numerous friends 
 was none the less, though their aid was not needed. 
 
 Divested as Mrs. Le Clair had lately been of every 
 kind of movable property, there was but little labor 
 and preparation required to get her ready to depart 
 with her aunt, the Lady H,, on her journey. At the sug- 
 gestion of that lady, deeds were made out, conveying 
 the farm to Mr. Brown, Mr. Jones, and their married son 
 and daughter, it being to be divided among the three, 
 as a memorial of her gratitude to them for their atten- 
 tions to her, and also in remembrance of the connections 
 that subsisted between them and her first husband, Cap- 
 tain Walters. All this done, they were ready for tlieir 
 departure ; for Mrs. Le Clair, as well as Lady H., was 
 anxious to leave, that they might afford some consola' 
 
inally 
 
 O 1111. 
 
 ieiice 
 ?<)rolj 
 stiun 
 al as 
 as I 
 earth 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 801 
 
 tion to Lillian and hsr husband in their sad condition. 
 Before bidding a unal adieu, however, they made another 
 survey of the place and its surroundings, where Mrs. Lo 
 Clair had spent so many happy days, and where she had 
 endured so many sorrows. They lingered long at the 
 graves of those who, each in their time, had been the 
 beloved idols of her heart, and beside whom it had been 
 her wish and expectation that she might one day be laid. 
 On leaving the justly revered spot, she plucked a few 
 wild-flowers, the lingering relics of departing summer, 
 placing them between the leaves of her Pocket-Bible. 
 
 The state of things, as we have revealed them to the 
 reader, was a perfect enigma to Mrs. Jones and Mrs. 
 Brown. They were involved in a perplexing maze, on 
 learning t.ic contents of Lillian's letter, in which she 
 mentioned the reduction of Hargreaves to the ranks, 
 and all the painful circumstances connected with that 
 event. These, to their minds, were a justification of 
 their fears and prognostications, as well as proofs of 
 the short-sightedness of both mother and daughter — of 
 the one, in marrying a sergeant ; and of the other, in 
 allowing her daughter to take so imprudent a step. 
 They were also, in their estimation, a refutation of the 
 wild predictions of the old Indian witch. But then, 
 something might come to pass yet to bring about the 
 fulfilment of what the old Indian said about Lillian, from 
 the unexpected change that had taken place in the cir- 
 cumstances of Mrs. Le Clair. With many hopes, fears, 
 and doubts in regard to Lillian and her husband, these 
 two gossips were forced to leave things as perplexed as 
 they found them, for they were not, like the old Indian, 
 gifted with second-sight. 
 
 U^ 
 
 : -i 
 
302 
 
 LILLIAN; OB 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 ; 1 
 
 ii 
 
 . I ui,yi, 
 
 r'i 
 
 While Mrs. Le Clair and Lady H. are on their event- 
 ful journey, driven by the faithful and long-tried Thomas, 
 we will again return, and learn how things are progress- 
 ing in Montreal, with George Hargreaves and his beau- 
 tiful and aflfectionato, but now suffering wife. It will be 
 renuMnbered that we left Hargreaves in his cell, under 
 sentence to be flogged on the following Monday morn- 
 ing ; and Lillian, weighed down in spirit by her heavy 
 sorrow, in the retirement of her own room. We have 
 already mentioned, that at the time to which our narra- 
 tive now refers, Montreal was only a military outpost of 
 Quebec. Of course, the general in command of the 
 military district resided in Quebec, the headquarters of 
 the district. The general, as we have already stated, 
 was now in Montreal transacting important oflBcial busi- 
 ness connected with his department, and had aflSxed his 
 signature to the finding of the court-martial in the case 
 of Hargreaves. It was now Sunday evening, and all 
 the officials of the military department were busy, as 
 there had just arrived from England a heavy mail. Such 
 an event, at that time, was one of very great import- 
 ynce ; it was necessary for every one to be at his post, 
 the general no less than his subordinates. In turning 
 over the papers and letters addressed to himself, he 
 found one marked special, which induced him to pay his 
 
VJ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 303 
 
 first attention to that. This package contained several 
 documonts, apparently of very great importance, as tlioy 
 were signed by the commander-in-chief, at the Horse- 
 Guards, London, with the seals of that officer affixed 
 thereto. Turning the documents over one by one, he 
 examined them with great care, becoming, as he read, 
 more and more deeply excited by their contents ; as if 
 they contained information of appalling import. Scru- 
 tinizing again the seals and signature, and reperusing 
 the documents with increasing agitation, he arose from 
 his seat, and calling the orderly, who was waiting his 
 commands at tlie door, asked him if he knew a soldier 
 of the name of George Hargreaves. 
 
 " Yes, sir," was the response ; " it is he who is sen- 
 tenced to be flogged to-morrow mcriilng.'* 
 
 " I thought so," Sc-.J the general. *' That was r^y im- 
 pression, as I have a faint recollection of signing the 
 finding of the court," his words half-choking him. 
 
 He returned to his desk to examine the documents 
 still more closely, but only became more bewildered 
 than ever. He walked the room back and forth, in deep 
 thought, muttering to himself the while, with now and 
 then a horrid oath, uttered with a sharp, hissing vehe- 
 mence, while his face was crimsoned by passion. He 
 seemed pondering some movement, and undecided what 
 course to adopt ; for he told the orderly to call a ser- 
 geant and a file of men, and then, with much confusion 
 in his words and manner, countermanded the order. 
 Then giving him the necessary written notice to the 
 officer of the day, he bade him go to the guard-house 
 and bring the prisoner Hargreaves before him. But 
 he had no sooner given this order, than he demanded it 
 
 II 
 
 w 
 
 
 f ! 
 
 lEl 
 
1 
 
 I. •* W! 
 
 304 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 back, and in a paHsion tore it up, and threw the frag- 
 ments on the floor. At last, calling for a sergeant and 
 a file of men, and pntting on his military overcoat, lio 
 commanded tliem to lead the way to the guard-liouse. 
 On tluMr arrival at that place, they found the sentinel 
 walking his silent and solitary beat. He called out, 
 " Who comes there ?" The response to which was, 
 " Rounds ;" when the further demand was made, " What 
 Rounds ?" to which the reply was, " Grand Rounds." 
 The order was now given, " Advance, Grand Rounds, 
 and give the countersign." This was accordingly done, 
 while the startling information was given that the gen- 
 eral was in waiting, to be admitted to the guard-house. 
 On the reception of this news, the sentinel called out at 
 the top of his voice, " Guards, turn out to receive the 
 General." Prompt as well as exact in all their move- 
 ments, the guard was soon in line in front of the guard- 
 house, with their arms brought to the position of salute, 
 a necessary manoeuvre to do honor to a superior oflScer. 
 The general was promptly introduced into the guard- 
 house by the officer of the day, with his sword brougiit 
 to the salute. It may be supposed that some trepida- 
 tion would be manifested by the guards, at this unex- 
 pected visit of the general, at so unseasonable an houi 
 of the night. But they were still more astonished when 
 he gave the order to bring the prisoner Hargreaves from 
 his cell. Tlie huge key was soon turned in the lock, and 
 the strongly-barred door thrown open. The poor man- 
 acled prisoner was brought forth, and he now stood he- 
 fore the general. There was no tremor in his well-built 
 and firmly-knit frame, nor any thing like conscious guilt 
 in his manly countenance. But it was noticed by the 
 
T" 
 
 WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 305 
 
 the frag, 
 eant and 
 rcout, ho 
 I'd-houBo. 
 sentinel 
 It?d out, 
 
 Ch WU8, 
 
 " What 
 Rounds." 
 
 Rounds, 
 rly done, 
 
 the gen- 
 rd-house. 
 ;d out at 
 eive the 
 ir move- 
 e guard- 
 f salute, 
 ■ oflSccr. 
 3 guard- 
 brought 
 trepi da- 
 is unex- 
 an houi 
 }d when 
 es from 
 )ck, and 
 or mau- 
 ood be- 
 ill-built 
 IS guilt 
 
 by the 
 
 lookorrt-on that the general was ill at caLse, as ho gave 
 the command to take the fetters from the priH()ner. Then 
 writing an order for the ndeasc of Hargreaves, and 
 signing it with his own name, as military commander 
 of the district, ho handed it to the offi(3or of the guard. 
 What greatly increased the amazement of all present, 
 was that the general, on leaving, took Hargreaves with 
 him, and treated him with respect. 
 
 After the departure of the general and Hargreaves, 
 with the sergeant and file of men leading the way in the 
 dark, the minds of the officers, non-commissioned officers, 
 and the privates on guard, were fertile in conjectures as 
 to what all this could mean. 
 
 Early on the following morning, when all were await- 
 ing the performance of what was likely to prove a 
 tragedy — the soldiers pained at the infliction of such a 
 punishment on one of their comrades — the strange pro- 
 ceedings of the previous night were noised abroad. 
 Coming to the ears of the officers who had been the 
 guilty actors in the dastardly and iniquitous plot, their 
 guilty souls quailed within them, for they saw nothing 
 before them but exposure, disgrace, and ruin. But we 
 must now follow the general to his own rooms. We 
 would here say that Hargreaves himself had been taken 
 by surprise. Without a hope, as he was, of escaping 
 the infliction of the threatened punishment, all the pre- 
 parations for carrying out his sentence having been 
 made, what, he thought, could be the purport of this 
 strange conduct on the part of the general ? It was 
 utterly beyond his power to divine. He would wait pa- 
 tiently the solution of the enigma. 
 
 On their arrival at the general's office, there was no 
 
 
306 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 one present but his private secretary. Hargreaves hav- 
 ing been requested to take a seat, the g-eneral himself 
 took another close at his side. He asked Hargreaves 
 a number of questions about his family, which he 
 promptly and candidly answered. He informed the 
 general, in this conversation, that he was a younger 
 member of an aristocratic family in the south of Eng- 
 land, which had been reduced to comparative poverty by 
 a long course of litigation ; and, as his own personal 
 interests had suffered in the disaster which had over- 
 taken his family, he resolved to enlist as a private sol- 
 dier, with the hope that he might, by his own talents, 
 raise himself to distinction, if not to fortune. He then 
 gave a detailed statement of his meeting with Lillian, 
 of his marriage, their arrival in Montreal, and all the 
 painful incidents which finally resulted in the mock 
 trial, his sentence, and his incarceration, until his lib- 
 eration that night by the general himself. This state- 
 ment was given with such an honest and fearless bold- 
 ness, that the general seemed agitated during its delivery, 
 and self-condemnation was visible in his countenance. 
 The general then informed Hargreaves that his two se- 
 nior brothers were dead ; that the suit in the court of 
 chancery had come to a close, and had been decided in 
 his fa vol ; that he was the rightful hei; at-iaw to all 
 the family estates, as well as to the title ; and that he 
 was now Sir George Hargreaves. The general then 
 presented him with an honorable discharge from the 
 British army ; and moreover enclosed with the neces- 
 sary legal documents which he handed him, an order for 
 one thousand pounds sterling, to be paid him out of the 
 military chest. These documents being delivered into 
 
' \ I! Ill 
 
 aves hav- 
 1 himself 
 irgreaves 
 vhicli lie 
 med the 
 younger 
 I of Enjf. 
 )verty by 
 personal 
 lad over- 
 vate sol- 
 t talents, 
 He then 
 I Lillian, 
 1 all the 
 le mock 
 I his lib- 
 iis state- 
 ess bold- 
 delivery, 
 itenance, 
 1 two se- 
 court of 
 (cided in 
 w to all 
 1 that he 
 ral then 
 roni the 
 neces- 
 3rder for 
 t of the 
 red into 
 
 WOMAN'S ENDURANCE. 
 
 307 
 
 Hargreave's hands, he gave the general a receipt for 
 the same. 
 
 At the conclusion of the matters they had had in hand 
 —the general still exhibiting extreme nervousness, while 
 Hargreaves, if possible, showed a higher degree of in- 
 trepid boldness, the latter said — 
 
 "Then it appears, general, that I do not owe any 
 thing to your official interference on my behalf as a com- 
 mon soldier, falsely charged with crime — as you must 
 have known, if you had investigated the case — unjustly 
 tried, and cruelly sentenced to be flogged. No, it is to 
 Sir George Hargreaves to whom you have been so very 
 attentive. Providence interfered in my behalf ; you 
 would never have done so. The poor, condemned, suf- 
 fering private soldier, might have died under the inflic- 
 tions of the lash, and you, regardless oi his case, of the 
 justice or injustice of his sentence, would have stood 
 aloof from the suffering wretch — if by so doing you 
 could have kept or won abettors of the intrigues by 
 which you have been raised, step by step, over the heads 
 of more deserving men. But now, general, you have 
 taken the final step. There is not a man, private or of- 
 ficial, in all the command now in the barracks, who is 
 not fully acquainted with your antecedents, and all your 
 tjTannical and corrupt course. Owing to their subor- 
 dinate position, however, they have been impotent to re- 
 sist your tyranny, or to call in question any of your cor 
 rupt practices. But now, by your agency, though not 
 through any good feeling or designed kindness on your 
 part, I am put in possession of the power, and be as- 
 sured, general, that I have the will, to avenge the moral 
 worth you have so long trampled upon, and the inno. 
 
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 308 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 cence you have insulted and injured, in the course of 
 your official j^ovornment. And believe me, general, that 
 I will leave no stone unturned to brin^^ you to justice, 
 by having' a thorough official investigation into all your 
 actions." 
 
 With this fearless declaration of his purposes, inspired 
 by the recollection of the wrongs he himself had endured, 
 Hargreaves left the presence of General H., and made 
 his way to his beloved Lillian, who had spent the most 
 of the night upon her knees, asking her heavenly Father 
 to grant that patience and endurance for her beloved 
 and suifcring husband which, in all probability, he would 
 so much need on the morrow. 
 
 But Lillian had had other and severe sorrow to endure 
 besides that on account of her husband, for the past 
 three days ; for she had received her mother's letter, 
 wherein she detailed the disaster which had befallen her 
 in the destruction of her property by fire. This letter 
 had passed on the road the one she had sent to her 
 mother with an account of her own sorrows. On reading 
 her mother's letter, the poor girl, as may be supposed, 
 was deeply affected ; for she now felt more keenly than 
 ever that she was a stranger among strangers, with no 
 one to whom she could go for comfort or consolation, or 
 on whom she could lean for support, while her husband 
 was a prisoner, awaiting a severe and degrading punish- 
 ment. Was it possible for a human being to deir^cend 
 lower in the scale of adversity? Years seemed to have 
 been added to her age, as the direct result of the sutlbr- 
 ings she had undergone. Her heart was destined to 
 suffer still another pang ; for a little after midnight a 
 number of the officers of the regiment passed her dwell* 
 
course of 
 'neral, that 
 to justice, 
 to all your 
 
 's, inspired 
 •d endured, 
 and made 
 t the most 
 Jnly Father 
 er beloved 
 \ he would 
 
 '■ to endure 
 r the past 
 er's letter, 
 )efallen her 
 This letter 
 ent to her 
 )n reading 
 supposed, 
 eenly than 
 s, with DO 
 olation, or 
 r husband 
 ig punish- 
 :o descend 
 'd to have 
 the sutlbr- 
 3stined to 
 idnig-ht a 
 her dwell' 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 301) 
 
 ing, singing their ribald songs, and giving vent to their 
 feelings in fits of boisterous laughter. Whether this 
 was merely one of their thoughtless drunken frolics, or 
 intended as an insult to her already deeply lacerated 
 feelings, she knew not. 
 
 When Hargreaves arrived at his own quarters, he 
 could scarcely realize the sudden change in his circum- 
 stances, and that it was not, after all, a dream. What, 
 then, must have been the impression upon the mind of 
 Lillian, receiving in the depth of her sufferings so won- 
 derful a revelation ? She at first supposed that the suf- 
 ferings of her husband had made him frantic, and that in 
 his madness he had overpowered his keepers and made 
 his escape ; and that, under the influence of a bewil- 
 dered brain, he was talking unreasonably of his dis- 
 charge, his sudden possession of great wealth, his prop- 
 erty, and of his accession to the title of his ancestors. 
 In truth, Lillian's alarm greatly diminished her joy at 
 thus unexpectedly seeing her husband ; and it was only 
 after her collected thoughts enabled her to give a close 
 and critical scrutiny to all the documents placed in the 
 hands of her husband by General H., that she could be 
 fully persuaded that there was indeed a reality in the 
 strange and romantic narrative just related by her hus- 
 band. But when the truth was fully brought home to 
 her mind, and she realized that there could be no room 
 for doubt, her joy was unbounded. She told her hus- 
 band that she had all along been impressed with the 
 thought that Providence would in some way interfere in 
 their behalf, and not allow wicked and bloody-minded 
 men to triumph in their wanton cruelty and villainy. 
 After recovering somewhat from the first feelings of joy 
 
 W 
 
 '•I ir 
 
 n 
 
 s 
 
 
 -.n 
 
 'U. 
 
310 
 
 LILLIAN: OR 
 
 at their deliverance from such dreadful evils, present 
 and future, Lillian handed to her husband the letter she 
 had received from her mother. Here was intelligence 
 which, under other circumstances, would have filled 
 him, as it had Lillian, with dismay ; but as it was, it 
 only required a moment for Hargreaves' kind and tender 
 heart to propose their immediate departure, to carry to 
 their mother the glad tidings of the change in their cir- 
 cumstances, to alleviate the heavy sorrow pressing upon 
 her. Things were soon put in train for their journey, 
 for a soldier's outfit is but light, and his encumbrances 
 few at most ; and in this case their affection gave ac- 
 tivity and speed to all their movements. They were 
 soon on their western route, with their rude, homely-built 
 vehicle, but with a splendid span of horses, bought by 
 Hargreaves fo** the purpose. 
 
h 
 
 woman's ENDaBANCE. 
 
 311 
 
 n 
 
 present 
 Jotter she 
 telligence 
 ive filled 
 it was, it 
 nd tender 
 
 carry to 
 their cir- 
 ling upon 
 
 journey, 
 nbrances 
 gave ac- 
 ley were 
 lely-built 
 ought by 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Now that Hargreaves and his young wife are started 
 on their western journey, we will again take a look into 
 the room of General H., and learn something of his do- 
 ings and sufferings. After Hargreaves had left him, 
 writhing under the scathing that he had received from 
 the released prisoner, he paced the room in great per- 
 turbation of spirit, conscious as he was that the declara- 
 tions of Hargreaves were all too true. His thoughts at 
 length becoming somewhat settled, he took his seat at 
 his desk, for the purpose of further investigating the 
 matters brought to his notice by the dispatches he had 
 received by the last mail from England. As he turned 
 over one paper after another, he found a letter from the 
 steward of his own father's estate. He eagerly opened 
 it, and read its contents. This letter contained the as- 
 tounding news that his elder brother had lost his life 
 by the upsetting of his carriage, and his sister, who was 
 with him at the time, though still living when the letter 
 was dispatched, was supposed to be fatally injured. 
 And then there was the further startling information, 
 that a claim had been set up to a great part of the 
 estate by a daughter of his father's deceased brother. 
 It appeared from this letter, that some mysterious doings 
 had been lately brought to light — some foul dealings on 
 the part of his father, in connection with the death of hia 
 
 "«!;• ;■ !.. 
 
 $y^ 
 
 
 tli 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 "lit "''■! 
 
312 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 ri'f.: 
 
 brother nearly forty j'^ears ago. The father of General 
 H. had supposed that the infant daughter of his brother 
 had perished with her father and mother, when their 
 residence, by some mysterious agency, was destroyed 
 by fire. Now, however, that daughter had turned up 
 somewhere in Upper Canada, bearing the name of Le 
 Clair, and it was believed she was on her way to Eng- 
 land, to claim in her proper person the restitution of her 
 father's property. His father, under the influence of 
 remorse of conscience, and fearful of consequences, had 
 yielded his claim to the property'', and it was now in the 
 hands of the attorney of the claimant. 
 
 Here we might as well relieve our narrative of a little 
 of its obscurity, by informing the reader that General 
 H. is the same person who, more than twenty years be- 
 fore, joined, as lieutenant, the regiment to which Cap- 
 tain Walters then belonged ; and tiiat lieutenant H. and 
 Mrs. Walters are first cousins, being own brothers' chil- 
 dren. 
 
 The startling revelations of the above letter brought 
 vividly to the mind of General H. the statements of 
 
 ft/ 
 
 Hargreaves ; for the letter gave the former and present 
 name of the claimant of his father's estate. So that he 
 saw clearly she could be no other than Lillian's mother. 
 He now saw the wrong he had done to his own cousin, 
 when Mrs, Walters, and to her husband, Captain Wal- 
 ters, and the gross injustice he had, through his guilty 
 indifference, been the means of doing the innocent dangli- 
 ter of his cousin, and especially her husband, Hargreaves. 
 These things were no light burden upon his mind. But 
 superadded to all this, his whole life had been one con- 
 tinued series of wrong-doing. Like his father, he was 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 313 
 
 "Ti 
 
 \ 
 
 General 
 
 brotlier 
 
 en their 
 
 3stroyed 
 
 I'lied np 
 
 e of Le 
 
 to Eiig. 
 
 >n of her 
 
 lence of 
 
 ces, had 
 
 w in the 
 
 f a little 
 General 
 ears be- 
 (ch Cap- 
 t H. and 
 ers' chil- 
 
 broug-ht 
 nents of 
 present 
 > that he 
 mother. 
 \ cousin, 
 lin Wal- 
 s guilty 
 t dau,^'h- 
 ^reaves. 
 id. But 
 me con- 
 he was 
 
 the slave of every vice. Now he could take no praise 
 to himself for the act by which he liberated Hargreaves, 
 for his punishment would most certainly have taken 
 place but for the timely arrival of the English mail. 
 
 Now what should this wretched, guilty man do to 
 avoid exposure, and dismissal from the British army 
 with disgrace, or, it might be, a fate even worse than 
 that ? He determined to anticipate the awards of jus- 
 tice and the approaching storm of execration which he 
 saw looming up in the distance, by adopting the remedy 
 of the desperate and despairing. On retiring to his 
 room at night, for the purpose of repose it was thought, 
 it was observed that he carried with him a bottle, from 
 which, on entering his room, he took a draught. On the 
 following morning he was found dead in his bed, and the 
 report was circulated that he had died of a fit of apo- 
 plexy. The public prints, in noticing his death, extolled 
 him as an intrepid soldier, and a faithful and efficient 
 servant of his sovereign. His loss, they said, was great, 
 and his place could not be supplied by his equal. In all 
 the walks of life, filling every office and performing 
 every duty, as a man, a soldier, and a Christian, he was 
 held up as a pattern and example worthy the imitation 
 of all. 
 
 ■ ll 
 ii ' 
 
 f ' ' 
 
 !lll 
 
 If:! 
 
 
 mr^ 
 
 •i^:-m 
 
 ^n 
 
314 
 
 LILLIAN; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 We have already informed the reader that the letter 
 written by Mrs. Le Clair to Lillian, and the one written 
 by Lillian to her mother, passed each other on the road. 
 It so happened that each received her letter on the same 
 day. It occupied both about the same length of time in 
 making preparations for their journey. Each, it must 
 be borne in mind, was uninformed as to the changed 
 circumstances of the other. Thus, Lillian and her hus- 
 band supposed they would find their mother domiciled 
 in the house of some friend, near her late residence, and 
 involved in deep distress, mourning over the loss of her 
 property. Mrs. Le Clair and her aunt, Lady H., were 
 equally certain that they were going down to Mon- 
 treal to soothe the sorrows and assuage the grief of Lil- 
 lian, as well as to convey some comfort and consolation 
 to the lacerated and disgraced George Hargreaves. 
 
 The reader may perhaps recollect that when Captain 
 and Mrs. Walters, and their party, were on their journey 
 to their new home in Upper Canada, they remained for 
 a few days at a house on the margin of a river, about 
 half-way between Montreal and the place of their desti- 
 nation, and where several French Canadian families re- 
 sided. At the time of which we are now writing, con- 
 siderably more than twenty years had come and gone 
 since this place was first brought under our observation 
 
K 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 315 
 
 The general features of the locality, however, are nearly 
 the same ; a small extent, only, of the rich soil is culti- 
 vated, and that surrounded by the dense, primitive 
 woods. But the social condition of the people has, since 
 the period to which we refer, greatly changed. Of the 
 few families then residing here, some of their members, 
 who were past the middle age, have since filled up the 
 measure of their days, and stepped from the stage of 
 life ; and another generation has sprung up to hale 
 and hearty young manhood and womanhood, to supply 
 their places. Those with wliom we formed an acquaint- 
 ance then — the busy, active members of these families — 
 have advanced many stages in the march of life. It so 
 happened that, starting from the adverse points of Mon- 
 treal and Upper Canada, both parties met at this place, 
 and that each was ignorant of the near proximity of the 
 other. The reader may therefore imagine the feelings 
 of each, at the first moment of their mutual recognition, 
 in such an out-of-the-way place, and under such remark- 
 able circumstances. The first to arrive at this place 
 was George Hargreaves and his wife Lillian ; and in 
 about two hours after them, Mrs. Le Clair and her newly 
 found aunt, Lady H., in her carriage driven by her ser- 
 vant-man in liver3^ This last party had been ferried 
 over the river in the flat-bottomed boat, and the first to 
 step on the bank of the river, in full view of the front of 
 the house, were the two ladies. 
 
 The attention of every member of the French families 
 was soon directed towards the new-comers, and among the 
 rest, that of Lillian and her husband, who were observ- 
 ing them from the front-room window. No sooner did 
 Lillian get a glimpse of the persons of the approaching 
 
n 
 
 316 
 
 LILLIAX; on, 
 
 
 I 
 
 H^H 
 
 
 1 
 
 PHHIh 
 
 
 1 
 
 f jHH 
 
 
 1 
 
 Pr 
 
 
 ll 
 
 111? 
 
 1 
 
 fl 
 
 
 ladies, than she passionately exclaimed, clasping her 
 hands, and pressing them convulsively against hor fore- 
 head- - 
 
 " Can it be possible — can that be my mother 1" 
 Hargreaves noticed the violent emotion of Lillian, but 
 was at a loss as to the cause of her excitement ; whih; 
 Lillian, under the influence of her surprise, and oblivious 
 of all around her, darted from the room, and made her 
 way towards the approaching strangers. Ignorant of 
 the favorable change in Hargreaves' aflFairs, and meet- 
 ing Lillian so suddenly and unexpectedlj', Mrs. Le Clair 
 lost her self-control, and in a state of alarm endeavored 
 to avoid the impetuous advances of Lillian, wild and 
 frantic with delight. Recovering her self-possession, 
 however, in an instant they were locked in each other's 
 arms. With a vehement but half-choked utterance, Lil- 
 lian cried out — 
 
 " My mother I my mother ! Oh, my mother !" 
 Mrs. Le Clair, with less apparent fervor, but still with 
 strong inward emotion, exclaimed — 
 
 " My Lillian I my own darling daughter !" 
 They hung long in each other's embrace, and wept 
 tears of joy. After the subsidence of the first gush of 
 their afiectionate feelings, caused by this transcendently 
 delightful surprise, it was with extreme diflSculty that 
 each could convince the other of the reality of the as- 
 tounding train of circumstances that had reversed so 
 completely and happily all they had believed they would 
 have to encounter in the revelations of the future. At 
 first, this new state of things broke upon their minds dimly 
 and vaguely, like the glimmer of dawn upon our half 
 awakened vision. After a full explanation on each side 
 
K 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 317 
 
 her 
 ibre- 
 
 or's 
 
 and a clear realization by all of the true state of thing-w, 
 they niarvollod oxcoedinj^ly at the course of events, and 
 expressed their devout gratitude for the happiness in 
 which they had resulted. Lady II. exclaimed with ve- 
 hemence — 
 
 " This moment, this happy unfoldin*^ of things, is an 
 ample reward for all the time I have waited, the toil I 
 have endured, and the means I have expended ; for it is 
 a consummation, in part, of my utmost and best wishes. 
 I now feel that I can say with more assurance than 
 ever, * Jehovah reigneth, let the earth rejoice.'" 
 
 The utterance of these words, with the manner in 
 which they were spoken by Lady H., caused Mrs. Le 
 Clair to cover her face with her handkerchief, and sob 
 aloud, so overcome was she by her emotions 
 
 When the monibers of this now happy group came to 
 understand their several wishes and purposes, it was 
 found that the ruling desire of all of thenj was to visit 
 Europe at as early a period as possible. 
 
 Lillian and Hargreavcs, accompanied by Mrs. Le 
 Clair and Lady H,, witii her man-servant, the trusty 
 Thomas, had now to retrace their steps to Montreal. 
 But, before starting from this place, they concluded that, 
 as tiie party was small and the carriage of Lady H, was 
 a roomy one, they would dispose of the rude vehicle 
 brought by Hargreaves from Montreal, and placing the 
 horses in one team, drive down four-in-hand. Tliis plan 
 was soon adjusted, and all made ready for departure. 
 So far as the party themselves were concerned, the jour- 
 ney could not be otherwise than an agreeable one. But, 
 as it was getting late in the fall, and the roads were not 
 in good conditioD, they had to make the best of their 
 
 ^: i n 
 
 
 I f'l: i! !■ 
 
 
 Pi'' 
 
 I'll 
 
 'i. 
 
 Ill 
 
 iiii'i 
 
 ill 
 
 
 ;l 
 
 ' >v 
 
 l^ 
 
 -l 
 
 
 ■"'■''■ft 
 
 |li^ 
 
 rH 
 
 I'i 
 
 
 
 ■. i 
 
 
 ,^.. 
 

 Pi 
 
 818 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 time by putting" tlioir hortics on their niottle. Overcom- 
 ing' all difficulties, tliey at h'liijftli rcaclied Montreal in 
 Bafety. Arriving" just in time to take advantage; of the 
 Bailing" of a jj^overnrnent ship that was then on the point 
 of leaving for Europe, the horses and carriag-e were 
 Boon sold, all arranj^etnents made, and the party quickly 
 stepped on board, when the anchor was raised, and they 
 were soon ou their long and perilous journey. Starting 
 on their voyage at so late a season of the year, the pas- 
 sage must have been far from being a pleasant one. On 
 descending the noble river St. Lawrence, they had a fine 
 southwest breeze in their favor, which carried them far 
 out on their way, and soon gave them plenty of sea- 
 room. 
 
 Previous to leaving Montreal, Mrs. Le Clair wrote, 
 for the information of her friends, a clear statement of 
 eveni?< in regard to herself, since she left Sweet-brier 
 Grove. But she dwelt more especially upon the remark- 
 able circumstances connected with the changed position 
 and prospects of Hargreaves and Lillian. Nor did she 
 neglect to mention Hargreaves' newly acquired title, 
 that he was now Sir George Hargreaves ; that he had 
 inherited this title, and all the estate, which had been 
 borne and possessed by men of whom honorable mention 
 was made in history ; and that he was then on the eve 
 of his departure for England, for the purpose of assum- 
 ing his rightful possessions. She concluded by stating 
 that it was her intention to write to them again on her 
 arrival in England, or as soon after as circumstances 
 would allow. For, as she said, she felt a very strong 
 attachment for the place and people, where and among 
 whom she had spent so many years of her life- 
 
™ 
 
 woman's endukanck. 
 
 319 
 
 ■H. 
 
 K 
 
 fcrcorn- 
 ■«'!il ill 
 oi" tho 
 point 
 
 W(MO 
 
 [nit'kly 
 Id th(>y 
 Lurtiiior 
 
 v5 
 
 Ou tlio reception of tliin letter by Mrs. Jones and Mrs. 
 Brown, tliey ciirefiiUy read and seriously pondered its 
 very sij^nificant contents. For a while they were at a 
 loss what to say, as they had so unreservedly connnitted 
 thetiiselvc'S >rith rej^ard to Lillian and Harjyreaves. liut 
 with her usual boldness and reckless inconsistency, Mrs. 
 Jones, in the face 0/ her previously expressed opinion, 
 said — 
 
 "Well, I always thought that there might be some- 
 thing in what the old Indian said about Lillian, and it is 
 now very likely to be all fulfilled. And dear knows," 
 eaid she, " I do hope and trust it will be so, for, poor 
 thing, she has seen a might}'^ sight of trouble already, 
 and her so young." 
 
 *' Well," said Mrs. Brown, " that was just what the 
 old woman prophesied, that she would have trouble 
 first. After all," said she, " it is real queer hov things 
 does turn up sometimes." 
 
 We have little inclination to dwell upon the recital of 
 the incidents that occurred on the passage, as these are 
 of the same general character, and are attended with 
 discomfort at all times — though with more, doubtless, at 
 the period of which we write. But they passed securely 
 through every storm, bravely encountered every priva- 
 tion and inconvenience, and arrived safely at the port 
 of their destination. 
 
 No time after theii arrival w^as lost by any one of the 
 party, as each of them had important business to trans- 
 act. But, as there are distinct interests in view, those of 
 Mrs. Le Clair and Lady H. on the one hand, and those of 
 George Hargreaves and Lillian on the other, and as Mrs 
 Le Clair and Lady H. have the prior claim ou our atten* 
 
 ". '• ill I 
 
 
 1. ; 1 
 
 I l< ' I: 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 ■ 14 
 
VM 
 
 Um 
 
 320 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 tion, on accouLt of their seniority, we will first notice 
 the doings of these. 
 
 It was necessary, on the part of Lady H., to make 
 the best of her way up to London, in order to consult 
 with her attorney. We would here say, that she had 
 been fully informed as to tho exact state of thing's, from 
 month to month, by this faithful and trusty man of 
 business ; and she had also fully informed him of all 
 the movements of her niece, Mrs. Le Clair, from the day 
 she landed in North America until a short time before 
 leaving it. There could not, therefore, be any success- 
 ful opposition raised as to her identity. But, should 
 attempts be made to dispute her claim to being the re- 
 puted daughter of the brother of Lord H., there were 
 certain marks upon her person which could be referred 
 to as indispuLcble evidence on the point, known as they 
 were to reputable parties who had been in the secret. 
 As the sequel will show, nothing of this kind was ne- 
 cessary ; for, according to the information of the attor- 
 ney, his lordship had been so completely foiled in all his 
 schemes of personal aggrandizement, his children hav- 
 ing been cut off one after another as by some mysterious 
 providence, that I'.e himself had been actually appalled 
 at the fearful array of circumstances against him. So 
 that further mischief on his part, or the perpetration of 
 any additional villainy by him, was now out of the ques- 
 tion. The attorney, as well as Lady H., had been fully 
 persuaded that if any oppcv^ition were raised against 
 the wrong-doing of her brother, Lord H., in the first 
 place, it might utterly frustrate all their hopes of ever 
 putting their charge, the then infant Eliza, in possession 
 of the property of her father. Consequently it was their 
 
 if 'ri;, 
 
 m 
 
notice 
 
 make 
 consult 
 he had 
 s, from 
 man of 
 of all 
 the day 
 before 
 juccess- 
 shonld 
 the re- 
 e were 
 ef erred 
 as they 
 secret, 
 vas ne- 
 e attor- 
 all his 
 L'n hav- 
 terious 
 3palled 
 n. So 
 tion of 
 ; ques- 
 ti i'ully 
 g-aiiist 
 D first 
 f ever 
 3ssiou 
 their 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 321 
 
 first and main object to place the rescued infant in some 
 place of safety, out of the reach and beyond the knowl- 
 edge of her cruel and avaricious uncle. And in order 
 to carry out this plan the more effectually, her aunt, 
 Lady H., proposed to take upon herself the entire over- 
 sight and charge of the infant. For this purpose, she 
 proposed to devote the whole of her private fortune to 
 the accomplishment of this noble purpose. Well know- 
 ing that to attain his ends and to accomplish his sin- 
 ister purpose he would put conscience and all princi- 
 ples of justice aside, they concluded that it would be 
 the best policy to stand out of his way, and thus afford 
 providence full sway to deal with this unprincipled man 
 in its own way, and to bring home to him the deserts of 
 his crimes in its Ovvn good time. 
 
 As the tiger, after roaming forest and plain, and 
 spreading death and destruction, is checked in his career 
 by the decay of his powers, and retires to his lair to 
 die ; so this overbearing monster, who had revelled in 
 crime, with no human power to stay his hand — who nei- 
 ther feared God nor regarded man — was now reduced 
 to almost childish imbecility, both in body and mind. 
 But the vital spark still animated and informed in some 
 degree the emaciated old man, until the arrival at the 
 old family mansion of the attorney-at-law, Lady H,, and 
 Mrs, Le Clair. By direction of the wretched imbecile, 
 they were introduced into his room. He sat there more 
 an object of pity and commiseration than of anger or 
 vengeance, with grim despair holding undisputed sway 
 over his haggard countenance. Still, he fully compre- 
 hend(?d the purport of their visit, and was quite ready 
 and willing to attach his signature to the documents 
 
 1,(1 
 
 
 K 
 
 f;: 
 
 : i» 
 
 I' 
 
 i 
 
 ■\< 
 
 ii 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 Mm 
 
 .ir 
 
 II 
 
 'i% 
 
 
 
322 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
 m 
 
 that gave full and undisputed possession of all the family 
 estates to Mrs. Eliza Le Clair. After this important 
 transaction, Lady H. caught the hand of Mrs. Le Clair, 
 and, with features expressive of extreme happiness, 
 said — 
 
 " My dear, this is the crowning act that I have so 
 long waited for ; and this the happiest moment of my 
 life. These things will explain wh.t„ you always found 
 ill my letters to you, * What thou knowest not now, thou 
 shalt know hereafter ;' " and pointing at the pitiable, 
 cowering wreck of humanity before them, she said, " This 
 is also a full attestation of that other sentiment, * Jeho- 
 vah reigneth, let the earth rejoice.' " 
 
 All that Mrs. Le Clair could do or say in answer to 
 this was, " Amen," accompanied by a gentle pressure 
 of the hand, while her eyes were swimming in tears. 
 
 After this Lord H. survived only a few days, but there 
 was crowded into that short space of tinio, in mental 
 agony and remorse, suffering that would tax the capa- 
 city of an angel to endure — giving clear and ^fong evi- 
 dence that the way and the end of transgressors are 
 hard. 
 
 After the death of Lord H., the people under his con- 
 trol, tenants or otherwise, seemed to breathe more freely ; 
 for he had been a terror and a scourge to them all, 
 avaricious, grinding, and oppressive. Hence, it is no 
 wonder there was such a universal and spontaneous 
 outpouring of good feeling, in the first greetings of all, 
 on the advent of Mrs. Le Clair. And she now found 
 herself in a position congenial to her feelings, for it was 
 the delight of her heart to redress the wrongs, to rec- 
 tify the evils, to relieve the wants, and to assuage the 
 
family 
 
 fortant 
 
 Clair, 
 
 )iiiess, 
 
 •ve 80 
 of niy 
 
 found 
 
 ', thou 
 
 tiable, 
 
 " This 
 
 'Jeho- 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 323 
 
 sufferiugs of those whom Providence brought under her 
 charge. We cannot in this place refrain from making 
 speciil note of an individual who was one of the first, 
 as well as one of the most obsequious, in paying his 
 respects to Mrs. Le Clair. This was no other than the 
 Rev. James Wilson, with whom the reader ib already 
 somewhat acquainted, as the chaplain of the regiment 
 to which Captain Walters belonged, and from whom 
 both she and her first husband had received such per- 
 sonal indignities, on account of their more strict ob- 
 servance of the duties enjoined by the gospel. 
 
 It appeared that this reverend gentleman had been so 
 successful in worming himself into the good graces of 
 Lord H., through the influence of his son. General H., 
 that on the death of the late incumbent of the rich living 
 in the Church in the gift of Lord H., he had been in- 
 ducted. This, while it shows a remarkable turn in af- 
 fairs, will indicate the position of the parties now before 
 us. We have said that this gentleman was one of the 
 first, as well as one of the most obsequious, in his atten- 
 tions to Mrs. Le Clair. But, with all his cringing, he 
 could not erase from her mind the deep impressions 
 made by the taunts and jeers he had directed against 
 her first husband, Captain Walters. But Mrs. Le Clair 
 was of too noble and magnanimous a nature, by her 
 tongue, or in any other way, to give Wilson an indica- 
 tion of the opinion she had formed of his disposition and 
 general character. Mr. Wilson was the same sleek, 
 smooth-tongued person as formerly, to those of the same 
 way of thinking as himself. He was at once a fawning 
 flatterer to those occupying stations above him, but im- 
 perious and overbearing to those below him. Where 
 
 in 
 
 iNirii: 
 
 K 
 
 '1^ hn 
 
 
 Im 
 
 m 
 
1 
 
 1 ii 
 
 324 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 there was the least antagonism in religious sentiment or 
 opinion, he would, if he could, have been a persecutor 
 even to d^ath. But as things were now, Mrs. Le Claii- 
 was his superior, and he knew it, and was so much in- 
 fluenced by that knowledge, tliat he became a marv(;l to 
 many ; and it was generally thought that a gentle hint 
 from Mrs. Le Clair, on the subject of his official extor- 
 tions, had induced him to remodel his tactics. 
 
 One very signal benefit arising from Mrs. Le Clair's 
 acquiring the estates of her father, with those of hor 
 uncle, was the clearing and fencing in of many of those 
 useless appendages termed " preserves for game," and 
 erecting neat and comfortable cottages thereon, with a 
 good space of land attached, and placing the most de- 
 serving and industrious of the laboring poor upon them ; 
 and she soon had the happiness of receiving the grateliil 
 acknowledgments of a thriving and prosperous company 
 of poor men and their families. These were acts more in 
 accordance with the mission of wealth and position than 
 the breeding of pheasants and partridges. 
 
 But we must now leave Mrs. Le Clair, secured in the 
 possession of her newly-acquired position, which she 
 adorned with true dignity and every womanly grace. 
 She had passed through a severe course of training in 
 the school of adversity, and emerged from the ordeal 
 subdued and mild in her disposition, humble in her de 
 portment, and meek in spirit. 
 
lent or 
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 grace, 
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 ordeal 
 er de 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 325 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 We have already mentioned that, on landincr in Eng- 
 land, Sir George Hargreaves and his wife made their 
 way at once to London. When there, they went to the 
 office of the attorney who had brought his suit to a suc- 
 cessful issue, giving him a clear title to the estates so 
 long in litigation. The greetings and congratulations 
 were mutual and hearty, and, after making some neces- 
 sary business arrangements, the attorney accompanied 
 Hargreaves and his wife to their new home, to put them 
 in legal possession. On their arrival there, they found 
 that extensive preparations had been made to give tliem 
 a befitting reception. The old family mansion, with its 
 surroundings, had been trimmed up and beautified, and 
 presented an entirely renovated appearance. But all 
 this was as nothing in comparison with the hearty good- 
 will and exuberant joy exhibited by all connected with 
 the estate. 
 
 A few days after Hargreaves' arrival, a committee 
 waited upon him, as a deputation from the principal 
 tenants of the estate, requesting him to appoint an 
 early day when they might all assemble to celebrate 
 his advent among them. This request was no sooner 
 made than granted ; and the time named was the first 
 day of May, which appeared to meet the wishes and 
 approval of all. j!^o thing that had happened in that 
 
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 326 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 part of the country during the generation then living 
 had caused such a profound sensation as did this ex- 
 pected gala day. Of course, appropriate preparations 
 were made, and these on a scale of magnificence that 
 would fittingly display tlie joy that swayed all liearts. 
 It may be supposed that the farmers, together with the 
 younger branches of their families, would wish to do all 
 honor to their new and young landlord ; and, so far as 
 display in dress and of blooming youth and beauty 
 were conceri^d, this would be abundantly manifest. 
 Sir George himself gave instructions to have extensive 
 temporary booths built upon the spacious lawn in front 
 of the old mansion, and these decorated and festooned 
 with branches of the liveliest evergreens. But these 
 evergreens were almost a work of supererogation ; for, 
 on tiie first of May, in the southwest of England, to 
 which our narrative now refers, nature is clothed in her 
 holiday attire, and presents the appearance of one uni- 
 versal flower-garden. And then Sir George issued a 
 long programme of rural sports, suited to the tastes 
 and inclinations of the rustic mind. Ample provision 
 was also made for satisfying the cravings of the inner 
 man. 
 
 When the anxiously awaited morning arrived, it was 
 all that could be desired — one of those bright and glo- 
 rious mornings that cause the blood to flow freely and 
 briskly through the veins, giving hilarity to the spirits, 
 a livelier play to the feelings, and filling the soul with 
 delight. And then, all nature, both animate and inani- 
 mate, appeared to partake of the pervading influence, 
 for the air was redolent with sweetness, and resounded 
 with the melodious song of birds. It was, indeed, a 
 
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glo- 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 S27 
 
 special day in that sweet and picturesque valley of 
 Devonshire. 
 
 The gathering crowds in the early part of the day, 
 with their earnest and anxious faces, gave full attesta- 
 tion of the deep interest felt by the people for miles 
 around. When the company had all gathered and the 
 sports were at their height, the scene was most delight- 
 ful to contemplate. The fun and frolic, the abandon- 
 ment to innocent mirth, so characteristic of the gather- 
 ings of the rural population of England, marked this as 
 a day long to be remembered. The young Sir George 
 Hargreaves, with his erect, tall, manly figure, moved 
 among the dense and delighted assemblage the most 
 delighted of the throng. His hand was freely extended, 
 and receive-d many an honest, hearty, and congratulatory 
 shake, while to every request he lent a willing ear. 
 But, amidst all this, the great centre of attraction and 
 admiration was the beautiful Lillian ; for wherever she 
 moved airong the group of delighted visitors there was 
 a buzz of involuntary admiration. She was attired in 
 a plain but rich dress, for she required no meretricious 
 ornaments to set off her native beautv. And then she 
 was as buoyant and blithe as the lightest heart there, 
 and entered with equal glee into all the mirth of the 
 monu^nt. What gave Lillian a keener relish for this fes- 
 tive scene was the presonce of her mother ; and if ever 
 mortals were brimiul of joy, that was now the state of 
 Lillian and her parent. To them, under the influence 
 of those higher and finer sensibilities which only deeply 
 susceptible natures can experience, it seemed the con- 
 summation of earthly bliss, after the trials and sorrows 
 through which they had been brought. 
 
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 328 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 Once, in the afternoon, Lillian approached her mother, 
 her face beaming with smiles, and with an arch, roguish 
 twinkle of her eye, whispered, " Mother, what do you 
 think of the prophecy of the old Indian witch now ?" 
 This allusion to what at one time appeared so improb- 
 able, at first somewhat disconcerted Mrs. Le Clair ; hut 
 recovering her self-possession, she said, with a signifi- 
 cant look, and her face lit up with a smile, "Yes ijideed, 
 my dear, I have often of late thought ou the same sub- 
 ject myself." 
 
 At the close of this very memorable day, when the 
 sun was sinking from their sight, this company of happv 
 spirits wended their way to their respective homes. 
 None but pleasant memories remained as subjects for 
 the neighboring gossips to while away their evening 
 hours for many a month and year afterwards. 
 
 Sir George and Lady Hargreaves were now destined 
 to occupy a higher sphere, and the circle of their ac- 
 quaintance to be much enlarged ; for the neighboring 
 gentry, prompted by various and conflicting motives, 
 sought their friendship. The high standing, in the 
 county of Devonshire, of the family from which Har- 
 greaves himself had descended, gave him position in 
 their estimation. Quite a number were attracted thither 
 by the fame that was spread abroad of the surpassing 
 beauty and rare accomplishments of Lillian ; and scarcely 
 a day was allowed to pass without a social party being 
 formed, meeting in succession at each other's mansions. 
 Whether Lillian went on the visit alone or accompanied 
 by her husband, she was always driven in almost regal 
 state in her carriage and four ; and wherever she went, 
 she was the centre and life of the circle, for, with her 
 
;!. ' K 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 329 
 
 other. 
 
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 iprub- 
 
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 signifi. 
 
 le sub- 
 
 general knowledge and native wit, she was capable of 
 supporting the moat varied and intelligent conversation. 
 Siio generally took the lead in mnsic, both vocal and 
 instrumental ; usually extorting the admiration of her 
 lady friends. Tlie few who spoke disparagingly of her 
 performances were of that narrow-minded class who 
 depreciate in others whatever they cannot themselves 
 equal. Envy eclipsed their judgment and their taste. 
 This was perceived by Lillian, for she was quick at dis- 
 cerning the characters and dispositions of her associates; 
 but it had no other effect than to urge her onward to the 
 attainment of a higher excellence, as w'll be evidenced 
 by a few instances illustrative of the nature and extent 
 of her triumphs. 
 
 Practice with the long-bow, a very healthful sport, is 
 quite popular among some of the aristocratic families of 
 England. Hence, many of the nobility have shooting- 
 butts regularly laid out, where both ladies and gentle- 
 men resort to exercise their skill in archery. Among 
 the associates of Lillian there were many who stood high 
 as accomplished archers ; and of course these, feeling 
 confident in their own skill, and ever ready to enter the 
 lists against all comers, soon gave the challenge to Lil- 
 lian, being unaware that she was an adept in that sport. 
 Nothing daunted, she accepted it, without dropping any 
 hint that she had ever practised with the bow and arrow. 
 
 On the arrival of the company of ladies a^d gentle- 
 men at the shooting-butts, they each of them, out of 
 respect to Lillian, proposed to give her the privilege of 
 the first shot. She modestly but firmly declined, stating 
 that she would prefer seeing the others commence, as 
 she would then know better how to act. 
 
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 330 
 
 ltllian; or, 
 
 When the membera of the party had given evidenco 
 of their skill, with a wide margin as to roaultH, the bow 
 and arrow were handed to Lillian. On receiving these, 
 she minutely examined the bow from nock to nock, ai)d 
 then the arrow, from head to feather. Siie then placed 
 the arrow in its seat with care, and tried the spring, so 
 as to adjust her own strength to the strength anid spring 
 of the bow. Putting herself in position, she now fixed 
 her eye on the target, and taking a cool and steady aim, 
 sent the arrow to the golden centre. Some of the gen- 
 tlemen exclaimed : " Well done. Lady Hargreaves !" 
 Several of the ladies, however, who had been considered, 
 and who considered themselves, extraordinary shots, 
 felt no little pique at being thus shorn of their laurels ; 
 and they insinuated that it was more good luck than 
 good shooting on the part of Lady Hargreaves. Where- 
 upon, when it came to Lillian's turn again to try her 
 hand, purposely taking her stand ten yards further from 
 the target, she placed the arrow precisely in the same 
 spot as before. 
 
 This feat called forth a stronger expression of admira- 
 tion from the gentlemen, and from a few of the ladies. 
 But a few of the latter, who had hitherto carried off the 
 palm in their contests at these exercises, manifested 
 some mortification, and made remarks aside, in accord- 
 ance with their feelings. The sport was carried on to a 
 further trial ; and Lillian again receding ten yards, 
 placed the arrow as before, without deviating a iiuir's- 
 breadth. It was now fully conceded by all present, that 
 Lady Hargreaves must receive the crown, and hence- 
 forth be considered the champion archer of the district. 
 
 On observing evidences of wounded pride in some of 
 
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 tlieso, 
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 placed 
 ing-, so 
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 A\' O iM A N S K ^" 1) U K A A' C K. 
 
 331 
 
 the ladies, and a wish, on their part, to depreciate her 
 skill, a spirit of rivalry took possession of Lillian ; and 
 at times it might have been thought that she acted witii 
 too masculine an energy, and exhibited too eager a 
 desire to excel. A little of this may perhaps be dis- 
 covered in the following incident. One day in early 
 autumn, a number of gentlemen were assembled for the 
 purpose of liaving a day's sport, and before leaving they 
 formed quite an interesting group in front of the Hall. 
 A number of ladies were attracted to the place to wit- 
 ness the departure of the sportsmen, and, as usual on 
 such occasions, the jest and the merry laugh lent their 
 aid to enliven the interview. One of the ladies made 
 the remark, that she would like to go with them, if she 
 had a fowling-piece, and knew how to use it. " Oh," 
 said Lillian, laughing, " I can use one," and requested a 
 gentleman to lend her his double-barrelled Manton. 
 Looking out for a bird on the wing, which she soon dis- 
 covered, she brought the piece to her shoulder and fired, 
 and the game came fluttering to the ground. Then 
 turning to the opposite direction, and seeing another 
 bird, she repeated the action with the same result ; when 
 she returned the piece to its owner, saying — 
 
 "Did not I tell you that I could use a fowling-piece?" 
 " Upon my word," said one of the gentlemen, " Lady 
 Hargreaves is not less accurate in her use of the fowling- 
 piece than of the bow and arrow." With these and 
 other feats, Lillian excited the admiration of some, and 
 the jealous}'' of others of the company. 
 
 At the commencement of the acquaintance of Lillian 
 with the ladies of the neigliboring noble families, she 
 acted in her own natural, unassuming way ; but finding 
 
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 thorn growinf^ joalons of hor siiporior skill, althougli shf* 
 hud tlio prudonco and soU-restruint to hide from otluTH 
 her impressions, she yet felt her Indian blood wroiin-lit 
 upon so far, as to inspire her with a full dciterininatidii 
 to excel. And once imbued with this spirit, she lost no 
 opportunity of showing her superiority. And she felt 
 almost contempt for these ladies, puffed up as they were 
 by their inflated imaginations. th ideas of their im- 
 measurable superiority to thi ^ .v)r, untitled common 
 people. If they spoke to or of these, it was with a pat- 
 ronizing air, indicative of superiority on the one side, 
 and of inferiority on the other. 
 
 How different from all this were the manners and 
 behavior of Lillian I Her kind and gentle heart was of 
 a far different mould. She would give heed to the 
 humblest, without any appearance of hauteur, and yet 
 without sacrificing her native dignity. Nay, indeed, 
 never did she display so much of grace and m(«"al 
 beauty as when holding familiar converse with some 
 poor woman, listening with deep interest to some story 
 of personal or domestic sorrow, and by kind and gentle 
 words, and often bj"^ more substantial appliances, sooth- 
 ing the sorrows of her afflicted heart. 
 
 Often would Lillian, in direct terms, place her ante- 
 cedents in bold contrast with those of her lady com- 
 panions, by narrating some of those thrilling incidents 
 in which her own ancestors had exhibited their heroism 
 and displayed their prowess. When listening to these 
 ladies boasting of their descent in a direct line from 
 some one of the leading officers belonging to the train 
 of William the Conqueror, Lillian did not hesitate to 
 declare, that she could boast of springing from a line of 
 
\ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 333 
 
 otllCTH 
 
 Ivroijo-lit 
 liiiatioii 
 lost no 
 <iio felt 
 t'y were 
 loir im- 
 orntnori 
 h a pat- 
 le side, 
 
 crs and 
 '' was of 
 
 to tlie 
 tmd yet 
 
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 le story 
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 cidents 
 loroism 
 > these 
 e from 
 3 train 
 ;ate to 
 line of 
 
 princes who flourished long anterior to the existenci; of 
 William, or any of his officers. And when tliese hidi(>8 
 were priding themselves on the extent of their posses- 
 sions, Lillian would place in contrast to tliese, the wide 
 domain over which h(?r forefathers held sway hy the 
 potency of their own strong- right arm. She would often 
 insinuate a reproach of the useless and utterly aimless 
 lives they led — spending their days and nights in a con- 
 tinual round of vitiating and enervating gayeties and 
 follies, while there were open to them so many spheres 
 of usefulness more dignifying and ennobling than the 
 boast of ancestry or the possession of lands and houses. 
 Lillian was at one time on a visit at a mansion some; 
 distance from her own home. The conversation turning 
 on the above subjects, one of the young ladies said : 
 " We must take Lady Hargreaves with us when we go 
 to those poor families, with the clothes and blankets Ma 
 bought for them, and then she will see for herself that 
 we do not always spend our time so very aimlessly 
 and uselessly." Accepting their invitation, Lillian did 
 go with them on their message of mercy and labor of 
 love, and was much amused at the pomp and circum- 
 stance observed V)y the ladies, with the design of making 
 an impression of their cond»iscension on the minds of the 
 poor creatures who were the objects of their bounty. 
 They visited several cottages, if filthy mud-holes might 
 be so named, with scarcely an article that had any of 
 the features of furniture within them, and with a few 
 rods of ground attached, which had been rendered as 
 solid as rock, by being used as a common play-ground 
 for years, by a multitude of shoeless and shirtless, wild 
 and untutored children, with scarcely rags enough on 
 
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334 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 
 them to cover their nakedness. Abject poverty ap- 
 peared to bo the general characteristic of each and all ; 
 and this was associated with idiotic, expressionless 
 conntenances, in all the inmates of these miserable 
 dwellings, adults as well as juveniles. To these mis- 
 erable creatures were doled out a few pairs of coarse 
 blankets, such as the grooms or the coachmen of these 
 proiid titled ladies would have scorned to throw over 
 the horses in their stables. A few other cheap articles 
 of clothing were distributed to these comparatively des- 
 titute creatures, by these pampered favorites of fortune. 
 While amused at the frivolous and empty pompousness 
 of these ladies, Lillian was deeply mortified to see them 
 apparently lost to the conviction that they themselves 
 were of the same flesh and blood, deriving their being 
 from one common origin with those whom they seemed 
 to hold at so cheap a rate. But Lillian was a person of 
 prudence, as well as of « bold and fearless independence. 
 She knew how to time her remarks so as to produce 
 the most telling effect. And this was evidenced in the 
 present instance. On the evening of the day on which 
 the above events transpired, a number of the ladies were 
 conversing on the proceedings of the day, when a direct 
 appeal was made to Lillian for her opinion as to what 
 she thought of them. VVHth all her peculiar honesty 
 and frankness, Lillian declined that if she had on former 
 occasions hinted that they were spending their lives to 
 little purpose, she would now say, if she must speak 
 according to the dictates of her judgment, that they had 
 on that day done a serious wrong — that they had fos- 
 tered the feelings and had encouraged the habits of de- 
 pendence in those poor creatures ; and had thus sapped 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 335 
 
 \ 
 
 the very foundations of manly dig:nity and conscious 
 self-respect. If they sincerely wished to benefit those 
 people, they should try to place them in such a position 
 as would enable them to cultivate their self-esteem. 
 " Place them," she said, " above the need of charity, and 
 enable them to work out their own salvation." 
 
 One of the ladies exclaimed—" Why, bless me. Lady 
 Ilargreaves, you are really provokinj^ ; we thoug-ht we 
 were doing them good, and preparing them to endure 
 the severities of the coming winter 1 In the name of 
 common sense," she continued, " how could we change 
 their position ? Do you wish that we should take all 
 those ignorant and uncleanly beings to live with us in 
 this Hall ?" 
 
 *' Oh no," said Lillian, ** by no means ; that would, if 
 anything, be agp ivating the case — it would be making 
 matters worse. But I will give you my view of the case. 
 In our rambles to-day we passed a number of places that 
 are now going to waste, and, indeed, worse than that, 
 for they produce only noxious weeds and brambles, and 
 harbor reptiles and vermin, while they are well adapted 
 for profitable cultivation. Instead of being an eye-sore 
 and a disfigurement, as they now are, they might be 
 transformed into real ornaments of the place. And it 
 would add much to the beauty of the locality, by having 
 neatly finished cottages erected on them. You could 
 then transfer the people we saw to-day to these cot- 
 tages ; and by giving them a fair start, by a trifling out- 
 iay at the first, you would soon have profitable returns. 
 But, aside from any pecuniary profit to be derived from 
 this source, and the social comfort and happiness ot 
 which you will have been the cause, the intellectual 
 
 
 
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336 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 11 •" 
 
 development that would follow as a natural and collat- 
 eral result, would redound in a still greater degree to 
 your honor. Here you will be erecting monuments 
 worthy of your ambition ; for in all the future, in tracing- 
 back to discover the cause of results so vast and glori- 
 ous, the pen of the historian and of the philanthropist 
 will place upon their imperishable records your names 
 among those they chronicle as deserving the admiration 
 of coming generations. 
 
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woman's endurance. 
 
 337 
 
 ?'sl 
 
 \ 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Not only were Lillian and her lady companions widely 
 variant in their opinions on many subjects, hut her hus- 
 band, Sir George Hargreaves, coveted as his company 
 was by an extensive circle of the neighboring gentry, 
 also found subjects which, in the discussion of them, 
 gave rise to clashing of opinion and sentiment. And 
 some of these were of vital interest. It was often the 
 case, that the more benevolent the purposes, and the 
 more large-hearted the views of Sir George, the more 
 bitterly he was opposed by some of the leading gentle- 
 men of the neighborhood. To give the reader some idea 
 of the wordy conflicts in which these parties sometimes 
 engaged, we will just say, that Sir George had been 
 deeply impressed with the neglected state and the gross 
 ignorance of the laboring population on and around his 
 newly-acquired estate. And not only were his own feel- 
 ings thus wrought upon, but the mind of Mrs. Le Clair, 
 and the noble and active-minded Lillian, were greatly 
 exercised by the state of that unfortunate class. By 
 their joint efforts, plans had been formed, and to some 
 extent been put in operation, by which this deplorable 
 state of things would be rectified. Not only had Sir 
 George and his wife had an eye to the mental and moral 
 culture of the neighboring poor, but they had also formed 
 the purpose of apportioning off the park and the pleasure- 
 
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 T. illian; OB, 
 
 grounds — useless and wasteful appendages in their pres- 
 ent form around their mansion — into small allotments of 
 a few acres each, and erecting comfortable cottages on 
 them, as residences for these hitherto neglected poor. 
 Then, instead of these grounds being, as now, but waste 
 places and retreats for destructive animals, thej would 
 support a happy, industrious, and thriving population. 
 
 Instead of this kind-hearted and benevolent project 
 meeting with the entire approval of the neighboring 
 gentry, it met with their most strenuous opposition, and 
 at all their social gatherings he was bitterly rated for 
 his consummate folly. We will give an instance. In 
 October, on one of those soft delicious days for which 
 that month is especially famed in the southern part of 
 England, a large party of gentlemen had been out, and 
 had seen choice sport, having met with more than ordi- 
 nary success. Delighted with themselves for accom- 
 plishing so much in their few hours of sport, a feeling 
 of good-nature and careless ease pervaded the whole 
 company. Any trifling incident called forth loud and 
 boisterous laughter, and some of the party seemed ready 
 to engage in any lark or piece of senseless mischief. 
 By the road-side on which they were travelling were 
 two or three neglected and dilapidated cottages ; and 
 not far from these was a group of dirty, ragged children 
 playing, or rather wallowing in the mud and dirt. On 
 observing these children, one of the gentlemen, in a 
 rough, commanding voice, called out to them to clear 
 away, or he would shoot them, at the same instant 
 bringing the butt of his gun to his shoulder and pre- 
 senting it towards them ; when, to his horror, and to the 
 cousteruutiou of every one of the party, the gun went 
 
 -4r:;i 
 
I 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 339 
 
 oflf. They were all stupefied for the momcut, supposing 
 that he had intentionally sent the heavy charge of the 
 j^un into the midst of the group of children. But their 
 feelings were relieved on seeing all the children scamper 
 oflf, their rags streaming in the wind. When they came 
 to understand the cause of the alarming occurrence, they 
 found that, raising his gun to his shoulder in a spirit of 
 merriment, the trigger had been caught by the strap of 
 the gentleman's game-bag, and so caused the discharge ; 
 and then, instead of the piece being in a direct line with 
 the children when it went oflf, the strap pulled it aside, 
 so rendering that harmless which otherwise might have 
 proved a fatal disaster. This incident was the means 
 of abating the exuberance of their spirits, and quieting 
 the noisy clamor of their voices. 
 
 But, if the above incident had subdued the ardor and 
 sportiveness ot iceling of these gentlemen, it had not 
 in the least aflfected the cravings of their keen appe- 
 tites. On their arrival at the mansion of their host, 
 when the varied viands were spread out before them in 
 all their amplitude, little persuasion, it was found, was 
 required to enable them to do justice to the abundant 
 dainties provided. After having partaken of the rich 
 repast, wines of fine flavor and of the choicest brands 
 flowed without stint ; and the miiids of both host and 
 noble guests were soon oblivious to the requirements 
 of prudence and decorum. Such a company, and under 
 such influences, were likely to find subjects for playful 
 banter, if not for more earnest demonstrations. And as 
 the rather unwarrantable and novel proceedings of Sir 
 George Hargreaves and his active-minded wife had 
 somewhat disturbed the minds of the ladies and gentry 
 
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340 
 
 LILLIAN; Ok, 
 
 of the neighborhood, what so likely as this subject to 
 occupy a prominent place in the discussions of the even- 
 ing ? Earnest and pathetic appeals had been made, but 
 had failed to deter them irom pursuing a course dictated 
 by the promptings of humanity. It had been urged that 
 the plans and purposes of Sir George were fraught with 
 mischief to t'.ie upper classes. To carry out those plans 
 would be to mar the beauty and curtail the magnifi- 
 cence of tho^e stately mansions and their surrounding 
 grounds, which the present occupants had inherited, 
 and which they were bound by the considerations of 
 family memories and ancestral fame to hand down to 
 their successors in the line of descent, undiminished in 
 magnitude and undimmcd in splendor. Here, then, was 
 a subject connected with the social standing, and that 
 touched the self-interest of each member of the company 
 before us. The minds of these men were moulded in 
 the principles of caste. Yet here was one of their own 
 class, who had presumed to set at naught all the con- 
 siderations that had hitherto prompted and governed 
 the movements of their order. It was in vain that Sir 
 George urged upon their attention, that wealth and in- 
 telligence had a noble and imperative mission ; and that, 
 if those upon whom had devolved such responsibilities 
 proved recreant to their duty and false to their trust, as 
 sure as night follows day, so sure will retributive jus- 
 tice demand a reckoning, and the hand of the av(3nger 
 will execute judgment. They could not revel in wealth, 
 and boast of their knowledge, while at the 3ame time 
 they neglected to care for the destitute poor arour.d 
 them, and be held guiltless b^^fore God and man. Their 
 own individual interest, as well as feelings of national 
 
s 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 341 
 
 pride, should arouse their sensibilities, and direct their at- 
 tention to that numerous class, scattered over our estates. 
 It would be really dangerous to our safety, if these men 
 of rude intellect and still ruder passions should become 
 fully sensible of the indignities we have inflicted, and of 
 the wrongs they have endured at our hands, for so many 
 generations. It was his impression that they had better 
 begin to lead them by the silken cords of reason and of 
 love, before that grand crisis arrives — the signs of which 
 are gathering around us — when the distinction of class 
 and caste will be swallowed up and lost in the crash of 
 the very frame-work of society. 
 
 At a late hour, and under the influence of a more 
 genial spirit, the company separated for their homes. 
 The clatter • f horse-hoofs and the rumble of carriage- 
 wheels awcse the echoes of the woods, and disturbed 
 the stillness of the uight for a short time, and then all 
 was silent. 
 
 A short time after the above gathering, the same, or 
 nearly the same, party assembled at the mansion of Sir 
 George Hargreaves. Though the strife of words had 
 been warm and earnest on a number of occasions of late, 
 yet it had not led to the estrangement of families. It 
 was nearly the end of October, and, although the day 
 might be said to be fine, still there were fitful gusts of 
 wind, and black, pi' >wing clouds looming up in the dis- 
 tance, giving premonitory tokens of coming winter. Sir 
 George and Lillian, notwithstanding they were fully 
 aware of the views and feelings of their guests, on the 
 subject of the moral and social improvement of the poor, 
 • evinced no desire to hide their light, but rather that it 
 ehould be seen, and judged of by the influence it was 
 
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 m 
 
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542 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
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 exerting, and that it might prove as a beacon, either tc 
 lead or !;o warn. 
 
 After having enjoyed a social chit-chat within-doors, 
 they invited their company to take a stroll through the 
 grounds that lay but a short distance from the mansion. 
 They had not gone far before they came to a number of 
 cottages. These cottages had been built a number of 
 years, but, by neglect, had become little better than 
 buildings used for the shelter of domestic animals. 
 Since, however. Sir George had come into possession 
 of the estate, bj' a complete renovation they had been 
 rendered both comfortable and respectable. And then, 
 there had been added to each of these cottages a few 
 acres of land, so that the occupants, by their own labor, 
 were able to supply themselves with the common neces- 
 saries of life, besides being able to pay a small rent. 
 The inmates, both male and female, were neat and clean, 
 and warmly clad ; and, added to all this, they seemed 
 happy and cheerful, and their manners were in strict 
 accordance with their station. The look of deep sig- 
 niiicance which each face assumed on the entrance of 
 Sir George, and the ladies and gentlemen who were 
 with him, was more than a compensation to him for the 
 expenditure of means and labor that had accomplished 
 all this. Sir George informed his guests that his wife 
 had a number of these cottages on the estate, many of 
 them newly built ; but he believed that these would 
 prove fair specimens of the rest. He said that it had 
 long been impressed on his mind that it was full time 
 that the aristocracy of the land should take into their 
 most serious consideration the case of the laboring poor 
 Upon their estates. They had, for a long series of years, 
 
' 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 343 
 
 been accumulating vast v^ealtli, the product of tlieir 
 patient toil, without giving a thought to their intellec- 
 tual, social, or moral status ; while in so acting they 
 had deprived themselves of a source of the highest and 
 purest enjoyment. "Tell me not of the ingratitude of 
 the poor," said he ; " why, for my part, the silent greet- 
 ing I received from those humble and simple cottagers 
 is of higher value to me than thousands of gold and 
 silver— where the full tide of their grateful feelings 
 welled up from the deep fountain of their souls, while 
 their countenances plainly told unutterable things." 
 
 The greatest and most laudable object o Lillian's 
 ambition was a large and a well-ordered school, located 
 at some considerable distance from the above cottages. 
 This school was in a sequestered spot, and surrounded 
 by nature with her most variegated and beautiful handy- 
 work ; while skill and a pure taste had given a high 
 artistic finish to the whole. Close by there was a foun- 
 tain; that sent forth a pure bubbling stream, where the 
 youngsters slaked their thirst with nature's nectar. The 
 company were completely surprised and highly delighted 
 in survey' .g this display of a combination of nature 
 and art. But on entering the school they were spell- 
 bound, seeing so large a company of children, great and 
 small, so neat and clean, so comfortably clothed, and so 
 orderly in their behavior. But the united and unquali- 
 fied praise of the company was elicited on beholding 
 their rosy, healthy cheeks, their bright, sparkling eyes, 
 and their happy, cheerful, buoyant spirits. It was in- 
 deed a scene which, under the circumstances, might 
 gladden the heart of an angel. Here was exhibited the 
 legitimate and most useful employment of wealth and 
 
 i 
 
 ri 
 
344: 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 m 
 
 power ; — and this was a scene which the Christian and 
 benevolent heart that planned and perfected it, could 
 contemplate and reflect upon with a satisfaction angels 
 might envy, and which is alike beyond the experience 
 and the comprehension of those who move in the gay 
 circles of fashion, or of those who patronize the race- 
 course and the gaming-table. 
 
 One would have supposed that the party could not 
 have left this arena of moral training, without having 
 imbibed something of the spirit that dictated its inaugu- 
 ration and pervaded its government. And, indeed, a 
 number of them did leave the place with a conviction 
 of its present utility, and persuaded of its ultimate good 
 efiects. Soon, however, other feelings intruded, prompted 
 by a few captious minds, which counteracted the con- 
 victions of their better judi^ments. This will be more 
 fully understood, from the conversation of some of tlie 
 leading gentlemen of the party. We would observe, 
 that among them was a colonel of a regiment of the 
 British army : there was also an officer of the nav}', a 
 captain of a British man-of-war. These men were deeply 
 imbued with the spirit that influences their class, and 
 spoke with supreme contempt of any other business or 
 profession than their own ; and they were especially 
 fluent in discussing the merits of the plans and proceed- 
 ings of Sir George and Lady Hargreaves. They con- 
 tended that those plans were fraught with evil, and 
 would only lead to evil ; and if generally carried out, 
 would have the direct tendency to raise the lower orders 
 in their own estimation ; and that then they would 
 always be troublesome to manage, in whatever station 
 they were placed. The feelings of the colonel were 
 
\ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 345 
 
 quite excited, as he exclaimed : " Poor devils, what are 
 they, and what would tliey be, without the upper classes 
 to loud and direct them ?" Ho declared, that if he luid 
 to make the choice of lads for his regiment, between 
 those tutored in the school of Lady Hargreaves and 
 those ragged little urchins he was very near shooting 
 the other day, he would, by infinite odds, prefer the 
 latter ; for it takes more time, and is ten times more 
 trouble, to break the spirits of these than of the former. 
 " Those ragged lads you catch wild out of the lanes and 
 streets," he said, " may be like unbroken colts at first, 
 but physical force is all that is required to break them 
 in, which is of easy application. But in these educated 
 lads, you have a moral and an intellectual power to 
 contend with ; and I have found, in my military expe- 
 rience, that ten of such had to be flogged to one of the 
 other." 
 
 Here the navy officer chimed in, with a bluflf, husky 
 voice : "Aye, aye," said he, " that's so ; I want none rf 
 Lady Hargreaves' pious, pet pupils on my ship. Give 
 rae the outcasts of society — those rough fellows that 
 nobody cares for, or thinks them worth the trouble of 
 looking after, except as jail-birds. What do I care, if 
 they cannot tell me the difference between a bee or a 
 bull's foot ? All that I want out of them, is, to handle 
 the ropes, and work the guns, and be able to stand tire ; 
 and if they don't or won't do these, why, I know a way 
 of making them." 
 
 Very great deference was paid to the opinions of these 
 uiairnates in blue and red ; for a number of the gentle- 
 men present gave a hearty assent to the views expressed 
 by them— entertaining, like them, the opinion that the 
 
 15 
 
 
 
u 
 
 
 346 
 
 LILLIAN; Oil, 
 
 lower orders were of no further utility than so far us 
 their physical powers might be turned to account, or as 
 a kind of useful animal drudges. Sir George made stiv- 
 eral attempts to argue tlie point with tliem, and to prove 
 that there were other pursuits besides those of the sol- 
 dier and the sailor, and of an injportance not inferior to 
 those in sustaining and advancing the prosperity and 
 greatness of the State ; and that to make men good 
 citizens was the only sure way to make them stanch 
 patriots. 
 
 On the enunciation of the terms citizen and patriot, 
 some of the gentlemen were beside themselves with 
 rage, and the navy and military officers among the rest. 
 In the ff M ' ?t vehement manner, and with a virulent spirit, 
 they cried out — " Oh yes, we know where you were in- 
 oculated with these detestable ideas ; you have imported 
 them from across the water. We want no such importa- 
 tions into this happy and highly-favored land." 
 
 Notwithstanding this antagonism, sometirnGs? strenu- 
 ous and bitter, Sir George and his able coadjutor Lillian 
 kept on in the even tenor of their way, not in the least 
 deterred in the accomplishment of their noble purpose, 
 and in the fulfilment of their sublime mission ; and in 
 this they had the encouragement and example of Mr« 
 I Le Clair and Lady H. They too had consecrated their 
 I great wealth and rare talents to the pleasing and praise- 
 ; worthy task of lightening the burdens of the laboring 
 poor ; and of placing within the reach of their oflfspring 
 the means for acquiring the necessary mental and moral 
 qualifications to enable them to act their part on the 
 stage of life, with credit to themselves and with profit 
 to the world. They justly observed that the intellectual 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 347 
 
 r 
 
 and moral improvement of the operative and laboring 
 portion of the community, would raise the country higher, 
 not only in the estimation of all right-thinking men, hut, 
 what was infinitely more important, in that of Heaven, 
 than all the victories achieved by navy or army since 
 the nation began. 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 H 
 •'I 
 
 I 
 
348 
 
 LIiiLIAN; OR; 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 How often are the ways of Providence shrouded in 
 such deep mystery, that we are ready to conclude there 
 is something unjust, if not unwise, in occurrences that 
 take place Uiider our observation 1 We will see an 
 illustration of this in the painful incidents we are about 
 to narrate. 
 
 The reader is already fully informed of the varied 
 vicissitudes throujjh which Mrs. Le Clair has had to 
 struggle during the whole of her eventful life ; but 
 after her painful experiences, we have been happily re- 
 lieved by seeing her emerge from a state of care and 
 suffering to the enjoyment of comfort and the possession 
 of wealth, and scattering the blessings of her bounty 
 with an unsparing hand ; and it is delightful to con- 
 template the vast amount of good that is sometimes 
 accomplished by a single self-sacrificing and generous 
 man or woman. A melancholy and sad sight it is to see 
 a total eclipse of the sun, when that luminary is on the 
 meridian, but it is infinitely more sad to see such man 
 or woman arrested in a career redounding so greatly to 
 their own honor, and so beneficial to their race. 
 
 We have been greatly pained, through the whole 
 course of our narrative, in narrating afiiicting events in 
 the Mfe of Mrs. Le Clair ; but who, under happier aus- 
 pices, completely absorbed by a spirit of goodness, had 
 
\ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 349 
 
 of late, with other able heads, been occupied in matur- 
 ing in her mind a vast system to accomplish the g^reat 
 work her benevolent heart had proposed. But the la- 
 bors of the day, as well as sleepless nights, bejraii to 
 tell upon her yet noble frame, and, added to the (-ifects 
 of an over-taxed brain, gave painful evidence that her 
 endurance was not what it had been twenty ^ ears be- 
 fore. Yet her active spirit would not allow her to take 
 the repose her physical system now required. It was 
 evident that fatal consequences would ensue from these 
 long-continued labors, resulting in the exhaustion of 
 mental force and prostration of physical energy. And, 
 indeed, so it was ; for in this debilitated state of body 
 and mind, which rendered her keenly susceptible to the 
 attacks of disease, she made her accustomed call on a 
 poor family, some of the members of which were afflicted 
 with a malignant type of scarlet fever. On the night 
 succeeding this incautious visit, she complained of pains 
 in her head and soreness of throat. Still, she added 
 neglect to her temerity ; for she refused, until too late, 
 to seek the relief or to apply the remedies prudence 
 oiigfit to have dictated. Alas ! she felt too self-confident, 
 relying on the strength of her constitution and the vigor 
 of her frame, which had survived so many shocks, and 
 which she believed would now again rally their forces, 
 and bid defiance to the present attack of disease. But, 
 when too late, she was sadly undeceived, and then found 
 the best medical skill completely at fault, and all reme- 
 dial appliances of no avail. 
 
 Before the disease had advanced many stages, Mrs 
 Le Clair was deeply impressed with the conviction that 
 her days were numbered, and that this sickness would 
 
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 1 
 
 I 
 
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 V 
 
 
 : ' I 
 
 '!' ra 
 
 h>'i 
 
 350 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 surely be unto death. Notwithstanding this pei-suasion, 
 however, her mind exhibited more of joy than of any 
 other emotion, so far as her own case wai-j in question. 
 But when the thought of the many pensioners on her 
 43ounty crossed iier mind, she exhibited intense anxiety. 
 sA.8 sije expressed herself, she was leaving them as sheep 
 without a shepherd, and as lainbs among wolves ; and 
 soon, all her expenditure of time, and toil, and means 
 would be, as it were, scattered to the winds, and the 
 bright hopes and pleasing prospects in which many a 
 poor family had been of late luxuriating, would be for- 
 ever blighted. But so weakened, bodily and mentally, 
 did she become in the progress of the fatal malady, that 
 very soon that good and noble mind was a mere wreck, 
 drifting at random in a sea of wild fancies and incon- 
 gruous imaginations. But whenever a few lucid mo- 
 ments were permitted her, the same praiseworthy objects 
 and noble themes that had engaged her attention through 
 dife, were still the objects of her solicitude and the bur- 
 den of her thoughts. 
 
 That once noble frame and nobler mind at length 
 succumbed to the fiat that had gone forth — the body re- 
 turned to the dust, and the spirit to God who gave it. 
 
 In the death of Mrs. Le Clair we behold the departure 
 of no ordinary character. Her very being was closely 
 linked with the destiny of many others ; and the inter- 
 ests that held these parties in so close a bond of union 
 were of so vital a nature, and at the same time so varied 
 and far-reaching in their influence, that it was no wondei 
 the consternation at the sad event was so wide-spread 
 and so overwhelming. And then it must be remembered 
 that it was not tl wealthy and the noble of the neigh 
 
woman's endurance. 
 
 351 
 
 borhood who were to be aflfected by this sad bereave- 
 ment, and who might have exhibited the appearance of 
 sorrow by outward show and empty pageantry. No, it 
 was the poor and the destitute of the neighborhood, 
 whom Mrs. Le Clair had befriended, and who now ex- 
 hibited the genuine emotions of their smitten hearts. 
 That was a sorrowful sight indeed, that included in the 
 rank of mourners the man and the woman of gray hairs, 
 borne down with the weight of years, the man and 
 maiden in vigorous youth, and children through all the 
 gradations of age down to lisping childhood — all ex- 
 hibiting in their countenances, with intense grief for the 
 loss of their best earthly friend, despair of the future. 
 These poor people had of late been living, as it were, in a 
 new world, and had been breathing a heart-reforming, 
 soul-purifying moral atmosphere. Mrs. Le Clair had 
 been their great central luminary, diffusing light and 
 gladness over the dreary wastes of their neglected 
 hearts, and eliciting those moral and social virtues, 
 which had bid fair to remodel the very structure of 
 society itself. But now, that light had been stricken 
 from the firmament of these poor people ; and from the 
 bright nmd beauteous beams of day, by a sudden transi- 
 tion, they had been launched into the gloom of midnight, 
 But, perhaps the most distressing object presented to 
 <Mr contemplation, is the sorrow and anguish of Lillian — 
 so suddenly and unexpectedly called to mourn the loss 
 of her mother. A special messenger had conveyed the 
 sad and startling intelligence to her. She was already 
 in full travelling dress, and waiting for her carriage to 
 make an already arranged visit to some of the neighbor- 
 ing gentry. No sooner, however, did she comprehend 
 
352 
 
 LILLIxlN; OK, 
 
 n 
 
 '! 
 
 'Ik- 
 
 the character of the distressing message, than she gave 
 a few necessary and hasty instructions to her house- 
 keeper, accompanied with a request for her husband to 
 follow her. Laying strict injunctions on her coachman 
 to drive with all speed to the next post-town, with a 
 relay of fresh post-horses, she urged on her way to the 
 estate where her beloved mother lay in so critical a con- 
 dition. But, though it was early in the day when she 
 started, owing to the distance and the state of the roads 
 it was just at sunrise on the next morning when she 
 arrived at the residence of her mother. But, wearied as 
 she was with travel, and oppressed as was her mind 
 with grief, quick was her passage from her carriage to 
 the bedside of her beloved parent. Her keen eye soon 
 discovered that her mother was hopelessly ill. It so 
 happened, however, that Mrs. Le Clair was in one of 
 her lucid moments, which alleviated somewhat the sor- 
 mm of Lillian ; for she at once recognized her daughter, 
 and in a pathetic manner, and with gentle expression, 
 said : "My own Lillian, my dear Lillian, you are just 
 in time." But, no sooner had she given utterance to 
 these few affectionate words than her mind was again 
 wandering. In vain did Lillian, by various little arts, 
 endeavor to so fix the attention of her mother as to draw 
 a few rational words from her lips ; for the fell destroyer 
 had nearly accomplished his work, and she could only 
 hif the passive and grief-stricken spectator of the closing 
 melancholy scene before her. 
 
 Just as the pure spirit of Mrs. Le Clair had taken its 
 departure, and while the first burst of Lillian's grief 
 was at its height, lier husband entered the room. The 
 sorrow which he very naturally felt at the loss of Mrs. 
 
WOMANS ENDURANCE. 
 
 353 
 
 Le Clair, was now diverted to Lillian, who was in a 
 paroxysm of grief that threatened the stability of her 
 mental powers. The heart and mind of Lillian seemed 
 to be so constituted, that whatever passion had sway 
 for the moment, it usurped the control of her whole 
 being. Whether it was love, or grief, or anger, that 
 was called into action, all other passions and feelings 
 were instinctively held in abeyance. 
 
 It was no wonder, under the circumstances, that Sir 
 George was utterly at a loss how to act. It was true 
 he had on one occasion seen his wife in a fit of anger, 
 and was terrified at the sight ; but now, touched by a 
 sympathetic feeling, he was subdued before the over- 
 whelming and passionate grief of Lillian. It was the in- 
 tensity of her love for her mother which gave such point 
 and force to her sorrow, aided as it was by the peculiar 
 traits of her mind. Eventful as had been her life, and 
 trying as had been some of the scenes through which 
 ghe had been called to pass, there had been no affliction 
 which had made so deep an impression upon her heart 
 as the one that she was now called upon to bear. It 
 was feared by her husband, as well as by her attendants, 
 that the worst consequences might follow this prostra- 
 tion of her mental and physical powers } but what were 
 the feelings of all when they were informed by the phy- 
 sician that she was laboring under an attack of the most 
 virulent type of typhus fever, caught, no doubt, in at- 
 tendance on her mother in her sickness, and intensified 
 by the morbid state of her own mind I Be that as it 
 may, it was soon found that neither the skill of physi- 
 cians nor the virtues of medicines were of any avail. 
 The disease, by its rapid strides, gave evidence that all 
 
 I 
 
854 
 
 LILLIAN; OB, 
 
 attempts were futile to stay its onward pr()gress. Lillian 
 had at length found an enemy she could not subdue or 
 bend to her will. On the contrary, this foe soon laid 
 her prostrate at his own feet ; for in a little more than a 
 fortnight after the mournful ceremonies of her mother's 
 funeral she herself was numbered with the dead, and 
 soon conveyed to the same resting-place, and laid by the 
 side of her whom she had loved so well. 
 
 It is in vain that poor purblind mortals speculate on 
 the doings of Providence. Unquestioning submission is 
 our duty. In this case, as well as in numberless others 
 of a similar mysterious character, we should call to mind 
 and apply the aphorism which Lady H. placed in her 
 letters to Mrs. Le Clair, " What thou knowest not now, 
 thou shalt know hereafter." 
 
l\ 
 
 llfan 
 e or 
 laid 
 an a 
 ler's 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 355 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 The above melancholy events, as might well be sup- 
 posed, affected painfully the mind of Lady H., who was 
 now far advanced in life, and of course not so able to 
 grapple with circumstances as formerly. From the in- 
 dications of her character, as they have been unfolded 
 to our view in the foregoing narrative, it must have 
 been perceived that she was a woman of undoubted 
 piety, of great decision, and of strong convictions. To 
 all outward appearance, the great purposes of her life- 
 labor, and the objects of her Christian patience, had 
 equally been doomed to partial disappointment, in so 
 far as she had cherished the hope of placing her niece, 
 Mrs. Le Clair, not only in possession of the patrimony 
 of her father, but in the enjoyment also, through a long 
 life, of her high position, in which she could employ 
 her newly-acquired wealth in supplying the wants and 
 soothing the sorrows of many a ch lid of woe. But, un- 
 der this painful bereavement, with the consequent pros- 
 tration of her long-cherished hopes, there was no fretful 
 questioning of the doings of Providence ; on the con- 
 trary, a meek submission to the dispensation. She re- 
 marked, that if she could be favored with a personal 
 interview with her Saviour, and were permitted to inter- 
 rogate Him on these mysterious doings, He would, no 
 doubt, say to her, " What I do thou knowest not now, 
 
 ;. i 
 
S56 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 but thou shalt know hereafter." In this spirit of Chris- 
 tian resignation to the divine will she lived but a few 
 months, when she too was gathered to her home in 
 peace. 
 
 The same tomb incloses the precious dust belonging 
 to these three ciioice spirits ; and it sliall rest there, till 
 it be reanimated, and raised in the full vigor and glory 
 of the sons and daughters of God, on the morning of the 
 resurrection. To die was gain to these three wortliy 
 women, but by their death a void was left in the locality 
 in which they had been so honorably occupied, which, to 
 all appearance, could not again be filled. Sir George 
 riargreaves, though so stanch and noble in his manhood, 
 had finally to succumb to the overwhelming influence 
 brought to bear upon him by the neighboring aristocrats, 
 and all the improvements accomplished and in progress 
 under the energetic and able administration of Lillian, 
 were swept away. Things again reverted to their old 
 condition, that of a moral and social wilderness. The 
 nobility and gentry of the neighborhood breathed with 
 more freedom, now that the elevation of the lower or- 
 /ders — b^'- education, and consequent moral and social 
 I improvement — seemed to be indefinitely postponed. But, 
 ah 1 could we have the opportunity of whispering in the 
 ears of these self-deluded dupes, we would tell them that 
 the time is not far distant, when it will not be the influ- 
 ence of a few women with which they will have to con- 
 tend, but with the stern wills and determined energy of 
 heaven-inspired men. These men may enlist on their 
 side the sympathies, and perhaps the passions, of tlie 
 masses ; and wliat then, if the pleadings of reason and 
 the demands of justice should be disregarded ? Why, 
 
\ 
 
 woman's endurance. 
 
 857 
 
 ins- 
 few 
 in 
 
 ting 
 
 the flimsy barriers of conventional lines may prove but 
 as cobwebs before the united demonstration of an indig- 
 nant nation. 
 
 We cannot allow our narrative to close, without a 
 parting allusion to the character and doings of the Rev. 
 James Wilson, rector of the parish, and recipient of 
 large revenues, as the incumbent of the church con- 
 nected with the estate lately held by Mrs. Le Clair. 
 We have already alluded to the apparent relief expe- 
 rienced by the majority of the neighboring nobility and 
 gentry on the death of the three ladies who have been 
 the subjects of our narrative. Their fears had been ex- 
 cited, and they had been tormenting themselves with all 
 sorts of surmisings, as to what might be the results of 
 the dangerous enterprise in which these benevolent 
 ladies were engaged with so much zeal. But, perhaps, 
 there was not a single individual in all that district of 
 country, whose acticms evinced so clearly as Wilson's 
 that he was now relieved from the restraint under which 
 he had been held by the strong mind of the late Mrs, Le 
 Clair. He now felt himself free to act according to the 
 dictates of his own selfish and avaricious disposition. 
 It is really a misfortune when a man of a kind and gen- 
 erous heart is bound down and trammelled by a vicious 
 system, to which he must shape his whole conduct in 
 his intercourse with those from whom he must receive 
 his support. There is almost sure to be engendered a 
 spirit of bitterness, induced by the very workings of the 
 system by which all the business transactions with each 
 other must be regulated. But, in the Rev. James Wil- 
 son we find a mind in every way formed, and ever ready, 
 to act in full accordance with the worst features of the 
 
368 
 
 LILLIAN; OR, 
 
 system now under consideration. With a mind stuffed 
 witii mental abstractions, with knowledge chiefly made 
 up of technicalities, although well voised in book-logic, 
 he was, nevertheless, utterly unable to read < r to under- 
 stand the logic of events. Hence, \vu may naturally 
 suppose that he would prove a stickler for all his vested 
 rights, and would, without any scruples, sternly demand 
 his pound ol lesh. The vicious system under which he 
 acted, thi w a safeguard around all his exactions, and 
 his victims lay utterly helpless at his feet ; and to all 
 their appeals to his better nature, he replied by referring 
 them to the laws both of church and state, which secured 
 to him his tithes. At the same time, he could not re- 
 move the impression from the minds of his parishioners, 
 that what he extorted from them by tithe-gathering, was 
 nothing less than legal robbery. And at their social 
 gatherings and convivial meetings, with a full glass, 
 and a hearty good-will, they would drink their favorite 
 toast — " To the death of the black slugs that devour a 
 tenth of the poor man's earnings I" 
 
 'i\ 
 
NOTICES. 
 
 \ 
 
 New York, Sept. 1, 1868. 
 Rev. N. TiBBELS. 
 
 I may say that the Canadian romance entitled " Lillian ; or, 
 Woman's Endurance," was read by myself and wife, and pronounced 
 fery readable. The scenes and characters are well drawn ; the 
 events mostly natural ; the stylo is clear and fluent, and the moral 
 purpose and tendency of the work excellent. It is worthy of any 
 publishing house in the country. 
 
 D. D. Whedon, D. D. 
 
 The author has drawn out his story with groat naturalness, and 
 so describes his characters as to lead the reader to take special 
 interest in them. The stylo of his book is, therefore, attractive, 
 lie has, also, written with a high moral purpose; and those who 
 study his scenes and incidents will have their aspirations for a noble 
 life-work increased. — Christian Advocate.