The Battle of Life

t suddenly from among the clouds; and the old battle- ground, sparkling brilliantly and cheerfully at sight of it in one green place, flashed a

and, bright and glowing, seemed as if it had been blind, a minute since, and now had found a sense of sight wherewith to look up at the shining sky. Corn-fields, hedge-rows, fences, homesteads, and clustered roofs, the steeple of the church, the stream, the water-mill, all sprang out of the gloomy darkness smiling. Birds sang sweetly, flowers raise

passer-by, from among the green leaves, like a jolly face, and promised good cheer. The horse-trough, full of clear fresh water, and the ground below it sprinkled with droppings of fragrant hay, made every horse that passed, prick up his ears. The crimson curtains in the lower rooms, and the pure white hangings in the little bed-chambers above, beckoned, Come in! with every breath of air. Upon the bright

ure, trickling from everything after the late rain, set him off well. Nothing near him was thirsty. Certain top-heavy dahlias, looking over the palings of his neat well-ordered garden, had swilled as much as they could carry-perhaps a trifle more-and may have been the worse for liquor; but the sweet-briar, roses, wall- flowers, the plants at the windows, and the leaves on the

The Nutmeg-Grater. And underneath that household word, was inscribed, up in the tree

known that it was no other than Benjamin Britain himself who stood in the doorw

looking down the road, 'is

and looked up at the house, very much to his satisfaction. 'It's just the s

hlias. They looked over at him, with a helpless drowsy hanging of thei

amin. 'Memorandum, not to forget to t

much his better half, that his own moiety of himse

ere were a few little matters of business after

baskets and parcels lying crowded around her, and a certain bright good nature in her face and contented awkwardness in her manner, as she jogged to and fro with the motion of her carriage, which smacked of old times, even in the distance. Upon her nearer approach, this relish of by-gone d

oking soul she was: with as much soap on her glossy face as in times of yore, bu

Clemmy!' sai

and baskets: 'eight, nine, ten-where's eleven? Oh! my basket's eleven! It's all right. Put the horse up, Harry, and if he coughs

Clemmy,

und countenance (for she and her husband were by this time in the bar),

n promptly

of dogs'-ears: 'I've done everything. Bills all settled-turnips sold-brewer's account looked into and paid - 'bacco pipes ordered-seventeen pound

e wouldn't,'

e, Ben, he'd never put you to the cost of a

a serious expression, and

d of him?' s

s the sort of kindness that I woul

. Then there's the pony - he fetched ei

y good,'

more at present from yours and cetrer, C. Britain. Ha ha ha! There! Take all the papers, and lock 'em up.

id Ben, looking o

ed his wife. 'I haven

t of the Nutmeg-Grater, '"unless previo

put that,'

rubberies," &c., "ring fence," &c. "Messrs. Snitchey and Craggs," &c., "ornamental portion of the

ue to reside abroad!

,' said Bri

alf promised of her, soon!' said Clemency, shaking her head sorrowfully, and patting her elbows as if the recollec

ith that remark, he applied himself to putting up the bill just inside the bar window. Clemency, after meditating i

t was she who managed the whole house, and made him, by her plain straightforward thrift, good-humour, honesty, and industry, a thriving man. So easy it is, in any degree of life (as the world very often finds it), to take those cheerful nat

a perpetual testimony to him of the goodness of his heart, and the kindness of his disposition; and he fe

ritains were playing in the coach-house under the superintendence of one Betsey, and that little Clem was sleeping 'like a picture,' she sat down to tea, which had awaited her arrival, on a little table. It was a v

breath, as if she had sat down for the night; but getting up again immediately to hand her husba

saucer like an oyster, and disposing

Clemency, shaking her head at the n

ur husband,' sa

torted Clemency, 'and

I had somehow got used to you, Clem; and I found I shouldn't be able to get on wit

Clemency. 'It was ve

d Mr. Britain, with

worth men

h obliged to you. Ah!' looking again at the bill; 'when she was known to be gone, and out of reac

anyhow,' obser

word to him, and hadn't any angry feeling towards him, even then; for he repented that truly, afterwards. How often he has sat in this room, and told me over and over again he was sorry for it!-the last time, only yesterday, when you were out

her husband: astonished that she should have a distinct perception of

r tea, to cool it. 'Bless you, I couldn't tell you,

him, in the shape of a gentleman attired in mourning, and cloaked and booted like a rider on horseback, wh

rose and saluted the guest. 'Will you please to walk u

looking earnestly at Mr. Brita

ike, sir,' returned C

you please t

ht his eye, and h

ty that, sir,' ob

the same observant curiosity as before. 'You were asking me,'-he said, still looking at her,

' He sat down as he spoke, without any further parley, and looked out at the prospect. He was an easy, well-knit figure of a man in the prime of life. His face, much browned by the sun, was sha

w house, i

y new, sir,' rep

ars old,' said Clemency;

ranger. 'That bill reminds me of him; for I happen to know something of that st

ving, sir,' s

chan

d Clemency, with remarkabl

daughter-

At first, he was sadly broken down; and it was enough to make one's heart bleed, to see him wandering about, railing at the world; but a great change for the better came over him after a year or two, and then he began to like to talk about his lost d

remembered

rned the stranger. He paused for s

ersetting the tea-board, in

ever hear?

lied, as he filled his glass ag

f her left hand, and supporting that elbow on her right hand, as she shook her head, and looked back t

hort one,' sugge

ere be to tell? That they grieved together, and remembered her together, like a person dead; that they were so tender of her, never would reproach her, called her

uggested th

ried. They were married on her birth-day-it comes round again to-morrow - very quiet, very humble like, but very happy. Mr. A

d happily together?

people ever more so. They h

ng with great energy, one word or phrase to him over and over again. As she uttered no sound, and as her dumb motions like most of her gestures were of a very extraordinary kind, this unintelligible conduct reduced Mr. Britain to the confines of despair. He stared at the table, at the stranger, at the spoons, at his wife-followed her pantomime with lo

nearer to the stranger, sat with her eyes apparently cast down but glancing sharply at him now and th

r history of the youn

w it, I

letters from her sister, saying that she was well and happy, and made much happier by her being married to Mr. Alfred: and has writt

ed here, a

-repeated t

r person, I believe,

awing her br

t be?' asked

nce conveying to her husband what she would have had him understa

with emotion; 'I saw just now you did! You rememb

u were,'

band, if you please. Ben, my dear Ben, run to Miss Grace-run to

y interposing himself between the d

quite lost to them, but that she will come home again yet, to bless her father and her loving sister-even her old servant, even me,' she struck herself upon the breast with both hands, 'wi

Let me see her, sir, if you please. I waited on her when she was a little child. I saw her grow to be the pride of all this place. I knew her when she was Mr. Alfred's promised wife. I tri

n, not unmixed with wonder: bu

; what joy it would be to them, to see her once more. She may be timorous of going home. Perha

he answered, s

coming back so quietly, and his announced intention of con

was dead! Clemency sat down, hid

n: quite out of breath, and panting so much that his voice

wind has blown-' He was so blown himself, that he couldn't get on

what has just passed-how I have been besought and entreated to per

did you ever come here, my

everything new and old, in these old scenes; and it was outside the town. I wanted to communicate with you, first, before appearing there. I wanted to know what p

bly blame us, Mr. Warden? It was understood between us that the subject was never to be renewed, and that it wasn't a subject on which grave and sober men like

il I should return, whenever that might be,'

and in our duty towards a variety of clients, you among them, who were as close as wax. It was not our place to make inquiries of you on suc

inquired

sed that confidence in me voluntarily. He, and on

ow it?' sai

run the chance of any more such difficulties as you have had here, in case you should be recognised-though you're a good deal changed; I think I might have passed you myself, Mr. Warden-we had better dine here, and walk on in the evening. It's a very good place to dine at,

, 'but I'm like a man in a dream at present. I seem to want my wits. Mr. Craggs-yes - I am very sorry we have

leg, my right ear, my right eye, was Mr. Craggs. I am paralytic without him. He bequeathed his share of the business to Mrs. Craggs, her executors, administrators, and assigns. His name remains in the Firm to this hour

d still been observant

ceased to speak, and

very faithful to Marion. She was always very fond of her. Pretty Marion!

sighed, and

ill to-morrow,' sai

ng back' the dead to

cy, so

eased,' returned the lawyer. 'But it may bring some soothing

ael Warden went up-stairs; and there they were soon engaged in a conversation so cautiously conducted, that no murmur of it was audible above the clatter of plates and dishes, the hissing of the frying-pan, the bubbling of sauce

ws of many winter nights had melted from that ground, the withered leaves of many summer times had rustled there, since she had fled. The honey-suckle porch

lace, from whose heart she had never passed away; in whose true memory she lived, unchanging, youthful, radiant with all promise and all hope; in whose affection - a

eyes of Grace, her sister, sitting with her husband in the o

leness and goodness flowering the by-paths of this world, not to be trodden down beneath the heavy foot of poverty, but springing up, elastic, in its track, and making its way beautiful; he had better learned and proved, in each succeeding year, the truth of his old faith. The manner of his life, though quiet an

perhaps, than if he had contended restlessly in more am

Had HE for

ad been talking of that night; 'and yet it seems a long long wh

husband, counting to-night as one, we have sat here on her birth-day, and spoken together of th

her, as the tears collected in he

t for you upon your table, love, and which you read so often

m her breast, and kis

d to the time when you would meet again, and all would be made clear; and that she praye

, Al

r letter she ha

ch she spoke of you, and what you then

n fast declining, and said tha

tter, which you say I read so often-that I have never told you. But, to-night, dear husband, with that sunset dra

is it,

fred, such a trust in my hands: praying and beseeching me, as I loved her, and as I loved you, not to reject the affection

and happy man again,

d honoured in your love,' was his wife

passage in the letter, until now. I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time. I know why Grace, although so true a friend

ace, he looked down at the child, who was sitting at their feet playing with a

t these words. 'The sun is going down. You have

uth of Marion's history

ly. 'Nothing veiled from me, any mor

,' he a

down on Marion's birt

t is sink

aist, and, looking steadil

long for me to tell, dear Grace

lips!' she f

ration is enough. You have said, truly, that the time is come. It is. Tell me that you have pr

said. 'And what intell

serving his steady look, 'to say no

d to think,

e, which frightened her. Again she hid her own face on his

messenger, the messenger is waiting at the gate. The sun

ion's as it had been in her later days at home, that it was wonderful to see. He took the child with him. She called her back - she bore

d; but remained there, motionless, looking

laid down upon her father's breast, and pressed against it to his loving heart! O God! was it a vision that came bursting from the old man's arms

Oh, my sister! Oh,

ness unutterable,

, so unalloyed by care and trial, so elevated and exalted in her loveliness, that as the setting sun shone

h arms twining round her, and never turning for an instant from her face-and with the glory of the setting sun upon her brow, and with the soft t

ar home, Grace, as i

A moment! O Marion, to

the voice she loved

ret breast for one brief instant. It was far beyond all price to me. Although it is so long ago, and past, and gone, and everything is wholly changed, I could not bear to think that you, who love so well,

her, could look into he

him love me as he would. I knew the debt I owed it. I had its great example every day before me. What you had done for me, I knew that I could do, Grace, if I would, for you. I never laid my head down on my pillow, but I prayed with tears to do it. I never laid my head down on my pillow, but I thought of Alfred's own words on the day of his departure, and how truly he had said (for I knew that, knowing you) that there were victories gained every day, in struggling hearts, to which these fields of battle were nothing. Thinking more and more upon the great endurance chee

on! O M

I felt that I must act, before the daily intercourse between us was renewed. I knew that one great pang, undergone at that time, would save a lengthened agony to all of us. I knew that if I went away then, that end must follow which HAS followed, and which has made us both so happy, Grace! I w

,' exclaimed her sister; and her countenance was ashy-pale. 'You

red me his hand. He told me he had seen I was not happy in the prospect of Alfred's return. I believe he thought my heart had no part in that contract; perhaps thought I might have loved him once, and did not the

her face, attentively

rged him with my secret, on the eve of his and my

dly upon her. She sc

de, and close the world against themselves and worldly loves and hopes for ever. When women do so, they assume that name which is so dear to you and me, and call each other Sisters. But, there may be sisters, Grace, who, in the broad world out of doors, and underneath its free sky, and in its crowded

fixedly upon her,

ke here-if Alfred, my kind brother, were not your own fond husband - from whence could I derive the ecstasy I feel to-night! But, as I left here, so I have returned. My heart has known no other lo

to her relief; and falling on her neck, she wept and

at the Doctor, and his sister good Aunt Mar

r tears, as she embraced her nieces; 'for I lose my dear companion in m

brother,' sai

sure,' retorted Aunt Mart

,' said the doc

elf ill used. I don't know what's to become of me without

suppose,' replied the Doctor.

t married, Aunt

tter for his absence in all respects. But as I knew him when he was a boy, and I was not a very young woman then, perhaps he mightn't respond. So I'll ma

s world altogether, and there's nothing se

u chose, Anthony,' said his sister; 'but nobo

e, which was enough to have swamped the whole globe; and it is a world on which the sun never rises, but it looks upon a thousand bloodless battles that are some set-off against the miseries and wickedness

had had, when Marion was lost to him; nor, will I tell how serious he had found that world to be, in which some love, deep-anchored, is the portion of all human creatures; nor, how such a trifle as the absence of one little unit in the great absurd acc

en current year; and Marion had seen him, and had promised him, as her brother, t

r. Snitchey, looking into the orcha

he came straight to Marion, and

is not too easy perhaps: that, taken altogether, it will bear any little smoothing we can give it; but Mr. Craggs was a man who could endure to be convinced, sir. He was always ope

vered her congratulations

at lady. 'It is not in my nature to

,' returned

Cragg

he is deceased,

u do; and if your memory has not entirely failed you, Mr. Snitchey; and if you are not absolutely in your

s, my dear?' sa

hat man-to observe his eye-and now to tell me whether I was right, and

band, in her ear, 'Madam. Did you

chey, sharply. 'Don'

tell, and both knew just the same professionally. And so the less you say about such things the better, Mrs. Snitchey; and take this as

ed by her husband; the latter doleful with the presentiment, that

on as she ran towards her, and interposing hims

remembered close before her, she stared, sobbed, laughed, cried, screamed, embraced her, held her fast, released her, fell on Mr. Snitchey and embraced him (much to Mrs. Snitchey's indig

le spare attention to bestow, and that had been monopolised by the ecstasies of Clemency. He did not appear to wish to be observed, but stood alone, with down

tly, going to where Marion stood with Grace and her little namesake, she whispered something in Marion's ear, at which she started, and appeared surp

roprietor of that freehold tenement, at present occupied and held by yourself as a licensed tavern, or house of public entertainment, and commonly called or known by the sign of the Nut

in the vote if the sign was

east,' replie

in the words, "and Thimble," will you be so good; and I'll have the

wiser than I was, or better. But I have known, at any rate, that term of self-reproach. I can urge no reason why you should deal gently with me. I abused the hospitality of this house; and learnt by my own demerits, with a shame I never have forgotten, yet with some profit to

g easily upon his scythe, that Michael Warden never went away again, and never sold his house, but opened it afresh, maintained a golden means of hospitality, and had a wife, t