The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 104, June, 1866

nd she was to spend the rest of the day quietly with me. Many a query passed through my mind as I walked along. I wondered at a thousand things,-at the mysteries that are directly under o

lder on the porch-step, while the pews were already full, and the clock pointed to ten minutes p

face pale with excitement. Instead of the opening prayer, he said to us: "Brethren and sisters! there has been a great battle,-a terrible battle at Antietam! They have sent on to th

had risen

our brave boys! God knows what afflictions are in store for us; but all who can aid in this

been made by himself and Mr. Wilder, who was a deacon of the church, to convey any articles that might be contributed to the railroad stati

here was hurryi

ef and assertion that she "really had nothing more fit to give to the soldiers," there were countless boxes of jellies, preserves, and dried fruit. Everything palatable and transportable was brought, with streaming eyes and throbbing hearts, to the general contribution. From house to house the electric current of sympathy

visit. She too brought her basket of gray yarn and knitting-needles. We were not afraid of becoming atheists, if we did work on a Sunday. Our sheep had all fallen into ditches on the Sabbath-day, and we should have been worse than Jews not

forgive me

ow that be

unpleasant and mortifying to reveal, that it was only when I

r; I am willing to believe in you without a word," I said. And

my governess,

tly. Her dreadfully pale f

nt me to Paris to a school which she recommended, and which was really a very good on

e was choked with her sorrowful remembrances, "I c

hers. But this young man was so different. He really loved me, I am sure,-or rather I was sure at the time. He was not in good health, and I think his tal

lue eyes had the careless, serene expression which is often seen in foreigners' eyes, but scarcely ever in those of Americans. There was none of the keen, business look apparent in alm

nd especially the gentleness. But he had, in fact, only been a student, and as yet b

ndies on business for his father. It was the sickly season, and he would not le

wasn't

to search for him-in vain. Then, months after, we heard that he had been seen in Fayal. Sometimes I thin

ressed lik

we heard once, are only got up to mislead suspicion. You know papa's great dislike-nay, I may call it weakness-is being talked about and discussed. And he thought the best way was to say nothing about the peculiarity or mystery at

ot known much about him. He was a New York merchant, and I had not much opinion of New York morals myself. From their own newspapers, I should say there was more wickedness than could possibly be crammed into their dailies going on as a habit. However, I said nothing of this sort to poor Percy, whose grief and

and thousands of packages and boxes, filled with comforts and delicacies. If the boys had been at home, they could not have been cared for more tenderly and abundantly. And the nurses in the hospitals! Colonel Lunt couldn't say enough about them. It was a treat to be watched over and consoled by such ministering angels as these women were! We could b

ld not help improving morally and mentally while her sons were doing the country's work of regeneration; and her daughters forgot their round tires like the moon, their braidings of hair, and their tinkling ornaments, while they

d Mrs. Lunt proposed to take me over to Swampy Hollow, if it would be agreeable to me. Of course

onel Lunt, in a mysterious way, which he

w that I was to hear poor Percy's story over again, with the Colonel's emendations and illustrations. I was in the carriage, and there was no getting out of it. Mrs.

a long time getting at a joke or telling a story. He was a long time telling this, with the aid of Mrs. Lunt, who p

when he had finished, "why don't you, or rath

. "Thomas! drive slowly home now, a

rives about Barton. I knew tha

Elliott, if we all knew what other people know about us, we should be wretched! No! the myster

more than we do, let her birth or circumst

Percy congratulating herself on being of 'our very own blood,-a real Lunt!' Poor child! why should we trou

t possible that circumstances may arise that would need the interference of friends. If we were to die, the secret might die with us

the like. This imports nothing,-only he came by and by to associate with lords and dukes. And that shows what comes of being an American. He fell among Perkinses and Sturgises, and after working hard for them in China, and getting a great deal to do in the "carrying-trade," whatever that may be, retired on his half-million to Maryland, where he lived awhile, until he went to Europe. After he returned he bought the Schuyler place, which had been for sale years and years.