Marion Lester; or, The mother's mistake

Preface

UPON the literary sea, already teeming with ten thousand lights, we launch our fragile bark. Though simple the offering, it is presented with a sincere desire for good.

The object and bearing of this work we leave the reader to understand from its perusal.

May it awaken thought in a new direc tion, and save at least one heart from the

influence of religious fear.

M. S. D.

BETHEL, VT., May, 1856.

Chapter I. Selecting A School

" MR. LESTER, do you know anything about the Upton Seminary ? I have been talking -with Mrs. Jones about it, — you know her girls have been to that school, — and I think it must be a very desir able one for May to go to ; don't you think so ? "

My father laid down his book in surprise. " Why, my dear, I thought it had been decided a week ago that we should send Marion to the Eldon Institute at Slaton. I have made arrangements with Mr. Benton, whose daughters are going, to take charge of her and Cora during the journey."

Mother's countenance fell ; but in a moment she drew her chair to his side, and began, in her sweet, coaxing way, to plead her case. I saw her heart was set upon the change, and I knew that she would at last bring my father to consent to her wishes. " I dare say," said she, "the Eldon school is an excel lent one; but we know nothing about it, and the ' Jones girls ' give such good accounts of the Upton Seminary, that I am quite in love with it."

"Beg your pardon, my dear, but I do know quite as much about the Eldon Institute as the other. Mr. Benton's daughters have been there two years, and speak of it in high terms ; and, more than that, I am personally acquainted with the worthy pre ceptor."

" But it is so far."

" Full a dozen miles nearer than your Upton school, which is one hundred and fifty miles away ; but that will make no difference, as she will not come home till the end of her year. I have an objection to the school : it is very sectarian, and every scholar is obliged to attend the church where the professor preaches."

"Ah, that is not so pleasant; but I'll trust Marion's principles, and of course no one would meddle with her religious opinions. The Upton school is so much more popular, — a regular board ing-school, you know, and boarding-schools are always superior to these common academies. And, besides, they have a native Italian master, and my heart is set on having May learn Italian."

Many arguments equally profound did my mother bring forward to uphold her cause ; and, at last, overcome with her logic, my father yielded the point. She looked delighted ; but the slight contrac tion of his brow, as he resumed his book, proved that he did not perfectly coincide with her feelings. " Father," said I, now speaking for the first time, " is the point settled ? Am I to go to Upton instead ofEldon?"

' ' Your mother is so anxious about it, I suppose I must consent. I will write to Dr. Severe, who is at the head of the school, to see if you can be admitted."

" Dr. Severe ! Ah, papa, that name sounds portentous ! "

" Nonsense ! " said father, laughing. " Now run and inform Cora and her mother of the change ; for, of course, you two inseparables must go together."

I dropped my embroidery, sprang for my bonnet in girlish eagerness, and, in less than three minutes, was across the meadow and at the door of Mrs. Eaton's pretty cottage.

Seventeen bright years had circled over my head, and pain and sorrow I only knew by name. The only child of fond and wealthy parents, I had thus far trod a pathway of sunshine and flowers. I had received all the literary advantages afforded by our aspiring village, and, in addition, had studied Latin and mathematics with my father. And now I was to go away to school a year, and then my education would be considered complete. Cora Eaton, my constant companion since early childhood, was to be my school companion still. Though such intimate friends, we were in many things direct opposites. Her hair was a golden brown, mine ebon ; her eyes were heavenly blue, mine matched my jetty tresses. She was gentle and timid, yet gay and light-hearted ; I was firm, and at times a bit wilful. She was painfully sensitive to disapproval ; but, while I loved approbation, I held to my convictions of right, inde pendent of what the world might say, or even my dearest friends. I loved her fragile beauty, and unvarying sweetness of temper ; she leaned upon me as upon an elder sister, with tender confidence.

Cora's mother was a widow in easy circumstances. Her only brother. Alfred, was a young man of twenty-two, and on his second year at college. This Alfred was my beau ideal of manly beauty and ex cellence. Smile not, gentle reader ; what girl of seventeen has not an ideal, though she may never have met it, and perchance never will ? Alfred had ever been a kind and attentive brother, and I, as the friend of his sister, received a full share of his boyish attentions. "We were very near to each other, — aa near as cousins at least. «•

For fifty miles of our journey we enjoyed the company of Mr. Benton and his daughters ; then our ways diverged, and Cora and I travelled alone.

Mary and Emma Benton were amiable, intelligent girls, and we felt as much regret as they expressed, that we were not all going together. Mary, who was three years older than myself, expected to become assistant teacher in the school to which they were going, after a few months more study. At parting, Emma assured us, that, " however much we might like the Upton Seminary, it would be impossible for us to find better teachers, or more agreeable com panions, than at Eldon ; " and Mary added, with glistening eyes, that " it was the pure moral and religious atmosphere pervading the school which made it so dear to her."

It was a chilling day in autumn, and, towards night, the heavens opened their flood-gates, and the rain fell with a sullen, continuous splash. We were happily unconscious of the state of the weather until we left the warm, light cars, when we received the information that we had half an hour's drive to take in the chill, wet evening. Shivering, and with dread homesickness settling down upon our hearts, Cora and I curled into one corner of the carriage. Our merry driver told stories, and laughed at them him self, but failed to awaken any interest in his hearers until he^ announced that the large gray building that loomed up in the distance was the seminary.

We were shown into a handsome parlor. It was unoccupied and partially lighted by the rays of a krge hanging lamp seen through an open door. We could see distinctly into the adjoining room, which I concluded was a study ; for directly under the lamp was a table covered with huge books, at which sat an elderly gentleman, writing. "I wonder if that is Dr. Severe?" whispered Cora, in slight trepidation.

"Hush! he will come to meet us." But the grave, stern face still bent over the table, and the hand still flew over the page, as though their owner was ignorant of our near presence. Our observations were cut short by the entrance of two ladies, one tall and dark, the other small and very fair. The dark lady introduced herself as Mrs. Winthrop, the pre ceptress, and her companion was Miss Ingols, the music-teacher. Mrs. Winthrop welcomed us in a stately, condescending manner, while Miss Ingols quietly assisted in removing our many wrappings.

Five minutes were passed in answering matter-ofcourse inquiries, when the doctor, at the study-table, who had appeared totally oblivious of every surround ing object, suddenly laid down his pen, and, walking directly through the room, shook hands with Cora and myself, calling her Miss Lester and me Miss Eaton. He was glad to see us; hoped that we should be happy there ; recommended us to be studi ous and attentive, and, with the same abruptness with which he had entered the room, he walked straight back to his study-table and resumed his pen.

Miss Ingols now remarked that she should be happy to entertain the young ladies in her own room, if agreeable to Mrs. "VVinthrop. The stately lady bowed in acquiescence ; so we rose and followed Miss Ingols. It was a delightful room into which we were ushered. A coal fire glowing in an open grate, an elegant piano, a table covered with books, a bright, soft carpet, and an inviting lounge, were objects which my vision took in at one glance, with a, sensation of pleasure and relief. Noticing the weari ness of my fragile Cora, Miss Ingols drew a stuffed rocker near the fire for her, and gave me an ottoman by her side. Her manners were the most quiet and subdued I had ever seen in any one, and her voice very low and gentle. While we were discussing our supper (which had been brought into the room at her request), she inquired about our studies and former pursuits.

I knew, by the glance which Cora now and then gave me, that she was deeply in love with gentle Miss Ingols ; but I had not quite made up my mind about her. She was so wonderfully quiet in her words and manners, so entirely passive, so to speak, that I asked myself if she had any spirit, any life, any soul.

Cora looked so longingly at the piano, that Miss 2

Ingols guessed her wish, and, with a faint smile, sat down to play. I gazed upon her, wondering if she would play or sing in the same style in which she moved and spoke. She touched the keys dreamily, but the first strain acted like a spell upon her ; her face lighted up, her eyes dilated with feeling, her mouth opened, and such melody as gushed from her lips ! The instrument was a splendid one, and yet her wondrous voice rose above its tones, and mingled with them, rich and clear. My bosom swelled, and my eyes filled ; my heart was thrilled to its lowest depths.

0, yes, she had a soul ; an inspired one, I thought, and music was its language !

She left the piano and came back to the fire, ex actly as before ; upon her subdued countenance was not a trace of the rapt enthusiasm with which she had sung. I did not doubt her now ; I was sure I should love her. But she seemed a mystery to me.

In about an hour we started for our own room in fine spirits ; our ardor was somewhat damped, how ever, when Miss Ingols informed us that our apart ment was preoccupied by two young ladies, who had oeen members of the school a long time. How vex ing ! Cora and I had counted on a room all to our selves, and now our privacy was to be always marred by strangers. Miss Ingols introduced the two girls, who rose from their books at our entrance, as Miss

Sarah and Miss Helen French, and then left us to get acquainted, she said. But I was too much vexed to be very gracious at first, and the glisten in Cora's eyes spoke of tears near at hand. The young girls, apparently not much prepossessed in our favor, went soberly back to their books. They sat at a pretty round table, which stood near their bed ; on the other side of the room were another bed and a similar table, which Cora and I supposed were for our use. We sat down to our table ; upon which Miss Sarah rose up and lighted our lamp for us, in a very kind manner. I thanked her, and Cora tried to smile ; but that homesick feeling had come back to our hearts with full power. Cora whispered, "Let's unpack our trunks."

" No, dear," I replied; " I have no heart for it." And so my darling leaned her head upon my shoulder, while I tumbled over the school-books on the table. There was a Bible among them, and, by natural impulse, I opened the sacred book. I had read the Bible much with my father, and he had often told me that, though invaluable to the glad and prosperous, it was doubly precious in seasons of de pression and grief. I knew a few chapters would be salutary in my present frame of mind ; and so Cora and I quietly read from the same page, while our companions across the room perused their lessons in silence.

"Nine o'clock, and I won't study a moment longer ! " exclaimed Miss Helen, as a clock near by told the hour. She packed away her books with a great bustle. " Sarah, Sarah, study hours are up ; put away your slate."

" Don't bother me so; I must get out this problem first," said Sarah, a little peevishly.

"Now, what if Arthur Willis should hear you speak so shortly ; do you think he 'd pick up your handkerchief again, and give it to you with such a polite bow ? "

" Pshaw ! what is Arthur Willis to me ? "

" 0, nothing, I dare say ; though you do think he is the handsomest fellow, with his black hair and eyes, and superb whiskers. Now I would own him handsome if he only wore mustaches. Can't you coax him to, when you get a little better acquainted with him?"

"Do stop your nonsense, Helen," said Sarah, rising, and putting away her books ; "it can't be very interesting to our room-mates." The two girls now came and sat near us, and I determined to make amends for my former coldness. Helen opened her eyes very wide as she saw what book I had been reading; and, elongating her pert little face, she asked, in a doleful voice, " Are you pious, Miss Lester ? "

The oddity and abruptness of the question con founded me, and I stared at her without a reply.

"I wish you would be sensible," said Sarah, re provingly. " If Miss Lester is pious, she don't wish to boast of it ; and if she is not, of course it is n't pleasant to be quizzed about it."

" I beg your pardon, Miss Lester ; I meant no offence," said Helen, trying to look sober, but with a wicked twinkle in her blue eye. " I 'm half afraid you are pious, though ; but I know Miss Eaton is n't. She loves fun as well as I do, if her face does say ( homesick ' so plainly."

Cora laughed, and I laughed too, though I thought Helen a very queer girl. In a few minutes we were talking familiarly together, as if we had known one another a month.

Chapter II. My Schoolmates

COKA'S kisses awoke me in the morning. Our room-mates were dressing, and chattering like two magpies ; so we sprang from the bed, and commenced our toilet.

Sarah stood at the glass, combing out her fair curls, which I thought almost equal to the matchless ringlets floating round Cora's head. Helen's spirits were effervescing, as on the night before. " Sarah, Sarah, I 'm waiting for the glass ! "

" In a minute, dear ; let me fix this last curl."

" 0, I forgot; you want to look very charming ! But, mind you, Arthur Willis is going to be a minis ter, and, of course, could not be ensnared by such wicked things as curls."

" I am not taking any more pains than usual, I assure you."

"0, no, indeed! not when Mr. Willis sits right opposite you at table, and you think him so handsome! Such hair and eyes! — but then he don't wear mustaches ! What a pity ! "

" Has n't this Arthur Willis, you say so much about, anything to boast of but fine hair and eyes ? " I asked, suddenly.

"There, you are interested already!" cried Helen. " 0, Sarah, my poor, dear Sarah, what can you do ? Here is the accomplished Miss Lester, interested before she has even seen him, and Miss Eaton is far handsomer than you, with curls which throw yours completely into the shade. Alas ! my sister will die of a broken heart ; for what can she do beside two such charmers?" Here Helen clasped her hands with a half-comic, half-tragic air.

" If Mr. Willis has no other claim to our regard than mere good looks, Miss Sarah need not fear me as a rival," said Cora, laughing.

" Certainly, in that case she will have the field entirely to herself," added I.

Sarah turned from the glass with heightened color. " Helen is always making fun, as you will soon find out ; but, in this case, she has no reason, for I am scarcely acquainted with Mr. Willis ; and, besides, he is grave and studious, and hardly ever speaks to a girl in school. The professor says he is his best scholar ; and he is very proud of him, as are all the ministers. I dare say he would feel quite vexed if he knew how freely his name was used by such silly girls."

" There goes the breakfast-bell ! " cried Helen, "and, as you have finished your grand explanation, I beg leave to lead the way."

Among the many strange faces surrounding me at the breakfast-table, I had no difficulty in selecting him, who I was sure was Arthur Willis. His pale countenance wore an expression of high intellectual ity ; his hair was dark and wavy, and his eyes were large, black, and mournful. I judged, from his ab stracted air, that he had left his mind with his books. He ate hastily, addressing no one.

By my side was a lad of sixteen, with a mirthloving face. He looked at me keenly, and asked if I had recovered from the effects of my cold ride. I then recognized him as our merry driver of last night, and gave him my hand. " I am called Ed Sanders," he said, by way of introduction.

" And I am Marion Lester, and this is my friend Cora Eaton." He nodded graciously.

There was some quiet mischief going on at our end of the table, and I soon discovered Ed Sanders to be the perpetrator. But he looked grave enough for a deacon, and passed round the bread, or butter, or sugar, with commendable gallantry ; while, ever and anon, the girls opposite received whole batteries of sugar-plums, from some mysterious source. A shower of them fell among Cora's curls, and half a dozen sailed gracefully upon my coffee. Mrs. Winthrop's sharp gray eyes were turned upon us so often that I really feared she would discover the sugar plum sensation ; but Ed performed his part so well, and the girls laughed and winked just in the right time, so that she had not the remotest suspicion of it.

After breakfast and prayers, Cora and I were left alone in the great dining-hall. Soon Mrs. Winthrop appeared, and after delivering a little lecture, and reading a formidable list of rules, she put us under Miss Ingols' care, who was to tell us about our les sons. Miss Ingols soon planned our studies for the day, and left us with the agreeable permission to remain an hour in her pleasant room, and study by ourselves.

The weeks passed quickly away, and we became ac customed to our new mode of life, and were contented and happy. Cora, beautiful, happy-hearted Cora, won all hearts ; she was so gay, and yet so gentle ; so affectionate and winning ! And still I had the satisfaction of knowing that she considered me her first and dearest friend, in spite of the fond and flat tering attentions showered upon her.

Dr. Severe was stern, and unbending in his man ners, and, though a thorough teacher, I regarded him with actual fear. Mrs. Winthrop (who was the pro fessor's widowed sister) I distrusted ; but Miss Ingols I loved and esteemed. Cora sympathized with these feelings, though she stood much more in awe of Mrs. "Winthrop than I did. The other teachers were agreeable and faithful ; but, as we saw them only at recitation, they had less influence upon us.

We heard much about a certain Lizzie Williams, who had long been a member of the school. She < was now detained at home, on account of her delicate health. I had a curiosity to see this young lady, about whom I heard such varied and contradictory reports. Mrs. Winthrop pronounced her a perfect Christian, a model for us all ; and loudly bewailed her absence. Miss Ingols said she was a dear, good girl, and some of the scholars agreed with her, while others shook their heads, and intimated that they thought her overbearing and haughty.

Ed Sanders told me in confidence, one day, that, in spite of her beauty and talents, he disliked her ex ceedingly. " She was shockingly pious, almost self-righteous." in his opinion.

One morning Helen French, who always contrived to be behindhand, ran into our room some minutes after the rest of us were quietly seated at our lessons.

" 0, Sarah ! " she exclaimed, " your Miss Piety has come ! "

" Whom do you mean ? How I wish you would call folks by their right names ! "

" How dull you are, Sarah ! I mean Lizzie Wil liams."

11 Lizzie Williams ! " Sarah's face shone with animation. " Are you sure she has come; have you seen her?"

" Yes, I have seen her. You know the room next to Miss Ingols' has been reserved for her. As I went by there just now, John was carrying in her trunk, and Lizzie sat in a rocking-chair by the window. She smiled and tried to speak, but a dreadful fit of cough ing prevented her, and she turned her face away and covered it with her handkerchief."

" Poor Lizzie, how I do want to see her ! I shan't have a chance to see her until night, unless I run down now a minute. I have a good mind to." Sarah had gone to the door, and stood holding the handle irresolutely.

" I thought it was against the rule to leave our rooms during study hours," said Cora, innocently.

" To be sure it is," said Helen ; " but it will do no harm unless she meets Mrs. Particular, which is n't very likely at this time of day."

" I believe I'll venture," said Sarah, and she van ished through the door.

She returned in half an hour, with flushed cheeks and swimming eyes. Helen instantly understood the difficulty, and exclaimed, "0, dear, and so the coast was n't clear, after all? "

" No," answered Sarah, struggling through her tears; " I met the professor himself on the stairs. How he happened to be out of his study at that hour I 'm sure I don't know ! But he did n't appear even to see me, though my heart beat so loud I should think he must have heard it. Thanking my stars at my escape, I hurried into Lizzie's room. She was very glad to see me, and we had a nice chat together ; but, just as I began to think of coming back. Mrs. Winthrop came into the room. She was very angry with me, and said that for a punishment I must read twenty extra lines in Virgil; and how I am to do it with all my other lessons I don't see ! "

"0, dreadful ! " cried Helen ; " twenty lines, and you have just commenced reading it ! How I wish we didn't study Latin! It is a hateful, dead lan guage, not fit for girls to learn."

"I shall never get it all out," said Sarah, despair ingly, while her tears fell fast upon the pages of her book.

" I have learned my Italian lesson, and have ten minutes to spare, so I can help you translate it," said I, seating myself by her side.

She looked up gladly through her tears. " How good you are ! I will accept your assistance, though I suspect I don't deserve it."

Every evening, between the hours of six and seven, the pupils were allowed to call upon each other in their rooms. Sarah was eager to have Cora and I become acquainted with her friend, Miss Williams ; therefore we took an early opportunity to call upon her. The young lady welcomed us with graceful ease. She was a tall and queenly girl of twenty, with dark eyes and hair. I felt saddened, as I read upon her pale features, in unmistakable language, the assurance that the consumptive's doom would be hers. She was so cordial and agreeable that I could riot but be pleased with her. Cora and I both pronounced her very lovable. Sarah looked delighted, but Helen shook her head very knowingly.

The very next evening Lizzie Williams tapped at our door, and was welcomed in with satisfaction. We school-girls did not care about etiquette, but made and returned calls at our pleasure. For a time we con versed pleasantly upon such subjects as were upper most in our minds. Then Lizzie, who sat by my side, took my hand in hers. " My dear Miss Les ter," she said, " have you a hope ? "

"A hope ! " I repeated, puzzled at her phraseol ogy-

" Yes ; a hope in God ! "

" Certainly. How could I be without faith and hope in God, when I am constantly receiving such tokens of his love and mercy ; and his wisdom and power are manifested in all the works of his hand ?

Does not your question insinuate a want of intellect ual perception, or moral appreciation, in me ? "

" You misunderstand me. I mean, have you a special hope for yourself; do you feel that Christ has accepted you as his own ? " Her dark eyes were fixed upon me keenly.

I fully understood her now, and returned her glance with one equally searching. " No, I am not so presumptuous. I do not and cannot merit the special favor of God, though his bounties have ever been showered upon me. I know Christ died for me, therefore I trust him, not myself."

She withdrew her hand, saying, in a changed tone, " I am disappointed in you ; I thought I had found a congenial mind, — one who could appreciate and sympathize with my spiritual experience ; but I per ceive I am mistaken."

After an awkward silence, she continued: "And you, Cora Eaton, do not profess to be a Christian, any more than your friend ? "

Cora turned her blue eyes to mine, but the silent answer mine gave her, reassured her, and she said, gently, " I am afraid I am too full of errors and mis takes, to be worthy of the name ; but I wish to be a true Christian ; I am trying to become one."

"That is it, darling Cora; you do try to be a Christian, and I think you come the nearest to it of any one I know."

" You have a strange manner of speaking, Miss Lester," said Miss Williams, coldly. " I fancy you wilfully misunderstand me ! "

I was too proud either to explain or defend myself, and, as she rose to go, I haughtily wished her ' ' good-evening."

" There is Lizzie Williams to the very life ! " cried Helen, as the door closed after her. " She is very gracious, and gives her love to those who make great professions, as she does, but is chilly as an iceberg to us unregenerated mortals."

" You wrong her," said Sarah. " I own she is strict in her notions, and wishes to have others con form to her opinions ; yet she makes a friend of me, and you know I ' make no profession.' ;:

"Ah, but you are a subject for hope," said the gay girl, mockingly, "while I, at least, am incor rigible."

Chapter III. Innocent Amusement Condemned And Defended

ALFRED EATON often wrote to his sister, always sending a message to me, and sometimes enclosing a half sheet for " sister May," as he often called me. A little before New- Year's we received a missive, which gave us special joy. He was having a few days' vaca tion, and New- Year's he was to spend with William Justin (his college chum), whose father, Judge Jus tin, resided about a mile distant from our seminary. On New- Year's eve the judge's lady was to give a party, and William Justin had sent a request for her to invite Cora and myself, for the sake of his friend Alfred.

We were delighted at the prospect of meeting our dear Alfred so soon, and when our notes of invitation arrived, we hastened to obtain Mrs. Winthrop's per mission to attend the party. Cora explained the cause of our invitation, and the reason why we were so anxious to go.