WehaveheardMilton\'sargument,butfortherealizationofhisvisionofthetime\"WhenHellitselfshallpassaway,Andleaveherdolorousmansionstothepeeringday,\"
oursufferingracemustwaitinpatience。
ThegreaterpartofthediscoursethereaderhashadbeforehimwasdeliveredovertheteacupsoneSundayafternoon。TheMistresslookedrathergrave,asifdoubtfulwhethersheoughtnottosignifyherdisapprobationofwhatseemedtoherdangerousdoctrine。
However,assheknewthatIwasagoodchurch—goerandwasonthebesttermswithherminister,shesaidnothingtoshowthatshehadtakenthealarm。NumberFivelistenedapprovingly。Wehadtalkedthequestionoverwell,andwereperfectlyagreedonthemainpoint。
Howcoulditbeotherwise？Doyousupposethatanyintellectual,spiritualwoman,withaheartunderherbodice,canforamomentseriouslybelievethatthegreaternumberofthehigh—mindedmen,thenobleandlovelywomen,theingenuousandaffectionatechildren,whomsheknowsandhonorsorloves,aretobehandedovertotheexpertsinagreattorture—chamber,incompanywiththevilestcreaturesthathaveoncewornhumanshape？
\"Ifthereissuchaworldasusedtobetalkedaboutfromthepulpit,youmaydependuponit,\"shesaidtomeonce,\"therewillsoonbeorganizedaHumaneSocietyinheaven,andamissionestablishedamong\'thespiritsinprison。\'\"
NumberFiveisaregularchurch—goer,asIam。Idonotbelieveeitherofuswoulddarkenthedoorsofachurchifwewerelikelytohearanyofthe\"old—fashioned\"sermons,suchasIusedtolistentoinformeryearsfromanotedclergyman,whosespecialtywasthedoctrineofeternalpunishment。ButyoumaygotothechurchesofalmostanyofourProtestantdenominations,andhearsermonsbywhichyoucanprofit,becausetheministersaregenerallygoodmen,whosemoralandspiritualnaturesareabovetheaverage,andwhoknowthattheharshpreachingoftwoorthreegenerationsagowouldoffendandalienatealargepartoftheiraudience。SoneitherNumberFivenorIarehypocritesinattendingchurchor\"goingtomeeting。\"Iamafraiditdoesnotmakeagreatdealofdifferencetoeitherofuswhatmaybetheestablishedcreedoftheworshippingassembly。Thatisamatterofgreatinterest,perhapsofgreatimportance,tothem,butofmuchless,comparatively,tous。Companionshipinworship,andsittingquietforanhourwhileatrainedspeaker,presumablysomewhatbetterthanweare,stirsupourspiritualnature,——thesearereasonsenoughtoNumberFive,astome,forregularattendanceondivineworship。
NumberSevenisofadifferentwayofthinkingandfeeling。Heinsistsuponitthatthechurcheskeepintheirconfessionsoffaithstatementswhichtheydonotbelieve,andthatitisnotoriousthattheyareafraidtomeddlewiththem。TheAnglo—AmericanchurchhasdroppedtheAthanasianCreedfromitsservice;theEnglishmotherchurchisafraidto。ThereareplentyofUniversalists,NumberSevensays,intheEpiscopalianandotherProtestantchurches,buttheydonotavowtheirbeliefinanyfrankandcandidfashion。Thechurchesknowverywell,hemaintains,thatthefearofeverlastingpunishmentmorethananyorallothermotivesisthesourceoftheirpowerandthesupportoftheirorganizations。Notonlyarethefearsofmankindthewhiptoscourgeandthebridletorestrainthem,buttheyarethebasisofanalmostincalculablematerialinterest。\"Talkaboutgivingupthedoctrineofendlesspunishmentbyfire！\"
exclaimedNumberSeven;\"thereismorecapitalembarkedinthesubterraneanfire—chambersthaninalltheiron—furnacesonthefaceoftheearth。Tothinkwhatanarmyofclericalbeggarswouldbeturnedlooseontheworld,ifoncethoseragingflameswereallowedtogooutortocalmdown！WhocanwonderthattheoldconservativesdrawbackstartledandalmostfrightenedatthethoughtthattheremaybeapossibleescapeforsomevictimswhomtheDevilwasthoughttohavesecured？HowmanymoregenerationswillpassbeforeMilton\'salarmingprophecywillfinditselfrealizedinthebeliefofcivilizedmankind？\"
RememberthatNumberSeveniscalleda\"crank\"bymanypersons,andtakehisremarksforjustwhattheyareworth,andnomore。
Outoftheprecedingconversationmusthaveoriginatedthefollowingpoem,whichwasfoundinthecommonreceptacleoftheseversifiedcontributions:
TARTARUS。
WhileinmysimplegospelcreedThat\"GodisLove\"soplainIread,ShalldreamsofheathenbirthaffrightMypathwaythroughthecomingnight？
Ah,Lordoflife,thoughspectrespaleFillwiththeirthreatstheshadowyvale,WithTheemyfalteringstepstoaid,HowcanIdaretobeafraid？
ShallmoulderingpageorfadingscrollOutfacethecharterofthesoul？
Shallpriesthood\'spalsiedarmprotectThewrongourhumanheartsreject,AndsmitethelipswhoseshudderingcryProclaimsacruelcreedalie？
Thewizard\'sropewedisallowWasjusticeonce,——ismurdernow！
Isthereaworldofblankdespair,AnddwellstheOmnipresentthere？
DoesHebeholdwithsmilesereneTheshowsofthatunendingscene,Wheresleepless,hopelessanguishlies,And,everdying,neverdies？
Say,doesHehearthesufferer\'sgroan,Andisthatchildofwrathhisown？
Omortal,waveringinthytrust,LiftthypaleforeheadfromthedustThemiststhatcloudthydarkenedeyesFadeeretheyreachtheo\'erarchingskies！
WhentheblindheraldsofdespairWouldbidtheedoubtaFather\'scare,Lookupfromearth,andreadaboveOnheaven\'sbluetablet,GODISLOVE！
XI
Theteaissweetened。
Wehavebeengoingonverypleasantlyoflate,eachofusprettywelloccupiedwithhisorherspecialbusiness。TheCounsellorhasbeenpleadinginagreatcase,andseveralofTheTeacupswereinthecourt—room。Ithought,butIwillnotbecertain,thatsomeofhisargumentswereaddressedtoNumberFiveratherthantothejury,——themoreeloquentpassagesespecially。
OuryoungDoctorseemstometobegraduallygettingknownintheneighborhoodandbeyondit。Amemberofoneofthemoreinfluentialfamilies,whoseregularphysicianhasgonetoEurope,hassentforhimtocomeandseeher,andasthepatientisanervouslady,whohasnothinginparticularthematterwithher,heisprobablyinforagoodmanyvisitsandalongbillbyandby。Hehasevenhadacallatadistanceofsomemilesfromhome,——atleastbehashadtohireaconveyancefrequentlyoflate,forhehasnotyetsetuphisownhorseandchaise。Wedonotliketoaskhimaboutwhohispatientmaybe,butheorsheisprobablyapersonofsomeconsequence,asheisabsentseveralhoursontheseout—of—townvisits。Hemaygetagoodpracticebeforehisbaldspotmakesitsappearance,forIhavelookedforitmanytimeswithoutasyetseeingasignofit。Iamsurehemustfeelencouraged,forhehasbeenverybrightandcheerfuloflate;andifhesometimeslooksatournewhandmaidasifhewishedshewereDelilah,Idonotthinkheisbreakinghisheartaboutherabsence。PerhapshefindsconsolationinthecompanyofthetwoAnnexes,oroneofthem,——butwhich,Icannotmakeout。HeisinconsultationsoccasionallywithNumberFive,too,butwhetherprofessionallyornotIhavenomeansofknowing。IcannotforthelifeofmeseewhatNumberFivewantsofadoctorforherself,soperhapsitisanotherdifficultcaseinwhichherwomanlysagacityiscalledupontohelphim。
InthemeantimesheandtheTutorcontinuetheirreadings。Infact,itseemsasifthesereadingsweregrowingmorefrequent,andlastedlongerthantheydidatfirst。Thereisalittlearborinthegroundsconnectedwithourplaceofmeeting,andsometimestheyhavegonetherefortheirreadings。SomeofTheTeacupshavelistenedoutsideonceinawhile,fortheTutorreadswell,andhisclearvoicemustbeheardinthemoreemphaticpassages,whetheroneisexpresslylisteningornot。Butbesidesthereadingthereisnowandthensometalking,andpersonstalkinginanarbordonotalwaysrememberthatlatticework,nomatterhowcloselythevinescoverit,isnotimpenetrabletothesoundofthehumanvoice。Therewasalisteneroneday,——itwasnotoneofTheTeacups,Iamhappytosay,——whoheardandreportedsomefragmentsofaconversationwhichreachedhisear。NothingbuttheprofoundintimacywhichexistsbetweenmyselfandtheindividualreaderwhoseeyesareonthispagewouldinducemetorevealwhatIwastoldofthisconversation。Thefirstwordsseemtohavebeeninreplytosomequestion。
\"Why,mydearfriend,howcanyouthinkofsuchathing？Doyouknow——Iam——oldenoughtobeyour——[Ithinkshemusthavebeenonthepointofsayingmother,butthatwasmorethananywomancouldbeexpectedtosay]——oldenoughtobeyouraunt？\"
\"Tobesureyouare,\"answeredtheTutor,\"andwhatofit？Ihavetwoaunts,bothyoungerthanIam。Youryearsmaybemorethanmine,butyourlifeisfullerofyouthfulvitalitythanmineis。IneverfeelsoyoungaswhenIhavebeenwithyou。Idon\'tbelieveinsettlingaffinitiesbythealmanac。YouknowwhatIhavetoldyoumorethanonce;youhaven\'t\'baredtheice—colddagger\'sedge\'uponmeyet;mayInotcherishthe\"……
Whatapitythatthelistenerdidnotheartherestofthesentenceandthereplytoit,iftherewasone！Thereadingswentonthesameasbefore,butIthoughtthatNumberFivewasrathermoresilentandmorepensivethanshehadbeen。
IwasmuchpleasedwhentheAmericanAnnexcametomeonedayandtoldmethatsheandtheEnglishAnnexweremeditatinganexpedition,inwhichtheywantedtheotherTeacupstojoin。Aboutadozenmilesfromusisaneducationalinstitutionofthehighergrade,wherealargenumberofyoungladiesaretrainedinliterature,art,andscience,verymuchastheirbrothersaretrainedinthecolleges。
Ourtwoyoungladieshavealreadybeenthroughcoursesofthiskindindifferentschools,andarenowbusywiththosemoreadvancedstudieswhichareventureduponbyonlyalimitednumberof\"graduates。\"Theyhaveheardagooddealaboutthisinstitution,buthavenevervisitedit。
Everyyear,asthesuccessiveclassesfinishtheircourse,thereisagrandreunionoftheformerstudents,withan\"exhibition,\"asitiscalled,inwhichthegraduatesoftheyearhaveanopportunityofshowingtheirproficiencyinthevariousbranchestaught。Onthatoccasionprizesareawardedforexcellenceindifferentdepartments。
Itwouldbehardtofindamoreinterestingceremony。Thesegirls,nowrecognizedasyoungladies,aregoingforthasmissionariesofcivilizationamongourbusypeople。Theyaremanyofthemtobeteachers,andthosewhohaveseenwhatopportunitiestheyhavetolearnwillunderstandtheirfitnessforthatexaltedoffice。Manyaretobethewivesandmothersofthegenerationnextcominguponthestage。Youngandbeautiful,\"youthisalwaysbeautiful,\"saidoldSamuelRogers,——theircountenancesradiantwithdevelopedintelligence,theircomplexions,theirfigures,theirmovements,allshowingthattheyhavehadplentyofoutdooraswellasindoorexercise,andhavelivedwellinallrespects,onewouldliketoreadonthewallofthehallwheretheyareassembled,——
Siste,viator！
Siuxoremrequiris,circumspice！
Thisproposedexpeditionwasagreateventinourcomparativelyquietcircle。TheMistress,whowasinterestedintheschool,undertooktobethematronoftheparty。TheyoungDoctor,whoknewtheroadsbetterthananyofus,wastobeourpilot。HearrangeditsothatheshouldhavethetwoAnnexesunderhismoreimmediatecharge。Wewereallonthelookouttoseewhichofthetwowastobethefavoredone,foritwasprettywellsettledamongTheTeacupsthatawifehemusthave,whetherthebaldspotcameornot;hewasgettingintobusiness,andhecouldnotachieveacompletesuccessasabachelor。
NumberFiveandtheTutorseemedtocometogetherasamatterofcourse。IconfessthatIcouldnothelpregrettingthatourprettyDelilahwasnottobeoneoftheparty。Shealwayslookedsoyoung,sofresh,——shewouldhaveenjoyedtheexcursionsomuch,thatifshehadbeenstillwithusIwouldhavetoldtheMistressthatshemustputonherbestdress;andifshehadn\'toneniceenough,Iwouldgiveheronemyself。Ithought,too,thatouryoungDoctorwouldhavelikedtohaveherwithus;butheappearedtobegettingalongverywellwiththeAnnexes,oneofwhomitseemslikelythathewillannextohimselfandhisfortunes,ifshefancieshim,whichisnotimprobable。
TheorganizingofthisexpeditionwasnaturallyacauseofgreatexcitementamongTheTeacups。Thepartyhadtobearrangedinsuchawayastosuitallconcerned,whichwasadelicatematter。Itwasfinallymanagedinthisway:TheMistresswastogowithabodyguard,consistingofmyself,theProfessor,andNumberSeven,whowasgoodcompany,withallhisoddities。TheyoungDoctorwastotakethetwoAnnexesinawagon,andtheTutorwastodriveNumberFiveinagoodold—fashionedchaisedrawnbyawell—conductedfamilyhorse。AsfortheMusician,hehadgoneoverearly,byspecialinvitation,totakeapartincertainmusicalexerciseswhichweretohaveaplaceintheexhibition。Thisarrangementappearedtobeineveryrespectsatisfactory。TheDoctorwasinhighspirits,apparentlydelighted,anddevotinghimselfwithgreatgallantrytohistwofaircompanions。
Theonlyquestionwhichintrudeditselfwas,whetherhemightnothavepreferredthecompanyofonetothatoftwo。Butbothlookedveryattractiveintheirbestdresses:theEnglishAnnex,therosierandheartierofthetwo;theAmericangirl,moredelicateinfeatures,moremobileandexcitable,butsuggestingthethoughtthatshewouldtireoutbeforetheother。Whichofthesedidhemostfavor？Itwashardtosay。HeseemedtolookmostattheEnglishgirl,andyethetalkedmorewiththeAmericangirl。Inshort,hebehavedparticularlywell,andneitheroftheyoungladiescouldcomplainthatshewasnotattendedto。AstotheTutorandNumberFive,theirgoingtogethercausednospecialcomment。Theirintimacywasacceptedasanestablishedfact,andnothingbutthedifferenceintheiragespreventedtheconclusionthatitwaslove,andnotmerefriendship,whichbroughtthemtogether。Therewas,nodoubt,astrongfeelingamongmanypeoplethatNumberFive\'saffectionswereakindofGibraltarorEhrenbreitstein,sayratherahightable—landintheregionofperpetual,unmeltingsnow。Itwashardforthesepeopletobelievethatanymanofmortalmouldcouldfindafootholdinthatimpregnablefortress,——couldclimbtothatheightandfindtheflowerofloveamongitsglaciers。TheTutorandNumberFivewerebothquiet,thoughtful:he,evidentlycaptivated;she,whatwasthemeaningofhermannertohim？Saythatsheseemedfondofhim,asshemightbewerehehernephew,——oneforwhomshehadaspecialliking。Ifshehadawarmerfeelingthanthis,shecouldhardlyknowhowtomanageit;forshewassousedtohavinglovemadetoherwithoutreturningitthatshewouldnaturallybeawkwardindealingwiththenewexperience。
TheDoctordrovealivelyfive—year—oldhorse,andtookthelead。
TheTutorfollowedwithaquiet,steady—goingnag;ifhehaddriventhefive—year—old,Iwouldnothaveansweredforthenecksofthepairinthechaise,forhewastoomuchtakenupwiththesubjecttheyweretalkingof,tobeverycarefulabouthisdriving。TheMistressandherescortbroughtuptherear,——Iholdingthereins,theProfessoratmyside,andNumberSevensittingwiththeMistress。
Wearrivedattheinstitutionalittlelaterthanwehadexpectedto,andthestudentswereflockingintothehall,wheretheCommencementexercisesweretotakeplace,andthemedal—scholarsweretoreceivethetokensoftheirexcellenceinthevariousdepartments。Fromourseatswecouldseethegreaterpartoftheassembly,——notquiteall,howeverofthepupils。Apleasingsightitwastolookupon,thisarrayofyoungladiesdressedinwhite,withtheirclassbadges,andwiththeribbonoftheshadeofblueaffectedbythescholarsoftheinstitution。IfSolomoninallhisglorywasnottobecomparedtoalily,awholebedofliliescouldnotbecomparedtothisgarden—bedofyouthfulwomanhood。
Theperformanceswereverymuchthesameasmostofushaveseenattheacademiesandcollegiateschools。Someofthegraduatingclassreadtheir\"compositions,\"oneofwhichwasapoem,——anechooftheprevailingAmericanechoes,ofcourse,butprettilywordedandintelligentlyread。Thentherewasasongsungbyachoirofthepupils,ledbytheirinstructor,whowasassistedbytheMusicianwhomwecountamongTheTeacups。——TherewassomethinginoneofthevoicesthatremindedmeofoneIhadheardbefore。Wherecouldithavebeen？IamsureIcannotremember。Therearesomegoodvoicesinourvillagechoir,butnonesopureandbird—likeasthis。A
suddenthoughtcameintomyhead,butIkeptittomyself。Iheardatremulouscatchingofthebreath,somethinglikeasob,closebyme。
ItwastheMistress,——shewascrying。Whatwasshecryingfor？Itwasimpressive,certainly,tolistentotheseyoungvoices,manyofthemblendingforthelasttime,——forthescholarsweresoontobescatteredalloverthecountry,andsomeofthembeyonditsboundaries,——butwhytheMistresswassocarriedaway,Ididnotknow。Shemustbemoreimpressiblethanmostofus;yetIthoughtNumberFivealsolookedasifshewerehavingastrugglewithherselftokeepdownsomerebellioussignsofemotion。
Theexerciseswentonverypleasinglyuntiltheycametotheawardingofthegoldmedaloftheyearandthevaledictory,whichwastobedeliveredbytheyoungladytowhomitwastobepresented。Thenamewascalled;itwasonenotunfamiliartoourears,andthebearerofit——theDelilahofourtea—table,Avisasshewasknownintheschoolandelsewhere——roseinherplaceandcameforward,sothatforthefirsttimeonthatday,welookeduponher。ItwasasensationforTheTeacups。Ourmodest,quietwaiting—girlwasthebestscholarofheryear。WehadtalkedFrenchbeforeher,andwelearnedthatshewasthebestFrenchscholartheteacherhadeverhadintheschool。
Wehadneverthoughtofherexceptasapleasingandwell—trainedhandmaiden,andhereshewasanaccomplishedyounglady。
Aviswentthroughherpartverynaturallyandgracefully,andwhenitwasfinished,andshestoodbeforeuswiththemedalglitteringonherbreast,wedidnotknowwhethertosmileortocry,——someofusdidone,andsometheother。——Weallhadanopportunitytoseeherandcongratulateherbeforewelefttheinstitution。Themysteryofhersixweeks\'servingatourtablewaseasilysolved。Shehadbeenstudyingtoohardandtoolong,andrequiredsomechangeofsceneandoccupation。Shehadafancyfortryingtoseeifshecouldsupportherselfassomanyyoungwomenareobligedto,andfoundaplacewithus,theMistressonlyknowinghersecret。
\"SheistobeouryoungDoctor\'swife！\"theMistresswhisperedtome,anddidsomemorecrying,notforgrief,certainly。
WhetherouryoungDoctor\'slongvisitstoaneighboringtownhadanythingtodowiththefactthatAviswasatthatinstitution,whethershewasthepatienthevisitedornot,maybeleftindoubt。
Atallevents,hehadalwaysdrivenoffinthedirectionwhichwouldcarryhimtotheplacewhereshewasatschool。
Ihaveattendedalargenumberofcelebrations,commencements,banquets,soirees,andsoforth,anddonemybesttohelponagoodmanyofthem。Infact,Ihavebecomerathertoowellknowninconnectionwith\"occasions,\"andithascostmenolittletrouble。
IbelievethereisnokindofoccurrenceforwhichIhavenotbeenrequestedtocontributesomethinginproseorverse。Itissometimesveryhardtosaynototherequests。Ifoneisintherightmoodwhenheorshewritesanoccasionalpoem,itseemsasifnothingcouldhavebeeneasier。\"Why,thatpiecerunoffjestlikeile。
Idon\'tbullieve,\"theunletteredapplicantsaystohimself,\"Idon\'tbullieveittookhimtenminutestowritethemverses。\"Thegoodpeoplehavenosuspicionofhowmuchasingleline,asingleexpression,maycostitsauthor。ThewitsusedtosaythatRopers,——
thepoetoncebeforereferredto,oldSamuelRopers,authorofthePleasuresofMemoryandgiveroffamousbreakfasts,——wasaccustomedtohavestrawlaidbeforethehousewheneverhehadjustgivenbirthtoacouplet。Itisnotquitesobadasthatwithmostofuswhoarecalledupontofurnishapoem,asong,ahymn,anodeforsomegrandmeeting,butitissafetosaythatmanyatriflingperformancehashadmoregoodhonestworkputintoitthantheminister\'ssermonofthatweekhadcosthim。Ifavesselglidesoffthewayssmoothlyandeasilyatherlaunching,itdoesnotmeanthatnogreatpainshavebeentakentosecuretheresult。Becauseapoemisan\"occasional\"
one,itdoesnotfollowthatithasnottakenasmuchtimeandskillasifithadbeenwrittenwithoutimmediate,accidental,temporarymotive。Pindar\'sgreatodeswereoccasionalpoems,justasmuchasourCommencementandPhiBetaKappapoemsare,andyettheyhavecomedownamongthemostpreciousbequestsofantiquitytomoderntimes。
ThemysteryoftheyoungDoctor\'slongvisitstotheneighboringtownwassatisfactorilyexplainedbywhatwesawandheardofhisrelationswithourcharming\"Delilah,\"——forDelilahwecouldhardlyhelpcallingher。Ourlittlehandmaid,theCinderellaoftheteacups,nowtheprincess,or,whatwasbetter,theprideoftheschooltowhichshehadbelonged,fitforanypositiontowhichshemightbecalled,wastobethewifeofouryoungDoctor。Itwouldnothavebeentherightthingtoproclaimthefactwhileshewasapupil,butnowthatshehadfinishedhercourseofinstructiontherewasnoneedofmakingasecretoftheengagement。
Sowehavegotourromance,ourlove—storyoutofourTeacups,asI
hopedandexpectedthatweshould,butnotexactlyinthequarterwhereitmighthavebeenlookedfor。
WhatdidourtwoAnnexessaytothisunexpectedturnofevents？Theyweregood—heartedgirlsaseverlived,buttheywerehuman,liketherestofus,andwomen,likesomeoftherestofus。Theybehavedperfectly。TheycongratulatedtheDoctor,andhopedhewouldbringtheyoungladytothetea—tablewhereshehadplayedherpartsobecomingly。ItissafetosaythateachoftheAnnexesworldhavelikedtobeaskedthelover\'slastquestionbytheveryniceyoungmanwhohadbeenapleasantcompanionatthetableandelsewheretoeachofthem。Thatsamequestionisthehighestcomplimentamancanpayawoman,andawomandoesnotmindhavingadozenormoresuchcomplimentstostringontherosaryofherremembrances。Whethereitherofthemwasglad,onthewhole,thathehadnotofferedhimselftotheotherinpreferencetoherselfwouldbeamean,shabbyquestion,andIthinkaltogethertoowellofyouwhoarereadingthispapertosupposethatyouwouldentertaintheideaofaskingit。
ItwasaverypleasantoccasionwhentheDoctorbroughtAvisovertositwithusatthetablewheresheusedtostandandwaituponus。
Wewonderedhowwecouldforamomenthavequestionedthatshewasonetobewaitedupon,andnotmadeforthehumbleofficewhichneverthelesssheperformedsocheerfullyandsowell。
CommencementsandotherCelebrations,AmericanandEnglish。
Thesocialhabitsofourpeoplehaveundergoneanimmensechangewithinthepasthalfcentury,largelyinconsequenceofthevastdevelopmentofthemeansofintercoursebetweendifferentneighborhoods。
Commencements,collegegatheringsofallkinds,churchassemblages,schoolanniversaries,towncentennials,——allpossibleoccasionsforgettingcrowdstogetheraremadethemostof。\"\'Tissixtyyearssince,\"——andagoodmanyyearsover,——thetimetowhichmymemoryextends。Thegreatdaysoftheyearwere,Election,——GeneralElectiononWednesday,andArtilleryElectionontheMondayfollowing,atwhichtimelilacswereinbloomand\'lectionbunswereinorder;FourthofJuly,whenstrawberrieswerejustgoingout;andCommencement,agrandtimeoffeasting,fiddling,dancing,jollity,nottomentiondrunkennessandfighting,ontheclassicgreenofCambridge。Thiswastheseasonofmelonsandpeaches。Thatisthewayourboyhoodchroniclesevents。ItwasoddthattheliteraryfestivalshouldbeturnedintoaDonnybrookfair,butsoitwaswhenIwasaboy,andthetentsandtheshowsandthecrowdsontheCommonweretothepromiscuousmanytheessentialpartsofthegreatoccasion。Theyhadbeensoforgenerations,anditwasonlygraduallythattheCambridgeSaturnaliawerereplacedbythedecenciesandsolemnitiesofthepresentsoberanniversary。
NowadaysourcelebrationssmackoftheSunday—schoolmorethanofthedancing—hall。Thearomaofthepunch—bowlhasgivenwaytothemilderflavoroflemonadeandthecoolingvirtuesofice—cream。
Astrawberryfestivalisaboutasfarasthedissipationofoursocialgatheringsventures。Therewasmuchthatwasobjectionableinthoseswearing,drinking,fightingtimes,buttheyhadacertainexcitementforusboysoftheyearswhenthecenturywasinitsteens,whichcomesbacktousnotwithoutitsfascinations。Thedaysoftotalabstinenceareagreatimprovementoverthoseofunlicensedlicense,buttherewasapicturesqueelementabouttherowdyismofouroldCommencementdays,whichhadacharmfortheeyeofboyhood。
Mydearoldfriend,——book—friend,Imean,——whomIalwayscalledDaddyGilpin（asIfindFitzgeraldcalledWordsworth,DaddyWordsworth）,——
myoldfriendGilpin,Isay,consideredthedonkeymorepicturesqueinalandscapethanthehorse。SoavillagefeteasdepictedbyTeniersismorepicturesquethanateetotalpicnicoraSabbath—
schoolstrawberryfestival。Letusbethankfulthattheviciouspicturesqueisonlyaremembrance,andthevirtuouscommonplacearealityofto—day。
WhatputallthisintomyheadissomethingwhichtheEnglishAnnexhasbeenshowingme。Mostofmyreadersaresomewhatacquaintedwithourownchurchandvillagecelebrations。Theyknowhowtheyareorganized;thewomenalwaysbeingthechiefmotors,andthemachineryverymuchthesameinonecaseasinanother。PerhapstheywouldliketohearhowsuchthingsaremanagedinEngland;andthatisjustwhattheymaylearnfromthepamphletwhichwasshownmebytheEnglishAnnex,andofwhichIwillgivethemabriefaccount。
SomeofusremembertheRev。Mr。Haweis,hislecturesandhisviolin,whichinterestedandamusedushereinBostonafewyearsago。NowMr。Haweis,assistedbyhisintelligentandspiritedwife,haschargeoftheparishofSt。James,WestmorelandStreet,Marylebone,London。
Onenteringuponthetwenty—fifthyearofhisincumbencyinMarylebone,andthetwenty—eighthofhisministryinthedioceseofLondon,itwasthoughtagoodideatohavean\"EveningConversazioneandFete。\"Wecanimaginejusthowsuchameetingwouldbeorganizedinoneofourtowns。Ministers,deacons,perhapsamemberofCongress,possiblyaSenator,andeven,conceivably,hisExcellencytheGovernor,andalonglistofladieslendtheirnamestogivelustretotheoccasion。Itisallverypleasant,unpretending,unceremonious,cheerful,wellordered,commendable,butnotimposing。
NowlookatourMaryleboneparishcelebration,andholdyourbreathwhiletheprocessionofgreatnamespassesbeforeyou。YoulearnattheoutsetthatitisheldUNDERROYALPATRONAGE,andreadthenamesoftworoyalhighnesses,onehighness,aprince,andaprincess。
