第16章

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。