| I believe I shall send him North for his education, where obedience is more fashionable, and where he will associate more with equals, and less with dependents
?Since training children is the staple work of the human race,? said Augustine, ?I should think it something of a consideration that our system does not work well there
?It does not for some things,? said Alfred; ?for others, again, it doesIt makes boys manly and courageous; and the very vices of an abject race tend to strengthen in them the opposite virtuesI think Henrique, now, has a keener sense of the beauty of truth, from seeing lying and deception the universal badge of slavery
?A Christian-like view of the subject, certainly!? said Augustine
?It?s true, Christian-like or not; and is about as Christian-like as most other things in the world,? said Alfred
?That may be,? said St
?Well, there?s no use in talking, AugustineI believe we?ve been round and round this old track five hundred times, more or lessWhat do you say to a game of backgammon??
The two brothers ran up the verandah steps, and were soon seated at a light bamboo stand, with the backgammon-board between themAs they were setting their men, Alfred said,
?I tell you, Augustine, if I thought as you do, I should do something
?I dare say you would,?you are one of the doing sort,?but what??
?Why, elevate your own servants, for a specimen,? said Alfred, with a half-scornful smile
?You might as well set Mount ?tna on them flat, and tell them to stand up under it, as tell me to elevate my servants under all the superincumbent mass of society upon themOne man can do nothing, against the whole action of a communityEducation, to do anything, must be a state education; or there must be enough agreed in it to make a current
?You take the first throw,? said Alfred; and the brothers were soon lost in the game, and heard no more till the scraping of horses? feet was heard under the verandah
?There come the children,? said Augustine, rising?Look here, Alf! Did you ever see anything so beautiful?? And, in truth, it was a beautiful sightHenrique, with his bold brow, and dark, glossy curls, and glowing cheek, was laughing gayly as he bent towards his fair cousin, as they came onShe was dressed in a blue riding dress, with a cap of the same colorExercise had given a brilliant hue to her cheeks, and heightened the effect of her singularly transparent skin, and golden hair
?Good heavens! what perfectly dazzling beauty!? said Alfred?I tell you, Auguste, won?t she make some hearts ache, one of these days??
?She will, too truly,?God knows I?m afraid so!? said StClare, in a tone of sudden bitterness, as he hurried down to take her off her horse
?Eva darling! you?re not much tired?? he said, as he clasped her in his arms
?No, papa,? said the child; but her short, hard breathing alarmed her father
?How could you ride so fast, dear??you know it?s bad for you
?I felt so well, papa, and liked it so much, I forgotClare carried her in his arms into the parlor, and laid her on the sofa
?Henrique, you must be careful of Eva,? said he; ?you mustn?t ride fast with her
?I?ll take her under my care,? said Henrique, seating himself by the sofa, and taking Eva?s hand
Eva soon found herself much betterHer father and uncle resumed their game, and the children were left together
?Do you know, Eva, I?m sorry papa is only going to stay two days here, and then I shan?t see you again for ever so long! If I stay with you, I?d try to be good, and not be cross to Dodo, and so onI don?t mean to treat Dodo ill; but, you know, I?ve got such a quick temperI?m not really bad to him, thoughI give him a picayune, now and then; and you see he dresses wellI think, on the whole, Dodo ?s pretty well off
?Would you think you were well off, if there were not one creature in the world near you to love you??
?I??Well, of course shop not |