The Moorland Cottage
by
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Part 3 out of 3



I see now that it was selfish in me. Well! there was nothing to be done,
after receiving your letter, but to set off for Liverpool straight, and
join you. And after that decision was made, my spirits rose, for the old
talks about Canada and Australia came to my mind, and this seemed like a
realization of them. Besides, Maggie, I suspected--I even suspect now--that
my father had something to do with your going with Edward?"

"Indeed, Frank!" said she, earnestly, "you are mistaken; I cannot tell you
all now; but he was so good and kind at last. He never urged me to go;
though, I believe, he did tell me it would be the saving of Edward."

"Don't agitate yourself, love. I trust there will be time enough, some
happy day at home, to tell me all. And till then, I will believe that my
father did not in any way suggest this voyage. But you'll allow that,
after all that has passed, it was not unnatural in me to suppose so. I
only told Middleton I was obliged to leave him by the next train. It was
not till I was fairly off, that I began to reckon up what money I had with
me. I doubt even if I was sorry to find it was so little. I should have to
put forth my energies and fight my way, as I had often wanted to do. I
remember, I thought how happy you and I would be, striving together as poor
people 'in that new world which is the old.' Then you had told me you were
going in the steerage; and that was all suitable to my desires for myself."

"It was Erminia's kindness that prevented our going there. She asked your
father to take us cabin places unknown to me."

"Did she? dear Erminia! it is just like her. I could almost laugh to
remember the eagerness with which I doffed my signs of wealth, and put on
those of poverty. I sold my watch when I got into Liverpool--yesterday,
I believe--but it seems like months ago. And I rigged myself out at a
slop-shop with suitable clothes for a steerage passenger. Maggie! you never
told me the name of the vessel you were going to sail in!"

"I did not know it till I got to Liverpool. All Mr. Buxton said was, that
some ship sailed on the 15th."

"I concluded it must be the Anna-Maria, (poor Anna-Maria!) and I had no
time to lose. She had just heaved her anchor when I came on board. Don't
you recollect a boat hailing her at the last moment? There were three of us
in her."

"No! I was below in my cabin--trying not to think," said she, coloring a
little.

"Well! as soon as I got on board it began to grow dark, or, perhaps, it was
the fog on the river; at any rate, instead of being able to single out your
figure at once, Maggie--it is one among a thousand--I had to go peering
into every woman's face; and many were below. I went between decks, and
by-and-by I was afraid I had mistaken the vessel; I sat down--I had no
spirit to stand; and every time the door opened I roused up and looked--but
you never came. I was thinking what to do; whether to be put on shore in
Ireland, or to go on to New York, and wait for you there;--if was the worst
time of all, for I had nothing to do; and the suspense was horrible. I
might have known," said he, smiling, "my little Emperor of Russia was not
one to be a steerage passenger."

But Maggie was too much shaken to smile; and the thought of Edward lay
heavy upon her mind.

"Then the fire broke out; how, or why, I suppose will never be ascertained.
It was at our end of the vessel. I thanked God, then, that you were not
there. The second mate wanted some one to go down with him to bring up the
gunpowder, and throw it overboard. I had nothing to do, and I went. We
wrapped it up in wet sails, but it was a ticklish piece of work, and took
time. When we had got it overboard, the flames were gathering far and wide.
I don't remember what I did until I heard Edward's voice speaking your
name."

It was decided that the next morning they should set off homeward, striving
on their way to obtain tidings of Edward. Frank would have given his only
valuable, (his mother's diamond-guard, which he wore constantly,)as a
pledge for some advance of money; but the kind Welsh people would not have
it. They had not much spare cash, but what they had they readily lent to
the survivors of the Anna-Maria. Dressed in the homely country garb of
the people, Frank and Maggie set off in their car. If was a clear, frosty
morning; the first that winter. The road soon lay high up on the cliffs
along the coast. They looked down on the sea rocking below. At every
village they stopped, and Frank inquired, and made the driver inquire in
Welsh; but no tidings gained they of Edward; though here and there Maggie
watched Frank into some cottage or other, going to see a dead body, beloved
by some one: and when he came out, solemn and grave, their sad eyes met,
and she knew it was not he they sought, without needing words.

At Abergele they stopped to rest; and because, being a larger place, it
would need a longer search, Maggie lay down on the sofa, for she was very
weak, and shut her eyes, and tried not to see forever and ever that mad
struggling crowd lighted by the red flames.

Frank came back in an hour or so; and soft behind him--laboriously treading
on tiptoe--Mr. Buxton followed. He was evidently choking down his sobs; but
when he saw the white wan figure of Maggie, he held out his arms.

"My dear! my daughter!" he said, "God bless you!" He could not speak
more--he was fairly crying; but he put her hand in Frank's and kept holding
them both.

"My father," said Frank, speaking in a husky voice, while his eyes filled
with tears, "had heard of it before he received my letter. I might have
known that the lighthouse signals would take it fast to Liverpool. I had
written a few lines to him saying I was going to you; happily they never
reached--that was spared to my dear father."

Maggie saw the look of restored confidence that passed between father and
son.

"My mother?" said she at last.

"She is here," said they both at once, with sad solemnity.

"Oh, where? Why did not you tell me?" exclaimed she, starting up. But their
faces told her why.

"Edward is drowned--is dead," said she, reading their looks.

There was no answer.

"Let me go to my mother."

"Maggie, she is with him. His body was washed ashore last night. My father
and she heard of it as they came along. Can you bear to see her? She will
not leave him."

"Take me to her," Maggie answered.

They led her into a bed-room. Stretched on the bed lay Edward, but now so
full of hope and worldly plans.

Mrs. Browne looked round, and saw Maggie. She did not get up from her place
by his head; nor did she long avert her gaze from his poor face. But she
held Maggie's hand, as the girl knelt by her, and spoke to her in a hushed
voice, undisturbed by tears. Her miserable heart could not find that
relief.

"He is dead!--he is gone!--he will never come back again! If he had gone to
America--it might have been years first--but he would have come back to me.
But now he will never come back again;--never--never!"

Her voice died away, as the wailings of the night-wind die in the distance;
and there was silence--silence more sad and hopeless than any passionate
words of grief.

And to this day it is the same. She prizes her dead son more than a
thousand living daughters, happy and prosperous as is Maggie now--rich in
the love of many. If Maggie did not show such reverence to her mother's
faithful sorrows, others might wonder at her refusal to be comforted by
that sweet daughter. But Maggie treats her with such tender sympathy, never
thinking of herself or her own claims, that Frank, Erminia, Mr. Buxton,
Nancy, and all, are reverent and sympathizing too.

Over both old and young the memory of one who is dead broods like a
dove--of one who could do but little during her lifetime--who was doomed
only to "stand and wait"--who was meekly content to _be_ gentle, holy,
patient, and undefiled--the memory of the invalid Mrs. Buxton.

"THERE'S ROSEMARY FOR REMEMBRANCE."



%Valuable Works,%


IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF

%BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY,%

PUBLISHED BY

%Harper & Brothers, New York.%

* * * * *

%Abbott's Illustrated Histories:% Comprising, Xerxes the Great, Cyrus the
Great, Darius the Great, Alexander the Great, Hannibal the Carthaginian,
Julius Caesar, Cleopatra Queen of Egypt, Constantine, Nero, Romulus, Alfred
the Great, William the Conqueror, Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots,
Charles the First, Charles the Second, Queen Anne, King John, Richard
the First, William and Mary, Maria Antoinette, Madame Roland, Josephine.
Illuminated Title-pages and numerous Engravings. 16mo, Muslin, 60 cents
each; Muslin, gilt edges, 75 cents each.

%Lives of the Queens of Scotland,% And English Princesses connected with
the Regal Succession of Great Britain. By AGNES STRICKLAND. 6 vols. 12mo,
Muslin, $1 00 per Volume.

%Woman's Record;% Or, Biographical Sketches of all Distinguished Women from
the Creation to the present Era; with rare Gems of Thought selected from
the most celebrated Female Writers. By MRS. SARAH J. HALE. With over 200
Portraits. 8vo, Muslin.

%History of the United States,% From the first Settlement of the Country to
the Organization of Government under the Federal Constitution. By RICHARD
HILDRETH, Esq. 3 vols. 8vo, half Calf, $7 50; Sheep, $6 75; Muslin, $6 00.

%History of the United States, continued:% From the Adoption of the Federal
Constitution to the End of the Sixteenth Congress. By RICHARD HILDRETH,
Esq. 3 vols. 8vo, Muslin, $6 00; Sheep, $6 75; half Calf, $7 50.

%Louisiana% Its Colonial History and Romance. By CHARLES GAYARRE, Esq. 8vo,
Muslin.

%Lord Holland's Foreign Reminiscences.% Edited by his Son, HENRY EDWARD
LORD HOLLAND. 12mo, Muslin.

%The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution;% or, Illustrations by Pen and
Pencil, of the History, Scenery, Biography, Relics, and Traditions of the
War for Independence. By BENSON J. LOSSING, Esq. Embellished with 500
Engravings on Wood, chiefly from Original Sketches by the Author. In about
20 Numbers, 8vo, Paper, 25 cents each.

%Life and Writings of Thomas Chalmers,% D.D., LL.D. Edited by his
Son-in-Law, Rev. WILLIAM HANNA, LL.D. 3 vols. 12mo, Paper, 75 cents;
Muslin, $1 00 per Volume.

%Life of John Calvin.% Compiled from authentic Sources, and particularly
from his Correspondence. By THOMAS H. DYER. Portrait. 12mo, Muslin, $1 00.

%Leigh Hunt's Autobiography,% With Reminiscences of Friends and
Contemporaries. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $1 50.

%Southey's Life and Correspondence.% Edited by his Son, REV. CHARLES
CUTHBERT SOUTHEY, M.A. In 6 Parts, 8vo, Paper, 25 cents each; one Volume,
Muslin, $2 00.

%Dr. Johnson: his Religious Life and his Death.% 12mo, Muslin, $1 00.

%Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell.% Edited by WILLIAM BEATTIE, M.D., one
of his Executors. With an Introductory Letter by WASHINGTON IRVING, Esq.
Portrait. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $2 50.

%Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography.% With a Sketch of his Public Services,
by REV. H. HASTINGS WELD. With numerous exquisite Designs, by JOHN G.
CHAPMAN. 8vo, Muslin, $2 50; Sheep, $2 75; half Calf, $3 00.

%Hume's History of England,% From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the
Abdication of James II., 1688. A new Edition, with the Author's last
Corrections and Improvements. To which is prefixed a short Account of his
Life, written by Himself. With a Portrait of the Author. 6 vols. 12mo,
Cloth, $2 40; Sheep, $3 00.

%Macaulay's History of England,% From the Accession of James II. With an
original Portrait of the Author. Vols. I and II. Library Edition, 8vo,
Muslin, 75 cents per Volume; Sheep extra, 87-1/2 cents per Volume; Calf
backs and corners, $1 00 per Volume.--Cheap Edition, 8vo, Paper, 25 cents
per Volume.--12mo (uniform with Hume), Cloth 40 cents per Volume.

%Gibbon's History of Rome,% With Notes, by Rev. H.H. MILMAN and M. GUIZOT.
Maps and Engravings. 4 vols. 8vo, Sheep extra, $5 00.--A new Cheap Edition,
with Notes by Rev. H.H. MILMAN. To which is added a complete index of the
whole Work and a Portrait of the Author. 6 vols. 12mo (uniform with Hume),
Cloth, $2 40; Sheep, $3 00.

%Journal and Memorials of Capt. Obadiah% Congar: for Fifty Years Mariner
and Shipmaster from the Port of New York. By Rev. H.T. CHEEVER. 16mo,
Muslin.

%History of Spanish Literature.% With Criticisms on the particular Works
and Biographical Notices of prominent Writers. By GEORGE TICKNOR, Esq. 3
vols. 8vo, half Calf extra, $7 50; Sheep extra, $6 75; Muslin, $6 00.

%History of the National Constituent% Assembly, from May, 1848. By J.F.
CORKRAN, Esq. 12mo, Muslin, 90 cents; Paper, 75 cents.

%The Recent Progress of Astronomy,% especially in the United States. By
ELIAS LOOMIS, M.A. 12mo, Muslin, $1 00.

%The English Language% In its Elements and Forms. With a History of its
Origin and Development, and a full Grammar. By W.C. FOWLER, M.A. 8vo,
Muslin, $1 50; Sheep, $1 75.

%History of Ferdinand and Isabella.% By WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT, Esq. 3 vols.
8vo, half Calf, $7 50; Sheep extra, $6 75; Muslin, $6 00.

%History of the Conquest of Mexico.% With the Life of the Conqueror,
Hernando Cortez, and a View of the Ancient Mexican Civilization. By WILLIAM
H. PRESCOTT, Esq. Portrait and Maps. 3 vols. 8vo, half Calf, $7 50; Sheep
extra, $6 75; Muslin, $6 00.

%History of the Conquest of Peru.% With a Preliminary view of the
Civilisation of the Incas. By WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT, Esq. Portraits, Maps,
&c. 2 vols. 8vo, half Calf, $5 00; Sheep extra, $4 50; Muslin, $4 00.

%Biographical and Critical Miscellanies.% Containing Notices of Charles
Brockden Brown, the American Novelist.--Asylum for the Blind.--Irving's
Conquest of Grenada. Cervantes.--Sir W. Scott.--Chauteaubriand's English
Literature.--Bancroft's United States.--Madame Calderon's Life in
Mexico.--Moliere.--Italian Narrative Poetry.--Poetry and Romance of the
Italians.--Scottish Song.--Da Ponte's Observations. By WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT,
Esq. Portrait. 8vo, Muslin, $2 00; Sheep extra, $2 25; half Calf, $2 50.

%The Conquest of Canada.% By the Author of "Hochelaga." 2 vols. 12mo,
Muslin, $1 70.

%Past, Present, and Future of the Republic.% By ALPHONSE DE LAMARTINE.
12mo, Muslin, 50 cents; Paper, 37-1/2 cents.

%The War with Mexico.% By R.S. RIPLEY, U.S.A. With Maps, Plans of Battles,
&c. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $4 00; Sheep, $4 50; half Calf, $5 00.

%History of the Confessional.% By JOHN HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Bishop of
Vermont. 12mo, Muslin, $1 00.

%Dark Scenes of History.% By G.P.R. JAMES, Esq. 12mo, Muslin, $1 00; Paper,
75 cents.

%Life and Writings of Washington;% Being his Correspondence, Addresses,
Messages, and other Papers, Official and Private, selected and published
from the Original Manuscripts, with a Life of the Author, and Notes and
Illustrations, &c. By JARED SPARKS, LL.D. With numerous Engravings. 12
vols. 8vo, Muslin, $18 00; Sheep extra, $21 00; half Calf, $24 00.

%Library of American Biography.% Edited by JARED SPARKS, LL.D. Portraits,
&c. 10 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $7 50. Each volume sold separately, if desired,
price 75 cents.

%Gieseler's Ecclesiastical History.% From the Fourth Edition, revised and
amended. Translated from the German, by SAMUEL DAVIDSON, LL.D. Vols. I. and
II., 8vo, Muslin $3 00.

%History of the American Bible Society.% From its Organization in 1816 to
the Present Time. By Rev. W.P. STRICKLAND. With an Introduction, by Rev.
N.L. RICE, and a Portrait of Hon. ELIAS BOUDINOT, LL.D., first President of
the Society. 8vo, Sheep, $1 75; Cloth, $1 50.

%Biographical History of Congress:% Comprising Memoirs of Members of
the Congress of the United States, together with a History of Internal
Improvements from the Foundation of the Government to the Present Time. By
HENRY G. WHEELER. With Portraits and Fac-simile Autographs. 8vo, Muslin,
$3 00 per Volume.

Schmitz's History of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of
Commodus, A.D. 192. With Questions, by JOHN ROBSON, B.A. 18mo, Muslin,
75 cents.

%Louis the Fourteenth,% and the Court of France in the Seventeenth Century.
By MISS PARDOE. Illustrated with numerous Engraving, Portraits, &c. 2 vols.
12mo, Muslin, $3 50.

History of the Girondists; Or, Personal Memoirs of the Patriots of the
French Revolution. By A. DE LAMARTINE. From unpublished Sources. 3 vols.
12mo, Muslin, $2 10.

%Josephus's Complete Works.% A new Translation, by Rev. ROBERT TRAILL,
D.D. With Notes, Explanatory Essays, &c., by Rev. ISAAC TAYLOR, of Ongar.
Illustrated by numerous Engravings. Publishing in Monthly Numbers, 8vo,
Paper, 25 cents each.

%History of the French Revolution.% By THOMAS CARLYLE. Newly Revised by the
Author, with Index, &c. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $2 00.

%Letters and Speeches of Cromwell.% With Elucidations and connecting
Narrative. By T. CARLYLE. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $2 00.

%Life of Madame Guyon.% Life and Religious Opinions of Madame Guyon:
together with some Account of the Personal History and Religious Opinions
of Archbishop Fenelon. By T.C. UPHAM. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $2 00.

%Life of Madame Catharine Adorna.% Including some leading Facts and Traits
in her Religious Experience. Together with Explanations and Remarks,
tending to illustrate the Doctrine of Holiness. 12mo, Muslin, gilt edges,
60 cents; Muslin, 50 cents.

%Homes and Haunts of the British Poets.% By WILLIAM HOWITT. With numerous
Illustrations. 2 vols. 12mo, Muslin, $3 00.

%History of Wonderful Inventions.% Illustrated by numerous Engravings.
12mo, Muslin, 75 cents; Paper, 50 cents.

%The Valley of the Mississippi.% History of the Discovery and Settlement of
the Valley of the Mississippi, by the three great European Powers, Spain,
France, and Great Britain; and the subsequent Occupation, Settlement, and
Extension of Civil Government by the United States, until the year 1846. By
JOHN W. MONETTE, Esq. Maps. 2 vols. 8vo, Muslin, $5 00; Sheep, $5 50.

%Life and Writings of Cassius M. Clay;% Including Speeches and Addresses.
Edited, with a Preface and Memoir, by HORACE GREELEY. With Portrait.
8vo, Muslin, $1 50.

%ABBOTT'S HISTORIES% in course of publication %By Harper and Brothers, New
York.%

Each Volume of this Series is printed and bound uniform with the other
Volumes, and is adorned with a richly-illuminated title-page and numerous
Engravings. 12mo, Muslin, plain edges, 60 cents per volume; Muslin, gilt
edges, 75 cents per volume.

* * * * *

%Mary Queen of Scots.%

This history is given here minute in every point of real interest, and
without the encumbrance of useless opinions. There is no sentence thrown
away--no time lost in mere ornament. Perhaps no book extant containing so
few pages, can said to convey so many genuine historical facts. There
is here no attempt to glaze over recorded truth, or win the reader by
sophistry to opinions merely those of the author. The pure, simple history
of Queen Mary is placed before the reader, and each one is left to form an
unbiased opinion from events impartially recorded there. One great and
most valuable feature in this little work is a map of Scotland, with many
engravings of the royal castles and wild scenes connected with Mary's
history. There is also a beautiful portrait of the Queen, and a richly
illuminated title-page such as only the Harpers can get up--_National
Magazine._

* * * * *

%Queen Elizabeth.%

Full of instructive and heart-stirring incident, displayed by the hand of
a master. We doubt whether old Queen Bess ever before had so much justice
done to her within the same compass. Such a pen as Jacob Abbott wields,
especially in this department of literature, has no right to lie
still--_Albany Express_.

* * * * *

%Charles the First.%

We incline to think that there never was before so much said about this
unfortunate monarch in so short a space; so much to the purpose; with so
much impartiality; and in such a style as just suits those for whom it is
designed--the "two millions" of young persons in the United States, who
ought to be supplied with such works as these. The engravings
represent the prominent persons and places of the history, and are well
executed. The portrait of John Hampden is charming. The antique title-page
is rich.--_Southern Christian Advocate._

* * * * *

%Hannibal the Carthaginian.%

A new volume of the series projected by the skillful book-manufacturer,
Mr. Abbott, who displays no little tact in engaging the attention of that
marvellous body "the reading public" in old scholastic topics hitherto
almost exclusively the property of the learned. The latter, with their
ingenious implements of lexicons and scholia, will be in no danger of being
superseded, however, while the least-furnished reader may gain something
from the attractively-printed and easily-perused volumes of Mr. Abbott. The
story of Hannibal is well adapted for popular treatment, and loses
nothing for this purpose in the present explanatory and pictorial
version.--_Literary World._

* * * * *

%Maria Antoinette.%

In a style copious and yet forcible, with an expression singularly clear
and happy, and in language exceedingly chaste and at times very beautiful,
he has given us a plain, unvarnished narrative of facts, as he himself
says, unclogged by individual reflections which would "only encumber rather
than enforce." The present work wants none of the interest inseparably
connecting itself with the preceding numbers of the same series, but is
characterized throughout by the same peculiar beauties, riveting the
attention and deeply engraving on the mind the information with which they
every where teem.--_Evening Mirror._







 


Back to Full Books