"When I am gone, love your brothers and sisters,-be "united and happy. Now, my dear boy, receive the "parting blessing of your dying mother. In heaven I "will meet you, where we shall no more hate, but always "love. MARY JANE EATON."

CHAPTER XXII.

HOPES NOT REALIZED.

I READ this narrative of wrong and suffering with an interest the most profound. Some parts of it caused tears to start from my eyes, and course rapidly down my cheeks. I was not sorry that she had left me this painful history, for it empowered me, after serious thought, to perceive her character in its true light. As I could see all the influences which had combined so powerfully to make her what she was, I had more charity for her, and I felt there was more to love or compassionate, and less to censure. Our friends and relatives, when they had heard these confessions, and candidly weighed them in the balance of reason and justice, confessed they could not have come to correct conclusions without them. Their opinions were changed and softened, and pity for her unhappy lot was mingled with feelings of disapproval of her conduct.

I am aware that the hasty reader may come to a very different conclusion, and not think so well of her as he did before reading her confessions; but this would be unjust.

I will briefly place the whole subject, in all its essential bearings, clearly and plainly before the reader. My mother inherited from her parents a morally defective organization, and her education made the matter worse. She was naturally wilful and cunning, and could keep her thoughts and intentions to herself; and was inclined to work in secret, when she could best accomplish her object. She was very passionate, and often allowed her temper to triumph over her better judgment. She lacked principle, and her father's example increased the evil. She had an exalted opinion of herself, and esteemed too lightly the opinions of others. Now, as she was not lacking in benevolence, and had large intellectual powers, a keen imagination, an intense love of the beautiful and sublime, had she been educated under more favorable influences, she would have been a very different being,— she would have been guided, usually, by the superior faculties of her mind, and so her character would have been almost the opposite from what it was.

Her early training was not conducive to the development of her better nature; and the outrageous deception, and the fearful blasting of her cherished hopes, embittered her whole being, called the lower faculties into active exercise, and deadened her nobler impulses. She was left in a state which may be justly considered moral insanity. This view of the subject, though defective, I believe to be substantially correct. Sinful propensities

were inherited, transferred from parent to child, and unpropitious circumstances combined to strengthen and give them the control; and, though the result is to be deprecated, it could not well have been otherwise. It was these, and similar considerations, which caused us all to change our opinions which we had long held in relation to my mother, and view her character from a different stand-point.

I found, in this matter, food for reflection, which I required, and which did me good. I thought my own course would have been very different, if I had known my mother better,- known of her sufferings, disappointments and wrongs. Could I have seen her heart unveiled, and had a clear understanding of the causes which made it what it was, I should have had more charity.

I fear that we often heap reproaches upon people, and treat them with insult and contempt, when, could we know all, we should commiserate their unfortunate lot, and strive to make them happier, rather than render them more wretched. Instead of looking, with truth-seeking eyes, to learn the causes of wrong-doing, we jump at conclusions, and judge the offender worthy of naught but stripes and death, forgetting that, had the same circumstances surrounded us, we should have been as bad, and perhaps worse. We show but little mercy to the criminal, though he may be the victim of circumstances beyond his control. If society, by laws, manners and customs,

educates men for crime, we punish them none the less severely. We feel that justice should be done," though the heavens fall;" and yet are guilty of the worst species of injustice ourselves. It is so with society in general; it is so with individuals.

My mother's confessions I read to all our friends and relatives, that they might view her character through the clear medium of unvarnished truth. I was happy to find that it changed and softened the opinions and feelings of all.

It was now the first month in summer,- the month of roses, bright days, sweet zephyrs and clear skies. I have always loved June, very, very much. When is the earth so beautiful, the air so fragrant, and the sunbeams so golden and delightful? What gorgeous robes the trees put on,-robes of greenest leaves and brightly-tinted flowers,

"Till the whole forest stands displayed

In full luxuriance to the sighing gales,

the country far diffused around

One boundless blush, one white empurpled shower
Of mingled blossoms, where the raptured eye

Such is June in New England, and hence it is the

most beautiful month in all the year. In this description the latter part of May should be included.

* Thomson.