Jessy

“ The fact darted on his mind. "Alas! there must be human beings here, perhaps perishing." His strong arms soon made a way into the cottage. What a sight did he see on his entrance! Little Jessy [Pg 127] nestled into the bosom of her mother, and both looking as if asleep! It would have been the sleep of death, but for this providential rescue. The sportsman had food and wine in his wallet; and Jessy was soon laughing,—and her mother soon weeping,—safe and alive in his arms!
MONEY.
"What can I do with all this money?" said little Andrew, looking at a shilling his papa had given him. ”

“ Somehow the story of Jessy's curse got abroad, and her reputation as a witch was made for ever; but she hardly knew it herself. From that day she never fully regained her faculties; and at last poor Jessy's life was ended through a fall down the cliffs from the heights above, near to the grave of the little boy, and from whence she had kept a ceaseless watch for the return of the Black Prince; terrified alike at the thought of its return with the dreaded Moffat, or of its destruction in response to her curse. ”

“ Scenes upon which her sister looked with a sense of tranquil awe or emotion, and the recollection of which became speedily dissipated, continued long to haunt the memory of Jessy, in moments of solitude and the silence of the night. Although she had no selfish pride or vanity, yet there was an air of superiority in her every gesture, which, taken in connection with the other traits we have mentioned, contributed to gain her the character of the eccentric young lady. ”

“ The rounded cheek has become hollow, the rose-colour has faded, the sparkling eyes have lost all their brightness! And yet Jessy is now far more agreeable as a companion, and far more valuable as a friend; more loved in her family, more happy in her own mind, than she ever was when lovely and young. A gentle, cheerful, loving spirit 215dwells in the faded form, and sheds a light on homely features which makes them more than fair. The beauty which passes away like a flower is exchanged for the beauty of holiness, which never fades, which never dies, but finds its perfection in heaven! ”

“ The boy jumped down from the chair, and flung himself on his chest on the carpet, kicking with passion. He could not bear to watch the carriage disappearing behind the trees.
"I'll never, never again believe that mamma loves me!" exclaimed Jessy, bursting into tears as she got down more slowly.
"Oh I never say that, Miss Jessy!" cried the mild voice of Susan, who had just entered the room. She was a bright, cheerful-looking girl of sixteen, very neatly dressed, with hair smooth as satin beneath her simple little white cap. ”

“ My eyes met Sally's in the glass, and they held me in a long, compassionate gaze.
"All men are working-men, Jessy, if they are worth anything," she said, "and any work is good work if it is well done."
"He is a miner," responded Jessy.
"If he is, it is because he prefers to do the work he knows to being idle," I answered sharply. "What you must remember is that when he had little, and I had nothing, he gave you freely all that he had."
She did not answer, and for a moment I thought I had convinced her.
"Will you write to President to-night?" I asked. ”

“ Jessy was too young to work, yet she was a marvellous help to her mother; and the pale faced woman said, she did not believe she [Pg 125] could live at all but for her child's services. She was so quick, and neat, and handy; and then she was always merry, and her gay voice sounded like music; and then she was always dutiful, doing instantly whatever she was bid: and tender, often running up to kiss her mother, stroke her cheek, and press her hand. The poor woman was quite sure, Jessy kept her alive.
page 124.
Cottage in the Snow. ”

“ Jessy waited a moment or two, and then replied, "I think, Ian, you might be just and honorable to the poet. Why do you cut the verse in two? I will give you the other three lines, as you seem to have forgotten them:
'O Soul, dost thou not see
The Wise have likened thee
To the most living creature that is made?'"
"Living creature?" ”

“ Jessy walked home silent and reflecting. For the first time in her life she thought less of the “cottage of clay” which she had so delighted to adorn, than of the dweller therein, the immortal soul.
Many years passed away before Jessy had occasion again to revisit the beautiful villa embosomed in trees. 214It looked changed, for the season was that of winter. The lovely creepers showed neither blossoms nor leaves; the gilded pinnacle of the clock-tower had been blown down by a gale ”

“ Is lovely young Jessy, the flower o’ Dumblain.
Is lovely, &c.
She's modest as ony, an' blyth as she’s bonny,
For guileless simplicity marks her its ain;
An’ far be the villain, divested o’ feeling,
Wad blight in its bloom the sweet flower o’ Dumblain.
Sing on, thou sweet mavis, thy hymn to the e’ening,
Thou’rt dear to the echoes o’ Calderwood glen;
Sae dear to this bosom, sae artless and winning,
Is charming young Jessy, the flower o’ Dumblain.
Is charming, &c.
How lost were my days, till I met wi’ my Jessy,
The sports o' the city seem’d foolish an’ vain ”

“ Sometimes a stone would strike her; but she could throw as well as any lad along the coast, and she had proved as much upon the persons of her persecutors many a time and oft. On the whole the children and the lads and girls of Morwinstow had come to think it best to leave Jessy alone, especially since it had been whispered that she was learning the black art from her old grandmother, the Black Witch of the neighbourhood, and could overlook an enemy, or curse him and his goods and smite his crops with blasting and mildew. ”

“ Hugh stared at her as though he would probe to her very soul. But he did not speak, and Jessie went on:
Not that! Give them the Children’s Code. Give them whatever you peculiarly can give them. Then go back to your dinosaurs.”
“That, Jessie!” gasped Hugh “That! from you!”
But Jessie was not heeding him. “You have crucified yourself enough for all of us, Uncle Bookie, mother, Mrs. Ellis, Johnny Parnell. They are an ambitious crowd and they set no limits. They love you, but they have no idea of what it’s costing you. ”

“ Miss Patch saw and understood, and it was a very loving hand she laid on Jessie's shoulder. "I know, dear, I know how it feels—and you cannot understand the why and the wherefore of it all now—but you will some day—and in the meantime you are come to be a bit of sweet garden in our midst, to cheer us as your rose cheered you—and we do need some brightness here, little Jessamine May, I can assure you." And, somehow, Jessie felt much of her overwhelming sorrow vanish at the little old lady's words, and as she helped her down the stairs she felt quite cheered and happy again. ”

“ You brought Jessie here, a friendless, helpless girl--a girl whom nobody but you could help loving for the goodness that is in her. She brought sunshine into this house, which was gloomy enough without her. She had no mother, no father, no friends, and you were her only protector. How have you fulfilled your duty towards her? Shall I answer for you? You have behaved like a tyrant, in whom all human feeling was deadened. When she strove to love you, you compelled her, by harsh words and cold looks and repellent acts, to hate you. ”

“ Jessie settled back in her chair, and leaning her head against her grandfather, listened quietly while the old man talked reverently to her of her Father in heaven.
"Is He mother's 'our Father,' too, granp?" she asked at last.
"Yes, child, mother's and father's."
"Then He'll take care of her, won't He, and see that she doesn't cry too much for me?"
"Yes. He soothes all the sorrows and wipes away all the tears of them that love and trust Him. Now shall we read a hymn? I like the hymns dearly, don't you, little maid?"
"Oh yes, I love them," said Jessie, sitting up and clasping her hands eagerly. ”

“ That somebody was a woman, as the trail of skirts testified, but Jessie rose instantly to the attitude of self.
She had not long to wait, for suddenly the lights flashed up, and a girl in simple evening dress stood there looking at Jessie. There was a placid smile on her face, though her features were very white and quivering.
"How good of you!" she said. "God only knows how good of you. Will you please take off your hat, and I will...? Thank you. Now stand side by side with me before the glass. Is not that strange, Miss Harcourt? Do you see the likeness?" ”

“ Jessie was delighted, she liked Tom Salter, for though he spoke but little, he had often done her a kindness, helping her carry a heavy scuttle of coal up the stairs, or a pail of water; and many a time, of a Saturday night, he cleaned several pairs of the lodgers' boots for her in readiness for Sunday; and many other kindly acts he had done, that meant much to the little over-burthened worker, for Jessie's life was a hard one in those days. ”

“ I was enabled to make my mother and Jessie many little presents now, and I sometimes coaxed my mother to buy Jessie a new dress or a new hat, and not to let her know that they came from me. On the anniversary of my twenty-first birthday we had a party at home, the four of us, and were happier and more comfortable in each other's society than we had been for a long time. Even uncle Bryan softened--not only towards me, but towards Jessie.
'Your boyhood is over,' said uncle Bryan; 'you are now a man, with a man's responsibility, and a man's work to do in life. ”

“ Jessie’s eyes are full of tears as she says:
“Poor mamma, how glad I am I did not go to Virginia with her. It’s months since I heard from her direct. Of course it was she who was so good to the drummer boy. She cannot be much of a rebel,” and Jessie glances triumphantly at Mrs. Noah, who, never having quite overcome her dislike of Agnes, had sorely tried Jessie by declaring that her mother “had found her level at last, and was just where she wanted to be.” ”

“ Miss Patch laid her thin hand very kindly on Jessie's bowed head. "Don't ever do that, dear! Don't ever set yourself against God's will. You are told in the Bible to obey your God and your earthly father, and God must have sent you here for some good purpose, dear. Perhaps to teach you something we cannot understand yet, perhaps to bring help and happiness to—to others, to your mother, and dear little Charlie there, and—and me. ”

“ The coarse term would be an insult to his refinement, his notable honor, and equally notable kindness of heart. He was, beyond question, the most charming of men, a social diamond of the first water, although the obtuse daughters of the Dundee manse had not at once discovered it.
What wonder that he, sitting among the roses in the arbor, found infinite diversion in the recollection that he was pronounced by Jessie "positively homely"—utterly unattractive beside her handsome lover, and that her more discreet sister had mildly echoed her disappointment? ”

“ It was the first time I had ever heard my mother call Jessie her child, and I pressed her hand fondly for it. She returned the pressure, almost convulsively, and presently Jessie came slowly downstairs. She was dressed with unusual care in a pretty new soft dress, concerning the making of which there had been great excitement; but her head was uncovered.
'Get on your hat quickly, my dear,' said my mother; 'we shall have to walk fast.'
'I am not going to church,' said Jessie, in a low tone, in which I--and I alone, I believe--detected a tremor. ”

“ Jessie clasped her hands desperately to her breast. “I never was a real wife to you. I refused motherhood,” with a little sob.
Hugh nodded. “Yes, Jessie, but I refused fatherhood, tacitly. I didn’t want a baby to interfere with my fossils.”
“And so,” exclaimed Jessie, “you gave up your fossils for the Children’s Code!”
“Yes,” replied Hugh.
Li Wing came in with a lighted lamp. Hugh, with a start, looked at his watch. “I’ve a conference at seven o’clock.” He rose, looking down on Jessie, half whimsically, “So you won’t come up to the inaugural, Jessie?” ”

“ Jessie went into a little tool-shed, which [85] was close to the rabbits' dwelling-place. She did not like to watch the window, but was too anxious to be able to go and help Francie with her gardening, or to play with Lewis, who was wandering aimlessly about. 'Father,' who was so tender to his little girls, who was the very very best man, as Jessie believed, in the whole world, could nevertheless be very severe when he saw occasion—could reprove in a way which an offender was not likely to forget. ”

“ But Guy was away in the dusty cars, and only Jessie stood on the piazza to receive her teacher. There were warm words of welcome, kisses and hugs; and then Jessie led her friend to the chamber she was to occupy.
“Mother wanted you to sleep the other side of the house, but Brother Guy said no, you should have a pleasant room; and when Guy says a thing, it’s so. It’s nice in here, and close to me. See, I’m right here,” and Jessie opened a door leading directly to her own sleeping room. ”

“ Tower continued⁠—
“I shall preach one of my favorite doctrines in your ears, my dear Jessie, till you are my proselyte indeed. This notion of yours about dependence is only a notion. It is banishing the bloom from your cheek, and stealing from your whole youth the treasures of joyousness which the young should especially garner. There is bitterness enough laid up for meridian years, Jessie, without casting so deep a shadow over the light and the hope of your girlhood. You must henceforth make my house your home, and be my own daughter. Say, Jessie, will you not?” ”