Lewie; Or, The Bended Twig

It seems to be thought that a preface or introduction of some sort is absolutely necessary to a book; why, I do not know, unless it be that it looks rather abrupt to begin one’s story without a word as to the why or wherefore of its being written. This in the present case can be said very shortly.

The principal events in the following story, the loved and petted child being, as it seemed, given back to life in answer to the mother’s importunate cry; the indulgence under which he grew up, and the fatal consequences of that indulgence upon a temper such as his; are taken from real life, and may be used as sad warnings to those who shrink from the present trouble and pain, of rightly training the little ones God has given them.

The story of the Governess is a true one in every particular; names only being altered; I believe there are none remaining now whose feelings will be pained by this sad history being made public, so far as this little book may make it so, but there are one or two I know, and perhaps more, now living, who will smile if the chapter entitled “Ruth Glenn” meets their eyes, when they remember the disturbed nights years ago at a certain city boarding school. If she to whom I have given this name should ever see these pages, I hope she will forgive me for thus “telling tales out of school,” in consideration of the high station to which by my single voice I have raised her, and the pleasant memory she leaves behind.

Many other little scenes and incidents interwoven in, the story, are from life.

And now I can only close my preface as I have closed the book, in the earnest hope that it may have the effect of leading some mothers to train rightly the little shoots springing up around the parent tree, restraining their wandering inclinations, and teaching them ever to look and grow towards Heaven.

THE AUTHOR.

Contents.

CHAPTER I. LITTLE AGNES. Page The cross baby brother—The patient sister—The novel-reading mamma—The broken work-box—Undeserved punishment—The lock of papa’s hair—Old Mammy—The cold north room—“Never alone”—Aunt Wharton—Lewie sick—A pleasant change for the little prisoner

CHAPTER II. BROOK FARM. Bridget’s rage—Mammy’s story—The runaway match—The dead father—The cheerful home at Brook Farm—Cousin Emily—The ice palace—Christmas secrets—The mother’s agony—Life from the dead

CHAPTER III. CHRISTMAS TIME. Preparations for Christmas—The needle-book—Santa Claus himself expected -Old Cousin Betty—Loads of presents—Christmas Eve—Appearance of Santa Claus—“Who can he be?”—Cousin Tom—Poor Emily’s grief

CHAPTER IV. COUSIN BETTY. Cousin Betty—Absence of mind and body—A habit of dying—The shadow on the wall—Cousin Betty’s ride on Prancer—Training day—Cousin Betty a captain of militia—Cousin Betty’s stories

CHAPTER V. HOME AGAIN. Agnes and Mr. Wharton on their way to the Hemlocks—The novel-reading mamma again—Lewie better—Agnes must stay—A lay sermon to Mrs. Elwyn—The needle-case—The bitter disappointment

CHAPTER VI. THE TABLEAUX. Lewie roving the woods and fields again—Capricious and fretful still—The birth-day party at Mr. Wharton’s—Preparations for tableaux—Another disappointment for Agnes—The sweetest tableaux of all

CHAPTER VII. THE GOVERNESS. The lady who came for wool—The home in New-England—Midnight studies—Miss Edwards engaged as governess—A universal genius—A letter from the long-lost brother—The journey—The old Virginia church—The ghost no ghost at all—The old log-house—Horrible murder!—of pigs

CHAPTER VIII. BITTER DISAPPOINTMENTS. No news from Miss Edwards—The letter from the strange physician—The manuscript—The brother found, and where—The engagement—Desertion—The country house—The “crazy room”—The Eastern Asylum—Rest at last in the quiet nook

CHAPTER IX. EMILY’S TRIALS. Lewie’s education—Mr. Malcolm tutor at the Hemlocks—Frequent calls at Brook Farm—Emily’s sufferings—The disclosure—Strength for time of trial

CHAPTER X. THE TUTOR AND THE PUPIL. Lewie’s insubordination—Passion and tears—The mother’s anxiety—Mr. Malcolm’s firmness—No dinner for Lewie—Sulking—Brought to terms at last—The tutor dismissed

CHAPTER XI. RUTH GLENN. Leaving for boarding-school—Mrs. Arlington and her daughters—The third story room—The new strange girl—Nocturnal disturbances—Ruth Glenn’s expostulations—Imminent danger—The physician consulted—Morning walks—Sad partings

CHAPTER XII. LEWIE AT SCHOOL. The dictator in the play-ground—Strife and contention—The tormentor—Lewie’s mortification—The sore spot—The attack upon Colton—The removal from school—Mrs. Elwyn’s failing health—Agnes summoned—A death bed—Changes proposed to Agnes—Her departure for Wilston

CHAPTER XIII. NEW SCENES FOR AGNES. The two Miss Fairlands—The step-mother—Arrival at Wilston—Unpromising pupils—Poor Tiney—Dreadful scene at the tea-table—Tiney’s suffering—The effect of music

CHAPTER XIV. THE SCHOOL IN THE WEST WING. A hard task—The children’s toilettes—Bible teachings—Practical applications—Sunday at Mr. Fairland’s—The children’s singing—The father’s tears—A visit to Brook Farm—A visit from Lewie

CHAPTER XV. THE STRANGERS IN THE ROOKERY. An arrival—The Rookery—Mrs. Danby and Bella—A sudden accident—The rescue—The strangers—An old friend—A row on the lake—Music on the water—Shrieking in the house—A new method of laying spirits—Mortifying disclosures by Frank

CHAPTER XVI. DEATH AND THE FUGITIVE. Music on the lawn—The midnight interview—The horrid truth disclosed—Lewie a fugitive from justice—Jealousy of Calista and Evelina—Poor Tiney’s death bed—The search—The arrest

CHAPTER XVII. THE JAIL. Return to Brook Farm—The visit to the jail—The involuntary and the voluntary prisoner—A talk about the future—Mr. Malcolm’s visits—The lawyer—The evening before the trial

CHAPTER XVIII. THE TRIAL. The Court-room—Mr. W.—The testimony—Speeches—Mr. G.’s agitation—Charge to the jury

CHAPTER XIX. THE SEALED PAPER. A night of fearful suspense—The verdict—Insensibility—Delirium—Meeting between the brother and sister—Lewie’s illness—Longings for freedom—A journey to the capital—Ruth Glenn again—The governor—A sister’s pleadings—Her reward

CHAPTER XX. TWICE FREE. Freedom for the captive—Removal to Brook Farm—Decline—Changes of temper and heart—A final release—The quiet nook—Resignation —Cheerfulness—The unexpected visitor

CHAPTER XXI. THE WINDING UP. Repairs at the Rookery—Calista and Evelina on the _qui vive_—Mr. Harrington and his bride—Another Christmas gathering—Farewell, and kind wishes

I. Little Agnes.

“And she, not seven years old, A slighted child.”—WORDSWORTH.

“What is it Lewie wants? Does he want sister’s pretty book?”

“No!” roared the cross baby boy, pointing with his finger to the side-board.

“Well, see here, Lewie! here is a pretty ball; shall we roll it? There! now roll it back to sister.”

“No-o-o!” still screamed Master Lewie, the little finger still stretched out towards something on the side-board which he seemed much to desire.

“Here is my lovely dolly, Lewie. If you will be very careful, I will let you take her. See her beautiful eyes! Will Lewie make her open and shut her eyes?”

“No-o-o-o!” again shouted the fretful child, and this time so loud as effectually to arouse his youthful mamma, who was deep in an arm-chair, and deeper still in the last fashionable novel.

“Agnes!” she exclaimed sharply, “cannot you let that child alone? I told you to amuse him; and instead of doing so, you seem to delight in teazing him and making him scream.”

Again the little girl tried in various ways to amuse the wayward child. He really was not well, and felt cross and irritable, and nothing that his little sister could do to please him would succeed. With the utmost patience and gentleness she labored to bring a smile to her little brother’s cheek, or at least so to win his attention as to keep him from disturbing her mother. But the handkerchief rabbits, and the paper men and women she could cut so beautifully, and which at times gave little Lewie so much pleasure, were now all dashed impatiently aside. One by one her little playthings were brought out, and placed before him, but with no better success. Lewie had once seen the contents of a beautiful work-box of his sister’s, which stood in the centre of the side-board: at this he pointed, and for this he screamed. Nothing else would please him; at nothing else would he condescend to look.

“Oh, Lewie! darling Lewie! play with something else! Don’t you know Aunt Ellen gave sister that pretty work-box? and she said I must be so careful of it, and Lewie would break all sister’s pretty things.”

Again Master Lewie had recourse to the strength of his lungs, which he knew, by past experience, to be all-powerful in gaining whatever his fancy might desire, and sent forth a roar so loud as once more to arouse the attention of the novel-reading mamma; who, with a stamp of the foot, and a threatening shake of the finger, gave the little girl to understand that she must expect instant and severe punishment, if Lewie was heard to scream again.