Burnsville!
I hope the reader is willing to revisit this charming spot. For I
confess that I myself feel impelled to do so. Indeed, I sometimes regret
following the fortunes of Hiram Meeker to New York. Far more agreeable
would it have been to have continued the story of Joel Burns, and showed
what a good man may achieve, notwithstanding the workings of the
'ancient leaven,' and the divers contests which spring up daily within
and around him.
But my task once undertaken, I did not feel at liberty to leave it.
I propose, therefore, only a brief visit to the place which the reader
may recollect was commenced by Joel Burns in his youth, when his love
for Ellen Bellows lent to his already energetic spirit a tenfold force
and vigor and perseverance.
The twenty-five years which have told with such effect on New York, have
also produced great changes and great improvements in Burnsville. It was
a thriving village when we last knew it. Now it is a large town. The
higher portion is covered with fine buildings. Churches, hotels,
academies, and various institutions for which New England is remarkable,
seem specially to flourish here.
There are some old landmarks which I am sure we shall recognize--Joel
Burns's house, for example, and the little brick 'office' from which
Hiram sallied one morning before daylight to take the stage for New
York, to attack Joslin the paper dealer.
The improvements have been astonishing. Beautiful trees skirt the
principal streets, and form an arch above. Everywhere you behold
displayed signs of admirable taste.
Below, in the valley, is the railroad; and opposite the 'paper mill' has
been erected one of the finest 'stations' in the State. Here has sprung
up a large manufacturing place, rivalling in size and business
importance the 'ridge,' as we used to call it, but leaving the latter
free from the noise and bustle of the mills and factories and machinery
of our now famous 'Slab City.'
* * * * *
Dr. Egerton married Sarah Burns, as you have long since guessed. He is
one of the few men of talent who has no ambition to quit his happy home
to adventure in a large city. He is celebrated far and near, but nothing
can draw him away from the spot where a youth he came to watch over a
young girl whose life was trembling in the balance.
And Sarah, think you she is not repaid for her fidelity to her father?
By it she escaped the grasp of Hiram Meeker, and is now--she has been
for years--a loving, trustful, joyous wife.
Happy Sarah Burns! I commenced this narrative by recounting an _un_happy
incident in your life. How grateful is the task of recording your
triumph over the greatest danger which can threaten a maiden--the danger
of _loving unworthily_!
Joel Burns! I confess that, of all at Burnsville, it is in you my
feelings of interest centre--you, whose romantic fidelity to your wife's
memory has thrown a charm over your whole existence. It is a great
treasure--is it not?--a heart so true, so loyal, so pure and faithful,
that not one, no, not one of all the young and fair and good and
fascinating from out this world's fair creation can divert it for a
moment, or change its even, constant, ever-loving pulsations. Such a
heart you possess, Joel Burns!
Joel Burns was 'mated' as well as 'married;' and when his wife died, he
did not really lose her. In spirit she attended him wherever he
went--always near him--more actually present, Joel used sometimes to
think, than she ever was before.
How could he wish to marry again, when his wife was all the time by his
side--an ever-present, ever-abiding comfort and consolation?
I say, herein lay the charm and the glory of Joel's life. His influence
on his place, after it grew beyond the proportions of a village, and
became one of the largest towns in the State, was just as great as when
it had but a dozen buildings.
Joel did not permit the desire to accumulate to become a passion. On the
contrary, he diffused his wealth--not by direct gifts in charity, but by
affording everybody around him opportunity to get on and prosper, just
exactly as if the world was common to all, and as if all should be
allowed a fair chance to live in it!
You have no idea how the attempt to practise this principle enriched the
life and nature of Joel Burns.
[There are two Spirits--towering, gigantic Genii--who attend on man: one
the Absorbing, the other the Imparting, Spirit. Both are active,
energetic, untiring. The former, if it gains access to the soul,
commences at once to narrow and impoverish it; while the latter enlarges
and makes the soul rich. Herein is explained the old enigma which a
dying man is said to have uttered:
'What I kept, I've not;
What I gave, I've got.']
I have remarked that Burnsville was one of the largest towns in the
State. This was not only the case, but the immense manufactories in
'Slab City' made it much more prominent than any other, and brought it
into more direct communication with New York.
Hiram Meeker heard, from time to time, of all that Joel was doing. In
fact, impelled by a strong impulse, he took pains to ascertain what
progress he made from year to year. But Hiram could not, with all his
penetration, fathom a nature like that of Joel. It was always a puzzle
to him. For it was not given to a man, who had all his life harbored the
wicked Demon _Absorption_, to understand the excellency and happiness of
such a life.
But he watched Burnsville. Indeed, he was tempted to make some heavy
investments there when the railroad was constructed--of which event, as
the leading capitalist of the country, he had the earliest information.
He abandoned the idea, however, for he shrank from coming in contact
with his old employer.
So Joel Burns lived on his noble, God-given existence.
But, reader, if you think I am endeavoring to depict a faultless person,
you are much mistaken. Faultless is lifeless, when applied to human
beings. It is in the contest with our faults that the glory of our
humanity shines forth. It is this which binds our race together in one
great brotherhood. Pray, tell me what we could do with a faultless man
or woman. What have we in common with any such person? What sympathy
have we with either, or either with us?
Joel Burns was constitutionally ardent and energetic, not to say
impetuous. With such characteristics are always strong attending
imperfections. He had his share of these. But his motives were honest,
his principles right, his intents true; and I declare I think it to be a
real felicity and blessing to observe the faults of such a man, and
witness how he encounters and battles with, and conquers them--or if for
a moment overcome, to behold his genuine regret and contrition.
I will pursue this no further. I have some work to do in the metropolis.
If I linger at Burnsville, I shall be quite unfitted for it--I shall,
indeed.
* * * * *
Joel--Joel Burns--farewell!
Ellen Bellows--Ellen Burns--don't you see that Joel has remembered your
dying injunction, and has tried to 'live right?' Yes, you do. It was for
this that you have never forsaken him.
* * * * *
Sarah Egerton smiles on me as I pass out of the gate. A group of
children, half grown, and full grown, give me joyous greeting; and the
Doctor waves his hand from his carriage, as he drives along on his
errands of mercy and benevolence.
* * * * *
I must make haste. There is no stage to wait five minutes for me. The
time table is a despot.
The train approaches. It has stopped. It is off again, and I am in it.
Burnsville, pleasant Burnsville, adieu!