[Pg 385]
THE
ATLANTIC MONTHLY.
A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics.
VOL. XV.—APRIL, 1865.—NO. XC.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by Ticknor andFields, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District ofMassachusetts.
Transcriber's Note: Minor typos have been corrected and footnotes movedto the end of the article. Table of contents has been created for the HTML version.
Contents
ADVENTURES OF A LONE WOMAN.
THE SPANIARDS' GRAVES.
GRIT.
THE PETTIBONE LINEAGE.
UP THE ST. MARY'S.
ROBIN BADFELLOW.
ICE AND ESQUIMAUX.
DOCTOR JOHNS.
OUR FIRST CITIZEN.
NEEDLE AND GARDEN.
MEMORIES OF AUTHORS.
THE CHIMNEY-CORNER.
MR. HOSEA BIGLOW TO THE EDITOR OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY.
"IF MASSA PUT GUNS INTO OUR HAN'S."
ADVENTURES OF A LONE WOMAN.
"I will go and see the oil," remarked Miselle, at the end of a reverieof ten minutes.
Caleb laid the "Morning Journal" upon the table, and prepared himselfcalmly to accept whatever new dispensation Providence and Miselle hadallotted him.
"Whaling?" inquired he.
"No, not whaling. I am going to the Oil Springs."
"By all means. They lie in the remotest portion of Pennsylvania; theyare inaccessible by railway; such conveyances and such wretched inns asare to be found are crowded with lawless men, rushing to the wells toseek their fortunes, or rushing away, savage at having utterly lostthem. At this season the roads are likely to be impassable from mud, theweather to be stormy. When do you propose going?"
"Next Monday," replied Miselle, serenely.
"And with whom? You know that I cannot accompany you."
"I did not dream of incurring such a responsibility. I go alone."
Caleb resumed the "Morning Journal." Miselle wrote a letter, signed hername, and tossed it across the table, saying,—
"There, I have written to Friend Williams, who has, as his sister tellsme, set up a shanty and a wife on Oil Creek. I will go to them and soavoid your wretched inns, and at the same time secure a guide competentto conduct my explorations. As for the conveyances, the roads, and thelawless travellers, if men are not afraid to encounter them, surely awoman need not be."
"Be cautious, Miselle. This grain of practicability in the shape ofFriend Williams is spoiling the unity of your plan. At first it was acharmingly consistent absurdity."
"But now?"
"Now it is merely foolishly hazardous, and I suppose you will undertakeit. It is your kismet; it is Fate; and what am I, to resist Destiny?Go, child,—my blessing and my bank-book are your own."
"And 'Je suis Tedesco!'" pompously quoted Miselle; so no more was saidupon the subject, unt