Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-04-25

the case ; the next proposing, at any
to u warmer climate.
After while, Mrs. Barham felt that
the casting vuie remained with herself /;
bat, though her heart yearned for the
wished-Cr decision, the very conscious
ness that II was ~ her own power made
her hesitate. AT most, the hesitation
would have been but that of few hours,
wet, even during so short an interval,
l Mr. Barham received letter, which, at
such "A moment, was of vital importance,
from his elder spn. Charley was at that
time diligently engaged at Oxiord and
he wrote to bis father, With all the ear.
nesiness Of sincerity, beseechIng his per-
mission to commence a course Oi studies,
and keep critaIn terms, which, though
no, absolutely necessary before he could
ne called to the bar, would be, he fell
assured, an ines,imable advantage TO
HIM. The poor step-mother watched her
husbands countenanre she saw the
inward struggle she hnew how fondly
he clung I" he hope Of has 6rst-born's
| SbC lUHl one
project or The other must he abandoned ,
md she i,li thai ~ the scale, which had
before been 50 evenly poised, heavy
weight was thrown. Certainly il was
With trembling hand, and anxious
"ountenancc, that MIR Barham gave her
The letter but he dwelt very strouglv
IN the higher authority of the physirrans
who dreaded the least, though he left the
final decision TO herself. Alas ! 10 ap-
peal to the generosity Of the generous,
is the surest way to vanquish them
After many bitter tears, aud few
hours OF seli-communing, the step-molhe,
made one more sacrifice the greatest
~he felt it 10 be, thai fate had yet demand
ed She reasoned for once as it is hard
for the warm hearted To do, by putting
feeling out of the question and since
>he decided ai last from principle, she
mish grleve, but she did not repent -
The delicate child was cursed carefully
and anyiously for the succeeding months
N London, and young Barham remained
at Oxford, his ardent wishes graiified.
But death, that does indeed come like
"a thief in The night" was near, aud the
Ond father was not permitted to realize
the day dream he had ndulged in his
sons success. Mr.. Barham died sud
denly, leaving his widow in some mea-
sure provided for by her marriage set
element but on The winding up of his
affairs, it was discovered that only
mere 7itance remained for the elder
chIldren-nol more than few hundred
pounds each. Mrs. Barhan's settlement
was secured after her, or any children
she might leave for beng a very rich
man when he had married a second time,
MIR b fell that il was in hlspower to equal
ize by will his chIldren's fortunes. His
reyerses had changed the state Of the
case but still he acted as Justly as it
was in his power to do, by beGuealhing
the little he did possess to his elder chill
dren. The relatives, however, could
see no justice in the affairs and one of
them being executor, and Judging the
poor stepmother's disposition by their
own i'll feelings 10 herself, he removed
Ellen Barham from her care and took
the management OF the young people, as
well as of the property, upon himself.
Meanwhile, the younger son, the poor
sick child, had grown worse and worse,
and The bereayed and afflicted widow
was in the very depths Of misery aud
dcsolation. lie was, indeed, beyond
the reach Of human aid and five
months after her husbands death, the
piInu SNl al Ii n, ,.,l
small grey coffin was placed in the silent
vault, upon that Of Mr.. Barham. Not
I'LL the frs. stunning blow was over-noi
tlIl she had time TO feel her desplation,
and reflect, did the deserted step mother
know that her own days were numbered. |
The insldlous disease which had surr-
bercd IN her blood through the bright |,
seasons of youth and early womanhood,
had destroyed her child, and strengthen
I'd in herself most probably by affection,
rad begun lis ravages. She believed II
ler own case 10 be hopeless, and felt in
Iced, that death conld scarcely claim
me who would meet him with less re-
uctnnco. She had little inclination or
spirit In join again her own relations, I
rom whom years aud distance bad in .
great measure estrangcd her, and she .
determined to remain IN London among
few tried friends she had mnde there.
Ter husbands children resided at some
irsiance from the quiet dwelling Mrs
Barham had chosen, but they certainly \
'Isited her frequently. Naturally, Ellen
vas oitenest her guest, and instead Of
Glazing in her attentions, they gradual
Y increased, till, a, the time Of the poor
:hlld's death, she was seldom day ab-
sent Ii was few weeks after this
went that Mrs Barham first observed
marked change in Ellen's manner, TO
Ier "A most blissiul one-a tenderness and
affection she had never experienced be-
ore. Must the truth be owned : Yes.
or il was owned at last To her they had
30 much wronged ; their altered circum-
stances and new home had taught the !.
'tep-chlIdren TO appreciate the Kindness,
Indulgence, and protection. they had so
title valued They had discovered that
who, as guests of their father,
" hosts at home, had only caressed and
,eitcd them, could be, when "drcssed in
/ little brief authority" exacting, tyran-
nc AL ar cpnric iouS /