The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-25

loHS llIllC SlilCC you HdFC pCcll Ill Tile CITY,
and have much to say.o
Mrs. Ashton concluded to accompany her,
partly promising to spend the night As
they entered the parlor, sweet, rosy faced
boy came jumping in and ran directly to
Mrs. Belmont, who STOPPING down, kissed
him again and again, ere she removed her
veil and parting the rich curls@hat shaded
his beautiful brow, and turning her face to-
ward Mrs Ashton, exclamed,ss this is our
pet!''
Mrs. Ashton gazed upon The little fellow
with evident surprise taking MS hand, she
drew him nearer, and sinking upon sofa,
cried -" Merciful God! how like some one
| have seen! Pray tell me where you got
those soft blue eyes?"
much surprised at Mrs. Ashton's emotions !;
" come and tell me what you have been do
ing in my absence.o
81 have been riding my little horse, NAM
MAJ
"What do you call him -
Jimmy Gray, here is my little whip to
make him 60 fast.o
(Which do you love best, your hobby
horse or your mamma ~
81 love my horse best, and my mamma
best p and Jumping into Mrs. Belmont's lap,
he wound his chubby arms around her neck,
and kissed her forehead, cheek and lips, as
she pressed him close to her breast
Mrs. Ashton sat confounded; strange
sensation took place in her breast Was it
Ro1, obi
SO well. He was dear little fellow truly
quite an uncommon child. She had no
children of her own, and often said she did
not wish any; they were troublesome com
forts; pulling and hauling curls, ruflles, etc.
Nothing could be kept in place where they
were. Still more lovely picture she never
beheld, than the one before her. Mrs. Bel
mont was a handsome woman the glow
upon her .countenance was heightened by
exercise, her eyes beamed with delight, her
cap was united, and her curls fell in beauti-
full disorder over the face of her protege, as
he returned her endearing caresses.-Tea
was brought in, the statistics were read, the
books were looked over, and the little boy
was carried to bed, after saying his prayers
oo HC hHCil3 iihO ouho oliCiuo3 a. IiC lCci'
of Mrs. Belmont-the true personification of
love bending over its idol.
snow the story of that lovely child,o
said Mrs. Ashton, as she drew her feet upon
the sofa, and placed pillow behind her.
Mrs. Belmont, quietly seating herself in
her large, easy rocking chair, began -
s.When my husband was Consul in Havana,
in lS-, Mr.. H., aphysician, coming in one
morning, remarked that he daily visited a
very interesting family, who had drawn deep
ly upon his sympathies for many reasons
and first, that, like themselves, he was an
Odd Fellow. He had been on the Island a
year, prosperously engaged in mercantile
business, and for the last six weeks, had
been indisposed, owing to the hemorrhage
of the lungs, and was gradually sinking.
His wife, an amiable and accomplished wo-
man, perfectly idolized by her husband, and
a little boy of some six months old, who
was bright and beautiful as the morning,
and in whom their warmest affections CEN
tired. in consequence of her deyotion to
her husband and child, she had grown pale
and languid had cold, and at times her
cheeks assumed hue he trembled to be-
hold
Ny husbands kind heart enlisted immedi-
ately in the feelings Of the physician, and
together they sought the sufferers. Again
and again they went, and like true Odd
Fellows, they watched over him, attended
to all his wants, closed his affairs, saw him
die, and decently buried him; then turned
their attentions to his heart-broken wife,
who it was evident, would soon follow him.
I" cannot" said Mrs. B., wiping the tears
from her eyes, g describe the scene, although
my husband has oftentimes dwelt upon it
but a more touching one cannot be con-
ceived. Like summer flower, the young
mother faded away; gratitude to her friends
cleaned in every look.-She gave her little
boy to my husband Often when seated by
her bedside, she held the babe in his lap,
and resting it upon her hand, she would
gaze calmly and silently upon them.-As
her dissolution approached, she yielded up
her all, In the sweet hope of glorious i'm
mortality and the consoling thoughts of
meeting once more her beloved husband,
took from death its sting, and robbed the
grave of its victory
Bring my childp' she one day exclaim-
ed, as the cold dew gathered upon her mar
bic brow. Long and closely she held him
m, 70 bor bosono and although gaspinU for |