Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-01-18

tSSoiNSS ~ hfattitdIil Wv
habits and manners, and as early as
possible dscngagc herself from all con-
neebion with her husbands family
The elder Mrs. Freeman now approach
ed, and in kind manner invited her
to tax off her things. While disrob-
ing, the boys placed a larg pile ofwood
on the ample hearth. and calling on
their mother "to make fire." follow
cd their brother out. Flora looked
with dismay at the heap oflogs, suhi.
cicnt, rs she thought, 10 dress a dozen
dinners; but the old dame soon rolled
them into order, and blazing fire aud
the clean hearth spread IN air Of com
sOgt oves abe apartment. Mrs. Free
man, with the dextcrity of backwoods
cook, soon produced a supper that as
tonishcd even Flora by its variety and
plenty; and the kind aflectionatc man
ncr OF the old lady TO her sons, and
their frank, good humor would have
conciliatcd any heart but hers. She
sat sullcnly breeding over her fancied
wrongs until u real hcadach, which
was at first only an excuse for not cat
ing. drove her TO bed. Freeman and
his mother sat long convcrsing together.
and Flora saw tears believing the ven
cradle check Of the old toil-worn moth
err, but so far from sotening her heart,
she tried to strengthen herself in her
a. ,,,Nihar t,,.,
Thus Flora continued proud and
cold towards her husbands relatives,
signing for her own city home, and rid
iculng, with all the sarcastic irony Of
her natural disposition, every thing and
every one that accorded not with her
owhidcas ofpropr.ety. Freeman gradu-
ally grew rich and popular, became a
man Of public busincss,a politician,and
spent but little time with his cross wife.
The only friend, in fact, that sympa-
thizcd with her ailments, or bore with
her frctfulncss,was her dcspiscd mother
in-law: and when i'll health, the rcsul!
Of voluntary CONTINENT and scdcntary
habits, made her prisoner ut home,
she was the only one who offered TO
console her, or to alleviate her suffer
ings; for her husband had long since
feared he should not die Of absence
from her. Poor Flora, she had cast
the gem Of life that gave it all its lustre
from her and no wonder every thing
was dark 10 her.
At length Flora became n mother.
and through the sweet little girl that
was her own image, she once more fclt
the stirring Of affection towards the
husband whom she h.d SO long treated
with cor .cmtuous aversion: but ;tcamc
too late. He scarcely marked the
quivering Ep,thc fearful eye and chang.
ing check Of Flora, as she uncovered
her little treasure to present il to him
and only rcmarking "that children
were great annoyances," he coldiy left
the room. From that hour Flora grew.
very i'll. She felt that she should die,
and all the kindness, all the forbcaring
love Of Mrs. Freeman rose up TO re-
proach her. One day, as she was ten
Derby placing her pillows, Flora drew
her check down TO her lips, and kiss
ing her, burst into tears. The old Ia
dy gently returned her carcss, and dis
engaging her arm from her neck, sooth
cd her into tranquility.
Smother" said she, TREMENDOUSLY land
it was the first time she had ever thus
addressed her, !" mother, it has been n
great mystery 10 me how you, who
were tendcrly natured in your youth,
conld ever brave hardsbips and toll in
this new country, and, instead of sink
ing under il. grow healthy and happy,
and remain even now, in old age, so
active and so capable Of serving all
around you--of making all love you"
81 will tell you, my Flora, this mys-
terry was yove-naturc's primal word
ms an old German woman once called
il in my youth. ] loved my husband
fondIy and nationally, and he came to
this new Iand-for it was new then
for the sake Of our children; and when
liz took my husband, l managed, by
active industry,.o keep them together;
taught them their duty to God and to
man. and instructed them, by my ex-
ample, TO love all mankind.
"You do not hate even me, them"
said Flora, softly.
"No, have been vcxed sometimes,
but never once did harbor such a
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