The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-24
The Young M other.
BY rus LATE COUNTESS OF BLkssIssroS'

at four; and hope you Will not oisdppoihl Le
again, Emily as you have so frequently done OF
late, for have set my heart ON dnving you 10
day.
You know, dear AlgernOn, what pleasure l
always have in being with you
sWhy so you say, but really, Emily, Degin
to doubt your assertion on this point; Tor you
have always some excnse for not ndlng or dill |
wing with me, when ask you.
snow, this IepIoach Is unslnd, Algernon.
sYet, nevertheless, 1t Is tue.'
But you know, dearest, the iauIt has not
been mine; the poor dear baby really has been
looking pale of late; and ] consequently, am
uneas when he is out Of my sight
sYou bear my being out fyoursight, however,
with great equanimity; more so, indeed, than
Is hattering TO my vanity. but the Truth IS,
since you have become a mother, you seem to
have forgotten that you are WIFE
'How can you make so unjust an assertion,
knowing, as you do, that neyeTdh wife more
| londly love husband than 1 love you! cruel,
unkind Algernonl
| do not wish TO give you pain; nay, do not
| weep Emily, but hear me patiently. Have
/ ever since our boyw born, now some three
months ago. been able TO enjoy Tranquil hour,
| of your society," When you are not IN the nur-
| sery, from which you are seldom absent an houT
| your whole thoughts and conversation are occu-
MED on the baby. &c the poor little fellow looks
furthermore red in the face than usual, you think
him feversh and flush: If pale, then you pro-
nounce him to be suffering. AT one moment you
fancy him cutting his teeth; and, at the next you
tremble at the idea Of some one OF the hundred
maladies incidental TO infants, and which you
imagine him 10 be labonng UNDER
| Il did not expect, AlgeTnOn, that you would
have the harshness 10 blame me Tor loving OIL
| child; did not think-'
Nov Emily, you really provoke mel Is there
no medium in a mothers lover Are her whole
thoughts and time TO be surrendered to this one
egotistical passion while all other duties are
neglected and iorgottenl
Il was not aware that neglected. any duties
and the maternal one have been led 10 consul
eI the most sacred OF all.
Il am willing o admit its claims, but not TO
the total oblivion of all other Obligations. As a
husband, have | not a night TO your society," As
master of a house, am not privileged TO
demand the devotion Of some portion OF IT for
n the duties Of hospitality Vet do ynu not daily
leave me alone whole hours, while you sat IN the
nursery, and find some pretext against receiving
company every time propose III If ] read TO
, you, you start up IN the most interesting pas
sage, thinking you hear the child cry, though
1t would require the lungs OF Stentor TO be head
from his nursery in the library. IL tell you
! some piece of news, that would formerly have
| amused you, you look absent, or ask me some
question that has a reference TO the child. With
: every disposition to make allowance for the IA
, tuIal fondness of young mother for her first
, born land TO indulge my paternal affection, |
, really feel my domestic comfort 80 much impair
| ed that am sometimes fearful shall view the
cause of this change in you with some portion OF
the dissatisfaction that the eject produces in my
mind
: sG0od heavens, Algernon! how can you blame
ri me for loving this cherubl Who could resist
tn darling's smlless'
Il can Judge little of his smiles, Emily, for the
urchin has been generally screaming when
have happened to see him"
II paroxysm of tears was the only reply the
Young mother vouchsafed to make to thus remark,
: but no answer could so eloQuently appeal TO
the father feelings. He wiped the tears trom
4 her fair checks, nay, kissed the lids on which
! they still trembled; while she, casting an implor
ing look at him, uttered between rising sobs,-
/. Do not, oh, do not, Algemon, say that my dar
RI ling is cross! Mrs. Spencer, the month nurse,
my maid, and his nurse, too, declare they never
never saw such dear angelic babe IN their lives,
! so quiet and sweet-tempered.'
E sAnd so, dare be sworn good fussy Ms. Spen.
Ger has told every mother Of evey child she has
gwen pap to for the last thirty years. The EVIL
dence OF your maid and our boys nurse, Is
equally liable to suspicion
D .Now, Algernon, you are so incredulous, and
Y must say, so ill-natuTed!
:. We'll, my own Emily, If il be any comfort to
you, am quite ready TO admit, that our little
fellow is not more addicted to crying than chill
dren Of his age in general are, but then you mus
!. concede one point to me, and that Is that his
G lungs are more powerful
Thank God they are so; for tremble when
hear Lady Melthorpe's poor little boy cry; ms
+, tones are so feeble, as 10 Indicate weakness o
r the chest; while ours
Screams like a boatswa ain, yoa would say; Is
not thatiti'
mo, would say no such thing; would say
!. that his voice is so sonorous, so manly, as Il
!. prove his strength and pulmonary force
We'll, Emily, VIII you, or will you not, leave
him for the enormous space ottwc or three hour:
{ to the care Of his nurse, and drive with met
Yes, Algenon, You may count on meG'
n Now you are my own good Emily OF othe
| days. Adieu dearestl l shall be at the door u
the curricle precisely at four; and be kissed HI:
wife's fair brow, with as much fondness as In In
It FIRST bridal days
Principally at four he was at the door, wher
instead Of seeing her arrive, twisted billet wa
u handed to him by his wife's footman. He hat
e so often received many similar msslves OF late
l. always conveying excuses for appointment
, broken or party deranged that he dIsliked the
!, very sight of one; and he tore this open with nj
little impotence and vexation.
pl As usual, il contained her regrets for not be
i. ing able to accompany him--'But, really, tn
9 poor dear baby seemed so restless and uneasy
: that she had thought il necessary to send for DIR
D. Wlbraham, and could not bring herself to leav'
70 the suffering angel
81 While he persued this note, DIR. Wilbrahan
himselfwas seen descending the steps OF tn
door, and to the questions of the father, replied
q Pooh, poohl my lord the child has nothin
L. whatever the matter with him; you must real
~ prevent her Ladyship from sending on Tor m
" when there is not the slightest occasion for m
= presence, for it interferes extremely with IN
y engagements The child is a healthy child, m
c. lor; but he will render his mother anything bu
% healthy, if you do not prevent her tormentin
.. herself all day, and every day, with some fame
RI about him.
Lord Mordaunt stepped from the currcle
bounded lightly up the stairs, and, as he expect
re ed found his wife IN the nursery, seated by tn
:. side of the cot in which their infant was SLEEP
% ing. The nurse, with face Of alarm, was ben
ding over, and her assistant, looking as stupid
he frightened, as she thought the circumstances o
n. the case required. Lady Mordaunt's palefac
!. formed contrast to the rosy one OF the slun
! bering child, and her beautiful eyes bore trace
y, of recent teaD. Lord Mordaunt might hsvepisl
o-l ed her, had it mot been for the communication
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