Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-24
LOWER sANDUsKY. MARCH "a, ls4s

friends here on earth; friends yonder in heaven.
Ny dear children, I've seen life as you have not and
cannot would say it again, there is thing only
one thing to be done on earth. We are here to
do that thing; in business, such men mix in
amid the drudgery. folly, and silent misery of wo-
mans life-that one thing is still the end. 1t is
Friendship; friendship with God; with Jesus, the
Deity in man, the reconciler of the finite and the
infinite; with all good angels; with prophets and
apostles; with every human being that comes near
us-with the low, the vulgar, the wicked, no less
than the rich the educated and the pure Seek
the friendship of the glorifed Jesus that you may
raise yourselves; seek the friendship of publicans
and sinners that you in your turn may raise them"
The old mans feelings had led him far beyond
what he purposed to say He drew long breath,
rubbed his hand in most merciless manner over
his nose and chin, sat down, relapsed into silence
and nursed his queue.
Who can describe the hope that beamed in the
difident eyes of Maria? the affection that made
Georgianas proud earthly, features catch hue of
heaven? the admiring wonder that brought tears
to the eyes of practical Sally Thompson or the
complete sympathy and faith which, lifting the soul
of Lucy to the Skies transformed for an instant her
body? Earth never lent such beauty to the hu-
man face.
Ten years have passed by; it is 1874 the white
haired old lawyer has gone to enjoy that friendship
in heaven which he so constantly looked forward
to as the end of life the four girls have become
four matrons and the worsted has passed from
working shepherds on black cloth to darning the
toes of infantie socks. Let us look in upon these
young mothers and see how they have sped, and
whether they have learned Lucy's secret
In a small room, cheaply clad but tastily fur
nished with few shells on the mantle and very
bad portrait of herself Just opposite, sits Sally
Thompson, now Mrs Blake Mr. Blake, tired with
his long day at the counting house, dozes over
his Inteigencer the image of stupfcation. His
dressing gown is terribly out at elbows and a
large hole is visible in the heel of his stockings for
you see it now, that he has on his shabby work
Slippers which Sally had presented him with before
they were married. The little woman herself is
hard at work-upon what? Something for her
little girl up stairs? Or for her husband down
stairs? Or for her purblind Betsy, the old woman
that had nursed her, and who is now under the
stairs in the basement? No! She's hard at it
finishing bead purse for Georgiana's Hull's hus-
band-Mr Stone, the rich Louisiana planter. Now
and then she gapes, for she has been Shaving since
daylight to get her cakes done to send to twenty
people in the neighborhood, and spend the after
noon with Mr.. Farley's sick child on Race street
She's the same busy, active, driving, obging little
body; always helping every one and neglectlng no
one-except those of her own household. She
husband and baby and old Betty love her of course
she needn't put herself out for them. But does
she love every one she works for Bless you, no.
Mrs. Farley is the greatest bore in the world; the
BEsses to whom she sent three elegant smoking
tea-cakes, are enough to drive anybody mad with
their airs and fine dresses The great Mr.. Stone
over whose purse her eyes are winking and water
ing, is great pompous fool. But then something
must be done and borne for popularity, Such are
| Gill p,,t ;e cIa cba ho'
friendship with even plum-cake and nights of nur-
si9g' ss1f; Ask Mr. Blake who is just ''us'ng hi"
cat work still, says the oily faced gentleman
why its midnight Sally, And what for? Some
one I'll be bound that will never thank you fol
your palms,
"Why, William, how you talk! Its not nine
and Mr.. Stone will be delighted I'm sure; he'll be
my friend for life' said Sally.
| Nonsense! Friends! You amt his friend
why should he be yours? Did not you call hin
peacock this morning?''
"But he'll never know it. l show him friend
ship enough, and so do everybody ese and they
ought to love me-
The tears came into Sally's eyes, she had feel
ing that she had failed, but could not why
she'd been showing friendship all her lfe and neve
known that human eye, after time, could distin
gush between pebbles of micas slate and California
gold; she had never heard the dozens who recelv
ed her pies and presents her visets and her aid,
in their hearts "She don't for US Its all self
ishness she wants us TO love her. and so she pre-
tends to love us.'' Poor Saal she has not solvet
, Mr.. Hull's problems Aas not learned Lucy
secret
In a far handsomer apartment, but one whicl
shows the hand of an excellent housewife and wo
man of true and cultivated taste, Maria Strong VIII
has been changed by Hymen into Mrs. Pennimar
r is teaching her Oldest boy to read. Her HUSBAND
l has been detained late at court and is not yet a
| home. Maria's countenance has grown very mucl
older, and is sad and thoughtful She has though
once or twice of bringing her husbands's slipper
and evening coat in from the closet and of settn
: the boot-jack ready for him, but she's afraid @
making fuss, and Mr.. Penniman hates fuss
Presently the street door opens. the gentleman en-
ters the passage, then the parlor. The little bo
runs to meet him. but Maria sits still with her eye
on the fire. He looks round as for something; the
bids johnny run out and bring him the bootjack
pulls off his street coat and sends for his old.
Portable one, but shivers he puts it on next tn
: cold slippers are put on and off half dozen time
till they are warmed through-Maria sit silent, wit