The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-04-02


tal advanced him BY my own father. for I
like many sthers. his relatives now
talked about The imprudenee Of our
marriage. and left him TO bis own eK |
ertions. | never missed my comforts.
for could NOT feel their absence where |
! was. and cheerfully gave up nv ac-
eustomed style Of dress to wear plain
bonnets and shawls. I'm sure neither
Of ns ever breaihed sigh Of regret for
our lost fortunes and with our dear boy
TO love and care for. kindness from
those around Us. and q competence, we
began life anew. Alas. how little hu-
man. hearts foretell the storms that roll
over them. NV father. too. was VIC
tim to the prevailing times. He had
endorsed largely for others, and invest
ed part Of his fortune in stocks that
proved worthless. His failure was to
him terrible blow. He had no youth
to spur him on--he had mo strength to
re-commenee, and he sunk under his
misfortunes. Mother was very deli
cate-she had long been an invalid,
and ere long was left an orphan and
penniless again. We were then de-
pendent on the prosperity Of your
grandparents for salary, and never
shall ! forget my agony as ] left my
childhood's home to strangers. Allwas
given up. and must have died but for
my husbands firmness under all this.
He was the first to comfort and bid me
smile again. He still hoped on, and
busted himself with providing us shell
ter in tbe storm. Ii was a rmall, poor
place. my children. and boasted Of three
rooms. We furnished il as we could,
and never dreamed Of comfort, when It
was hard to get food and raiment. This
was about two months before Alice was
born. ! thought Of my mothers tens
derness, and the constant care with
which she had surrounded me at Wal
lace's birth! | had not even clothes
now for my little one, and set about
cutting up my worn-out dresses to con-
vert them into wardrobe for the COM
ing stranger. ltwas neatly made, and
| tried hard to think it pretty, but the
faded calico seemed shabby enough by
the side Of one or two embroidered
robes that had been worn by Wallace.
I" 1t was bitter cold. my Alice, when
your sweet eyes first opened to the
light, and | pressed you close to my
heart as my tears fell over you, won
! dering If God would spare you amids
so much exposure. We hired q wo
man to work and attend to my wants
but | knew full well how unable We
were to indulge in the luxury of {
nurse. So in spite of your fathers en-
treaties that | would not overtask my,
self, l soon dismissed her and resumed
my household duties. Little Wall,
could rock his baby sister. and watcl
the fire while went about other things
Alfred brought me water and coal fol
the day, before he set of to his bust
ness. and you cannot imagine how hap.
py l was to sit down by my two little
ones after the house was in. order and
the baby dressed. At night l had .
bright fire in the dining-room, supper
prepared for my weary husband, and
his gown and slippers. all ready for bis
coming. Then we met SO gladly, and
chatted so cheerfully together that ne
one would have imagined We had eyeI
been otherwise than poor; but We knew
: the folly of repining, the sinfulness o.
murmuring, and thus kept light hearts
as long as there was enough for the NOR
row. We never despaired of making
way in the world and having comforts
once more, and you should have seer
our pleasure when your father brough
home some little present for Wallace
or Alice. Now it was new toy, |
pretty cup or mug, that served to orna
ment the chimney piece and hold th'
fresh flowers / gathered each day from
our little parterre. Sometimes dres
for the baby, whose making was as in
!, teresting to Alfred as to me. W.
! thought her such beauty after it wa
on, and Wally's corals fastened ON he
; neck and arms!"
"And where were my fathers sis
ters ?" asked Alice, whose deep blu
! eyes were filled with tears, while Wal
= lace covered his face with his hand.
: "Could they not help him, mother !
I "They were worldly women, m
: love, and seemed to look upon our re
j. verses as the effect Of an impruder
r union. They came occasionally to Sc
n us, but | learned to dread their visit
and rude questions. as they glance
! around our humble home and wonder
t ed how | managed to make it 50 con
i Portable. They never allowed me
e suppose that they knew we were
d want Of anything, though Detaria ono
e or twice sent you and Wallace sma
t. gift that longed to refuse, but accep
r. ed for your fathers sake. They wei
d Of that fashionable set to whom povert
" is disgrace, and brought up as the
" we're, could not blame them that the
H. avoided u.s.
ID ooh, mother! mother! do not 81
.L .bot %, cr;ad Alice kissing her. /" Ho