Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-11-25

| SiOWihk ASiiHus " uad OuEt IClt IL IIlc mere
mention of bis name
Do you--do you really love her, then p
asked the child, sitting upright on his knee
and fixing her full, beautiful eyes upon him,
how strange; ! thought by what mamma
said, that you hated her almost
BY what mamma sAidp exclaimed her
father hastily. while feeling of anger shot
through his heart at the sudden surmise that
bis wife had been striving to ALLEVIATE the
child's affections from him; what did man.
ma say, Ellen?' he demanded sternly.
Don't look SO hard at me, father she re-
piled. pressing her snowy hands over his eyes,
mamma didn't tell me but she told God
More and more astonished, Charles gazed
upon the child without speaking, and after
moments pause, she continued: Il went
into mammals room, this afternoon, before ]
knew she was sick, but ! heard her talking,
SO | went on tiptoe She WAS kneeling down
by the bed and praying to our Father in
Heaven; and she cried aud sobbed as / do
sometimes when am naughty, but l knew
she was never naughty, good, dear mamma,
was she ever naughty, papaY' she asked art
lessly, and waiting for reply.
"She never was--to you or me, answered
the father, choking down bis emotion
We'll, then, heard her pray; knew she
wouldn't care if did, because she takes me
with her sometimes; and she asked the dear
God if he would make her husband love her;
and said that he went away from bis home,
and liked other people better; and she said
her heart was breaking too; and oh she
cried so bad, continued the child, giving
such mournful emphasis to the last two words
that the fathers lips trembled. and the tears
came to bis eyes.
sAnd then she turned round and saw me
and she called me to her and Rugged me tight,
and said was precious child, and kept ask
ing me if | was sure l loved her-vcry, very
sure till the wild light in her eyes almost
frightened me. kept telling her she was
my blessed mother, and l loved her better
than anybody in the whole world except my
father; and then she told me must love you
dearly, for you was kind father to me, and
perhaps she wouldn't live long; and if they
did put her into the cold ground must make
you forget it by my goodness and affection;
but | never could forget it, could you, father,
if they put my own sweet mother into the
cold ground ?
This was too much, Charles Crosby started
from bis chair, and placing Ellen on q low
scat, strodo rapidly through the room. The
tears were raining down his face, but he kept
them hidden from the little one, who sat TIM
idly still on her cricket, almost afraid to move
for fear she had angcred her father. Not So
A flood of the old tenderness had rushed back
| upon bis heart; instead Of the demure and
gentle Alice, his memory pictured an angel
of whom be had been all unworthy; a pure
radiant spirit who had sat by her household
hearth in loneliness and sadness: with slow
ly, surely breaking heart-a heart yearning
and dying for love, unapprcciated lightly es-
tcemed. seldom addressed in the language of
affection, and yet returning smiles for cold
looks. never complaining; OH had such a
one blessed his dwelling and he had not
dreamed how priceless treasure be possess
cd Bitter was bis self accusation, hot and
copious lis tears suddenly be paused before
her portrait, the young wife in the robes of
the bridal seemed SO joyous, yet subducd !;
just as perfectly as she had appeared on tho
day he first called her his own. Now, only
one thought echoed and re echoed through
bis brain: SHOULD she die4-oh should she
dic"
For some moments he stood transfxed,
striving to check the bursting sob that was
almost sitting him, when he felt slight pull
at his coat and turning, there stood little FL
len, her eyes all moist and her pretty lips
half parted Papa she half whispered
'mayn't go up stairs and tell mamma you
do love her dcarly?'
He caught her to his breast and clasped
her with the warmth of his new love close in
his arms; he kissed her again and again,
blessing his Maker that "Out of the mouths
of babes and Stockings He has ordained
praise )" then releasing the delighted child,
he said, Yes, darling, you may if you wish
to-
The child flew up stairs while her father
followed more slowly. Mamma she scream
cd bounding into the room, you won't cry
any more, nor have the headache now, for
father says he loves you dearly; be told me
so; he loves you dearly, my own mamma.
The poor woman sprnng to her feet; she
could not comprehend the scene she was be-
wildered; her fair cheeks flushed and grew
pallid by turns she looked first at her hus-
band and then at little Ellen, who had ex
poctcd her mother to laugh outright, and ap.
pear as gleefu as she, little innocent being.
Ellen said her husband, IN faltering
tone, our child is our peace maker she has
made me better man; | do love you; will
you forgive me for my GOODNESS and neglect"
With low, thrilling cry of delight, the
wife fell within her husbands arms; be was
forgiven, and be was happy; in that moment
old barriers were broken down. old associa
tions forgotten, and he selemnly resolved,
with the help of God to be no more an alien
from home and become worthy of the conf
dcnee reposed in him.
Little Ellen danced around the room, toss
ing her yellow curls and clapping her hands
as she shouted, oh I'm so happy, I'm so
happy mother won't cry any morc'-then
under childish, yet holy impulse, she knclt
reverently down and lisped the little prayer
she had repeated every night since she was
but two years old
"God bless my darling mother,
My darling father too;
Aud may we love each other
As Christs dear flock should don