The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-06-18

Dut Dy her own unaSSlsted labor, 10 keep me
,at my school, and Alfred in college.
"She opened large boarding house in
s., principally for gentlemen of the bar;
and almost from the first was successful
l remained two years longer at school, when
la lucrative situation was offered me as a
teacher of music in the family of wealthy
Southern Senator. | parted with my moth
er, with dear Alfred, and went with the
Ashtons to Georgia. There l remained,
year after year, ever telling cheerfully in the
blessed hope of returning North, with the
means of restoring my beloved mother to
her former social position, and of freeing her
from toll and care for the remainder of her
days. This was the one constant desire OF
my heart--the one great purpose of my life.
| thought not .of pleasure cared not for
distinction or admiration, or love. | only
thought of her-my patient, self-sacrifeing
iangel mother"
Here Isabel drew nearer, and laid her
hand in that of her step-mother, who pressed
lit gently, as she continued
Brother Alfred, Immediately on leaving
college, commenced the study of the law. j
ollel1i GNCI ICdI Llldb COllulCu lilllSCh uCt
closely, and studied too intensely His con-
stitution was delicate, like his fathers, and
after a year or two, his health, never vigor-
Gus, began to fail. Mother finally wrote
me that she was anxious about him. though
f, she added, perhaps her affection for the be-
loved one made her needlessly fearful Yet
/ | was alarmed, and hastcned home some
months before my engagement had expired
had then been absent five years, but had
seen mother and Alfred once in that time,
when they had met me on the sea-shore.
cit was sultry afternoon in August
when I reached s., ! shall never forget
how wretchedly long and weary seemed the
last few miles, and how eagerly / sprang
down the carriage steps at last-left my bag
gage at the hotel, and ran over to my mo-
theirs house alone. Ientered without knock
ing, and went directly to our mothers little
private parlor-the room of the household
| opened the door gently so as to surprise
them. AT the first glance thought the
room was empty; but on looking again
saw some one extended on the little familiar
chintz -colored sofa 1t was Alfred, ASLEEP
there. | went softly up and looked down
upon his face. Oh, God what change
Twas thin and white, save small red spot
on either cheek. One hand laid half-bur-
ried in his dark, chestnut curls, which alone
preserved their beauty, and that hand--how
slender and delicate it had grown, and how
distinct was every blue vein, even the small
est! As stood there, my heart wrung with
sudden grief, my tears fell so fast on his face
that he awoke, and half raised himself, look
ing up with bewildered expression.
! "Just then dear mother came in, and We
all embraced each other, and thanked Goo
out of the overAowing fullness of our hearts
As | looked at Alfred then, his eye was 81
bright and his smile so glad--so like the oil
sneite-l took courage again; but he sud
denly turned away and coughed slightly
but such a cough 1t smote upon my hear
like knell.
"When decended4 from my chamber tina
evening, after laying aside my travelling
dress, found gentleman, stranger, sit
ting by Alfred's side, reading to him, in
low, pleasant voice. That stranger, Isabel
was your father-Alfred's best and most be
loved friend.
Il will not pain your heart by dwelling
, on our great sorrow, as we watched that pre-
cious life, the treasury of many hopes anC
much love passing away-With the fading
| of the leaf, with the dying of the flowers he
r diedn
Here Mrs. Allston paused, and covered
her face with her hands, while tears slit
| down through her fingers. And she wep
!, not alone. At length she continued;
81 have since felt with poor Alfred's las
dying kiss, the chill of death entered int
dear mothers heart; for she never was wei
after that night. Though she sorrowed bit
Jterly for that only son, so good and beaud
ful, she said she wished to live for my sake
Yet vain was thatmeek wish--van were my
love and care-yain the constant agonizet
pleading ofmy soul with the Giyer of life
She failed and dropped daily, and within
!, year, she was laid beside father, and yer,
near to Alfred She died, and left me alon,
alone in the wide world Oh, how often
dear Isabel, have |, like you, cried out witt
that exceeding bitter cry of the orphan, 'Oh
mother, mOtherP
/ Here Isabel flung her arms around hel
Istep-mother, and pressed her lips against hei
cheek
'In all this time, pursued Cecilia, ''m,
chief advisor and consoler was the early
friend ofmy mother, the generous patron D
my hrother--your father, Isabel And whel
THE first fearful days of my sorrow had gon
.Iby, and he came to me in the loneliness ant
(desolation Of my life, and strove to give m
!, comfort and courage-teling me at last tha
he needed my love, even the love Of my poo
crushed heart--then | felt thatin loving
him and his, ! mighthope for happiness ever
more. But ahl if in loving him--in becom
ling his wife, have brought unhappiness t.
those near him, and darkened the light o
their home, am indeed, miserable?"
"Oh, do not say so--do not say so?" ex
, claimed Isabel. "You have won all oul
hearts. Have you notseen how the children
have drawn towards you--even Eddie, nag
JaJes Ihave not called you by her name
II do not know that can so call you SC
here, but can and win love you, and VIZ
shall all be very happy; and, by Gods help
kindly affected one to anotherE'
i 'Ah, my dear girl, replied Mrs. Allston
with sweet smile, II do not ask YOU t
call me by name Of SO much sacredness
and dignity; only love me and con6de in me
lean upon my heart and let me be to Spsi
as an elder sister"
y # y
The evening had come, and Mrs. Allston,
Isabel, and the children, were assembled in
the pleasant family -parlor, awaiting the re-
turn Of Judge Allston from his office. Isa-
lbel was holding little Eddie ON her knee. -