Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-25

1T must ere long, die Of itself. If YOU leave II,
! you punish the innocent for the guilty, and yha
! would my little ones do without youp You hay
been mother to them since they lost their own
and none could take your place as you have Ia
ken hers.n
"Let them go with me, then,n she said. th,
tears again gushing from her eyes. s'Let Ann,
and Henry at least go with me. The older one,
will not miss my care SO much; but give me An.
ma and Henry"
"You would take my children from me - h,
said, reproachfully, 'ithe only objects which
bind mo to carthl MOI mol my little ones shall
never be separated from me but by death: and
llf you leave them--but cannot think YOU win y
ihe e2sl!Sy'iS: earnestly. Have ycu FORGOTTEN
Ithelr mothers last request, and your own "a.
Tenn pfshflse 10 her who is now an angel h
7the world above9 Forgive me-" he added, in
much emotion, II had never thought to remind
you OF this; but Isam plealing for my children.
and every other consideration must give way to
their welfare. Did you not promise my Anna
neUer TO. forsakc them? And can the wickedness
of others absoive you from that vow?n
81 have thought of all this ,"she replied, ''and
were it the evil spoken Of me alone, | would
bear it all, though their words were sharper than
arrows, sooner than forsake my trust. But they
God is DETAINED, the cause of Christ suffers -
And you have stood so high, 50 Ear above suspi-
cion, | cannot bear that single shade shall fall
upon your name. Do not interrupt me'' she
continued, gathering energy as she proceeded
I"l know what you would say that even this
consideration does not absove me from my pro-
mise. But l act as she would have me act to
whom my word was given. Her first thought
was always for you; her first care to save you
from sorrow or reproach; her greatest pride
your spotless, your extended usefulness. Do
you suppose she would wish you to remain with
her children at the expense of these? o no! /
am confident she approves the course am about
to take, and knows the pain it costs me. IL YOU
will not let me take charge of the children
and again her voice lost its firmness, and her
countenance its composure, 'if | am forced TO
break the letter Of my promise, will be true to
its spirit; and God will not bring me into judg-
ment for acting as believe my duty to them, to
you, and to the dead, requires"
Mr.. Grant listened in silence; and, as she
concluded, and burying her face in her hands,
strove in vain to conceal her tears which found
'he'r wsy betwcen her slender fingers, ho said,
in a subdued tone:
'Your resolution is taken, then. It's useless
to say more. And when will you CO."
Gas soon as possible" she replied, without
looking up or removing the hands which con-
cealed her face.
With no further remark, he left her; and e.
la, finding herself alone, gave free vent to the
grief she had been trying to restrain.
She was sobbing so bitterly, that she was not
aware that any one was near her, till she felt
herself cncircled by the clasping arms Of the
children, and heard their words Of foolish sur
prise and sympathy.
Henry, her especial pet, had sprung upon
the sofai and throwing one little arm around her
neck with the other drew away the curls which
fell over her face, while Albert and Emily the
elder children, caught each of them hand in
both of theirs, exclaiming, "Do not go away, I
Aunt Ella! Donot leave us Aunt E la!" And
little Anna, now almost two years old, was
in her fathers arms, AMI crying, as
she strove to reach Ella, Take Annie, Aunt .
Ella, take Annie.'
"Why did you do this?" she said, reproach- /
FULLY, as she tried to release herself from the .
2hildren's embrace. 1t is cruel to add to nv
distress. Why did you bring them
10 bid you farewell" he replied, sit you
will leave u.s."
''No! no!" cried Henry, clasping both arms |,
around her, "Annt Ella shan't go away"
And Emily, warm-hearted, sensitive child, I
hrew herself across Elias lap, and wept loud !.
y.
a can bear this no longer" she exclaimed, I
md, extending her arms, she received the baby [
rom her fathers embrace, and hid her face amid T
is golden curs.
"Stay with us, Miss Mason, Said Mr.. Grant, ,
n tones that would falter, despite his selr-con- |
rol; my children connot live without YOU. For.
heir sakes, and that of her who coniided them
o you, stay with u.s."
81 will, she answered with a sudden resolve.
You have conquered, Mr.. Grant | will not [
cave YOU, darlings. Dry your tears, Emily; I
Aunt Ella will not go away
And, as she bent TO raise the sobbing child,
till lying in her lap, Mr. Grants hand was
aid for an instant tenderly upon her head, and, l
,or the first time in his life, addressing her by
hat name, he uttered feryenty, 'God bless
you, Ella! God forever bless your and turned
l2stily from the apartment TO conceal the emo
ION he could no longer reprsss. {
Weeks and months rolled on, and the SANDER |,
nus reports which had so deeply panied Ella,
lad, as MIR. Grant predicted, died OF thems elves.
3ut their effect upon her had not ceased. 9th
RS might have forgotten them, but she could
lot forget; and nervous dread Of their renew L
! would, but for the determination with which
he turned from it, have made her very misera- /
lies I,
Alas, poor girl! the agony caused by these
les, and by the thought that she must part with !
nm, had shown her, in the depths of that heart,
feeling unsuspected by herself before, and
orced her, though with bitter tears and self-up-
raidings, to acknowledge that she loved Mr.. |
irant as she had loved no other-as woman can J
owe but once.
SHE never dreamed Of return; she believed 4
hat he would never love again; and her only |
hought was how TO conguer, or at least disguise /
Ter own deep affection Yes, Ella Mason, once |.