Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-01-20
.FAYHTTE WILLIE, TENN

@ nOt De sure tnae tney would NEE
! with indulgence Or respect. l di
. not like to endanger, even bA triAin
. disagreelnents, the continuance {
that affectionate understanding whic
+ had always existed between my sis
) ters and myself. So / thanked Ann
f and Maria warmly for their kindness
but told them thought it better 70
me to live alone. They tried to dis
suade me from the project the,
represented to me how solitary
would be- ! knew they spoke th'
truth, but / still held to my resolve
/ I bought this little house, ant
moved hither a portion of nay furni
Iture the chairs and tables that hac
Abeen in our old home so long--even
the mirror, with its quantity carved
frame, which for thirty years had hung
between the parlor windows. During
the week or two which | took to put
my place fairly in order-to clean,
paint, wash windows, and nail down
carpets,-I v as, if not happy, at least
occupied, and in a measure absorbed.
But when all was done-when no
speck of dust remained on the dark
and polished tables-when the win
dow panes shope bright and clear,
and the carpets stretched unwrinkled
across the floor-I began to feel my
loneliness. For a few weeks / lived
on as | was-1 arose, ate, and drank;
when night came, 4 slept. 1t wa Is a
very dull and stagnhnt life; and more
it was besieged 5y vain and bitter
pining after past happiness, by rest
less, underlined yeafnings for happi-
ness in the future. / felt that | was
becoming discontented and unthank-
full. This will never do, / said; | must
have some fixed ana settled employ
ment, something to fill my hands and
occupy my thoughts--this aimless
life is too weary, too dreary to be en-
dured. | resolved to take in sewing,
and devote the proeeeds to- charity.
| tried the plan, and it answered well |
Il had nova purpose TO accomplish,
ain object to attainl I visited the |
poor of the neighborhood, learned I
their necessities, and ministered to |
them as far as was able. ] had the
sweet consciousness Of being useful,
Df doing something, IN my small way,
towards the happiness of mankind
Existence no longer seemed tame and
md joyless; ii. had interest and ex-
element even for me. @
For six years / have lived thus;
NY daily routine scarce varied. save
BY occasional visits from my broth
srs aud sisters, or their children
Once or twice ] have gone to see
Anna, who resides about two hum
lred miles distant ffom me. These
Tisitss are pleasant. Ithings;Iwe talk
)ver the old times and the ole feelings
jill they seem almPst real, almost
present to us. But when We have
larted, and the house is quiet again
when there is no patter Of little /
eet in the entry, and the kind faces
'f my sisters have vanished from my {
fght-a sense of desolation falls up
ia my heart, I try Ito .dispel it, but {
ahnot always succeed. ~, s. s,Ii
Maria came to see me about a
Month ago, bringing with her little !
iusie, her youngest child. They
tayed with me two weeks, every /
homent Of which was brilnful of hap {
Eness. Narratives farther away from '
be than Anna, and we do not see t
hch other as often; it was three II
ears since we had met. There we're |
b many questions tp be asked and S
hswered, so many incidents to relate, a
B much to talk Of, that we had hard v
I begun our visit when the time q
anne for its close, 1 could not re- G
ress few tears, as | Ibid farewell to /
~ sister and her child; Maria kissed b
lie tenderly, but there we're no tears g
her eyes Well, there was no need
lat there should be; she was going t
ack to her husband and children 7
those who had been lonely in her a
bsence, and would welcome her with 1
ladness. | pictured to myself their C
Apply meeting, and sighed at the t
hought that in my home there was .
o face to brighten at my coming. i
The day had been dark and gloomy, b
ith sky threatening rain, that be- e
an to fall as the evening set IN f
little Maggie went early to bed, and y
was left alone. drew the curtains, c
ut fresh coal upon the fire, and sat t