Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-05-26
CHAPTER /.
THE RAYNER FAMILY.


Within short distance Of the college
in the city of Cambridge, dwelt few
years ago, a widow lady, whom for the
purposes of oar story, we shall take the
liberty. of calling Mrs. Rayner.
Her husband had been thriving me-
chanic, who, unfortunately, al sthe time
OF his. death, had only just entered the
highway Of prosperity, SO that his wife
was thrown by his premature decease
upon her own. resources fer the SUPPORT
OF herself and her two small children.
But, being woman of energy and a.
bliiy, ,he had maintained her ltlle lan-
lily comfortably, and managed to give the
boy and girl very tolerable education.
1t was fortunate for Mrs. Rayner that
her lot, previous to her marriage, hac,
been cast in the midst of poverty, for
there she acquired familiarity with the
harder side Of life, which was of infinite
service to'her in struggling agains, The
trials that bcset her.
She had learned tie trade Of tailor
ess, and at the death Of her husband a.
gaia applied herself to it. u Fortune
smiled upon her well-directed endcavors,
and though she had dwelt in an humble
abode and Jared but coarsely, she real
ized that even poverty is, NOT entirely
unblessed.
The son and daughter arrived at years
of maturity. Charles Rayner after sew
eral years Of study and perseverance,,
became assistant book-kecper in the
counting room Of wealthy merchant in
Boston. Though his salary was but
small, il was piou,ly devoted 10 the uses
of the family.
Annie Rayner had learned her moth
er's trade, and where all were ndustri-
Gus and prudent, the dwelling of Mrs.
Rayner was The abode of comfort and
happiness.
In the midst Of their little prosperity,
il la not strange that a desire 10 make a
better appearance in the world gradual
ly invaded the minds Of the SON and
daughter. The old house Was dark aud
desolats--had allthe attributes ola cheer
less poverty; and though industry and
contentmenl had long rendered it loler-
able, tlesday Of indulgence had passed
by, aud their improved circumstances
seeRed 10 warrant the renting Of more
airy and stylish dwelling.
Perhaps this was mistaken notion,
but we do not mean to ''croak" over the
impropricty OF indulging such vain as pi-
rations. Every body ought to know his
own business best, and ii the snail tho't
il advisable TO crawl out of his comior:-
able case, and move into the deserted
shell of The lobster, why il is no business
Of ours.
The dingy Old house was abandoned,
and the neal, spacious abode, wherein
the cpening OF our story iindsihe family
located, was taken. 1t took nearly all
the savings of the poor widow to furnish
il; ;bh then her children, for whom she
. hasktoiled all her lifetime, had come 10
years r. maturity. and she thought it
proper THAT the accident Of pov erty
should not too strongly mark their desti-
NY.
And perhaps the loving mother had
some other motives, which she would moi
have been willing to "speak out loud"
Annie was just seventeen, and the most
beautiful creature that the soil OF Cam
bridge-albeit classic soil and celebrated
for its lair damsels-eyer nouri,hed iuto
womanhood.
Annie was pretty, though she was a
tailoress-and the-good mother had sense
enough to believe that being tailores.
was no detrimenttp her beauty, her un-
derstanding, or her capacity to make even
arich man happy.
Mrs. Rayner knew that il is the inev-
table destiny Of young maidens to have
beaux, and, though NOT quite so inevita-
bic, that masrimony is part and parcel OF
their lot.
She was fond mother, and it may
have occurred to her that no anery stylish
young gentleman would be likely 10 come
a-wooing her daughter in the old house,
where che had spent the years Of her Sc
verest struggles with the demons of pow
srty.
This il, however, only surmise Of
ours, and we beg the reader to give il no
more weight than its reasonablenes de-
mands.
The rent Of the house was two hun
dred dollars a year. 1t was large sum
for a family in their circumstances 10
pay: but then the united products Of all
their industry seemed to warrant he out
lay.
Though for q twelvemonth the Ray
ner family we're happy in the new house,
and though they had no difficulty in keep
ing their expenses within their income,
the experiment proved to be failure. =
Mrs. Rsyner by fall on the ice. receiv-
ed severe injury in the spine, which
induced a most distressing illness.
For six months, she scarcely rose from
her bed, and during all this time, Annie,
like gentle spirit from the heaven Of
love, watched over and soothed her in
her anguish.
Charles salary was all the family had