Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02


she was how anxious we all were for her; how
in spite of few cross words, at first, my kind ia
Their tended her with as much care ever he be-
slowed upon his wealthiest patient how my dear
mother sat up night after night with her, as tho
she had been her own child how the little thing
crept into our hearts, that when at last one even
ing my father pronounced her out Of danger, even
his voice was broken with emotion, and we were
fairly cryng--both mother and l.
Nor will trouble you with an account of all
the fruitess search that was made to discover who
she was, or where she came from; but one thing
/ must mention, because it perpleXed us very
much and added to our difficulty in deciding how
to dispose of her. 1t was this that we began to
suspect-what at first had never entered our heads
that she had been stolen and was not a poor
woman's child. 1t was her own dim recollection
of past things that had given rise to this SUPPOSE
ton; but the fever had confused all things in
her poor little head that we never could reach any
certainty upon the subject.
Well the end of il all was, that we could not
part from her, for we had all grown to love her
so well already, and we knew that if we sent her
away from us, the only place that would receive
her was the workhouse. So it was quite settled
at last that she should stay with us, and because
she had taken to me so much from the first, they
pronounced, laughing, that she should be my child.
And was so happy.
/ called her Fortune--Fortune Wilfred we bap-
TIED her-that should she never find her own sur
name she might at least, have some claim to ours
OF course she must have had a Christian mama
before indeed, she said she remembered it, and
declared it was Willie but Willie seemed so odd
a name to give a little girl, that we agreed that it
would not do, and then | chose Fortune.
My little Forunc-she was so dear to me- and
she loved me so WE'LL Young as | was, our re-
lation to each other became in many things like
that of mother and child. 1t was strange that,
of her own accord, from the first she called me
Aunt Dinah. And | so soon grew accustomed
to the title, and soon, too, fell quite naturally
into calling her my child, for though yet but girl
in years, was becoming woman very quickly
as | should think must often be the case with those
who have their destiny in life fixed as early as
, mine was, for had no other outward change tC
| look forward to as most girls have, and all my
business was to settle and be content
Ny life, often think might have been lonely
and sad without my child, but with her was hap
by. 1t was as if l lived again in her, for all the
hopes and wishes that my illness had crushed
came to life again, but not for myself now. l
: was for her that | dreamed, and hoped, and tho
for the little bright-eyed child, who loved to lie
beside me, with her arms around my neck, anC
her soft check pressed on mine who loved-hca
ven bless her-to be with me always; who never
was so happy as whcn even for hours, we two
would be left together, and with the perfect conf
dence that only children have, she would talk tc
me of all things that came into her mind, gladden.
ing my very heart with the loving things she said
They all loved her, but none as did for she low
ed none Of them 50 well. They used to say tina
I ! should spoil her, but | never did she was no
made to be spoiled, my little Fortune my sunny
bright haired child
+ She was my pupil for the first few years, anC
such dear lessons they were that we used to hav
together-dear to both Of us, though most to me
She was so good and gentle, so sorry if she eve
did wrong or grieved me, so eager TO be good AM
: be forgiven praiu-os though my bea,t did no
= forgive her always, even before she asked its
loving always She never wearied of being wit
T. me the kind chid-not even when, as happenc
sometimes, was to i'll to bear her childish mcrr
mcnt, and she would have to sit quietly in IN
room, and lower her sweet, clear voice when sh
T. spoke to me, for she would hang upon my nee
J., then, too, and whisper TO me how she loved me
q All, never shall forget it ALL never shall fol
i get how good my little Fortune was to me.
+ may as well mention here, that soon after
G was settled she should stay with us, we had lii
@ tie miniature portrait of her taken, which | hav
worn ever since as a locket round my neck. W
II did this on the chance that it might possibly serv
} Oh Souc lutuIt uy IT'S Il nletS Vi lucIllJ NJ c
Here is the little picture now it is like her,
l. | have seen her thousand times, with her sum
e veil of curls around her.
IF The years went on, and brought some change
+ with them-one change which was very sad-m
!" mothers death. 1t came upon us suddenly, at
e time we were least thinking of sorrow, for whe
| her short illness began preparing for IN
e sister Hates marriage. 1t was long before tn
gloom and grief that her loss threw upon our lii
it tie household passed away, for she was dearly 10y
= ed amongst us and had been a most noble an
y true-hearted woman.
Is When Kate had been married about a yea
II my father withdrew from practice, and to be nea
1t her, we removed to Derbyshre, and he, and
IF and Fortune, kept house there, in quiet cheer
g full way together. And so the years went on III
II til my darling was about seventeen.
/ In this new part of the country we had not ms
a. ny neghbors with whom we were intimate, b.,
there was one family, who since our first comm,
y had shown us much kindness. Their name wa
d Beresford, and they consisted of father and mott
s er, and one son. who was at college. They wel
lie wealthy people, with good deal of property
g the county. When we first knew them had NJ
ID been without a suspicion-I almost think it wa
IS a hope-that Arthur Bercsford and my Forum
D might one day fall in love with each other; but
was not to be, for as they grew up | saw thi
ID there was no tho't of more than a common frienC
ly love between them and, indeed, boys of on
m and twenty are generally occupied with othe
is things than falling in love, and girls of seventeen
|; l think, generally suppose that one and twenty
ii too young for them to have anything to do Will
s as no doubt it very often is. So they rename
dc III,