The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1853-02-11
The Last and Tue Living.
RY FANnLYl rERs.

hl EhALA fEASss 81
The husbands grief may be short and btiei,
He may WOO and win anotherj
But the daughter clings with unchanging grlei'
To the image Of her mother.
But fieeting twelve month had passed
since the heart Chat for years had beat a.
painst his own) was for ever stilied, when
Walter Lee brought again fair young crea-
ture to share his widowed home. Nor iatner
nor mother, brother nor sister, claimed any
part Of the orphan heart he coveted and won.
No expense OF pains had he spaced TO deco
rate the mansion for her reception. Old la
miliar objects, lraught with lenderest asso-
Citations, had been removed 10 make way for
the upholsterer's choicest iancies. There
was no picture left upon the wall, with
sweet, sad, mournful eyes, TO follow him
with silent reproach. Everything was fresh
and delightful as the newborn joy that filled
his heart.
"My dear Edith" said he fondly pushing
back the hair from her forehead; There
should be no shallow in your pathway, but !
have tried in vain TO induce Nelly to give
you the welcome you deserve; however she
shall not annoy you. Ishsll compel her to
stay in the nursery TILL she yields 10 my
wishes"
"Oh, no! don't do that9" said the young
step mother anxiously; 81 think Understand
her. Let me 60 to her dear Walter,' and
she tript lightly out Of the room and lelt him
to himself.
Walter Lee looked after her re retreating Hg-
ure with lover like fondness. The room 10
him seemed togrow suddenly darker, when
the door closed alter her, Reaching out his
hand, he slmost unconscioGsly took up a
book that lay near him. A slip Of paper
huitsred out from between the leaves like q
white winged messenger. The joyous ex-
preston OF his face faded into one Of deep
sorrow, as he read it. The hand writing was
his child's mothers. /. ran thus,
"0h to die, and be forgotten. This warm
heart cold-these active limbs still-these
lips dust. Suns 10 rise and set, flowers 10
bloom, the moon TO silver leaf The trees
arounl mv own dear home the merry laugh
the pleasant circle, AMI inot here The
weeds choaking lie flowers st my headstone;
the severed tress Of sunny hair forgotten in
its envelope; the sun oil happiness SO euor
absorbing the dew drop oil sorrow The cy,
press changed for the orange tcreath Oh
no, no; don't quite forget close your eyes
sometimes and bring before you the face thai
once made sunshine in your home! feel
agoin the twining clasp Of loving arms; The
lips that told you (nol in words how d-sl
you were. Oh, Walter don't quite forget J.
From Nellies clear eyes, le. her mothers soul
still speak TO you. "MARY LEE"
Warm tears fell upon the paper as Walter
Lee folded it back. He gave himself time tC
rally, and then giided gently up to ,lIp nurse
| ry door. 1t was partially open. A little iai.
ry creature, of some five summers, stood II
the middle Of The floor. H,r thy face wa,
half hidden in sunny curls. Her little pima
fore was full of toys, which sho graspec
tightly in either hand.
mo, you are not my mamma. said tht
child. a want my own dead mamma, ant
am sorry papa brought you here"
"Oh, don't say that" " said the young step
mother. "don't call Inc mamma, if il givr'
you pain, dear. ! am quite willing tina 20,
should love your own maTina better Thai
you do me-"
Nelly looked up with pleasant sur
prise.
81 had dear mamma and papa once, > sh,
continued; land brothers aud sisters so ma
ny and SO merry but they are all dead, AM
sometimes my heart is very sad; have M
one now 10 love ME, but your papa ant
you"
Nellie's eyes began 10 moisten; and taking
out one after another Of the little souyenir
and toys from her pinafore, she said, "Anc
you won't take away this land thls-dDt
this that my dead mamma gave 10 mr?"
"No, indeed, dear Nellie !"
"And you will lie: me climb il my papa'
lap, as used; and put lny cheek to his, ant
kiss him and love him, as much as cun
won't your
"Yes, yes, my darling"
Walter Lee could hear no more, his hear
was full.
What! Mary's child pleading with slran
ger, for room in fathers heart! In the sud
den gush Of this new fount of tenderness
had he forgotten or overlooked the claims o
that helpless little one God forbid "Fron
Nellie's clear eyes let her mothers soul still
speak 10 you" Aye and il did
When next Walter Lee met his bride, i
was with chastened tenderness. Nellie
loving little heart was pressed closely agains
his own. He was again "her own papa. y
No, he did not quite forgetg
[Olive Branch.