The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-06

had she not found a new and all-engrossing
cause of sorrow in the altered conduct of her
husband
Seymour had always been accustomed to
wealth, society, and leisure narrow income.
attention to business, and the companionship Of
his wife alone, soon wearied him. 1t did well
enough, in the first few months of their mar
riage, to come home regularly, night after
night, and find Grace waiting for him with q
smile of welcome; but after the romance of the
thing wore of, it was quite different Then
she was not the same person whom he had
once wooed and won. Miss Lindley had been
star in her own sphere her beauty, accom-
plishments, and talent, rendered her conspicu-
GUS and admired she had numerous suitors,
from whom he had carried her off in triumph.
Mrs Seymour was quiet person, living in OBJ
scure lodgings; her company was sought By
none she shed no lustre, no distinction, on his
name That she was devoted to him went for
nothing; it became her TO be devoted when she
had ruined his prospects 80 completely-it was
the least. that she could do. His shortlived
passion was over, and Grace was only an en-
cumbrance, q hindrance, an obstacle in his
way. -
These feelings did not spring suddenly into
birth they grew upon him week after week,
and month after month, and as they grew they
we're made manifest First be spent an even
ing away from home, now and then, on plea of
business then his absences became more fire.
quent and prolonged, and he took no pains to
account for them, He was cold and inatten-
tive-by -and-bys sind and harsh.
Matters ~ worse; business was entirely
neglected; tke old love of gaming came up, and
wasted away their moderate income. The
elder Seymour was appealed to, but in vain !;
he took his stand upon the threats so long held
out, and refused to bestow a farthing more than
the allowance already made They moved to
humber lodgings-then to humber still Last
came that cruellest slight that keenest insult
to loving woman-Grace's husband neglected
her for the most abandoned of her sex
Such, briefly stated, were the changes she
beheld in him. She remembered her fathers
prediction, and wondered if he would be pleased
to hear how well it was fulfilled She heard
from home but seldom; the last letter had
given her some encouragement of q reconciha-
ton, but she had never answered it. "The
hope comes too late" she said {" if could not
ask forgiveness when | was prosperous and
happy, shall not do:1t now. He would always
dstrust my motives always think that crcum-
stances drove me to it,"
Her fathers pride was infexible. He, like
her, had endured some selfreproach, had felt
many longing for reconciliation. Long since
he had resolved that the first token which. she
gave of her submission should be met IN a
kind, indulgent spirit but there he fixed his
limit She must make the first advance, take
the first step; and this she had determined
never to do, as we have already seen.
CHAP VIII
The third year of Graces welded life was
drawing to close, when her babe was born
little girl, welcomed by none except its pale
and sorrOwful young mother. Seymour hardly
noticed the child, unless it cried, and thus an
poyed him there was no aunt, no grand
mother proud of her new dignity, no troop OF
joyful cousins to fondle and admire it; there
was no hired nurse, even, to minister to its
wants. The landlady, kind hearted woman,
often looked in during the day, and gave il
such attention as Grace's weakness prevented
her from bestowing. She was the only person
,nosi.er On tue enid -'~---~-es- @'-'-~~7-s
cannot tell you how much Grace loved the
little creature who was now her ALL Long un-
kindness and neglect had worn out her affsc-
ton for it's father; in truth it had never been
Il
was rather fancy strengthened by opposition
into an absorbing interest Had Seymour
proved what she supposed him, this interest
might have deepened into true wifely tender
ness as it was, it had changed to something
like Indifference. But few women can love a
bad man, merely from the remembrance of
days when he was kind and loving; and in
those few it is a weakness not heroic virtue.
/ kpo hot xr,iu xuitI,
know that most people, men especially, regard
this serviIty of submissiveness this spaniel like
attachment, which abuse increases as the type
of true feminine devotion. For my own part,
should respect worshipper Of Brahma, or
of Vishnu, who chung to his idol after its
worthlessness was clearly proven, just as much
as | would admire the woman who gave to vice
and cruelty the love which goodness only has
right to claim.
Grace's affections had been despised and
trampled on; she gathered them up, and
boarded them for worther objects Her babe,
innocent and lovely, claimed them for itself
and she lavished them upon it. The long, quiet
days OF conyalescence were among the hap
piest of her life. As she lay with the little
creature nesting in her bosom, its tiny hand
pressed close against her cheek, pure Joy
stole into her heart. All restless longing, all
unsatisfed desires, seemed absorbed in the new,
wondrous mother-love.
Sometimes the aspect of that sinlcss repose,
that untainted purity, saddened and depressed
her. IL contrasted painfully with her own life,
already darkened by so much of evil it re-
buked her, that she had wandered 30 far from
the gulelessness of infancy. Even her affec-
ton for it awoke vague responsibilities in
her mind it said, "Did not your mother love
you as well 2" II asked, How have you re-
paid her ?o The only answer to these ques-
tions was an acknowledgment of her ingrati-
tude--a resolve to make atonement.
People do not change oil at once, from stub
born pride to deep humility. Grace contented
herself for the present with writing few lines
to her mother, announcing the baby's birth,
and saying that its name was Caroline. She
hoped for kind answer TO this letter after
that, she fancied she would have more courage
to speak of her errors and her contrition.
She recovered slowly; she called herself
well, but she was pale and delicate. The care
of the baby overtaxed her enfceblsd constitu-
ton, and she suffered greatly from fatigue
The landlady still came in, now and then, to
dandle the child, and praise its beauty and
sweetness.
otis the best little thing ever saw she
would say it never cries, from morning till
night; and then, such pretty creature, too
But it don't favor you nor your husband where
did it get these blue eyes?"
MY mothers eyes are blue, and Carrie looks
just like her | believe | told you that she was
named after mother"
Poor Grace took great comfort in tracing
this likeness it seemed q link between her
and the home she had lost.
Carrie was two months old, and there was
no letter yet. What could be the reason
Grace grew very anxious yet she would not |
write again. They might send me some |
thing if it were only single line,D she thought;
I" surely, have not sinned beyond all hope OF
forgiveness She imagined how it might be
With herself. she looked Mt her babv and felt \