The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-04-06

home and well-tilled garden
Two children cheered the heart of the desolate
widow; Tracy the young man we have seen, who
| was about twenty; and Alice. aged eighteen. The
former had just completed his college course, and
returned home, exhausted in body but strong in
spirit. to gladden. his fathers heart with the tes-
| monials of high worth and auaaments he had re-
ceved; he returned home, but alas !! 10 find that
beloved parent sinking rapidly beneath the dread
New England scourge-consunpton.
For weeks Tracy devoted himself to the bed
| side of the invalid, and if unwearying sncitude
and the most watchful care, could have warded off
the shaft of the Destroyer, not long had there
been vacant seat by the fireside, strangers
voice in the pulpit of the sanctuary. But the sum-
| mons had been given. For the arduous ahors of
earth, rest among the CUNTS awaited him; for the
| silver hairs of his age, crown of Immortality.
He died in the early spring, apd the summer
following proved trying for Tracy, already
exhausted by study and watching. He grew thin
! and short hollow cough awoke in his mothel's
breast the keenest anxiety.
Meanwhile, the friends of his father were not
idle. A life-annuity, small TO be sure, but suff
cient for her simple needs, settled upon the
widow and for Alice situation as teacher which
yet left her sufficient time for her own studies,
was secured in neighboring Academy. Tracy
also received many kind offers of assistance and
patronage from those who had known and revered
the lost; but the mother trembled for her only
She knew the dangers of confinement in heated
school or lecture room, a seventy nine Law
tffice, and subsequent exposure to the piercing
l. FL, oc 10
deliberation. Sill / must do something he
argued, q can and will carve my own road to
| Independence sz g. f1a--= 81.
1t was while his future course was still unde-
termined, that we have fhus Intentionally made
their acquaintance, and nothing now remains but
| to hearken to their conversation.
/ 4" Mother" said Tracy fling and not shoving
his chair from the table, as young men apt to
do; g / have nearly decided in favor of the Ivy
Hill schools it seems, all things considered, the
most desirable situation that has been offered me,
Is not that your opinion?' fss -sl@7i@
81 DOM know how to advise you, my son.
The salary is certainly higher, but the labor is to
be taken into account, and of that cannot Judge.
/ Dr.. Maitland has been in this afternoon
.tsOh, has he l'' said Tracy with animation !;
l''well what did he say ~ ." Why of course he
said nothing very disheartenng to me. He thinks
| you are worn down by study and care, but that
| ifyou nlow yourself opportunity to recruit, you
may be in year or two as well as ever.' E SO,
n .ssIn a year or two!'' Tracy had been stirring
the fire till it cracked and giowed auew, calling
bowl on the widows table; but the tongs slip
ped quietly back to iheir place, and he 'oked up
more despondingy than was his habit iu the pres
ence Of bis m 1thcr; but she continued .,
-" He thinks travelling woul1 benefit you, and
that much depends upon properly guarding your
self the coming winter. which lie did not deny
might be a critical one for you.''
add he advise anything to occupation"
=" No-he is to call again this evening when you
are in and give you his opinion. He was very
kind, but tile reserved, and somehow | halt
believe he has some scheme in his benevolent
+ head of which we unaware
"There is no doubt of that mother; whether the
scheme is for u.s. or not. That head is always
teeming with projects of good for some one.
oh would that on this earth there stood
Some more of such frame; sasss,.,s
i Then LIE would be all poetry,
/ And weariness q nane.' "
! Mrs. Hammond smiled at Tracy's enthusiasm,
4 as indeed one might afford to smile at The idea o
world full of Df. Maitlands-and said, looking
earnestly in his face
"But have plan, Tracy, for your consideri-
ton, and it is that you go to the South for
son. Now; what do you think of it!''
Dear mother, hive thought of it q hund ed
tines, and doubt not such course would prove
benefciul. But where am TO get the funds
And if L had them, how could leave you in youl
loneliness, with the grave-shadow new in youa
dwelling, and upon your heart? And Alice tc
toll on without brothers sympathy and care
T Oh no-let US rather trust to a kind Providence
and to my naturally strong constitution. Have
faith, dear mother! 1 shall yet be the proud ant
J grateful support of your age"
} al Heaven grant it, my son, and continue TO yol
long and happy life after 1 gone; but there il
frankie now at the door, and her father must b,
near.a
In another moment the door gently opened, ad
mitting trim, fresh, ight-e eyed lasse, of seven
, teen, who. without other formaliiy than merr,
, +" Good evening"" walked straight TO the fire ant
throwing off b,nnet and sacque, seated herself il
a low chair, captured the fat yellow kitten tha
purred obviously upon the rug, and then com
5 menced talking with great rapidity and animation
This piquant little maiden was DR.. Maitland
eldest daughter the oldest, in fact of six Children
9 aud WINS christened Frances, but no one who say
j her more than twice ever called her any thing bu
frankie; SO pat and applicable seemed that prett.
n soubrquet TO her open, childish face and genia
transparent nature.
= frankie was acku kuowledged favorite among a
classes of the good people of Winvale and vicinity
the oil people loved her for her astonishing apli
tude at finding lost spectacles and knitting
: the little children admired her for her endles
fund of nursery tales, and especially for the trag
j, cal story of Chicken Little; foolish chicken, wh
= thought the sky was falling bectuse a rose-lea
fell on his tail AS for that important class, gen
o'ally known in community as the young society
III ,tHokE