The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-09-27

to the mother who bore them. We
could have sworn it often, that he was a
kind, good husband, when we saw the
market basket upon his arm, or the slop
bucket in his hand. and the little bits of
kindling wood on his cart-all kindling
the fires of affection in the heart, as well
as the household frie in that one room,
where all lived and cooked and ate and
slept.
Oh what a pity, we often Thought, that
such industry could not bringaa better
reward. Out in the country, IN some
snug farmhouse, how the color would
came back to that mothers cheek-for
it was there that she was born-aud
those two children would grow up to
healthy womanhood.
A few days ago we went out of the
eity-it was one of those burning days
OF that hot month of July-it was that
very day that all the world of America
turn into all fools day, and burn tuns of
powder, while they get gloriously drunk
shouting "what a glorious i~ndepend-
ence." Out in the country-in shady
groves and in deep hooks, by cool springs
gushing out of the rocks, we saw scores
of city children, hat live in just such
courts as the carman and his little red
headed daughter, and they were so hap
ply, and it gave life such a healthy joy,
that we wished she too could have been
there. Strange, though we had lever
spoken to this gentle child, what a cord
went from our heart to hers.
We came back the next day, but We
did not see her. Morning and evening
passed, and she wal not there; and then
we thought, yes we felt, that she had
gone to the country perhaps, just then,
was sitting with father and mother under
the shade of just such a group of frag-
meut cedars, on just such a rock, near
just such a spring as we had sat by two
days before, with one of the dearest lit
tie girls in the world, while other little
girls, more inclined to play, were enjoy
ing life with high glee all around.
We were almost sure our surmise was
true, because the cart stood idle in the
street; but it only stood so two days,
and then we saw old Dobbin backing
ally, and walking in between the shafts
of the cart by the pump. 1t was an old,
familiar sight, and we really felt COM
Portable to see it again. We had just
taken a cold bath, as we always do at
six o'clock every morning, and that
made US in a mood to be comfortable
with all outside influence. There was
one thing, though, that detracted a lit
tie from comfort. We thought the
carman's eyes looked a little unusually
red, and there was less vigor in his step
than ought to follow two days recrea-
ton in the country; and we could not
help thinking that he had done what
a million others of his countyrmen had
done upon the same occasion, just 4" in
honor of the day got drunk. How
We did wrong that man. After he was
all ready to start, he got down and went
back and looked up the court, as though
he had forgotten something, or expected
to see somebody running down. Why
did not somebody come? But she did
not and he started away, looking back
as he went around the corner; but no
loving glance met his; no kiss few from
a waving hand, like an electric fash to
his heart. What could it mean? Ah
thought we, he has left them in the
country. Grandpa fell so in love with
the little city girl that he must have
her stay a while with him and grand
ma thinks it must be too hot for the ba-
by in the city, and mama's health will
be all the better for a week there.
All true, yet all false. 1t was SO
true it served for a lull of anxiety in our
mind until Saturday, and then somebody
at our house wanted a cart, and called
him of the opposite alley. While he
was waiting, we said eve supposed he
went to the country to enjoy the Fourth
of July"
ono; it was a day of little enjoy
ment to me-"
Were you sick ,"
"No."
There was a arrange suspicion COM
ing over us. We dreaded to ask, for
fear it was true, but could not turn
away, and so we said:
"And your little grill"
"She is gone, Sir"
"To the country ?"
eyes"
We breathed freely until he added !:
yes; she has gone to the country
to Greenwood"
"And the little one ?"
q" 1t went with her. We u not
part them. Her last words were, "Oh,
take cook care of the baby till I come
for it. 1t won't be long. Good byei'
She died at evening; she came for her
" pet +" at dawn, and we laid it upon her
breast, and carried them both away to-
gether. You have missed her, too. /
have often noticed you looking at u.s.
But she is gone now"
And the mother ?"
She will soon follow, 1 fear, and
then I shall be alone"
He turned to wipe away many, honest
tears, and we-well no matter. We
went and sat down at our desk, took up
a sheet, and wrote those three words
that were ringing in our brain and burn
ing in our heart" She is gone "-and
then-well, we did not write what fol-
lowed-we only held the pen, while we
were only conscious of one thing-had
but one thought-all else was absorbed
in these words: "She is gone.n-N.
Y. Tribune.