Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-20

feet TO come patteriLg in upon Mrs. Corn
wallis immaculate foors---or. childish hand
to dsarrange the methodically placed tables
and chairs. No, when his neighbors spoke
of Timothy Cornwall to strangers, they in
yarably added that he had "neither chick
nor child;" nnd nephews and nieces began
to be quite anxious about the extent of
their favor with Uncle Timothy.
! Mrs. Cornwall had been sitting with
Martha; and she crossed the road to her
own dwelling with thoughtful step, and
sat down, in her bonnet, by the sitting
room fire in n complete state OF abstrac-
tion. She had seen babies befofe-plenty
OF them; and yet, somehow, the Briggs
baby seemed to arcuse a new and unac-
customed train of thought. u
Yes, Timothy was now hard on to sixty
| and she was hard on to fifty; they had
worked, and saved, and were rich, they
| could now lold their hands and do nothing
If they liked, for the rest iof their lives.--
But for what had they been working and
saving! She didn't see but that it was to
make their relations glad when they died;
and here Mrs. Cornwall gave large stick
OF wood an unnecessary push with her foot.
/ They had an immense house, with no one
IN it but themselves and Sally, whose pro-
vince was entirely confined to the kitchen;
and, somehow or other, it began to seem
kind Of lonely. She didn't know as she
got rid of trouble, either; for, when any
thing was the matter with anybody, they
always sent for her. "She hadn't any child
rem" they said; and on that account, she
was expected to be at peoples beck when.
ever they chose to call. Martha seemed so
happy, and Sam looked so proud Of her
and the baby she really believed that Tim
would think great deal more of her il
they had children around them.
She sat twisting the strings of her bon.
net. aud gazing so intsnty into the fire
that her husband entered unperceived; but,
stealing round behind her, he bestowed up
on her still red lips kiss, the warmth of
which showed that his wife had certainly
done him injustice, as he said
"Why, mother, what's the matter!" as
he noticed the cloud upon her brow.
Now this title OF "mother" bestowed up
on his wife, was one of Tins peculiarties
that afforded an inexbaustible subject Of
mirth to his fr lends. BY wha, species Of
mental hallucination, he could ever regard
her in that light, was certainly myslcryj
but 1t was known to be an undertake fact
that within a week after their marriage he
adopted tina: style Of address, and had con-
tiRued it ever since.
To her husbands great surprise, Mrs
Cornwall burst into tears. She was rarely
thus affected, and Timothy began to tear
that something more than usual was the
To all this entreaties, Mrs. Cornwall Il re-
mained for ID long time silent; but when,
at length, he had obtained a glimpse of
her fee ings, and found that she was ac-
tuelly jealous Of Martha's baby, Timothy
INDUCED in hearty laugh, partly from
sense of relief that it was no worse But
observing, from his wife's clouded lace, that
she was in no laughing humor, he good.
naturedy elongated his own visage to
sober expression, and proposed holding
consultation dis to what was to be done.
The good mai was extremely puzzled at
the strange turn that his wife had taken
aud thinking that she needed something to
divert her mrd, proposed quilting party
81 amt agoin' to have any more quiltn'-
! parties," replied Mrs. Cornwall, with con-
siderable asperity; "there's the house turn
cd topsy-turvy-~lots o. cake made, and eggs
and cream vanshin' like wldfre-forward
youngsters putin their noses in every
where-Sally gium5lin for a fortnight aft
erward--and much thanks git for. ALL
Don't talk to me of quilting -parties, or any
other partios''
Timothy lad made himself comfortable
with his pipe; and now sat ruminating
amid vast clouds of smoke. He was not
given to repining, but his wife's words had
sat him a-hinkng; and he become wrap
ped in a waking dream, that was infinitely
delightful. Childish hands elasped his neck
.-soit, childish cheeks were pressed close
to hs--and childish tones aDg out in gee,
diffusing unusual music though the old
house.
Twenty--nineteen--yes, Timothy, Jr.,
would now be likely young man, who
could take half the care of the farm off his
sbomsers, and go on innumerable sleighing
parties with the prettiest girl in the coun-
ty; and Rebecca,. (he would call her Re-
becca after his wiIe,) he saw her, beau.
,iiul and dutful daughter, on whose account
ihe young men were troubling him contin-
ually--bnt he would stern with them, and
make them keep their distance-they were
none OF them half good enough for Re-
becca he'd show them-but the pipe had
gone out; Snd Timothy awoke to realities
somewhat saddened, and watched his wife
as she silently arranged the tea-table, that
looked 80 lonely, only laid for tioo. There
should be some little, hgh-chairs there; d.
china mugs, whose gilt letters traced the
words, "To my Son." or "To my Daught-
er."
| The meal was eaten more silently .han
usual; and Timothy Cornwall and his wife
began to feel void in their hearts--an
empty, aching void, that would mol be slenc.
ed.
Mrs. Cornwall went often to the opposite
house; and sat there tending the baby
while Martha, with her bright eyes and
rolled-up sleeves, filtered here and there
now, plunged up to the elbows in flour, in