The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-04-06

| grown cold as the one that then lay beneath
me, and little Ellen Evans lay senseless n
her brother, in my arms.
1.-TWO days later, in pleasant part OF th'
cemetery, tho May yiolets were turned aside
and q child's coffin laid beneath them.
"For nine spring times have they laid
their crimson mantle over his bright head,
and the shadow off marble monument hai
fallen softly over them. Upon this is sculp.
tured beautiful child, and an angel with
outspread wings is bending over him and
pointing upward. Underneath is craven,
His mother came for him ut twilight
." It was with me subject Of much per.
plexity where to place the lovely child,
whom always felt that Providence had es-
peeially con6ded to my care. I was oil on
earth she had to love; and rs time brought
its soothing balm to her heart the whole Of
fection Of her deep, warm nature was pour
cd on me, and even then, with the oxcep.
ton Of yourself, sho lay close within tho
foldings Of my heart.
For little while I placed her in the coun-
try among simple people whose curiosity
would be readily appeased; for l was ex.
ceedingly desirousi that tho world should
never become cognizant OF the part / had
borne in her life history. l read well her
sensitive nature, and I knew there might
come q tim0 in her later life when It would
cause her much annoyance II the world
knew our secret.
After much deliberation I resolved to con.
fde Elen's history to Mrs. Whittlesey the
lady with whom boarded, and in whom l
placed entire confidence.
al She listened with intense interest, and
her womanly sympathies were ct once en-
listed in behalf ofmy protcge. Besides this,
she was widow and childess (; and though
by no means wealthy, her circumstances
were such that she could surround Ellen
with everything necessary to her well being
and happiness.
"She proposed to adopt her in tho place
of the children God had taken from her
and to this proposition joyfully assented,
for there the religious, social and homo ut.
mosphere would be all that | wished to be
about my Ellen.
81 was anxious TOO, that she should no
longer be dependent on me, for thought,
even then, time might come when ! SHOULD
sex her question whose answer l would
have in no wise regulated by hor. gratitude
for the past.
"You have often, little sister, heard me
speak of Ellen Evans, Mrs. Whittlesey's
adopted daughter; but you little dreamed
that had such great personal interest in
all that pertained to her.
{" Her character and person have develop.
cd with more than all that rare loyelness
which her childhood had promised. The
sister that shall bring you, Hattie, is an
elegant, accomplished, talented woman, and
more than oil that'-and the young clergy
mans eyes grew lustrous with the almost
holy light TINT beaned out from their dark
ness" my Ellen has the ornament OF a
meek and quiet spirit, which is above all
price. =,
"And now, my Hattie, you have heard
her history will you no, welcome her to your
heart!
- guessed we'll the pang which the
knowledge OF my engagement would give
you for rs brother and sister have seldom
loved, do wo love each other, and knew it
must seem like bringing another to take
your place. But my Ellen is very gentle,
and she will never come between us. She
knows too, the story Of our orphaned youth
and OF our affection for each o:her; and even
now her heart goes out with great love after
you. Tell her all, she said to mo at that
last interview. land tell hor that without
her consent dare not become your wife.
When I return to her, and her questioning
eye asks me if have obtained it, may tell
her that you are ready 10 love and welcome
her to our homeW
And Hattie Marshall lifted her brown,
tcar.flei eyes to her brothers face, and
answered." Tell her, Weldon, that my
heart is waiting to welcome her to vacant
placc-and it is the one by your slde."--|
Ladiesl Ren0sifOlu