Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-02-01

ern where she stopped, chat there was anold
brown house in the suburbs to rent. She
secured two rooms of this, and for the last
six weeks had managed to procure pre-
carious substance by the sale of her clothing
4 have written my father several letters,
was the conclusion OF the sad history, 'but
they have been returned TO me unopened
and yet | know and the invalid lifted her
head from the pillow, while the light kin
died like fame in her dark eyes, and the
hectic burned in the hollow of either check
bright as a Damascus, rose, 4 know If |
could see him-if | could 90 in suddenly,
pale and dying, with my child by my side,
if could put out my arms and cry, "Fath-
er, it is your Ellen-the Ellen that sat
every night by your side, and was held
every morning to your heart aud she has
come back only to die,7sI know that he
would open his arms and say, with all his
old tenderness "Ellen, my darling" and
when rushed into them his tears would
drop as fast as his kisses used to on the fore
head of his child. His heart is proud and
self-willed, but l know it we'll; there is a
fountain there very far down, whose waters
will never dry up-it is his love for his
child
and how much would it cost for you to
reach himH asked Mrs. Strong, with fresh
shower of tears, as the beautiful invalid sank
exhausted on the pillow.
Just thirty dollars, and 1 cannot raise one
of it. o, it is not for myself that care, but
for himl In little while he will be mo-
therIess.' She pointed to the golden head
that lay close to her heart, and Mrs. Strong
felt that her prophecy was true one, as she
looked on those CLASSY eyes, and the hectic
hollow in either cheek; for she knew it was
the mournful chirograPhy Of consumption
Thirty dollars how 1 wish had it,
how gladly would give to herr soiloquized
little Mrs. Strong the next morning, as she
drew the white eoverlet over her slumber-
ing babe, and printed light kiss on the
sweet check, fair as halfripened peach
blossom, as it broke over the snowy pillow.
Suddenly the mother started, and caught
her breath at the thought that had flashed
into her mind. In one corner of the little cup
board over the mantle-pieee was broken
tea-urn, carefully wrapped up in brown pa
per, were thirty dollars she had been so long
and diligently earning-the thirty dollars
she had consecrated to her new sofa. The
little woman rose up and walked the room
in hurried, perplexed manner; her check
was flushed, and her brow was plated, and
the blue eyes of the angels looked down in
to her heart as she walked round the kitch-
en-. I've thought so much about that sofy,'
she murmured to herself; I've dreamed
about it at night, till it really seemed as if
I'd got it, set up snugly in the parlor, and
now it will be so hard to give it up, and the
tears sparkled in her bright eyes. I'D so
set my heart uponit. But then, there's that
poor, dying woman, and her little helpless
boy-suppose it was my Mary, now? and
the young mother turned to the cradle and
gazed, with overfowing eyes, moment on
the sweet sleeper there.
She did not hesitate any longer. She
went to the cupboard and took down the
broken tea-urn, and the blue eyes Of the an
gels grew full of light.
An hour later Mrs. Strong entered the
chamber where Mrs Gregory was lying
She carried a small tray in one hand, and
the smoke was rolling like cloud of incense
about the mouth of the teapot, and the
toast looked very tempting, as it lay floating
in its ocean of fresh milk. There vas sau-
Ger of mince-meat for Willie, too. No Won
der his eyes grew bright when he looked
uponit.
Now let me fix your pillow nicely, so you
can cat it at your ease, said Mrs. Strong, in
her kind, bustling way. There's the fire,
too, l must brighten that up a little.
knew twouldn't 90 out; trust me for keep
ing fire all night. Slept better, did you,
after l left?
Willie, when you get through with your
breakfast, if your mothers willing, won't you
run over and sit by the cradle? Mary'n be
awake before long, and you can play with
her, you know, till come back
X I +
Mrs. Gregory Strong had come
close to the bedside and was playing with
her apronstring in kind of awkward man
ner-'you said, last night that thirty dol
lars would take YOU to your father Well
I happened to think this morning had Just
that sum on hand, and as I've no special
that is, no necessary use for it why, you'll
be welcome to it, so here it is and she laid
the roll of bills on the bed.
The bright eyes of the lady wandered from
the money to the glowing face of the little
woman. as though she did not at first com
prehend her.
At last the blessed truth broke into her
mind. She could not speak her gratitude; !;
but the look of those eyes was Autographed
forever in Mrs. Strong's memory, as the lady
grasped her hand and sobbed, God will re-
ward you for this, and 10, if he will but
spare my lifer
%, my dear madam, you must not think
of it Starting to-day in your state of
health! I'll have you removed over to our
house, and in few days
4 may have taken my last journey. Mrs
Strong, beg you will not frustrate me in
this. What l do must be done quickly
Ny days are numbered; and if do not 90
to him now shall never go. Will you add
little more to the great debt which l al
ready owe you, by securing me and Willie
passage in the next stage?