The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-11

Robert" }" said Mrs. Chctwood, and ccrtai
ly she was then blushing up under her Ia
cap to her white hair.
"well, my dear, nobody was there 9
ccpt Katc and myself, and I think / mu
know what happened, at least as well MS "
do; so," he continued, "aftcr one mo
visit to the farmhouse, Kate and l we
married sho gave up all her healthy wa.
and country pleasures to como and live wit
mo in the busy town; studious Of other
happiness, careful for Others pains; at q
times forgetful of herself; active and dill
gent, she had ever leisure for pleasar
word and kind action and for beauty n
maid or wife in the world was ct, I believe
to compare with her; to you George, VIII
knew and loved our dearest Gertrude, / nee
not dcsc,;be her mother. She was not lon
with me, but ii soon seemed as II 1t mus
have cost my life to have parted with her
yet the girlish glory faded, and the spark
ling spirit fed, and the day has been forgi'
en-, though forgotten never. which took m
darling Katie from my side."
The old man paused o little here. Mrs
Chctwood kissed him softly upon the cheek
"My second wife," he resumed, "wa
not 50 young, and certainly had not thcout
ward graces of my first. She was beautiful
too, in the flower as Kate was in the bud
her face had not the vivacity, nor her eye
the dancing light Of Katie's but there "a
such serenity upon lovely Landscape
when the sun il near its setting; lool
which no man ever tires Of; and Mary bor'
mo children, and then, much rs loved th'
sapling, it seemed to me that the full-iruit
ed tree was deaier yet. She was no country
girl from Devon dalcs-but town lady
bred. had great house by that time
with all things fitting about me, and my
sphere was hers. The peals suited he'
pleasant brow, and crowned her still raven
trcsscs as bccomingly as the single roso in
her hair had adorned simple Kate. think
if I may say 50 without ingratitudc for my
present great happiness, and with the leave
of my dear Charlotte, that the happics'
hours of my life were spent during the
DAYS, when our two children's voices rang
checrily over the house, and some little
scheme of pleasure for them was my every
day desire and iary's. Even at the terri
ble time when both boy and girl were being
taken from us at once, never did their pa
tent mother seem moro dear to me; from
when the hush of sickness stole upon MS ut
first, to the day when that white procession
left our doors, what q healing spirit was
she! When We thought the thickly folded
veil of sorrow had fallen over us forever
how tendcrly she put 1t aside
"It must needs have happened, that my
speech has here been melancholy, but indeed
l should not speak of Mary so. She was
the blythest, chcerfullest, most comfortable
middlo-agcd wife that ever man had; behind
our very darkest trouble smile was always
lying ready to struggle through it, and
what light it shed One Of your resign.
ed immoyable females, who accept every
blessing us temptation, and submit with
precisely the same feelings to what they call
every chastening, would have killed me in
week. George, my Mary acted at oil times
according to her nature, and that nature
was as beautiful and blessed as ever fell to
tho lot of womankind. You might well
think that Kate and Mary were two prizes
great enough for one man to draw out oil
the marriage lottery, and yet l drew another
When lost my beloved Mary my third wife
took her place in my inmost heart"
"Kiss me, Charlotte" said the old man,
tendcrly, and again she kissed him on the
check. "And now continued he, "lct us
gil our glasses, for the New years is coming
on apace and please to drink to tho men,
ory of my two wives and to tho health OF
her who is still left to me. The two first
toasts must necessarily be somewhat painful
to my dear Charlotte, and we will, therefore,
receive them in silence, but the third we
must drink with all the honors."
so after those he stood up, glass in hand'
and said to her
skate, Mary, Charlottc,-bridc, matron
and dame in one, to whom have been we'd
dod this half.century-for have had no
other wife, Gcorge,-God blcss you, dear
Id heart! We have had merry Christ
mas as we have ever had, and ! trust it may
be permitted to us to have, still together,
one more happy New Year. Hip! hip
hip! Hurrah!" and the echoes Of our three
times three seemed cheerily to roam oil night
about Trcmadyn House.