The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-10

Saturday evening came, and Abby Leo,
man was In her chamber. Her Oldest child
a girl, camo up and told her that grandpe
was going away-that he had got his truni
at the door. Abby could not believe it'--
She started for the sitting room at once. In
the hall she stopped. for the door was ajar,
and sho heard her fathers voice. It was ID
apaincd tone, and it struck to her soul Of
once. ...T -r.l,sa-r a.. sIi'arlal
mo, no, Albert, she heard the old mar
say,I cannot remain here; I had intended
to make my home with Abby. for she is my
oldest living daughter but / cannot bear
II. Nearly every day my heart is made to
ache by the harsh, unkind words I hear spo'
ken to your little ones, Oh such good,
kind, sweet children! and / love them 50
But Abby will not listen even to me. Once
/ might havo borne IL; but now when my
heart Is lonely and sad from recent bcreave-
mcnt, / cannot bear It. will come to zee
you, and you shall have the old share ol
love. And l fear she is not always kind to
you.' ,r # r.r. -.-'.a NJ ...'1|'.
Has Lydia told you SOP asked Albert.
'Lydia?' uttered Mr.. Gorham in surprise.
She told me? All, you don't know her, II
you think SO. No, no, she has only told
me wha. good and faithful wife Abby was
But can see, as my presence grows more
common, the restraint wears OF, and Abby
begins to show me the face she often keeps
for home, I speak this to you, Albert, be-
cause would not lie to you. But-but-
will see you again. l will SEQ Abby
again. .,,-l. ...
Abby listened to him no longer. With a
wildly BEATING, bursting heart, she hastened
to her room, and threw herself upon her bed
and thcr, she lay for long time. When
her husband came up, she was sick, and
when he asked her what he could do for her
she said she would bc left to herself. In a
moment he mistrusted that she had heard
some part of her fathers remarks, and lef'
her. '..
One day little Nellie looked pale and sick
and cried asrcat deal with pain. 1t was
the youngest-tho baby Abby was frac,
tious, but she did not speak rs harshly a'
usual. Sho tried to reform since her father
left week beforc, but she allowed the spirit
of anger to come into her soul on account
Of the course he had pursued, SO her trial
did not amount to much. When Albert
came home the child. was worse, and by thi'
time it had become SO sick that tho mother
was sorry that she had been so harsh through
the day. . e. ..' ....
Mr.. Leeman went for q doctor, and wher
that man came, he said Nellie had tho scar
lc. fever. All night the little one suffered
much, and its checks and brow seemed OF
FIRE. On the next day she grew weaker ant
Ecker, then Abby feared she mighe die
Oh, what thought.
Sabbath night came, and little Nelly had
grown very white and thin during til,
whole day she had been calm and quiet
Could she be dying? 'Oh, God, spare IN.
child spare my child y the frantic mothel
prayed upon her knees.
The clock had just struck nine whom Mel
lie raised her eyes, and they looked very
strange.
'Nlama-good mama, she whispered 'kis'
little Nellie. ''
The mother pressed her lips upon hci
child's brow and kissed her fervently.
'Mama-you love little Nellie; und you
love George and Mary
The mother could not speak. JUS. ther
Albert entered the room.
'Papa-papl--ono kiss for little Nellie
Love little Nellie always. Love George and
Mary, and love mama.
When Abby Lseman next looked upor
her child the spirit had fled Tho little
sufferer was free from oil earthly pain. One
moment tho mother gazcd upon the broken
casket, and then she sank down upon hel
knees and wept as though her heart would
break. Her husband knet by her side; he
placed both his arms about her her neck,
and with one deep burst ofpassionat, grief,
she pillowcd her head upon his bosom. De-
On tho next morning, Lydia came and
took care Of the body of little Nellie. She
dressed it tswccsly, combcd its golden hair
back, and when she placed it in the coffin,
she spread new and fragrant flowers all
around 1t. She had done all this when Alb.
by entered. n. G.Y b..
The sisters were along by tho dead child.
Tho bereaved mother gazcd awhile upon the
lovely face Of the little sleeper, and then she
turned to her sister. Lydia opened her
arms, an: the next moment tho cstranscd
ones were locked in each Others embrace
II was lon. long while ere either could
speak. They could only weep and sob, and
cling more closely heart to heart.
.E
We will not tell tho thoughts that dwelt
in Abby Lccman's mind upon this occasion
nor will We tell Of the long hour, she spent
upon her knees in prayer while oil others Of
the household slept. -r ,l,g t1T n.l
Love George and Mary! Love little Mel
lie always! Love Mamma" Oh! how
these words rang in the mothers soul. And
how other words came back upon her, too
harsh unkind words which had been spoken
to the cherub that had gone But she
found q balm in the solemn resolution she