Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-08-19


ed that there was fountain of warmth
in his heart, which, could l reach it,
would be enough to shield me from cold
and darkness forever. This show oil
passionate fon1ness made me glad, and
going to his side, 1 tried to win the no.
tice of the children myself
cit is your new mother" said he
"She has come 10 take care of you when
[ am gone TO sea again. Ellen and May,
80 TO your mother.,'
May, pretty blue-eyed child of Ten
came shyly toward me, and kissed my
cheek; but Ellen, the eldest, merely gave
me her hand. Ellen seemed 10 have
imbibed something of her aunt's icy
manner, for she sat aloof and watched
me coldly. The little boy now lifted
his head from his fathers shoulder, and, /,
seeing that May stood by me unframed,
ventured to approach me.
"Come to me. Harry!" sad Miss Flem
ing with frown.
Was his name Harry? | caught him
to my arms and held him closely, so
that he could not escape 10 his jeal-
oas aunt; and l thought, in my secret
heart; that l would make him ike The
Harry l had lost In an instant, the
feeling that | was a stranger had var.
ished, my heart warmed SO toward the
little one whose auburn head nestled in
my arms. My husband looked p.els,
ed and smiled, giving his sister a
gralified look; and | observed the shad-
ow of smile on her lips, but it faded
again as she glanced at Ellen. When
The clock struck nine, Miss Jane ro e
and led The children 10 their chambers.
L bade them good night as they went
out, but | noticed that Ellen made no
answer.
The next morning | made business
of going over the house and examining
its convenience. The first step upon
the broad gloomy staircase chilled me;
but when, after visiting every room, |
sat down in the parlor again, / was al
most discouraged. Such dreary, dis
ordered house | never saw In every
chamber the curtains hung over the
windows like shrouds, and the air was
cold and damp as dungeon. There
was dust on the walls, on the windows,
and the furniture; tlere was gloom in
every corner. The parlor, which might
have been delightful room. seemed
like sepulchre. The furniture, as well
as the pictures, were covered with can
vass. A locked bookcase stood in a re-
cess, and locked piano was by the oppo
site wall. asked little May, who had
kept close by me all the morning, why
this was so.
"Aunt Jane doesn't like music" she
said; "and she keeps the book case lock
ed, because she says we must not read
books until we are older
"And why is the furniture all cover
ed!"
1.-The parlor is scarcely ever opened" !"
answered May. "Aunt Jane wants TO
keep ii nice"
"Well, May" | said, "go now and
ask Aunt Jane for the key of the book
case. | want TO see the books"
She ran quickly, and returned, FOL
owed by Miss Jane. who delivered up
he key 10 me with dubious kind Of
grace.
81 hope you will lock the bookcase
when you have examined the books,
ma 'am," said she. 81 don't allow The
children to spend their time in light
reading"
"What ale they now reading?" ask
I'd.
"They learn their lessons" she repli-
ID, shortly.
She disappeared, and L opened the
bookcase, which | found 10 contain a
most excellent selection of books. The
best poets, the best historians, the best
novelists and biographcrs, were there,
making library small. but rich in val
le. 1t was the first really pleasant
hing had found in my new home, and
sat an hour or two, glancing over one
rolume after another, and re arranging
hem on the shelves.
Suddenly, Miss Jane looked in, and
n moment her face was pale with in
lignation, for there sat little May on the
iarpet, buried in charming old Eng
ish annual. Miss Jane took Two steps
Orward. and snatchiug the book out of
he child's hand, threw il on the table,
hen led her by the shoulder out of the
room. | was mute with amazement at
his rough government at first, then l
prang up and would have followed her,
lad not the fear Of an outbreak re-
trained me.
"Selfsh creature!' exclaimed, 'tyou
ire trying TO make these children like
ourself; running them for all good or
happiness in life. In Ellen's sulleness
nd GOODNESS 1 see the fruit Of your la
'or. Was Arthur Fleming blind when |
le left his children in your keeping?"
/ saw no more of the children until
Inner. when, by questioning, learned !