Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-04-01
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sister had given her husband, Albert, some
advice az to how he might best punish his
fracti9us wife. This capped the climax. in
Abbys mind, and from that time there was
no intercourse between the sisters.
One day Albert came home with the pleas
ing Intelligence for his wife, that her father
would be there the next morning, and that he
intended to settle down with him and find
home Abby was in extacies. She loved
-.as iather, for he was Q good man, and had
ever been kind to his children. And he was
wealthy, too
On the following day, Moses Gorham came.
He was an old man now, past sixty, with
white hair, and mild, benevolent look; and
Abby was very happy Her father told her
he had finished his travels, and meant to set
tie down with one of his children for there
mainder Of his days.
"0h, of course you'll come and stay with
u.s. Abby said. We've got the most room,
and nre best able to keep you
.Ah, my child, returned the old man, with
q smile, Il am better able to keep myself
But can tell yon better about that after
have been here aspell.
+ At the end Of a week, Mr.. Gorham inform
ed Abby and her husband that he had that
day deposited in the bank twenty thousand
dollars, in their name, and that they might
draw it as they pleased. He thus wished
them to enjoy a part, at least Of their patri-
mony, while he lived OF oeurse the reader
can imagine how this announcement was re-
ceived But the old man did not stop to hear
their thanks, for he had the same errand to
deliver to Lydia and her husband.
He found Charles Frye and wife occupying
one chair when he entered Lydia sitting
in Charles lap, and the child in hers He
told them what he had done, and it was some
time ere one of them could speak. But
Charles was the first to break the silence.
Mr. Gorham,' he said ina low, tremulous
voice, u accept your generous offer, and the
more readily too. because know it comes
from the hand of love. But, sir, could not
have asked til could not have expected it
Ion the ground that | am your son-in-law.
No, no. for in this noble woman you have
given me treasure such as few men possess.
Oh you cannot know what heaven on earth
my home is whie-while- wife
But Charles had undertaken work he
could not perform. The words stuck in his
throat and the speech ended in food of
tears His gentle wife sank upon his bosom,
and the old man went to the window and
pretended to be looking at something in the
street, notwithstanding it was very dark out
there, and that he had his handkerchief be-
fore his eyes all the while
Another week passed away, and during
the most of the time the old man remained
with Abby After this he began to see the
cloudy disposition manifest itself He was
panied and shocked. He spoke with her but
she pretended she could not helpit. Anoth-
er week passed on, and during that time Mr..
Gorham spoke with his child touching her
fault but she did not amend
Saturday evening came, and Abby Lee
man was in her chamber Her Oldest child,
a girl, came up and told her that grandpa
was going away--that he had got his trunk
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
she heard her fathers voice. 1t was in a
panied tone, and it struck to her soul at
once.
Ono, no. Albert" she heard the old man
say, 81 cannot remain here had intended
to make my home with Abby, for she is my
oldest living; but cannot bear it Nearly
every day my heart is made to ache by the
harsh, unkind words l hear spoken to our
little ones. Oh such good kind sweet child
rem and love them SOL But Abby will
not listen, even to me. Once | might have
borne it; but now, when my heart is lonely
and sad from recent bereavement, | cannot
bear it. will come to see you and you shall
have the same old share oflove And | fear
she is not always kind to you
''Has Lydia told you SOP asked Albert
Lydia, uttered Mr. Gorham in surprise
''She told me? All, you don't know her, if
you think so. No, no, she has only told me
what good and faithful wife Abby was
But can see, as my presence grows more
common, the restraint wears off, and Abby
begins to show me the face she often keeps
for home. ] speak this to you, Albert, be-
cause would not lie to you. But-but--I
will see you again. And will see Abby
again.
Abby listened to him no longer With
wildly beating, bursting heart, she fastened
to her room, and threw herselfupon her bed,
and there 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 be left to herself In mo
ment, he mistrusted that she had heard some
part of her fathers remarks, and left her
One day, little Nellie looked pale and sick,
and cried great deal with pain. 1t was
the youngest-thc baby Abby was frac-
tious, but she did pot speak as harshIy as
usual She had tried to reform since her IA
Their left, q week before, but she allowed
spirit of anger to come into her soul on ac-
cout of the course he had pursued, so her
trial did not amount to much When Albert
came home, the child was worse, and by this
time it had become so sick that the mother
/ -
day.
Mr. Leeman went for the doctor, and when
that man came, he said little Nellie had the
scarlet fever. All night the little one suffer-
ed much, and its cheeks and brow seemed on
fire. On the next day she grew weaker and
sicker; hen Abby feared she might die Oh,
what thought
Sabbath night came, and little Nellie had
grown very white and thin; during the whole
day she had been calm and quiet. Could she
be dying? "Oh, God, spare my child spare
my child = the frantic mother prayed upon ]
her knees.
The clock had just struck nine, when Nell
lie raised her eyes, and they looked very
strange.
"Nama-good mama, she whispered,
kiss little Nellie
Inc mother pressed nef llDs upon the
chids brow and kissed her iervently.
"Mama-you love little Nellie; and you
love George and Mary"
The mother could not speak. Just then
Albert entered the room.
"Papa-papa kiss for little Nellie
Love little Nellie always. Love George and
Mary, and love mama.
When Abby Lceman looked upon her child.
the spirit had fed The little sufferer was
free from all earthly pain. One moment the
mother gazed on the broken caskot, and then
she sank down upon her knees and wept as
though her heart would break. Herhusband
knelt by her side; he placed both his arms
about her neck, and with one deep burst of
passionate grief she pillowed her head upon
his bosom.
On the next morning, Lydia came and took
care of the body of little Nellie. She dress
ed it sweetly, combed its golden hair back,
and when she placed it in the coffin, she
spread new and fragrant flowers all around
it. She had done all this when Abby enter
ed
The sisters were alone by the dead child.
The bereaved mother gazed awhile upon the
lovely face of the little sleeper and then she