The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-12-09

ing me when | was with Florence. Ye
they could never, one Of them, find ought
in her appearance or my management tr
cond' mn il they were just Ialways al,
tended, with scrupulous exactness, TO her
toilet and ecrythinR pertaining to her
personal ccmfprt She made no trouble
beyond what all children oi her age must
necessarily cause, and in my manners to.
wards her | always endcavored to be
gentle, affectionato and patient. Still
did not love her other than should any
! good or attractive child and as have
said, that was not much | was never
one TO prevaricate in the slightest degeeo
and felt constrained and embarrassed
as to the propriety of my reply when my
friends would say 10 the. as they some.
times did What sweet child should
think she would seem just like your own
DO ron not think you love her ns much
as if she were 2'--To such questions, my
invariable reply wea. Yes, she is a good
little girl aud love her very much, but
not as il she were my own--tbat would
be impossible.
Ard 80 fc't knew that was kind
and generally judicious toward my little
step.daugbter knew that in all save
affection | filed a mothers place to her
and even in this | was not wholly defc.
lent; but | was never given to caressing
children. 1t is trne that sometimes when
beard u patter Of her feet and her mer.
ry laughter as she ran to meet her papa,
| felt that had not quite reached her
heart, for, with me, she was always quiet
and reserved.
A few months elaps,d d and wrougbt q
change in ME A new life was dawning
within me. wss destined to know for
the first time, I mothers feelings |
spout my hours u busy creation of tiny
garments. interwovcn with soft reveries.
My health was not good and | grew
weak and selfish, l forgot everything in
care for myself md frequently became
melancholy and peevish, L sadly neg
lected my little Florence during this
time for the presence Of the child an
noyed me and rendered mo nervous. I
longed to be alone. except when with my
husband and in my langu1 state, it was
a burden to have the care of her.
For some time. I got along us well as
! could, performing my usual routine of
duties but at length told MIR Worth.
;neton that l desired nurse for Flor.
eLce, as | did not feel strong enough to
take the whole charge of her He read.
lily acceeded to the proposal, and said
that if it disturbed me to have her in
tie house, she might 90 to school, though
he thought her rather to young To this
l would not consent, for | feared that it
might cause remarks unfsvorabe to me
] had been in the habit Of teaching her
at home, but these lessons we're now dis.
continued, and told him would mako
il part Of the business of the nurse to
.-";,Te them. 50 the matter was settled
and thought no nv, =, .. t., .Auep,
to give few occasional instructions TO
the person who had the care of Florence
| took little pains to see whether her du.
ties were properly discharged or whether
she secured the happiness Of her trust.
My hour of trial came and passed, aud
in my suffering" and my new relation, |
thought or cared very little about Flor.
ence. She had not yet been introduced
to her baby brother, and 10 reply to nv
invitation, dispatched through Jane, her
msid, she said she did NOT wish to see
him till her papa asked her wonder
ed somewhat at this strange freak, but
Jane Informed me that she hed said that
was her new mammals baby it was not
her little brother, and she should not
love him unless her papa wanted her to
do so. | reported this to her father and
be brought her to my room in his arms.
and taking the baby too, he said There
Floreuce, you have not seen vour little
brother yet; is he not rretty? You will
love him I know" "Do you love him,
papa p she said thr ughtfnlly. Certainly
my child, I love him dearly, Just as do
you. Then I will love him Just as I
do you she replied smiling, and kissed
them both.
All my baby, what link of love to
fond hearts you might have been Even
now, as | recall your tiny form and cher.
nb face, my tesrt swells to bursting with
agony for in shady nook 10 the quiet
cemetery, where the sweet birds sing and
the shadows fit hither and tbither over
tho green and fragtant mounds. the little
hands that once rested SO softly on my
breast, are folded forever, and the blue
eyes, whose first glance OF intelligence
kindled my own with smiles Of joy, are
closed like twin violets at set of sun.
/, was long ore swOke from my
trance Of gfiei TO full realization of my
less, and then | went about like one in a
dream, heedloss of all thus save my own
own beart'S sorrow I left town and spent
some time with my mother in The home
of my childhood, but | returned little
improved il health there was vacuum
10 my heart which nothing but like af-
fection conld fill. My husband was alarm.
ed for me, and sll that constant aud af
fectionate sssiduity could devise was
done for my coufort, bat time only
brought relief cannot say that ain
resigned as Christian should and
would be, but trust ! dc not mur.
mer know that | have needed chas.
tisement, and | pray tina, it may be sane
tifedto me for good
And now | come to tell you why | re.
solved TO write this to-day