Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-06-24
Pa
lish and French, that was sweeter in my ears

lish aud French that was swecter in my ears
than purest Tuscan.
Then of again, like a butterfly, opening my
books, putting my watch to her ear, and look
ing Solemnly curious at the sound ; turning
over my clothes, scrbbling wild hourishcs on
my paper with pen or pencil and, quick as
fight of bird, away again to announce to Nan
nie that le grand chere," the great darling
was awake, and SO hungry, so hungry for his
breakfast.
And so through the day, however, might
be occupied, she was never away from Inc for
an hour. Light and restless. like some wing
ed thing, she was to and fro, up and down in the
house and garden, all the liyeong day dane
ing, singing and talking to herself when was
too occupied to attend to her no more dis,
turbiug me in my busiest hours than the sun
shine that streamed in all my window, or the
swallows that built aud chirped in the caves
above it,
Long walks we nsed to take together. she
/ bounding by my side, now clinging to my hand
now sprnging of after wild flower or berry,
till lap and arms were full all bealning and
joyous until beggar came in sight then the
bright face would lengthen, the step slacken,
and the small money l always carried in my
pocket to provide against such emergencies
was brought into request, aid given with will
ling hand and gentle words Of pity and condo
lence, an'l for some PAGES further the little
heart and brain were yet oppressed with the
impression Of the sight of the suffering
In the evenings, by the dying sunlight or
the winter fire, she would climb to my knee,
claiming a story or improYiSed some original
one, she sat, with raptured face, gazing in
mine, those eyes so full of wondering Interest
those ruby lips apart, showing glistening teeth /;
putting in now and then some earnest question,
pauaing long at the close Of the narrative to
muse over it and fully digest certain points
that had made deeper impression than the
rest Of the tale. Then, as the light fell and
the stiffness of the evening decpcned into night,
the head dropped on my breast, and, like a
folded flower, the blossom that frightened and
pcrfumed my lonely life slept quietly, while I,
sad and silent, wandered mournEully, over the
past.
look back now to that period OF mr. life,
and again it is not | whom see sitting there
before me. 1t is one knew, whose affectio ions,
cares and troubles were as my own to me; but
whose thoughts opinions, and aspirations were
quite other than those | now had and on
which | now act. The child seems hardly real
distinctly as remember every-the slightest
detail concerning her she comes before me
in my lonely hours like the remembrance OF
some vivid dream dreamed long ago some Vi
sion sent to cheer and brighten my pathway
through some long past stage Of existence that
then seemed drawing on to its close
We know so little what we can live through
and over, till the present is emerged in he
things that have been till the pages on
which are inscribed in black the great griefs
OF our lives are turned, and those that contain
peasantcr passages are laid over them
Mabel had achieved her tenth year before I
had reached my thirtieth birthday and all
that time we had never been day separated ::
had never lived any other l;fc than the life
have been describing
| had taught her to read and write, Mamie
had taught her to sew but other accomplish
ments she had none. Partly that strange jeal-
onSy OF other interference, partly horror |
could not control of suhjecting my fairy to the
drudgery of learning, made me shrink from call
ing in other aid to advance her education 1t
was better that it should be So am ALWAYS
glad now to think that | did as had done.
Ny child had been Ieut me- not given For
ten years her blessed and soothing purifying,
and holy influence was granted to tame and
save me. For ten years, God spared one Of
his angels to lead me through the FIRST stages
to Heaven
The task accomplished, He saw fit to recall
the loan.
1t is thirty years and upwards now. Since
Mabel died
| have buried another wife since then. nnl
two fair children and four more yet remain
to me.
They arc good, dear children TO ne, none
better, and handsome boys and girls too But
they are none of them Ike my Nab, my little
fairy queen and ain rot sorry, it is as well
as it is.