Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-25
NV Story.

My story is about Alice Grey. When first
knew her she had numbered nearly forty
years, but still trcading the quiet path 0fmaid-
enhOOd. Why she was unmarried never as.
ccrtnincd. Some imagined that death per-
chance, had claimed the object Of her early
love; others praised the filial heart which had
led her to devote her life to her widowed mo.
thcr; while others still less charitable, said
they "guesse,l she never had an offer" All
agreed, however, that Alice was model old
maid Cheerful and contentcd she trod her
solitary way, and it. in earlier days, thoughts
Of husband and children had made pleasant
maiden rcvcrics, such dreams had long ago
been dismissed from her heart
But there was one who was beginning to
plot against the ''1uict tenor of her way" A
year before Esq. Morelord had buried the wife
Of his youth. In his deSolate farmhouse
were four mOthcrlcss children-lcpcndcnt up
on hireIings for the care tender mother had
always loving givcn-and feeling, at length,
the necessity Of having some one who should
have more than a hireling's interest in his
hOmc he began to look around in search Of
such an one, and his eyes rested on Alice
Grey. Death had been in Alicc's home, too,
and when the worthy Suitor came to WOO, he
found she could be won /; so, rs widOwcrs
courtShips are usually short, Alice was soon
introduced into new path in life. Alas she
found it path Of trial. Filinl, and loving, it
had been easy to discharge daughters duties,
but those Of wife and mother were new to her
and all untried. 1t had been more than TWEEN.
ty years since she was "littlc Alice" No
little ones had played about her hcarthstone
and so she had become stranger to childrcn's
ways and childrcn's hearts. Carefully she ab.
stained from everything unkind, but there was
a want of sympathy bct|ccn her own and her
childr"r's heart She entered into none Of
their childish plans; they did not tell her Of
tncir childish joys or grief; and very soon
they began to regard her with suspicion, and
even with dislike. At length, Charles, the eId.
est child, who could not help contrasting this
state Of things with the sunny home his own
dear mother made, felt that it was homo no
more for him. So. one night, leaving fearful
good.by kisses with his sleeping brother and
sisters, he stole softly down the stairs, and
went out to be a w0ndcrer. The earliest
glcamings Of the morning found him sobbing
in his mothers grave, and the first tidngs Of
him were that he had gone to sea.
Then Gracic. the youngest of the house.
hold, was taken sick, and in her delirum she
cried: "Go away, naughty woman | want
my own dear mamma. Come mamma, and
kiss Oracle! Come, sweet mamma" and in o
little while the plaintivc voice was hushcd for
ever.
Alice MOreford was very, very sad, as she
sat alone in her room the night after Oracle
died One Of the children to whom she had
come to fill a mothers place was away on the
stormy sea. Death had claimed another; and
she felt that neither from the absent ones nor
from those still left to her care had she won
mothers share Of confidence and love. Long
time she sat and thought then long and fer
vently she prayed that God would teach her.
When she arose from prayer it was with q
new light in her heart and on her face
Gracie's funeral was over, and Esq. More.
forl's house had become quiet as ever, and
moro cheerless than before George was the
second son, a lad of thirteen years. One
night after he had gone TO rest he heard a rap
at his door. "NVho is it?" he inquired
Motheri May -I-come -inl" Half pet.
tishly he consented and his stcp-mother en-.
tered and sat down by his bed. She began
talking about Gracie; and then about his dear
mother. She told him how anxious she was
to til that mothers place; she spoke of diff
culIicS in her wNy she assured him of her
love for him and her desire to see him happy.
Then she knelt by his bedside and prayed to
God to bless them and help them to love each
other as they ought ; and, kissing him; badc
him kind "gOod night"
Gcorgie's proud little heart did not permit
him to answer his mother word, but as soon
as she had gone he had began to think over all
she had said to him. He remembered how
kindly she had talked of his own dear mother,
and Sohhcd himself to sleep full Of memories
Of that dead mother, and with kindlier feelings
than he had, ever had towards her who filed
that mothers pace.