The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-02-13
VOL. XVIII---NO. Is.

was agar, but there was no light in there.
OILY one amp burned on the piang- forte
! Which had been moved into the little room
Harry lay IN my arms asleep, his soft curls
falling over hIs iorhead and half yelling bis
fresh fair face. Ellen and May, one on each
side Of rae. sat at work or mourning dress.
Is; Jane, too, in the corner was sewing black
thlbet. How different our labor from that
/ WIN which We had expected to usher in the
Christmas eve,
by-and-by LIlen looked up with an anx.
lGu> expression. Mother, are we poor z"
she said
was glad that could ma swer in the neg.
ative. But, added, "we know not how
soon we may be. This great misfortune has
taught us that nothing is sure. We must
not lean idtPn what We possess, but pre-
pare ourselves for labor. if need be- To-
morrow, | wish you to all begin again yo-r
studies"
Jane dropped her needle and thread. "I
thought 1T was understood that the children
should 20 home with me-" she said per
maps you thlnh am poor and helpless; but
you are mstagen. On the contrary, am
probably better able than YOU 60 take care
care Of the children"
ms announcement startled me: but
there was no need, Nav threw her arms
around my neck and whispered 4" will not
leave you, mother" while Ellen, her fine
eyes glowing with excitement answered aui-
city and firmly.
Our mother has the best clam on ue.
Sane, and until she sends us we will never
leave her. More than "A mother she has been
10 US, and we have never been so happy as
IN tins past half year. We love her better
than all other friends, and now that our IA.
thel Is gone, we will not leave her alonen
MY heart thrilled with gratitude that
could not utter. | could only give my no.
bic L len look Of thaukfulness, and say.
VIII be as faithful to you AZ you have
been TO me, Ellen"
Hush. " said May, starting from her seat
lat was that sound?" she went 70 the
window and looked out. alt was only the
vi d. She added, and sat down by Inc
again.
Jane shot indignant glanccs at the child.
rem. - little thought when came here to
Work and wear nyself for you, that YOU
would so soon desert me for stranger"
Aunt Jane ~ said Ellen quickly. "re-
mtmbeLit Is our mother of whom you speak;
our second mother TO whom we owe SO
much
Mss Fleming rocked hard, but was silent.
. d0 hear a footstep," said May, and
again She reePe1 from the window, but all
was dark and silent. Ny heart ached with
weary Gisscnsiou, and made last attempt
ct pa ace.
. : ster Jane--you shake vour head. but
you we're Azs sister, and must, therefore. be
mnc-ior his sake | forgive YOU for the
many attempts you have made to turn nv
children's hearts against M: but forever
alter e there be silence on this theme [
au 10 stranger IN this house. but hold
mother place to tie children my beloved
husband left ia my care. For them hence.
forth, and for them only, | shall live and
labor have thus far tried to do them
good, and they themselves bear witness to
my success. Trust them to NE, and let
there be no more hardness between us-for
Lis sake"
Jane Fleming rocked m lment harder
than ever, then burst into tears She wept
few moments and her heart was softened
Agnes, forgive me!'' she said, to my as
t9nishm m and JOY. " You think me heart
less, but indeed | am not, though | have
been harsh. Il was my love for my broth
er and his children that made NE wickedly
jealous Of you. But | am now a mourner
with You and them. For his sake, forgive
me-"
i-E4- y a. d Ih''llt!lt Ot SaeOI. plcaSCQ
surprise, and then c,aSped her hand warm
" and called her sist r. Ellen eravely
stopped down and kissed her, and little May
rgjoiced, sp.ung to the piano-forte and sung
withher whole heart, " Let Us love one an-
other"
As she ceased and turned her smiling face
towards US there was sound behind, a
quick toOtstep toward the hall, the door was
flung open, and
Had one risen from the drad?
MY wife, my children, my blessed Az
nes!" said Captain Fleming, his voice hoarse
with emotion; and before we could utter a
word OF welcome or surprise, we were all
c.aSped IN his strong, living arms. The rap
turc of that hour who would seek to portray?
Forgive me, Agnes, for playing the list.
encr, he said. - 1t was not premedtated,
but as ! came in | hard your voices, and
could not but pause moment before sur
prising you. How can | ever thank you,
how repay you for your love to my children
and 10 mci' -
These words and many more fell from his
lips as ho claSped me again with warm afiec-
ton. was repaid for all my labor, all my
sorrow.
Then followed questions, explanations,
words ofjoy and welcome. His good ves-
sci indeed had been lost in the fearful storm
but the account Of the loss Of men had been
exaggerated in the excitement of the news
many were lost, but aot all. There were
other homes of mourning made glad that
night as well as mine.
And what merry, joyful Christmas wo
had! How the Christmas tree sparkled un-
der its many tapers, loaded not only with
the gifts Of the children 10 each other, but
with more costly presents 10 me and to them
from their delighted father! How proudly
did Ellen lead her father to the pictures her
industry bad wrought, and say in answer to
his surprise, "Mother taught mellow
sweetly did little May sing her favorite song
and thrown: her arms about her fathers
neck, say also. "Mother taught me-"
Very sacred and fail of peculiar trial is tho
position Of the second wife, where the child
ren of buried mother claim her care and
love, but ifwith true heart and zeal she en-
ters into the work before her, rich is her
reward and its pleasure endures forever.
love to look upon a young man.
There Is a hdeen potency concealed in his
breast which charms and pains me"
The daughter Of a clergyman happening
Ie find the abevc sentence at the close OF
p ece of her fathers manuscript, as he had
left his study, sat down and added:
'Them's my sentiments, exactly, papa
all but the pains"
By reading we enjoy the dead; by con-
versation the living and by contemplation
ourselves. Reading enriches the memory;
polishes the wit; and contem4
pla,ion ourselves. OF these reading is the
most important, which furnishes both the
others.
II you would have an idea of the ocean in
storm, just imagine ten thousand hills and
Tour thousand mountains, all drunk, chas-