Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-04
CI4AIRSVILLE OHIO THURSDAY. FEBUARY4 1858


have still a-home to go to, now that | am
driven thanklessly from this one.
My eyes filed with tears at these scorn-
full words The children looked wonderingly
at me and st her.
Don't a aunty. Mother doesn't want
you to go,n whispered Mary, the sweet
little peacemake!.
Il don't Know who driuss you from here,'
said Julia, sarcastically.
"Jane. Itnish yOu to stay with u.s." | said
sit is right t,at |. Capt,in Fleming's wife,
shonld be dfino,her 10 his children, and take
their care and education into my own hands.
| mean to make them happy in their home,
in their studies, and TO fit them for good and
Useful IEssf Yop can help me in this work,
~ your friend. win yoa stay,
JaheE r
mo, Mrs. Fleming" she replied, indig-
naney, "i i~ili not stay where | am Il N ere
cipher. But, children, do not desert ycu.
II you are eyer fatherless, or in trouble,
will come ts you. and you shall have your
home with nie again.
The stage-coach, which Jane had secretly
ordered to call for her, now rattle up to
The door; and with her green handbook
ciasped closely in her arms, she took her
seat in the-tage. She gave nod of freez-
ing dignity to me, farewell of compassion
ate affection to the children, and then the
cauch Groge.away
now, with the children, felt at home and
at ueace
Six mureSs passed rapidly, and how plea
sanity, nly vivid recollection of them tes:i
fies. As the vilnge-school was extremely
poor, and was fully competent to teach
the children myself. | spent three hours of
every mornsag in study with them. Two
afternoons in week devoted to Mary's
music and Juiia's drawing; on The other
afternoon 'they were free 10 practice at
! ONE. or to visit their village friends, and
receive visits in return. Our evenings were
spent in reading; and in the three months
OF that suslmer they gained more iEte Hi
gence than in years before. Their interest
in knowledge was aroused, and what
ever they read was made subject of free
and cheerful conversation, thus fixing i'm
portanI facts in their memories and training
their minds to habits of active thought.
Julii adorned The walls of our sitting-room
aud little library with several very fine cray
on pictures. and Mary added to our evening
readings the charm OF her sweet singing.
AT Christmas-tme we expected Captain
Fleming. With what glud pride looked
upon my happy group, and thought of the
gralitmte, heiwoud feel, when he saw their
improvement and witnessed their affection
for myself i looked forw ard With beat
ing heart rtoYthe meeting.
1t WAS fortnight before Christmas, end
we were Ssady deeply engaged in pre-
rHsesIl>,l s~-----;s,.--.-yj essen Green
boughs, witfwhich to decorate. the LroJms,
were being tade in festoons and garands,
and, in s.y corner, the Chrstmas-tree was
waiting iis hour of triumph Julia was
hurrying Is finish a picture of Santa Claus,
to hang over ,he Christmas tree , and Mary
was practising necessarily, Let Us love one
another." at the pian9-iorie, while little Ed
ward entered with even greater zeal, if pos
sible, into the preparations for the feslivi-
ties. Seated in his little char, which, with
ID show Of secrecy, was turned with Its back
to the room. he was working with his knife
on present for smother" which, from oc-
casinnal glaI ces, judged would be lit
wooden vessel
1t was afternoon, and Ju ia and had
been discussing the propreiy Of inviting
some friends to enjoy cur Cnristmas-eve
with US. We we're now in daily expecta-
tion of Captain Flaming. and every SQUAD
Of wheels made US rush to the window.
Father is Conner cried Julia, as the
sound Of wheels, instead of passing, stopped
at our door, ani we simultaneously sprarg
up and ran to the window. There, indeed.
stood the exPected cJach; but who was that
c d lady, with aer,en band-box held tightly
in her arms, nav bund ing GU: Of the coach
door, sendii g sharp giances up at the VIM
Gows, While the coachman TOOK own hee
trunks.''
at is aunt Janc!" said Jul1, with a long
sigh of dsspphin, and she looked into
my face inqui ingly.
81, is too bad, too bad!" said Mary, half
crying, ''for her to come and spoil all, just
as we were to have such merry Christmas"
''WelL meet her kindly and give her vel
come" said, ond by that time the hail.
door had opened, aud Jane Fleming stood in
The midsudf US receiving our greetings with
kind Of trim smile. The girls divesled
her of all Eermahy shawls, and cloaks, and
furs, and Edward drew a chair for her close
&c the FIRE.
As she warmed her at the CRATE. Miss
! Fleming looked around hP- with singular
expression Of pity mixed with trump.
81 IhsS-lrIeSeTtom chilnreu,' she
said. :o.d you if anything happened, |
would co,..e to yoa''
| | started from my seat, and & shudder of
terrible isrebOdIngs passed through me, as
remembered the promise to which she re-
ferred. "Jane! dne Fleming, what do you
mesp?" cried.
! She wiped the corners Of her eyes with
her handkerchief Then she said, "Ah! it
is as thopght. You see that |, living on
the sea shore as do. get news some days
in advance Of you. SAID To myself, when
| heard it, that it would be printed in vour
weekly paper, aud you would not get it
before 10 morrow. So thought hud bet
ter step into the stage and ride down to pre-
pare your minds. Poor children, pUnr chill
drenr"
What is it!' said Julia, grasping her
aunl's wrist with kind OF nervous fierce
ness.
- This suspense was grow ng intoIcrable
Jane fixed her eyessstcodi'y on Juia's C un-
tedance, and answered slowly, Last
week, in the great Storm, the Nary Fleming
was wrecked"
A low cry escaped N 'ry's lips. Jane"
gasped, "uIy husbaId-where is her'
She looked at me composedly as she re-
piled, d" he Mary Fleming was wrecked
and sunk. Save the mate and one sailor,
who tlvsted two days on broken plank,
every soul was lost"