Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-09-22
sStlGtt StOrp:
THE SNOWY-sHROUD.

ooh dear, there ssUmany to wash :" said
little Nelly Nash, as She surveyed, with a
Irucful glance the long table full Of dishes.
, AbOu, tyo ycara ago her mother died.
Mrs. Nash WAS a tender, gentle woman,
/ living only in the happiness OF her beloved
ones, and she had made the first eight
years of her little daughters life very
bright. When she died, the bitterest
pang was in the thought of leaving this,
her only child, 10 the tender mercies Of a
world which Is not always disposed to be
merciful. When the hand of death. was
upon her she called the little one to her
bedside and kissed her long andfervently,
, brushing back her thick curls with her
pale hand, and looking into her eyes with
a steadlast gaze of hopeless love and sor-
row.
"Oli, she faltercd, Il can give upevery-
/ thing else. but / wish could take you
with me- / cannot bear TO leave you in
this cold world motherless, my child. Bet
ter for YOU YOU could sleep here on my
bosom and never wake acaIn. ] wish we
could be buried together
Mr.. Nash was a kind-hearted man. His
sympathics were quick rather than deep
Perhaps this was why he had never under
stood the woman who for ten Years had
been his wife. Her nature was very differ
.ent. Her feelings Law deeply buried in
her woman 5 heart. Sometimes, like dia-
monds in the winding ways of a gloomy
mine. they would fash cut for a moment,
giving the behOldey sudden startling
glimpse OF the richness hid within. ucr
love was ike the cour,e of subtcrraneaE
stream, which you could only trace by the
sweet fragrance of the flowers, the rich YER
durc Of the grass above it. Her husband
saw things from a different point, these
fore her words seemed incomprehcnsible.
He had been sittingat his dying wite's bed
side, his face bowed upon his hands and
the tears trickling through his fingers, but
he raised his head now, and said, Il don't
like to hear you say that, Sarah. fyou
must die, it isn't right TO wish the child
dead. too. want something left for me.
After you are gone / shall love her better
than anything else in the world" .
A faint, sad smile crossed the lying wO-
mans face. She knew her husband bet
ter than he knew himself You will be
she murmured. in her low
tones but she did not remove her steady
sorrowiul gaze from herchild's
face. She died with her hand twined in
the girls thick curls. .
Mr.. Nash was loud in his lamentings
over the dead, but Nelly was very quiet.
No one ever saw her weep and some per
sons even remarked that il was strange
the chiid didn't seem TO care more about
her mother. Butihere were others, shrewd-
ar observers. who noticed that for months
smile never crossed her face
that she scarcely tasted food-and grew so
thin and pale, one might almost have
thought that her dead mothers last kisses
had drawn half the life from her childish
veins.
For awhile Mr.. Nash did indeed seem
absorbed in his child and his grief; but as
-imel,asscd on his wife's words came true
be was comforted. II
lie needed a housekeeper sadly. The
sister. who had come 10 him when his first
wife died. could remain no longer He
must procure some one TO take her place.
1t was with this view he first called upon
he widow Bennett but she was not will
ing, she told him, TO leave her own home
10 become his housekceper and tall ended
n asking her to bring her own three chill
iren with her. 4
She was a dominant. artiul, some ssid
iard woman-yery different from the first .
Mr.. Nash. Little Nelly's life under this /
lew rule seemed more weary and desolate I
han ever, though so long as her father {
ived she was secure from positive III treat !
nent. There were not wanting those who 5
that Adam BENEFITS buxom {
widow did not make Nash's life very +
Iapry one. He certainly did seem to f