The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-11-24
MY STORY.

A MY story Is ABOUT Aiice 0rey.-
When 6rst knew her she kad number.
4 nearly forty years, but still treadi,
o the quiet path of maidenhood. WI
she was unmarried 1 never ascertaine
Some imagined tha. death, perchano
had claimed the object of her early Iov
( others praised her flial heart which ha
led her to devote her life to her widowe
] mother; while others, still less charit,
BILE, said they guessed she never ha
an offer" All agreed, however, tbs
Alice was q model old maid Cheerfu
and contented she trod her solitary way
and il, in earlier days, thoughts of hus
band and children had made pleasan
maiden reveries, such dreams had Ion,
ago been dismissed from her heart.
But there was one who was beginning
to plot against the "quiet tenor of he
way" A year before Esq Morefors
had blurred the wife of his youth Il
his deso!ate farm house were four moth
erless children-dependentup hireling
for the care a tender mother had always
lovingly given--and feeling, at length
the necessity Of having some one WHIT
should have more than a hireling's iu-
terest in his home, be began to look
around in search of such an one, and
his eyes rested on Alice Grey. Death
bad been in Alice's home, too, and when
the worthy suitor came to WOO, be found
she could be won, so as widower's court
ships are usually short, Alice was soon
introduced into new path in life
Alas! she found it path of trial Ri.
liai, and loving, it had been easy to dis
charge daughters duties, but those of
wife and mother were new to her and
all untried It had been more than
twenty years since she was Little
Alice" No little ones had played
about her hearthstone and go she had
become stranger to children's hearts
Carefully she abstained from everything
unkind, bat there was want of sympa-
thy between her own and her children's
hearts She entered into none of their
childish plans; they did not tell her of
their childish joys or grief; and very
soon they began to regard her with sus-
picion and even with dislike. At length
Charles, the eldest child, who could not
help contrasting this state of things
with the sunny home his own dear moth
er made, felt that it was home 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 wanderer
The earliest cleaning Of the morning
found him sobbing on his mothers grave,
and the frst tidings of him were that
he had gone te sea.
Then Oracle, the youngest of the
household was taken sick, and in her
delirium she cried, go way, naughty
woman! I want my own dear mamma.
Come, mamma, and kiss Oracle! Come,
sweet mammal" and in little while the
plaintive voice was hushed forever.
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 81. 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 fervently she prayed that
God would teach her. When she arose
from prayer it was with new light in
her heart and on her face.
Gracie's funeral was over, and ESQ.
Moreford's house had become quiet as
ever, and more chcerless than before
George was the second son, lad of |
thirteen years. One night after he had |
gone to rest he heard rap at his door.
Who is it2" no inquired. Mother!
May / come inl' Half pettishly he
and his stepmother entered |
md sat down by his bed. She began
alking about Oracle and then about his
lear mother. She told him how anx.
Qua she was to fill that mothers place;
he spoke of difficulties in her way; she
ssured him Of her love for him and her
lesire to see him happy. Then she
melt by his bed side and prayed to God
o bless them and help them to love
ach other as they ought; aud, kissing
Tim, bade him kind good night"
Georges proud little heart did not
'ermit him to answer his mother q word,
'ut as soon as she bad gone he began to
hink over all she had said to him. He
how kindly she had talked,
f his own dear mother and sobbed him
elf to sleep full of memories of that
cad mother, and with kindlier feelings
han he had ever towards her who filed
hat mothers plaoe.
Ellen, too, received visit from her
,other that night, and before they
arted Ellen had told Of all her long
ogs after love, and how she had wanted
o talk of her dead mother. They went
ogether and .thon the mother prayed +,
Is she gave the child her first good night
iss, Ellen threw her arms around her