The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-01-19


"There, sit down comfortably by me on tn
, sofa, and let us have our tea together 1 en-
glad to find you are as good and sensible as
took you for"
And this was Alice Wilson's second wooing
J Mr.. Openshaw's will was too strong, and hi
t circumstances too good, for him not to carr
all before him. He settled Mrs Wilson in
comfortable house of her own, and made he
quite indepenent of dodgers. The little tina
Alice said with regard to future plans was il
Norah's behalf
"No," said Mrs Openshaw "Norah shall
f take care of the old lady as long as she lives
) and, after that, she shall either come and liv.
with US, or, if she likesit better she shall have
a provision for ife-for your sake, missus.-
No one who has been good to you OF the chic
shall go unrewarded But even the little one
will be better for some fresh stuff about her
Get her bright, sensible girl as a nurse: one
who won't go clubbing her with calf s-foot jelly
as Norah does; wasting good stuff outside thai
ought to go in, but will follow doctors direc
tlons; which, you must see pretty clearly
by this time, Norah won't; BECAUSE they give
the poor little wench pain. Now, I'm not
above being mesh for other folks myself. ]
can stand good blow, and never change color;
but, set me in the operating room in the intirm.
airy, and turn as sick as girl. Yet, if need
were, would hold the little wench on my
KEGS while she screeched with pain, if it were
to do her poor back good. Nay, nay, wench
! keep your white looks fer the time when it
comes-I don't say it ever will. But this I
| know, Norah will spare the child and cheat
the doctor if she can Now, / say give the
bairn year or two's chance, and then, when
the pack of doctors have done their best-and,
maybe, the old lady has gone-we'll have No
rah back, or do better for her.
The pack of doctors could do no good to
little Ailsie. She was beyond their power
But her father (for so he insisted on being
called, and also on Alice's no longer retaining
the appelation of mama, but becoming hence
forward mother) by his healthy cheerfulness
of manner, his clear decision of purpose, his
odd turns and quirks of humor, added to his
real strong love for the helpless little girl in
fused new element of brightness and conf
dence into her life; and, although her back
remained the same, her general health was
strengthened, and Alice-never going beyond
smile herself-had the pleasure of seeing her
child taught to laugh.
AS for Alices own life, it was happier than
it had ever been. fr. Openshaw required no
demonstration, expressions of affection from
ker. Indeed, these would rather have dis
gusted him. Alice could love deeply, but
could not talk about it. The perpetual re-
quirement of loving words, looks, and caresses,
of love, had been the great trial of her former
married life. Now, all went on clear and
straight, under the guidance of her husbands
strong sense, warm heart, and powerful will
Year by year their worldly prosperity increased
At Mrs Wilson's death, Norah came back to
them, as nurse to the newly-born little Edwin
into which post she was not installed without
pretty strong grafton on the Fart of the proud
and happy father; who declared that if he
t1,o4 i Il.
boy by falsehood, or to make him mesh either
in body or mind, she should 60 that very day
Nerah and Mr.. Openshaw were not on the
most thoroughly cordialterms; neither of them
fully recognising or appreciating the others
bst equalities.
This was the previous history of the Lanca-
shire family who had now removed to London,
and had come to occupy the House
They had been there about a year, when Mr..
Openshaw suddenly informed his wife that he
had determined to heal long-standnig feuds,
and had asked his uncle and aunt Chadwick to
come and pay them visit and see London
Mrs. Openshaw had never seen this uncle and
aunt of her husbands. Years before she had
married him, there had been quarrel. All
she knew was, that Mr.. Chadwick was small
manufacturer IN a country town in South Ian
cashire. She was extremely pleased that the !
breach was to be healed, and began making
to render their visit pleasant
They arrived at last. Going to see London
was such an event to them that Mrs Chadwick |
had made all new linen fresh for the occasion
from night-caps downwards and, as for
gowns, ribbons, and collars, she might have
been going into the wilds of Canada, where
never shop is, so large was her stock. A |
fortnight before the day of her departure for
London she had formally called to take leave
of all her acquaintances; saying she should
need all the intermediate time for packing up.
1t was like second wedding in her imagina-
ton, and, to complete the resemblance which
an entirely new wardrobe made between the
two events her husband brought her back
from Manchester, on the last market day be-
fore they set Off gorgeous pearl and amethyst
brooch, saying, "Lunnon should see that Lam
cashire folks knew a handsome thing when
they saw it."
For some time after Mr.. and Mrs. Chadwick
arrived at the Openshaws', there was no oppor-
tunity for wearing this brooch; but at length
they obtained order to see Buckingham
Palace, and the spirit of loyalty demanded that
Mrs. Chadwick should wear her best clothes in
visiting the abode of her sovereign. On her
return, she hastily changed her dress; for Mr..
Openshaw had planned that they should go to
drink tea and return by moonlight
Accordingly, about five o'clock, Mr.. and Mrs.
Openshaw and Mr.. and Mrs. Chadwick set off.
The housemaid and cook safe below, Norah
hardly knew where. She was always engross-
ed in the nursery, in tending her two children,
and in sitting by the restless, excitable, Ailsie
till she fell asleep. By-and-bye, the house
maid Betsy tapped gently at the door. Norah
went to her, and they spoke in whispers.
'Nurse! there's some one down stairs wants
you.''
"Wants me! Who is it y"
ga gentleman"
ga gentleman2 Nonsense p'
"Well man, then, and he asks for you,
and he rung at the front door-bell, and has
walked into the dining-room."
"You should never have let him." exclaimed
Norah, ssmaster and misses out 551
.'I did not want him to come in; but, when
be heard you lived here, he walked past me,
and sat down on the first chair, and said
Tell her to come and speak to me- There is
no gas lighted in the room, and supper is all
set OUT ~