The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-06-11

the luSneO crimson OF his cheek and the fe-
verish brightness of his eyes made her shud-
der.
She did not like to question the physician
for she feared his answer there was some
thing in his manner that gave her anxiety.
One day the doctor questioned him very mi
nutely about his cough and other symptoms,
and taking out his watch repeatedly count
ed his pulse, then on pretext of writing a
prescription he followed her into an adjoin-
ing room, and addressed her, " Pray tell me
Mrs. Brown, wasn't your husbands mother
consumptive? Do remember rightly?
Poor Alice, the question froze the blood
in her veins and her pa!lid lip betrayed her
terror.
He pitied her evident distress and said
kindly, though with certain degree Of sang
troid that some of his profession acquire
unconsciously, perhaps.
4" beg you will not be alarmed! These
bad symptoms will, perhaps, disappear in a
few days. But these hereditary diseases
are sometimes n little obstinate to manage!''
But the symptoms grew every day moro de-
cidcd, and the quick eye of affection saw
how it must be, but she taught her breaking
heart to bear on in silence, t. swallow her
bitter tears that he might be spared every
unnecessary pang. She knew that the guest
which sooner or later crosses every thresh-
old was entering, and that not all her wealth
of affection, nor all the ties which bound
him to her and their boy could buy for her
beloved one q single hour of life. But
when it was all over, and she lifted her worn
white face from his Gying pillow and parted
the damp hair from the beloved brow-ah
then did poor Alice Brown give way to a
grief that seemed to palsy heart and brain,
and for many weeks she lay in sort of stu
por with rare lucid intervals for the ex-
hanstion of her physical powers by fatigue
and anxiety had made her too, victim of
the fever.
But her naturally strong constitution tri-
umphed, and, contrary to all expectation,
she recovered. She felt at first as if it were
easier to die than to live-but people in real
life don't often die of broken hearts, and so
she came to the hard realities Of life feeling
as If all interest in them was gone forever.
But there was her child yet to live for
his Chi oh ! for his suke she would brave
all, suffer all. And she remembered how
often she had heard him say that their
Harry, should have an education. His faith
er couldn't give him wealth, but he would
educate him for useful, honorable man -
and she resolved it should be done. But
. how to Do it: Her husband had left sever
al hundred dVn,.lts in the Bank, and their
pretty litilc cottage was all paid for. 81
would rent the cottage but tho money She
was determined should not be disturbed for
the present-und how should she support
herself and Harry? lie was nearly ten
! years old, an impulS!ve, generous, affection
ate boy, very lovable now, but just the age
to. be led astray. Then his health had al
ways been delicate and the doctor had re-
commended the country air, and now she felt
that he would need it for his moral good
also.
So after many a heart struggle and prayer
she concluded to send Harry to some friend
: in the country, and she would seek for her
self and for him.
But what could she do? One advised her
to keep school, another to take boardcrs,
but these with other suggestions she refused
for reasons which seemed sufficient to her,
and finally, to the chagrin and surprise of
some of her friends, concluded to 60 out as
a nurse, for few years. Nurses wages
were high, in no other way could she earn
so much. 1t required all her fortitude, all
OF her mothers love TO decide upon it, but
once decided she was firm, though there
were many to tell her she was degrading
herself - the condition of II mcuial and she
found searching test, here of what there
was in true Friendship in her ''tear i' g
hundred friends.
But those she most priced saw the good
sense of her arrangements, and loved her
for her energy and moral courage. Harry
was only twenty miles away, and she often
b ard from him and sometimes rode to see
his pale cheeks growing roster every day
and by-and-by she grew quiet and contented
with her lot in life.
When not engaged in business her home
was with some friends whose pleasant coun-
try-seat was only ten minutes drive from
the city. 1t was happy home, and though
it brought back almost painfully, sometimes,
all that had once been hers, now gone fos-
ever, yet here her happiest hours We're passed;
aud 1t was here that the conversation,
sActchcd above took place.
Mr.. Linwood and his wife had gone to
visit friend in the city, and when they
returned Mrs. Browns eyes, red and swo-
len with weeping, betrayed her, and she
was forced to tell them all. And now she
concluded, '.what would you do -
wood, I'D do something to teach these con-
temptiblc sossips better fashions -
"Do!" laughed her husband opening his
his feet, man fashion, upon the table. edo
do nothing at all, and care less -
"That's very easy to say! but suppose il
was you. Suppose it was |, how would
you like it? Let US substitute Mrs. LinwooI
=. ! >,
and sitting down by her husband, she Grew
dawn the corners Of her rosy mouth and
sobcrcd her merry face, and told the story
about herself initiating little Mrs. Paroquct
so perfectly that her husband laughed til!
the tears ran down his face.
'How do you like the sound Of it ?" she
inquired dcmurely when she had finished.
H. evidently did not like it much, for he
fidsetcd iu his his chair, but quoted Oracu-
lar y; GA big lie you know is like big fish
thrown upon dry land; let it alone and it
will die of ltself.''
"But some people will believe lie, if it
is ever so big"
''Peghaps so, but what would you Go about
it::'
ooh let me see I'd 90 to this Mrs.
Clackett, and Fd-l'd find out all about
how Mrs. Smith talked about Mrs. Brown
"Well, ladies the horse and chaise shall
be at your disposal Tomorrow morning
thero'll be fun enough for one day, III bt
bound. Just frghten them out of tAeil
tongues, that's all.
"Oh ! won't it be fun - and Mrs. Lin.
wood clapped her hands and Iaushcd-a
merry ringing laugh it was-''P!l frighter
them half out of their wits. Come, cheer
up, Alice! Well sec show Mrs. Smith
talked about Mrs. Brown"
And they went; first to see Mrs. Paroquct
whose face becom, the color other clp rib
bons when Mrs. Linwood told her errand
and grew pa as it was possible for person
of her decided color to be when she pro
ceeded, in grave business like manner
that almost provoked Mrs. Brown into I
violent fit of laughter, to say:
"The charges brought against my friend
here, in your conversation yesterday, at IN,
house, were of very grave character; an'
my husband thought it best before putin!
the case in the hands of a lawyer, to &c
\ &