Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-11-29

Impressed on child's m'nd Tor any consid-
eration.' t .r...t.
you are in q strange wuy of thinking
What possesses you to 60 on 10 this strain |!
said the husband, beginning to feel slightly
snnoyed. eI... .... ...l..
As Just intimuted. replied the lady. mem
ory often helps Us TO clearer seeing in the
present. was sensitive child, and can
understand how impressions may. fix them
selves SO strongly as to defy times work Of
obliteration. ] was hurt by a few sharp
words when not older than the boy sitting
over there, and the remembrance of the pain
produced is with me to-day. The ady who
said the sharp words msy not have thought
Of them again. But, [ can never forget. I
meet her, occasionally, but always tind my
self unpleasanty affected In her company.
for thought will 20 stealng backward, and
fancy reproduce one little scene that have
tried, more than hund ed times, to bury in
!crgetfulness.'
'Why, Anne! exclaimed her husband,
'what a confession. | never suspected you
Of holding malice after that fashion,
1T isn't malice. Edward. | Dear the lady
no ili-will. would serve her in onythipg
that was right and in my power. But she
gave me 50 deeply cut a wound that it has
not healed to this day. Is that my fault, or
hersp r
'It is the faul o. the flesh that doesn't
heal with healthy quickness. Is it not so,
Annen said the husband.
No excuse for wanton cutting and thrust
ing, but strong argument against such out
RACES upon the weak and exposed was IA
swered, If the vital power is weak, 81
much the greater reason for not assault!ng
it,
You are warm on the subject, my dear!
'And with reason,' replied the ~ife. LET
me give you clearer comprehension Of my
state of mind. One day, when not over
eight years of age, was visiting little
girl, the child Of neighbur. She had a
wax doll Of rare beauty, which, in CON-
plmen. to her visitor, she was permitted TO
bring forth from its sufe repository In
bureau drawer. Many injuncions Of care
fulness were given. and some threats OF con-
sequences added should the doll receive 10
jhry. My little companion let me holl the
baby effigy on my lap, and surely. no living
baby was every held with tender care. !
felt very happy. My heart glowcd with a
loving warmth that quickened every pulse,
and gave pleasant tarils to the most uti-
mate regions Of sensation. c,n remember,
even now, the delight of that t'me--the
sweetness of my enjoyment. 'NrwIst me
hold baby said my little friend, after | had
nursing dolly for some time, and size reach
ed out her hands to taka it. In liiiing it
from my lap one arm caughtin string, and
a sudden jerk following, dolly fell to the
floor. A loud cry Of anguish filled the air II
moment afterward, for one Of doly's fair
cheeks was crushed in. and her nose hope
lessly broken, | lifted the ruined beauty,
and stood holding it in my hand, when the
mother of my companion, alarmed by the
distressing cries of her child, came running
up to the room in which we had been play
ing. She saw the disfgurad doll in my
hand, and ins'onlly her eyes flashed angrily.
$50 you've broken it for herr she ex-
claimed, with cutting severity Of tone. u
expected as much. wish you'd stay at
home, and not come over here destroying
my child's thngsl' 4.t
Il laid the doll in chair without answer
ing a word, and went home. As left the
room heard the little girl say, ut wasn't
her fault, mamma. She didn't do it, There
was justification in that, but il did not
change my state toward the lady, nor soothe
my hurt feelings. wen, home and cried
about It all the afternoon, Then succeeded
bitter dislike of this lady. ] could not bear
to meet her. She was in my mind, the per-
sonifcation of moral ugliness. | can re-
member havir G often felt pity for her child
that she had such mother!' t.asn
But, was al this rightp interrupted the
husband. 'The lady spoke in sudden, blind
passion, and you should have f"rgotten it,
Il am not justifying myself, Edward was
answered.; 'and as to forgetting, that 10 no
act Of the will. wish | could forget; I've
tried often enough, .heaven knows! Il is
the mental condition that was produced, to
which am drawing your aitention-the
fact of bending fair-growing twis from its
uprightneas, and thus marring the tee by
deformiiy. was sensitive, proud child, u
YOU will-fond OF approval, and keenly alive
to wrong or injustice; she was woman,
standing. in power and in reason, far above
me. Ia sudden misjudgment, she thrust at
me angrily, and wounded me to the quick.
was not to blame. The fault was with
her. She assaulted me at the weakest point,
and the injury | sustained was irreparable.
you surprise me, Anne said the hus-
band, looking concerned, lis it possible that
child's memory can SO grow into d woman's
life and consciousness. I could not have
believed it,
DO you remember the reply ofa boy
when asked why rtain tree had grown
crooked. Somebody must have trod on II
when it was young That woman trampled
on me when was young, and something
| in me has grown crooked. ! have grieved
over it many times. but grie. doesn't change
the deformity. II has SO happened that this
lady has always lived near me, and that
neiehborly associations have brought us to.
gether. meet her occasionally, and she
| is, id her way, an excellent person--kind.
hearted and liberal to poor people, less sell
Ash than am, better woman In the main
| .rhans. vat am crook ed to her: we can.