The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

Where i shall know OF DIlSs.
~ T Is not very wonderful story
X this history of mine-but | have ia
ken kind of melancholy pleasure in no
ting it down. Sometimes we think the
most of those things which are most re-
pugnant to U.S. and SO l love to go back
and dwell on the memory of little events,
which, when they stared me in the face,
caused me much uuhappiuess.
Now that my life is calm, it can do me
no i'll to look upon score of years which
are written down in the calendar of time
as past.
Hildred and l lived alone together in
a littls cottage but brief way from
Londsdals. This cottage and two acres
of land just in front oft, was all that we
had of the worlds goods, and with the
help ola gardner hired in the seed and
harvest times, we managed to raise veg
etnblos enough to supply ourselves and
many families in Londsdalc, who paid US
money for our products.
We sewed for the tailors, and the fur
nishing stores, and for families; and in
this way, by the exercise of economy, we
got along comfortably. We had always
been poor, so it was nothing new for us.
Our parents had been dead for some time
both had died on the same day of
frightful epidemic which ravaged the
whole country round about Londsdale.
Ny father had been day laborer on
tn. estate of Ravenwood, a fine cd do
main which occupied q high bluff over
hanging the broad bosom of the lake,
aud Hugh Rarenw ID, the owner of the
place. had been very kind to him always.
Mr.. Rav9nwool thought it would be best
for my father to take the cottage and q
piece of land for his labor. aud accord
ingly Gyue Cottage, as it was called, fell
into our hands. 1t was all paid for at
the time of my fathers death, and Hill
dred and l were very thankful to God
that home was left us. The good Hugh
RavenwoOd went to his rest but few
months after my parents, and his prop
ettY descended TO Paul, his son who was
sojourning at the French capital. So
Raronweod Hall was left in charge of
servants, as Paul was not expected homo
for three or four years.
After our parents left us, it was at first
hard getting along by ourselves. tits a
trying thing for woman to be thrown
upon her own resources Ia regard to
everything; she distrusts her judgment,
and fears to act as the instincts of her ma
ture counsel her, lest the ccol voice of
Of reason should condemn. felt this at
first very aeutely, bat after time l be-
came accustomed to it. / suppose if l
had been placed in any other situation in
life, l should have been adapted to it just
the same. After all, it doesn't make so
much difference vhsre we live, as how we
live; and God, who makes no distinction
between the rich and the poor, will set all
right at last. SO l do not regret that l
have lived poor all my life.
Mildred was three years younger than
Ia very beautiful, but very fragile girl.
I was proud of her; don't know as j. is
sin to love beauty: we love the flowers,
and the green trees, and the still skies,
and the clear waters, and think it all we'll.
So loved my sister for the beauty Of
her faceas we'll as the loneliness of her
spirit. ] was very glad that was older
than she, SO that could save her from
care, and she could look to nae foi every
thing, and con6de fully in my Judgment.
Itwas very pleasant to know that on me
poor and humble though was, devolved
the care of one of the fairest of the Lords
creations. Hildred could never have
gone into business details as I did, and it
was something to be grateful for, that 1
had been sent into the world first, there
by constituting me the legal as well as
nominal protector Of my sister.