The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-24

the young man gave me---a glance in which
pride seemed vainly struggling with clus.
ter Of inrth-sparkles.
"Very well, sir we will try aEdnot come
to want"
That was all he said; but the cool self
possession Of his manner made me feel al
though had undertaken to drive q nail and
had pounded my fingers.
had always been dcrnonstativc toward
my children-the elder as well as the young
er. Minnie had never lost her right to he,
fathers knee, nor did she ever meet me in
the morning or part from me at night with.
out kiss. This was denied her now. Hoo1
child. it was the sorest trial Of all. Once OF
twice she clung tearfully to me in my stern
ness. and, reachingnp to clasp my neck with
her white arms, tried'to bend my lips tc
hers. No. 4 promised her never 4 kis.
while lived. r...
Women are strange creatures. There was
wife, who had entirely sympathized with me
as supposed, absolutely giving aid and
comfort to our rccreant daughter. verify
believe tl.at, long before the wedding day
came, she was as thoroughly interested in
the whole affair, as though Minnie had been
about to marry the best business man in
town. Little use was it for me to tighten
my purse strings, and direct that the child
should have no marriage outfit Of wardroheS,
pillow cases, counterpanes, and the thousand
and one ct ceteras in which mothers take
such pleasure. In spite Of me, but surrep-
titiously, Minnie was well provided for l am
sure. remember that the shopman's bills
fer some ten months after seemed unusually
full, both in number of items and footing Of
columns; and. !, shrewdly suspected that wife
had arranged with the tradesInen to have ar
ticles scattered along through the months
She always was good financler.
The ceremony was performed in church -
| was present, lest my absence might give
too great notorety to the family jar. Useless
The whole town having long since teen
made acquainted with the state Of affairs -
the BRIDES beauty and the bridegrooms pop,
ularity--set many eyes upon me with the
sparkle ofcritcsm in them. ..s,..
He needn't look so savage-like, muttered
a erutf old yeoman behind me there amt
a lipeler young fellow anywhere hereabouts
than Jenny Brun an though Minnie Be
purity as kink, it's good match--a real
baro aid So
Long, long months went by after the mar
riage tedious, unhappy months to me. !
knew was being soured by the self imposed
restraint on the affectionate part of my nature
Minnie came to her old home sometimes
Once or twice she she begged for the return
of the old love, the ord horhe-kiss. No. NJ,
daughter was happy in her husband, happy
in her new home But saw very plainly
that the bliss of the old bone was lest to
her.
Nearly two years went back into the pas /,
-hadowed in this manner, when little hu
| man blossom was laid ir. its cradle A little
struggling, wee thing--another little Minnie.
Poor me |. Here was another influence to
be stemmed, as boats stem anoth,y gust and
another wave. But I braced myself; and
when had been forced INTO Mnnie's cham
Der, stood over the pale child with the little
one on her arm, and heard the faint voice
add to the syeetly b, seeching look, DO kiss
me, father 7 shook my head and went
out.
One daya strange change came over the
young mother, alarming the experienced,
and giving to the ply sician that ominouS air
OF grave mystery which strikes into the sotl
OF the loving. | moved about full of fear
and guilty distress. The symptoms became
more and more alarming-she was sinking
was called to her bedside as that of my
first dying child As bent over the white
face, almost translucent with weakness, illl-
mined by eyes all undmmed by illness, my
Minnie gave me the oldtimed glance oflove,
and throwing up her hands as to clasp my
neck. said family, but oh so earnestly
Kiss me, father p
bent down to my daughter, my first
born, and we'wept long together the strong
!ather and the family breathing child.
What do you think Minnie did Why
she got well again, and in two months was
as musical as lark, and as gay, looking af-
ter the little Minnie Ike pretty mother as
she was.
However, the ice was fairly broken, and
was my old fatherly self, ever after. Minnie
even ventured after time, to make merry
at my expense over the fact that not only
was Jenny Br, the best of husbands, lut
one of the wel.known Of American writers.
think was very great fool.
The White. House iia lsGl.