Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-05-24
NV HUSBANDS CHILD.
A second Wife's Story.
BY MARTHA II. WILLARD.
Ihad little daughter.
And she was given to me
To lead me gently backward
To the Heavenly Fathers knee. slr


times had wondered, blamed. laughed at,
such marriages How many times said
that would remain single, if Fate So
pleased, to the end of the chapter bat
never marry one whose first love had been
Given to another-who offered me the
ashes of heart. A second hand gar
ment, said was bad enough still, were
it, choice between that and freezing, one
might wear it; but not a second hand
husband. Better freeze than warm ones
being at such fire. l had said all this,
and yet had welded Hiram Woodbury..
When | first met him, however, / did dot
know that he had ever been married.
Our acquaintance came about coldly
enough. | was staying with my old school
mate, Elizabeth Simms, now Mrs. DR..
Heushaw. ! had heen there for week,
enjoying myself heartily. 1t was a pleas
ant change from the clearinghouse IN
the city, where I lived in three rooms and
a aband-box, with my guardian and his
wife, to Lizzie's pleasant and spacious
country house. with the wide and hand
somely laid out grounds around it, and
free range of wood and hill in the back
ground I had thought at first that /
should presently weary of the monotony,
but each day of the seven had grown
more charmed, until I began to believe
myself in love with nature.
"I like it," I said to Lizzie, throwing
myself down, after long mornings ram
bic, in the easy chair in her sitting-room.
She looked at me fondly, with her kind
blue eyes. ..s.fGo.. Il
Il knew you would like it. Look at
Yourself in the glass Agatha Raymond.
Sec that strong, we'll rounded form--those
great black earnest eyes-the forehead
with more brains than beauty-the dark
face with the crimson blood flowing thro'
its olive! Does it look to you like the
face and form of one to be contented with
confinement and fashion ?' I laughed.
II never had the means to be fashion.
able, Lizzie. My poor five hundred
year has to find me food and shelter, be
sides garments. Even if I had it all to
spend in personal adornment, could only
stand in the outer vestible of the temple
Of fashion. ... er bly-sr., 3, 81.
"If you have five thousand a year, in
stead of five hundred, fashion and frivoli
ty would never fill your heart Tt is ;
good, honest true heart; although it il
proud and wayward, know it we'll. ]
can see just the kind of future you ought
to have. You should marry man who
is a worker in the strife of life, one whom
you could silently strengthen and help
You would be at rest then. Failing tt
secure such husband, you will have to
make career for yourself. Some way
the world must be better for your living
in it, or you will know your peace
Imade no answer, but her words touched
responsive chord. I felt that she hat
painted the future which I needed bu
would it ever come? / had never yet scel
aman whom / could look up to, and trus
entirely, fearing nothing earthly SO lonl
as he was mine. Kind and good as Liz
zie's husband was, | could never have
married him. have never seen the maj
! could have married. 1t was not likely,
thought, that I should ever see one. I
not, must do something myself. Wha
path would open for-what and where
| looked listlessly from the window.
man was coming up the walk, dusty am
stained with travel, carrying heavy port
manteau; man not handsome exactly
nor exactly graceful but with good face
a face expressing dignity, kindness an
much power; the ability to command him
self aud others.i aU nl-- ynM
mo other than Hiram Woodbury., th
Doctors fast friend, and certainly the las
man ! expected to see to-day. Hcis al
ways welcome to Dick, though, and {
course that makes him to me-" Bl,g.i7.
Iran upstairs to comb my tangled hail
and when came down, Mr.. Woodbur
was engaged in an animated conversatio
with the doctor and Lizzie. He was
tall, powerful man Of thirty-five, wit