The Van Buren press., 1861-04-03
Msgistellanv.
MY HUSBANDS CHILD.
A Second Wife's Story.
BY MARTHA h. WILLARD.
had little daughter,
And she was given to me
To lead me gently backward
The heavenly fathers knee.

The heavenly fathers knee.
LowuL
l had married a widower. How many
times had wondered. blamed, laughed at
such marriages. How many times said
that would remain single, if fate so pleas
ed, to the end of the chapter but never,
never marry one whose first love had been
given to another-who offered me the ashes
of a heart. A second hand garment, had
said, was bad enough still were it choice
between that and freezing. one might wear
it; but not a second husband. Better
freeze than way m ones being at such fire.
| had said all this. and yet l had welded
Hiram Woodbury.. When first met him.
however. did not know that he had ever
been married.
Our acquaintance came about oddly en-
ough. was staying with an old school
mate. Elizabeth Sims. now Mrs. DR.. Hen
shaw had been there a week enjoying
myself hear:ilv. 1t was q pleasant change
fr~.- :as hnardine house in the city, where
lived in three rooms and bandbox, with
my guardian and his wife, to Lizzie's pleas
ant and spacious country house, with the
wioe, handsomely laid out grounds around
it, and the free range of the woods and hills
at the back ground. l had thought at first
that should presently weary of the monot.
ony. but each day OF the seven had grown
more and more charmed, until l began to
believe myself in love with nature.
like it," l said to Lizzie. throwing
myself down, after long mornings ram
bic. in the easy chair in her sitting room.
She looked at me fsndly, with her kind,
blue eyes.
II knew you would like it. Look at
yourself in the glass, Agatha Raymond.
See that strong, well-rounded form-those
great, black. earnes: eyes-the forehead
with more brains than beauty-the dark
face with the crimson blood glowing through
its olive Does it look to you like the face
and form OF one to be contented with con-
6nement and sloth and fashion :" ]
laughed.
II never had the means to be fashiona-
BILE. Lizzie. My poor five hundred q year
has to find me food and shelter, besides gar.
ments. Even if / had all to spend in Der.
sonal adornment. could only staud in the
outer vestibule OF the temple of fashion" 4"
g Ii you had five thousand year, instead
OF five hundred, fashion and frivolity
would never ill your heart. 1t is good,
honest. true heart /; although it is proud
and wayward, know it we'll. 1 can SEE
just the kind of future you ought to have
You should marry q man who is . worke,
bold, strong worker in the strife of life,
one whom you could be proud of and look
up to-: one whom you could silently
strengthen and help. You would be at res,
then. Failing to secure such . husband
You will have to make . career for your
self Some way the world must be better
for your living in it. or your heart would
know no peace.
maize no answer. but her words touched
responsive chord. felt that she had
painted the future which needed bn,
would 1t ever come had never yes seen
. man that could look up to and trus,
entirely, fearing nothing earthly so long q
he was mine. Kind and good as Lizzie q
husband was. could never have married
him. l had never seen the man could
have married. 1t was not likely, thought,
that ever should see one. If mot. must
do something myself. What path would
open for me-what and where / looked
listlessly from the window. A man was
coming up the walk. dusty and stained with
travel, carrying heavy portmanteau-a
man not handsome exactly. nor graceful
exactly. but with good face. face expires
sing dignity, kindness and much power :
the ability to command himself and othars.
:" Who is -" asked. beckoning Liz.
zie to the window.
No other than Hiram WOODBURY.. the
Doctors fast friend. and certainly the last
man expected to see. to-day. He i Al
ways welcome to Dick. though, and Of
course that makes him 90 to no."
ran up stairs to comb my hair. and
whom ! came down. Mr.. Woodbury. was
engaged in an animatsd discussi,a with ths
Doctor and Lxxis. Hs was tall, power.
fully-mads man Of thirty ave. With lint
ish brown hsir. bold ard sons~hst 9ess-
i've features, And eyss of Saxon bls3 /
learned sfteevard, that - was ) rsmarkabls
snschanical genius, and hsa rsalixeded :
handsome fortune BY soma Of his iuvsa-
tions; also that b sss ssalous rsfoeaasr
leediug the vsa of eypu9 neble work.
II nd H0k &n06o1 .tk.n..~ e.