Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-04-26
"Quocumque me Fortuna ferat, ibo hospes.n

charm in the earlier days Of my husbands S
first marriage which was wanting now.
But his joy was so evident, his tender
ness SO constant, that had little oppor-
tunity for such gloomy thoughts.
After our bridal night, until the day
before we were to 60 home for the first
time, l had not alluded again to his first
wife, or his child. 1t was while 1 was
packing my trunk, preparatory to an ear
ly start the next morning and he was
talking to me of my new house, that 1
looked up and asked
Where is little Laura? How has
she passed the time while we were getting
acquainted, and these weeks since our
marriage?"
suppose he interpreted the question
as sign of an awakening interest in his
child, for he bent over and kissed me be-
fore he answered.
"Thank you, Agatha. am glad you
think of Laura sometimes. She has been
spending the summer, so far, at my sis
ter's, but she will be there to welcome us
tomorrow. have taken care that she
should be taught in advance to love her
new mamma"
1t was beautiful home on the east
bank of the Hudson, to which we went
the next day. A handsome carriage met
us at the boat-landing, and the drive
wound from the river along the ascent of
wooded hill every moment revealing
new glimpses of beauty. A short turn
, brought us in sight of a stately stone
house.
j had not been prepared for SO splendid
sight 1t was perfect architectural in
spiration. The cminence on which it
stood commanded a fine view of the river,
flashing in sunlight. The rocks, left as
{ nature had hewn them out, were gay with
clambcred vines, and the air was full of
the odorous breath of sweet-scented fow-
3 crs.
II never saw anything half SO beauti-
t full" l whispered ccstatically to Hiram,
who sat enjoying my surprise.
AS the carriage stopped, a little girl
ran out on the piazza. l think l should
r have known her anywhere, from her like
ness to her mothers picture. She had
the same innocent, appealing blue eyes,
' the same transparent skin. the same fea-
lures only the gold of the hair was light
). er and SUMMER than the picture. 1t lay
G about the child's head in light ringlets,
such as you have seen in printings Of
cherubs. My husband stepped from the
carriage, and only paused to hand me out
r before the little creature was clasped in
his arms. r
81 AUu lS tudt HCW hSdiu
|. her ask, as he put her down.
h He nodded.
J. "May l kiss her %
/. "Surely."
v She came up to me little timidly.
s bent over her and received her caress pas
sivcly, but the kiss l gave her was a very
A cold one. Selfish heart that was, |
could not love her, for she was her moth
4 ers child, a daily reminder, 50 ! felt to
her father, of my dead rival.
. / should blush to describe all the Incl
!. dents of the year which followed. How
n patiently the poor little motherless girl
# motherlcss still, though | had taken her
3 mothers name and place-strove to pro-
d pitiate and please me. How cold was
e to her. I neglected none Of her bodily
Il needs, but to the little heart which asked
d me for bread, | gave only stone. Not
. once, in all those twelve months, did
|. gather her into my arms and kiss her
e not once bestow on her any voluntary
% carcss. ! wonder did not soften to her
0. for was myself expecting to give welcome
I to little child, who might be left moth
n erless as she had been. Perhaps this
only hardened me the more. If my child
Il was so left, questioned, would its father
y ever love it half as we'll as he loved Laural
She is his idol, ! said bitterly to myself
! his idol, as her mother was before her
" and ], who gave him in spite Of myscl
N such absorbing love, hold only secont