The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-12

lay then 90 glad and happy, and wondered
If, after all. 1t wasn't dream but there
was the cradle, and the little yelvety hand,
I could just touch with my outstretched
arm.
BY and by I was strong again, and Mr.
Oycrton helped me to walk out into the sum
mer sunshine, which was not half 80 fair and
sweet and warm as that which prisoncd
On my memory. and which came when the
curtains were parted in the dim room.
Just before the baby came, Mr.. 0verton
brought me the "Vision Of Don Rvderick. v
and the lady Of the Lake." and my very
soul swan in ideal beauty, and grew wild
with chiyalric deeds. 1t was with many
days hesitancy. and with much fear Of de-
feat, that I intimated that my new treasure
must be called Ellen Douglass, instead OF
one hunted from sacred history, as all fami'
ly nomenclature had been +, and to my utter
CONSERVATION, Mr.. 0yerton replied
eyes, Molly, have been thinking OF 1t,
but feared you would not be pleased and
am certain II would have little on Its baptis-
NAL day in wy Of cups or spoons from the
relations. We must choose between the
two,-a name to suit ourselyes, or run the
risk of Dorcas or Serepta, and the silver"
So il was called Ellen Douglass, and we
felt the holy horror Of It's ancestors. mater.
nal and paternal, when the good man utter
ed it, and its faint, pleasant sound lifted il
self to the severe outlines OF the walls OF the
old-iashioncd church and swept over the
long black lines Of Russia pipe which modl.
fed the winter dir and served Tor the spiders
to suspend their silken drapery upon in the
summer time.
But the tones of the clergyman's voice as
he let the name slip over his lips in deep.
rich cadensed sound, revealed the fact that
it stirred the human and sympathetic in his
own soul. and that he read over metered
books besides the psalms and hymns OF DIR.
Watts.
think ! never ycnemtcd him 30 much as
ut that time. He had been Theological
Epitomc OF goodness and wisdom before !;
now, his heart, as well us soul, seemed lift.
ed to my highest ideal standard of perfect
man.
There was no silver goblet, no pap spoon,
or coral and bells from its grandparents.
They came often to see il, but looked pitiiul-
ly into its chubby face, as II il had been
marked with some unnatural Disagreement,
and always called il :" the child"
The good minister gave it Bible, with
gold clasps ON which was engraved the name
in full. and the elder relatives sighed and
one said
"The days when the prophiits Of Israel shall
become us one of the world are upon US,
but may the Lord restore him; and We
did not say amen.
This new love which came to me was one
for legitimate expression, and 1t was enjoyed
to the fullest. All the pretty names OF
words, waters and blossoms were chanted
over its cradle; all the bird notes which
could be keyed by my voice, were uttered
for baby in the stiffness Of our own room.
In truth 1t become the exclusive recepta-
Gle of all the affection tha twas awakened in
my soul.
Mr.. Overton began very soon to neglect
the child,-to neglect me, at least l iho't
80, and 10 buried my heart in the cradle
deeper and deeper each day. II sometimes
felt the absence of his pleasant glance, the
~ a II 1,.-al ,Lo xa,,o,,hr,,ca
osoy s,n,,e. .s. ... auu &c S'u"Ia ,uv ho.r, .'
Tho uaar oro,t s,;Iiv away from ma. and
luz y.n ''uP. ,,i.. ' ar:,vn"J With her roses
and golden wheat heads, but there was no
sweetness, no beauty for me. had learned
the incompletencss Of my life, and wept
over the child whose ears had taken In 10
many sounds of song.
a., u r,,so. nU' "an -. ;eainns of his child NV
sa",har ut . ~ sn, tha Iack of Love between The
ni.t notno, odI sn"S,ar I ~ and ,on,nr.J ,be hint
.a'.'i "n. u".bhi, bshSi,,aoJ nama ,ba, s,ond
,ha' was ,no u''na''o"'' ""' '"' '''''
between 'nem; . 500. couc,.,vo-mv.
my mo.hcr ,,n nalnv r.,s, % -, a,,'',,;an,
people, put SUI u'u hY' ,a ,u'n, 10 ., - ono
NO one can tei, now io"Ssu ~ ,v.' liz nv
woId OF ahec'ion lroii h'. p,o',J'' .n M
had never uttered one' sNc wnen .ne Ju
tains parted over mo 'hn' ,,'n' n'oin"S'
and to comfort myself reuouoicu my cnucaI'
ments to my child, until hc' my husoanu,
said bitter ana reproaciiui wo,us 70 ne Ior
my silly iondness, ana s'iu no hau nc'c,
heard such foolishness from ms motier, anu
she was model. Every harrled Inih
mother IL, believe iie never u''er,N a".
thing more positive, ana easier receiver s
fact, than that.
But 1t was very bitter TO near ! was
good housekcepcr,l was certain ana hau that
reputation among my friends, but u was
astonishing how many things Mr. o'erton
found out OF order, and how many new re-
quirements he made OF me. ho was as
exacting US u nc iau pcch porn = ivgJ'unS ',1 uS
machine. on now wre,cncu ! snouiu nav, nav
been Dnt tor my papy ~ ,sh3, mas i2 D'' 'o'"
iort sNe ooai anI ae IT, .'S S.a, w ay. n sbod.
canno' 'a,k ...,.u ., ."o.o o,Lnos. @ Io, ,hanL
aoWs, nay, y, u.a .nd ,a,, ,h. al, .west
nel,tn, 'ney ' ,i =, ""I " ha.m,,,ar with NV
sunSh'ne ., o. y, 'a,.n an,a, :" .nd hro"obt hack nv
newly'lhado ansei, "'s -. . .,,;II.;,, ~ ernra.,
nuspa"u w 70 'o'. "" I;,,is hand. g,.g r;,iJ in
s,ons .n", ,,,,,,i"d haa,,v and cn1ld no more
.nclr ullnPieu 'ea.3 ,ha ,;,,ls shelly lin.
ionuie my oWh. "nu 'no " 10y II