Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-05
THE DAILY PRESS:
WEDNRBDAY.."....... .............FRBRUARY
LOSING AND WINNING.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Am
ORPHAN.
WRITTEN BY HERSELF.
WRITTEN BY HERSELF.
ICONCLuUED.l

he had zone to her. Their sorrow could not
be all bitterness when it had restored them
To each other. But I-where was my foun-
tain of consolation Death had taken the
bright, noble boy loved 30 well, and had
given me nothing. had right to weep
as l stood beside the dead and pressed my
hot, throbbing forehead TO the little cold
hand. He had gone from me to o land
where there would be no sin in loving.
Two weeks had passed since little An
drew's funeral, and from my seat under the
pines could see through the distant green
cry the CLEAN Of the white marble cross on
which his name was craven. l sat there,
where the shadows danced about as the sun
light glanced ftfully through the boughs,
looking listlessly at the beautiful land
scape, and thinking mournfully about my
life. Again had come to one of its mile
stones. Again, yet again must take up
my pilgrim staff and go onward, into what
strange scenes, amid what perils, who can
tell2 Others, thought, had friends, and
love, and home-sweet rest, safe shelter
Why had fate dealt so hardly with me?
was not want to repine, to be thankless and
discontented but this once had consented
to taste the cup of selfcommiseration. l
'ound its waters bitter.
"Gertrude"-it was Mr.. Lincoln's voice
Screened by the trees, had not seen him
till he stood before me.
81 have been looking for you" he said
~ want you to promise to remain with us.
Katherine says you talk of going away.
have told her the whole story of our ac-
quaintance. She knows how dear you be-
came to me once, how dear you will always
be to me. She loves you, too, Us one woman
seldom loves another, and it is her prayer
as well as mine that you will always live
with US and be our sister. Do not refuse
his eyes searched my face anxiously-"we
can not give you up. You shall be in all
things as if you had been born Katherines
sister or mine. will not ask for your an
swer now, lest you deny me. Perhaps my
wife may be better able to persuade you.
He stood there beside me for few mo-
ments after he had done speaking, but be-
y0nd q mere expression of my thanks l
made him no reply, and presently he went
away. Then l sat and thought for long
time. Here was all offered TO me for which
[ had been pining-with the want of which
had upbraided my fate Love-for knew
they would cherish me tenderly both of
them, Katherine as we'll as her husband
friends, and home-a safe shelter, from
which 1 need go out no more until should
exchange it for the home and the peace
which ore eternal. Should l accept all this?
Was it not too pleasant to be safe Was
not its very sweetness dangerous Could 1
answer for my own hearth Was l sure
that could live for years under the same
roof with Andrew Lincoln and never think
Of hours whose perilous happiness duty babe
me forget forever2 lie might be safe. Kath-
crime was beautiful, and she loved him but
where was the fine-linked armor with which
to shield my woman's heart?
No, l would not stay. They and / would
be better apart. Our paths led far from
each other. They might wander wherever
the flowers smiled or the birds beguiled
them. must 60 out into the world to do
my work. to earn the bread should eat
But the prospect which had looked so
gloomy to me an hour before seemed
changed. Things from which there is no
escape always confront us with a sterner
mien. Now that choice had been offered
me, and knew that ease and leisure might
be mine for the talking, could accept work
thankfully, recognizing its ministry as best
for my souls needs. l cheerfully made up
my mind, and then went into the house.
Mrs. Lincoln met me in the hall She put
her arms around me, and kissed me with
deeper tenderness in her manner than had
ever felt before.
"YOu are going to be our sister. Ger
trude 2"
"Gladly; am most thankful to owe
to friendship the tie which birth denied
me-"
"And we will be so happy, all of us to-
gether."
"But can not stay here will be your
sister always-your faithful, loving friend
while life lasts; but it would not make me
happiest to live here. must be independent,
even of those most value"
This was my firm resolution, and kept
to it. In vain were all their entreaties,
and at length they desisted from them. Per-
hape Katherine's womanly intentions inter-
preted my heart as no man, not even the
best man, could do. When she found that |
was not to bemoved, that would notgo their
way, she bestirred herself to help me go
my own. | owe to her the situation in which
am passing the midsummer of my life. l
am q teacher in q girls school, Young,
bright faces are around me-young hearts
gladden. me with their love. l have no hopes
or dreams of any other future in this world,
and, perhaps, for this reason / do my duty
the better.
1t is ten years since little Andrew died,
and Bella-now young lady Of sixteen
is the dearest of my pupils. Three years ago
she came TO me to be educated.
~ bring her to you because we can ex-
press how deeply we trust and honor you
in no stronger manner than by giving you
our only child TO train. Make her like
yourself and we shall be satisfied
These were her fathers words when he
put her hand in mine, and since then she
has been my chief comfort. She was too
young to remember the one sad episode in
her parents lives. | heard her Just now dis
cussing with two of her friends, as such
young things will, love and marriage.
heard her say,
"You are wrong, Fanny, if you think
people always cease to care much about each
other after little while. My father and
mother have been married twenty years.
and you can not find any two in their honey
moon who love each other more fondly OF
are happier"
She is right Andrew Lincoln and his
wife are happy, with that full blessednest
which only love can give. think of then
daily, and rejoice in their joy. For myself
If ones path lies always in the shadow one
will never die from stroke Of the sun
am content.
For this long ten years have never been
TO HazelWood. Its master and mistress
come to see me every summer, aud know