The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-30


hearthstone. And the mothers love was on
ly equalled by the affectionate pride the faith
er had in the little ones precocious mental
devclopement While the healthy, hearty
brothers and sisters all joined in petting and
pampering the puny one, to the utmost of
their ability. .4rsEs.15 ss
So worshipped and attended like little
queen, Thankful Brewster's childhood passed.
The first pang she had ever felt of real pain
came to her in the early days of her woman
hood, with the awaking of her heart. In
such loving service had she been nurtured in
her home, that she had never felt, witt any
degree of sadness, her helpless state. Her
present had been so joyous and complete that
she had never thought of the future, nor
dreamed that change could come. 1 do not
that she loved and was beloved, but marring
its intense and perfect bliss came the dark
thought that all was vain. Not for her were
the busy household cares of matrons in her
station. Not for her the dignities of wifehood
nor the joys of maternity. By the very in
tensity, the height and the depth of her great
love, she learned the lesson of sacrifice.
If she had loved David Nelson less, she
might selfshly have chained him to her side,
and, for a brief season, won by his despair
and passionate entreaty, she did consent to
become his.
She had all the persistence that belongs to
still, calm characters. Having made her
promise, she abided by it, though her own
judgment was not satisfied, though she saw
grave disapproval in her parents faces, won
der, surprise, indignation on those of her
brothers ani, sisters, and knew that the elder
Nelson's were as loud in their anger as COM
manner. After having spoken those words,
she would still have been the wife of David
Nelson, spite of her own convictions, and eve
rything else, had not the circumstances of her
lover been suddenly changed and the whole
course of his life altered.
One of those passionate outbreaks of relig-
ious fervor which sweep away the calm of
Puritanic life, and arouse it to Temporary V
exaltation at wide variance with its normal
conditions, became the cause of this disrup-
ton of ties meant to be unbroken but by
death.
Among those changed in heart and mind
during the course of this "revival," David
Nelson and Thankful Brewster were number
ed. One would have thought that their new
resolves, assumed with the fiery zeal of all
youthful proselytes. would have been but an
additional tie between them. 1t proved far
otherwise, though religious zeal, shared alike
by both, lay at the bottom of the voluntary
self-abnegation they practiced.
| David felt that his desires, and wishes, his
duty pointed to the work of missions, cling
ing still to his earthly love, as second, so he
was wont to say, only to that which he owed
to God, he was of opinion that Thankful
with her strong mind, her cultivated powers
| and her fervent piety. might still. be helper
| to, him in the new field of labor he had cho-
sen. But the giil was wiser. Even had hel
I friends consented to SO wild plan, she knew
it could never be. When David Nelson re-
nounced home and country, and the pleas
ures and blessings of civilization, to pursue
| his work, it was necessary that he should also
renounce his love.
Then the very persistence that had made
Thankful cling to him, in spite of the disap
proval of all their mutual friends, again came
in use. With white, calm face, and unfalter.
ing voice, she yielded him up and bade hin
/ ro MI ba loft tho bo1,S., aftar tlafY
rable interview, almost persuaded that sh,
had never loved him. But that night ah
that dreadful night As its hours dropped
1 slowly away, Mrs. Brewster counted them al
most, believing they were to be the last o
Thankful's life. The calmness with which
she had shut love from her life had its reac
ton, and nearly destroyed the frail principle
that bound her to the flesh. David knew
that she suffered, but the half was never toll
him.
Preparing for his work he strove sternly t.
put from him all worldly interests and aims
Since Thankful would not accompany him
his whole heart must be devoted to his tasks
He knew that he would be expected to take
wife with him to his field of labor; but h
tried not to think of that, or if he did TO clas
the necessity with the other duties of tn
work he had assumed
!, Nearly three years had elapsed before hi
J studies were completed, and he was accepte
and appointed to the mission in which h
E was to labor. During that time he an
| Thankful met frequently, as being the chill
> dren of neighbors and intimate friends, wa
( unavoidable. These meetings were har
8 trial to David Nelson, no doubt but no on
: ever knew what they were TO Thankful
t She was silent, but day by day she grew mol
n wan, and fragile, and ethereal. Those VIII
f loved her best predicted, sadly, that she woul
: not survive the imminent parting. 95ti
But woman's nature is strong in endurance
y No sweeter smile welcomed the bride of D.
s vid Nelson, whom he brought for brief sta
+ beneath the paternal roof just before he sal
s ed, than that of Thankful Brewster. n
.r God-speed was more fervcnt than hers, u
II tered with white lips, but in quiet, untrer
n bling voice. She wept at parting from Il
e friend of her childhood, and the lover of h
II youth but it was solemnly, as one weeps
I the bedside of the dying, and no lingering
n passion gave utterance to her tears.
1t was over at last A solemn quiet reig
3 ed where that sad excitement of parting h
m been. But, strangely enough, the utter ia
IT. ure of Thapkfups strength, that had be
5? looked for did not take place. On the co