Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-24

Sent LOT the proprietor, ana agaln my
name vouched for me- What il Is to have
family il the land "But whsre in the
world, Mr.. Edward" he dema1ied, did
you get that child p I told tue story
lie shook his head, but said nsthing.
sent for chambermaid tQAconss to
my room. | begged Of her totake. the
child and care for it during tksnisht.-
At first she would hear to Dathing. [ I
put my hand in my pocket. .Agave her
rldicnlously la.ge bribox.V | was /
Young and green. She to- bid.
But sure an ye're NO GIN
tleman that'ud be afther II e. r 'la-
by9 Holy Virgin! My 4saacter 'ud |
be ruined intirelyl" ~
assured her of the rectltuds-o Of my in
tentions, and sent her of, but Sue was at |
my door in the morning before 4 had left I
my bed, and nothing would indNee her to
keep ler charge another instant.
took the stage for my country home
the driver recognized the laa he had
driven so often over the same road
How you've grown, to be sup, Mr.. Ed
ward Your folks won't know you, Pm
thinking, specially with that baby in
your arms. Seems to me yos are getting
to be family man LEETLE toe early"
laughed and took my seat But as
We began to near my home grew terri
bly, nervous and cowardly. The house
stood back some distance fron the road,
and as | walked up from the.gate saw
the whole family gathered On the piazza
to welcome me. / think | should rather
have walked up to the cannon's mouth.
My sister started down the Steps to meet
me, then stopped. / stepped up on the
piazza. My mother pale as ieath, sunk
into her chair. My pretty cousin, Ella,
on whom had always. fromfound jack
ct days, been sweet in sneaking sort of
way, darted an annihilating glance at me,
and ran to support my mother. My faith
er advanced.
"What do you dare. to briag here, you
|. shameless young rascal? u this place
--.n He broke DOWN Hargry that
utterance was absolutely POSSIBLY. Al
any other time | should Nave shouted
with laughter at the ludf Jus spectacle
he presented; now | OF FASTENED t.
4 s. foa "a my boy, and my faith
er I'd from hissrase sufficiently
i We. .Is only son, tAoagh did hea
him through Bis white beart
s'Gonfulslded spooneyn
4 II adseatised far and wide to no pur
Il pose But my baby grew SO in tn
affections Of all the household that | ha
! no other steps to take We named h,
Perdida, and 1 left her with my mothe
81 When returned, year after year, four
her each time growing much healthei'
r and prettier, and she each time manifes
l. ted an affection for me charmingly
gitimate-for was she rot" My baby!
: AS such cherished her.
j She was six years old when / left We
=. Point for active service. After that
S led wandering and adventurous life Fl
S many years " by food and field" an
:. baby" wrote me, at first often. = Her fir
: letters were curious specimens-ha
: written, half printed, AMI sometimes h
:! meaning eked out with rude drawings
l In those days she was charmingly pei
: sonal 81 do so and SOL think SO an
] sol loved 50 and So Bat years cham
e ed her caligraphy, and, las the feelir
4 of her letters. Now, il her charmin
: characters, stood, your mother does
, and so;" or, "yeur sister thinks ar
r loves" etc. My. mother wrote; "W
4 can't call Perdida your baby, any longe
She does not permit the title, and yo
t were you to see her, could scarce imagi'
+ that our fair young queen was ever
!, baby. ] am too old to be enthusiast
= but our darling is surely the lovelie
L, vision these eyes hare assfr rested on
y She makes hearts ache Gut as yet the
I pain is vain. We tried t.. be so caution
7 but she has somehow Earned about h
finding, and it is bitter knowledge to Il
5. proud little heart. It may be that tn
It, makes her melt only to us. Will "
% never come home to see US and her 2"
o 1t was in the spring ol the year 1e5
le was on my way home 10 America. !
elderly gentleman, whal had evident
= been a soldier, occupied The state roc
7 next to mine. A similarity of taste a
:" feeling brought US much together duri
At the voyage. Ee had been absent fre
ert his country many years.
& When left it" said he to me,
O. meant never to revisit the shores that h
id been accursed to me. | lest there I
ID wife and child under the cruelest circu
o. stances could not remain. tboug
III then / could never again see the spot Il