The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-18
Kitty Dayton.

Al hfteen Kitty Dayton was beautiful
model tor sculptor-if a classical shaped
head set upon white neck, which looked as
II turned from block of ivory, exquisite
bust and arms, and a slender figure, whose
very motion was graceful and easy, could
make her so. Perhaps We might miss from
the eyes the depth and tone OF expression
that would have given life and beauty to less
perfect face; but be that as it may, she was
faultess in form and feature. So thought
Frederick Manning at the end of one of his
long summer college vacations, when he met
her, school girl, on visit to her aunt, in
his native village. Kitty was an only child.
Her mother, widow in very delicate health,
clung with all feeble mothers idolatry to
her only comfort.
Fred studied law and got to be man :;
Kitty grew to be past seventeen, and more
and more beautiful. Frederick asked the
mother to give him her only child-her life
as young men ask such ,hings-quite as
an everyday affair, matter of course. She
taltered and shrank from the parting. Prac-
teal Aunt Sally said, "Your health is not
good; you can not live always; the child
will be alone; let her marry, and have hus-
band to take care of her." True again 1t
cut deeply and wounded sore!y; but the
chid's interest must be considered before her
own happiness. "But would he take care
of her." Mothers heart, do not be too Gu
ricus. So, with many tears on her part, and
many promises on his to watch over, and
guard, and always, always love Kitty as she
had done, to keep her SO, so tenderly, she
gave him her treasure They were married,
and in less than a year the meek mother
folded her hands and died, and Kitty was
left alone with her inexperence- only her
love and womanly instinct to guide her
Poor little Kitty.
Frederick was-we have told what he was.
Young and untried, We know; aquick in
tellect and rare appreciation of the beautiful,
that We have seem accustomed to adulation
like most Of his sex, somewhat vain and self
ish and exactng, bat brilliant and agreeable
no, tocinoting is the word. The SOFT low
tones of his voice fell on the ear, bewildering
the senses and thrilling every fibre with its
rich melody. Nothing is so irresistible as
such tones of the human voice, not even the
eye itself.
Kitty was devoted to him; she was so en-
crossed in her love that even her mothers
loss was swallowed up in the great mystery
that was Just revealed to her soul-she lived
aud breathed for him, and forgot TO ask
whether he was thus devoted to her. She
took that for granted, happily, and it would
have been well mad she never learned to ques-
ton.
She was the busiest Of little housewives
awkward to be sure, but never weary of try
| ing-and bade fair to accumulate quite IL
brary of cookery books and written recipes.
Her patience and perseverance were truly
praiseworthy, and she thought them repaid
| by one smile or word Of praise from him.
Two years passed away and there came a
little child to the house, so dazzingly beauti,
fu that you almost trembled to behold it
You felt certain it was a cherub dropped
from the clouds or strayed away from some
heavenly pageant, and would be missed ant
! recalled How the little housewife was mel &
ed in the new character of mother! how sh,
! look ed at her treasure, and wondered if ever
mothers heart was so full before. if evel
anything was so pretty, so Lowell y-if it wa
indeed all her very own. AS it grew ant
expanded into all the wonder of babyhood
and learned to lisp the first accents so musica
to motner's ears, how Ill the Linds, Piccolo
minies, Patt;s and Nightingales of creation
sunk into utter insignlficance before the mag
ical tones of that infant voice. Every thin;
became insipid beside that. Not her hus
band exactly, but now it was her baby ant
husband: :. before he had been all in all
Sometimes he felt this loss of domestic con
sequence and chafed under it. He was ex
acting, and there was just one tinge of-wha
shall We call it? jealousy? No. Envy
These are too hard terms. Something h
felt had made him the secondary object. II
couldn't be expected to share all these femi
nine raptures-at least he did not and afte
time he became Just little weary of hear
ing the reiterated praises of the baby, an
would have been pleased if his little wifi
could have, or would have, shared his de
light In some favorite author, or some ne,
book he had brought home to read aloud
But there was the perpetual hustle and inter
ruption-this thing must be done for tn
baby, or he cried (blessed sound to mother
ears, to prove he was human and would nc
depart mysteriously) just in the midst of tn
most interesting passage, and thereby ruffle
his papas temper, which Was not very swee
at best.
Fred didn't share Kitty's enthusiasm an
raptures about her baby; she couldn't an
didn't enter into his, and there came u
sometimes jus: shade of misunderstanding
between them. Kitty thought cigar smok
hurt baby, and Fred thought it bore to t
moped all the evening, and occasionally P,
on his hat and sauntered down street, ;ntent
ing only to remain until baby was safely e,