Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-03-18
WHIEz FoR NE DELAWARE GAzETrE
EEATES PROM a LIFE-BOoK
BIZ EDITH HASTINGS.

Walk thAt Ied 10 the road. Robert AID Nellie
brother Will, were gone on a ramble over ID,
farm, and we were expecting them back ever
minute. How still ell nature seemed i
was just at sunset, and over the rosy food o.
light that lay 10 the west softly foated tiny
white clouds too high and 1eecy to have al
silver lining they were all clear, all silver
The breeze thai all day long had stirred with
gentle motion the leaves of the trees and
brought to Us odors Of flowers and pine from
the dark old woods on the hillside, died
away, and silence softly settled down on the
earth. Even our pet canary had quietly
settled down on his perch, and, with his head
under his wing, was dreaming, perhaps, of
freedom We could see the out lines of Run
ming BrOok.-not a very romantic name,-in
The broad, green meadow, but heard no note
Of its ripping music. Nellie seemed to drink
in the whole beauty Of the scene, for her soft,
brown eyes grew thoughtful, and she excaim-
ed: How very beautiful, dear aunt Lucy.
do not wonder you are so happy, when you
have a beautiful home. L have often heard
my mother speak of har childhood home, bat
that did not seem like this. Won't you tell
me something about your early life, Auntie !;
and, il am not too presuming, of your ex-
perience in love matters ?'
DO you want advice in love matters, or,
DO you care for the story for amusement on
-" replied, smiling at her earnest express
sion. just the faintest little blush crept over
her face as she merrily answered
Amusement was what / sought but
may be 1t the story is seasoned with q little
advice, it would not be out Of place for you
know it is said +; Young people must al
ways be willing to listen to advice from those
who are older than themselves"
It will be long story" said l, " if tell
you much ofmy early life."
A story, Aunt Lucy" exclaimed Will,
who now appeared with Robert, bis cheeks
huFhed with the excitement and pleasure of
their excursion.
"Yes Nellie and we're talking about
one" said Z" but it is getting late, and we
had better go in the house. Come Fred,
Alice, Minnie"
They were at my side in an instant. They
need not a second call or denial or reprimand
from either Robert or 1. Somehow cannot
help feeling proud of my chidren-they are
90 good, gentle and kind. 1 tell Robert,
sometimes, how pleased am to see our chill
dren growing up in such pleasant ways; and
tell him too, how thankful I am that they
have been blessed with such patient, kind
father, whose example never puts them to
shame but he only smiles upon me, a smile |
just az OF old, though many years have passed
since we called ourselves youbg,-and says so
cheerily: " Ali Lucy, it is the mother more
than the father who gives the early training
to child's mind and need not tell you that
fkintr 1itNla vvsfa - -
ever" " Then you must allow yourself to be |
called model, tooi" say, 81 am sure there
is much more reason in it, and Robert smiles |
and says he believes that have not lost my
girlish ideas, and asks, with such a little |
twinkle in the corner Of his eye, if l never
heard that girls are too apt to cherish errone- |
Gus notions. I answer in the affirmative, of |
course, and then ssk him il be never
heard Of girls who cherish sensible notions
And Robert lays bis book down, if he chances
10 be reading, and looking up, says: You'll |
never make politician Lucy you never talk |
loud or cross enough TO get into dispute"
Fancy me, once, talking politics and making |
stump-spesches Robert wouldn't have me /
become a wrangIiug politician for all the /
world. No, indeed /; and we are too happy /
here to wish for any thing to " kill time or
to make life endurable." I think we early
learned something of the earnest realities of /
life, and from actual life drew many obserYa.
tions of right and wrong management and sn-
joyment.
We entered the sitting room. Robert seat
ed himself in the easy armchair by the lit
tie table where his favorite newspapers aud |
magazines lay, and drew my favorite rock
inn-rHnSN rfIl ha 7
might enjoy the sweet fragrance Of the bloom
ing vine which Ehadowed it. l must say that |
/ have decided preference for rocking chairs,
il the Straight-back chair without rockers does
have 30 many admirers. Nellie drew an otto
man to my feet and quietly seated herself up
on it, while Will careessly flung himself upon
the sofa on the opposite side of the room, and
Fred and little Minnie hastened to his side.-l
Our room, dear reader, is not 30 large that we |
seem like strangers to each other, even when |
occupying opposite sides of it, but just large
enough to be cozy and comfortable. Alice, |
ever thoughtful, though she is a romp, quickly |
lighted the lamps, and their cheerful lights |
Shone on as merry group as one could wish /
70 see.
Now for the story, Aunt Lucy y said
Nellie.
"Oh yes, the story )" echoed Will.
Are you going to turn story-teller, Lucy?"
added Robert, smiling.
smiled too; could not help it. 1 won
der who could have had the face to look
cross at such questions.
Z" Yes" said 1. Miss Nellie has petition
cd for story of my early life and experience
in love matters, and think I shall comply
with her request"
With such a subject" said Robert, pre-
tendiDtO be grave. am afraid you would
bring me into the story, and fancy should
make rather ridiculous appearance. I won't
do for The hero, anyway. My eyes are not as
black as ravens wing, nor is my form like
APollo's, and my baBds are hard and brown"
do hear Father" said Alice laughiugly !
declare, he looks almost as grave as dea-
con-"
plainly see you are expecting the story
tonight" / said as saw the group Of wait
ing, earnest faces" but am afraid / can
not comply with your request now. l must
have little time to think, and to arrange nv
idea in some order. need to revive those
old scenes little, in order to present them to
you in life-like forms and colors. should give
you the story all in jumble if told it now'
Nellie looked disappointed, but said " AS
yen please, AuDtie only be sure and tell us I
the story at last and Will said something
about its being interesting anyhow 1 might
tell it.
:" promise you, Nellie but give me a lit
tie time and you shall have the story in writ
ing"
Capital" Win said and Nellie added
90 L. Al