Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-03-18
Lucy, I'll take EstelIe.p

Where's Henry?"
"Gone to the village on business. VIII
business, Enos %
l "Gone,-did you sayi" said my faith
= without appearing to note my mothers que
:. tion, the color slowly fading from his face, >
) q He told me be would go, but I could not b
lieVe it. He will never come back no, ne
err
My mother bent forward, and for once b.
eyes had flashing earnestness as she said
Enos, tell me what all this means. l hal
a right to know. / must know. Have yo
quarrelled ?''
Father groaned as be answered: ' Alas
alas we have quarrelled and fear it is to
late for reconciliation. feel that be will neV
er come back. Woe is meF
He rose slowly, and left the room. Jan
and ran to mother, and putting our arm
around her neck, burst into tears. She rout
ed herself with an effort
Let ut trust in God, and He never wi
forsake Us. We must be all to each othe
that we can, and cheer one another"
Jane and I kissed her, promising te d
everything for her. I wonder this blow dit
not break my mothers spirit. 1t only ben
lower, and she grew more silent and sad. NJ!
father too, grew strangely sad. seldom speak
ing OF our absent one. His name was wisper
ed over and over by mother, Jane and me
who strove to keep his memory dear.
! A year went by. Father was still sad and
sober. Mother did not often smile, but was
growing q little more reconciled and cheerful
How Jane and labored to bring back even
her old, sad smiles. We brought her early
flowers, searching for them 10 our rambles
with Estelle. What a treasure that child
grew to be, and how we loved her We said
that she, too, must grow to be comfort for
mother and the best way would be to keep
her gay, and sunny, and happy as now. So
we grew with the child. and in our efforts for
mother and her, forgot part of the bitterness
that had entered our lives.
One day letter came to mother from Hen
ry. He was in California We thought
with pain of the many dangers that must sur
round him there,-he so young and inexpe-
rienced to be away from counsel and home
Home said. Ah /! me but for the shadow
over it he might have been there then. The
letter was cheerful, hopeful.
He should come back some day be said, and
we would be happy az happy can be. He
should be rich man then he wished he
were rich now.
Mother, dear mother" be wrote, " shall
never forget you, nor your words of advice
and counsel. Your calm, patient face is be-
fore me continually, and I mean never to put
you to shame, hope 1 am kindly remem-
bered by you all. Let the past be forgotten,
and let US all improve and enjoy the present.
I do not regret the step have taken, bat
long to see your dear face" Mother read the
letter and then asked father if she should read
it to him.
Never mind" he said, " only tell me
where be is"
Two more years passed. Jane and went
to school, and EstellO, now four years old, was
quite comfort to mother. I don't know
what should have done without Jane,-she
was such counsellor to me, so patient and
gentle and kind She reminded me of meth
er in her quiet ways, but this was all natural
to Jane She was not rad, really only so
still and mild; mother grew TO regard her a.
q companion at all times.
Some changes had taken place around the
house. Father was not one who could con-
tent himself to see no improvements taking
the place Of times innovations. A new white
fence surrounded the house, and barns and
Jane and trained flowers over the windows,
and heralded with joy the bIossomiug of our
roses and other flowers in the yard. We low
ID flowers, and welcomed them as messengers
of joy and peace.
When / was fifteen Jane was married to |
POUR father. wept bitterly at the parting,
or realized that mothers strong trust must
be transferred to anOther,-to me, who could |
not cSmfort her as Jane had. But resolved |
10 try, and I did try. As went about the |
house 1 used to sing sDStches Of songs that
Knew mother loved to hear. helped Estelle
q her work and pIayI and taught her to help
ne in making home cheerful. Jane had been
gone only little while when tidings came
hat filed our hearts with mourning, Father
vas reading the paper one morning, and
glancing over the California marriages and
leaths, almost shrieked in anguish. " Father"
cried, what is it ?" He handed me the
paper slowly, and covering his face with his
lands, said Read" 1 glanced down the
column, and there read:
Z" Died on the l4th instant in the Bellevue
Hospital, Henry Wilder, age unknown"
1 gasped for breath. l thought should
aint but had strength to reach the window
with the paper still in my hands. 1 rested
ny head on the low window-sill, and the
of the past came before me in calm,
low succession. My loved brother was no
oDger buffetting the storms of life. How
lad he died What friend had smoothed bis
pillow or ministered to his comfort1 Oh !
What anguish those unanswered questions
brought. He filled an unknown grave. He
hould be remembered here with nAmeless
,rave. l crept back to my father, and, lifting
ny white face, said !: 'Father, there must be
stone erected TO his memory here"
Yes, child on the bill in the shadow of
he old elm"
There was 30 name on the white marble
lab; only: "In memoriam and as we
7isiled it day BY day, we wept for the hopes
10 rudely shattered.
Mother bore this blow better than I had
expected. She said The Lord ruleth.-
Ny strong hopes are not concentrated here
md when 1 appear in the presence of my
savior ! shall know no more sorrow or an
,uish or pain"
Jane used to write US long, cheering letters.
She was happy, she said and, when she
Ame to visit Us, her calm happy countenance
eemed to confirm her words.
l cherished no dream Of love. l do not
ay that was uploved; for, if may believe
What appeared to be true, l Was regarded by
choolmate with feelings akin TO affection. l
lid not like him and, as think OF him now,
do not wonder at my dislike. Had geni-
i spirit, kindred soul, been bis, | might
ave cared for him notwithstanding his awk
ward frame and hOmely face. His attentions