Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-07-25
Alt5trllnnp.
Eleanor.

Eleanor,
A, we slt together thi, evening, Ned, Nelly,
and ], Nelly suddenly asked me " Why did you
name me Eleanor, mother? You once promised
to teil me-"
81 have often wondered that you did not give
Nelly your own name" said Ned. think that
Mary is the sweetest OF al names"
"l vii teAyou. Eleanor was the name Of my
only cousin, who tyed With Us after her mothers
death. 5ha died few months before you were
born, ms dar'ng, and asked your father tha, her
Hme might be given TO YOU"
"D3 te.l us more about her Was she beau
uuI2h
"I will .how YOU" replied. went to my
Ialm and unlocked drawer, which nld not been
aH-nad ior many years. ! took from it a minia-
taro, and went back TO my children. There,
you may see hr yourselves | slii, as J handed
i, unopened, to Nelly.
Hos loyelyl" she exclaimed, after a long
and earnest g8ze.
"Rslutiful" said Ned, 10 tone which star
t.lI me- /, was SO like his fathers and he looked,
TOO, more ike him ihan ever, as be bent in admi-
ration over ,te lovely face IT is very beautiful.
but, ml.hsr," be ldded, as De looked up 70 me,
al fear f cot, son too much 90 show Il 20 us "
.ri he cased u, and gave t back to me.
"Cast- you too much?" What did be mean
C0ud be have a suspicion OF what il cost me
/ ll aot mean 70 look at i, but did, and that
aua glance hls u1dons toe work Of years. And
is no more past than this? I have b. ped,
sill hope, that before I die God may give me
grlcs % look upon +. calmly
Now et me 10 over il all again, as have done
So many, many times. j., me 20 blck to Tie
old days when We were young and happyi when
d o at ..r. Of r.tf
youth, my first and only love.
We grew Up toge,t er, and from carly youth
bad promised to be bis wife. Il seemed a matter
ol course to ourselves and to all around US, Tor
our two families were separated from our neigh
blrs. His father was the clergyman aud mln3
The lawyer, and they together with the old bach
elor physician, we're the only educated men ia our
SUAge | vas two years older than he's knew
,Aa, had DO beauty nor grace was reserved,
ard unused to society Owed my books, and
WIS near sighted, and stopped over them had
no accomplishments, and cared nothing for dress
or ornlments, only Tor him, aud for tie pursuits
which would it me for his companionship. When
De vent TO college ] kept psce wiki him IN his
studies, looking forward to one vacation after an
other, with the longing Of an engrossiOg love-
( never had doubt that | possessed his whole
taart as fully and freely as gave him mine.
had other suitors My fathers position gave
me claims TO attention, and the fortune be left
mp perhaps lent me new attractions 10 some eyes,
but never for a moment did my heart wayer in
i,s loyalty gloried in his personal graces, his
varied culture, bis high standing college, littl'
dreaming what dangerous rivals they might be.
lie was quiet aud undemousratiye, bu, our love
vas so settled aud inherent thing, that it did
n1l need be arden, assurances of uew-iet pas
SION.
After graduating with the yaiedotoriAn's hon
urs, the admired hero Of CONNIE, oamsnt'day, he
studied law and established himself in New York,
where be soon gained good position, and We
we're married.
can not lrus, to myself to dwell upon what
he was to me IN those days of JOY. My life was
dolatry; see il now, and see how much sell
f,hness was in that happiness which consisted in
being the idol of my idol sought to see only
any own image in a soul which was made fot all
the great things Of earth and heaven.
Gradually bs professional pursuits aud his com
pauioas btclme more eagrossing. lie was less
Al home. and became less necessary to him.
The world without filtered aud attracted him,
aud our interests we're no longer the same. Then,
by and by, our money went, had resolutely
refused to nave my fortune settled on myself not
through his auIt exactly, only his carelessness.
a That was ri0e. felt a pride in showing him
how little valued it, how gladly would share
any lot with him. lie was az first greatly de-
pressed on my account, but elt in my heart a
secret triumph and longing hope that this un-
intentional injury would draw hm nearer 10 me.
And believe II did.
But the loss Of money brought burdens aud la
bors that were new to me, and perhaps too much !
Tor health iai.ed aud VITA health lost the cheer
! ml, hopeful spirit which could smile at ercum-
stances, and must not blame him that he sought
more cangenAl society.
Then We removed to this place, aud here my
boy was lora, ny noble, beautiful boy so deai
aud precious, that | rtjoiced in the necessity laid
upon me of taking the sole charge Of his swee
babyhood
Abou, year altr his birth, my only aunt died
aud Eleanor was left alone. | had not seen hel
for several years, since we were at school together
My first thought and earnest wish was to hav,
her come to US. My husband objected becaus,
he said my cares were already great, but he at las
consented, and | elt her an urgend request lt
come and spend year with US. DO regret II
Noi | believe IN my inmost heart that ! have
never regretted it.
She came in all the beauty of youth, in all th,
ncredness Of sorrow, in al the oveiness Of lfesl
ard pure eiItctons Who could see her aud m
admire herP Who could be with her day aie
day and not become captive to that iadeserlbahl
grace, which made all others seem rough an,
coarse Ia comparlsonP Her delicate health CAV
her an almost ethereal look. and added TO all wa
chdike uneon,eiousness and simplicity, whie
was her rarest charm. Every day disclosed ne,
grices in her found that her reading was a
extensive as my own, and her culture much NOR