The Portland daily press., 1865-03-27
MISCELLANY.
One too Many,

ssgt ~ "a 81, 10. . ~
Hone too many" sighed Mrs. Lind, as she
laid her little Willie, her third born, In his
cradle, 81 wonder" she said iretiully, why
the poor have the most children? Dear me,
two would have done very well, but this one"
and she looked dispairingly at chuDDy-"lhls
one makes the burden too heavy. Well, 1
. never expect amy happiness dragged down az
am,
And so never thinking that on home and
child en- should be founded herItrue joy, Mrs.
Lind went 10 her work, her whole being re-
plete with bitter fepining. Nor did her eyes
give that one more glance which happy moth
ers bestow upon the golden head cleaning
upon the cradle pillow .sss
Here her two Oldest children burst into inc
room 1and exclaimed in chorus, ICONS, W,
NAL come out! there's woman at tne gaze
crying dreadfully." Mrs. Lind's heart was
naturally good, although III temper ana ois.
content often, as at present. maIieu Ils ris
workings, so this fact joined WIN CURIOSITY,
soon brought her to the place Wnere upon Tue
grass sat an aged woman weeping, ana ner
eadsface showed that fate was making her pres
emf lie path bitter. Mrs. Lind kindly asked
her WHY She sorrowed ard the stranger look
ed and answered,
GOh have just come from his grave, the
place where my Door boy is sleeping"
"Died lately ~ inquired the other. seq
"Yes, only week since he fell from that
mouse you see ouliutuS over yOnuer on the
hill there, and as my eye fell upon the place
where he died, the sight. drew my strength
away, and sank down here. Oh Oh Z! shall.
never again know the good peace and joy
that dear Alfred was always sending to my
aged heart. He was the best child of them
ALL"
"Take courage, good woman" urged Mrs.
Lind pityingly, "ior you have children lett
STILL, you say.
Eyes, two" said the poor old woman, but it
would be better none, for those whom In in
fancy / looked upon as my pride aud future
consolation have heartlessly belied and dis
graced those warm hopes. The one," she
continued, whose death l now mourn was my
third son. o, I look back now on his young
days and wonder not that self condemnation
is for me. All! the cutting remorse, feel"
why remorsep" inquired Mrs. Lind. ~
There's hitter reason tor me-" wept the
poor woman airesh, "as have said, Alfred
was my third born and have now to remem-
Z Der how at his birth and for years after wish
him dead" 8st ,asaaegs Ffas
"Your own child p faltered Mrs Lind who
4 9egau to vaguely feel that shaft was making
eady for her own door. sni1isri sa-a5 %
Yes, my own child" replied the stranger
~as Twas ~ last glad and proud to call him,
You see was poor, and my selfish heart call
ed,tWo children enough to labor for, and cried
out against the thought of further burden, for,
then regarded the coming of Alfred into the
world, as both a burden and curse, so gave
to his early childhsod hardly a kind word and
never motherly one, but the one that cold
lY cast out became the firm, enduring comfort
which held me up from the wretchedness
which the two had welcomed and pampered
brought me. All! God has punishedmy selfish
ness and partially by taking him who made
himself SO dear atreasure, and thus leaving
me cherries in the cold dark evening of life
! Welcome the Eour when shall meet you
again, dear sonv And the poor old woman
mother arose and tottered away with long
look heayenward. eQag q haf
As Mrs. Lind went toward her house, she
felt how like in part, was this woman's case
TO her own. hra 4faoiL slsiia1 ~ la -
20, that 1t may be only in part" breathed
she fervently. "Ah, this shall prove we'll
remembered lesson to me % q
As Mrs. Lind entered her home, little Will
Hes rosy face peeped up from his cradle, in
the bright freshness which sleep had given
1t, and his chubby hands capped an accompa-
niment to the musical ina" 9ma.9 that chirp-
ed from bis little bird mouth. There was a
fond greeting In his mothers beaming eyes as
she caught him up.
Dear babe she whispered, aprecions gift
4 OF heaven, never again will 1 think you an
Z welcome. for upon this little breast I NAV
some time lay my aching head and this tiny
arm may be my strong support when all
earthly comfort and refuge may for me have
= aslieo'N q ~ ~h4,-4 4 G Ga "a vi