Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-30

starved, sat down to the table and ate
like famished wolf. -se4 &.
ooh. dear mother, wish you could
have seen her ]" and laughed as noisily
as before.
owe stayed two days but 10, as
th,y all called her, did not improve
upon acquaintance. She called me
stuck-up to my face, answered my ques,
lions with yes-sir-ee and no.slr-ee, unni
I began to think she thought Stree was
really NV name. And the strangest
and silliest thing was, her father SEEM
ed to think it was all right, and that the
great awkward thing was perfect and
the woman who kept the house was as
tender of her as if she really loved
her." a - ra :, o,,
"Haye they no neighbors near them?"
"None nearer than a mile, although
houses are being built in connection
with that pier, L believe" IA
'sDid the girl speak of me?"
"Oh, yes / had nearly forgotten.
That was the only womanly trait she
exhibited. She remembered you, and
said YOUR name was the last her mother
called, and that the child would be like
YOU in nature as well as name; and she
brushed her hands across her eyes, but
whether to put her hair from them or to
brush away fly, / cannot tell.
Don't, my son J She Is poor
motherless girl; her mother was my
dearest friend. When her husband
failed in business-your father just es-
caped-he was too independent to ac-
cept,a aid offered to him by friends. but
with the little he had left, after all debts
had been paid, he purchased that wild
land, and removed there with his family.
There were two children younger than
Josie. but they both died, and, at last
poor Anna followed them, and was at
rest. i correspondent with her up to
that time and / am afraid have wrong
ed her by neglecting her child.
Frank. q little ashamed of his thought
less levity, soon after went out, and the
good little woman, after musing awhile,
admitted q resolve into her mind, that
was as a good angel to herself and
others.
Before q week had gone By, she hid
dispatched letter to Mr.. Smith, beg
cling him to allow his daughter to come
and spend some time with her, for
poor, dear Annals sake. '.Frank had
just left for college," she wrote, "and
/ am so lonely" And she came,s as
Frank had said, great awkward girl;
but shy, and with heart OVERLOOKING
with love to every living thing. She
had been supplied with full purse by
her father, and under her new friends
superv sion, a neat and tasteful ward
robe was soon prepared. She was a
good deal home sick at first, but Mrs.
Delebar's kind, motherly ways soon re-
conciled' her, and then her studies
commenced. After the crust of habit
had been broken, she proved an apt
scholar; and it was wonderful the i'm
provement she made. Nor was the
change in her person less apparent.
Her really pretty hands were praised,
until she forgot to hide them in her
pocket or under her apron, every time
She was spoken to. Protection from
the sun soon gave her dazzling white
complexion, while her jetty curls, prop
erly cared for. were a crown of beauty.
She was rather large; but as her mind
expanded and she mingled in the socie
ty that Mrs. Delabar drew around her.
she became self-possessed and dignified,
and her carriage really regal.
After remaining nearly year with
the Delabars she returned to her old
home to find everything changed. A
pier had been Duilt from her fathers
land into the lake, and vessels, laden
with wood, slaves and lumber. went
daily to Chicago with their freight, the
produce of the wild land belonging to
her father. A steam-mill chirred and
painted not thirty rods from where the
old double log house stood, while furth-
er away, and commanding view of the
lake, an elegant dwelling was being con-
structed by her father for his own use.
The change, great as it was, however,
was in keeping with her own feelings,
and hardly surprised her.
Her father was now considered
wealthy, and, latter short visit, she was
again sent away to school, and to the
best the country afforded. And at
eighteen she left school as thoroughly
educated as the most fastidious could
desire.
She had correspondent constantly with
Mrs. Delabar, and they had met occa-
sionally. And as the little woman gazed
upon the beautiful girl cultivated
and refined, was it any wonder that she
took to herself little praise, and said
softly, 81 began it..
With woman's love for secret, she
had managed, by the help of hen hus-
band, In such "a manner that Frank
knew nothing of her work. He was
away at college, the year Josephine
stayed with them, and since then had
been fitting himself for the bar, of which
now five years from his first introduc-
ton to her-he was an honored menu
Der.
evil you go to the depot with me this
evening when the western train comes
In, Frank 90 said Mrs. Delabar to her
son, as he took up his hat to go to the
office, after breakfast.
Certainly. But are you going
away, mother ?"
''No; but I expect a young lady
friend to see me. She has lately lost
her father, and there is some difficulty
in getting his estate, which is quite
large, and she has applied to me for
counsel in the matter" o1La6
+" You, mother 2"
eyes, me first and then to the law
yer your father may recommend. And
/ have faith enough in the ability and
integrity of my son to advise her to
place the case in his hands"
"Thank you, mother. Perhaps you
can use your influence, and get me APP
pointed guardian. Is she young and
pretty? Ana where did YOU find her."