The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-06-03

the face more bravely. ! went with MN
"a the little landing place. aid strained
my eyes ffer the boat; even when dis
rance had hidden his dear face from me;
for | loved him. Col only knew low
we'll! and l was weighed down by an IN
defined apprehension. :,
| came only yesterday, upon an OLD
discoIored scrap of pap;r, bearing date or
that first lonely week. suppose 1t COM
fnrted me to give expression to the vague
nneasiness. ! fold, and smooth, and
copy it, that you may see what my love
was, before l tell you it's sacrifice:
ga warming which I seek net to repress
Has allied my heart through all the busy day;
A dim foreboding, prayerful tenderness.
Go out to meet thee on thy lonely way.
'Neyer hath absence seemed so mute as this,
So filed with fancies, shadows drawing near
Through tears I felt that lingering, loving kiss,
And failed to give thee parting words ofcheer.
Not that my faith is less in thee or Heaven,
But Ihave leaned perhaps too much on thee
And bonds of earthly love must needs be riven
To raise my heart and set my spirit free.
Thy will, N tmine, be done! Yet, Lord, thou
knowest
How shrinks my life from such a bitter loss;
Humble me, prove me, even to the lowest,
But spare the burden OF 80 sharp a crossF
PRAYED as vaguely as I gr1eved, for /
knew little of the deep import OF the
words I used; but the prayer was heard
and recorded, and answered, alas!
The children were great comforts
turned to them so eagerly! I had two:
a bright, active boy, three years old,
with his fathers brow and hair; and a
little. dark-eyed, dimpled, rosy, loving
baby, who nestled close to my heart
every might, and woke me patting my
face with her soft hands when morning
came, and holding her red lips close to
my cheek, though she had not learned to
kiss, cooling like any ring-dove. Then
presently a flushed, bright face and tan
gled curls would rise above the crib rails,
with the dear little sa~lutation, "Mornin',
mamma Freddy is all vote up" Pre-
cious children! When I looked on them
and prattled to them of their absent
father, l seemed to love him as / had
never done before. and to feel more
worthy of his love. They were our chill
dren.
| tried to conquer that miserable fore
boding, and took many ofNannie's duties
on myselfto cheat the time. Mamie was
a faithful soul, devoted to me and to
them. She was in all respects a foster
mother, and l depended on her judgment
aud advice in all nursery emergencies.
We were all gathered in the nursery
the morning the letter came. Freddy
playing horse with the chairs, and an old
sash of his papa's; and / sitting upon the
carpet, holding my baby in her bath-tub,
while she splashed and sparkled and
made impotent dashes after the floating
sponge, scattering a shower of drops over
me at every movement.
Letters? Oh! thank you, Mamie
Just throw them into my lap;' and |
disengaged one hand to turn them over
"A letter from papa, Freddy-irom our
own dear papa" and my boy nodded and
smiled. and cried Gee ang !" to his stiff
limbed coursers, while l kissed the super
scription and the seal, and c%ontented my
self with the knowledge that he was
well, for they we're both his owl.
Nov, Beauty, give mamma a sweet,
clean kiss. Here, Mamie, here's your
Young lady. Freddy, go to walk with
Mamie and little sister, and gather mann.
ma some flowers"
l wanted to be quite alone with my
treasure before | opened it l had re-
ceived two letters before filed with
"loving-kindness" and thoughtful praise
of all that / had been to him.
Iglanced up at the sky as broke the
seal, wondering if the children were
properly clad for their walk-for it was
a cool day, though so bright. $50 bright,
cloudIcss," / said to myself. and turned
away c%ontented. Yet if a jagged flash
of Ii lightning and a burst ofrocking thun-
der had fallen at that mOment-it is an
old simile, but all that will express it
should not have been more speeches.
than by the letter | had welcomed so
eagerly.
lean not recall a single line oft now,
for l have charged my memory with utter
forgetfulness of its cruelty. But | re,
member how | sat there stunned; and
then lifted up my head, and looked
around my little nursery, so bright before
il came.
fro RE CONTINUED.