The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-09-23
THE TALE OF my LIFE.

81
7 have ever been fond of seat under q
shady tree when the beams of the early
summer sun just CLEAN through the pale
green of the young foliage. There is q
soothing influence in the gentle rustic
of the leaves, the hum of the busy insect
world, and the songs of the feathered
tribe, that fills me with o quiet happi-
ness. do not like to talk; it is to me
Golden opportunity for meditation.
am often alone; but even when Ella
bright. sparkling Ena-is with me-
her merry chat falls UNDECIDED on my ear,
while | pursue some train OF thought.
So it happened a short time since.
Was sitting on my low garden chair,
while she was at my feet with piece Of
embroidery in her hand and a book on
her lap. She had besieged me with
questions for the last hour, and receiv-
inqno reply save dreamy Eyes" or mo"
she at length grew weary, and Win ner
hat on the grass, her elbow on her knee,
and her chin resting on her hand, she
was for wonder silent.
All at once was startled out OF my
reverie by my young companion turning
abruptly towards me and asking, in
quick, eager tone. "Why were you never
married, Aunt MaryW
smiled at her look of grave interest,
and, patting the little hand that had
found its way into my lap, replied,
Surely, Ella, love, that is no subject for
wonder. l am not singular; there are
hosts of old maids in the world besides
myself"
Eyes, Aunty," she said, "but not so
rich as you are"
A sigh escaped me; could not help it
/ did not like to think that my pet had
already learned the value of the worlds
idol. Not that had much need to fear
that Ella would become one OF its wor-
shippers on her own account; but what
she cared not to possess herself she might
covet for others. Indeed, when Ella
spoke it was with her future prospects
that nv mind had been busted.
One of my earliest friends married
clergyman of moderate income, and Ella
is their eldest daughter, and my god
child Pretty and amiable, she is a
a bright beam of gladness to every one
whose path she crosses. She has gener-
ally spent her holidays with me; and
now, in what seems but a brief space of
time, she has grown into an elegant and
accomplished young lady, but in the
process she has lost none OF that freshness
of character " hich has ever lent a charm
to my young friend. -
have no near relations. Ono by one,
in years long gone by, all that were near,
est and dearest to me sank into tho silent
grave. Every day l see and feel some
fresh warning that l have not long to
wait before Iigo to join my lost ones, and
every day l become more and more anX'
ious to settle my affairs.
Since / attained the age of five-and-
twenty have been in possession of the
large sum of two thousand o year. | am
now nearly sixty, and have never lived
up to my income. Some people have
fixed on Ella as the one most likely to
inherit my wealth; but l love her too
well to cause her to follow ia my foot
steps. She has brother, bold, generous
and handsome. / have made him my
heir. When tell his father what have
done am sure he will feel pleased that
/ have not placed Ella in q position
fraught with so much trial and tempta
ton. shall, however, leave her well
provided for. Neither shall / neglect the
other members of her family, nor some
distant relatives of my own. Robert
Meredith will then be master ofmy pref.
ty little seat, EPSON Lodge, and good
income wherewith to keep it up.
Twas thinking over these particulars
and debating whether should mention
the subject to Ella myself, or allow hel
father to do so (for feared the child had
been led to imagine that she would be an
.heiress), when her question broke in mp
on my soliloquy | then thought that
the tale of my own past would be good
preface to what wanted to say to her.
Ella" began, would you really like
to know why | am still Miss Merton 2
Because warn you that the story will
be sad one and that the moral will be
for your own application"
She eageely babe me tell it to her so
recalled the vivid past, and, when
clothed in words, almost smiled to see
that it made quite romantic tale
Ny father was q hard working coun-
try attorney, never rich, but still COM
fortably placed. Three or four children
had, from time to time, cheered his
hearth but, just when his affections be-
came centred on them, he was left be g.
reaved. My mothers health suffered
considerably from heavy trials. After
an interval of some years she again had
hopes of becoming a mother ; but she
never saw her child. She died in giving
me birth, and l was left to become the
Idol of my fathers heart.
igrew up, happy, and some said hand
some. Elias mother was the daughter
of the village surgeon and, as had no
sister, she quite filed the place of one to
me. We studied and walked together,
and became each others confidante We
were born in the same year, but our
characters were very different. Martha
was a gentle, retiring little thing, just as
Ella is now, but neither so pretty nor so
accomplished. often think how pa
tiently she bore with my domineering,
pettish temper. l was decidedly spoilt
child, and have no doubt was spoken
of as most disagreeable girl by our cir.
Gle of acquaintance. Patty alone for so
we called her)would never hear ANYTHING
against me.
When we were both about eighteen
Patty told me, with glowing cheek and
downoast eye, that NJ. Meredith had
spoken to her father, and that he had
consented to their corresponding while
he was at college. Now Mr. Meredith
was young man about whom we had
often talksI. He had long been head
boy at tie grammer school, and latterly
usher He was very handsome and cley-