The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-01-05
always filled my cup Tor nothing, when was

4" Pam!'
"But his other name?'
"'llarry, dear, mamma always called him
so."
"Where does he livc?"
"lIe's dead!" SAID the child in q whisper,
"Nla,nma cries all the time. most, and wears
an ugly black gown every day"
"Well, where does mamma live?"
cat grandma's, with Aunt Daisy, and Wal.
ter, and Sue, and baby, and-ain't it iunny?-
baby's my uncle. and he'sso little lie has to be
carried about, and Walters lttler than me,
and he's my uncle, too; and Sues only six.
and she's my aunt"
"Where does grandma liver
"Why, home, in her own house."
swell, what is her name ?"
"Gran1ma !" in very positive tone, and
becoming very restive under 80 much question.
ing. took him from the bed and began to
dress him, and explain his position; but even
when he understood that he must give up his
Australian journey, and was made to feel
something Of his mothers despair at losing him
he could give mo no clue by which to find his
home. Grandpa, grandma, mamma, who was
three children, were all mentioned, and per.
sistent questioning revealed that he lived in n
large house in the country, but that was oil.
NY heart grew fairly sick rs looked in his
beautiful face and pictured the grief of his wild
owed mother over tho lOss OF this only child.
In vain searched his clothing for the mysteri
ous "locket containing the mniatureo Of beau.
.iful female" always found on the stray chill.
,lrrn IN novels; no "strawberry or raspberry
mark" dsfgurcd his smooth, white skin. His
clothing, Of the most dainty material and make,
was marked with the initials ga H."
Days passed away. and still the little Trot-
for no would own no other namc-was nm in.
mate OF my cottage, the very darling of Mrs.
Wntson's motherly heart. advertised him in
all the large cities. hoping some paper would
reach his country home; yet, as tho days wore
away, and he became rcconclcd to his new
home, and ceased to grcve for his family, bc.
gan to dread the hour when he should be claim
cd. Ills frank, bright joyousness, his merry
prattle, his loving caresscs, began To fill an un-
suspected void IN my heart, and Mrs. Watson
was perfect slave to his loving tyranny. She
made him pretty garments to replace the rich
velvet suit which we put carefully aside, in
case they were ever required to prove his iden.
tity. She furnished for his bedroom u small
apartment leading from her own sleeping room
She made the day one long net OF service for
his comfort, and as weeks gided into months,
and there was no clue found to guide us to his
home, she taught him to call her grandma,
while "Uncle Charlie" became my newly.ac.
quircd title To tell how he was petted in the
village would be vain task to attempt. To
say that he was the hero and idol of llope,lale,
will give but faint idea of his popularity.
Gradually the memory of his home. Ellen, the
visit to Australia, died away, and he seemed to
forget that he had ever lived away from us.
Mamma and Aunt Daisy had been the two of
whom he spoke most but judged from oil he
said, that his fathers death was very recent,
and his residence at his grandparents q briei
visit only in his memory.
Eleven months had this dear littlo treasure
been an inmate OF my house, when there came
into my life new dream of hope and hapni-
ness. About five miles from IIopedale there re-
sided. and had lived for many long years, an &c.
centric old bachelor, by name Herman Graham.
His home, Leehaven, was very far away from
any cluster of houses, indeed nearly mile
from any other residence; and here, in solitary
state, with only two ancient servitors for his
household, he had lived ever since could rc-
member. He was morose, illtempercd man,
and some early cross had made him adopt per-
feet hermit.lke seclusion, though his wealth
would have commanded every advantage society
could offer. 1t was early in November that |
was summoned to attend this odd genius, pro-
fessionally. The little note brought to my Of
fee by an elderly man on horseback. was signed
Gillian Graham, "and urged my immediate at
tcntion.
1t was long, cold drive, but the man repre-
sentcd his master as very III, 50 prepared to
obey the summons. III had no idea your mas,
ter had daughter" said, referring to my
note.
"rhat's masters niece" was the reply "a
nice, sweet spoken young lady as ever see.
She comes down on visit sometimes from her
fathers place near Albany. They were burnt
out. her fathers folks, last winter. and the
family all went to Europe while the new house
was a-buiding. They came home about Fort
night ago, but they won't 90 to the new house
till spring, so some of them u boarding IN
New York, und some in Albany, aud Miss Lii
ian she's come to spend the winter with her un'
Gle. They're all coming down for Christmas
| expect"
| found my new patient very i'll, and for n
week my visits were frequent, and more than
once PASSED whole night by his bedside. ]
do not mean this for love tale, 80 will not
weary INV reader with tho why and wherefore
of INV heart bending in allegiance TO Lillian
(;raham's charms. Her beauty, gentleness,
and winning grace touched my heart rs no wo.
man had ever before thrilled it, and before That
weary week Of anxiety and watching was over
loved her. As her uncle began to recover,
nv visits slid from n professional capacity to II
social one, and cav that my welcome was u
sincere one from both the old gentleman and
the fair girl, whose devotion to his bed proved
her love. was agrccaby surprised to find the
hermit neither so savage OF inaccessible rs he
had been represented to me. lie had painful
chronic disorder; his manner was brusque, and
his voice often harsh, but he could soften, aud
was able to give him relief from pain, for
which he repaid mo by gracious reception.
Christmas was drawing near, and resolved
to lay my heart before Lillian, and ask her to
be my wife. was heir to considerable proper
ty left by my father, had good practice, u
pleasant home, and could offer her the pure love
Of a young heart. so was not without hope,
especially as could see the flush deepen on her
cheek. and glad light spring to her blue eyes
whenever was announced. She wore mourn
ing, and often longed to question her about
the loss it implied, hut our briei interviews
were very brief, and but seldom occurred, and
;;he never spoke Of her sorrow.
], too, had story to tell. Or course, IL che
became my wife, she must hear about Trot.
II was the day before Christmas. and the
snow was smooth and hard around llopedale
50 I yeniured to propose seighridc, meaning
to open my heart to her as we drove. she ac-
cepted my proposal readily, and We were soon
nm our ,r,y Sonchow there fell "A long silence