Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-01-17
:: have nv doubts in this instance

gin, you must promise not to interrupt
me" ~. 60 -
"Never fear; l am all attention. ,@said
Mrs. Hewitt, playfully.
81 have been wife and mother" said
Mrs. Carleton, "and knowall the Difficult
ties of your position, and sympsthize full
ly with yoar feelings of dependency;
and to-day, as sat here in your pleasant
parlor, while you were trying to get the
baby to sleep, and Charlcy's little feet
would patter up and down stairs, and bis
little fist would rap, and his little shrill
voice call mamma at the nursery door, in
spite of all my efforts 10 quiet andamase
him; then just as baby must have been
closing hiseyes, Bridget would call, Mrs.
Hewitt, Mrs. Hewitt, frightening the
echoes through the long halls. Finding. |
could do nothing, | sat here thinking,
thinking, till fell into Il sortrof waking
Dream. thought it was winter; snow
lay on the ground, and the chill wind
whistled without; but we, were warm,;
and well and happy in this pleasant.
house. The long winter evenings were
passed in reading aloud, and quiet chat,
though that piled up work k-basket was
your ever present companion.
Gone uight we were roitsed from. sleep
by the choking cry and hoarse cough or
our baby pet, and when the morning
dawned, the little sufferer lay still and
cold in death"
"Oh, my precious baby" exclaimed
Mrs. Hewitt, bursting into tears. Don't,
Mary; pray don't tell any more can
vt bear IT."
You promised not to interrupt me: /
must go on" said Mrs. Carleton, calmly
md rcsolutely.
1.-TWO weeks Of sadness and sorrow
mad scarcely passed, when Charlie enl
Minnie both lay scorching with scarlet
fever. On the day they were laid beside
eir baby brother, Emma, the tirstborn,
a I'd c1.l 1; remaining, siokened, and in
another short week she too had passed
way. How still and lonely the house
was then! How few cares we're yours,
and how you tried to maize yourself very
ousy, that you might not have time to
think that you might live for him, the
best beloved, who, more than ever, was
your earthly all
Winter passed slowly away; the
glorious summer time, that season once
50 Joyous, was now gloomy and sal; and
then, too, the deaest and the best was
suddenly prostrated by disease, and, after
!. brief season of suffering, went to his
children, and you were alone Oh, the
terrible agony thht rent Your heart-s:rings
words cannot describe it. But you lived,
because you must, though life was all
lark, all gloom! Your pleasant home
passed into the hands of strangers, and
you; with all the multitude of warnl-
hearted, sympathizing friends, with cor,
dial welcome everywhere, yet With desc
lated affections and bleeding heart, felt
that you were alone, all alone, in the
wide world 7
"What to you was abundant leisure
for Improvement? There was no incen-
tive. You tried to be grateful for the
love of friends, tried to make others hap
oy, tried to bow submissivcly to the
Fathers will; but you were not necessa-
ry to the happiness of any, and the sweet
voices of the loved and lost were ever
echoing along memory's halls sad requiem
notes Of departed happiness. Emma,
dear cousin, thank your heavenly Father
hat it was all dream p!'
Mrs Hewitt's convulsive weeping had
gradually subsded into deep sobs before
Mrs. Carleton finished her narration, and
she now sat looking like one who had re-
ally been bereaved.
Mrs. Carleton raised the bowed head,
md kissed her tenderly. 81 did not wish
to pain you thus, dear Emma" said she
"but only by death can q wife and moth
er be released from her many cares and
duties Bear your trials patiently, and
be thankful that you have so many dear
ones to love, SO many sweet motives fol
axertoh."
Just then, Mr.. IIewitt's well-known
footsteps were heard, and with q loud cry,
Mrs. Hewitt sprang into the hall.
"Oh, William, am SO thankful you
are at home safe !" she exclaimed, clasp,
ing him in her arms, and bursting into
tears.
"Why, Emma, what has occurred to
disturb you so?'' asked her husband
leading her into the p rlor. Receiving
no reply, he looked irquiringly at Mrs.
Carleton.
81 am the occasion of these tears, and
perhaps you will blame me-" said Mrs.
Carleton, -"but feared Emma did not
iully appreciate her blessings; if | have
lone wrung, forgive me. l7will leave
acr to explain p and taking lamp she
bade them "good night" and asccndcd to
her chamber. Till a late hour that light
they sat side by side, that husband and
siit, while she rccounted "Cousin Mary's
Dream" and fully, and with many tears,
confessed her murmurings and repinings
under the pressure Of her burden of care
and labor. 2
81 cannot tighten the burden Of care
and responsibility, dear wife, . said Nlr.
Hewitt, tendery; but the labor car he
done " others did not know you
were everlasting yourself so much"
I'VE cannot affordttih" objected the
wife; "the burden will not seem so
heavy now."
1--WE will economize in some other d.
rection your happiness is very dear to
me, Emma"
81. know st, William; do forgive me.
Yet did not blame you. | see it all