Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-02-07
g 2leasius Story
AMERICAN Rural LIFE.
GFROM HARpRR's MAGAZINE. |
OLD AUNT MATILDA.
IN TWO PARTS.
CON TIN U d.
PART II.


interest died out. What was Matilda Hast
ings that more fortunate people should be
mindful of her She went little abroad ex-
cept to church, and was so quiet and gentle
and kindly in her life that the little that was
said gradually took tone of pity and COM
mseration.
1t may be remarked, by-the-way, that she
was thrown into the shade of obscurity, In
the first place, by the splendors of the bcauti-
ful bride all of whose appointments were dis
cussed and exaggerated as though in some
way their rich profusion took something
from the poverty of those who discussed
them.
"They are going to foreign parts for
year or two," said Mrs. Armstrong when
she came to visit Mrs. Hastings and Matilda,
though not all for pleasure. The fact is,
Mats spirits are drcadfully down, and his
health is failing, and Brother Tom thinks it's
the best thing for them-no help being ex-
pected from Eunice, you see.' And then
she says she shall not be surprised if Nat
settles in New York for good and all on his
return, if he lives to come back-adding,
with a little sneer, that Cincinnati is getting
to be too small field for the operations of
Mats genius. She didn't like Eunice (she
would not call her Lamsc, and nobody could
make herr any better since she became her
daughter-in-law than before she was sure
Nat was welcome to all the joy he could get
Of the beauty but as for giving her the fine
table and bed linen she had locked away in
the press-things designed for another, and
marked with another's name-that was out
OF the question; they might stay in press
and rot first. as she had said before
She didn't care how soon they went off to
foreign parts, for when man married sim
Pile wife it was sure to turn him to simple
ton first or last, and she didn't wish to see it
done; she had seen quite enough already.
And then she kissed Matilda, while the tears
dropped down her faded cheeks, and told
her that he had taken her to her heart as her
own daughter, and nobody could dsplace
her so long as she should live 'Come what
WILL" she said, 81 shall always feel toward
you like mother, and hope you will allow
me to do a mothers part by you, and that
nothing may ever stand between us, or be
dearer to you, except your own mother" "
And then she added, trying to smile, sun
less it be that you get the best husband in
all the world, and am sure YOU deserve
him..
Before year was gone by there was no
mother to stand between Matilda and this
second mother, but they became knit togeth-
er with bonds of still stronger affection.
"You must come md l;vo with ma no,v
NV dear Tilv saws Mrs Arms,ronr. ..,he
old house is too lonesome and bcs,des 7
reouire Won for nv own comfort-I am lone
some too," And she broke ouite down. and
they went in each others arms
But Matilda had proud spirit IN her ouiet
bosom. and though she accented the profler-
cd love she would not accent nothing that
she conld not return in kind ssTboro will
he some wavn she said sstbere ALWAYS is
for those who strive to holm themselves >
she mns, ,vorl, and wait sbe said ber IJea-
ven,v Father had some use for her else be
,vo,Id ,oLo tor and o;vo ho, ,,roo, ,,od ,,o
s;do her rood n,o,hor,s In ,ho ,,;,,oro orov
vard
And On oho on, nj, docor, hoad s,o,o tho
best sbe could afford and made n ber sadly
r,eosant nas,;me ,o ,erd tho burial -nIooo ana
n,an, aowers about n Then sbo go,bered a
few Of tho Moor cb;,dror about her and
Taught tbem and ., evomnlarv was tbe life
sbe led and On s,yoet and sorv;coohlo wos
.ho IN al, ber ,vavs that she becamo 4, ,;ne
tbo mistress ,f the VILLAGE SCHOOL and had
moro c,,i,dren of tho r;c,, ]. moll o. ,bo
moor tb,n sho oorId ,oooh S,;u ,ha ,,,.oo
,,o,,,a,,a .,,,,a,i,.a..., 49,, 10.
uArnt Mo,,,d, ord ,oolod rnon with a
oor, ~ co,,,nass;on a, IN hoe,
Al ,wer,v.f;vo .lo hod oomo IN ne rerord.
al 90 ~, III ,,,1,;,1 40, IN ,,o,,o M IL,
.ooo,,,oa ,,ar 60 ..;,,, ,,,,t ,a,aa, o,,,-
so;n,,snass ,rh;o,, ,,a soro,;noo soo IN wo.
mon who occent the;r unhonored rortunes
and weary worl, -dav ,;ves as matters n,
course
ush. ia nathan oo,,n,,v for you,a M,
old said tho town folks never dream;po
that IL miebt he because neither vounp no,
ola sor.h, m make hor cor,ronv and or
tbov had their fairs and fro,ics without her
..Wbv didn't vou come Amt Matilda ," IN,
vorng cb;ldren said IN ber some,;ues af,e,
a merrv-makino "Ob. we had sucb finn y
Rr, she al,vays shook ber head and smiled
as ,bouob in some wav II was a thing moi
to be thougbt of
Nor rainy davs nor rouph winds no,