The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-01-03
S ieet Stcfy.
Little Esedrg.

'ShtSN
even with my babe. l remember the
well, it was gray and cloudy,
with low dragging mist, that chilled
enc to the bone, and hung the trees
with reeking moisture The black mud,
about the door, Of our western home,
was thick and deep and the bare floor
Of one room was badly stained and soil
ed by the careless feet of the rough.
shod workingmen. l had been clean.
ing up all the morning, but the more l
cleaned the worse matters seemed to
grow soap and sand only served to rem
der the black foot-lnarks more visible
and when a sudden puff of wind whirl-
ed the smoke and ashes down the pipe
of my cooking stove, covering the books
and tables | had just taken so much
pains in busting off, l threw myself in
the rocking chair, and burst into pas
sion Cf despairing tears.
We brought the rocking chair with
us, Ned and I, when we left our cottage
on the outskirts OF the city, and journey
ed westward. 1t was a pretty cottage /;
my eyes fill with tears even now at the
thought of it, with its low, breezy win
dows, through which the odor Of roses
Aoated the livelong summer; and its
clean, well ordered rooms, adorned with
all those charming, useless little toys,
that 90 so far toward making a home
better than any other. We were very
happy, Ned and ; as cozy and COM
Portable as two robins in the heart of a
summer apple.tree Ned was a clerk,
but with good salary, ard some little
additions flowing in now and then from
other resources. And when our baby
came, Little PEARL" as we called her,
our happiness was complete.
But after a while tEis new rapture
began TO cool, and as Little Pearls blue
eyes deepened, Ned, began to cast about
him in sage and fatherly manner.
"We must do the best we can fol
Little Pearls SAKE, Bell"
That was the opening remark-a dis.
closure of the plans followed. He had
caught the western fever. "' Westward
the star of empire makes its way"
Ned quoted. with telling emphasis, ad-
ding" we must follow" Bell, and build
up a name and home for Z" Little
Pearl !"
assented, as always did to Ned's
plans though, in my secret soul, l felt
that the movement was bad one. We
sold our pretty cottage and furniture at
considerable sacrifice Ned left his
clerkship and the November after Lit
tie Pearls birth found US in our western
home.
Ned had urged me to bring out our
servants but, in a fit cf high-strung
heroism, determined to be maid ot.all.
work myself. Ned would have to sac
ri6ce his ease and comtort-I would moi
be behind him. 1t was comparatively
light in the beginning, when only Ned
and myself were to provide for but af
ter while the hired men came and
baby required more attention rvery day.
The fall rains set in, converting the
spongy soil into black, adhering mud
| worked late aud early, but found i
impossible to take care of my babe, anc
and keep our rude home in anything like
order. l bore up as long as l couli
but at last my strength utterly failed
and, sitting down in the rocking chair
| sobbed like silly child. l though
of my old home, with its pretty we'll
ordered apartments of the hours o
pleasant leisure and social enjoymen
to which [ have been accustomed anC
then, with fresh gush of tears, l looked
out at the low, trailing mist, and arounC
the small, untidy room in which l wa
imprisoned, 1t was wrong in Ned t,
bring me TO such place, and again.
my will, too, | thought bitterly.
A: that moment l heard the voice o
the sick hired man calling for water
aud, catching up the pitcher, brusheC
away the tears,ss and ran up to the rud
loft where he lay. AS l reached tn,
bed, | saw by the sun it waa almos
noon, and dinner was to cook for Me-
and the hired men. Giving the invalic
his water, | paused n moment to mix
draught of medicine, my thoughts full
of the smoking stove, and distasteful du
ties that awaited me below and jus
then, shrill and clear, came Little Pearl
cry. l threw down the dose l was mix
ing, exclaiming almost angrily.
cit is no use, can't get along, n
matter how hard | strive. What shal
I do now? Oh, dear l do wish i ha
no baby"
My finger tips thrilled with terro
the instant the uuwomanly wish ha
passed my lips ; and, clearing the step
at two or three bounds, | rushed to tn
corner where the crib stood, eager I
clasp her to my bosom, and pour out m
remorse in tears and kisses. | snatche
aside the curtain. The crib was there
so was the snowy pillow bearing tn
damp impress of her head but Littl
Pearl was gone. For moment | stOo
dumb aud almost senseless, then swift