Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-04-12


you lad better Just keep the money and
say nothing about it. Natty never meant
nothing but kindness. and he didn't know
how to do no better than he has DONE
The truth is, Tilly, men are just what they
are, and we've got to take EN- at that and
no man ever understood woman, and no
one ever will: and no great wonder, after
all for no woman ever understood herself!
We're curious creters, TIL, the best of us !;
we stand in our own light 4 good deal, and
what Is worse, we won't get out OF it when
we come to see our fault no, not though
we make pitch darkness all round us. |
don't want to find fault, Tilly, and don't
mean to say you hadn't strong provocation; ;
bat you got into your own light twenty
years ago, aud you have been walking in
the shaders ever since; and now that they
are just beginning to lift little, don't
draw them down onto'your own head, not
till you have thoughts Il bit, any now. 1he
dear woman had never even limited till now
that she thought Matilda had been the least
at fault aud for my part, think she was
entitled TO say thus much after so long 81
lence. And it would seem that Matilda
thought SO too Tor She wiped her eyes. kiss
e, her adopted mother, and, with little Eu-
nice in her hand, went away wonderfully
comiorted.
That night the child woull stay and
sleep with her. i am 50 tired, she said,
and want to lay my head on the pillow close
to yours. Matilda had carried her the last
bit otthe way. and wlienshe undressed her
she saw that her arms and head were burn
ing hot. L wish papa were here don t
you, Aunt Tilly?' says the child; and then
she would have the picture on the pillow
between them. Oh no. says Matilda,
blushing though it was dark, your papa
won't like that. he'd be smothered; we must
put him in the draw of the bureau where
he is used to be-
But Eunice insisted that she knew better.
and that picture could sleep in bed us well
as anywhere else. Iknow it, She says,
'becaise papa sleeps with one under his
pillow every night!
Matilda felt her brow contract little at
that; and then she said, forcing herself TO
speak the words, 1t is your mama's picture,
of course?
No; not my old mama's. And it is so
pretty. with long dark hair all braided to
: a crown. like yours aud then she says,
laughing. and padding the far neck bent
toward her, that she saw her papa kiss it
once.
oh. you dreamed that says Matilda,
with almost girlish delight.
No, didn't; but papa thought was
dreaming may be. 1t was once when |
slept with him. and he took from beneath
his pillow and looked at it a long time, and
then lie sighed and turned his face from me
but Ipeeped over his shoulder and saw
him kissing it, and that is just rs true as
can be, Aunt Tilly, every word ofit.
: oh, you sly little dariing, cries Ma
) tlda, hugging the child close to her bosom
2 picture and all. and so passing directly in
20 the land of dreams, but not through the
gates of sleep.
3, In the morning Epnice complained oI
J being tired, and Matilda carried her half
way to the scdool. But when she called
| her, half an hour aiterward, to say hel
lesson. she did not answer; her head was
dropping ON her arm, and she was fast
: asleep.
1t was a heavy, unnatural sleep, and
when at last she was gotten ont oil 1t she
t seemed confused and as one still in 4
= dream.
+ You need not say your lessons to-day
my dear, says he mistress, and she
t spread her cloak and shawl, and made he,
J bed on the school bench.
In the evening her face was like scarlet
e and her arms lot as fire. And Matilda
= carried her all the way this time-her head
= dropping like n flower that lacks the dew
e we will rest here little while, she
: said when she reached her own gate, 'and
=, then viii carry you home to Your grand
, ma, But the child, contrary to her wont,
: began to moan and fret. no, Aunt Til
5 ly, she said. 4 want 10 stay with You
just to night
; So she laid her Oh the bed, and when
=, she was quietcd went herself TO fetch the
Y grandmother, but the gran mothcr was not
= at home She had been suddenly called t,
: see sick wo;nAu who was poor, having
but few friends to visit her, and who !!yet
: ten Gliles away.
= Please take care Of little Euncc for Il
t day or two, she said, in the note she left
for Matilda; 1T viii be a delight to her,
: am sure, and hope not very tronhleSsonl
t. to You. When | Come h0uIe VIII let yOu
5 know Of it at once. but | may be gone 5
!. day or two And then she said, Will
!, one of those pfemonitons, perhaps thai
d seem to come sometimes III any thin
= happens to Euiee let hel father know al
!. once.
: Here was a quandary, and one that be
G came shortly more difficult Of solution.
c The child tossed reStlessly on her pillow
u all night, and i'll the morning, when the
{ doctor was fetched, he pronounced hci
case to be fever of the most malig"an
( character, and advised that her iathcl
+; should be made aware of her condition al
IL once.
c oh. Aunt lilly dear. dear. Aunt Tilly
# the child lay moaning all the while, hel
a eyes following Matilda with sach pleading
y helpless looks. What could she DO
e " hat she did was to pat herself aside. aut
send by dispatch message to the father
:. message that WAS answered in person al
c the earliest possible moment. But little
:. Eunice, in the mean time, had passed where
II there was almost no hope. She had nof
e recognized her grandmother when shs
! came, and she die; not know Matilda now
l. nor know any thing.
3 The doctor had shaken his head anf
J. said it was not worth while to annoy tAt
/ poor thing with medicines amy longer, and
d the grandmother had fallen to weeping ant
It lamentation, swayng herself to aud fro b.
it the bedside, and talking of dear ones deat
9 and gone, and OF the other dear one tha
l. would so soon have left her too. Thet
: Matilda dried her eyes and staid up hel
e soul with courage, and comiorted all ahou
IT her, taking the child in her arms. ant
II soothing and nursing her with the tender
o est care. Whu knows, she said, what oul
J. good Father will grant to us
k She was sitting thus. her eyes soft witt
dow of tenderness, and her cheek flush
n ed with the anxious beating OF her heart
kn,,