Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-09-06
Months passed on, and the Raymopds,

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embarrassed, and then, naturally enough,
insolvent, unable to pay more than mere
~ nominal per centum upon their liabili-
ties. This event made great change in
their household arrangements. First,
they sold off all their costly furniture at
auction then they relinquished their res
idence across the street, and then the fam
lily separated, some going one way, and
the rest another, but all out of the city
all but poor Marion, who, afflicted soul,
now found herself homeless and almost
penniless, with only strangers to beiriend
her amidst the misfortunes of her family.
But my wife's womanly sympathies had
become seriously enlisted in Marion's be-
half saw that, and had been watching
for the result with silent curiosity. So
when my wife, one morning, with an ear
nest manner, called me aside as was 60
ing to my days business, and said that she
had something to say of more than ordi-
nary Importance, intuitively OWNED the
nature of the communication. /" Marion"
she said, must come and live with US,
until she can do better. You see how she
has been bereaved of her husband, and
deserted by friends and fortune and when
l found her yesterday in those deserted
parlors over the way, weeping as if her
heart would break, l told her that our
home should be hers and her little ones
as long as she liked, and that you would
join me in the offer. Shall she come r,
1t was at my tongues end to refer, mis-
chievously, to my youthful attentions to
the object Of my wife's appeal, but when
l saw how earnest she was, and how
trifiing remark might pain her then, for
bore, and replied as earnestly as felt:
"My dear Charlotte, rejoice to find
you thus attempting to temper the wind
to the shorn lamb and should have been
the first to propose this. Yes, in Gods
name, let her dwell here, with her little
one, as long as she will. know that she
shall never regret it. The wheel of life,
in its ceaseless revolutions, has thrown us
together, and it shall not be my fault if it
should again separate us. With wife
like you here l kissed her" and such
friend as we shall find in Marion, our
cottage will be brighter and better than a
palace"
So Marion came to live with us, the
happiest and most grateful of women. In
her, as time sped on, we found the most
faithful of nurses for our children, most
entertaining companion for my wife, and a
trusty guardian of our household arrange
ments. Industrious to fault, she volun-
tarily relieved my wife of thousand do
nestle duties, labored assiduously with her
needle, taught the children industry and
obedience, lighted up the whole house with
her cheerfulness and amiability, and be-
came blessing to US that we highly priz-
ed.
Thus the world wagged on for few
years, bringing peace and happiness 10
each and all Of US, when another revolu-
ton of the great wheel brought Marion to
the notice OF wealthy widower, a man
whom all honored for his virtues, and who
in my eyes had but one fault, and that a
very pardonable one-he wished to marry
her whom we all loved so well, and take
her from us. 1t was natural enough that
he should worship her; and when she
modestly asked my advice in this behalf,
it was with tears Of regret at the prospect
of leaving home to which she had be-
come SO strongly attached. l took her
hand, and placing the little Marion, the
exact counterpart of her mother, upon my
knee, gave her such encouragement to
amend her social position by an advan.
tageous marriage as at once decided the
question, although we all experienced a
feeling Of sorrow at parting.
Many years have passed away since
gave away the bride at the ensuing wed
ding, and we have grown old, our family
friendship increasing as steadily as oul
grey hairs. Marion is the centre of 6
large social circle, which number the wor
thiest families in the city, and fills her pc
sition as the mistress of paatial home
with all the brlliancy that she once threw
around our cottage -freside.
The little Marion has become an &C
complished young lady, quite as amiabl'
and lovely as her mother was in the day.
when incorporated her with my youth
full dreams. My oldest son, Tom, has re-
Gently taken more than usual care in hi:
dress, and know, Fl ON hints thrown ou
by Marion, that he has not been as bash
ful towards the younger Marion, as was
at his age, towards the elder one. Anoth
er wedding looms up in the distance; ant
SO our long friendship is likely to receive
new impulse, as the wheel of life re