Middletown transcript., 1868-01-18
MORNING. JANUARY 49, 1868

III Wcnt, ne Woulu WdHt 20 huthish enc
money for our travelling expenses. SO
worked and waited, hoping in good time
to accomplish my desires. ie
Time passed, and December had come
with its ice and snow, (something never
seen in Alabana,) and was busy in my
for departure. | wanted TO
reach home by Christmas, and hoped to
do so, as travelling had greatly improved
since | had come North.
just as was ready, | received letter
from the South bearing black seal.
hastily opened it and found, as | feared,
the news of my mothers death. Her last
desire was to sec me. Oh, that | had
started sooner, l might have seen her and
received her farewell kiss and blessing.
My joy at the prospect of soon seeing her
was all turned into mourning, and my
hearts cry was: 90, Lord, surely thou
turncst all my sweets into bitterness
Lover and friend hast thou put far from
me, and my acquaintance into darkness"
My dear father comfortcd me by saying:
"My daughter have you forgotten the
blessed words the Lord loveth whom he
chasteneth p
I thought what a rebellious heart was
mine to require such frequent and severe
chastisement.
/ had written to my sister to look for
us near Christmas 80 we started the 4th
of December. Gerty was greatly pleased
with the idea of seeing the South, her
only drawback being the necessity of leav-
ing her grandpa and grandma behind.
They accompanied us to the station; bid
ding us sorrowful good bye. As father
embraced Gcrty he placed in her lap box
saying here is your Christmas gift to
remember your grandparent. l hope it
will please you."
We watched them with fearful eyes till
out of sight, and was sadly thinking we
might never meet again, when Gerty ex
claimed, mamma please look here, what
is in the box. These beautiful books, and
here is purse with SO much money in it.
think there is as much as you have in
yours"
smiled and said, "dear, generous,
thoughtful grandpa, he knew L would re-
fuse this gift if profered in any other way
or at any other time. Now feel at lib
erty to keep it. and most of it shall be
used to further your education, Gerty."
We must write at our first stopping place
and tell him how pleased We are at the
contents of the box" 81. b.
As we neared home the climate became
so much warmer we laid aside our furs and
warm cloaks. Gerty was i'll ocstacy at tho
sights, new and strange, that met her eyes
and at the mild, warm weather. She
would say .. mamma j could not think it
was 80 pleasant here, while it was SO cold
and frozen at grandpa's. | am so glad we
came, if it rs always 80 pleasant as this.
told her that she would find it excessive
ly warm in Summer. and would often long
for grandpa's cool yerandahs and shady
lawn. z ~ se T.
AS We neared my old home, how wildly
the past swept over me. / noticed many
changes in the twelve years had been
absent Forest had been lcveled, wild
land reclaimed, and the railroad we were
travelling had taken the place of the slow
old stage coach. While deep in thought
the cars stepped, and was aroused by the
conductor calling out St. Lelaire station.
This was our stopping place, so Gerty and
| hastened out. .sh-
While looking for some means of con.
veyance out to my sisters, for she lived a
the homestead, some one accosted me by
saving is not this sister Emma"
looked up and knew the eyes were brothe
Martins, the lower'part of the face being
unrecognisable for beard, | smiled ant
called him by name. He grasped both m,
hands in warm welcome, then turned t,
Gerty and said, can this be Gerty, tn
baby? As she answered yes; he pressed
kiss on her lips, and bade her welcome t,
Alabama.
asked him how he came to be ther
Just when we wanted him. He said he ha,
been looking for us every train for tw
days, and sister had almost despaired O
seeing us. After seeing our baggage wa
all right he beckoned to the coachman t
drive near SO we could enter from the plat
form. AS he did so, Martin asked me
remembered old Thomas the coachma
we used to have. said " yes, perfectly,
"well this is he, see he knows you, and
pulling his forelock," I spoke to him as
, stepped in the coach, when he said: +" D
Lor bress you Miss Emmer, Tse might
glad to see you in Alabama, agin, and yo
look most as young as eber, too
A As we drove up to the house I saw m
y sister standing in the door and as we aligl
t ted she ran out and embraced us, viii
!. mutual tears Of joy were shed. For Ion
8 time could not realize that once NOR
! was in the home of my childhood. Man
v familiar objects met my eye and many
q the old servants were there but our m
I thcr was gone. and much of the old furn
q ture belonging to her, the young slav
o had grown out of my knowledge, and n
sister with her matronly look scarcely seen
o ed herself. Her welded life had been Bile
/ with four manly boys; and they and Ger
|. were soon on the best of terms
i'll When my mothers estate was settled,
d found I had ample means of support ar
u fnr Garfx,so adnnot;on To aceomnliah Al