Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-01-04
Where the Fault Was.

"The most disobedient child | ever
knew" The words were uttered in
loud tone, and the speaker pressed her
hand on her throbbing brow rs though
it would still its beating
A few minutes later Mrs Elbcrt re-
peated the same words TO her husband.
''He must be sent TO school, Grant" she
continued, "Such 4 racket would drive
me crazy"
The subject of these remarks was at
that moment engaged with Il company
OF miniature soldiers and snail pop
gun which he was u>ing with colsidera-
be icXterity, for seN e.al wooden warri-
ors lay with Their faces to the floor, and
every new dowI fall was greeted with
burst of boyish l.ught,r, which fell dis
cordantly on his o;Ee:'s ears.
Send him out doors FOR omp, Mary
good-naturedly suggested Mr.. Elbcrt,
''boys will make noise"
''And is this all the sympathy You
have for my nerves, Grant? Send him
out doors indeed perhaps the next mo-
mcnt to hear of his having fallen into
the creek. No, l will not think Of such
thing! As long as the children are
out Of school, they must remain With me,
| should not have a moments comfort
otherwise" .....
"Yct | am sure, Mary, neilhr sou nor
they are quite comfortable AS it is call
not imagine how your sister Lucy mana
ges with small children"
''Lucy again - returned Mrs. Ebert,
sharply-"I don't think, Grant, you need
be constantly holding up Lucy as pat
tern far me to copy"
"Yet you allow, Mary, that Lucy is an
admirable MANAGER said AIr. Elbert i'll
a concilitary tone.
'She has never had any i'll health to
contend with. There, go away Minnie,
don't trouble me with your doll. DO
you hear me! Go play in the corner"
The little girl moved away slowly, and
her cviden; reluctance, was. as usual, con
ts;rated into that rebelIions spirit which
Mrs. Elbert had persuaded herself exist
ed in her children to a large degree.
''MrS. Cotton, marG, sent over to know
if you'd step over, if you felt well G.
nough," said an Irish girl, thrusting her
ucdIt llllO lilG ulih lily fOpUl.
The lady hesitat ed before replying, and
the girl continued, ats in trouble the
lady is, marin the Dochtor las been
thar twice this mornin,' one ov the young
uns is down with the Group"
Mrs. Elbcrt had not visited her sister
for several weeks, cxcusing herself with
the plea OF i'll health, though it must be
confessed that other causes had some
thing to do with her absence. The truth
was, these visits had only served to make
her more dissatisfied with herself for
while she acknowledged her sisters su-
periority, she did not care to have a sec
old person remind her of it and the
well meant illusions Of her husband prov
cd to be particularly annoying.
Still: Mary Elbert was not bad-heart-
ed woman, and, Lucy i'll trouble, awaken
ed feelings which Lucy in prosperity had
f:Eled to do.
Hastily throwing aE sbawl, and bid
ding the girl to attend to the children,
she turned her steps towards her sisters
residence. With noiseless tread she
entered the dwelling and repaired to the
sick chamber, where she fagnd her sister
seated near the couch of her youngest
child, who was breathing painfully
For several days she remained an in
mate of the dwelling, sharing the mid
night vigil, and doing all in her power
to relieve the little sufferer, who rapidly
continued to grow worse, and finally
breathed its last in her arms. Yet though
this period was passed in benetiting 9th
ers, it proved of rare value to herself;
she could not bnt acknowledge that in
the activity which the circumstances de-
manded, she had forgotten many of her
own ills nor was this all.
1t was the day before the fnneral-the
little waxen form, with its violet eyes
calmly closed, lay like lily-bud on its
pearly bed and as Mrs. Cotton gazed
with fearful eyes on the little figure, the
thought of her other children crossed her
mind. --sa. ......s .-l.
"Where can Willie and Emmie be ?
she said, turning to her sister, Il have
not sccp them since morning"
Il will go and see," Mrs. EIbcrt re-
piled, ard she left the room, expecting
to find them in some childish mischief.
IS that you, 'auntie z" said a childish
voice, as the lady passed throdgh the
dining room.
eyes, Emmie. What .Sfe you doing
Where is your brothers.
"Willie is doing his work, and am
keeping house for mamma" p"