The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-21

fFrom Temple Bari

-
mansion 30 long ago. You would not Know shs
little one now whom you left bright-fsced child
with big gray eyes, and long soft curling hair
The eyes are dim with many tears now. httls
mother, and there are deep lines In the brow and
around the mouth-not laughter lines that grow
about the eyes,, but lines scored by pain and
WEAKNESS. These are threads OF white In the hail
they tell me you were wont to be 80 proud Of:
am only twenty eight. four years younger than
YOU when you died, and yet look years older than
that sweet pictuie OF yon always wear round my
neck. You would not like to think you had only
brought your child into the world to suffer and be
sad dear, would yous and so win tell you first Of
those glad days that were 90 bright SO full of
dancing sunshine. when the world seemed made
for me, and when could not realize better, hap
pier world than fhe one live In. II was on my
seventeenth birthday, little mother, the ninth OF
June-you recohect, and went dancing over the
yard. He used to go there every morning and say
bis prayers by your grave, poor little mother and
then he would cDme sorrowfully and slowly home.
ward until met him at the gate. and then he
would smile at your child and kiss her fondy and
stroke her head. Oh, mother, have you found out
yet why some Of poor toilers love so fondly and
faithfully TO our lives end. and have the dsshs or
our eyes taken away, and others VINO nave no
heart or love, only their own selfish vanity, tread
smooth, fowery paths, and trample on the devo.
ton Of true hearts! Is It well! Must we say. cit
is WELL"
This ninth day of June, eleven years ago. ran
across the lawn to meet papa, and to catch with
little one ~ before could get up to him. And
then he put on my finger pearl ring. saying,
"Wear that, desr-it was your mothers" and his
voice shook little, and tears sprang to my eyes,
more for the sake Of his sadness, dear, than for
you whom / scarce remembered. But In mo-
ment was laughing again, % hung on his arm.
and we walked up together past the bright flower
border 10 the house, stopping now and then to
pick cluster Of roses from the wire arches. Then
we went into breakfast In the little morning room,
left all unchanged since you were there with
your piece of unfinished work and your fairy thin
bic and gold scissors under glass case in the
corner. All. many time papa glanced az that
and sighed, and then would exert myself more
and more than ever to be lively and cheerful, and
to make him laugh atmy merry conceits.
al met the squire this morning. Katie" papa
said as poured out his tea, land when he heard
II was your birthday, he said you should go up
there to tea. and have strawberries and cream.
And Charlie has come home-he asked after
you, too.n
"i'm sorry for that.n said. "because now
shant have Maggie all to myself. And he used to
tease me So"
"Ah, but he is . young man now, and quite 81.
tered since re went to India ,s: ,, Let me see-he
Isn't II odd l should remember those trivial
words 80 wildly when have lost memory OF
sheusands that would give the world to recals
hat afternoon went TO the Hall, and Maggie and
How surprised was to see him! he who years
ago had been the fear and torment Of our lives,
grown into such fine, handsome gentleman, with
the quetest, most courteous Of manners.
MAY call You Katie, still ?" he asked, smiling
had been wont 10 call me Kit. Kittens little cat.
spitfre, possums, and anything else he saw fit,
without by your leave or with your leave.
"Oh, yes" / stsmmered, half inclined to call
"And Won win cali me Charlie. of course ~
aOb don't think could ,i'I cried confnsedlv.
aud then Maggie laughed, and asked him why he
didn't kiss mo IA be used TO. and blushed scarlet.
sna alrns,st 'vishsd the earth wond omen and
oh. little haoiher those dear old happy days,
too far OF even 10 leave q shadow, those sounds
Of pesling laughter, the bare echo Of which has
died away so long ago! Why don't we all die
lands are withered by the hot sun, or nipped BY
the frosts Of winter 49,
We used to be together every dsy-Chsrlie and
Maggie and land soon / grew not to have any
thought but about him. His manner was so ten
der and caressing. When | glanced at him his
eyes always looked in mine so fondly. When we
met and parted his hand held mine In Q lingering
pressure Why need / describe the old. old
language Of love-it Ia not go long ago that you
have forgotten, mother mine. Oh, how pure,
how fresh, how beautiful, Is the love that springs
in young hearts untainted by passion, selfshness
or desire All, how we alter In the after years
not all OF us. but some
Il One day he came and met me alone, and we
walked together all MP the long winding path to
the Hall, hardly speaking, lingering as much as
we could, dreading the turn that would bring rs in
sight of the house. He stopped by the last white
gate and leaned against 1t, without attempting to
unfasten IT.
al wish we were going 70 walk thousand miles
fooatbar X attic >, be aaid milling down the orav
se,, bat baIs ovsr h;s h-ovn ewes and locking ont
tasniv ~ M from hanesth IL
~S9 40 T > answered eagerly too voun0 IN
,, ~ nss. .sn,h ss.h;g, sro,, nv, AZ AZ
s,S I'M '''o "o"''' N1''' A"eAs ny '''
:. ny rp' Won vou darling ~, came the mick "a.
.r,o.se ,sn whs,,s % h,nder ns goingg tbro.,h
sponse ,ors,ha. p, and na .nep ps - IN
s-,ns and Ei.seS me- nr,;I ali The blood rnsha5
s. anu "a 1 u ha, s r tns ooSa ,d
not stand alone -N ny " '-' '''''N " '." ''-'N
T, as Ell sa.,,oa that .var,nc ,ha, rbar,as ana
shc s r,d in has ~. s s ans a ana
,,n,a ~ Sisn;, ~;s5 :. q, La, Ala nv,
is .n mn ~ ie M c III nv' a
sS Ss ov y1ups; ssI M, a oass
Mousn ho' sninh Una. was s h q.
sne nea " nis son nesiy,ns .o ~ sP,so Va 81 n'
peins |uyn rics sa Sua ssn 'n, saan on'
S ,"ny ee i ~ s.ss,as y haS
wnen We loveo eacn o,ner % uoa,y . n nsa
LIE wn1, wS oeen sno ~ us
e.ey WIZ rouiu nsse Deen ~ ee vseU 1910
h,s" ~ nsse sSno ~ tror s.I,;n
nave no lsise priae tnen, 10 keep me from ialihg
on my Knees ana peseecning nm 10 give ner up
iol me.
IN.