The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-04-30
Stlttteo IlisttIIanu.
now AUNT MAMIE CAME TO MARRY
MR.. MARSHALL.

shall, aunt NannieY'
Mrs. Mamie Marshall wasn't my aunt
but / had called her so for years, for she
was the kindest and triest friend | had
ever had. She sat silent, knitting busily
and smiling a little, before she answered
nc.
oft all came of shaking q cmmb-cloth,
aunt Mamie. What, did You trip him up
in its folds, and bring him down on his
knees 10 youY'
"No: IN tell you, When was four
years old my mother died. don't know
whether children OF that tender age remem-
her their mother AZ I remembered mine or
not: but when | was so little that sat in a
bioh chair at the table, I would watch the
chairs filling MP around il with the persis-
tent hone that my mother would come to
st bv me: and | did not relinquish this
hope after / WAS old enough to compre-
bend death, but chung TO II, praying Christ
to work a miracle, as In the old Bible times,
aud let my dear mother appear to my long
ing sight.
GNeyer was there a more affectionate or
Imaginative child. and my youth was q
dreary time. My grandmother, who had
charge of me, meant 10 do her duty by me,
and, in the usual acceptance Of the term,
she did il. was fed and clothed, and she
taught me MS well as her limited means
would allow. But she never manifested
any affection for me. She was one of those
kind OF people who think kisses and
caressos foolshness, and though l can look
back now and remember proofs Of n secret
tenderness, she never kissed or caressed
me when | was q child.
II grew up starved for love. After was
fourteen years old I grew TO look for 1t
from whence all girls look for it from a
lover. l read romancos, / built air castles
yet so well had / been trained in practi.
cal ways and habits that no one dreamed Of
the turn my mind was taking. My fondest
dream was of the time when a martial
figure, with bold, bright eyes, and gay APP
parel should, seated on a milk.white
charger, appear before me as l spun in the
porch, or gathered berries in the field, and
folding me to his heart with tender and as
surfing words, leap upon his steed, and
with me in his arms, fly to some unknown
country where he would make me queen
of his castle. | never realized, ugly, ig-
norant child that / was, that this was pc
culiarly absurd rs applied to me, until M
day something occurred which destroyed
my beautiful illusion, and made me
wretched.
There was Away several weeks in the
fall, when, If the crops were good, l was
almost necessarily employed in gathering
berries which my grandmother preserved
for winters use. My only companion in
this work was my cousin, Stephen, a boy
two or three years younger than myself.
Zone day when thus employed. We
caught a glimpse ofa man in regimentals,
riding swiftly through the woods.
"Who can that be-" said Stephen.
aln1 ~ Ill 4 l.. I.l.-lN "A =
my lover knight coming from the wars 10
find me. Let us watch until he comes
around the bend of the road. If 1t is he
he will take OF his plumed hat and wave 1t
for me. Then he viii gallop up and lift
me 10 his horse and carry ms 10 Moated
Castle"
"A nice girl you are, for a knight 10 run
of with, amt your A handsome lady love
you'd make, with your black face and fly
ing hair like a wild Indians, andmouth all
stained mp with berries Ho, hol Wouldn't
you look grand flying away on O horse, with
your old calico dress flying, and your shoes
falling of, cause there 80 big2 Pdjustlike
10 see you"
{" 'My cloud-land was destroyed forever.
From that moment | knew that / was ugly,
unoouth aud unattmctiye, and my hero
lover never came; l ceased 10 expect him.
81 grew older, ! was pale, plain, awkard-
ly shy. / felt my personal defects 10 a
painful degree, and j stunned what society
was attainable TO me.
when | was eighteen years old / re-
ceiyed an invitation from an aunt who lived
in Boston 10 visit her. 1 had not seen her,
and she knew me only by report She
wished me TO com and spend the winter
with her.
sgNy ..ouI,,otlnr ,,oo ,v;u;,. H.. 4
should go, but we we're very poor, and IL
required q great deal of economy and man.
agement TO furnish me with a wardrobe ft
10 visit the city with. At last my outfit
was completed, however, and ] went 10
Boston.
"The family of my aunt Caroline con-
sisted of herself, her daughter Julia and
the orphan child Of deceased son Julia
was just my age, and very pretty, II is a
very hard thing to say, but ! honestly
think that my aunt to whom my personal
appearance had been described, wanted me
10 associate with Julia as a foil TO her beau
ty, and to reside in the family that | might
assist in taking care Of the children. At
any rate, when / came, the single servant
was dismissed.
The family lived elegantly, but / soon
found that IL was done by the ~strietest
economy, Ny aunt worked hard and man
aged well, and no n outside OF the house
dreamed that their income was aa painfully
small as ii was. ell
Julia had a lover. Mr.. Marshall was
very handsome and mighty fine, and / do
not wonder that he appeared very like q
god 30 me, then. He was but recently ac-
quainted with Julia when Invent there, but
he appeared very much in love with her. /
used to help her dress upon the evenings on
which he came, and after she had gone
down, looking like an angel, / usedto shed
a few quiet tears OF sorrow and Loneliness,
rs / stood and listened to their happy chat
and gay laughter ringing from the room
below ] was very sure that / never could
be pretty, and IthOughtnobody would ever
love me.
zone day Mr.. Marshall came TO dine.
Extra attention wal given TO the house and
dinner. My aunt had been very wealthy
for O short time when first married.. and
from her husbands failure she had saved a
few things which gave the house an air Of
means and style--some articles ofhne table
silver and some handsome oil paintings l
remember.
with my assistance she served the din
ner herself, and managed 10 be richly
dressed to appear at the table. She looked
cool and stately; but /, who had fingered
the last moment in the kitchen, max
ing gTavies and serving up vegetables, was
tired l could hardly speak. Inever did
talk much, though, so it was not noticed,
apparently. Mr.. Marshall eonversed Of
books, pictures and music, all Of which
Julia was acquainted with, and II was
agreeable TO listen 10 them. / was sorry
when the meal was finished rHtruI
Mr., Marshall turned TO look at the pic
lures on the wall when he arose, and, after
Q few moments, my aunt commenced clear
ing the table. The disheS were put through