Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-08-20


emonies, but suffice it to say it was brilliant
affair, and conducted in the splendor and
pomp BETTING the station she occupied in
society
It was a beautiful evening in October that
the city bred girl arrived at her husbands
home. They had taken carriage at the
depot, and the bilowy prairie spread its living
carpet of green as far as the eye could reach,
while the scarcely perceptible road wound on
through its blooming luxuriance.
Soon tall forest lifted its undulating
line along the horizon. and as they journeyed
on, clearing began to be visible, and the
long waving curl Of blue smoke ascending up
into the serene ether. At first appeared
large corn fields, then barn, and at last a
log cabin built on the verge of the wood, but
not close enough to be benefited by its
shade Well felled timber and corn cribs,
wood-sheds, and pig-pens obstructed the
path to the door Of the rude and lowly
dwelling There was red spot on Homer's
cheek as he approached his home, and to
Mauds eager questions relative to his fami-
ly, he gave such brief and unsatisfactory re-
sponses that long silence had sunk down
over them, and Maud felt chilled by his re-
serve.
A lad ran out of a field, an in joyful haste
hailed his brother, while his white head,
bare legs and arms, and ragged trousers,
excited surprised stare from Maud
Throwing him the reins, Homer lifted lis
bride to the ground, and in that moment an
old woman in a red flannel dress, with cap
and blue apron came to the door, and stick
ing her thumb into the shortstem pipe she
was smoking, she gave a long cry of Joy and
grasped the hand Of Homer Maud sbrank
back as she extended her hand the next mo-
ment to her, and only permitted the tips Of
her gloved fingers to come in contract with
the hardened and sinewy hand that SO cor
daily welcomed her. Itnever occurred to
Maud that these hands might once have been
as soft as hers, until exposed to toll and
hardships for him she preferred to all the
world, and that hers, in turn, might become
as rigid in time. She only felt disguised
and surprised at the uncouth costume, and
stopped not to reflect how many sterling vir-
tues might be hidden by that coarse, home
spun garment.
Several fine, sunburnt young men, all in
country garb, came crowding in, and as
Homer presented each in turn, she courtc-
sled to each, and with a flushed cheek and
contracted brow sank on chair the mother
of the family offered her.
As she looked round on the neat but hum
BILE dwelling, the plain, useful furniture, the
nicely arranged beds and implements of fe-
male industry, her angry passions were
awakened at what she thought had been a
trick played on her by Homer, and she ment-
ally resolved to maintain her own habits and
manners, and as early as possible disengage
| herself from all connections with her hus
bands family. The mother of Homer now
approached, and in kind manner invited
her to take off her wrappings. While dis
robing, the boys placed a large pile Of wood
on the ample hearth, and calling on their
mother to make fire. followed their
brother out Maud looked with dismay at the
heap of logs, sufficient, as she thought, to
cook a dozen dinners; but the old dame
soon rolled them into order, and blazing
fire and the clean hearth spread an air of
comfort over the room.
Mrs Rogers, with the dexterity Of back
woods cook, soon produced supper that as.
tonished even Maud by its variety and plcn-
ty and the kind and affectionate manner of
the old lady toward her sons. and their
frank, good humor would have conciliated
any heart but hers. She sat sullenly brood
ing over her fancied wrongs, until real
headache, which was at first only an excuse
for not eating, drove her to bed. Homer
and his mother sat long conversing together
and Maud saw tears believing the venerable
cheek. but so far from softening her heart,
she tried to strengthen herself in her aver
sion to her mother-in-law.
Thus Maud continued proud and cold to-
wards her husbands relatives, signing for
her own city home, and ridiculing, with all
the sarcastic irony of her natural disposition,
every thing and every one that accorded not
with her own ideas of propriety. @
Homer gradually grew rich and popular,
and spent but little time with his cross wife.
The only friend, in fact, that sympathized
with her ailments, Or bore with her fretful-
ness, was her despised mother-n-law
Time passed on, and Maud became very
iii. For weeks she fingered between life
and death. She felt that she should die,
and all the kindness, all the forbearing love
of Mrs Rogers rose up to reproach her,
One day, as she was tenderly placing her
pillows, Maud drew her cheek down to her
lips, and kissing her, burst into tears. The
old lady gently returned her caress, and dis
engaging her arm from her neck, soothed
her into tranquility.
"Mother," said she, TREMENDOUSLY. and it
was the first time she had thus addressed
her, "mother, it has been great mystery
to me how you, who were tenderly nurtured
in your youth, could ever brave hardships
and toll in this new country. and instead of
sinking under it, grow healthy and happy,
and remain even now, in old age, so active
and so capable Serving all around you-of
making all love you'
II will tell you, my Maud, this mystery
was love- natures primal word-as an old
German woman once called it in my youth.
| loved my husband fondly and nationally,
and he came to this new land-for it was
new then in every sense ofthe word-for
the sake Of our children; and when He who
rules all things, took my husband, man
aged, by active industry, to keep them to-
gether. [ taught them their duty to God
and to man, and instructed them, by my ex-
ample, to love all mankind"
tYou do not hate even me, then," said
Maud, softly.
"No, I have been vexed sometimes, but
never once did harbor feeling of hatred,
and above all, not to the wife Of my first
born"
Maud closed her eyes, but the tears were