Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-10

little Mary now. once had q little girl,
about as old as YOU are; her name was
Mary. too: but she went to sleep. just rs
your mamma has. and never woke again.
Will you not go with me, to make me
think youar my little Mary, woke again
Will YOU not let me be Your mamma
now.'
"lcs, you may be my mamma till
my mamma wakes up. Will you be
Bobby's mamma too, when Bobby comes
back"
Yes dear. | will be Bobby's mamma
too
She little dreamed that those words
were proph etic.
Then III go with you, dear mamma !:
FOR little Mary's hungry. My mamma
didn't let me get hungry when we lived
in the nice house
The good woman pressed the forsakcn
child TO her bosom, feeling. with an in
ward thrill Of joy. that a void in her
heart was thus to be filled. n wound.
still fresh. to be healed.
After the unfortunate Mrs. Bramford
was lain TO rest, the kind bcneiactress
of little Mary, took her to her own home
in Millridgc, where she never knew the
want OF mothers tender care. Thus
Mary became the adopted daughter Of
Mrs. Ellen Mitchell, known more famil-
iariy, rs Aunt Elem in the immediate
vicinity where she resided.
Mrs. Mitchell was widow: and at
the time oi Mary Bramford's death. she
wa, visiting some relatives in St Johns.
Mary grew to womanhood, loving,
and beloved by all who knew her, and
at eighteen. when married TO Charles
Edwards. was the same beautiful being
as was Mary Milford when she gave
her hand to Edmund Bramford Nav
hers be different fate we shall see.
Charles Edwards, during boy hool. was
of rowing turn, and early in life took
To the sea. His first voyage was to
the south seas, in New Bedford whale
ship, with his father who was an old
whaleman. Not rclishiny the business.
he afterwards confined himselfto short
er trips in merchant ships. He became
a thorough sailor ard navigator could
drink as still a glass of gro.. or tell as
tough yarn. as the old tars. With
favoritc. As time wore Oh. he rose
from one degree TO another. until he
filled, with honor. the responsible birth
of chief mate, on board of large East
India ship In his intercourse with
others, Charles was, BY nature. the true
gentleman. lie was not highly edu-
Gated but n rctentivc memory had
stored up vast amount of general in
formation derived from observation
and miscellaneous reading. He pos
sessed a ready fund of sterling good
sense and sound ndjudgement. His hand
some person. fine social qualities, gen
tlemanlv bearing. and sprightly. vet
always sensible, conversation won the
good will of all. and the admiration Of
SONG, particularly tile young ladies' of
Milltown: yet no one was jealous of
Charles, Notwithstanding his marked
attentions TO Miss Bramforu. for whom.
perhaps, forty or more young men
would have attempted almost any i'm
possible thing had she desired it.
Young Edwards had seen the dark
side of life
While his mother lived, he was her
main support for his father, when
ashore, was an idle, miserable drunk
ard. The receipts of his whaling yoy-
ages. which We're considerable, he
always paid to notorious brothel
keeper and rum-seller, named Jim.
Jenkens. who also had been a whale
man, hut afterwards, came TO New
Bedford, and engaged in this nefarious
business, as better suited to his tastes
and lnclinations. 1t was generally in
vain that Mrs. Edwards applied to her
fallen husband for necessary funds
but there were times, when he seemed
to boil over with good humor when
in this state Of hilarious intoxication,
he was not only excessively silly, but
exceedingly flush with his money. He
would then buy large quantities of
jewelry, silk dresses and rich shawls
for his wife. These, to her, useless
articles. she always disposed of to good
advantage, and with the avails, added
to her own work, and the wages Of her
son, she contrived to live pretty COM
fortably.
On one occasion, however, she was
very much straitened in circumstances.
Charles. who was then stout young
sailor, about fourteen years of age,
had been away several months longer
than was anticipated when he sailed.
Mrs. Edwards. in consequence Of her
sons prolonged absence, found herself
reduced to almost absolute want. She
was compelled, several times, to visit
that fearful spot, Jcnkens' rum shop.
alone, in the night, at hours when she
knew that Edwards would be there,
hoping her intreaties would move him