The Van Buren press., 1870-03-22

tired out.
Tired Tot, are you: So am let's
have rest !" and drawing great rock
ing chair up in front Of the fire, she seat
ed herself with Baby in her lap, the big
blue eyes looking dreamy and quite ready
for sleep. George looked steadtastly
down at the innocent baby face, while the
round dimpled fingers held hers in tight,
warm clasp. She had been told that lhe
child resembled her.
"Are you like me, little Totl" she
said, softly. "Are you going to be like
me always2" Well, up as far as twenty
years old, for l believe l was a happy
little girl, with ever 50 many to love me,
and had beautiful times.s
Don't you be like me after you're
twenty. baby, because you'll be woman
then, and some one, splendid and noble,
will come and make you love him. But
| il you are like me he will go away, and
mover care for ron, and that viii hreak
yvul hcars nttlc Tot, SO you never can
love anybody again, and then maybe you
will grow reckless and wicked, and mar
ry some one you don't care for, il you
are like your aunt George"
And there she fairly broke down and
began to weep passionately Her poor
aching, crrng heart, was trying to fight
it's way out to peace, and she did not
know how near the victory was 1t was
baby who helped her to conquer at last /;
and when, for by-and by she grew calmer
and looked down on the child,now peace
fully asleep, and wept on in her old train
of thought, mngling all sorts Of fancies
with it, about what she thought Tot
would do if she should be like her aunt
George, Suppose il were really so, that
her own life would decide what Tots
life should be- or course there was no
truth in tho fancy, but suppose Il were
true, and that her own hand had the
power 10 decide Tots future. then would
sho be willing to let her darling niece
grow up to blight her womanhood by n
loveless MARRIAGE? She gazcd at the
sweet little innocent face, and shuddered
at the thought. No thousand times
no! 1t would be better for baby TO live
alone all the days of her life, without any
love, and keep her soul white and pure.
And if better FOR baby, why not better
for aunt George herself?
"Never mind, dear, you may be like
aunt George all you want to, for she
means to save both OF US. Life is going
pretty hard, little Tot, but you must be
brave and true, and not let any false
thought stain your soul. And then, IL
you are very lonely, yor may come and
live with aunt Georgia, and whatever else
we miss Of, We will at least DO honorable
women. will not accept Mr. Hsrt-l
will not accept him, and may heaven help
me always to be true woman"
So she made her resolution and won
her victory; and sitting there in her qui-
ct room, with baby asleep in hor arms,
many calm and peaceful thoughts came
to her and refreshed her soul She had
indeed begun new life with new year.
Meanwhile, down stairs the Others had
been busy in their own ways. The turkey
was baking finely in the oven, the vege
tables were all on, the jellies set, and the
pudding just beginning to boil. when
there was another ring at the door bell,
and Jane had to run up in the hall to an.
swer it.
In a moment more Jane come back
and reported that it was gentleman all
covered with snow and muillcd up, so she
could not see his face, and he wished to
see her master on business so she had
spoken to Mr.. Charlton and then come
directly away.
81 wish you had waited to hear his
name,' said Mrs. Charlton; 4" il dinner
was ready would go right up there"
When Mr.. Charlton was called out into
the hall, he would not have known his
cousin Phil from tho Great Mogul IL It
had not been for the honest gray eyes,
and, q moment after, the familiar voice.
SCOT showed up on the railroad" said
Phil al have got business to transact
two hundred miles beyond here, but the
train cannot get an inch further to. day,
they say, so l thought I'd come up and
make you New Years call, old boy"
Bravo exclaimed Mr.. Charlton,
eve were talking about you only last
night, and wishing you were here
The new conner was q stalwart young
fellow, with fine, noble face, not with
out its few lines of care, perhaps pain.
He glanced hurredly around the library
as he entered, ther seated himself com
fortably before the glowing CRATE, and
began to answer Johns questions about
the weather and his busines prospects.
"And why haven't you let us hear
from your" asked John. ~ have beon
anxious enough to hear how you were
getting along, can tell YOU"
supposed you had had enough Of
me-" said the other, with an odd little
laugh +" but am the inevitable bad pen.
ny you see!'
An hour passed by, and it was almost
dinner time. Mrs. Charlton looked proud.
ly at her successful achievements, and
then glanced at her kitchen clock
She FASTENED up stairs, cast curious
glance at the heavy oyercoat in the hall,
and then sped up to her own room.
There was George, to all appearance
perfectly happy and contcntcd, playing
bo-pcep with Tot, who had just walked
up.
"Oh. you two darlings! J! exclaimed
Mrs. Charlton "Now let me call the
nurse to take baby, and you hurry or
and get dressed, dear, for dinner is al.
most ready, and we are gsing to have
company after all !"
"Who = asked George, in surprise.