New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-09

Father Then, a Husband Now.
fFrom the Cincinnati Times.


fFrom the Cincinnati Times-l
E;cbteen wears ago the head of what had
been. in former times, one of the wealthlesi
families in Cincinnati died, leaving widow
and two children, the eldest twelve years
Of age and the youngest but a few months
The husband, in former years, had been q
prominent and successful business man
but during the year previous TO his death
5 misfortunes came upon him IN rapid success
sion, until he saw the last dollar swept
away in speculation in which he had
hoped to regain what former transactions
had deprived him of. The blow was toe
severe for him to bear, and he fell beneath
it, leaving his family in most distressing
circumstances. At this juncture a friend,
then an elderly gentleman, who had been a
former business partner, induced the
heart-broken widow to accept assistance
from him, the lady finally going to live in
his house.
Little Viola, the baby, gave promise of
great beauty, and in very few years had
come to be the sold mans pet" There
came change in the little family, however.
The elder daughter had grown up to woman
hood, and had found q life partner upon
whom to rest, and with regret the old gem
tleman, who had come to look upon the
two sisters as his own children, saw the
family depart to the new home which had
been provided for them in an Illinois vii
lage. In the time he had been with her the
old gentleman had formed strong affec-
ton for little Viola, and when she went
from him it seemed to HIM that chaos had
come indeed.
Being of leisurely habits, he soon visited
the happy little family in their new home,
remaining some time, and coming back to
the city only to return again. When Viola
had attained the age of nine years she came
back to the home she had first known, and
at the consent Of her mother was placed in
one of the best female educational institu-
tons in this. city. Her progress in the
studies she had undertaken was of so re-
markable character that she was pointed
to as an example for the whole school, and
at one of the commandments of the insti-
tuition was made the recipient of hand
some present in the shape of a Holy Bible,
elegantly bound, as a mark of appreciation
by the faculty. When she had attained the
age of twelve years Viola was called to the
deathbed of her mother, who had been
gradually declining since her fathers death.
Being so Frustrated by this shock, the young
girl did not return immediately. but re-
manned with her sister until the next year,
when it so happened that her relatives con-
cluded to come to this city. She came with
them, resuming her studies, and alternating
her time, until two years ago, between the
house of her sister and of the only father
she had ever known.
In this year Viola had completed her
studies, and at the close of the last DAVIS
exercises had carried her diploma home
with her. She was woman now, and for
the first time in her life she thought of the |
future. Her sister was married to a gentle |
man whose business prospects were good, |
but the idea of being pensioner upon
them was source of great anxiety to her |
For days and nights she brooded over the !
thought, and at last concluded to call on |
the father" who had never failed her in |
times of trouble. What the old man said |
to his little friend is not known, but it is |
supposed, from subsequent events that he |
persuaded her to wait for year or two, |
with the promise that matters would shape |
themselves for the best. The time has rolled |
around, and tomorrow Viola will be |
eighteen.
Since the time ofthe interview we refer to, |
our little friend has come TO look upon her.
protector in a new and tenderer light, |
though it was only quite recently that she |
could persuade herself to relinquish father
even at the prospect of securing husband
The resolution came to her at last, however
and this morning Clerk Williamson, of the
Probate Court delivered to a venerable
gentleman, who returned his age at seventy
two, license to marry the lady whose life we
have attempted to relate. That love, born,
and nurtured in such a way as this, will
strengthen with time, there can be little
doubt, and we predict for the fair Viola
life of unalloyed happiness, and to her
happy partner such joy as comes to but few
in this life