Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-06-17
which even now cling to her romantic
recollections. Her husband, Mr.

ol!GutloH. AA0 SASo V"o6Ao oSASOA 49,
Emmitsburg, a year or two after he
left College. By virtue Of being ten
or eleven years the senior Of his wife,
and century as it we're in advance
of her Intellectually, he became the
tutor of Miss NELLIE, and afterwards
her husband. Three years Of married
life were spent agreeably together, but
through changing vicissitudes of for
tune her husband tasted the cup of
adversely. Previous to this Mrs.
Eyster had never known want or care.
And this sudden change Of circum.
stances cast a gloom over her mind.
1t was cloudy day in her history
But far from sinking under despond-
ency, it reused her to mental exertion.
She was conscious Of possessing one
talent, which she had cultivated to
5ome extent, viz: A knowledge Of
music thooreticallyand fundamentally.
Some kind friends who sympathised
with her in her embarrassed condition,
procured her music class. She
taught with a proud spirit and de-
termination to succeed. She was the
proudest woman in Pennsylvania, her
friend. declared, after she had earned
her first hundred dollars in her
adopted State. The reader doubtless
can fully appreciate her feelings under
the circumstances. 1t was the dawn
of a new life rising above misfortune
and clequcred restraints. She had
not known what money intrinsically
meant previous to that trying ordeal
Her husband, q noble-minded and
sensitive gentleman, was chagrined
beyond measure that his wife was a
working woman" But now it is
pleasant to know and thank God for
the trial Of her hopes and fears, what
ever she has done or may ever yet do,
Or know Of the value of human sym
pathy, or to help others to bear their
life burden, and feel the genial kind
ness Of christian love, is due to that
period of seli-reliance and consequent
developments. Her mind now ex-
panded and she looked with a happy
hope for new fields of adventure and
to explore the pathway Of life.
She driftcd along year after year in
the beaten path Of social and domestic
duties; cleaning little sheaf Of good
grain here, and a bit Of shining ore
there, but never dreaming. as she
stacked her odd melange Of a granary
or tore-house to what practical use
she would ever put her few treasures
of leisure hours.
She commenced scribbling at an
carly period; even at Barlywood she
began to weave together her crude
lmaginings, for the rhymes and essays,
etc. were only SO many safety valves
Of escape, for the impulses and torna-
does Of cHthu3ia$m with which her yet
unbalanced mind was constantly
seethng. But time ripened her cul-
tivated intellect and she lohged to
climb the ladder from where fame S
proud temple shines afar. The world
seemed rocking at her feet as if some
terrible phenomenon in nature was
about to occur.
The war broke out and her literary
labors we're interrupted for q brief
sop.on, She found work then for
head, hands and heart. Her dear
mother whose home had always been
with her, since her fathers death, or
rather her marriage with Mr.. Eyster,
sickene1 the winter of 1864 (she was
born in 1sll), and died Feb. 20, 1865,
and died in her arms. That was her
first real sorrow, except her father
loss. During the long sickness Of con-
SUMPTION, Mrs, Z. to arouse her would
write chilcrcn's stories. Their fresh
ness and simplicity, interviewer as they
were With home scenes in Frederick,
alleviated the tedium of her illness.
Those were precious hours to daugh-
ter who loved fond and christian
mother. She never felt and will per-
haps never know higher incentive
than then prompted her to soothe the
dying pillow of sanity mother. She
died, and Mrs, Eyster wanted money
of her own earning with which to buy
her simple and chaste monument.
With fear and trembling she bundled
up her scroll Of manuscripts, random
thoughts, and sent them to Porter &
Coates, Of Philadelphia. Previously,
however, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Of
Boston, who had read some of her
poetical lyrics, had written to her that
she possessed more than ono talent.-
He encouraged her by kind words to
persevere. She soon received propo-
sails from q publishing firm, Ashmead
& Evans, Of Philadelphia (then just
commencing business), for the manu-
script they had seen in possession of
Porter d Coates, who only published
tov books they wanted to buy this
JfocAure, and as she had no reputation,
and they but little money, offered her
$50 for the oopywright. Certainly
this was cheering to a new beginner;
an unknown author. This slight to,
ken Of appreciation fairly bewildered