Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-02-24
THE GAZETTE
UEDAR FALLS, FEBRUARY "a, 1871.
Shaking the Table Cloth.

How did you come to marry Mr..
Marshall, Aunt Mamie
| Mrs. Mamie Marshall wasn't nv
aunt, but I called her so for many
years, for she was the kindest and
truest friend I ever had. She sal
knitting busily and smiling little,
before she answered me.
"It all came of shaking table.
cloth, said Aunt Mamie. .e
"What! did you trip him up In its
folds, and bring him down on his
knees to your" Nv.
"No; I'll tell you. When / was
fourteen years old my mother died.
don't know whether children ol
that tender age generally remember
their mothers as I rememb bered mine
or not but whea I was so little that
1 sat on high stool at tho table,
would watch the chairs filed up
around 1t with the persistent hope
that my mother would come and sit
by me; and / did not relinquish this
hope after I was old enough to COM
prehend death, but clung to It, pray
ing Christ to work a miracle, as i'm
the old Bible times, and my dear
mother appear to my longing sight.
Never was there a more affection
ate or imaginative child, and my
youth was a dreary time. My grand
mother, who had charge of me
meant to do her duty by me, and in
the usual acceptance of the term she
did. was fed and clothed, and she
taught me as well as her limited
means would allow. But she never
manifested any affection for me-
She was one of that kind OF people
who think kisses and caresses fool
ishness, and though can look back
now and remember proofs of a secret
tenderness, she never kissed or ca
ressed me when / was a child.
"There were always several weeks
in the Fall, when, IL the crops were
good, I was almost necessarily EN-.
ployed In gathering berries, which
my grandmother preserved for win
ter use. My only companion In this
work was my cousin Stephen, q boy
two or three years younger than
myself.
zone day, when thus employed,
we caught sight of q man In regi.
mentals, riding swiftly through the
| woods.
"Who can II be?" said Stephen.
"Oh" said 1 In delight, "perhaps
1t is my lover knight, coming from
the wars to find me. Let me watch
until he comes around the bend in
the road. III 1t is, he will take of
his plunied hat and wave 1t to me-
Then he will gallop up and lift me
OH his horse and carry me to his
moated CASTLE" ##.. ....
"a nice gal you are for q knight to
run off with, amt you? A hand.
some lady love you would make
with your black face and flying hair
like a wild Indians, aud mouth
stained with berries! Ho! ho!-.
Wouldn't you look grand flying, and
your shoes falling off because they
are so big. I'd Just like to see you u
My cloud-land was destroyed for.
ever. From that moment / kne "
that l was ugly, uncouth, and unat.
tractiye, and my hero love would
never come. ceased to expect him.
When / was eighteen years old,
received an invitation from an aunt
who lived in Boston. to visit her.
The family Of my Aunt Caroline
consisted of herself, her ldaughter
Julia, and the orphan children of q
deceased son. Julia was just my
age, and very pretty. 1t is a very
hard thing to say, but honestly
think that my aunt, TO whom my
personal beauty had been described,
wanted me to associate with julia.
as foil to her beauty, and to reside
In the family that I might assist In
taking care Of the children. At any
rate. as soon as came, the single
servant was dismissed.
The family lived elegantly, but
soon found that 1t was done with the
strictest economy. My aunt worked
hard and managed well, and no one
outside the house dreamed that their
income was as painfully small MS Il
was. m.
Julia had q lover. Mr.. Marshall
was very handsome and mighty fine,
and do not wonder that he al pear
ed very much like god to nae then.
He Was but recently acquainted with
Julia when went there, but he ap-
peared very much in love with her.
/ used to help her dress upon the
evenings on which he came, and
q er sne had gone down looking
like an angel, / used to shed few
tears of sorrow and loneliness, as
stood and listened to their happy
chat and laughter ringing from the
room below. And / was very sure
that | could never be pretty, and
thought that nobody would ever love
me.
One day Mr.. Marshall came Il
dine. Extra attention was given Il
the house and dinner. My aunt hac
been very wealthy for short tim.
when first married. and from hel
husbands failure she saved few
things which gave the house an ail
Of means and style some articles o.
fine table silver and some handsome
oil painting, remember.
Mr.. Marshall turned to look at the
picture on the wall when he arose
and after few moments my aun,
commenced clearing the table. The
dishes were put through slide In
tie cupboard in the kitchen.
helped her to do this. Julia stood
looking out Of the window.
When the table was clear of the
dishes, my aunt went out. / sa
down and took my sewing, thinking
that my aunt would be back inls
moment to finish clearing the table
and that should be allowed, during
the afternoon, the place of guest
Mr.. Marshall spoke TO me and ask ec
me to play backgammon. 1t wal
the only game Of pleasure that