Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-03-16
Little Pearl.
BY EMMA G. JONES.

| l was bitterly disconnected tina
morning, and there is no denying i
l-discontented with my home, M
husband, even with my baby. I re
member the morning well, it wa
gray and cloudy, with a low, drag
| ging mist. that chilled one to tn,
bone, and hung the trees with reek
ing moisture. The black mud, abou
the door of our western home, was
thick and deep; and the bare flool
of our one room was badly stained
and soiled by the careless feet o.
the rough-shod workingmen., 1 had
been cleaning up all the morning:
but the more l cleaned the worse
matters seemed to grow; soap and
sand only served to render the black
foot-marks more visible; and when
a sudden puff of wind whirled the
smoke and ashes down the pipe OF
my cooking stove, covering the
books and tables l had just taken
SO much pains in busting off; ] threw
myself in the rocking chair, and
burst into passion of despairing
tears.
We brought the docking chair
with us, Ned and I, when we left our
cottage, on the outskirts of the city
and journeyed westward. 1t was a
pretty cottage; my eyes fill with
tears even now at the thought of it.,
with its low, breezy windows,
through which the odor of roses
floated the livelong summer; and its
clean, well ordered rooms, adorned
with all those charming, useless lit
tie toys, that go so far toward ma
king Il home pleasant and attractive.
1t was my first home after my mar.
riage-and 4 woman always loves
that home better than any other.
We were very. happy, Ned and 1; as
cozy and comfortable as two robins
in the heart of a summer apple tree.
Ned was a clerk, but with good
salary, and some little additions
flowing in now and then from other
resources. And when our baby
came, Little Pearl as we called her,
our happiness was complete.
But after awhile this new rapture
began to cool; and as Little Pearls
blue eyes deepened and expanded,
Ned began to cast about him in q
sage and fatherly manner.
"We must do the best we can for
Little Pearls sake, Bell"
That was the opening remark-a
disclosure of his plans followed. He
had caught the western fever.
"'Westward the star of empire
makes its way" Ned quoted, with
telling emphasis, adding, "we must
follow, Bell, and build up name
and home for Little Pearlr'
1 assented, as l always did, to
Ned's plans; though, in my secret
soul, l felt that the movement was q
bad one. We sold our pretty cot
tage and furniture at considerable
sacrifice; Ned left his clerkship; and
the November after Little Pearls
birth found us in our western home.
Ned had urged me to bring out
our servants; but, in fit of high
strung heroism, | determined to be
maid-ofallwork myself. Ned would
have to sacrifice his ease and CON-
fort-I would not be behind him. 1t
was comparatively light in the be-
ginning, when only Ned and myself
were to provide for; but after awhile
the hired men came; and baby re-
quired more attention every. day.
The fall rains set in, converting the
spongy soil into black, adhering
mud. | worked late and early, but
found it impossible to take care of
my babe, and keep our rude home
in anything like order, | bore up
as long as | could; but at last my
strength utterly failed, and, sitting
down in the rocking chair, | sobbed |
like a silly child. l thought of my |
old home, with its pretty, well Or
dcred apartments; of the hours of
pleasant leisure and social enjoy
ment to which ! had been accus- !
toned; and then, with fresh gush |
of tears, | looked out at the low,
trailing mist, and around the small, |
untidy room in which | was impris- !