Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-26
a Brave Little Woman.
BY FRANCES HENsHAW BADEN.


ture of a visitor of Mrs. Graham's, Nettie
! exclaimed:
. "Why, mamma, how very odd it is that
your friend, who looks so young and pref
ty, with such an exquisite complexion.
and bright, laughing eyes, should have
such grsy-no, ,o1ate hair! Why, I don't
think there is dark hair in her head {;
and she has such an abundance of it too r'
eyes, Nettie, it does look odd. for one
so young-she is little over thirty-to
have such hair. Hers is ono of those
strange incidents that you have often
heard of, and now have seen, where one
hour of terror has accomplished most eff
feotually the work of long years aye,
probably the SHOWS of seventy winters
would not have SO bleached her raven
| locks as we see them now"
"How long has she been so? What
caused it? Mamma, do you know /?
Isn't she tiny woman I've seen girls
of twelve larger"
"How you rattle on, Nettie Now keep
quiet, and will tell you all l know about
it.
"Ten years ago, in Virginia, where the
nearest neighbors lived at least mile
apart, Mary Southern passed the first
years of her married life. Her husband
being a lawyer, was necessarily much
from home, attending court, which was
in session in the town of -, fifteen
miles from their home. Always going
with him to the gate, and with a bright
smile bidding him good-by. Mary would
watch her husband ride off, to be absent
two or three days, as his business was
more or less pressing.
"One memorable morning in the month
of August, Mary, with her babe in her
arms, and another little three-year old
child clinging to her hand, followed to
bid her husband goodbye. As she raised
| give and receive his parting kiss, he for
the first time noticed that the sweet
smile was wanting. On her face rested
! an expression of great anxiety, and he
asked:
"'What is it, dear? Something to say,
| and are not quite sure that it is not child
| ish, Ell? Afraid of being laughed at?
Come. out with itr
"'No, not that but am afraid of wor-
rying you-that is. making you feel I'M
easy or sorry about leaving us, if speak.
But, Ell Harry, I do feel worse about
your going this time than ever before, she
answered, her eyes filling with tears.
why, you are nervous, sure enough.
What is the cause? Tell me, love"
"'Oh, it is very foolish, no doubt But
last night, you know, we heard that Watt
Wolf had escaped
"WeA, dear, if he has. you may be
very sure he will not linger in this
neighbOehood. He is probably out of the
State by this time
"'Harry, you have forgotten he has
vowed vengeance on every one who had
anything to do with his conviction, and
particularly you,' said Mary in tremul-
ous voice.
Gaia, ha, ha! Why, little woman, for
that very reason he will steer far away
from here, thinking he would be expected |
Rest easy. I'll come back tonight IS you
are anxious
"No, no, no l would not have you
come through the woods at night for any
thing. 1t is for you I'm so frightened. |
Do not come unless you can get off i
early
"You remember that my engagement |
will keep me until eight. [ will leave
directly after, and be with you about
ten
"No, Harry; remain in town, and |
leave Trust here with as, and l shall feel
easier
alright Hers, Trust he called,
to huge mastiffy who was waiting to ac-
bis Master. The dog came up,
and Harry placed his wife's hand on the
noble animals head, and said
'"Take care of your mistress, old fell
low But, Mary, I assure you. you have
no cause for alarm. Now, goo6-byep
"Trust reluctantly f. lowed his mistress
home. Ea was disapoi nted, it was very
evident. But he was ever true to his
name. and Mary felt that he would do as
his master babe him.
"Ti,e manifold duties of the day soon
diverted her thoughts. and she grew busy
and cheerful again. Aud so forgetting
The, fears of the morning she gave all the
81 srvants, with one exeeption--the nurse
permission to attend a party given by
some of the neighboring servants.
"The babe was sleeping sweetly, and
little Harry sitting on the piazza, watch
ing the road, when the nurse called
/" Come Harry, get your supper, and
then we will go and give the chickens
theirs
"No Harry's looking for papa. Harry
wants papa to come. Something hurt
mamma if papa don't come. answered
the child still eagerly watching the road.
"Little Harry had heard the converse.
ton of the morning, and it had evidently
made deep impression on his mind 1
When his mother heard his reply, all the {
alarm she had felt came back with re
doubled force, and she began to regret {
that she had not urged her husband to
get excused from his engagement aad re. |
turn home in the evening. i
''Little Harry continued calling for bis c
papa and Mary grew every moment more
miserable. Suddenly wild thought en-
tered her mind.
"Oh, why could not her husband hear
the call Perhaps he might. The in i
fant's cry, borne on the breeze to ibis ear,
would surely bring him home. CHANGING t
at the clock, she saw it was just seven
II he would only start now he would e
reach home by nine, she thought. 8
"Call papa, Harry. and mother will
ask God to send him home to u.s. she
said. And as little Harry's lisping tones :
foated out on the night wind his mothers !,
fervent prayer assembled to Heaven. .
"Thou who knowest all things, direct 6
him. Send him home to us, or STAY his =
whichever seems best in thv
sight 7 she prayed. =
"Still watchingIand waiting,little Har. =
~ sat until his eyes grew weary, and
nurmuring, Papa coming" his head
dropped and he sank to sleep on the door d
step.
"Gently taking him up and placing 4
him on the sofa, Mary said to the nurse: v
"'Do not disturb him. We will awake @
n undress him when his father comes, p
{ when l am ready to retire. G,
ut was glorious night; the moon a
hSning SO brightly that it was almost as o.
lght as MONDAY. And as they sat on the b
iarga, everything about, and far up the