The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-07
A Pleasant Story.

| 1t was a cottage Don't tell me that
/ don't know Haven't been there t.
gather roses and feast on the strawberries
| No It wasn't a cottage ornee-there Was
nothing Frenchihed about it. 1t was pure
| " American, and harmonized sweetly with
the delightful scenery. No It hadn't n
| fiat roof, nor portIco nothing at all ot
| the kind But then il had rose vines run
ning all over the windows, and whole colo
MES of wrens that built their nests and
sang beneath its leaves. To the right was
"a field Of clover. red with blossoms On the
left was an orchard whence every wind
scattered a snowy shower Of bloom IN
front was a green lawn, shaded with some
MASSIVE walnut trees and to the rear
opened long grass land through which the
cows walked every morning to their pasture
beyond, ana returned BY the same way at
night
/ knew well enough to whom this cottage
belonged No, it wasn't To school teach
er, nor preacher, nor an author-no such
thing 1t was built by the hand # HIM
who owned II, and lived in 1t, and ! had
ALWAYS admired its excellent taste III blend
ing the useful with the beautiful. though
had never seen hun, my visits having
always been made to his wife, and during
his absence had heard Of him though I.
heard enough to make me intensely curl-
Gus to see him for not a female tongue ia
the neighborhood approved of his ~IfeS
choice
What is the matter with him T. | ask
cd " is he immoral
Not that | know Of, was the reJulnd
er " but to tell the truth, Dolly, he's in
sutferably ugly-his face is all SCARED and
cicaterized, | should think by fire and you
know II always makes me nervous u look
at anything of the kind. "
Poor man perhaps he got burned III
rescuing some child OF feeble woman from
the flames, | said.
Don't know never heard never
made inquiries you know they only came
tu hive i'll this neighborhood last summer,
and | never dared ask her what distgured
him. but | wish you would d-oh, | should
like to know ~
q. am considerable acquainted with Mrs.
Winslow, | replied, . thought of calling
upon her this morning perhaps she will
tell me without my asking.
" Do that's dear good Dolly
And did.
The whole atmosphere seemed redOlent
with music and fragrance l couldn't tell
why all the birds, had taken 1t into their
heads to sing. warble and build their nests
there and didn't know why 1t was that
the mosses, buttercups, violets and daisies,
should prefer that place to any other but
they seemed to, Judging from the profus-
ion in which they grew.
Tba vyh.l. dplluhtfullV
rural and picturesque, and over all fingered
an influence, Of dreamy quietude and re-
pose.
narrow fOotpath, crooked as footpaths
always are, wound along through the lawn,
beneath the shadows Of giant walnut, and
by this | approached, entered the little gate,
and ascended the graveled walk, bordered
by beds Of flowers, to the door. 1t was
open and | went in.
Alone-a Sc en- and pea eful hush res .
within The balmy wind nestled in thu
wreaths Of snowy drapery hanging at the
window, where great white and red roses
bowed their graceful heads and the warm,
rich sunlight came in and lay In bars Of
radiance upon the floor.
Not quite alone either a cradle was
there and it required no conlurlng to tell
that the cradle had an inmate-a self-dlgnl-
fed, thoughtful, imperturable little baby,
whose quiet calmness | could not quite un-
derstand Ii was wide awake, and its
great blue eyes we're staring with infant
persistence at something, couldn't tell
what then they turned upon me, and |
returned the gaze But it made no differ
ence; the baby had not a foul OF evil thought
to hide it was not conscious Of sin or
word OF deed hence there came no blush
to that delicately rounded cheek no fall
ing to that calm quiet eye, hmpid as lake
in summer, serene as the heaven in June.
There was a rustic and futter Of muslin,
the sound Of light springy step, the
glimpse Of fairy form and Mrs. WlnslOw
stood before me. She was not very beau
tifui, but a sparkling and vivacious, with q
glow of health on her cheek and its light
in her eye.
The baby had reused up now, to be sure
no more Of its thoughtful serenity. lt'
little form fairly huttered with JOY il
laughed, clapping its dimpled hands.
You've come to stay all day with me
haven't you J and baby had such good com
pany while mamma was gone, hadn't 1t !!
she said in light, chirruDy way that SCI
of the little fellow with renewed delight
Her invitation had only seconded my de
sign, so removing my bonnet and mantilla
while she sat down on the rocker and tool
the baby, we prepared to enjoy the dal
and each Others society
can't tell what we talked about. No
it wasn't Of balls, nor operas, nor lions, no
sights. No; not a neighbor's characte
was dissected. No the inhrInities of tn
clergyman we're not shown up. No no
a mOrsel of private scandal was cut o
carved. But the time flew swiftly AM
pleasantly after dinner, and when the grea
round sun was sinking behind trees tina
burned and glowed In the rich, warm light
she came to where l was sitting, and wit
out word laid a portrait in my lap.
was that Of noble-looking man, with mos
expressive and faultless features.
tbs it your husband r. asked
my husband as he was, she answere
with a sigh. You have never seen himl
| replied in the negative.
, at is almost time for him to be here,
/ she continued ''You will sta with I
"