The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-15
D.AEsK4EA.
BY ELLA WHEELER.

They were not romantic people, as you
might suppose-the Ashmores, Dahlia'
parents. No, they were practical, unas-
suning. quiet country people and you
would be led to wonder how their young
est child came with her romantic name.
And viii tell you There had been six
children before her. Three boys, John,
Peter and William. John was married,
with little brood about his .,nee Peter
had died in his early youth William was
studying law in a neiehboring city. And
these were the girls, Rachael, living in
distant State with her husband. Mary,
wife Of country physician, and Clara,
whose bridal robes were growing under
her own nimble fingers, when the little
stranger came to the hous .hold.
It was October, and the roses, petunias,
phlox an many other old-fashioned bios
SONS that had bluomed in the little garden
through the summer, were all dead. Only
few gorgeous dahiias were left. and they
waved their purple, and crimson, and yell
low heads all the brighter, for the keen
air and cutting winds.
.What shall I name my BABY girl ?'
queried the mother, sitting one day by the
window that looked out upon the garden.
And then her eye wandered over the
withered stalks and the one blooming
flower, and she said, Il Will cali her
Dahlia for like that flower, she comes to.
me when all the others are fled >"
Better call her Nancy Jane-some-
thing sensible like" the father laughed
and SAID. but the mother answered only
by stroking her baby's brown thread of
hair, and whispering
my little Dlhlia, my one last flow
err
And so the name fell to her, softened
to "Dallie'' by the father, never by the
mother.
Clara completed her bridal robes, and
when D4hlla was tive months old, there
was quite wedding in the old farm house
and the parents were left alone with their
wee baby. Need | tell you how they
loved this child that had come to them in
the autumn of their lives? How care
fully she was reared, how tenderIy cared
for?
All this I have learned since, for | did
not know her then. | saw her first when
she was seventeen; in the first flush of
her womanhood. [ was widow living
in the city some twenty miles from Sea-
vile. Carl, my sou, had recently come
into possession of a farm Of rich land
near Seaviile, and we went down to in
spect the property. We found it SPLEEN
did possession, but needing culture aud
care.
Il Ii tell you what, mother" Carl cried
his handsome face aglow Il will find
boarding place here in Seayille, and III
attend TO this myself 1t is just what |
have been longing for, labor in the fresh
air. Ill plough, and dig, and sow, and
zoe, and-build pretty summer resort
for myself-and you know how, mother.
Good-by ledger and counting room and
confinement! Hurrah for summer in
the country" And Gail laughed SO loud
that plough boy in neishboriug field
stood stock still in sheer amazement. |
lifted one of the soft, white hands that
held the reins.
And will you callos and brown these
pretty hands with a farmers work p [
said a little regretfully, | amsashamed to
confess. But Carl was my all, and l was
little weak in regard to him.
He looked at me reproachfuly, ''You
don't think | am ashamed to work, |
hope? Aud | am actually ashamed OF
these hands. They would do very we'll
on a girl, but always wished | could do
something to enlarge and color them a
little. My joints all ache for want of
use. How | wish Helen was here to
get this view. She would enjoy it SO
much"
Helen, was Miss Leroy, Carl's ATTAIN
ced. \ very prett, stylish city girl whom
Carl adored with all the ardor of his
nature. just now | did not reply to his
remark, for | was quite sure Miss Helen
was enjoying her afternoon nap much
better than she would the view. To have
said 50 would have dispelled Carl's pleas
ant Illusion, and then mothers invariably
have peculiar ideas concerning a sons
betrothed.
And now for boarding place." Carl
said. So we besieged the first farm house
we came upon for board for young
gentleman. But the house was small
and the family large, and they coull not
possibly accommodate him. DO you
know of any person who camp Carl
Queried.
mot unless it is Mr. Announcement
house below and thither we went.
A beautiful young girl. dark eyed, silk
en-tressed, soft voice. met US at the door.
It was Dahlia. Never shall | forget her
rs she boxed that day. She was attired
10 dark print. her hair loosly wound |
around comb. her eyes glowing and her |
cheeks flushed with exercise. For one |