The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-06


4 In words, but ! know you begTldge mo home,
though you Will call me nngFateiul when I'm gone,
I'm willing TO work, but ! want work can pul ny
heart into and feel y does ne good no mailer BOY
hard itiS, only ask for chance 70 DO uASi SI
happy woman, and don't think that bad an Ii
ton, Even II only do what my dear mother Iiu'
earn my living honestly and happily, and leave =
beautiful example behind me, 70 help one otheF W.
man ~ horu hSlpa mo, shall DO satisfied"
CbriBtin'a yOico ALTERED over the last words, lor
the thoughts and feelings which had been WORKING
within her during the last few days had stirred her
deeply, aud the resolution 70 cut loose from Inc 0ll
life had not bccn lightly made. Mr.. Devon Ind ~,
toned behind his paper TO this unusual outpolrtns
with sense Of discomfort which was new 70 him.
But though tho words ECproAehed aud annoyed: they
| did not soften him, and when Christie paused win
fearful eyes her uncle rose, saying, slowly. a he
lighted his cAndloi
"EfId refused 10 lot You 90 before, I'd agree 70 II
now for you need bFcakn In, my girl, and you aIv
goln' whore you'll gOtlt 30 the sooner you're on ne
batter for all on u.s. Come, hot,cy; We my ~ T ~
higher nAtur' as Christie calls y and we've hAa vs.
iorln' enough for one night" And with grim laugh
tho old man quilted the hOld, WoEstcd, but In So0d
order.
"There, there, dear hev good cry, and inrglt
abOnt III" purrcd Aunt BetsCy, a. the hesNy
iOOlstepA creAked away, for the good soul naa
most OllhsliIOlOd and dutiiul awe OF her loru anu
master.
II shant cry btt act; for II is high time ] 'cdd
on I've stayed for your EAkOi now I'm more 'rou'
bio than comfort and away 90, Good night my
dear old aunty, and don't look troubled Tor III 10
| lamb whtio fHtay."
work away, and sat down to wright tho letter whieh
was tho mt atop toward freedom. When y VA
donO, abe drew near to her friendly eoEaddnle VIC
hro and TIL late into the night sat thinking ten1eTy
Of The past bravely Of the present. hopoiM q Ino
| future. TWonly-one tomorrow, and her inheritance
head, heart, pair Of hands; also tho dover o.
most New England girls, INTELLIGENCE courage aaI
eommon'honAc. many practical gins, all Maach
under the shy pride that GOon mSlta In genial 81,
mosphurO. much romance and enthusiasm and
the spirit that can rise TO hUrolSm when tho great
moment comes.
Christie was ono OF that large class Of women who,
moderately endowed with talents earnest and tsuc'
hearted, arc driven by necessity, Temperament q
principle out Into the world to hnd support hsppi'
ness and homes for Themselves Many turn pacA
| discouraged, moro accept thadswH for substance,
aud discover their mistake too late; the weakest lose
their purpose and themaclECsi but the sIopgc ct
struggle on and. A1r danger and defeat earn AZ as'
tue best possession this world can give Us, ue ~
knowledge, Ielt.conirol, Bclfhclp This wss tho
real desire Of ChrlStib'B heart; this VIA 70 20 neE
lesson ard reward, and 10 this happy Gnu hhe WAs
Mowly y9t surely brought by tho long discipline OF
/ life aud labor.
Sitting alone there In the night, she tried 70
strengthen herself with all the good and helpsni
memories she could recall, before she went away 70
mud her place In tho great unknown world; sue
/ NuphHHk vi ukN WIZ
the commonplace life Of home TIL she could bear
no longer. Then had gone away 70 teach % lnoai
county girls arc forced to do Had mot, lovea an9
narrtld poor gentleman, and after lew years o.
| genuine hdnpnoHA, untFoubiod even by much care
and poverty, had followed him out Of the world.
leaving her little child to tho protection Of her
bDOther.
Christie looked back over tho long. lonely years she
had spent In tho old farmhouse, ploddlnR 70 school
and church, and doing her tasks with Kind Aunt lii
UNkgF VNNIlN n rhills HlnWiV Df0Wi0H into ulfls
hood, With world Of romance locked up In q hea1
hunFr for love and larger, nobloriio,
She had tried 10 appcaao this hungern many ways,
but Iund little help Herr Athor'G old books were
all SIe could comuiand and these she wore out with
lnrrih reading. InhCrting bis refined tastes, she
io' md nothing to attract her In the society q
| &C mmOn.pAcG and often coarAO people about
'don was 10 ''gct married." and whose subjects Of
conversation were 'RfArt bnnneta" and mice dEeH.
$685." She tried TO believe that the admiration aud
regard Of The bludyoung farmers were worth striving
for; but when one wclltoO nCghbor laid his acres ut
her feet she found II impossible 10 accept for her
lifO's companion man whose soul was wrapped up
In prize cattle and big tuenps.
Uncle EnOS never could forgive her for this piece
o. FOLLY and Christie plainly raw that one OF three
things would surely happen, II sho lived on there
with no vent for her full heart aud busy mind. Sho
would either marry jos Duttcrheld In sheer despo'
ration, and become a farmers household drudgei
sottio down into sour spinScr, content 90 make
what poor Matty Stone had done, try 10 crush and
curb her needs aud aspirations III the struggle
grew too hard, and then, In o. Of despair, end her
life and leave tragic story 10 haunt their quiet
river
TO escape these iates, but one way appeared; TO
hfcak loose from this narrow life, and go out into
the world and sec what rhc could do for herself
This idea was flhl Of cnchantmcnt for tho eager Pr
and, after much earnest thought she had resolved
| 10 try II.
liItlI, can come back" she ,aid 70 herself.
eyenswhllc she Seorned the thought Of fallute for
with all her shy pride she was both brave and az
dent. and her dreams were Of tho roblCst sort.
III won't marry Joe; I won't wear myself out In
district school for the moan SUN they give wOmln
Won't end my lie like coward because st is dull
and hard I'll try my fate a. mother did, and per
harH may succeed rs well" And ChrlStie'a
thoughts went wandering away into the dim, sweet
past, when she happy child, lived wiki loving pa
rents in different world from that
Lost In these tender memories she Eat ttll tho old
inOon.faccd clock behind the door struck twelve,
then the Visions RnAhed, leaving their benson be.
hind them.
As she glanced backward al tho EmouiderinE
frc a slender Epro Of 1AmO shot imp from tho
log that had blazed 80 cheeriy and EhOno upon her
AZ she went good omen, gratefully accepted then,
and remembered often IN tho years 10 come.
Thus ends the lrst chapter Nils AlcottS sprlght.
ly and attractive but thoughtful new story, which
Commences in tho holiday number Of Henry Ward
Iccchers Great Literary and Family wCcRly-Tht
CArlHidn UhioN and will bo continued only In that
Inpor. Miss Aleot has found the key TO the popular
hearts Il Is In depicting tho true hoRelte Of Amer
Ca, which rhe makes full Of EeSt, enjoyment aud
wholesome carnestness This story will 10 followed
eminent American pens. Edward EgEeSton, 10
bcrtson Gray, Mrs. Harriet 1ctcher Stowe. etc.
The Chriki1H 'UHion contains contributions from |
aninent writer's Of all denominations and has mat.
tc \ OF interest for every member Of tho household
ypt Hg aud old Having he Target circulation In ne
roi ID OF Ia class Il can afford 10 buy for in columns