Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-20

"'s~" ~ Ae 10 my SnAau my '" hiS
my little Williev and she pressed the
portrait to her lips, and looked on it as
even had scarcely ever done.
Ah!I needed no other proofs. l
needed nothing more than that one
look to tell me had lost my child.
Mrs. Haughton had sunk upon her
seat again, and my darling was kneel-
ing at her feet, clasping her hand, and
weeping. They spoke no more; they
nor any one then, when a minute or
two had passed, Colonel Haughton
raised my child kindly from the
ground, and placing her mothers hand
again in hers, led them silently togcth-
er from the room.
closed my eyes and turned away,
bnt still the tears would force their
way through the closed lids upon my
cheek. And, as l wept, feeling-that
night | could not help it-so lonely
and so sad, a warm, firm clasp came
gently and closed upon my hand. 1t
was Nevill who was standing by my
side, and rs l felt that friendly pres
sure, and met the look that was bent
upon me, knew that there was one at
least who, rejoicing in my Fortunes
joy, could yet feel sympathy for me.
1t was not long before Colonel
Haughton came back. and from him
We learnt all that there was to tell.
Mrs. Haughton, when very young, had
married Captain Moreton and accom-
panied him to India, where my child
was born, and called after her mother
Wilhelmina. But she was delicate.
and the doctors said that the Indian
climate would kill her: 50, before she
was two years old, they were forced TO
send her home 10 England. 10 relations
in the north. An English servant was
sent in charge of her, and both were
committed TO the care of an intimate
friend of theirs who was returning TO
England in the same vessel but the
lady died during the passage, and nei-
ther of child nor nurse were there ever
more any tidlngs heard, except the
solitary fact, which the captain proved,
that they did arrive in England. 1t
was fifteen years ago. The woman had
money with her belonging to Mrs.
F., Haughton, as we'll Us the whole of the
,.sssi wardrobcs qsit. enough to
tempt her TO dishonesty.
And such was the history of my
Fortunes birth.
/ went away rs soon as could TO
my room, and lay there waiting for my
child for | knew that sine would come.
The moonlight streaDed in brightly
and softly, and the shadow of the trees
without the window came and waved
upon my couch, rocking gently TO and
fro, with low music. like song of
rest. 1t stillcd nv heart, that quiet
sound and lying there alone, l pray
ed that might have strength TO re-
jolce, and not to mourn at all, and then
after long time l grew quite calm,
and waited quietly.
My darling came at last. but not
alone. Her mother entered the room
with her, and they came together.
hand in hand, up TO my couch, and
stood beside me with the moonlight
falling on them, and shining on my
child's white dress, rs if it was robe
of silver We spoke little, but from
Mrs. Haughton's lirs there fell a few
most gentle, earnest, loving words,
which sank into my heart and gladden.
ed me; and tn en- she left me with my
child, alone.
My darling clung around my neck
and wept, and. ca.mer now myself, |
poured out all my love upon her, and
soothcd her rs could, and then we
talked together, and she told me all
her jov. And there were some words
that she said that night that l have
never since forgotten, nor ever will
forget-words that have cheered me
often since-that live in my heart now,
beautiful, distinct, and clear as when
she spoke them first. God bless her
my own child!
Brightly as ever the sun rose upon
an August morning, did his first rays
beam through our windows to welcome
Arthur's birthday. There was nothing
but joy throughout the house, and hap.
py faces welcoming each other, and
gay voices, and merry laughter making
the roof ring. There are few days
in our lives which stand out from all
others We have ever known; days on
which it seems to US as if the food of
sunlight round US is gilded with SO
bright glory, that even the common
est things on which it falls glow with a
beauty we never felt before; days on
which the fresh breeze passing over US,
and sweeping through the green leaves
overhead, whispers ever to US to cast
all sorrow from our hearts, for that in
the great world around US there is in
finite joy, and happiness, and love.
Such day vas this; and bright and
beautiful, with the blue, clear sky, with
the golden sunbeams, with the light
| lauohinO wind. Il rises in INV momorv