The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-05-14

She never said anything worth remem-
bering for five minutes; she made no
of love or friendship. Some
of us, who remembered how the whole
school used TO pause to hear her read
her Bible verse, thought the charm lay
in her pleasant voice, or could there be
any magic in the clean, spicy scent of
Burgundy roses with which the house
was always filed d? The men, when ques-
toned, really seemed to have no def.
mite idea of the woman : one liked
her because she was quiet, another
because I" her hand-shake was as firm
and genuine as mans" another for her
merry laugh.
In the meantime they all carried their
secrets to her the very classmates OF
Uho Nayaa bows wrote to her about
their college scrapes tnuU siIu might
"see father and mother about it, and
beg them off. She had a queer "fol-
lowing" of women, too; shabby widows
and fashionable bellies and poor seam
stresses-you were Just as likely to find
one at her table as the other. She had
not the least perception of clrss dis,
tinctions, owing perhaps to those Quaker
grandfathers who measured the world
and all in it by ideas. She had, too,
different rates of value from ours with
regard to other things. Mrs Tanning
unconsciously ranked herself high in
the scale of being because of her price
less brc.a-brac, and portfolio of proofs
before letters. Dode also surrounded
herself with old china and pictures,
but was Indifferent about it she did
not carry little luxuries with the uneasy
vanity of workman in his Sunday
shirt. Art and wealth had been ordina-
ry appliances of her mothers family for
generations. She took no more notice
as to whether man was rich or poor IN
such things than whether he came to
her gloved or ungloved.
Somebody was sure to bring every
foreign traveller to the doctors house ;
whether it was prince, novelist or poet,
Mrs. Dode welcomed thom to her ordi-
nary table and habits, not concerning
herself if they were used to n palace or
hovel and they in turn forgot to notice
whether the napkins were folded in
English fashion, or how she dealt with
her e's.
81 wish you to Judge of rs by ON
representative women,' Mrs. flaming
said to one of these tourists, while they
we're dining at the doctors "and moi
by negative characters.
But he could look at nobody but the
homely little woman at the head of the
table. "Ah, madam" he cried, "there
are so many representative women
But the old story tells us how Prince
Charming married the good fairy, anc
by her had family of but few chill
dren, all of whom We're born in the
light of the moon; and | meet one now
and then in this country or in that
When I find one of them, then | lool
no farther"
II was quite natural that Mrs. Dode
having lived in so negative way, with
ont making mark or bruit in the world
should die in the same fashion. 1t APP
pears that while she seemed in healtl
some secret symptoms led her to consul
physician. She went to New York t.
do this, saying nothing to her husband
and there learned that she had but
short time to live. Whatever grief sh
may have felt, she showed none an
told nobody her secret. When sh
came back the home life went on in it
usual merry fashion. Dick and 10
both br ught their brides home tina
winter. DIR. Noyse, who had grow
Younger and more energetic every yea
since his marriage, was busted wit
some experiments in electricity, whic
added greatly to his reputation. Mrs
Dode did not change her habits in tn
least. She never had been a cOnstar
church -goer, or member of any char
J table society, and she did not becom
one now. It,was remembered afterwar
that she remained out longer in til
mornings on her rounds among the poo
: and that she had print which was
| her chamber re-hung that she could Sc
, it when she woke in the morning. {
, was the Head crowned with thorns.)
In June her husband was invited
l Baltimore to an anniversary celebration
= in which he always took keen deligh
' She clung to him ana cried when he w
l going. "lf you need me, Dode, / vi
= stay with YOU" he said, tenderly. 81
. hesitated little, and then raised he
! self, smiling. "No, it will be pies
! anter for you there said she, "on
l. goodbye once more, dear" She we
: to bed as usual that night. In t
It morning they found her dead, her che
= resting or her hand, half smile on t
freckled face; her other hand, tig
d closed, was lying on her heart, and tn
e found in it bit of tho hair of t
i little dead-born baby that came to h
g years ago, whose head had never rest
a on her bosom. The morning sun sho
brightly over her, and the room W
}, filled with tho perfume of sweet rost