The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-10-07

improvement. If any ingenious idea was
advanced, it was met with hearty appreciation
BY all; truly they seemed like band of BROTH
ers; success had not made us selfish, but our
mind enlarged as ways for usefulness opened
to us. It'svery beautiful my child to feel you
are contributing for the advancement Of your
fellow-men.
Letters from my father informed us Of his
safe arrival in England, and assured us Of con-
tent and happiness, but an anxiety to be st
home. AS his health was at this time becoming
impaired, he had made his arrangements and
hoped to be able to return in the following
spring.
! You know / told you it was supposed that
Sir Richard Ashmore had returned to Eng
land, and it came that my father met him
frequently but reluctance ON the part Of
my father prevented any inquiries being made
which would undoubtedly have been painful to
Sir Richard, as he seemed to wish to avoid any
allusion to his ever residing on this continent,
but the son was not so easily evaded, for he
seemed anxious for all information and lie
early formed my fathers acquaintance, and it
fected with a love for America, and only
fear of displeasing his father prevented his
return to what was in reality the land of his
birth he spoke to my father of his elder
brother Harry, and Of his sad enstrangement
from his home and friends. After some
thought and perplexity on. the part of my
father, he told young Ashmore Of Effie and of
the death of her PARENTS also Of the certainty
of her parentage on her mother side which in
formation was gratefully Received, but they
thought it advisable not to inform Sir Richard
anything regarding the matter at present, as
he hadgiven positive orders that the name of
his eldest son should never be mentioned in
his family.
But, alas for mans proposals. Sir Richard
was stricken down suddenly and never spoke
ere death claimed him. This was fearful
blow to his family, which consisted Of his
wife, two married daughters, one widowed
and his son Lionel who would now inherit his
late fathers title and estate, the daughter
being provided for, and an afI1uent fortune
settled on the mother, who would now reside
with the widowed daughter in London. But
| Lionel Ashmore now made up his mind to re-
sign his position and prospects in the old
world and try his fortunes in the new, where
his sympathes were leading him.
So when my father returned the next spring,
he was accompanied by Lionel Ashmore, his
wife and two children, son Of ten, and a
daughter Of seyen also a cousin, young man
of good family and excellent character. Will
Howard was aged about Twenty-Five of com
mandng figure and pleasing address, and he
with all the others soon won many friends in
our circle, which they joined ON their arrival.
My father came with them and my joy was
completed.
The meeting between Effie and her uncle,
whom she had never known before was very
affecting, but it was not long before, we saw
that another had discovered the goodness and
beauty of our darling Eflie, for in all our little
gatherings which afforded us all SO much de-
light, young Howard and Efile seemed only
to care for each other, and as his antccedent
were good and his kindness of heart had won
our confidence so much that we made no
effort to stop the growth of their affection,
yet we would miss her sadly when she went
to make sunlight in another home. But your
aunt Mary was then year old, and of course
was great pet in our household, and would be
the treasure when Effie was gone; but it
was with much reluctance that we saw
her depart with my ! father, who in
sisted on fitting her out at his own expense
for her prdal and what q lovely bride she
was graceful in her queenly beauty, and how
proud youiig Howard was Of her and so fond,
and so their happiness was secured by a con-
genial union but their happiness was very
brief; they lived in the atmosphere of love and
true fidelity for one short year, when our dar-
ling Ellie left all who loved her so much, her
pure spirit 1uttered away with the loving kiss
she gave the wee infant that was laid on her
bosom only to receive her parting sigh.
Oh what grief was ours the loss of dear
Efiie. And her grief stricken husband, no words
of mine could express his anguish, and SO the
sad changes were coming. Sunshine and
shadows ever go hand in hand, our days Of
joy ever succeeded by great sorrows, and
they are counted as the days of our life, and
so the months came and went, and were
gathered up at the end of the year. Our hap
piness was great but mingled with sadness
after Eifie died. My dear father was taken
and laid by the side of my mother, then
| Hubert's father died, and two of our babes
went to 30 with the angels, and we wept over
their graves Your aunt Mary was. left and
your uncle Hubert, who was named for his
father, and your mother was the youngest
and with your aunt Mary has gone to that
beautiful land, and HuBert's mother went to
meet the loved ones gone lefoIe. My
childs life look very bright to You, now in
its spring time, but after your three score
years and ten have rolled away, how insigni-
ficant will your short life appear. Meetings
and parting go hand in hand and cannot be
separated. And as | look over the old family
record, ! see they were born, they were mar
ried, and they died, how short the space
between. There was much quiet happiness in
, my life, yet when the clouds commenced to
, come, each one left It's shadow in my heart,
} and now | only await the summons to meet