Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-06-18
reused her to a sense of the responsible

ity resting upon her as a woman hold.
ing in her hand the gifts l.of perfect
health, energy and wealth. Like a
butterfly she had tasted sweets here
and there, thinking little of the bitter
cups given to- the less fortunate, till the
earnest appeals of the new preacher
stirred her to considering the stewardship
entrusted to her care. Il ~.
She had mo thought of pleasing the
minister when she. took up a share of
parish duty, sewed for the Dofcas and
visited the sick and poor, Admiration
and attention had been offered her too
freely for her to dream of counting
them, but, impulsive in everything, she
threw the whole force of. her ardent,
generous nature into she new path Of
duty Mr.. Martins eloquence had point
ed out to her sas..
A large portion of her income was
drawn from large cotton, factory i,
Morton, and among the operatives there
Nettie soon found employment for leis
ure hours and avenues for all spare dol
lars. 1t was in the spring that Mr.
Martin came to Morton, and in the
summer contagious: fever broke out
in the settle where the mill opera
tives dwelt in small cottages and large
crowded tenement houses. Il was i'm
possible for Nettie to enter into any
undertaking with lukewarm interest,
and at once engaged in trying to aid
the sufferers, she devoted time and mon,
ey with an unsoaring hand. Her owl.
glorious health bore her through. the
dangers Of the contagion unhaimed, land
her cheerful, bouyant disposition was
like sunlight among the sick childen,
who were her special care Yet when
the death film gathered over childish
eyes, no voice could soften the dark
passage with sweeter, more earnest
words OF comfort and promise than
Nettie a.. 49,! IA i ~
Seeing her thus, through the long
weeks Of toll and danger, asking her
aid where money was urgently needed,
finding her at her post where the air
was thick with fever and the. danger
frightfully near, Alfred Martin grew to
consider the beautiful dark face as fair
er than his ideal of angels, and to think
there was no music like Nettie's clear,
melodious voice. By the magnetism of
his own true, earnest words, he had led
her from frivolty to the seeking ofhigh
er aims and duties, and by the power
of the strong love Weakened in his own
he drew hers into his keeping. She
loved, as she followed ALL other 'ilnpul-
ses, with fervent and deep affection,
while she was daily meeting her lover,
and the guide to all the noble pursuits
Of her life.
YMrs. Wheaton, a meek little widow
was only too glad to think of her child's
future ;intrusted to the care of a truly
good man, as she believed the Rev.
Alfred Martin to be, and gave glad
consent to an engagement. And while
autumn winds were sweeping the fever
from Morton, -Nettie was learning the
sweet lesson of loving submission to a
stronger will, was conquering many a
life long selfshness and folly to please
her betrothed, and believing that she
had lost all relish for the friyolities of
the past. ..t = >n-
Had the marriage followed at once
upon the wooing, I think there would
have been happiness at the parsonage;
where the influence of the earnest MIN
lister would have deepened till Nettie
no longer needed any earthly, guide
or support. But Mrs. Wheaton decided
that the brides rousseau must come
from B., and when the new year
opened Nettie went to her Aunt Nary
to remain. till milliers and dressmakers
completed her outfit. The Wedding
day was to be in March, and while
Aunt Mary shopped and stitched
Ncttie took farewell Of the gayeties of
her city home. She did not mean to
be inconsistent,sor to break any, of the
good resolutions ofthe past few months
but old friends welcomed her with
festive gatherings, and before she
realized it she vas, dancing, flirting and
fitting from party to party with all her
old zest and enjoyment. -, Z;
Then, just for. amusement, she allow
ed the new lion, Court Lodoski, to
pay her marked attention; She told
herself she was safe in her happy en-
gagement, and that he was too much a
man. of society to have any serious in
tentions. 1t was mere Irritation for
10th Of them, and it served to pass
away time to listento the stories of the
Polish exile,to waltz with him, drive,
walk, ride with him, and yet, with a
woman's, skill and a coquette's inge
nuity, keep him from any compromis.
ing offer that would end the amusement.
The tenn Of Eetties visit was nearly