The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-04-25
SINGLE COPIES, THREE CENTS

maiden of ours had name of her
own. Wilson was asking me this morn
ing what we had decided to call her,
and l told him l supposed we thought
her good enough without name, for
we had never spoken of it,"
"Mr. Wilson's child was named be-
fore he was week old, so l don't
wonder that he thinks US rather tardy,"
said 7.
swell, what shall it be, Esther?
Rosamond or Rachel? Bridget or Jo-
anna? Kate or Arabella? Or haven't
you thought of the matter YETI" ID.
"Our child's name was decided in my
mind long ago." answered, and then
for some reason cannot account for, I
hesitated, though certainly had no
idea of what was to follow. I..
"Well, let us hear it. 1t is something
extraordinary, suppose, nothing less
would suit our darling"
at is Mary" said.
MARY surely you must be joking.
You can't mean it, Esther!' .,
"Why not?" asked, the blood rush.
ing to my face involuntarily. ......
$50 you have Byronic passion for
the name Mary. Well, must acknowl-
edge, that am entirely fres from it.
But seriously, Esther, you cannot think
of calling our daughter by that name?'
"But !. do not think of it," l respon-
ded, ''and cannot imagine what objec-
ton you can have, for almost everyone
agrees that there is no sweeter name "
My husband s face grew dark. "Any
name but that, Esther, you might as
well not name the child at all. Hardly
family of any size in the country, but
has Mary a nong its members. But
can't talk any longer now, shall be
late as it is. Look in the dictionary and
find something else that suits you, and
tell me at tea"
And he kissed both baby and me and
was gone. ..i
can hardly tea you what my feel.
ings were during the long hours of that
afternoon. 1t is true that my husband
and had differed before in matters of
taste or opinion, but 1t had been CON-
paratively easy to yield to them. My
child's name, however, was different
matter. could not remember the time
when had not looked forward to CALI
ing my oldest daughter by the name Of
Mary. My doll-babies, one and all,
had been called by it. 1t was dear to
me above every other name-and now
to give it up-''Never, 1 cannot, and
shall not" 1 said firmly to myself.
At the tea-table that evening, we dis
cussed variety of topics, but both
avoided, as If by common consent, the
one subject nearest our hearts. When
the neal was over, however, and We
sat together near our little ones cradle,
Robert commenced: .,r,5
swell, Esther have you found any
name this afternoon that pleased you?
I've come to the conclusion that Laura
and Evelyn suit me- very well, Laura
Evelyn Spencer. How doyou like it,"
81 like both names well enough" I
answered colily, "but there is only one
name for our daughter, and that have
told you, it is my mothers name as
you know, Robert, and have always
said that my first daughter should be
my mothers namesake, but l never
dreamed that you would feel so about
it," continued, ready to cry, yet keep
ing the tears back by great effort.
"If y our mother were not living, Es-
ther, there would be some reason for
your feeling so, but as it is
"lf my mother was dead, would not
care so much about it, for it then
could afford her no pleasure" cried.
"If it were any name but Mary, I
would consent, teVen. though it did not
please me-" said Robert. "Come, Es-
ther, be reasonable; there are So many
pretty names, and Mary. besides being
so common, is to me the very essences
Of plainness." r.. ... ..t
But my mind was made up, and I
would not listen. ..r......
''She is your daughter, as well as mine,
Robert" said, "and, of course, you
will name her to suit yourslf, but to me,
she can never DO any other than whatI
have said" .....
How our conversation would have
eLded cannot tell, but fortunately for
US both, 1t was interrupted by callers
who spent the evening with US, and for
the time being our disputes and Its
cause were forgotten. ......
At breakfast the next morning, the
subject was not alluded to in even tho
most Ielnote way, and at noon, aud In