The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-03
The 5 epmother,

year When Mr. Edward Aruold. widow
with fou, children, u.ked her to h..
'Ine his wilt. AT twenty .rwJ \ A5ne>
al l",.d Il. unl tue wumsn eau love
i,t the o' jet OF that love proved him
II u,aoi,hy, aud .he iurued away irou'
IN. None knew how deep was the heart
rial through which she had pa,>ed--uuu'
uew bow Intensely she -Lffered.
AT last sbe met Mr.. Arnold. More
nsu three year, had passed -lnce III
mother OF his children was removed h,
iesth and siuce that time, he had suush
,lh all fathers tenderness aud de o.
ION, to fill her place to 'hem-how im-
eriectly, uonc knew so we'll HI himself.
KS time went Oh. the wait Of true wo.
nau', sfrcIionate care tor his chli,,h
r his children wa, more aud uurr t.lt
.ll were girls except the youngest. tiel,
yer ranging from Twelve downward, aud
MS made tn. mother- loss 50 mucn the
uoIe calamity. Moreover. his ieei"p
Il oueliue,e aud wanI uia companion-hir
- keeuy telt iu the brginuius, Instead u
ilin'n.snluB, iucreasei.
Such was his state when he met Agne.
ire'n The attraction was mutual.
,uugh, at hr,t. uu thnught of marriage
.ne ,nio the mind Of either. A secoUd
ieetiug stirred the placid waters in the
v,om Of Agues Green. Conscious ot
hl-, aud fearful ,et the emotion she
Irove to repiesS might Income apparent
. other eyes. she assumed u certain re.
rrve, not seen in the beginning, which
MY betrayed her secret, aud at once ia.
teresicd Mr.. Aruolt, who how commenced
close observation Of her character.
.|itn every new aspect in which this was
resented, he saw something that awaken.
y admiration that drew hi spirit near.
ar TO her ss uue congcuial. Aud not the
less was her observation.
When Ut length. Mr.. Arnold solicited
he hand Of ARucs Green, she was read,
to respoue. Not however, in selfish and
self-seekiug spirit : not in 'he narrow hope
Of obtsiuiug some great good for her.elI,
was her response made; bat iu full view
OF her weman's power to bless, aud With
an earnest, holy purpose in her heart to
make her preseuce in thio household in.
deed blessing.
i must know your children better TIA,
| know them now, aud they nut kn.~
me better than they do, before t.kc the
ulsce you wish me to assume va, her re.
ly to Mr. Aruuld wheu he spoke Of au
early marriage.
Aud 70 ineaus were taken to bring her
u tr' qreht cnntact with the ch ren.
rhe d IT time she mt them wa, at the
.ou,e Vi tiieud. Mary, the oldest, .he
.ouud passionate and seli-wi led Flor.
e0ce, the second, good .uatured, hut care.
'ess and slovenly; while Margaret. the
hird, was in ilI.heslth. aud exceed, Y H.,
eevi.h. The little brorher, Willy.was a
-surilul. sff-rtionste chilli. hu, Ia c,n,e.
i'"nre OF i'juiicious management. very
badly so led.
Ike III, III altogether, they presented
ra' her uup'ouisiug aspect; aud it Is uo
sunder that Agues Green had many mis-.
Ivings at heart. when the hew relation
contemplated aud its trials aud respensl
ili'ies were pictured tn her mini
The earnestly asked q,~s,iuu nv NJ
Arnold, after this ffst iuterview-'What
10 you thuk Of my children 2 was not al,
-ssy one to answer. Mr., Arnold Wa,
caring iuteutly in her face.
They do not seem to have made a fav.
oratle IMPRESSION raid he, speaking with
some disappointment 10 his tone aud usu-
uer.
A feeble flush was visiblc in the face
# A1uep Green. and .l'ght quiver OF
The lips, Il, she sDswero
There is too much NJ stake. as well IL
, our csse NJ my owu to warrant even ID
shadow OF concealneut. You urk what
| think Of your children, aud Jou expect
me to anrwer truly
Il do was the almost solemuly spoken
reply.
My first hurried, vet tolerabIy close
observation has shown me. iu each, a
groundwork oi natural good
AS their father, replied Mr Arnold,
in some earnestne-s of matter. Il know
here is good iu them-much good. But
they have needed II mothers care.
III is no light think, Mr.. Arnold, TO
assume the place Of "a mother TO Children
~ho. Tor three years, have not known a
mothers stfectionaie care. confess that
my heart shrink- from the responsibility.
aud | ask myself over aud over again.
Have | the requisite wisdom, pslieuce
aud self denial 2
Il believe you have, said Mr. Arnold,
who vas beginning to see more drerly
into the heart of Agnes. Aud now he
added, tell me what you think Of my
children
Mary has quick temper. and is rsth