The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-03-14

Kitty, she laughed and recalled some of
| the speeches | had made in our young days.
| Nelly was not so constantly sewing but
that she and had long walks and talks
together, and the dear child was so like
her mother, | could fancy / was young
and chatting again with Kitty. And Tom
and [ were often together too. 1 found
him as full of hope and ambition as he
could well be, but with thoroughly good
heart, and desire to be happy and COM
Portable rather than rich and stylish.
AT last the day came when we were to
give our Nelly into the hands of another.
1t was lovely day in June, and hope it
was foreshadoWing of what their lives
should be.
1t seemed to me too solemn an occasion
for theatrical show or flourish. They
were married in the church, of course. A
ceremony that is bound by Gods ordi-
nance; vows that reach even beyond the
grave, should only be given under the roof
of Gods house.
There were no bridesmaids or grooms-
men. Nelly, dressed in simple white
dress and with a few orange flowers in her
hair, walked up the aisle ON TOMS arm,
and there, in the solemn quietness of the
church, with the voice of Gods servant
sounding in their hearts, they were made
one.
| knew had not lost my daughter. /
knew that her love was mine that day, to-
morrow, forever; just as it was when she
sat on my knee; but still, perhaps / am
growing childish, / could not keep back
the tears.
g Not crying, Diekl'' said Kitty; and
her own voice was not too steady.
:"Yes," said I, "but [ don't know
why. am certain we have not lost our
Ghild.''
''That we haven't,'' said Kitty; 'sshe viii
There was no party after the ceremony.
'E0m's people and our family made a
Soodly number to gather around the table,
and we fingered long over our dinner as
If we dreaded to part. But the hour for
parting came !; Tom and Nelly were oblig-
cd to hurry to catch the train that was to
Garry them to quiet place by the seaside,
where they were to spend-not all. please
God-but the first two weeks of the hon
eymoon.
Such pleasant letters as came to us from
them both in those days Nearly every
day Grace brought me one and called all
the family around that they might listen
to what Nelly said.
When they came home they found TOMS
father and myself had not been idle We
had bought them handsome, cosy little
cottage. and furnished enough so that they
could go into it at once.
met them at the depot and, as we had
arranged beforehand, drove them to their
own house.
ssWe must getou here moment" /
said, and they both stepped out of the car
fiage at once, though with somewhat Won-
dering faces.
.sWill we go ins" Tom asked.
6Y es, for a moment" and we walked to
the door. Kitty and our children and
Toms people were all standing in the hall
to receive them, and such shouting and
kissing and explaining never heard be-
fore.
took Tom and Nelly one side when
they had greeted every one; my heart was
too full for speech before them all.
''This is your house, children" l said,
sand it is for you to make it a home. /
pray God that you may find in it all the
peace and happiness you desire, and that
your children may be as great a joy to you
as you have been to u.s."
Il Kitty placed Nelly at the head of the ta-
Iible. ''It is your table and your house."
said Kitty, s'and your place is here al
Ifways;' and we sat down to the first meal
lin our children's house.
/ That is the house on your left as you go
down the road. There is Nelly now play
/ ing with little boy in the. yard. That is
| young Dick, and he and l are capital
\ not lost our daughter; no, she is our Nell
| she will be our daughter just the, same
when we are gathered around the throne
of God.-Heartb and Home.