The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-04-30

One day.I heard an acquaintance sa,
that my son admired Miss Benson
Then first shot into my heart tha
acute pang of jealousy which I hat
heard woman teels when another wo
man dares to lay claim to her SON.
bitter, unreasonable feeling, bu
strong and fierce, trample on it a
you may. asked James about it
he laughed at the very idea.
| A year later he announced that b,
WAS engaged to this very girl, ane
asked me to 60 and see her. l went
She was tall and very thin, and styl
lsh looking, with reddish hair. Sh,
wore a great many tlounccs, and
great deal OF jewelry, of the pa!e
gold kind. Her manners were YER,
gracious 10 mo, but somehow or 9th
er there WaS somethinr sshouts l,er
that seemed to say she was the ona
who had always had right 10 James,
while stood out in the queer and
awkward light one whose claims up.
on him were very tritling and quite
recent.
When | went home l sat in nv
rocking chair. for about an hour,
thinking. ! had understood the for.
nation Of every kite no had ever
flown, fa,homed the capacities for
every toy cannon witlAay hich he had
ever just lAissea committing suicide,
overcome the mysteries of marbles
OF every degree, loved every puppy
and kitten he had ever adopted and
taken to his heart-why could | not
at least try to love this reddish hair.
ed girl People congratulated. o!
yes, Sas very much pleased, not
losing a son al all-O! no-only
gaining another daughter! Delight
tul, certainly, and early inarris ecs
are, as you say, 80 very desirable.
A year afterward they were mar.
ried, and remained some months with
her family, during which time I saw
ner often and cannot say that | ever
had any iault to find with her. Then
James sought and obtained a very
good position in town distant about
one hundred miles. At first the
news was very satisfactory. Charm.
ing little house, the perfection of
servants; and then, later, the lowell
est little baby, my grandson. Then,
some months later, things were not
Group, my son hlliisell !, tvu1,r !. Ma
intermittent fever, servants were
great plaques, Housekeeping dread
full trouble. Disturbed beYo III
measure at the rciteration Of these
lamentations, decided to so and see
tor myself how they were eircum.
Staneed, and be Of what assistance |
might Tor Il short time. So one
winter morning, leaving Fanny with
an intimate friend, and ,ntrusting
my house and all it contained to this
care of one servant, l left home
alone. Arriving after dark at my
destination, found the two young
servants enjoying very comfortable
meal in the kitchen, and tho baby
asleep alone in chilly nursery. My
son and his wife were out spending
the evening with some friends
Their surprise and pleasure at seeing
me at their return home appeared
great. Uson conversing with Maria
the next day, found her to be very
ignorant as regarded baby's require
ments. lie does cry so dreadtully
she said. l stald there whole
month; perhaps il was too long, bu
there always seemed to be some
thing tor me to do. l took charg'
OF the little creature whenever hi
mother wanted to spend an eyeuin!
in company, which was not seldom
Many and many lonely hour did
spend in that dimly-lighted room
listening to that low breathing, rath
or than trust him to the awkward
ness Of the young girl who profess
ed to fulfill the duties OF child
nurse. ! did a great deal of sewinl
for Maria, Of whom became fonde
than had eve. expected to be.
James had relapse of his inter
mittent taver. His wife knew moth
ing about sickness; l nursod him
who had never knew fatigue whs
he had needed anything in forme
years, would surely not tail him now
/ sat up with him night after night
and showed the cook how to prcpar
nice little dishes for him, such as
knew he liked-that is to say,I pre-
pared them while the cook locke
on. Whatever was wanted now, u
stairs or down, l was the one to pla
and to do. At last began to thin
I ought to return to Fanny; an
seeing James fairly convalescent,