Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-01-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
7ur LOVE WHICH CAME TOO LATE.

hart and tender spirit. her nature WAS mos
ogectionate and coniding she was Away
lonaing for sympathy, always wishing to love
an5 bo loved; she would have done anything TO
nnvbody who would have boon kind to her, but
die was unfortunately placed, and we grieve t
.av that but little love fell TO Nelies share. Sh,
ha1 had a dear father and. mother, who hat
ioved her 30 much that they thought nothing
vas too much to do that could be done for the
own little one She had been papa's pet ant
wamma's poppet while she had them, and hat
never been spoiled she was one OF those rare
d,rlings who can bear spelling but death
anatcbed away the mother after few hours ill
ne.s one day, and in the course of twelve months
afterward the father married again, and soon
sfter that he died and 30 papa's pet and man.
mas poppet found herself a poor desolate or
nhan in tins cold, wide world.
Did not the new stepmotller then love Nellie
and be kind to her2 We fear not She was a
hard woman, oh, no different to Nees owp
Iear.mother. She looked upon Nellie as a
trouble something that was in her way that
hurdened her, and she seemed to have no
thought OF winning the love of the dear little
one. Yet the child WAS yearning for it.
She watched, oh, how eagerly she watched,
for some tokens of regard How she would
haye reioiced, and how glad the little heart
would have been II the new mother, after the
lather'a death, would have taken her to her
Lo.0m and pressed her to her heart, and given
and Nellie, after watching for tbcm in vain day
after day, and hungerlng, almost famishing for
love, would retire mp stairs, and sit down on a
box IN desolate room, striving to keep back
tho love and to still the sorrow which agitated
her little bosom. and made her eyes dark with
grief.
4he gaye her food to eat and clothes to wear af-
tor sort but she did not take the child to her
leart, aud this was what Nellie wanted. She did
not know what she was doing, We believe,
in Withholding mothers love from her,
and sho had no conception what the poor
little desolate heart felt, and how it
wonIl giish for her, and overflowed at the
first symptom of tenderness. such love would
have made the mother rich indeed for love such
AZ Nellie's il priceless. The wealth of the In
,ias cannot purchase it j; but the mother did not
see it, did not know it. Still less did she know
what priceless boon she was throwing away.
one day Nellie began to droop and sicken.
She was greatly attached to little boy, the son
of neighbor. who had been i'll with scarlet fe-
yer, and was just recovering. He came out OF
the house and looked in at Mrs. Bunns door, for
that was.the name of Nelics stepmother, and
Nellie seeing him ran out to kiss him for her
mother was not at home and Nellie was all alone
IN the house 80 the child took the infection, and
before many days had passed was very i'll.
Day after day passed, and Nellie could not eat
her food the bread and butter and the not very
tempting dinners were left almost untouched,
Mrs. Bum putting them away with Il careless
remark
"You will eat little tea, suppose, or break
fast" as the case might bo, until one morning
when she could not fail to perceive that Nellie
war very i'll.
My head aches 30, and am no SICK" said
loor little Nellie sinking down upon the bed
again, after vain attempt to rise. :.
"lsoe you are very poorly" said Mrs. Bum,
looking hard at Nellio. +" You have not been
talking to that little boy next door, have you ~
Yes" said Nellie, 81 saw him once for few
Then it was very naughty of you," said Mrs.
Bnnn, for he has had a fever, and for all |
know You have caught it of him. Indeed, feel
sare you have. There is no end to my trouble,
declare.
Shall die ?" said little Nellie, with wistful
look.
How can toll p said Mrs ,Bunn, looking at
her sharply No you will get well again, dare
say. iou don't want to die, do you?"
There was answer. Mrs. Bum WAS comb
lng her hair when she had finished she turned
around and looked again at the child. Nellies
eyes were swimming with tears
"What are you crying for2" said the step
mother crying will make you worse. Ii you
want to get well, give over crying and be still.
will send FOR the doctor presently"
81 don't want to get we'll, said little Nellie,
keeping down Sob and please don't fetch the
DOCTOR
"Not want to get well ?" said Mrs. Bnnn' in
No said Nellie, the great aobs finding way
and almost choking her.
The cold, hard woman was moved what
woman would not be2 She attempted to dry
Nollies tears. = would like to go to mother"
SAID Nellie, a. soon as she could speak.
. Your own mother il dead, said Mrs. Bum
" am yonr mother now, am notW
Nellie shook her head. My mother is in
heaven, she said. " 1 want to so to her |
want jesus to send for me. Mother loves me
thOngh she is up there.
Mrs. Bunn's heart smote her. The child had
been thrown upon her care, desolate and be-
reaved, coniided to her by tho great God. There
had been bread for the child to eat, il she could
cat. There had also been shelter, but there
lad been no home for her, no place in a loving
heart. Pity for the little one took possession of
her she would be very kind to her for the fu-
ture and would love the child and show her that
she was loved She WAS beginning to repent,
hn the repentance came to late. 1t could not
avail much now.
~ viii get you some boiled bread and milk,
sad Mrs Bum, suddenly remembering how lit
tie the child had oaten for days. alt will be
nee and soft for your poor little throat Moth
CT VIII soon bring it up to you, and you will try
to eat it won't You y
"oh please don't don't speak 80 kindly to
INC, SAID Nellie :" i can't bear it. It's so like
my dear mother IN heaven, when l was her pet
and she was here,' Nellie sobbed afresh
. Was this incomprehensible to Mis-. Bum ?
Ao' at all She saw it all now 1t was az though
a thick veil had been taken from before her
eyeS'and revealed everything. Little Nellie, that
pure sweet blossom, had carried about with her
heart ycarning, aching, and distressed for the
love that she, in her hardness and ignorance
hal denied her.
ltwas useless now Much as Mrs. Bum
might have repented-and repent she did-she
had no time given her to declare her sorrow and
10 comfort the child. Nellie became derious,
and pierced the heart of Mrs. Bum in her de-
hrlm by her loud cries for her dead mother, and
ier urgent entreaties to be taken to her.
Inc doctor thought it was her stepmother that
IiIe chld thought of in her fever and attributed
.'e temorse and agony depicted in Mrs. Bunn's
vv9nlllehance to grief at the fear of losing her.
ihefci no remorse no deep as that which is nm
uaalllhg. Oh, that we could all of us remember
THIS m time
" Is there no hope?' said Mrs. Bum to tho
I9clor, greatly agitated; ~ do not want to lose
Mono, whatever; her strength has gone down
70 RAPIDLY. She must have been very weak when
INC fever took her. She should have been kept
apir9m the first. 1t will soon be over. Have
yon thought about grave ?"
She must be laid by the side of her father
aid mother. in the cemetery for this parish"
aalu Mrs. Bum, breaking down quite, and wiring
,ils her hands in her grief. Oh if she could
navy charge OF Nellie over again
lou are not her own mother then ?" said the
nuctor 1t is her own mother that she talks 30
l''ci sH about in her delirium, is it p
Yes, SIR"
f'Slo villa