Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-10

| VitH hHiipie uhSeIs tfa!EcH 10 WOrk, Sl
saved her father many dollars by her ablit
to cnt and fit dresser, and her willingness
to impart some Of her knowledge to her sis
tcrs. neat housekeeper she spared he
mother many an hour for visiting, realiu
and rest. And yet she was no drudge. Ii
society she was always appropriately at
| tastefully dressed. She was Q good pianis,
! and sung well 10 clear, cultivated yoice
She was well read, and kept up an INTEL
gent interest in all current topics, convers
ing easily, though modestly.
viii found that every visit to Mr.. Hol
ways pleasant sitting-room increased hi
distaste for boarding. house life and his low,
for pretty Winnie Holway, till be fount
himself IN serious consultation with Uncl,
Josh again.
$50 it is not my pet, Flory Hartley
said the old gentleman. 'It would serve
you right if married her myself"
q will give my consent" Will said
smilingly.
"No, my boy, no! You and your pref.
ty Winnie must ill my old heart. as you
havo promised me corner in yoor home
long years ago. Will, when my hair was
as brown as you own, and my eyes as bright,
too, had my love dream. I was q country
boy then, and to own farm was the yery
height ofmy ambition. I was working
hard for farmer named Nelson, for l had
no parents, when there camo to visit my
employer q cousin from the great city New
York. In those dayr, Will. New York
seemed farther away from the small country
place than Europe seems now. Tho ad-
vent OF Josephine Nelson was an advent in
our village, and her beauty and grace
were fully appreciated by all the rough
pumpkins around her. Working on. her
cousins farm. was constantly near her. I
drove her. ii she wished, to zee the sur
rounding scenery, and as we jolted over the
rough country roads, she told ms OF the
great city, of the openings there for energy,
industry and talent. She found I was
fond Of reading, and lent me volumes Of
poetry she had brought with her from the
city. Books were rare treasnres forty
years ago, viii. We read the sweet meas.
urcd lines together; we walked together in
shaded lanes, and gathered wild flowers
which she wore in her bosom and hair. TO
make long story short, Will, / loved her
with all the wild enthusiasm Of boy, and
the mature reason Of a man. She was far
above me in grace, In beauty and goodness,
but she was gentle q che was fair, modest
and tender.
when told her my love she laid her
little white hand in my rough brown one.
and promised to be my wife. Then she
came home to the city, and added dollar
after dollar to my hoard, to follow her.
MIR. Nelson wrote to Jossphines father for
me, and he promised me a place in his
ifI came to the city.
came, Will. Then found out why my
suit was favored, why no cross was laid mp
on my darling's love. had thought her
pale, delicate beauty was only the city's re.
finement, compared with the robust charms
of our country lasses. found that il was
the beauty of that scourge of tho seaside
cities-consumption. Her parents knew
my darling could not live to bc my bride,
but because she had given me the treasure
Of her love, they made me welcome as son
in their home.
II spent my days in the counting.house
Of Mr.. Nelson, my evenings with Josephine.
Slowly she faded before my loving eyes,
growing weaker and weaker, till she died,
clasping my hand in hers. That was
forty years ago, Will. but have loved no
since. will keep faith with
Josephine till we meet in heaven. When
I die, Will, ALL have will be yours, but
bury this with me.n
As he spoke be pu. small locket that
had been hidden in bis bosom, into Wills
hands. Opening it disclosed the face OF a
very beautiful wonau. At the sight OF it
Will cried
"How much like Floy Hartley! I"
"Mrs. Hartly is Josephine's sister, said
Uncle Josh, quietly. "Now you know
why | am SO fond of Floy."
There was long silence, and Uucle
Josh knew by Wills face aud the frm
grasp of his hand that his story had fallen
apon sympathyzing affection.
pause. III MS SD hSIsaEggu hcSfIsssEguiiy Hy.s :ass long
cepted, Imust see about wedding present."
"She actually has," said Viii, "and the
money saved for a piano is to 90 for
''Is that hint for me to buy a piano ?'
laughed Uncle josh. "Well, I will"
But when the wedding-day was fixed,
and Will consulted Uncle Josh about
house, he was informed that Mrs. Stanton's
wedding present from her new uncle
would be neat brown stone house, fully
including the piano, with one
room reserved for Uncle Josh.
There are children's voices now in the
house, and Uncle Josh has stood
godfather to a sturdy namesake. The sun
of prosperity shines upon Will, but he says
his business success, his happy home, his
freedom from worldly perplsxities, have
all depended upon the good sense Of his
wife, who, in all expenditures, all charities,
first considers whether OF not she can afford
The outlay and while she Ia liberal ard
large-hearted, is never ashamed to exercise
economy. ii necessary, or to decline an ex-