Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-02-25

FEBRUARY 25. 1875
TEE LOVE ETHAT CAME TOO LATE
+ Nellie WAS q dear little girl Of most
loving heart and tenderspirit. Herna-
ture was most affectionate and confid-
ing; she was always longing for SYM
| pathy, always wishing TO love and be
loved; she would have done anything
|for anyho1y Who would have been kind
Ftc y4oeon60t6 t1fosto6u&elypksxd,
and we grieve 70 say that but little fell
to Nellie's share. She had . dear faith
er and mother, who had loved her SO
much that they thought nothing was
too much to do that could be done for
their own little one. She had been pa
pas pet and mamma's poppet while
she had them, and had never been
spoiled; she was one of those rare darl-
ings who can bear spelling; but death
snatched away the mother after q few
hours illness one day, and in the course
Of twelve months afterwards the father
married again, and soon after that be
died; and so papa's pet and mammals s
poppet found herself poor desolate or
phan in this cold, wide world.
Did not the new stepmother then love
Nellie and be kind to her? We fear
not. Sine was hard woman, oh, 90
different to Nellie's own dear mother.
She looked upon Nellie as a trouble;
something that was in her way, that
burdened her, and she seemed to have
no thought of winning the love of the
dear little one. Yet the child was yearn-
ing for it.
She watched, oh, how eagerly she
watched, for some tokens of regard -
How she would have rejoiced, and how
glad the little heart would have been if
the new mother, after the fathers death,
would have taken her to her bosom and
pressed her to her heart, and given her
a few loving kisses; but they did not
come, and Nellie, after watching for
them in vain day after day, and hum
gering, and almost furnishing for love,
would retire up stairs, and sit down on
a box in a desolate room, striving to
keep back the love and to still the sor-
row which agitated her little bosom, and
made her eyes dark with grief.
But the stepmother was not cruel to
Nellie; she gave her food to eat, and
clothes to wear after sort; but did not
take the child to her heart, and this was
what Nellie wanted. She did not know
what she was doing, we believe in with
holding mothers love from her, and
she had no conception what the poor
little desolate heart felt, and how it
would gush for her, and overaowed at
the first symptom of tenderness Such
love would have made the mother rich
indeed, for love such as Nellie's is price
less. The wealth of thu Indias cannot
purchase it; 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 q
little boy, the son of neighbor, who
had been i'll with scarlet fever, an1 was
Just recovering. He came out of the
house and looked in at Mrs. Bunn's
door, for that was the name of Nel,ie's
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; SO 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 din
ners were left almost untouched, Mrs.
Bum putting them away with a care
less remark:
You will eat little tea, I suppose,
or breakfast as the case might be, un-
til one morning when she could no. fail
to perceive that Nellie was ve=, Ill.
My head aches so, and am so sick
said poor little Nellie. sinking down
upon the bed again, after q vain at
tempt to rise.
Il see you are very poorly, said Mrs.
Bum, looking hard at Nellie. You
have not been talking to that little boy,
next door, have you?'
Yes said Nellie, 4 saw him for a
few minutes, when you were out, a few
days ago
Then it was very naughty OF you,'
said Mrs. Bum, for he has had a fe-
yer, and, for all l know you have caught
it of him. Indeed, / feel sure you have.
There is no end to my trouble, de-
clare
Shall 1 die 2 said little Nellie, with
a wistful look.
How can tell:' said Mrs. Bum.
looking at her sharply. No; you will
get well again, I dare say. You don't
want to die, do your
There was no answer. Mrs. Bum
was combing her hair; when she had
finished, she turned around and looked
again at the child Nellie's eyes were
swimming with tears.
What are you crying for 2 said the
stepmother; crying will make You worse.
If you want to get well, give up your
crying and be still. will send for the
doctor presently
i don't want TO get well.' said little
Nellie, keeping down sob, and please
don't fetch The doctor
Not want 10 get wellI' said Mrs.
Bum in amazemeat.
No. said little Nellie, the great sobs
finding way and almost choking her
Tie cold, hard woman was moved;
what woman would not be: She at
tempted to dry Nellie's tears. i would
ike to 60 to Mother said Nellie, as
soon as she could speak.