The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-05-08

|
tbe damp, grecn logs catch fire. And at last
weary with the effort, cold and nervous,
burst into q fit Of impatient tears
was indeed deSOlate; divided by at ltaS
a mile from any haman being, in the heart o
n forest, the small portion OF cleared lane
around our cottage showing forth more plain
IL as il were the density of the surrounGln!
woods. NY husband the day before ha(
gone to town some miles distant TO obtain
sum of money due him for the sale of cattle
He had left me alone with my one female ser
want sorely against his will but 1t was i'm
possible to avoid going and equally impos
! sible to take me and my sick baby with him
| | had never been without him night since
our arrival in the bush, and felt miScrably
weak and nervous as night came, and morn
| ing dawned, and day again faded into night
and still kept him. One comfort was my
child. My servant had been summoned 'ha'
morning to 90 to her father who lay danger
ously i'll some distance of; ana though l
missed her lnuch, there was nothing Tor II Dut
resignation. And now that my husband had
not returned | began to fear that shouId
have 10 spend the night acne with my oaOy'
| Before the fire, now beginning 10 Dulh uuiIy'
| sat on the ground. The shade OF evening
! fell fast, and Il thick haze was dimming Inc
!
crouching thus on the cherries hearth, lis
tenlng to the soft brcathings from the cradle
where nestled nv treasure, my thoughts went
wandering, travelling backward; my heart
was too oppressed TO look forward. As far as
human colnpdnionship went, was, but for
baby, alone; but had one faithful friend
with mc-a dog, a rough-haircd Irish terrier,
| We had had him some time, and the faithful
creature seemed to us to have more than ca.
nine sagaCity Now, as | sat brooding, he
| placed one paw on my lap; then his cod
nose rested on my folded hands. Poor Ter"
| said alOud-and the sound of my voice,
breaking the stiffness, made me start-"pOOr
fellow" then, stroklng his rough coat, re.
lapSed into thought Far away from the
dark Canadian torcst-tar away, indeed, my
memory carried me. ! saw rise before me Il
rOse.cmbowCred cottage, its windows opening
on sloplng lawn at the foot of which ran Il
ripping river; pretty lawn studded with
trees, and orchard near by bright with bios
sons, giving promise Of golden and russell
fruit, the sweet scent filing the air; under
meath IA spreading elm rustic seat, and a girl
resting thereon. From an open French win.
dow issues forth gentleman, old and gray
haired, but erect and stately still-the village
doctor my father In that house ! was born ;
by the riverside passed my youth; under
meath that spreading elm dreamed | my fool
ish romantic drcams-bullt my castles in the
air Under that dear fathers loving care |
was simply, calmly happy; no sorrow came
near me. Alas he dled-ded in the dis
charge Of his duty, and was left alone to
commence the struggle of life. The spccula-
ton in which my fathers whole savings were
proved failure and all was lost,
Determined to be up and doing, | became
TO lady, but daily found the life
grow more dstastetul. But Just when hope
seemed dead within me my life was suddenly
by the possession Of the love Of
my brave and faithful Jack
We were married. Things did not go on
quite well in worldly matters, and we had
trials but We were 50 much 10 each Othcr,
AM Jack was so strong and brave, that they
were not very difficult TO bear At last came
a day when he determined To emigratc and
we came to Canada he had u good knowl-
edge of farming and thought he would get
on. So with the lille money he purchased
his place and was now trying to get living
Dut of it. lie had had hare work enough.
We were poor, and could not get proper help
10 clear the land, and Jack had To depend a
rrcnt deal on his own strong arms and cleaT
head. But, thank God, neither failed him
lie never gave up hope; when wings looked
their worst he vas very calmly brave; his
strong heart never gave way. lie use'i some
lines to say words of rcprOach Tor having
and brought me to face such hard
struggle. Ny dear sack, he need not bave so
soOkep or thought | care nothing IN the
life I've has rescued nae from. | regretted
sometimes | was not StrongcT-a nsOne Hseiul
helpmatc for him. B&t was only too glad
to rough 1t with him, and strong in the Will
To do all could to set his mind at ctse en my
account.
And tonight al this came Before me-My
dear. dear father, my absent husband ann so
snt draining On until the darkness bad
quite fallen, and woke With n start to'ths re
.aluics Of the present. The fire began &c
cracklc Loudly, shcddirg; a brighs Iigh
around, dancing and flashing on the timber,
and filing the luom with n crimson gov.
went 10 this window and dsGw the screen.
did not close TIE shutter, thinking tEst u b
did come bone tonight be would like 10 ~t
the CHEEKY jtght in token oa welcome. wen
TO The next room, used as 70 Kitchen sogli.
followed by thc dog, and bs'ngiRy fortasoM
candles lit ONE. had 10 Sa sparing Of then
for nv stock WIS bat small but to.Higbs
corld mot bear the shadows cast in th9 CO.
!
Irxnecicd Jack Sill hope would whisper
,"He may come" Sut the AaHrs grew iii
NIGHT and still the longcd Cor arrival Id nj
take place.
NV baby WAS sleeping shaely in IN CO
and FERRY" the dog, lay snngly beic" n
now cheerful fire; tried 10 while away u
{ llonesema time by reading and thinking; b
Imy book proved tedious anil my thoNc,
sab Mytears were for JACK. cricA vi
t sheer, nervous fright. What can decay HI
i SOL cried oh, what 'roublc IL m si'
for me-" Then my better senses carEa''o
], aid. What use is idle rcpining? ma
some tea and drank ii, but with lltt@ rell
r.. As | watched my sleeping infant ihe 81
ness of the night was suddenly broken b.
~ Wild, unearlhly yall. The wolvcs IN
= swamp some distance on covered Il
", shrank What if Jack, determined - co
home, had faced the nigh: and those terri
en- iues!
Ncrving myself with great effort, 81
Jay to the window and fastened the SKATER tr
blingly. Terry barkcG violently 81 TINS
ment, and awoke my baby, which diver
my thoughts for While until petled
nurgp1 If intu another >Dft Slumlgg, | hca