Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-01-29
New Series, Vel. O, No. II.
Old Series, Vol. 35. No. "A.
'Oh ! brother, does he call himself a
gentleman much Iess n Christian 2,


apart, so that now he does not know what
to say in her society; he is willing to keep
the engagement, If desire him to do so,
but l would not force my daughter on any
man.
just then the sbrill tones of Katharine
were heard abusing the children, and my
brother shook his head sadly, as he said !:
1t is best, l know it is BEST
L remember that be had been placed in
| the same relations to Katharine. When a
| mere boy he had taken fancy to the girl,
and as the years went by he saw his mis-
take, and although he met gentlew oman
whom be could have loved, he fled from
temptation and kept bis engagement with
Katharine. 1t did not occur to him to
make an appeal; according to his code of
honor, a gentleman always keeps his
word
His life had been one long endurance,
but that was with Katharine with our
gentle Maggie it would be different Sis
ter, you must tell Maggie and then look
ing up he moaned: % God, the human
love that seems 20 bless other families only
blights ours.' l know he thought of his
| own blighted life and Of mine, and now this
shadow on his only daughter. Nothing
more was TO be said; stepped back into
the other room on looking back l saw
Lois had bis head bowed on his hands;
felt like going back, but what could 1 say
II was one of the places where human
words fail. went to Maggie's room, and
throwing my arms around her as tenderly
as / could, lin heart, asked for divine
love for herr, but said: Maggie, he does
not love you.' She replied L know il,
Marie. No words were spoken. If she
had cried out, or walled, words would have
come, but for our fearless grief help must
come from higher source than I. Through
the steep places of life the soul goes alone.
August 10tE. She staid in her own
room till evening, then came down as usual
and helped with the milking. Katharine
asked her if she had spriDkled the web
she said not, then took the watering pot
and did it. I knew by Katharine's kind
tone that brother had told her. 1t IS right,
she is her mother. Maggie attended to
every duty, just as she always did but
from being singing, merry girl, she has
become quiet, thoughtful one. Never sad,
outwardly cheerful, we could but amagine
the deep waters through which she was
passing.
Willie has gone back TO the seminary,
and report says he is engaged to a beauti-
full girl in Gettysburg. l hope Maggie has
Eot heard it.
How infinitely more sad her experience
is than mine. Through all her years and
sorrows, have known that Fritz loves me.
In Germany We never taught 10 marry
without the approval of our parents. |
sometimes wonder now if we did right to
sacrifice our lives to there wishes after we
were ofage. Then we are really separated
from those We fnve, although an ocean roll
between US. Although many years passed
since SAW him, yet would rather spend
an hour thinking Of him, than have the
presence Of any other person. When
was young, no day was sufficient to itself,
unless / saw him. Sometimes when / am
weak in faith, think may be this is all the
life there is, and the hope of the future
seems only beautiful myth ; the thought
comes over me that am past fifty, and
away from my Fritz; then these years,
these terrible years, seem like sounds of a
rack, on which my life has beer inundated.
My God, forgive ne remember 0 thou
who made thehuman heart, how much l
have suffered, and how patiently I have
waited for thy interposition
is it not alone what life is, but for it's
lost possibilities / mourn. In every gen
Grafton life's best good, home, protection,
and love of ones own children, is wanting
to many woman, why should / murmur
that they are den led me ?
They tell me t hat Fritz is Que of the sa-
rdnts OF Germany. Surely, learning
makes up for rank. What benefit has
ny rank been to me a little old maid that
has been almost a menial in her brothers.
household2
4 wonder if my brother does not think.
that if he had sent Maggie to school. her
life might have been different ? if he does
not, no word of mine shall ever suggest it.
July 10, 1856. Willie is clergyman
now. He married the Gettysburg lady.
and, they tell me, he is very happy. He has
had call from 4 church near Pittsburg,
and has gone their to live. The cholera
has broken out in Pittsburg, and Maggie,
with two other women Of the church, has
gone to help in the hospital.
October 1st. Maggie came home
month since. She is just now convalecent
from spell Of fever we have had such
nice, long talks now, that she is better.
She came home entirely worn out by her
duties, and what we thought at first mere
exhaustion, developed into u low fever.
She is setting in the parlor now very pale
and emaciated, but still our Maggie. Tive
spoken quite freely of Willie's marriage.
Ohe day said to her, Maggie, this man
has spoiled earth for you; are you not
afraid he can spoil heaven?' She replied
by qnoting that beautiful verse from the
Psalmist: Ich will satt werden wenn ich
erwache mach deimen bilde.
I shall be satisfied when | awake in thy
likeness.
For my own part said, when have
cas-; my crown at my Saviour's feet, shall
turn to find my Fritz, if he crosses the riv-
er before me. If ne should be cast out of
the kingdom, it will be no heaven for me,
aud if he should not love me pre-eminently
there the joys of heaven wonld pail for me-
why, aunt Marie she said. you forget
that they marry not in Heaven For me
l can truly say: Eor dir ist frende die
sule und liebliches wersen zu deiner rech-
ten ewiglich. Thou wilt show me the
faith of life, in thy presence is full of joy.l
Surely, stand corrected before the child;
for hun,an love the Saviour has Given her