Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-01-12
LIFE WRECKS.
BY JULIA CLARE

When "Father Abraham " called for
s'three hundred thousand more, John
Bickford was one of the first. to leave
his home and betrothed, and enlist as a
private in an Ohio regiment, noted for
It's bravery and courage in action. AS
private he passed through three years
OF the national struggle, and returned
home to- be met by his affianced with
GOODNESS, and learn from her own lips
the story of her faithfulness.
She had ceased to love him she said.
but one more observant than her reject.
ed lover could have seen the struggle of
her love with proud determination. For
this he had come back, unnamed and
triumphant, to the woman who had
plighted him her love through all the
vicissitudes of camp and army life. But
Maria Comstock was ambitious, and
her ambition proved her curse. The
marked attentions of a dashing Colonel,
home on furlough, pleased her vanity,
while the silver eagle, insignia of office,
awakened her admiration.
What was the love Of private to the
homage Of q distinguished officer like
Col. Hawkins ? Bickford would never
amount to any thing, she. argued, never
be celebrated or famous; for she wpr-
shipped fame and titles; SO, unmindful
of the heart Of faithful private, away
on Southern field, she sacrificed love,
and promised, during delightful row
on the lake one evening, to marry Col
Hawkins when his term of enlistment
expired. sae a se aei
Little she dreamed on that quiet sum-
mer night of the lonely years in the
future, devoid of love, sympathy, and
all the nourishment woman needs to
perfect her life and fulfil the mission
for which she was created. Poor Maria |!
the ghost of the love you buried alive
shall haunt you when the blue of your
husbands uniform has faded in some
lone, forgotten nook, and the enchanted
colonelship has lost its magic and be-
come thing of the past-when, pow
erty-stricken and unloved, you strive
to provide for your unfortunate chill
dren, looking in vain to their inebriate
father for their rightful inheritance.
John Bickford was not man to be
wrecked on the rock of Irritation. or be
sunk by a jilt. But his pride was hurt,
his manhood sighted, and he could not
rest until he found himself bound by a
second engagement. In 1868 he mar
ried Judge Mason's daughter, an ami
able girl of good family, rather deficient
in originality and intellectual endow-
ment, like Dora SpenIow, unable to
appreciate her husband, or sympathize
with one grand emotion or ennobling
sentiment. mm 6a4
Six years passed and three little
children gladdened his home to while
away many an otherwise lonely hour.
He studied diligently to improve, and
gain the respect OF his fellow men, and
he was successful. He climbed lightly
the hill of popular favor, occupying
many an Office Of profit and trust within
the gift of the people, while his obe-
dent little wife from her inferior sphere
worshipped him aatifully.
Smiling fortune shook her golden
treasures in his pathway, but he was
not content.
AS he came from lis Office night after
night, and found smile on the express
sionless face of his uncongenial partner,
he felt loss, and sometimes wished
she would startle him with anger for
variety. Her stereotyped smile and
platitudes wearied him; he rather that
sometimes fell below if she could