The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-24

ished flower garden that occupieda por-
ton Of the lawn between the horse and
the beautiful little lake. But. II sur
prised by the order and neatness every
where visible upon the outside, was
no longer 80 when 1 was presented TO
the presiding genius, the mistress OF the
establishment for / was hardly pre-
pared to find in Western farm house
so much refinement and exquisite taste
as was displayed in the tout ensemble
of the charming home.
The lady herself was about forty years
of age; not beautiful, but interesting,
connoisseur of female beauty would have
decided, with q face still fresh and fair,
though, like the husbands, it wore an
expression that so far excited my curl
osity that, at the first glance, l became
painfully conscious of q desire to learn
the history of this couple that had 80
heroically relinquished the luxuries and
refinements of the east for the hard and
laborious duties of a frontier life. Mrs.
Milmore babe me welcome to her fire.
side with an ease and grace that only
served to confirm my first Impressions Of
her education and culture.
After an exquisite supper, daintily
served, mine host invited me into the
library, remarlxing that 1 might make
myself comfortable, for 1 must remain
his guest for the night, at the same time
wheeling one of the large Turkish easy
chairs before the blazing hickory fire.
He then produced couple of fragrant
Havanas, and lighting one prepared to
hear my hosts singular desire to protect
these ill-omened birds, the crows.
1t is that story, told as nearly as can
recall it after all these years, in his own
words, that / propose to relate to you.
1 was born in Oneida county, New
York, and was intended by my father for
a lawyer; but, after delving year in the
Office of an eminent practitioner of that
county, became dissatisfied, renowned
the idea of acquiring profession, and
went to the city of New York, where I
entered the mercantile house of Smith
& Talbot-then, as now, one of the
wealthiest firms in the importing line in
that city. But promotion in the count
ing room comes slow; particularly so
while one has but little capital to advance
his interests.
While in the employ of this house,
met for the first time niece of one of
the members of the firn-my wife; and
when, two years later, my father died
and left me small competency, took
it and entered into business for myself,
and, within year, married. From the
date of our marriage, ~ life was a
blessed one indeed; nothing seemed to
disturb the even tenor of our lives, for
we drifted along in the current, forget
full of all else save our own happiness,
and, 1 now fear, selfshly, needless OF the
cares and troubles of others.
After five years of unalloyed happi-
ness my wife became the mother of a
beautiful boy and it seemed as though
L had nothing more to desire, no greater
boon to ask for. Then came the finan-
cial crisis of ST, that caused such wide
spread disaster and ruI among the mer-
camille community, and for time it
seemed impossible that my house would
be able to Withstand the crash that swept
like whirlwind through the country /;
but finally weathered the storm, and
by good management came through it
stronger than ever.
Shortly after this our child was taken
sick, and it seemed for months as though
we should lose him. He partially re-
covered, though my physician, after
many mysterious hints that / can under
stand now, told me that if L wanted to
see him grow to years of maturity, must
leave New York and find home upon
some western farm.
can't tell you, sir, how dreaded to
inform my wife what the physician had
said it seemed terrible sacrifice to ask
her to make and il was only after
months of hesitation that / ventured,
one day, to breach the subject to her.
To my great JOY, she saw the necessity,
and Mt once consented to leave Few York,
our friends, acquaintance, culture, ease,
and luxury, for the discomforts OF pio-
neer life.
In closing my business in the city an
occurred which enabled me
to secure what was termed fine tract of
wild western land, and to it we came. L
built this house and surrounded our
home with such comforts as we could
procure, for here we determined to re-
main aud rear our child, who was fast
growing to be noble boy. it
When Benny was four years old, he
was child that any parent might have
been proud of and when we saw his
ruddy cheeks and the perfect picture OF
health that he appeared, his mother and
myself both felt that no sacrifice we had
made for him was too great. He was
the apple of our eyes, sir, the breath OF
our life, and had grown to be the idol OF
our home-our household god, to the
exclusion of all things else.
Three years ago this fall, when Benny
was almost five years old, one dark No
vember day was in the field where L
had couple of men at work, and, late
in the afternoon, Glanced to look up,
and saw the little fellow, accompanied
by his pet rabbit, coming toward me
from the house. $3.50, 80
/ went to meet him, and taking him in
my arms, told him that it was too cold
for him out there, and to run back to
mother. was busy at the time, and
thought no more of the matter until just
before dusk, when / returned to the
house, aud my wife met me at the door
tn the inquiry
Where's Bennys"
Before the question had left her lips,
[ felt chill go over me like an ague tit;
cold hands seemed to clutch my heart,