Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-15
LITTLE PEARL.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

OdUu, even my UdD4. L ISuGulbCl IilS
morning well; it was gray and cloudy
with low, dragging mist, that chilled
one to the bone, ard hung the trees
with reeking moisture. The black
mud about the door of our western
home, was thick and deep; and the
bare floor of our own room was badly
stained and soiled by the careless feet
Of the rough-shod workingmen.
had been cleaning up all the morning,
but the more | cleaned the worse
matters seemed to grow ; soap and
sand only served to render the black
foot marks more visible; and when a
sudden puff OF wind whirled the smoke
and ashes down the pipe of my cook
ing stove covering the books and Ia
bles bad Just taken so much pains IN
busting off, l threw myself in the
rocking chair, and burst into foe d
Of despairDg tears.
We brought the rocking-chair with
Us, Ned and |. when we left our cot
tage, on the outskirts of the city and
journeyed westward. 1t was a pref
ty cottage; my eyes fill with tears
even now at the thought of it, with its
low, breezy windows, through which
the odor of roses tioated the livelong
summer; and its clean, well ordered
rooms, adorned with all those charm
ing, useless little toys, that SO SO far
toward making home pleasant and
attractive. 1t was my first nome after
my marriage-and woman always
loves that home better than any other.
We were very happy, n d and as
cosy and comfortable as two robins IN
the heart of summer apple tree. Ned
was clerk, but with a good salary,
and some little additions flowing IN
now and then from other resources.
And when our baby came, "Littie
PEARL" as we called her, our happl-
ness was complete.
But after awhile this new rapture
began to cool; and as Little Pearl $
blue eyes deepened and expanded Ned
began to cast about him in q sage and
fatherly manner.
eve must do the best we can Tor
Little Pearls sake, Bell"
That was the opening remark a
disclosure of his plans followed. He
had caught the western fever" w est
ward the star of empire makes Its
way" Ned quoted, with telling en-
phasis, adding, +" we must follow, Bell,
and build up name and home for
Little Pearl !"
/ assented, as | always did, to
Ned's plans though, in my secret
soul, felt that the movement was a
bad one. We sold our pretty cottage
and furniture at considerable sacri-
flee: Ned left his clerkship; and the
November after Little Pearls birth
found us in our western home.
Ned had urged me to bring out our
servants; but, in fit OF high-strung
heroism, | determined to be maid OF
all work myself. Ned would have to
sacrifice his ease and comtort:I would
not be behind him. 1t was comparI-
lively light in the beginning, when
only Ned and myself ere to provide
for; but after awhile the hired men
came and baby required more atten-
ton every day. The tall rains set in,
converting the spongy soil into black,
adhering mud. ] worked early and
late, but found it impossible to take
care Of my babe, and keep our rude
home III anything like order. bore
up as long as | could; but at last my
strength utterly failed, and, sitting
down IN tie rocklug-chalr, sobbed
like silly child. ! thought OF my old
home, with It's pretty, weil'ordered
apartments; OF the hours OF pleasant
leisure and social enjoyment to which
| had been accustomed and then
with a fresh gush of tears, L looked
out OF the low, trailing mist, and
around the small, untIdy room in
which | was Imprisoned. 1t was
wrong in Ned to bring me to such a
place, and against my will, too, |
thought bitterly.
AT that moment | heard the voice
of the sick hired man calling for
water, and catching up the pitcher, |
brushed away my tears, and ran up to
the rude loft where he lay. As /
reached the bed, | saw by the sun
that it was almost noon, and dinner
was to cook for Ned and the hired
men. Giving the invalid his water,
| paused a moment to mix draught
OF medicine, my thoughts were full OF
the burning stove, and distasteful du-
ties that awaited me below and just
then, shrill and clear, came Little
Pearls cry. | threw down the dose |
was mixing, exclaiming, almost an
griiy,
at is no use, l can't get along, no
matter how hard | strive. What
shall do now? oh, DEAR | do wish
| had no baby
My very fuger-tips thrilledwith ter
ror as the unwomanly wish pass
ed my lips; and, clearing the steps at
two or three bounds, rushed to the
corner where her crib stood, eager to
clasp her to my bosom, and pour out
my remorse in tears and kisses. i
Snatched aside the curtain. The crib
was there, so was the snowy pillow
bearing the damp impress of her head.
But Little Pearl was gone. For mo-
ment | stood dumb aud almost sense
less, then a swift thoaght came to my
relief.
"Ned has stolen her to brighten
me, and. rushing out, | searched ev-
erywhere to find him but in vain
The mist was thickening into rain
knew well enough that be was too
careful OF her to expose her 10 such a
manner; yet | chung to the belief that
he had stolen her as | chung to my
life. There were fresh footprints in
the black mud about the door, leading
ont toward the wood.lot, where Ned
and the men were at work | follow
ed then, my head uncovered, unmind-
ful of the chill wind and driving RAIN
plunging ankle>deep in the yielding
soil at every step About halfway
saw something in the path before me