The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-12

read them by; but you can read mine; l
warned off the curlicues; only promise to
read it every morning before breakfast,
or can tell you you won't get the tea
SET"
so yes, of course I'll read it, grandma
the idea" '"' d"
"Wen well, if you read it, you'll
think about it, III warrant. Now Unjust
go home and send John over with the
things; and, with frosty little caress
on Mabels fair cheek, and a nod to her
mother, the old lady went. |'faH
Grandma kisses me Just like clam
shell" said Mabel, in half-soliloquy as
she sat down again by the window, Her
mother could not help laughing, for the
cool nip of thin lips that was grand
mas substitute for kiss, certainly did
suggest shells and CLEANLINESS. John
came directly back with the package,
and Mabel eagerly united and unfolded
it. The motto was printed in large Ger
man text, easy to read, though gay with
gold and colors, and it ran thus;
"Take up the foxes, the little foxes
that spoil the vines, for our vines have
tender grapes" I''HI
Mabel stared. .".a rs. aar
" Mother, what on earth does it
mean"
Mrs. Lee smiled and sighed, both, as
she read the legend over the girls
shoulder. "Look here, Mab," said she,
slipping fat gold hoop off her third fin
ger, and the girl read inside, " Beware of
little foxes" and looked up, freshly as
tonished, into her mothers face.
Il suppose grandma means me to tell
you story, Mabel, which she told me
when l was first engaged. 1t hurt her
bitterly to tell it, but it did me much
good. l think she could not bring her
self to tell you. You are not her daugh-
ter, and cannot love her as / do, and you
never have had reason to pity her as /
have. You never saw Grandfather Jar
Wis, Mabel" ....
Why, l thought he died before ] was
born" .. .#.
" No, he died ten years ago in Brazil.
l never saw him myself, Nab; he never
knew he had daughter" .........
"Motherm
Mrs. Lees lovely dark eyes filled with
tears as she drew Mabel down beside her
on the sofa. .... ..... ..s..s. .a.
" have been told that grandma was
very beautiful, high-spirited girl at your
age, dear, animated, brilliant, thoroughly
satisfied with herself and her surround
ings, especially when Jonathan Jarvis
fell in love with her. Her father died
when she was three years old, and her
invalid mother adored the child, and
spoiled her even more than | do you"
Mabel kissed the soft hand laid on her
shoulder, and gave it willful little bite.
Don't be horrid, mamma, or l shall
eat you right up, As if was one bit
spoiled" .'
" If you were not my child you would
not need grandma's lesson She was
spoiled, as said, and Jonathan Jarvis
knew it, but he was bewitched by her
spirit and beauty, and thought, as men
are apt to think, that he could control
and cure all that She loved him, too,
very deeply, after her fashion, and there
was nothing to delay their marriage, but
the day was scarcely fixed when her
mother suddenly sank and died. Grand
it was thought best to put off her mar
riage, though, out of respect to her
mothers memory, there was no wedding
party, and the happy pair began their
life at once in the old homestead where
grandma lives to-day 'H1 .-. 81
" The outlook before these two was very
fair; youth, health, competency, what
seemed to be devoted love, made them
an apparently enviable couple; but no
sooner were these unbroken wills brought
into daily contact than trouble began 2
" You may laugh, Mabel, but their first
dispute was about a coffee-pot. Mother
preferred the old-fashioned urn, her hus-
band the newer style Of pitcher. Neither
would yield in mere matter of taste,
and this was the beginning of evil
"Silly? Yes. it looks wonderfully
silly to US; but l think heard very
warm discussion only yesterday on the
proper style Of riding hats for a lady"
Mabel colored to the waves of her dark
hair and tried to smile. 't a-a.H -
They came to a compromise on this
matter, agreeing to drink chocolate in
place of coffee; but other small disputes
followed; they all burnt in on grandma's
mind, but / forget most of them, so
slight and trivial were the matters of
discussion, though they grew to active
means of torment. 3d..
"a child was born, and Jonathan, in
his sad and sore heart, thought that
would bring peace, and his indignant
and grieycd wife hoped it also, for each
blamed the other, as combatants will;
but the baby's eyes never saw their strife;
it died, and the hope died with it. Little
frets are what wear away love and life,
Mabel. My poor father!- and my poor
motherl There was no kindly friend to
say judicious word to either. They
showed smiling front to the world out
side, but grew more alienated daily.
There was no real quarrel, no vital
disagreement, but the hourly fret of I'M
disciplined tempers, impatient natures,
strong wills and a self-consideration that
forbade yielding, that cherished pride
and petulance, that recognized no duty
except as owed to itself rE
The end of these things fastened.
Before nameless baby slept in its green
grave year, father had set out for Brazil
in merchant vessel, leaving this short
adieu to his wife:
You can say have gone South on bust
ness Mehetabel but non must know I shall