The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-07-02
sumption; confined to his room, and for

sumption; confined to his room, and fol
the most part TO the couch.
He recognized me almost instantly,
although I had grown old and faded
And /, oh, how my heart plead for his
life to be spared, the moment my eye:
looked upon his white placid face. had
believed the old love dead years ago
But i found that it could be easily res
directed, now that the stone had been
removed from the door of the sepulcher
and / could behold him wrapped in the
linen cloths of suffering His wife, who
had proved faithful and true, had at last
won the true love of his manhood, had
died two years previously, leaving him
with one child, the young girl who had
given us a welcome . to their humble
abode. Rs
While my travelling companions were
&. =cstt fseYl tAe fatig.iics 2a''
journey, took seat by the couch Of
the invalid as requested. "The great
wish of my heart has been granted" said
Mr.. Steele. ~ have at last beheld your
face once more; and have heard your
voice in tones Of forgiveness, for The
suffering that I caused you. But the
Great Father of us all is witness that
had no thought of gaining an affection
that was not returned. You were my
hearts first love, and it was only to save
my parents from sorrow and disgrace
tina / married one of their choosing
Sh. as good and true, and / learned to
regard her as precious treasure.
"And now when | am gone, will you
not take my daughter to your home and
heart, and love her for the sake of those
old days of happiness? She is named
for you, Fanny Morgan Steele. She will
not be left dowerless or dependent. But
/ want her to be cherished with The low.
ing care of which she is deserving, and ]
know of no one more capable than your.
self. You will find her not entirely a
stranger, for she has been taught from
early childhood to love the face of
Aunt Fanny Will you not be moth
er to the lonely orphan"
made the required promise, just as
the sun's last glimmering ray peeped in
at the west window, and as he placed his
daug b teT's hand III mine, he prayed to
Him who careth for the fatherless to
bless us in our new relation. And in re-
mem hbrance OF that old summer time /
sealed the promise with kiss upon that
fair young brow.
Before the morning dawned his spirit
passed beyond the portals of that
brighter day, where sorrows and afflic-
tions enter not. Upon the third day we
placed the dear remains by the side of
his wife, meath the wide-spreading will
low of the prairie home. After settling
with a responsible person to take charge
of the farm, l took my young charge,
whom had already learned to love for
her own sweet sake and started forth to
accomplish the journey that had been so
strangely interrupted.
When returned to my home in the
east / found that it would be quite nee
essary for me to have an establishment
of my own, as had now the charge of
three little girls.
Little Edith, who is the youngest of
my pets, found crying on lonely road
without a friend on whom she could call
for assistance. Her parents had both
died within few days and she had been
left to the care of heartless woman,
who had brought her to this place and
left her to find home for herself. To
leave poor delicate child in this way
was not to be thought Of So / took her
to my own heart and home. Louise
French, aged twelve years, was pleas
ant companion for my peerless Fanny.
She was daug hter of another dear
school companion VINO babe me last
goodbye during my visit.
Each of these dear girls has her own
especial attractions, and what l do for
them is q labor Of love as well as duty.
They are not perfect, and, like other
children, have their foible, and are a
trial OF patience as well as source of
pleasure.