Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-09-26

81 udppS UtIOIe, anu she SalQ, IL Goes
seem more like home like to see
things neat and clean; but I always
think there is no use. l get so discour-
aged; never have a kind word. no one
seems to know whether [ do well or i'll.
But, perhaps, if | had some one around
ME who was cheerful, / might throw
off part Of this feeling of loneliness"
Evening came. The children were
asleep, uncle was in grandpas room, as
usual, and We all sat down by the fire
place, ready for the story.
Come, aunty, you have had all day
to think how to begin, and we are ali
ready to listen" said I.
"Well girls" she began, a have no
doubt but you think it very strange that
l dress as [ do, and that [ smoke;
perhaps | have no excuse. but to my
story.
"My parents were wealthy and
aristOcratic, and [ was not brought up
to work; but having an abundance of
energy, [ thought should like teach
ing.
There was vacancy in q seminary
a few miles distant.
Z" applied for the situation, and OBJ
tanned it. For several years [ kept the
position. While there [ made the &C
quaintance ofOne of the professors, and
in due time became very much
attached to him
q" We were very happy, as those who
are III perfect sympathy always are,
growing more and more intimate as
time passed.
Two happy years went by, when
he was called away to distant city, to
attend to his fathers affairs, he being
in poor health. He came to me and
told me that we must part; that he
must 60 home, perhaps not to return to
the school.
Il was very sad. How could [ live
without him? He told me anew ofhis
love, and that he should so arrange
matters that he could ere long, come
for me, and I should bealI his own.
"He promised to write often, and
entreated me not to forget him in his
loneliness; that my letters would be the
only sunshine in his pathway.
He left me, and felt that all was
blank; teaching had lost It's charms
with me, when he was not there. | re-
ceived two loving letters from him, then
they grew cooler, and finally ceased al
together, What did it mean?
" knew that another man was try
ing hard to win my affections, but |
paid little heed He then told me that
| was in love with another, and that
was the reason that he could not win
my regard, and | told him it was true.
He then said it was little use for me
to care for that person. [ did not I'M
derstand him and was too angry to in
qulre his meaning.
Yet [ did not mistrust him at the
time, though did not like his persis-
tence | learned afterwards that he
had written anonymous letters to my
lover, telling him that [ did not care for
him, and was in the habit of receiving
the attention of other gentleman.
clad [ known this at the time, /
could have righted matters; but [ was
proud, very proud. [ thought he had
no right to doubt me, and | could not
believe that nc had any good reasons
for treating me III such manner; so /
wrote to him telling him that if it was
such task for him to correspond with
Soon after [ heard tkat he was
married.
My health failed, vacation came,
and l went home. My parents thought
my labors in school were too hard for
me, and they insisted upon my leaving
the seminary, which | did. [ avoided
society. and my parents sent me into
the country for my health.
"A beautiful place among the hills
was selected, where spent the summer,
but [ was far from happy; and while
there made a rash promise to myself
[ was then 80 years old-that would
marry the first one who offered him
self, and have something to take my
attention.
"While there [ met Il widower in
search of a wife. WidoWers generally
let their wants be known. [ was recon-
mended to him, and he visited me.
did not like nor dislike him, and when
he asked me to marry him, said
Yes
q had three weeks to get ready. L
hardly knew what | was doing, and was
very unhappy. | had the impression
on my mind that there was something
wrong that possibly the rumor in re-
gard to Thomas was untrue.
"The time came; we were married
III church. During the ceremony |
glanced about, and encountered the
gaze of my old lover. He was as white
as a sheet. [ nearly fell. But sum-
mOned my pride to my aid, and the
deed was done.
eve started Immediately for his
home; and, oh, such q home! you see
it now-'twas just like this-but / am
used to it now.
l learned after my marriage that
Thomas was not married: but had heard
that [ was, and stopped writing. My
new home and the knowledge of the
mistake | had made were too much for
me, and for weeks was Frustrated with
fever, and could do nothing but cry.
Remember, girls, [ had had no expe-
reince in housekeeping. This kitchen
was my home, where l must cook, and
eat, and sit; and | had four children to
ment to be sure, enough to drown my
trouble. Where should l begin?
"When | got we'll everything was in
ulSOIu6r. Inc CIlluI6u anu uuSUdllC
had done the work. The oldest girl
knew something about cooking-I must
learn Of her. She soon grew to be
saucy to me becauseI did not do things
as her mother did, and became dis
couraged; had gotten myself into a
bad place and must take the best of it,
learning to do all kinds of housework.
az got some cloth and made me