The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-10-12

VISITOR. III was wien was about 10 this shO
and memorable visit took place Yielding
aunl'S repeated Solicitations was her nam,
sake--l started from home with the incntio
of spending the summer months on the lllinoi
farm. | arrived there safely, was welcome
heartily, and entertained right royalty; but b,
fore week had passed away had grown ;
,, tired of the seeming boundlessness of ever
thing, and onged so for the little cottage an
Lilliputian garden where grew my three rOst
bushes-onc red, one white and one "a cream
lycllow-that aunt seeing the longing in m
y eyes, sand, "Cmld, you must 90 back" an,
back came long before was expected, bu
my dear father and mother assured me not
moment too soon.
We children had always heard twice yea
from aunt-once collectively At Christmas an,
once respectively on our birthdays--and eacl
time the kind note which exhorted US to sd,
good, industrious, and solfreliant," inclosed
check larger or smaller according TO aunt,
gains Of the preceding year. These netes vi
had been taught TO answer with many wi.he.
for the old ladv's welfare, and thanks for hel
kindnesses, and hopes for speedy meeting
in short, IN manner BETTING the only nieces
and nephcws of the Crmody family when re
plying TO the friendly epistles Of their only
aunt, to say nothing of that aunt being the
weathiest and most influential meHb sr ofthat
family.
A few days before our father died he called
US together, and said, My dear children, 1t
isn't ut all likely to occur, but if ever aunt
should ask a favor OF you, grantit, at no matter
what Inconvenience. She has besn my best
and dearest friend"
Poor father | suspect aun. had often helped
him out Of pecuniary difficulties. lie was an
impractical, dreamy sort OF man, fond of birds
and poetry and flowers, and didn't succeed
very well in life. But, in spite Of his dreami-
ness and his want of worldly tact, and bis being
so totally unlike her in NEST ways, he was u
great iavOrite of aunt'S, and when we telegraph.
ed his serious illness a. hST she lstt her vast
possessions without captain at moments
notice, and fastened to his side, making her
appearance in bonnet that immediately sus.
gcsted the praires. il was W Unlimited as 10
size and 70 bare of ornament, and which gro.
tesquely obuuded itself into the resemblance
Of that sad time forever sitter.
Since fathers death Thing. hadn't been very
bright with US In fact, they hadn't been bright
at all.
We found there was Il good deal of money
owing, and what remained Of the two hundred
dollars aunt gave us ON the day OF the funeral
she babe US good bye" the instant the cere-
monies were ovcr-after our very cheap mourn
ing was paid for, went to the butcher, grocer,
and shoemaker.
We were all willing to do and all did, what
ever we could toward supporting the house
hold; but dear dear! talk about weeds new
er saw any thing grow like bills
Carol, who had an artistic turn Of mind
struggled with it, and |, who had dressmak-
ing turn Of mind, struggled with that, and
Helen struggled with her books, hoping to be
come II teacher in time and little Will strug-
gled with somebody elses books, for he went
into a pubishlng-house ~ errand boy-poor
fellow,
Besides the struggles, we had mother on our
minds A few weeks after we lost our father
we lost our baby sister. a beautiful child che !
was, as bright as "A diamond and Us fair as Il
pearl and the pride and darling of us all Al
ready sinking beneath the blow of her hus-
bands DEATH when her little daughter died
too, my mothers heart was nearly broken
From being sunshiny, energetic, busy wo-
man, she became istless and apathctiC, sitting
III her room day after day after gazing upon
the pictures of the loved ones, or rocking back |
and forth, her hands clasped before her, look
ing with dry eyes upon vacancy.
20 that she could be made to weep! that
she could be reused from tins dreadful speech
less gloom into which she has fallen !" was |
our continual prayer for the terrible thought |
came to MS often that we should lose our moth- |
or in much worse way than we had our faith
or and sister-that her BRAIN would at last give
way beneath It's weight of heavy, despairing |
thoughts
Well, the cXchequer was low enough and
mother had had one of her very bad spells 4;
and IL lady customer had just been in and
abused mc-yes, abUSm, | can Use no other
word; women do fly IN such temper at their
dress mn ]; prS-pbnnt tho iii nf bpr lrnSS do |
clarng it to be utterly ruined" when it only
wanted taking up II little on one shoulder and
letting down an inch or so in front; and Wits |
right arm was almost disabled from IA heavy
load OF books he had carried long distance
the day before (how men can have the heart to
giVoa mans burden To II child | can't Scc)-
when aunl's letter fell like bOmb-shell into
our very nearly disheartened little camp.
DEAR FoLKs-A friend of mine-an lnglishman
-sunts language was correct enough, but ut
times her spelling was somewhat peculiar who
came here purposing to start in business, took
the fever fingered II few months and died, lca.-
InG, Heaven knows why, his only child, daugh-
ter, who will eventually be a not to be SMILED at
1ress, to my care. Having been delicatey reared
In the midst of devotion and tenderness, this
place, only suited to bold, strong natures, Is a
little too rough for her. SO she dcsres-at least
/ desire for hcr--a home in the North, and wish
that home 10 be with YOU Ii
Wy niece Mary, who inherlts the disposition OF
her father to a great degree-and he would have
gone out of his way any day 10 give even dumb
brute plasure-wil, | am sure be kind to her
Carroll Will love her for her beauty, il for moth
ng else and the rest Of you will love her because
he i most lovabe. Her maid will accompany
her.
Al present her affairs are in tanglc, but |
lOpc 10 nnraycl them in the course of u few
months. and then you will be rccompcnscd for
RhateFrT extra expense she may cause you.
would lnc.Osc check at present writing, but all
ny funds are invested IN speculation from which
expect % reap much profit. DO the best you
AN until you hear from me again, when will
farther unfold my plans in regard to Miss Ash
bell, Hh', hy-the-bye start, tomorrow.
Aunt
No wonder CONSERVATION and dismay were
depicted on every Countcnancc when | ceased
reading his letter Ne wonder we looked
gaspin-ly al each other. What III the world
were We to DO with this fine young lady in our
humble homer
What could aunt b" thinking about True,
-he didn't know exactly how poor we were,