Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-03
Weeklp gatelligenfer.
OFFICIAL COUNTY PAPER.
THE LOST BABY.

THE LOST BABY.
The nime of our little one was
Marguerite, but we called her little
Pearl, Philip and l. She was u first
baby, the daintiest, dearest little
thing that eve you set eyes on
cheeks like half-blowu rOsebuds. hair
like rings of sunshine, and eyes as
blue as the depths of a June sky.
Darling little Pearl, how we loved
her. We had been married just q
year aud a half when Philip caught
the western fever.
Loved my husband with an inten-
sily bordering OH idolatry, but when
he told me of his Intention to leave
our beautiful cottage and seek his
fortune in the far west it was u ter
rible blow to me. We had lived in
Rosedale eve since our marriage,
could not continue to live there.
Truly, the place belonged to my
uncle, but then it would be ours at
his death, and why should Philip
fret and chafe SO under a foolish
sense of dependence !? We had every
thing, elegant rooms. flowers, birds,
pleasure grounds, and servants
enough to Keep our hands from any
thing like labor, and uncle gave it
all uugrudgingly still my husband
was not content.
~ can't live this life," he said 81
was not made for it. My work
awaits me somewhere in the world,
aud I must hunt 1t up. My little
ones won't respect their father by
and by if he is nothing more than a
drone in the, hive of life"
! I was vexed and angry at first, and
SAID a great many things unwise and
unwomanly, but Philip pursued the
even tenor of his way, all patience
aud forbearance. Our preparations
were soon made, the few things we
held most precious were packed up,
and, bidding adieu to u sunny
Esouthern home, we started westward.
The excitement of the journey, to-
(gether with my husbands constant
Tenderness and encouragement rec
onciled. me, in a measure, to the
change of life ; aud when we reached
eur little western cottage my inpul-
sive nature, always rushing to one
Iextreme Dr. the other, carried me
into all ecstacy of delight and antici.
patton, even. beyond anything my
steadfast Husband exhibited. He
seemed greatly relieved to see me
growing SC thoroughly contented,an
we began our new life very bravely,
The cottage was comfortable
enough, but bare and humble in com
parison to that we had hitherto been
accustomed ; the square, whltewash'
ed room had a dreadfully forlorn look
aud the little Kitchen, with it's ont
staring window, aud the cooking
stove standing in the middle OF tht
door, filed me with shuddering dis
gust every time l entered it. But
had made up my mind to endure al
and everything, and, as l have said
we began our new life very bravely
For the first two or three month
had help, not very efficient hell
truly; but better far than none
Philip entered at once upon thu
practice of law, aud as his office wa
some distance from home, he did no
return until evening, SO We had III
great amount of cooking to do, ant
between US, We managed to keep til,
cottage tidy, and take care of littl
Pearl.
Every afternoon We went to NEE
him, taking little Pearl, through tn
grand aud gorgeous prairies. aud a
often as his happy eyes caught sigh
Of US he would hasten forward wit
fond embraces and approving words
"Ah, Belle" he would say, 81 be
lieve l am the bappiest man in tn
universe, and you are gro wing con
tented, too, dear,-I can see 1t il
your bright face"
The glory Of Autumn faded, ant
the chill November rains set in, bring
ing dreary, sunless days, aud chang
ing the gorgeous prairie-bloom int
endless leagues of sodden gray. NJ.
girl lett me and little Pearl grew
cross aud fretful in her teethiDg. Il
addition to his law business Philil
had gone into farming, aud we ha.
two or three labofers to feed anc
lodge, which greatly increased tn
housework. Under this accumulation
Of trials my patience began to Civ
way, l worked late ami early, but
grew morose and fretfnl, and neve
had a pleasant ord for my husband
But he never complained.
"Poor Belle" he would say, "'pooi
overworked little wife, be as brave a
you can !; better days will come b!
and by. Just as soon MS l get off from
my business I'll go to the city aut
OBTAIN permanent help. In the mean
time don't fret the roses from you
cheeks and the brightness from YOU.
eyes,"
But despite my husbands lovin,
words and constant help, for he tool
one-half the household labor OH hi
own hands, | continued to murmu
at my fate, aud one morning til
crisis came.
Breakfast was unusually late, littl
Pearl cross to absolute fr%etfulness
aud the sick laborer upstairs in nee
of constant attention, Philip oblige,
to leave early, and coaxing and hush
ing Pearl to sleep, l laid her in he
dainty little crib aud went about m
: mornings work.
Ifelt wronged and injured, and Will
, worked away, dustlug OIL the 500
and ashes aud scrubbing up the muc
the hot tears fell so fast as almost t
blind me. My husband had bee
cruel, heartless, l thought, to TAX
f me from a home where all was beaut
E and pleasure, and to bring me to tbs
: dreadful place to e my life out
hateful drudgery. l would soone
! be in my grave than to live on 9
r from year to year.
In. the midst Of this despair,
heard the sick man calling froI
above, aud hurried to him. His feve
was raising again he needed cooiiu
Idraughts aud ice-cloths to his heat
went to work to prepare them wit
nervous haste, for the morning W,
: slipping by, and the noon meal mus
q be in readiness for the farlning-hamt
In the midst of my work anu hurr,
e little Pearls sharp, imperative CT
e came piping from below. VIII,
;, should l do !? l had just spent ov.
]. half All hour luiling her to sleep. all
: here she was on my hands agaiu.
81 won't 20 down." l cried in re
anger. "She NAV have her cry out.
On. dear, l wish l had no baby 7"
But the instantthe unwomanly wis
had passed my lips, l repented
\ having uttered it. No baby, no lit
!. Pearl! The bare thought filed Il
!. with shuddering terror. Hurried
;. administering The sick mans polio
!. FASTENED down eager to compensa
for my un%motherly words by fol
%caresses.
There stood the little cradle in i
accustomed corner the dainty la,
= coverlid thrown back, the pillo
still damp and warm from the il
press Of the curly head, but Pearl "