The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-06-18
THE LOST BABY.

guerlCe, DuC we Cdlleu utl utGle edi1,
Philip and l. She was our first baby,
the daintiest, dearest little thing that
ever you set eyes on; cheeks like half
blown rosebuds, hair like rings of sun
shine, and eyes as blue as the depths ola
June sky. Darling little Pearl, how we
loved her. We had been married just
year and half when Philip caught the
Western fever.
loved my husband with an intensity
bordering on idolatry, but when he told
me of his intention to leave our beautiful
cottage and seek his fortune in the far
West, it was terrible blow to me. We
had lived at Rosedale ever since our
marriage, and l could see no reason why
we 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 chafc so
under foolish sense of dependence? We
had everything, elegant rooms, flowers,
birds, pleasure grounds and servants
enough to keep our hands from anything
like labor, ana uncle gave it all ungrudg-
ingly; still my husband was not content.
II can't live this life, Belle" he said;
Il wasn't made for it. My work awaits
me somewhere in the world and l must
hunt it up. My little ones won't respect
their father by-and-bye if he is nothing
more than drone in the hive of life"
was vexed and angry at first, and
said great many things that were un-
wise and unwomanly, but Philip pur-
sued the even tenor of his way, all pa
tience and fcrbearance. Our prepara-
tions were soon made, the few things we
held most precious we packed up, and
bidding adieu to our sunny Southern
home, we started westward.
The excitement of the journey, to-
gether with my husbands constant ten
derness and encouragement, reconciled
me, in measure, to the change of life; !;
and when we had reached our little
Western cottage my impulsive nature,
other, carried me into an ecstacy of de-
tight and anticipation, even beyond any,
thing my steadfast husband exhibited.
He seemed greatly relieved to see me
growing 80 thoroughly contented, and
we began our new life very bravely.
The cottage was comfortable enough,
but bare and humble in comparison to
what we had hitherto been accustomed; :;
the square, whitewashed rooms had Il
dreadfully forlorn look, and the little
. kitchen, with its one staring window, and
the cooking stove standing in the middle
fthe floor, filled me with shuddering dis
gust every time I entered it. But | had
made up my mind to endure all and
everything, and, as I have said, we be-
gan our new life very bravely.
For the first two or three months l
had help, not very efficient help truly
but better than none. Philip entered ut
once upon the practice of law, and as
his Office was some distance from home,
he did not return until evening, so we
had no great amount of cooking to do,
and between us, we managed to keep
the cottage tidy, and to take care of little
Pearl.
Every afternoon we went to meet him,
taking little Pearl, through the grand
and gorgeous prairies, and as often as
. as his happy eyes caught sight of her he
would hasten forward with fond en-
braces and approving words.
"Ah, Belle" he would say, / believe
/ am the happiest man in the universe,
and you are growing contented, too,
dear-I can see it in your bright face v
The glory of autumn faded, and the
chill November rains set in, bringing
dreary, sunless days, and changing the
gorgeous prairie-bloom into endless
leagues of sodden gray. My girl left
me, and little Pearl grew cross and fret
full in her teething. In addition to his
business, Philip had gone into farming,
and we had two or three laborers to feed
and lodge. which greatly increased the
housework. Under this accumulation
of trials my patience began to give way.
I worked late and early, but I grew
morose and fretful, and never had a
pleasant word for my husband. But he
never complained
Poor Belle" he would say; "poor,
over-worked little wife, be rs brave as
you can; better days will come by-and.
bye. Just as soon as I get off from my
business I'll 60 to the city and obtain
permanent help. In the meantime don't
fret the roses from your cheeks and the
brightness from your eyes,"
But despite my husbands loving
words and constant help, for he took
one-half of the household labor on his
own hands. continued to murmur al
my fate, and one morning the crisis
came.
Breakfast was unusually late, little
Pearl cross to absolute fretfulness, and
the sick laborer up stairs in need o.
constant attention, Philip obliged tc
leave early, and, after coaxing and
hushing Pearl to sleep, / laid her in hel
dainty little crib and went about my
morning work.
I felt wronged and injured; and while
Iworked away, busting off the SCOT and
ashes and scrubbiug up the mud, the
hot tears fell 50 fast as almost to blino
me. My husband was cruel, heartless
I thought, to take me from a home
where all was beauty and pleasure, anc
bring me to that dreadful place to weal
nv life out in hateful drudgery.
would sooner be in my grave than tc
live on 80 from year to year.
In the midst of this despair, heard
the sick man calling from above, ano
hurried to him. His fever was rising
again; he needed cooling draughts and
ice-cloths to his he"'l. went to work
to prepare them wit nervous haste, fol
the morning was piping by, and the
noon meal must be in readiness for the
farming-hands. In the midst of my
work and hurry, little Pearls sharp, i'm.
perative cry came piping from below
What should I dop I had just spent
over half an hour lulling her to sleep