The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-06-11
THE LOST BABY.

The pane of our little one was Mar
gtierite,, but we called her little Pearl,
Philip and |. 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 of n
June sky Darling little Pearl, how we
loved her. We had been married just n
'ar 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 ldave our beautiful
cottage aud seek his fortune in the far
West, it was n terrible blow to me. We
had lived ut Rosedale ever since our
marriage, and 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 ut his death,
and why should Philip fret and chafe so
under foolish sense of dependenceP 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:
can't live this life, Belle" he said :;
"I wasn't made for it. My work awaits
me somewhere in the world and / 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 a great many things that were un-
wise and unwomanly, but Philip pur-
sued the even tenor of his way, all pa
tience and forbearance. 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 reconcilod
me, in a measure, to the change of life I;
and when we had reached our little
Western cottage my impulsive nature,
always rushing to one extreme or the
other, carried me into nm ecstacy of de-
light and anticipation, even beyond any
thing my steadfast husband exhibited.
He seemed greatly. relieved to see me
growing so 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; I;
the square, whitewashed rooms had
dreadfully forlorn look, end the little
kitchen, with its one staring window, and
the cooking stove standing in the middle
of the floor, filled me with shuddering dis
gust every time | entered it. But | had
made up my mind to endure all and
everything, and, as Ihave said, we be-
gan our new life very bravely.
For the first two or three months /
had help, not very efficient help truly,
but better than none. Philip entered at
once upon the practice of law, and as
hisoffice 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"
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.
l worked late and early, but | grew
mOrOse and fretful, and never had Il
pleasant word for my husband. But he
never complained