Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-03

niSuO HOu Ills long interview with his
friends, In which understood he had given
an account of our wanderings, and l doubt
not some hattering descriptions of me
(which again caused resentment in mel, he
told us that the welcome accorded to us
was genuine and hearty, and that the house
we now occupy was to be ours as long as
we choose to remain. 1t is large and
most beautiful residence, perhaps the best
on the Silver Isle, and the fact of its being
given SO generously should have convinced
me of the goodness of the islanders but |
was in rebellious, querulous mood that
night. The house belongs to gentleman
named Mauvain, who sought refuge on the
isle when he was in danger of his life
through political troubles, and when he
left, after sojourn of many years, he gave
| the islanders free use of it until he or some
person authorized by him appears to claim
it. In that event, although l shall be
sorry to change my residence, having
grown attached to the house, it will not be
a matter of serious Importance to us. We
are now in a position to build a house for
ourselves, having become so by our own
labor.
"That was momentous question. How
were we to live?
"'We cannot eat the bread of idleness, ;
l said.
Surely not, said Matthew, merrily.
What, then, shall we do Make start
with drum and castanets ? How they
would cape and stare to hear us mouth and
rant We should have an audience, Mar
garet the children would run after us all
over the isle
And their mothers, l said, with
grimace, would ever after lock them up
the moment we showed our faces. How
ever, believe 1 shall never be contented
here until we show ourselves to your friends
IN our true colors. They must know us as
we are, father.
&c am of your mind, Margaret. do
not intend to give up old ways entirely
have my plans in more ways than one. But
make your mind easy: our path is clear
before us. Trust Matthew Sylvester. He
has not roamed the world for nothing
''Then he explained how his father had
been famous fisherman, and had taught
him the cunning of the art, and how, dur
ing his absence from the Silver Isle, he had
taken attentive note of the better kind of
fishing tackle used in the countries they
had Travelled over.
"' We viii teach them this and other
things, said Matthew, both useful and
entertaining. l can show them rare i'm
provements in rod and reel, and especially
in the art of making artificial flies. have
spoken of it already, and my ideas have
been well received. Paul and l will set to
work presently
Theywent to work at once, and wewere
soon placed in a position of independence.
These seem trivial matters to mention here,
but they were serious to me at the time,
and took them much to heart.
cit troubled me that for a time only
elderly people visited our house. 1 love
the society of the young, and it panied me
that the children Of the isle did not seek
my friendship. l cannot describe how
gentle and patient Matthew was with me
during these rebellious moods. He
schooled me to patience and to better
understanding Of things, and insisted that
his friends showed a wise discretion in
their behavior.
"'Sudden Affection he said, is not the
most lasting The people of the isle build
upon sure foundations, and for my part 1
am satisfied with their conduct. But our
INSTRUMENTATION is your happiness. The
world is open to US to return to it if we
choose, and choose we shall if you are not
contented here. Let us, however, give the
new life a fair trial, and not burden it
with fancied ills. Precious stones have
often been thrown away in haste. Trust
me, Margaret; if you are patient, you will
win both old and young
Ellis words, thank God, proved true.
Gradually the people grew to love me, and
trusted their children with me. Their
hearts were not hard to win, and our house
became their favorite resort. Then / had
new care and joy to occupy mind; my
baby would soon be born.
81 yearned for a girl, whom I could
love as had loved Clarice. fondly hoped
that my child would resemble Clarice, and
indeed believed it would be so.
"'We Will call her Clarice, said my
husband.
Il would not have it so. My child
should not bear my sisters name; it might
carry with it a bad omen.
"But my frst-born was boy, and we
named him Joseph. l felt no disappoint-
ment was fully, perfectly happy. He
did not resemble me in feature he favored
my husbands family.
From this time it was that began to
be assured of the enduring affection of the
islanders. Had 1 been closely allied to
them by blood they could not have shown
me greater kindness. My mind was more
composed my joy in my child was great,
and said to my husband
al shall be content to live and die
upon this happy isle.
"This better state of contentment had
its origin partly in dream I dreamt
shortly after became mother.
My dearer life than mine was in my
arms gazing upon my child with an ex-
quisite sense of gratitude to God, fell