Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-02-25

'uS uftSoIauiy paio euu "o'u oe'
with the effort. Thank God, ]
have enough money to keep my
little wife, that is to be, comforta-
ble and happy the rest Of her days
No more"
"You don't mind telling mewhat
time it is, do you, my dear :" in
terrupted. al think it is rather
strange that grandmamma's pre-
sent has not arrived"
Just then there was ring at
the hall bell. i rushed excitedly
TO answer il self, Matthew fol-
lowing, with an irritated express
sion Of "Pshaw, Helen, what folly
this is"
Folly or not, | gave a little
scream of delight as large pack
age was handed me by a man at
the door "for Miss Helen Pendle-
ton"
Large, and very heavy, open
ed it with eager, trembling hands,
and fouud-shall | ever forget the
feelings that came over me as |
found-a ponde Gus family Bible.
Accompanying the gift was q
short note in grandma's hand
writing:
"MY DEAR HELEN trust that
you learn rightly to value the
wedding gift which Il send. The
Bible, many passages of which |
have marked with my own hand,
you will read and prize, l am sure,
long after she who gave it shall
have passed from the earth. Yours,
with many hopes for the future.
JANE PENDLEToN.
1t was a bitter Disappointment.
Matthew told me afterward that |
behaved in a very hysterical man
ner, and called grandmamma sew
eral hard names. But l was too
excited at the time to remember
much how acted, or to care either.
don't think that had quite re-
covered from my vexation on the
following afternoon. when Matthew
and / were married and while the
minister was performing that most
solemn of ceremonies, whereby we
were created man and wife, glance
at his Bible on the altar above us
made me bite my lips 10 keep back
the tears.
About a year after my wedding,
aud just before my little boy,
Arthur, was born, the news of
grandmsmma's death reached us
from Roxbury. Matthew and l
attended the funeral, and were
present, few days subsequent, at
the reading Of her will.
Her resolution had been faithful
" carried out. Every dollar
whereof Mrs. Jane Pendleton died
possessed went into the charitable
asylum of which / have spoken.
This exhibition of injustice to-
ward her relatives on grandmam-
mas part, was one for which / was
thoroughly prepared, and it did not
therefore, surprise me in the least.
As for Matthew and myself. we
were very comfortably of, and need
ed no pecuniary assistance in the
way of legacies or requests.
But five more years brought
with them sad and unlooked-for
changes. During the severe bust
ness panic of 81, the firm of which
Matthew was a junior partner
sustained terrible losses. Our
family expenses were reduced to
the most economical point of which
my domestic management was cap
able; but even then we found the
battle against poverty hard one.
It became necessary at last for us
TO move from the handsome resi-
dence we were then occupying,
and seek board elsewhere, at the
lowest possible payment
How distinctly / recollect the
rainy evening on which, with a
heavy, aching heart, assisted in the
packing of some trunks in my own
room, Matthew watching the SER
want and myself as we folded up
garment after garment, with that
gloomy, dishearted expression on
his face so hard for every loving
wife to witness.
My little boy, Arthur, q sunny
haired "five-year-older," who look
ed upon the ''pattin' up" as afford