The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-16
Aunt Barbara's Present.
TCoNCLUsIoN.1

subsequent events prevented me apply
Ing any part of it to the purpose sug-
gested by my kind friend and benefsc-
tress.
"Martha's illness was now daily be-
coming more serious, and suppose !
overtaxed my own strength in nursing
her, for there were soon two invalids in
the house, and the faithful creature only
lived to take my baby boy in her arms
and see me out of danger.
,"aHow missed her l need not say
she who used to take every household
care upon herself, and had been second
mother to little Helena.
"The management Of a very delicate
infant now entirely devolved on me, and,
unfortunately, was as inexperienced as
ever in domestic duties.
George never could understand my
preference for the employment I had
quilted; but knew nothing of the one,
and my education had made me feel ca
pable of the other.
"Poor Martha often regretted during
her illness that she had never taught me
some of what she called her poor ways;'
for she said: These London servants
will worry the life out Of my poor dear.
And 30 they nearly did. This tried
Georges temper, too; for he naturally
missed Martha's never-failing attention
to his particular requirements; and l
became really disheartened at my own
failures. The climax was, however, at
hand, in form quite unforeseen by me.
zone day when | had been tried to the
utmost by what 1 may call my petty do
mestic miseries, a very peremptory letter
was put into my hands from our land
lord, demanding the immediate settle
ment of his claim for half years
rent. lt.,
81 knew that my recent confinement
and poor Martha's illness had exhausted
all my resources; but l hoped that
George might see his way to meet the
demand.
"To my great CONSERVATION he de-
clared he could not, and that, without
some help, we should have to break up
our home. I tried to comfort him in
/. vain; and forgot my previous troubles
in trying to think of remedy for this
more serious one. George gave way to
dependency which alarmed me.
3 Suddenly the idea of parting with
Mrs. Dalrymple's present dashed upon
my mind.
"Of course 1t was with extreme reluct-
ance that I entertained the idea, par
ticularly as George valued the painting
very much; but the circumstances
seemed sufficiently urgent to justify the
surprise; so the following morning, after
my poor husband had gone to the Office,
more depressed than had ever yet seen
him, sent for a cab, and took the casket
to the shop from which Lady Davenant
purchased it.
"Within a week I trfumphantly pre-
sented the sum it had realized to George,
at the same time telling him how I had
obtained it.
"For moment he looked relieved and
happy. but suddenly asked me if I had
emptied the box before parting with it.
Certainly replied very conf
IDENTIFY. There was scarcely anything in
it; merely few Of my fathers old let
ters' .4af .a@
"Did you,' he said, still more eagerly,
take out small piece of folded paper
from the secretpanel in the lidT
Ono / replied. i never put any
paper there. But why do you ask SO
strangelyp p.
"'Because,' he exclaimed, looking
wildly at me, I put document Of the
greatest consequence there for safety.
Ah! wife, you have no idea what mis-
chief you have donep
'I was lost in amazement. really
thought my husband was losing his senses
with his troubles, and implored him to
explain himself.
"At length he informed me that in a
recent interview with Mr.. Kelly, that
gentleman had warned him to take spec
ial care of our marriage certificate, and
that he had placed it in the safest receipt
acle he could think Of. I tried to COM
fort him by suggesting that no doubt
the purchaser would be known at the
shop to which had taken it. But on
inquiry I found, unfortunately, that
they had no clue whatever to their GUS
toner. a8S
"When Mr.. Kelly heard of the loss, he
hardly knew which to blame the most;
George for concealing the paper without
mentioning it to me, or me for parting
with my property without consulting
him.
"I am not married myself, thank
Godp he piously remarked; but in the
course of my professional experience l
have observed that many of the worst
troubles Of married people are caused by
their singular want of confidence in each
other lat4 Ga&s iselssr' ~ .
"His displeasure reached its climax
when he was told, in reply to his search
ing inquiries, that two very young ladies
had purchased the casket.
.."tAh, then,, madam be exclaimed,
turning almost fercely tome, then there
Is, indeed, little hope. They have pro-
badly curled their hair with your mar
riage-lines. long ago.. 4ag,z
m could scarcely refrain from laugh
ing at his vehemsnce, and ventured to
observe that even If they were lost, no
ona ,,,os liLo1v tn douht aIlr m rr;ooa