The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-30
AUNT 1ARY'> STORY.

you: you have your morning work all
done, so sit right down in your little
rocker, while "Aunt Mary" gives you q
few words of advice. There, child, don't
look frightened; l am not going to scold
YOU, and before saying anything more
let me tell you that your uncle and l
have greatly enjoyed our visit here; you
and George have been very kind to us.
and we feel very grateful for all you have
done. But we have been here three weeks
now, and must think of leaving, for
home will need us; but l feel that my
duty will not be done to my dead sisters
child if 1 fail to have serious talk with
her; and, therefore, I am going to read
YOU page out of our own lifes history,
and if the hearing does you as much
good as the occurrence did for me, 1
shall not regret the exposition of my own
former folly.
You have often heard me speak OF
your grandfather, Percival, and you
know that he was considered wealthy
man for his day; he was also generous
and kind man, and spared no trouble to
make his family happy; consequently
his children received a good many ad.
vantages, a good education being one OF
them.
1 went away to boarding. school,
which was considered quite wonderful In
those days; not tine thing expected by
young ladies now. l was away from
home two years, and, when eighteen, re-
turned, my school days over, fully de-
termin ed to enjoy life to the utmost.
With reasonable amount OF good looks,
youth, means and education, thought
myself equipped for successful cam
paign. Ny stay in society as single
young lady was, however, a short one,
for soon after coming home l met my
fate.
During nv absence at school young
man by the name of King had moved into
our town, and bought, about two miles
from the town proper, "a farm. l had been
home but a short time before met Robt.
King. He was not rich man, but he
possessed sterling worth; he was well
educated, good-looking, and hne
singer; these attributes obtained for him
a passport into the best society. There
was something about this gentleman
that attracted me from the first, and al
most before knew it he was enthroned
in my heart as my king.
Our admiration seemed to be mutual,
for in comparatively short time ne
asked me If I would wait for him until
he could make suitable home for me. l
told him that loved him, and would
wait for him any length of time. My
father gave q ready consent to our en-
gagement, and though he said he dis
liked very much to lose me from his
home, still, being q sensible man, he ad-
vised us to marry within year and
work together; he was able to give me
something beside my housekeeping and
wedding outfit, and in those days girl
commencing married life with the two
latter necessaries was considered "well
off" Robert, though surprised at my
fathers proposition, was not going to re-
fuse to take me, so in one year, instead
of five or six, was married. l, who a
few years before laughed at country
people, had actually married farmer!
l bore the Jest of my friends laugh
ingly. well, you cannot say that | have
not looked high in the calling, for have
chosen a-King.'
went to our new home perfectly sat
isfed and happy. You know your
Uncle Robert, and how kind and pleas
ant he is: he was from the first OF our
married life just as good as you have
found him.
The first few months of my new life
were full of Joy; but when winter came
1 grew weary Of the country, and wished
for society. 1 was young, and care and
responsibility we're new to me. l was,
too, very hasty, and when my husband
would venture to suggest anything to me
I resented his interference, as l called
it, and became angry. At such
times would say that for which in q
few moments 1 would be ashamed and
sorry Then / would go to your uncle,
and ask him to forgive me. You should
have seen the glad light in his gray eyes
when thus went to him! He always
forgave me freely, but remember, and
always shall. that once after such a
reconciliation he said to me:
Darling, ii you should ever say you
we're sorry that you had married me, I
am afraid that 1 could not forget that.
But 1 would give you your freedom by
leaving you. You could go back to your
fathers good home, and would never
know what had become of your husband,
who, though he loved you fondly, could
do little for you"
However, I controlled myself no better
after this remark than before, but grew
daily more irritable and fault-inding.
Finally matters were in such a state that
very few DAYS passed in which did not