Smyrna times., 1881-06-29
A Strange Revelation.

Mother and were sitting by the fire on
Christmas night. Twenty happy years
we had spent together, almost alone, for
father died before / knew him; and we
had never been rich, and were perhaps a
little selfish for we loved each other so
heartily that we could scarcely spare time
from each other for the few of our own
class whom we come across, who, being
better off than ourselves and holding
themselves rather higher, seldom seemed
to need our help or sympathy. We had
plenty of poorer neighbOrs whom we
loved and who loved us, but they in no
way interfered between us or made the
happiness we felt in being together less
complete. 1t was only in the last year
that new, strong interest had come into
our lives, and this Harry brought and on
New Years Day he and were to be mar
ried.
From the first moment when he brought
me home to mother, having picked me up
from the muddy pavement, where had
fallen bruised and helpless in the midst of
II crowd, she seemed to take him into her
heart, and never from that day did she
let one jealous feeling come between her
and me. OF course she was to live with
us, even Harry could not have made a
i home for me without her, and the only
thing she ever did which for the moment
we thought hard was when, week be-
fore, she had insisted on Harry's going
home for Christmas.
Go to your father and mother. Harry
and leave Janet with me-" she said
"You and she hope to be together all
your lives: give us old folks one more
chance Of feeling you all our own"
And Harry with look at me to sec
what thought, had agreed.
So that Christmas evening mother and
3 were alone. There had been something
: in mothers manner all day which l coulC
not understand. She seemed to hav,
something on her mind. She was lovins
and tender to me, so tender that though
that no one had ever had mother lik,
mine, and yet sometimes when I spoke t
her she scarcely heard me. But we had ,
quiet, happy day-we always were happ!
Z together-and late in the evening mothel
sat down in her chair by the fire, ant
said:
" Come and sit here, Janet, on you
little stool, and put your head on my knee
| have story to tell you tonight"
:" A story, mother dear! Oh, that i
1. lovely, like being child again !'
"It is a true story, Janet, of your lif
and mine. ! have never cared to tell it t
you before, but am not afraid now-m,
p child and / have loved each Others all thes
years-no, am not afraid"
II +" What could you be afraid of, dea
Il mother?" IA
"YOu shall hear and judge" she said
putting her hands on my head, and the
she began: "When was young, younge
than you are, was engaged to be maj
ried. Ny home was very unhappy, an
when Andrew Western came and aske
me TO marry him was ready to rever
the ground he trod upon. He had bee
coming backward and forward TO ou
house for some time on business with m
y father, and believe that from the yer
e first day he saw my misery. We were
and to my remembrance always had bee
% poor, but If had been a boy my fathC
= would have possessed thousands yea
/ never wondered that he hated me, thi
"a my mother mouTned and fretted frol
- morning till night; they had brought n
up to feel guilty Of a crime, and did fe
na 1t in my inmost heart. II was no mary
that, when Andrew asked me to mari
him, / looked upon him as an angel
~ deliverance. loved him with an intel
.m sity which amazed and frightened hin
'm TWAS in vain he tried to make me sob.
and reasonable. 1t was in vain he to-
Q me that such worship was wrong al
% foolish, that it gave him no happine
while to me II must bring disappointmer
/ could not listen, and ut last / weari'
him. He said little about 1t after awhil
{ but he went away, and once more n
ife was desolate. He said he would cor