Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-13
GaIts arlo Sketfbts.
Continued from Yesterday

Who had failed to enter the holy estate Of
matrimopy in spite Of an earnest desire to
do So When the roses of youth and riches
were no longer for them they would fain
have the CRY santhemuuas of life's autumn
but alas even those sad and scenfless
flowers were denied them. So these three
had been soured. or rather were unIoyed
through certain sOurTess Of nature which
the masculine portion Of mankind had had
saRacify enough to perceive and 10 avoid.
Miss Moss Miss Brown and Miss Jones
were friends. and much Of the mischief in
marlborough might be traced to them.
For instance. had they not discovered Mr..
Blight the curafe's shameful Irritation with
little Miss Wilson? and here was DIR.
Epderby taking 10 his old Irritation ways
again If he had married a sensible. in
telIectual person, she might have cured
him by carefully looking after him: but
now bis attending the meetings OF the
Book Club without bin wife, and walking
home with little Miss Fry and her Quaker
mother, boded no good. So said they,
shaking their heads. This was after morn
ing service on SUNDAY. and they resolved
that on Monday morning, while the Doctor
was away on his rounds. they would call
and enliohten his wife 1T will do her
good. poor thing" they remarked.
So the three came On Monday morning.
and, after few commoDpIaces. Miss Moss.
who was faded beauty, and therefore the
bitterest, began.
Now, my dear Mrs. Enderby. we can
see that you are suffering. poor dear, and
no wonder!'
Margaret looked al them bewildered.
Il arm quite well" she said.
But about the Doctor, nv dear: we
have known him so long and understand
his ways If Won had been little more
experienced you would have looked better
after your husband
But be his not ill.," answered the wife,
still more bewildered.
mot in body" remarked Miss Brown,
with significant smile ''but in mind. we
mean he paws great attention to the Fry's
next door. you know
''And Miss Fry is very pretty" added
Miss Jones.
II she had not been so angry Margaret
would have laughed John had walk
ed home with their neighbors twice. and
sbe was very fond of them. John might
not love her; that she bad found out, she
thought but she knew him to be the very
soul of honor. She was generally so
quiet that when her anger blazed out they
were startled.
will you be so good as to leave my
husbands affairs alone?" she said. 'lf
you wish to be wicked there is no need to
show such bad taste as to come here and
endeavor to do HARM
And then they. feeling that for once
they had been vaDquished. quickly took
their departure. But their words had left
sting behind them.
Was it so visible. then, even to these
gossips. the fact that she had found out
some time ago. namely that she was not
to him all that he was to her? When she
had discovered it she had determined to
take thankfully what he could give; but
alas beloved, who will be grateful for a
few crumbs seeing full meal beyond
The hunger of the soul cannot be satisfied !;
il cries out for food. Well, she tried not
TO blame him; he had mistaken his feel
ing for her and was tired of her; but there
was her baby.
She never told her husband of that visit,
though she believed he regretted his mar
riage; she only chung to the child-such
u frail little reed to lean upon. And one
day il broke.
II was Sunday-one of those sweet days
in the late autumn which nature saves out
of the summer. The trees had lost their
leaves, aud the sunshine showed all their
delicate irregularitv--their beauty of mere
form, which had been hidden by the foil
age. The golden asters and red gera-
NUNS still frightened the sheltered gar
den. A ball was lying on the FROSTY grass,
but the tiny fingers that had played with
il would never touch il more. for Baby
Jack was going fast to The land in which,
let us not say. there are no toys for the
angel children. You remember Martin
Luther's letters to his boy Hans. in which
he tells him of lovely Paradise, with
golden toys. whips. and drums, and child
ish delights
This little child was diving of Group.
His mother could only hold the little form
on her knee. while John knelt beside her
trying useless remedies to comfort her.
At last he stood still. looking down sor-
rowiully at the signs of ebbing life.
Suddenly he knclt and touched the lit
tie clenched hand with his lips, and heavy
tears FLASHED down upon this dear little
boy it was hard,
Margaret bent forward '.You do love
him. John ~ She was jealous for him
that he should have his full share of love
before he went. John understood. aud his
look answered her. What instinct had
made her askp
The fiuttering breath grew shorter and
shorter; ii was near the end now. and
little Jack opened his eyes and said. for
the first and last time. quite clearly.
Mamma" That was all she was to have
the one word, and the angels would have
the rest. Terrible. awfally mysterious
death had borne away the spirit Of the
babe, and left only the little body cold and
white as snow wreath; but smile
lowered on the tiny face.
At that moment the bells rang out for
morning service. filling the clear air with
their solemn merriment.
"And the bells of the city rang again. ="
said John. softly. Margaret could weep
then, aud the nurse took the dead child
from her arms and went softly out. shut
ting the door.
v.
So John comtorted his wife, but her
grief grew silent. She was gentle to him
but her thoughts were with the dead child.
She told herself that il was better that he
should be with the angels, and he would
sing hymns. and perhaps play in the