Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-05-04

Dear mamma, che was the kindes
4 of.mothers, but she lacked tact. Sh'
never knew the .sore aching Of my
heart that had followed the earlies
storm Of my grief and indignation
when Julian Howard deserted me il
my poverty and bereavement. Sh'
thought the wound was healed, be
cause it no longer bled ontwsrdIy. A
cold pang 'bot through INV heart a
these words and l hastened from ths
rooon, lest she should see how sh.
had wounded me.
But better thoughts came to me il
the hu-y solitude of the 'ooms I wal
preparing for our guasts If | w"a tc
live unIov-d, it Was bv no me ans n-c
essary thai | should 80 live un!ov.
ing. | had mamma declining years
to watch over and make happy. and
now, Just aa the monotony Of my life
WAS beginning to wea" upon me. nv
amt and little cousin were coming to
give NE now object. Of interest. |
shall BE- one Of the sir'srhood of sin
gle women. | said to myself but |
will find my happiness in being nsefnl
blu. band aud children NAV not be
mine, but can create for myself 4
sphere AS honorable, If not as com.
plets'y happy as that Of domestic life.
WAS bu, twenty four wears OF age,
and life stretched far and long hefor.
me | glanced at th- mi'ror and ssw
complexion that asimple. quiet life
H.. made fres'. and he.lth!uI az 10
s4r,v von,n; nndinmei eyes; tr~r..s
o. uoiian browr hair Nitnnn. 4 lin
silver in Al ih-ir shlpne n+ul-,
form IN ali lt- youth biui ,ona,'a--.,
/ did no, look nuch l,k. H.. cunve,r
unnaI 'oll maid but | had 20 long
taken it for granted that such WIS TO
be nv lot that / wondered from
whence sprung the little sigh that
parted my lips and seemed to come
qniverlng from the depths of that
heart whore my early disappointment
still rankled. ! believe those were
t,~rs that fell upon the snowy toilet
cover was spreading on the table Of
the guest chamber. bnt hardly know
to whlch of the vague griefs that op
pressed me, they were due And
these all tl-d away when, with james
assistance, | brought down the crib
in which | had slept , score Of year
brIore, from it's long rest in the 81
ret, and placsi in the room that bal
been mine, and hesped it with snowy
pllaus; meant for the rosy sluuIbrr,
of he little cousin | expecte !.
WAS very happy ali that dav and
the next and the next, preparing for
the new comers. and looking forward
to the life that had 30 sniIsnly ac.
quirsd new hopes and interest.
Mamma was restless and fretful
She had begun to se' tie quietly to the
humble ciruumstancns of her changed
lot; she WAS mn invalid and loved lni
ct, she was proud woman and val
ued wealth aud its accessories, and all
this hustle, this anxious cal:uiation Of
means. this adaptation of our narrow
surroundings and scanty room and
furniture to the accommodation Of
these stranger relatives worried aud
annoyed her
On the third day, after We had com
pleted our frugal, mid day meal, our
preparations being all ended, and our
guests scarcely expected until the
next day, l persuaded her to lie down
for long rest in ber own roor, while
| tied on my garden hat and cloak,
and taking \ little basket Of delica-
cies on my arm, set off too visit an
humble friend and former eprvant OF
ours, who lived at the distance OF a
mile, and was lying i'll
l found poor Janet much worse
than l had expected. She WAS qnite
alone, for her husband, al Idle, reck-
less fellow, without either feeling or
principle, had not provided her with
an attends Mt, and vas himself bsent
Common humanity, nd | not been, a.
was, truly attached to the poor
woman. would have prompted me to
remain beside her until l had made
every possible arrangement for her
comfort, and the afternoon was well
advenced when was at last at liber-
ty. Afterwards called ut q neigh