West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-02-22
THE HOUSEHOLD OF GREG
DRY RUFFHEART.
Leaves from Mrs. BrOwniOhn's
Journal.
BY ELIZA FRANCES MoR1ARTY.

relating to me "reminiscences of her
youth. In that far away time she
was woed but not won by Gregory
Ruffheart, for whom, however, she
has retained a sort of sentimental
friendship.
Last evening, while sitting with
me in "grandfather.'s den," where
we patch and darn the linen to-
gether, after brief silence Aunt
Jerusha said:
"My dear, when I am emp.oved
with the needle, every stitch / take
seems to carry me back, step by
step, into the blessed long ago. The
present is forgotten, and am again
the gay young girl of other days,
with the dear ones who have gone
from me to better world.
81 read reproach in your eyes,
dear. Don't think me ungrateful.
| am as contented here as ever
hope to be, but as we grow old the
past becomes heaven which the
yearning heart seeks--a heaven that
holds the silent shades of departed
loved ones. But | must indulge in
thoughts that sadden. Believe me,
Mamie, | make it an act of con-
science to endeavor to be cheerful at
all times.
"What was l speaking of min
ute ago? All yes, was telling YOU
of my old sutton, Gregory Ruffheart.
| did not care enough for him to
join my lot with his, when he ask
ed me. Let that pass but if you
wish to please your old aunt write
out IN your own way the story that
[ shall now tell you. Some day [
should like to read it in the pages
of your journal"
The wish expressed by Aunt Je-
rusha shall be complied with, and
following her words as closely as
memory permits, | now record the
story of
THE HOUSEHOLD OF GREGORY RUFF
HEART.
She was the treasure of the fami-
ly. The stern father allowed her to
caress him into good humor when
he was in one of his unpleasant
moods, Her mother idolized her,
and her brother and sisters called
her birdie, fairie, pinkie and all
manner of fond names.
Gregory Ruffheart married late
in life a young and beautiful wife.
Having acquired large fortune by
successful mercantile speculation,
he now retired from active business
management and lived a life of ele-
CANT leisure at Beechlawn, his
pleasant home in the suburbs of
New Barford.
Kent, the only son, disappointed
the hopes of his parents. He grew
up wild and idle youth, loving his
''jovial glass" as he called it, not
wisely but too well, choosing for
his associates young men who, like
himself, were utterly Indifferent to
their future prospects, living only
for present enjoyment and self-in-
diligence. Lila, "sweet Lila" she
was generally called, was blue
eyed beauty Of sixteen summers,
Madge and Gertrude pretty chill
dren of twelve and eleven years.
Gregory loved his daughters in
his own grum way, while to his
son he had never shown any special
tenderness. Now that the youth
seemed to defy his wishes, he treat
ed him with a sternness that had
the opposite effect of that which he
had intended, by hurrying him on
III his downward course, and les
sening the chances of his amend
ment.
Gregory had hoped to make
merchant of his son, and had plac-
ed him some years before in the
counting-house where he himself
had been trained to mercantile pur-
suits, The indulgent white-haired
merchant, who was once Gregory's
partner, looked with leniency on
the needless Kent, in whom he
perceived many fine traits of char
aacter, which promised well for the
future.
Il have no doubt" he said one
day, to the severe parent, chat
Kent has the making of fine man
IN him and w, bo,, Il E, ,,,;1J oo+, o,,o