The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-11-29

had been so quiet, so barren OF
! events, that itseemed short, uncon'
scious of the hostages time was
leaving with US in the shape OF
gray hair and wrinkles.
It is sudden shock, rather than
bitter grief, when our father died.
! His heart had been buried twenty
five years ago, in the grave. of our
jmother, and since tina, time, though
kind and just to all, there had beer
no sun to melt for MIN the ice OF
tlife's long winter. We loved him.
There was saddening sense of loss
| and absence when we looked
at his vacant chair at home, or in
his counting room when we saw
Smith Brothers on the sign, in
place Of the honored name which
had hung there for forty years, but
there was none of the anguish Of
| desolation which rends the heart
when one is taken whom we loved
who loved us.
"It would not have been right to
| marry while father lived, | said to
| Abijah, one evening, as we sat by
the library FIRE. ''It would have
/, panied him to bring home a wife
! here where mother died. But
| now
"Yes / think it is time, now,
| brother Absalom; but of course we
must wait till our year of mourning
is over
Our eyes met each other and we
| smiled. We MADE no confessions
| in words, but the truth came home
to us both that we had lived so long
ont Of the world, it would be a work
of more magnitude that we had res-
lized to 60 into society and choose
| the household angel we both coveted.
And so it went on for another
year-the house silent and quiet as
ever; the old servants and Smith
Brothers growing old together.
| Our father had been dead something
over twelve months when there
came to US q letter superscribed in
a female hand, 1t was very un-
usual event and we speculated a
little as to its possible origin before
we opened it. 1t proved to be from
q lady Of whom we had often heard
as our mothers most intimate friend.
This was what it said:
81 write to you, gentlemen, as
surely Mary Chelmsford may feel
privileged to Tr.te to the children
of Margaret Smith. Your mother
and I loved 2cf6ther with ten
derness deeper than most sisters
know. All tl,at one woman coHLd
have done or rentured for another
she would have done for ME or |
for her, Since she died have seen
neither of YOU. but | remember the
promise Of ,four boyhood. You,
Alsalom. had your mothers smile,
and you, ALUah, your mother s
kindly eyes. l believe thas you
both inherit your mothers tender
heart. At any rate this is my only
hope. Under heaven / have no.
where else to turn. am dying in
a strange place, of slow decline,
going to join my husband. l have
no near friends or kindred to look
to-only you. / am not harsssed
by any anxieties or myself. My
soul is at rest. for know in whom
l have believed. / have property
enough to make ny last days COM
Portable, and leave . provision for
my daughter Margaret, who was
named for your mother. 1t is in
her behalf that l appeal to You.
She is not much over twenty, for |
was not married till late in life,
! some years after your mother died.
| She has a gentle, loving nature,
| which, save at her fathers death,
has never yet been subjected to
any of the harsh discipline of life.
1t is from this time that l beg you
to save. She will not suffer from
any bodily wants, but do not let her
soul starye. Don't let her feel her
self friendless, lonely and loveless
in life. But this time one or both
of you must surely have chosen
some gentle woman to bless your
home, who will not refuse q moth
er's welcome to Margaret Chelms-
ford. / will not urge my entreaty.
know that to make it at all to your
mothers son will be sufficient, if
you have it in your power to- COM
ply with it. ] am able to write no
more, but I hope to near from you
before l go hence. Address Mary
Chelmsford, Oswego New York"
We we're of one nina and one
heart in the matter, my brother and
l. If Mrs. Chelmsford would con-
fide her to our care, the daughter to
our mothers friend should seek
| no farther 70. q home. / do not
think the prospect st first afforded
either Of US much pleasure. A
young lady in our very house
would sadly disturb our wonted
quiet, especially if she were fond of
gayety and wanted to gointo society.
But neither Of us -elt any hesita-
ton as to what was to be done. We
resolved not trust to the delays and
! chances of letter. One Of us
would remain at home, to superin-
tend business and make ready for
the reception of the young lady,
and her mother, if we found Mrs.
| Chelmsford able to travel. The
other was to proceed at once to
| Oswego. My brother insisted that
49, letter d,,ty halnpoed TO me,