The Delaware farmer., 1883-08-17
Our First Difficulty.

Robert and had been married eight
cen months before we seriously disagreed
in anything. Our life during that time
had not been a season Of perfect bliss as
some would have it, but we certainly
had been happy-as happy think as
any can before reaching Paradise, and
when our baby came, it seemed as if our
cup was full to overfowing. I like, even
now, to dwell on the Joy of those days
when I was first mother, and as for
Robert, think there never was a proud
er or more affectionate father than he.
"Well, Esther, he would soy when he
came in at night, eve are not rich in
houses and lands as some are; but we
are rich in our daughter; she is like wis
dom, for she is more precious than
rubies."
But l know that the fond praise of
doting parents is but emptiness to others,
so will not tire you by repeating all he
said 1t was not idle talk to me, how
ever; no praise to my imagination was
too great for my little one, my May
blossom as ] called her, for she came to !
us in the merry month of May. Never.
we both agreed, was there a child so
wonderful as ours, and before the little
stranger had been with us month, we
had laid many brilliant plans for her
future.
But I am wandering from my story.
We were living in Kansas, far away
from both Roberts relations and nv
own. We had not, therefore, asis gen
orally the case, a host of aunts. uncles
and cousins to urge that the child should
be named according to their fancy. So
t come to pass that our lady was nearly
jwo months old before the subject had
oeen debated. But one day, how well I
emember it, Robert said, as he tossed
ler in his arms for final good-bv be- '
ore returning to the store, ''Esther. S
lon't you think it's about time this I
maiden of ours had a name of her OWL? s
wilson was asking me this morning c
7hat we had decided to call her. and I h
old him I supposed we Thought her +
ood enough without a name, for we had c
ever spoken about it. t
''Mr. Wilson's child was named before t.
e was week old, so don't wonder
hat he thinks us rather tardy," i
hid I. Il
"Well, what shall it be, Esther ?
or Rachel? Bridget or Jo- 81
ma Kate or Arabella? Or haven't rc
on thought of the matter yet?"
"Our child's name was decided in my W
Tn mind long ago." answered, and CT
len for some reason cannot account cC
I, I hesitated, though certainly had as
idea of what was to follow. as
"Well, let us hear it. It is something cl
suppose; nothing less W
ould suit our darling" SO
cit is Mary" 1 said. st
MARY surely you must be joking.
gu can't mean it, Esther p ne
'Why not?" asked, the blood rush an
g to my face involuntarily. nc
$50 you have a Byronic passion for as
e name of Mary. Well, must ac- W.
lowledge that I am entirely free from Rt
But seriously, Esther, You cannot m,
ink of calling our daughter by that tn
me ?" sill
But I do think of it'll responded. It
nd cannot imagine what objection VIC
u can have, for almost every one in
rees that there is no sweeter name. . inc
My husbands face grew dark.
''Any name but that, Esther: Won be,
ght as well not name the child at ALL wa
irdly family of any size in the coun- fac
but has Mary among its members. bre
t I can't talk any longer now; I shall om
late as it is. Look in the directory. the
find something else that suits you, Go
tell me at tea. our
Ind he kissed both baby and me, and A
gone. fee