The Delaware farmer., 1883-08-17


ternoon. 1t is true that my husband
and I had differed before in matters of
taste or opinion, but it had been COM
paratively easy to yield them. My
> child's name, however, was a different
matter. could not remember the time
when had not looked forward to call
my Oldest daughter by the name of
Mary. Ny doll-babies, one and all, had
been called by it. 1t was dear to me
above every other name-and now to
give it up-''Never, cannot, and I
shall not p said firmly to myself.
At the tea-table that evening, we dis
cussed a variety of topics, but both
avoided, as if by common consent, the
one subject nearest our hearts. When
the meal was over, however, and we sat
together near our little ones cradle,
Robert commenced:
''Well, Esther, have you found any
name this afternoon that pleased you?
I've been thinking the matter over, and
I've come to the conclusion that Laura
and Evelyn suit me very well-Laura
Evelyn Spencer. How do you like it ?" 1
81 like both names well enough, I
answered coldly, "but there is only one
name for our daughter, and that I have
told you. 1t is my mothers name, as ]
you know, Robert, and have always S
said that my first daughter should be /
my mothers namesake, but I never r
dreamed that you would feels about it, F." a
I continued, ready to cry, yet keeping c
the tears back by a great effort. {
''H your mother was not living, Il
Esther, there would be some reason for
your feeling so, but as it is"
eff my mother was dead, would not
care so much about it, for it then could A
afford her no pleasure" cried. st
eff it were any name but Mary, I CT
would consent, even though it did not
me, said Robert. "Come Esther, 81
oe reasonable; there are so many pretty &C
lames, and Mary, besides being so COM fir
non, is to me the very essence Of plain m
less" W,
But my mind was made up, and I tn
7ould not listen. nj
"She is your daughter, as well as tn
line, Robert" I said, "and, of course, fro
on will name her to suit yourself, but tb
} me, she can never be any other than DIR
hat have said" to
now our conversation would have set
lded cannot tell, but fortunately for ree
9TH of us, it was interrupted by callers tiv
no spent the evening with us, and for 90
-e time being our dispute and its cause Ru
ere forgotten. las
At breakfast the next morning the nri
-bject was not once alluded to in even sen
e most remote way, and at noon and anc
the evening it was the same. Mo
Another day came and went, and still on
other, and yet not word was said. but
II table-talk was no longer the pleas
t pastime it had once been, for we
md it difficult to sustain a conversa-
N on topics of minor interest, while can
9 one subject which engrossed our hoo
arts and minds was tabooed. a,,.i
Behold how great a matter a little blo,
> kindleth p {.
As day after day passed away, and the sc
elk drew to close, a heavy weight ans,
tied on my heart My husband ap- &c
ired different person to me. It H.
med to me that a great gulf had Co..
ne between us; even baby, who before C.
been associated only with the r.,
est, deepest Joy, seemed changed. I GO
Id not take her in my arms without n,ot
liking of what 1 chose to call my T,-" T,-"O
lble.
'riday morning came. It was love- n,o4,
day; but it seemed to me t,.,, Al
dreariest ever sun rose upon. a.
Who would think Robert could be M
obstinate ?" said to myself, as 1 c+ obio,
zed my little one to sleep. A.
ust before noon our pastor called. 1 hood
so i'll at ease that it was with diff .T
y that 1 sustained my part in the seN
7ersation. I suppose he noticed my .i4
alton, for he inquired if I were well ~ =
sual. For an instant 1 felt half in
I'd to tell him all. It seemed as if it
Id be relief to open my heart to
g one; but a feeling of pride re- A
ned me. waltll
obert seemed unusually silent at din oIa; lroo9i
and I fancied he was looking pale me ,,,irr m
i'll. He kissed the baby, but did led th
toss her in the air and play with her bition
IL n,r