The Penn's Grove record., 1883-09-22
Our First Difficulty

had not been a season of perfect bliss
as some would have it, but we certainly
had been happy-as happy, | think, as
n can be before reaching paradise,
and when our baby come, it seemed as
if our cup was full to overlooking.
We were living in Kansas, far away
from both Roberts relations and my
own. We had not, therefore, as is
generally the case, a host of aunts, I'M
cles and cousins to urge that the child
should be named according to their
fancy. So it came to pass that our
baby was nearly two months old be-
fore the subject had been debated.
But n day, how well | remember 1t,
Robert said, as he tossed her IN his
arms for a final good-by be o 9 re-
turning to the store, Esther, don't
YOU think it's about time this maiden
of ours had a name Of her own Will
son was asking me this morning what
we had decided to call her, and told
him | supposed we thought her good
enough without a name, for we had
never spoken about it,"
"Mr. Wilson's child was named be-
fore he was a week old, so | don't
wonder that he thinks us rather tardy,p
said |.
sfWell, what shall it be, Esther 2
Rosamond or Rachel Bridget or
Joanna? Kate or Arabella ? Or
haven't you thought of the matter
yet ?"
sOur chhild's name was decided to
my own mind long ago." l answered
and then for some reason | cannot ac-
count for, | hesitated, though | GER
tainly had no idea of what was to fol-
low.
"Well, let us hear it. 1t is something
extraordinary, l suppose nothing less
would suit our darling"
at is Mary" l said.
"Mary surely you must be joking.
You can't mean it, Esther 7"
"Why not ?" l asked, the blood rush
ing tony face in%voluntarily.
so you have a Byronic passion for
the name of Mary. Well, l must ac-
knowledge that l am entirely free from
it. But seriously, Esther, you cannot
think of calling u daughter by that
name ?n
'EBut l do think of it," | responded,
"md l cannot imagine what objection
you can have, for almost every
one agrees that there is no sweeter
name"
My husbands face grew dark.
"Any name but that, Esther you
might as well not name the child at all.
Hardly a family Of any size in the
country but has a Mary among its
members. But l can't talk any
longer now | shall be late as it is.
Look in the dictionary, and find some.
thing else that suits you, and tell me at
tea"
And he kissed both baby and me, and
was gone.
| ear hardly tell you what my feel
ings were during the long hours Of
that afternoon. 1t is true that my
husband and l had differed before
in matters of taste and opinion, but
it had been comparatively easy to
yield then. My child's name how
ever, was a different matter.
could not remember the time when
l had not looked forward to call my
oldest daughter by the name OF
Mary. My doll-babies, one and all,
had been called by it. 1t was dear to
me above every other name-and now
give it up-"Neyer, 1 cannot and,
1 shall not % l said firmly to my
self.
AT the tea-table that evening, we dis
cussed a variety of topics, but both
avoided, as if by common consent, the
n subject nearest our hearts. When
the meal was over, however, and we sat
together neal 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 we'll
Laura Evelyn Spencer. How do you
like it ~
II like both names well enough |
answered, eoldly, 'but there is only
one name for our daughter, and that
have told you. 1t is my mott or S
name, as you know, Robert, and l
have always said that my first daugh-
ter should be my mothers namesake,
but Inever dreamed that you would feel
so about it," 1 continued ready to cry,
yet keeping the tears back by a great
effort.
"If your mother was not living, Es-
Their, there would be some reason for
your feeling so, but as it is"
'If my mother was dead, l would
not a I so much about it, for it then
could afford her no pleasure" ] cried.
''If it were any name but Mary, |
would consent, eve though it did not
please me-" said Robert. Come Es-
Their, be reasonable there are so many
pretty names, and Mary, besides being
SO common, is to me the very essence of
plainness."