Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-03-09

the papers and magazines within M
reach, and lying awake all night, fin
ally concluded to dispatch lette,
accepting the invitation and, having
accomplished this task. at once com
menced preparations for my journey
A we k passed and found myself il
the train, fast approaching my jour
ney's end. My heart beat wildly as tn,
whistle sounded from the engine, tn
brakes were down. the train stopped
and IA brakeman screamed at the door
"PlsSenger's for Dayton :"
| hurried forward, stepped from til,
car, 10y the assistance of the good ma
tured conductor, ond the next momen
WAS in Nellie's arms. She welcome
IN" warmly; still there was restraint
| fsncied, in her manner toward me
which she had not formerly shown a
school. So overloyed had | been a
seeing her at first, that | did not no
tice her companion. who now came
forward to escort US to the carriage
Nellie blushed and, with a pride ot
manner s. natural TO her when well
pleased, she introduced me to Mr.. Vel
ton--her futre Husband. | Was sur
prised in his personal appearance for
| did not expect TO find her affisnced
husband so noble, commanding per
sonage. He was the true picture oi
health and manIiness and | did not
wonder, as saw his ewes rest upon ii
betrothed bride with SO much tender
ness, that she had said "He was all
she coqld ask, and more than she had
ever aspred to possess.
They were married quietly ; for Mr..
Nelton was man of slender means
and instead OF going on bridal tour,
as married people usually do, they
went at once to house keeping, in
Nellie's little cottage. which they had
fitted up for their home. They COM
menced housekeeping in the way all
people with common sense and slender
means should, dispensing with ali
servants-Mrs. Wslton performing her
domestic duties with her own hands.
Mr.. Melton was Kind and devoted ;
but during th~ few weeks had spent
with them discovered him 10 be- ex-
tremely fond of being waited upon, or,
IN other words. lazy and Nellie wait
ed upon that stout, healthy man quite
as much as through he had been the
most helpless invalid. demonstrated
with her one day upon the course she
was pursuing; but her only reply WAS !:
1T is such pleasure to wait on
him: his love rerays all my troable. "
| spent a few eks with them. and
then returned hom~, satisti' d that Mel
lie ws- har9v: A~s fearful that Mr..
Wsllon, notwithstanding his handsome
face and present. devotion, was not
quite what | would fancy for bus
band.
SIX years have passed Let us take
a look ai Mr. and Mrs. Welton in their
homes Three children, aged respec-
tlycly three Years, two years and six
months have been added TO that fami.
ly. In that care worn, rale, feeble
woman, brciling steak aud cooking
dinner, you will fail TO recognize the
healthy, happy bride Of six years ago.
Her hair is no longer suffered 10 fall
in ringl,ts about her face and meek.
but combed smoothly back and con-
fined with comb her dress is faded
and worn: aud her ewes, that were
once so sparkling and black. are now
sunken and dim. Hark : listen 10 that
hollow, hacking cough. Consumption
is preyiug uron that form-iis fatal
seeds are sown-her life is fast ebiing
away beneath the toll and care Of a
life of domestic drudgery. Still hope
huoys h'r up, aud the pleading faces
of her helpless children stimulate her
to exerr every faculty in her power to
provide for their wants. She 10 now
gettir less hopeful-she sees the
"grim messenger of death upon her
tracks; still she swerves not from the
path which love and duty prescribed
for her; but, with feeble step and
aching Lcart, performs her various
domestic cares.
"Father is coming" sounds from the
yard, and in a moment Mr.. Welton
enters his home. Time has left no
trace upon lis handsome face step
is as firm. hI> form as erect, and his
dress almost faultless as when last we
saw him. He hardly notices the
Servant Of all work." who is bended
ov heated stove preparing food ;
but with Nv h e-w-how hot this
room is" be snaps at baby, who is
playing on tie floor, and passes into
the sitting roc m and throws himself
upon the lounge for nap. Mrs. Wei
ten, tired and sick, followed him with
her weary eyes, hoping he will offer
her some assistaEcein he dining room;
or that he will take tie children away
and amuse them until she herself has
prepared her frugal meal. But he has
no idea there is anything for. him to
door, at least, he has no idea of do
ing anything.
Tommy and Charlie follow him, and
hlahe euboiy altoHiP'S "' oiihhoi" =
upon the lounge beside him; but they
are soon hired to leave the room ith
IA huge stick of candy or paper of sugar
plums-which they eagerly seize and
repair to the kitchen with to fight
over, and raise general cry-not ex-
baby, who has learned what is
sweet and puts in for share of every
thing good. At last baby is upset
upon her head, and cry of distress
brings Mrs. Welt"n from the celler,
where she has been for ea'ables for the
table. Tommy and Charlie are scolded
for their misconduct; AID, after much
kissing and soothing, baby consents to
be again deposited on the floor, with
the sugar bowl cover and sugar toIgs
and Mrs. Weltun again resumes her
duties.
But, for goodness sake, take look
into that sitting-room? Stretched
upon that lounge-hls feet projecting