Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-02

H.
had rclcntcd, and again opened his
heart to receive his child. With trem-
bling fingers, and fast beating heart,
she drew the letter from its cover and
began to devour IT'S contents. But soon
the flush of hope died out of her face,
and Il shadow of sorrow and grief deep
er than any it had ever worn succeeded.
The letter was not from her father,
but from lady of her acquaintance,
who wrote with more zeal than discre-
ton. A portion of it was as follows:
Your father is we'll and apparently con-
tented. His wife is all he can desire, I sup
rose, since he bows to her will in all things.
She has her way in tho homo and the business
and she needs but to hint wish to havcit graf
filed. Sho has brought her sisters chill
drcn, three in number to live with
her, and of course your father supports
them. Tho two youngest, girls, he keeps
in college, while the other, young man grown,
he has taken into the bank with him, making
him Il partner in the business. Your father and
his wife are active members OF Reverend
WheCdler's church. and she is one of the most
dcvout members of the congregation. The
young man whom your father has connected
with him in tho bank is somewhat rakish and
| think very unprincipled. He spends money
layiShly. and of course it is your fathers
money for he has mono of his own
| months in the west, and has married tho
| laughter of II merchant here. It's my opinion,
| though, that he did not marry for love, but for
n2JuCy. l think from what have learned that
| he met some out west whom he loves. Your
| father made great dinner on the occasion of
| the wedding, inviting all his wifc's relatives.
| | was there as was also Rev. Whecdler The
| minister pronounced it q most enjoyable meet
| ing and wondered if he noted your absence
| or remembered that you were stranger to
| your father for no good cause. told this min
| lister afterwards that could not understand
| how your father could so far forget his
flesh and blood and take to his bosom those
| who were nothing to him. told him that in
| my opinion parent could be q good
| Christian whilo he was so unrclenting. He re-
| piled that sometimes children tried their
parents sorcly, and that no matter how Chris
tian n man might be 1t was not in his nature
| to forget some things. He thought Brother
| Batchford more forglving than the ma
jority of men, and as for Sister Blatchford, she
was deserving Of much sympathy, for hers was
| q trying situation, and no doubt her heart often
blCd for her husbands wrongs. Mrs Blatch
ford has brother, Joseph Spic1ler, whom your
| father has set up in business several times
| JOSEPH doesn't seem to be OF any great conSe-
qucnce in n business way, and about all he
seems to have any success at is failing. He
has failed enough already to make your father
several thousand dollars poorer He is not the
only ono of Mrs. Blatchford'S relatives who
have had your fathers assistance, for nearly
all of them have gone to him for money to tide
over hard places. Old Mrs. Spicllcr, Mrs.
Blatchford's mother, has come to live with
your father, and intends remaining there all
her life. hope the day will come when your
father will SEQ and understand his duty, and ]
think it will"
When Mary Green finished the letter
she sat for long time with her hands
claspcd in mute despair, too deeply
troubled to utter a sound. Then turn
ing her sad face to Heaven she moaned
in anguish, and in her soul cried out:
MY God, what have done to merit
this? What crime, what sin have
committed to call down on my head
such punishment? Was it so wrong to
marry the good, honest man my heart
loved? Oh! God, if Thou be just, how
canst Thou permit such things to be?"
For an hour Mary sat there heart
broken and disconsolate, pouring out
the sorrow of her soul in tears an6
means. Oh! who can picture the misery
of that hour? Christ in the garden OF
{ Gcthscmane wcpt tears of blood. He
t knew what it was to be poor, friendless
and alone. He felt the bitter grief of c
forsallen soul. He wept and He prayed
Yet lie knew that God was with Hin
and that He was only to pass through
the shadow of night and come into {
brighter and better life. Mary wept
All about her there was darkness
There was no future hope to buoy hel
soul-no beacon light to guide her on
She was penniless and friendless, anC
n few short days she and her child