Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-07-01
LOVE AND TRIAL.

We were all poor in our village, but some
of US were poorer than others-so poor that
we had not enough black bread to eat-so
poor that when the hard winter came creep
ing upon US, like some cruel. hungry wolf,
we had no brands with which to scare it
off.
In Bettina's cottage, where she sat and
spun while her childish old grandparents
nodded in their chairs bsride the fire. place,
all was IS clean as it could have been in
palace; but she had hard work to fill those
two old mouths and her own also. There
was no one else to do it.
The lady at the great house bought her
fax, and paid we'll for IL. But, after all,
Bettina had her hands full; and two little
brown hauds cannot do all the worlds work.
| used to say to myself that tho time should
come when Bettina should not work at all,
when 1 would work for both, and for the
old people, also. That was to be when we
were married. BettiEa and had been be-
trothed two years. We were betrothed still,
and no nearer marriage, though l had
striven with all my strength.
"Wait patiently" Bettina said to me
sometimes. "What does it matter? We
love each other; we trust each other; let us
be content"
But could not be content. Others who
we're as poor as We married, and left their
native land together to seek better fortunes
elsewhere. Bettna would gladly have
shared my fate, whatever it might have
been, but the old grand parents bound her
to her cottage and her birth place.
AS for me, felt that if would ever win
Bettina l must leave Savoy and go to
America, where SO many of our country had
already, gone, and whence they wrote let
i +a,c tl,nt Ia
for the future. In that happy land might
realizs my dreams. I told Bettina 80, and
though she wept she said:
''Go, Go, Bernard, and I will pray for
you. It is all girl can do"
at last | had money for the voyage. l
had saved it little by little for two long
years, and now the parting hour had come
| SIT is that we may bs with each other
always some day that We part now,' said.
Her tears fell over my check. We press
ed each other in long embrace. All. If
only time could have stypyed in his flight
at that moment, leaving US iu each other
arms. At last l tore myself away, and,
blinded by my tears, set off upon my jour-
ney.
| ! had no fear that Bettina would forget
me. [ knew that the rich young farmer
who 60 often rode many miles to see her,
| lObS6u ioE neE love, buu WOO6u ltor WIFI all
the art he had; but Bettina loved me, and
love is adamantine. Ah! how listle did l
know of the future st which I then peeped
through the golden glasses of hope and
| love
We crossed the sea in safety. stood, at
last, in a strange land and among strange
people; bat found them not unkind. |
fouud work at once. wing as we Savoy yards
live at home spent little. Week by week
the little heap in my mole skin pouch grew
greater | was gioriously happy. l wrote
joyful letters to Bsttina. She answered
hopefully. L is little to tell bat, ah, it
was 80 much 30 feei and 20 do!
4 year passed bq---t@elve long months
0 e snoie yelr, and she would come to me.
The months would slip away like the beads
upon the rosary of one who prayed fol
blessings. l should feel her hand in mine
when they were all counted. should press
my lips to hers--sll would be forgotten but
our meeting, and while lived, the old peo'
pie should share our happiness.
With such thoughts as these in my mind,
! entered the great factory where worked
one day. I said to myself as threw Of
my JACKET.
At noontipe viii write to Bettiuso"