Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-18

ith thure. Ith too bad, too bad.
 The sympathetic tone In which these words were uttered, and the tender manner in which the old mother caressed me, touched my feelings deep 1y, for had not been used to kind ness, and the tears welled up in my eyes and my heart grew full. could not say another word then, and for near minute we were all silent. Mira Cornell was the frst.to speak. . tspm sure," she said, 'that you are good and affectionate and it's a pity your life has been so dark. Ilnow how to sympathize with you. dear, for I, too, grew up without 3 mothers love-" how.
 "Did your father love you2" I asked "Yes but not as well as he loved his younger children. I suppose it is natural for man to feel greater love for the children of his living wife"
 ''He'th rathcal if he doth," observed Mir. Cornell, half to himself, land a fool bethideth."
 felt strongly inclined to indorse his view of the matter, but thought it bet ter to retain my opinion, so said noth- ing. Turning again to Mrs Cornell, 1 asked:
 ''Was your stepmother kind to you2'
 "Wel," she replied, ''she was not real kind like a mother would have been, but she was not cruel like great many women are."
 "The wath ath mean ath the devil, Thuthan, you know the wath. The didn't roath you alive, but the made you thlave for her childrenth and treat ed you like you wath thervant. Don't you tell me the wathn't mean, 'cauth know the wath."
 "Well, Aaron" said Mrs. Cornell, with smile, ''it has been a long time since then, and I have been trying to forget those days. They are not pleasant to keep in mind, and if a person can for get and forgive it's better to do so. When I recall what my stepmother suffered in her old age, and how she died, can't find it in my heart to harbor the old bitter feeling against her that I once did. I'd rather try to remember as kindly as can, passing over her faults and dwelling on the few good traits she possessed"
 "You're right, Thuthan, you're right" exclaimed the old gentleman, tenderly. ''You're Chrithtian womanth if there ever wath ono, thure; and if you get forgiveneth according ath you forgive, there wonth be anything againth you when the end cometh."
 The loving, earnest tone in which these words were uttered made them extremely touching, and the good old soul to whose praise they were spoken was so pleased that her face fairly shone with happiness while tears of gratitude filled her eyes. looked on the two plain old people, so quiet, so undemonstrative, and I thought had never known of such love as they had for each other, and such generous sym pathy as they had for mankind the world over. had known them but a few hours, yet loved them dearly, and already grieved at the thought of part ing from them.
 had no doubt but that would be given a home there if I asked it, but felt that had no right to presume on the goodness of strangers, and with re- luctance I announced my intention of proceeding on my journey.
 "What!'' cried Mrs. Cornell. "You surely don't think of going on now?"
 ''I must" replied.
 "Why must you?" she asked. ''Is your cousin expecting you? She surely can't be, because think you said you | have never seen her or corresponded with her"
 ''She is not expecting me-" said; ''but must go on. 1 have no right to-"
 ''No right to stop here, ehP Now just hear the child, Aaron. She thinks she has no right to stop here. Did you ever hear of such an idea as that?"
 "Well, we never athed her to thtay, Thuthan, and I recl5onth the didn't know we wanted her to. I don't thee what made uth tho careleth; thure don't"
 "Well, I don't, either" replied Mrs. | Cornell, ''but we ask her now; and she $ going to stop here a week, at least. It will take that long for her to recover from her walk yesterday and the fright she had last night"
 "A week, Thuthan? Thaw! thay a month. Thath more like it."
 ''Well, a month, then. A week is mighty little time, sure enough"
 Iprotested against this generous ar rangement, not very heartily, suspect, for did want to rest in that quiet haven of peace, oh, so much. The old couple refused to hear any objection offered, but carried everything their own way, and in the end was com pelled to agree to remain one week.
 Reader, I cannot tell, neither can you imagine, what that week was to me. It is an impossibility to attempt a portrayal of the happiness I expert. enced in those seven short days which went by like Aeeting gleams of dazzling brightness. For the first time in my life occupied an atmosphere of love. For the first time within my recollection I lived and breathed in an atmosphere of kindness. The old life of slavery and persecution was gone, and not a vestige of it remained to mar the pleas.