The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-07-20
''Well, month, then. A week n
mighty little time, sure enough"

mighty little time, sure enough"
protested against this generous ar
rangement, not very heartily, Isuspect,
for did want to rest in that quiet
haven Of peace, oh, so much. The old
couple refused to hear any objection l
offered, but carried everything their
own way, and in the end l was COM
PEELED to agree to remain one week.
Reader, / cannot tell, neither can
you imagine, what that week was TO
me, 1t is an impossibility to attempt
portrayal of the happiness l expert
enced In those seven short days which
went by like feeting CLEANS 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
vestige of 1t remained to mar the pleas
ure of my new existence.
The contrast between the old and the
new was so great that ] could hardly
believe ! was in the same world.
| Where before l had been compelled to
toll through long days of weary drudg-
cry, now had naught to do but amuse
myself in idleness. Where before had
been urged to greater eXertion by
scolding words and cruel blows, | was
now restrained by gentle threats and
loving kindness. Where before | had
known nothing but neglect, and my
needs received no consideration, was
now an object Of the tenderest solici'
tude and my wishes were OWNED and
gratifed without the asking. The
change was 50 great, the contrast SC
marked, that could scarcely believe II
real 1t seemed more like beautiful
dream, and at times found it difficult
TO persuade myself that it was not.
The kindness of the parents was ably
seconded by the son. lie was a very
busy man, judged, for he idled n
home very little, but when he was Il
the house he seemed anxious to add t.
my comfort and pleasure, never losini
an opportunity to favor me with sue
little attentions as he could with pre-
priety render. Nor was he unmindfu
of me when away, for often he brough
me some rare species of wild flower O
some curious plant of the prairie whic
he presented in such u way as to prC
clude all idea Of familiarity or boorisf
ness.
The more knew Charles Cornell tn
better / liked him. In my esteem h
grew more noble and grand every da,
He possessed the same generous natur
the same kind impulses, that characte
Y ized his father and mother, and yet /
was so firm. so manly and so broad il
|. tellectually. looked upon him with a
$ admiration akin TO hero worship.
s seemed to me his character was
r noble, his bearing so grand, that
O must inevitably command the respe
and even the love of those with who
d he met.
II The truth is, reader, l had near
fallen in love with Charles Cornell.
ia say very nearly, because felt iowa
!. him as one does not feel toward
l. friend simply, yet did not feel for hi
all one feels for lover. I should ha
loved him with all the ardor of L
y, soul had it not been for one thing.
1t was in love already. VIII Hanle.
70 image was in my heart For thr
.t years had not seen my boy frier
and was young when we parted, ye
/. loved him then dearer than life a
70 my love had endured through the 10
le separation.