Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-11-13
Our First Difficulty.

married eight months before we seri-
,ousIy disagreed in anything. Our life
during that time had not been a sea-
son of perfect bliss as some would
have it, but we certainly had been
happy-as happy think as any can
be before reaching Paradise, land when
our baby came, it seemed as if our
cup was full to overlooking. [ like,
even now TO dwell on the joy Of those
DAYS when | was first mother, and
as for Robert, I think there never
was a prouder Or more affectlonate
father than he "Well, Esther" he
would say when he came in at night,
<swe are not rich in houses or lands as
some are but we are rich in our daugh-
ter; she is like wisdom, for she is
more precious than rubies." But l
know that the praise of doting pa
rents is but emptiness to others, SO
will not tire you by repeating all he
said. 1t was not idle talk to me, how
ever, no praise to my imagination was
TOO great for my little one, my May
blossom, as I called her, for she came
% rs in the merry month of May.
Never, we both agreed, was there a
child SO wonderful as ours, and before
the little stranger had been with US
month, we had laid many brilliant
plans for her future.
But I am wandering from my story.
We were living in Kansas, far away
from both Roberts relations and my
ho1 Ic
generally the case, host of aunts,
Uncles and cousins to urge that the
Child should be named according to
their fancy. So it came to pass that
OR baby was nearly two months old
before the subject had been debated.
But one day, how we'll remember it,
Robert said, as he tossed her in his
arms for a final goodbye before re-
turning to the store, esther, don't
xou think it's about time this maiden
of ours had name Of her own? Will
son was asking me this morning what
ve had decided to call her, and told
him supposed we called her good
enough without name for we had
never spoken of it,"
SFMr. Wilson's child was named be-
fore he was week old, SO I don't
wonder that he thinks us rather
tardy," said I.
~ ell, what shall it DE, Esther? Ro-
.saInond or Rachel? Bridget or Joanna?
Kate or Arabella? Or haven't you
fho't of the matter YETI"
<'Dur child's name was decided in
Eny own mind long ago." I answered
and then for some reason L cannot
account for, I hesitated, though [
certainly had no idea of what was to
follow.
ssWel, let us hear it. It is some
thing extraordinary, suppose, moth
ing less would suit our darling"
&EEt is Mary" said.
S'Mary? surely you must be joking.
You can't mean it, Esther"
"Why not?" I asked, the blood rush
ing TO my face involuntarily.
$50 you have a Byronic passion for
the name Mary. Well, I must &C
knowledge, that L am entirely free
from it. But seriously, Esther, you
by that name?"
BY husbands face grew dark. HAny
name but that, Esther, you might as
we'll not name the child at all. Hardly
"A family Of any size in the country,
but has Mary among its members.
But I can't talk any longer now,
shall be late as it is. Look in the die
GTonary and find something else that
suits you, and tell me at tea"
And he kissed both baby and me
and was gone.
can hardly tell you what my feel
7ngs were during the long hours of
that afternoon. It is true that my
husband and I had differed before in
.zaatters of taste or opinion, but it had
been comparatively easy to yield to
them. Ny child's name, however,
vas a different matter. I could not
remember the time when 1 had not
looked forward to calling my oldest
daughter by the name of Mary. My
doll babies, one and all, had been
called by it. 1t was dear to me above
every other name-and now to give
III up@sNever. [ cannot, and [ shall
noti'' 1 said firmly to myself.
At the tea table that evening, we
discussed a variety of topics, but both
avoided, as if by common consent,
6he one object nearest our hearts.
When the meal was over, however,
and we sat together near our little
oae's cradle, Robert commenced: