The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-03-25
MRS. Boards BOOK.
"My Own Life; or a Deserted Wife"
Some Extracts.

some fXCfdcCS.
As previously announced, Mrs. Ida
M. Beard is writing book entitled
my Own Life; or Deserted Wife"
/ She reviews the important incidents
, from childhood to the present time.
She begins her story as follows: Dear
reader, if you will lend me an ear, l
will endeavor, to the best Of my ability,
to portray to you true story in r''-(
life. The herOism Of my naraINNo
being none other than the authofess
herself. 1 was born Sept. %. 1862, in
Forsyth county, near Salem, N. G b,
my maiden name being Ida May
Crumpler. | was reared in what you
might call the lap of luxury Having
an inclination TO always remain at
home, was known as grandmother or
the old maid among my schOolmates
and friends. Another feature OF my
childhood, for which l was noted, was
hating to wound the feelings Of a
friend or companion"
The writer then relates an incident
in her school life-how she unthought-
edly wounded the feelings of a class
mate by spelling word and "turn-
ing her down" in a spelling match.
Her father was painter by trade
and while not wealthy man was a
very indulgeDt one. "He could not
bear to even hear the slightest wish
made by me Without it being granted" +"
continues the writer. One evening
she wished for the moon. Her father
said she should have it-went to the
barn, returned with large pumpkin,
cut mans face upon it, placed a
candle on the inside and presented
the nnrn min fn hiS daUnhfor ron.
resentative Of the moon.
Mrs. Beard notes the many happy
days spent on the farm of her father
below Salem, and adds: "Little was
l dreaming then Of what the dark
future had in store for me. Could l
have seen and known what [ do now,
perhaps l would not be the broken
hearted woman l am today. l say
broken-he&rted, because l feel that
my heart has been crushed Into
thousand pieces, and by the one who
years ago promised tO love and protect
me-"
brief biography of the writer's
courtship and marriage-more than
16 years ago follows. She says:
well do | remember my wedding
morn; everything seemed bright and
gay-nothing to mar the happiness |
was looking forward to, except that l
was not marrying with my parents
consent but what did I care then for
their opiniOn-was l not going to
marry the man l loved?
l was more than anxious for the
hour to arrive when l should give my
young life into his keeping-for bet
ter or worse. Could l have realized
then what | do now | would have re-
mained clOseted within the four walls
Of my own room instead Of meeting
one wb IN after years proved himself
SO unworthy OF my love and trust"
The writer's courtship began when
she was five years old and terminated
in marriage when she was is, the GER
emony being performed at the resi-
dence OF the officiating minister, Rev.
7. H. Pegram, in Winston.
In referring to the opposition on
the part of her parents, Mrs. Beard
says they tried to 'break the match"
by locking her up In room for days
al time, with scarcely anything to
eat or drink.
The writer and her lover planned
for a romantic marriage-but their
arrangements were interfered with
II was.to leave home," says the story,
''for the purpose of visiting my
cousin, Mrs DR.. York, who lived near
Trap Hill, Wilkes county. OF course
it was understood that John was to
follow in few days after my de-
parture and upon reaching the home
of my cousin, we were to climb Stone
Mountain and be married at a place
called Lovers Leap"
The opposition of father and mother
to the marriage and her welded life
are given by Mrs. Beard almost in de-
tail. According to her story. mar
riage, in this instance, was failure
The author" also tells of the death
Of her sister, illness and death of her
mother. She has many other Incl
dents to note before her book is COM
Melted