Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-09-01


| actually was SO childish and horrid
that | felt as II Alfred was somehow
to blame for getting sick. This wasn't
all; l had sort of compound griev-
ance: Alfred chose to come to this
lonely, out-of-the-way place, where
was sure there was no society. / did
not like the town itself, and did not
like this neighborhood nor the house,
and l made up my mind that l should
not like the people. They called on me.
very soon after l got settled, and l
was just as horrid as l could be to
them. told them how lonesome and
homesick l was and how dislilked the
country, and l Dragged about my life
in the city and of all the advantages
l had there After my callers went
told Alfred how countrified and boor-
ish thought them, and l declared that
l never woulS return their calls. Poor
Alfred, what he had to endure!
thought the country was a good place
to wear out my old clothes, so I wore
old gowns that had seen better days,
and l looked like a fright, especially
| as l neglected my hair and wore shah
| by old slippers.
1.-The doctor came out to see Alfred,
and he looked puzzled and shook his
head. II don't see why he don't gain
more" he said, and he looked at me
sharply and with a CLEAN of suspicion
in his eyes.
"'I don't like to think of that time.
The neighbors did not call second
| tiron nf I
lonely, though l did not admit it, and
kept saying how glad l was not to be
bothered by them. l could see that
Alfred was getting worse instead of
better and l knew the doctor thought
was somehow to blame for it. l
never was so wretched in my life. l
began to be really alarmed about my
husband and it was when l got my
mind off myself that the revelation
came.
at was one night after one of AL
fred's very worst days that l lay
awake worrying about him. At last I
fell asleep, and l had a dream, or
vision, l don't know which to call it.
l seemed to be in a graveyard, and
there was one stone that l seemed to
be drawn toward. l expected to see
my husbands name on it, and trem-
bled with fear, but I drew nearer and
looked. saw my own name, and be-
low it l read these words: my Lady
Disdain. No one loved her in life nor
mourned her in death, and no one
was ever made happy by her."
"I awoke With a start, and there
was no more sleep for me that night.
I looked at myself as if l had been
some one else, and l saw that if l
kept on as l had begun, my epitaph
would be true one. Then l realized
what was the trouble with Alfred. My
gloomy, fault-finding, depressing at
mosphere was having its effect on him.
AS soon as it was ligat looked at Lis
sleeping face, and l was terrified, he
looked so worn and pale and unhappy.
I was sick with fear. Had learned
my lesson too late?
"Tt was hard to appear cheerful and
hopeful when there was such fear
at my heart but somehow strength was
given me to do it, and you don't know
how thankful was that first day when
|
had not done for weeks. l played to
him and read to him, and in the after
noon when he took his nap l went out
and called on one of the neighbors,
and every day when l could returned
one of the calls l had received. 1t
was hard for me to do it, remember
ing how disdainful and rude | had
been, but they were all so kind and
forgving and did not seem to remem-
ber the first impression.
"'Soon the neighbors began to drop
in often, and this helped to cheer AL
fred up, and the next time the doctor
came he was surprised at the improve
ment in His patient. He looked me
over from top to toe-I had changed
my appearance great deal-and then
he nodded his head approvingly and
muttered. II thought So" / did not
ask him what he meant, because /
knew.
"'That dream has made such diff
ference in my life, Aunt Asenath-
yes. and in the lives of others, too.
shudder to think what | would have
been by this time if l had not had
that experience
Don't waste any shudders on that.
l says. Something else would lave
put you on tie right track, but of
course the vision you had mado a
quicker cure. You are one of the kind
that can take hint. Now, lots OF
folks can't, and in your place they
would have kept right on as you be-
gun. and then would have blamed
everybody under the sun but them
selves for their misery
"'Wen,' she says, I'm glad I found
tie guilty person. And what do you
think, Aunt Asenath? have got so
| like the town and the neighborhood
and the house and the people-yes, the
people most of all. Besides all that.
I'm going to like the country pretty
| =