Year: 1861




about to marry the best business man
in town. Little use was it for me to
tighten my purse-strings, and direct
that the child should have no marriage
outfit of ward-robes, pillow cases, and
the thousand and one ct ceteras in which
mothers take such pride and pleasure.


In spite of me, but surreptitiously,
Minnie was well provided for, am sure.
l remember that the shopman's bills for
some time thereafter seemed unusually
full, both in number Of items and foot.
ings Of the columns; and 1 shrewdly
suspect that my wife had arranged with
the tradesman to have the articles scat
tered along through the months. She
was always a good inancier. The cere-
mony was performed in church. l was
present, lest my absence should give too
great notoriety to the family jar. Use
less. The whole town having long since
been made acquainted with the state Of
affairs, the brides beauty and the bride.
groom's popularity set many eyes on
me with a sparkle Of criticism in
them.


"He needn't look so savage like"
muttered gruf old yeoman behind me;
there amt likelier young fellow any
where's hereabout than Jenny Brun;
and though Minnie be as purity as pink,
it's good match, 1 say; real even bar
gain, So"


Long, long months went by after the
marriage; tedious, unhappy months for
me. l knew l was being soured by this
self-imposed restraint on the affectio nal
part of my nature. Minnie came to
her old home sometimes. Once or twice
she begged for the return of the old
love, the old home kiss. No. NY daugh-
ter was happy in her husband, happy in
her new home. But 1 saw very plainly
that the bliss of her old home was lost
to her.


Nearly two years went into the past
shadowed in this manner, when little
human blossom was laid in its cradle
A little struggling, wee thing--another
Minnie. Poor mel Here was another
influence to be stommed, as boats stem
another wave and another gust. But
l braced myself, and when l had bee
forced into Minnies chamber, stood
over the poor child with the little one
on her arm, and heard the faint voice
add to the sweetly beseeching look, "do
Kiss me, father!" l shook my head and
went out.


One day strange change came over
the young mother, alarming the expert
enced, and giving to tbs physician that
ominous air of grave mystery which
strikes into the soul Of the loving.
moved about full of fear and guilty dis
trcss. The symptoms became more and
more alarming-she was sinking.
was called to her bedside, as that of my
first dying child As l bent over the
white face, almost translucent with
meekness illuminated, my eyes all un-
dimmed by illness, my Minnie gave me
the old-time glance of love, and throw.
ing up her hands as if to clasp my neck,
said family, but oh! so earnestly:


kiss me, fatherl"


/ bent down to my daughter, my first
born, and we wept long together; the
strong father and the family breathing
child. ..... ~.


What do you think Minnie did? Why,
she got we'll again, and in two months
was as musical as a lark, and as gay,
looking after the little Minnie, like a
pretty mother as she was.


However, the ice was fairly broken,
and | was the fatherly self ever after.
Minnie even ventured, after time, to
make merry at my expense, over the
fact that not only was Jenny Brun the
best of husbands, but of the we'll known
American writer's.


| think | was a great fool.