Julia A. Moore

“ No mother now to kiss him good night; no father to bear with him this sorrow, and the only being he loved beside his mother was gone, he knew not where. The only friends that deeply sympathized with him except the servants were John Hilton’s family, especially Warren, who was there night and day and kept Paul company through this sad affliction. When this kind companion went home Paul could not reconcile himself to stay in the house where once was life and joy for him.
“I cannot stay here; I must go somewhere; there is no comfort for me on this earth. ”

“ It was because of a request of her father, who was lying in his grave, and of her mother who was far away at home.
How many young people of today scarcely wait till the green sod grows over the grave of some beloved form, before they are away to some ball or place of amusement? Such is progression.
It was getting quite late and Paul came to Nettie and said, “Miss Spaulding, accept my company, please, for a promenade on the piazza. The moon is spreading its rays beautifully and the evening is delightful.” ”

“ Oh, mother, if you knew how lonely your child is this afternoon and how sad it seems to me to come here for pleasure, and leave you at home with only one companion. I know it is very lonely for you, as I never have left you at home since papa died. Oh, mama! why did you urge me to come and leave you alone. You were very anxious for me to come and spend my birthday with my cousins. Oh, mother! no happiness have I found, although my friends are very kind to me. ”

“ Oh! if you should marry her I pray she may prove a true, honest wife to you. Then you will lead a happy life.”
“Oh, mother, may your last few words be true! Time works wonders in this world sometimes. I hope you may live long with me, then you will see what a dutiful son you have,” answered Paul, the tears falling thick and fast. ”

“ My son has doubtless told you of my past life—how I left his mother when he was a babe and I have been a wanderer from my home ever since. I am very sorry. My past conduct does not deserve any kindness from my noble son. He tells me my wife died loving me, who does not deserve the love of any one. I married her because she loved me and I supposed her rich; and thinking you dead, desired to try to be happy with her ”

“ As his son was of age he had him sent off to the war, as he would then get over his love passion for the little cottager, as he called the little lady his son admired. Sad was the last meeting of the young couple, as he came to bid her farewell. Many were the promises given each to prove faithful until death. Then another blow was given that household, as he in his red coat rode away leaving his promised bride to mourn the loss of one she deeply loved. Soon after came the news of the battle of Bunker Hill, and the father of this little cottage was no more. ”

“ God doeth all things. We can trust to Providence and all yet may be well. This is a world of trouble and sorrow to us poor mortals and what falls to our lot we must endure patiently, for what is to be will be, in spite of all human aid. I sincerely hope for the happiness of my only child,” said the mother, pressing Nettie fondly to her breast.
Here I will leave them bemoaning their fate, and return to Paul, who, on returning home, found his mother very ill. She gradually grew worse day by day. All medical skill was of no avail and they could not restore her to ordinary health. ”

“ John Hilton, the owner of this romantic place, was an intelligent farmer and was kind to all people who chanced to come to his house. His family consisted of himself, wife and two children, a son and daughter. Warren, the eldest, was a fine lad of eighteen, with blue eyes and light complexion, and inherited his father’s kind disposition. Minnie was a brunette, a splendid girl of sixteen, with a heart as pure as the wild flowers around her home. She had company. Her cousin, Nettie Spaulding, had come from the city of New York to spend her birthday. ”

“ Your father and I met him once on board a vessel lying in harbor. Your papa, dear soul, knew of my first love and also the name of his predecessor, and getting an introduction to him made himself very inquisitive, as he found he was the same person and had been married some twelve 38years. You see how deceitful some people are in this world. It is a good saying and a true one, too, that ‘sometimes you think a friend you’ve got until trial proves you have him not.’ Thus it proved out to be to me.”
“Mamma,” answered Nettie, “I am a trusting spirit. ”

“ May the blessing of God ever fall on your pathway and strew it with flowers,” said the father, placing Nettie’s hand in that of his son. “And if your mother will be my wife we will begin our lives anew.”
“One week from today; what say you, Minnie?” said the gentleman.
A letter was written then and two days before New Year’s they started for that place, and when it became known at the house of Paul that he was going to bring a wife home, and had found his father, what a hustle-bustle there was among the servants to make everything look its best. ”

“ If I can only win the little girl I saw today, I shall be the happiest man on earth.” Thus the young man mused until the village was in sight. He rode up to one of the principal stores, when Ralph Harding, an old chum, came up to him saying, “Paul, have you had a bid to Hilton’s to a party Friday night?” Not waiting for an answer he said: “I have, and I am going too. They say there is going to be a New York girl there, and won’t we have jolly fun. She will call us ‘moss backs’ and stick up her nose at us. They say she is so aristocratic that a fellow can’t talk with her, even. ”

“ One little one was standing in the street viewing the shop windows when a runaway horse came dashing along, and before she could have gotten out of the way a middle aged man came running out of a shop near and caught her up in his arms, not soon enough, however, to clear the danger as they were thrown down violently on the sidewalk.
Mrs. Spaulding was the first to lend a helping hand, as it was just before her door. Soon she bore the little inanimate form of the child into her own cottage and laid her on lounge, where Nettie once lay, and began applying restoratives. ”

“ It was beautiful indeed to see the father leaning on and protected by the manly arm of his son, whom he deserted in childhood. Forgiveness is a blessing we all can bestow on our fellow beings. As God forgives us we should in return forgive our friends and neighbors. Soon they reached the hotel where Paul was staying. He had returned from his tour the day before and until now was ignorant of his father’s whereabouts. Before he started to England he desired to visit his lady love, and was on his way there when he found his father. ”

“ I hope you will not have to endure the troubles and sorrows like the lady of whom I am going to speak.”
“Oh! mama, do tell me now, as I am anxious to hear it. I am sure it is a warning to me,” said Nettie, tapping the velvety cheek of her mother.
“Well, Nettie, many years ago in England there once stood a neat cottage surrounded by a group of beautiful trees, and just within hearing of the big bell in London. What a happy little home it was before the revolution broke out in this country. England was all confusion, especially among the second and lower classes of people. ”

“ He has only been fishing and tore the fish net and could not catch 11any,” said Paul, still laughing. “Oh, mother, I found the nicest little human fish I ever saw, and I am going to catch her if I can. What will my mother say to that?”
“My son,” answered the lady solemnly, “if she is good and true I will not say anything, but if she is not, what a life you would live God only knows. My past life you never knew, and may never, perhaps. If I had my life to live over again, I should lead a different life to the one I have been living the past twenty years.” ”

“ Presently the mother said, “Nettie, I wonder if anyone thinks enough of us to give us something. Our little money is nearly gone and what we have we cannot spare for niceties as it is all we have to keep the wolf from the door.”
“God will provide for us,” answered Nettie.
“I wonder where Paul is today. It is a long time since he went away. Oh, if he would only come back to us it would be all the pleasure I would ask. I care not for presents. Oh, why 50does he not come!” exclaimed Nettie, looking wistfully at her mother while the tears were springing to her eyes. ”

“ I gave the mortgage to save my father from prison. He promised to pay it, but never did, and I have only managed to pay the interest on it. The face of the mortgage is three thousand dollars. I did not care to let everyone know there was a shadow over your birthplace, so I have kept it a profound secret. The mortgagee and our old servants are the only beings who know of it. My dear son, I have taught you to be a good farmer, and I pray to God you may be able to raise the mortgage when it becomes due. ”

“ She tripped lightly out, and Warren handed her into the buggy, and soon the two cousins went from that farmhouse in a very sad mood, as Nettie was leaving her new found friends to go back to the great busy city to live within herself, as her old associates avoided her, or she avoided them, as she could not meet them as of old.
27Warren was sad, as he did not wish his little cousin to leave them. She was like a sunbeam in the dear old home, and he had taken great pleasure in getting the two young people together who he thought were best suited to each other. ”

“ The inmates of that little cottage numbered four—father, mother, a lovely girl of eighteen summers, and a lad of sixteen, as honest a boy as ever lived and a kinder 34heart never beat today. Well, the father had to help to fill the ranks of England’s army and came over here to fight for King George. How noble and manly he looked in his red coat as he mounted his coal black steed. He made a fearless and brave soldier, as many of his comrades testified on their return home. ”

“ It brought back memories of the past.
“How happy I was when I gave the picture to him; no shadow obscured the fair horizon of my life; but time will change all things; babes will grow to be men and women, and soon will grow to old age if God spares them to this world of sorrow. I for one have borne many trials. Whenever cast down, the thought will ever arise, ‘God doeth all things well.’ 49How strange it is that a stranger should have a picture given to a friend twenty-five years ago,” said the lady in meditation. ”

“ Warren brought his horses to a halt as he said, “Take a seat by my side, Paul, it is better to ride than to walk. Are you not tired? You must have gone out early this morning, as I heard the report of your gun when I went to town.”
“Yes,” answered his companion getting into the buggy, “I came out very early, as mother is not as well as usual and I thought some wild food would be good for her. I fear my mother is not long for this world, as she is failing every day. I sent Pompey for the doctor this morning, but mother says it will do no good, as she is past cure. ”

“ Missus, I’s been berry kind and obedient to you, ain’t I? I’s lived with you ever since Paul was a little chick. Anything you want me to tell him, Missus?”
“Yes, my faithful man, you know the whole history of my life, and when I am gone tell him not to censure his father as it was all my fault—his leaving home; but make my sin as 40light as you can. There is a little tin box in the garret that will tell him all he wishes to know.”
She nearly held out her hand to the faithful man, saying, “It’s very hard bidding you goodbye, Pompey, and may God bless you forever!” ”

“ It is well the dead do not know of the living, for if they did how unhappy thousands would be to see the troubles and sorrows of their friends on earth. This is a great mystery we cannot solve; we can only do our duty in helping one another, then, perhaps, we can meet them on that ‘evergreen shore.’”
While her aunt was speaking Nettie was silently weeping. Her aunt said, “Cheer up, Nettie, you and your mother can have a home with us as long as we have one, and we will share 7the last morsel of food with you; your uncle said so a few days ago.” ”

“ Massa Paul, you are just like your fodder in every respect. You just look and act like him. Your fodder was a British soldier and when he went to Boston with the regiment your mother saw him and just fell in lub wid him ober head and ears. Well, he was a baronet’s son and she a beautiful lady wid lots of money—as your fodder supposed. Well, he was deceived, and Missus just let him think what he might. I does not think your fodder lubber your mudder very much; and your mother—beautiful and rich—he thought so—he just married her for she loved him fondly ”

“ She has been a good, kind mother to you and you would miss her very much.”
“Yes,” answered Paul, “a kinder mother there never was, 16and may she live long to see what a dutiful son she has.” As he said this tears were in his eyes. “Good night, Ralph!” Suiting the action to the word he sprang lightly on his horse and rode away. He went homeward thinking of all Ralph had said about Warren’s cousin and his mother, and he was deeply troubled. His mother he loved deeply and feared for her health. ”

“ Why does mother not tell me and not keep me in misery?”
An old negro servant was passing by and heard him. He went quietly to him, and laying his hand on Paul’s shoulder said: “Young massa, fadda is alibe and is a roving ober the earf, missa and massa had a quarrel and massa went away when you was a little babe. He laid you in my arms and said, ‘Pompey, watch ober dis boy as if he was your own, and God will bless you always ”