Some of it was very hard for a wife
to bear, and she resented it indignantly; yet never received a
word from father with which to refute it. At this time, as nearly
as I can judge, she was a recluse, and subject to periods of
profound melancholy, but nothing worse. Then she took that winter
journey to her sister's deathbed, brought home the boy, and,
hastened by exposure and chill and grief, I suppose, her mind
gave way,--that's all!" And Ivory sighed drearily as he stretched
himself on the greensward, and looked off towards the snow-clad
New Hampshire hills." I've meant to write the story of the
'Cochrane craze' sometime, or such part of it as has to do with
my family history, and you shall read it if you like. I should
set down my child-hood and my boyhood memories, together with
such scraps of village hearsay as seem reliable. You were not so
much younger than I, but I was in the thick of the excitement,
and naturally I heard more than you, having so bitter a reason
for being interested. Jacob Cochrane has altogether disappeared
from public view, but there's many a family in Maine and New
Hampshire, yes, and in the far West, that will feel his influence
for years to come."
"I should like very much to read your account.
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