Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-07-14

have shed tears of anguish for her Ia.
menable destiny. Scorped by The
world, even by those who more need.
| ed the requisite Of Christian virtue than
herself, how did she languish for that
once indulgent breast, wherein, when
innocent, she could repose her declin
! ing head in illness or in sorrow. No
/ hospitable door was now open to
receive her; she had no home 10 an
| ticipate, beyond the grave OF her Sc
dgcer; and It was seated on That grave,
! in all the wildness of phreDZied bitter,
ness, that Amy resolved once more 10
behold the countenance of her father,
to supplicate his forgiveness, to place
her infant at his feet and expire. De
cember bad already stripped the for.
est trees of their latest leaves; the snow
lay in deep ridges along the valleys,
and the cold was excessive; Amy had
walked nearly all that day, and, as
the evening approached, succeeded
in gaining the entrance of h,I native
village. Her thin cloak was careful
iy wrapped round the sleeping half
famished babe at her bosom when the
well-rememhercd sight ofthe church
spire conjured up host of indescriba
bic emotions; thrill OF shame rushed
across her soul at the recollection of
SelwiD, and leaning on broken
stile for support, gladly would her la
cerated feelings have sought relief 10
tears, bat even tears were no longer
permitted to assuagc the sufferlngs Of
Amy. In the midst of this distress,
| she behold tv o men approaching, and
wishing to escape their observation,
| retreated behind some underwood, re
solving not to enter the village till
dusk should serene her despised form
from the finger of indignation.
"Tis a melancholy business " said
one of the men, as he passed near the
| place of Amy's copcealment 80 try
and make away with himself--in the
same part of the river, too, where A
my, bis abandoned daughter, was so
near being drowned: l pulled him
out just in time: shame on all wanton
husseys, say !, who bring down ruin
on their families in this manner; they
deserve"
Amy heard no more: the conviction
thst her father bad attempted TO des-
troy himself, caused a deadly sickness
TO enervatc her " hole frame; her
tongue cleaved 10 the roof of her
mouth; with scarcely strength to hold
the child in her arms, she attempted
TO cry out; but the men were beyond
hearing, long ere her berumbed
faculties had revived. Amy felt her
self aIone-she possessed only suifi
cient power TO sink on her knees in
silent prayer, and to invoke the lenity
Of that Creator who never deserts US,
10, no. even in our sins.
Evening began to draw its murky
veil over surrounding objects, as Amy
slowly paced through the narrow
street Of " hich she had once been The
pride and boast: how altered were
her feelings from those of happier
times She beheld the comfort in
spring fire streaming through the lat
tlcles of the different cottages. Gotta
ges wherein she had passed many a
playful hour, hours that had faded
for ever: she met one or two Of her
former companions; she tire mbled to
encounter them; but, in The detected
beipg before them, they caught no re
collection Of the pale, but beautiful A
my CastIeion, and passed on. AT
length with faltering steps, and worn
Out by the care and fatigue, she reach
ed the little white gate OF the cottage;
her hand touched the latch, it seemed
like the grasp ofan old friend, except
that il was cold and icy bot cold and
almost icy was the shrunken hand that
pressedit. Amy could perceive, that
the garden had been much neglected
by her father since hel departure: the
summer house wherein she used TO sit
had fallen INTO ruins, and the ever.
greens, the only signs of vegetation
allowed by the season, had fuD to
waste and were trailing over the path
way. A candle burned dimly in Gas
tleton's bed chamber, which was
on the ground floor. Towards
the window Of This apartment Amy
rather staggered than walked, anx-
ious to obtain the glimpse of one friend |
ly face which might inspire her with
resolution 10 enter, for now that she was
preparing 10 cast herself at the feet Of !