Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-30


She moved silently among her children.
Her face was emaciated and hectic; and
her eyes were red with tho constant swell
tears. II vas IA mighty change.
The day oil trial at length came on
Wilson was found guilty, and sentence
Of death was passed. on him. The laws
in their justice condemned him to BIZ
hanged-and the laws IN their Justice
had enforced the taxation, the hard pres
sure "f which had so mainly assisted TO
drive him into the crime. But the world
is inexpIlcable.
His wife did not survive the hows many
hours. She died in the night without a
struggle. Ii was ofno use to let the con-
demned man know this; l knew he would
never ask to see her again, for theii
meetings in the prison had already been
tormenting beyond endurance.
| visited him ia his cell two days be-
fore tho time appointed for his exccu-
ton. He was silent for many minutes af-
ter [ entered, and l did not attempt to
rouse him. AT length with 4 voice quiv-
ering under an effort to be composed, he
SAID" Although, Nj. Saville, | do not
request q was going TO say | did no;
wish, but God knows how false that
would be- to behold my wife again in
this bitter, bitter world; because such O
dresry meeting would drive her mad
YET | think it would do me good i'll could
see my child, my eldest girl, my little
Betsey know not why 1t is, but /
have an idea that her soft p%rattIe, ignor-
ant as she is Of my fate, would take
something away from the dismal suffer
ing | am to undergo on Wednesday,
Therefore bring her, will you, this after
noon; and frame some postponlng ex-
cuse for my poor wife. These, idear
sir, arc melancholy troubles, but l know
you arc very COED.
la the afternoon, accordingly, l took
the child, who asked me several tlmos
on tho road, why her father did not come
home. AS we walked along the gloomy
passage 10 his cell, she clung close to
me and did not say n word 1t was very
different, poor thing, to the open and
gay garden about which she was used ia
run.
The door Of her fathers miserable
dungeon was DOR opened, and the child
rushed into his arms.
do not like you to live in this dark
place, father" she cried. come home
with mo and Mr., Saylllo, land SEE mother
who is in bed.
"i cannot come just now my child"
he answered; 'you must stay a little
with me, and throw your arms round my
neck and lean your face on mine.'
The child did as she was hidden, and
the poor man strained her to him, sob
bling bitterly and convul,ively After a
few minutes he looked with yawning
eyes in her face crying, come my dear,
sing your poor father that pretty song
which you know you used to sing 10 him
when he was tired on an evening. I am
not well now-look at me, my child, and
sing.
How sad it was TO hear the child's
voice ~warbling in that dolorous place!
could scarcely bear it; but it seemed t.
have a CONT airy effect on the father
His eyes were lighted up and n smile
appeared on his ~countenance. The
song Was Of love and woody retirement,
and domestic reposo, and the bnfled
frowns of fortune. While the child was
! singing, l left the cell to make some ar
engagements with the gaoler who was
walking close to the door. l had not
however, been thus engaged for five
minutes, before | heard something fal
heavily, accompanied with a violent
scream, n rushing into the cell, l 81"
the unhappy convict lying on the foo
and his little girl clinging round his
neck. The jailor and [ lifted him up
and alarmed at the hue Of his face, call
ed in tho medical attendant OF the prs,
on, who soon told us the poor man wa:
dead.
| The account given by the child was
tina: after she had done singing, her fn
iher started, then looked sharply in hel
face, and with a strange short laugh
fell from his chair. l suppose sho hat
sung him into temporary forgetfnlness O.
his situation; that she had conjured up ir
his mind with her innocent voice, a bies.
scd dream ofpast days and enjoyments
and that tho spell of ccasing when hel
melody ceased, the truth of things hat
beat upon his breast with too stunning
a contrast, aud it had burst.
THE LAY PREACHER.