Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-06
on which lay the lifeless body of her hus.

dSdIh sec Emily Moore u
You see wretched dying woman,
Arthur" said Mrs. Hanson, struggling to
stlfie her emotion, which yet was so yio-
lent that she sunk nearly fainting, into a
chair-the only one ia the room.
is there nothing can be done for
her 7" asked Erskine, eagerly, as he vain
~ sought among the broken cups and
empty phials for some cordial to revive
her. Woman" cried he, turning to-
wards the landlady with an expression of
sternness that made her tremble, ego
send for aphysician and nurse, and
bring something instantly for this sick
lady"
Lady" but the tone of contempt died
on the hostess lip as the dark glance of
Ersklne's eye met hers. She soon
brought restoratives, and Mrs. Hanson
was borne to another apartment.
shall now die in peace" said Mrs.
Hanson, in a low tone, and frequently
interrupted by sobs which all her efforts
could not suppress. 81 shall die in
peace. have SO pinned to hear a voice
that was familiar to me-to see face that
looked kind. 1t was such an agony to
think of leaving my dear little Emily alone
with strangers But you will, Mr.. Frs
kline, l know you will take care of her.
He promised all she wished, and then
strove to comfort her with the hope Of
recovery and happier DAYS.
Mott can never be-" she replied.
Ny heart is broken by disappointments
grief, ana remorse, You do not know,
Erskine, what I have done or suffered.
We heard you were successful in Kentuc-
ky, and had obtained great wealth: re.
pinned that my husband was not equally
fortunate. | loved him sincerely, but
was dissatisfied with our humble station.
l was mortified and unhappy because my
husband was not great man. / coveted
riches and persuaded him to leave that
quiet home where we had all that was
really necessary to enjoyment, and with
his aged parents, and our two little ones,
we set out the long journey to this place.
Nothing material occurred until we were
descending the last ridge ofthe Allegheny.
Our wagon was there precipitated down
a ledge of rocks. The horses were killed
or wounded, but that was of no conse-
quence. Our kind and venerable father
was entangled with the horses and fell
| with them. He died the next day. We
then came to this house, and here our
mother was attacked with fever. Then
our little boy was sick. My husband sup
ported himself till they were both laid in
the same quiet grave and then he took his
4 bed. 1t is four weeks since. / had for
gotten to tell you that our money, all we
had, was stolen from us few DAYS after
we arrived. We have to beg from stran-
gers for the means to live, and know
what it is to suffer hunger and to weep
with thankfulness for peice of bread.
| Oh! this is cold-hearted world, but |
dare not tell you all l have suffered. 1t
has been just. | ought to have been con-
tented with my home, and not coveted
riches so eagerly. My poor husband has
died, the victim of my ambition"
/ Her emotions overcame her again, and
the physician, who had arrived, gave Frs
kline but little hope of recovery. Every
thing was done for Mrs. Hanson that skill
could devise, or wealth command. All
was vain. The third evening after Frs.
kline met her, he was summoned to her
bedside-she was dying.
! The agony of remorse, of self-reproach.
that had so over Swallowed her pale ema-
ciated countenance, had passed away,
She looked calm, even happy. She ex-
tended her hand to Erskine-it was the
first time he had dared to take it.
My friend" said she "you show that
the affection you once professed for me
was sincere. | could not then return
your love, but l feel deeply your kindness
My little Emily"-
1 Arthur Erskine took the child and
pressed her to his bosom without speaking
She threw her infantile arms around his
neck, and caressed him as she would have
done her father.
"She is yours" said the dying mother
the tear gathering in her large dark eyes
that already beamed with the earnest, un.
earthly brightness which usually precedes
dissolution. ".She is yours give her
to you, and my last earthly tie is broken. y
care you worse ?" inquired Erskine in
a tone trembling with emotion.
"Oh! no. feel assured my sorrows
will soon cease; that shall soon join my
beloved friends-I see them all"
| "Where when 2" exclaimed Erskine
looking around.
al mean l have just seen them in my
dream, dreamed | was at home. Oh
l thought had been wandering long,
long time, and lost my way, and lost my
friends, and had been in darkness and de-
spair but at last reached my home. Every
thing looked just as it did the last morn
ing was there. The sun was rising, and
its beams shone on the waters of the riv-
er, and the ripples glanced like sparkles
of gold. But just thea soft voice whis-
pered in my ear, F" You shall soon see
brighter waters than these"