Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-01-26
RIusCELLANV.
FROM THE NEw-YoRKER.
THE MOTHER AND HER chin.
"For the love of Godv'

For the love of Godp'
A woman stood before me, and. with
her long bony hand stretched out, So
licited charity. Her countenance and
her dress bespoke the extreme of po-
verify and wretchcdness The chill
winds oil November whistled drearily
along the streets, and the pedestrian
burned by, buried in the ample folds
OF his cloak; but this poor child OF
want was sheltered from the cruel air
only by a tatiered calico dress that W As
scarcely sufficient TO hide her naked
ness. Want and wo had written their
record upon her face in legible charac-
tiers, and the fearless eloquence Of her
look appealed irresistibly TO the heart.
am not guilty Of much alms-g;ving-
but now my hand went Nth a spasmo-
dc motion TO my pocket, in search of
stray coin. know not what express
sion my eountenance may have worn
eS dropped piece of silver in her
hand but as her eye rested upon my
face, she paused. and seemed hesitating
whether to receive or reject the gift.
II 10 hard, very hard. 60 be q beggar, ="
at length she said, "but how can hear
her ask for bread and have none to give
her! Oh. God were ] alone, could
bear any thing. every thing; but can
not see my poor Alice dying by piece
meal before my eyes, perishing for lack
Of food !" There was an earnestness
IN the poor woman's voice that showed
how deeply she felt what she spoke.
Our heart was touched. Partly from
benevolence, and partly from curiosity
we resolved to follow her aud look up
on the misery Of which she told. "Oh!
sir, said she, as we announced our in
ton, THE God of the widow and the
fatherless will bless YOU How faith
less was !. 10 doubt his promise But
sur, she continued, with voice bro
ken by sobs, "you know not how strong
may be the agony Of mothers heart.
I have sat night AFTER night by my
meekly suffering child. praying that she
might die; and when the sun has look.
ed IN through the smoky window, and
che still lived, thoughts Of murder have
sprung up in my heart But my hand
has beeR meroifully withheld, aud now
know II was for good"
We passed into narrow and dirty
lane, and IN few moments paused be-
fore a miserable house. Two or three
hlthy and half-naked children were
playing around the door, while within
sat several bloaied persons. male and
female, drinking and blaspheming, and
singing snaiches Of nbaid aud iicen.
hous songs. We had never before
gazed upon 90 complete a picture Of
human misery and degradation. Our
soul sickened with infinite disgust. aud
we were turning losthingly away, for.
geuul Of the errand that brought US
there, when the poor woman laid her
hand upon our arm, aud looked be.
seechingly into our face. Her silent
sppeal TO us was enough, and, without
speaking word. We followed her guild.
anee. Opening a side door, she passed
TsPidly through a dark hall 10 the rear
OF The building, and aseended q fight
o crazy stairs that tyembled beneath
our step.
In low. dark attic, lighted by a sin.
e'e narrow window in the roof. We
paused. We looked around us-There
vas no ire--no chair-no bed. Stretch
"a on . couch q straw, and covered
N''h isiiered CLOAK girl Of some
nineteen years lay asleep. Her face
vas very pale and emacialed but
.ns'e Vas an expression Of patience
-hu OF resignation upon IL that slmo,,
"s0e " beautiful. il might once have