The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-23


inspired with some idea that would benefit
my suffering child. She awolc and cried.
recollected once having read in a mcdi-
cal book, that when young children are
threatened with fits, they should be immc-
diately exposed to the open air by opening
a window.
Alas l had no window to open but
lighting the lantern ran with her to the
cave OF the fountain, and held her near the
largest crevice of the rock. She was mo-
ilonless; her face was deadly pale, and
her pulse was almost gone; her lips had
become blue, and her mouth was half open.
expected every moment to see her expire
IN my arms, and l would have taken off
the bandsge that l had tied over her eyes
before | lighted the lantern, only ] feared
that the sudden glare would hasten her
last moments.
No words can describe my agony. AT
last she moved and stretched out her arms
| started, thinking it the struggle of death.
could utter but one word of prayer, and
that word was heard. saw on her cheeks
faint tinge of their natural red, and her
Pslse became stronger. clasped her tol
my bosom and burst into tears. Before j
took her from the cave, she put her arms
round my neck she kissed me, and even
smiled. Oh how charming was this smile
after the terrOrs had just endured.
I carried my daughter to her bed, aud
she soon fell into quiet slumbcr l lay
down beside her, but was too happy to
sleep. When | examined her mouth next
day, found That the large tooth had come
through, snd in n short time my Alphon-
sine was as well us usual.
Attwenty monlhs old, my daughter talk
ed aud walked, and comprehended every
thing ] said to her. She was not gay,
(alas! how could she be so,) but she show
sd already all extreme sensibiIty. She
caresse1 the in The most affecting manner
her hand was almost always in mine; and
IT she did not feel me or hear me speak
she feared that had left her. could not
induce her 10 play unless | held her in my
lap. She frequently amused herself with
Azor, whom sho already loved, aud often
heard her Kiss bin: but she seldom laugh
ed, and her laugh seemed always followed
by seLsation of sadness, for she would
sigh and lay her head on my shoulder.
One Of her greatest pleasures was to hear
me talk. invented for her little stories
adapted to her comprehension, and she lis
ened to them with wrapt attention. And
taught her to repeat little verses, which she
learned With surprising facility.
Most fortunately her health continued
good, and on the second birth day made
her very happy, by giving her some fruit
which she had never before tasted, and
some new pay-things that had construct
cd for her.
accustomed my daughter to having
hnndnge frequently tied over her eyes, thai
in case / should find it necessary TO light
the lamp while she was awake, l might do
it Without fear Of distressing her.
That winter was less mild than the win
ters Of Spain usually are, and we felt it even
in our cavern. My child caught cold
which afflicted me exceedingly, and ms
soon as she got well, l became myself in
disposed with the same complaint, and the
necessity of going every other day to the
cave of the trap-door, much retarded my
recovery. Inplorcd Leonora to give Inc
food, not only for two days, but, to furnish
me with provisions that might last several
months, and | accompanied this request
with bribe Of ten ducats. Leonora con-
sented with n tolerablo grace; and for sew
eral weeks she came every day to The trap
door, and instead of one basket she brought
two. She gave me n large quantity of
gingerbread, biscuit, dried fruit, swectmea,s
chocolate, sugar, wine, syrups, and II small
apparatus for boiling, heated with spirits Of
wine.
liz this mannsr n large stock of proyis-
ions was laid in, but no cntreaties could
prevail on her to allow me light sufficient
To burn all day. Now and then | had
bribed Leoncrn to give me a little oil or a
few wax tapers, but she yielded with the
greatest reluctance, telling me every time to
use them only in case of absolute necessity
as they were the last | should ever have
And the fear that Leonora would become
inexorable on this subject, induced me to
persevcre in keeping my unfortunate child
ignorant of the existence of light.
When A!phensine had attained her third
year, she was in many respects much more
forward than children usually are at her
age Her extreme affection for me seemed
to give her degree of intelligence, superior
to that which results only from quickness Of
capacity. All children love their mothers,
but my daughter could love no one else
She had never received any caresses but
mine; mine was tho only voice she had
ever heard, aud ! was indeed the whole
world to her. Fearful of affecting me, she
never now cried aloud aud when she wep,
II was so softly, that | only knew it by feel.
lss her tears. Often when | was a few
moments without speaking, she supposed
also tha: | was crying in silence. Sh,
would then pass her little hand over m,
lace. and if she felt any traces Of tears, sh,
would throw herself on my bosom and ex
claim, "Oh! my dear mother, never cry a.
gain"
l had now inhabited the cavern foul