The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-05-13
ed billet from Leonora. | opened il
trembling. and read the following words.


trembling, and read the following words.
Il have received positive orders ftom my
lord the Count u allow you no more light.
You have still some " aud wax remaining
Of your former supply. Manage ilwel, for
il is the last you will ever have
This terrible decree fell on me like q
thunderboli. supposed that the Count
tired of the existence Of myself and my IN
FAINT, aud not being oble 10 hring bis mind
or Leonora's 10 the resolution of destroying
us at once, had devised this ruode of add
lag an insupportabe privation to The mise.
ry Of our captivity, in the hope the, our
suilsriues from The wan, of light would
slowly, but surely, put al cad 10 our unhap-
! py lives.
A, FIRST, could not conceive the possbili.
~ Of living in total darkness; aud snppos.
Jog, even, that it was possible, what would
such 4 life be for my unfortunate child
Without light how could take care Of
Alphonsine bow could bring her through
the term of her Infancy what would be-
come Of her If she should be sick These
thoughts seemed 10 tear me 10 pieces
However | rocollecled thal the existence
of my daughter depended on my ioriItude
and ingenuity, aud tried 10 sustain myself
under the dreadful blow. Instead OF dwell
ing only on the horror OF this new siaatiou,
endeavoured TO think Of seeking the
means to ameliorate 1t.
Z had only remaining six pounds Of wax
tapers and one bottle of oil. How bitterly
! | regretted that my child would 10 future
I be like bind person, aud that her eyes
would never open but on total darkness. -
( To prevent her from grIeving after bless
( ing she could not hope TO ENJOY, thought
+ i, would be best 10 let her know nothing
about the light she was never TO see, and the
world she was never to visit. How few
then would be her ideas. And now that |
could not have the happiness Of teaching
( her 10 read, TO write, TO sew, or to draw, |
should have but scaniy means Of instfucliug
or amusing her.
! Nothing Gains the feelings like the ne.
cessiiy Of active employment, and ! was
obliged immediately TO commence making
preparations for life Of darkness. at.
ranged my chamber, my closets, aud my
chest 10 such manner that without high,
| could find whatever wanted. | could
already 20 to the cratory in the dark, and
| had counted the number Of steps that
descended to the cavern Of the veil
placed my table and my other furniture in
such way as not TO impede my progress
when ! walked. ! SET aside in one of the
closets the SIX pounds OF wax candles, de.
ternined to reserve Them carefully for IN.
I foreSeen emergencies when should have
Indispensable occasion for them, and pro
posed 10 use the oil TO light me while was
making clothes for my Alphonsine, intend.
/ ing 10 cut them out Of different sizes SO al
10 las, TIL she was four or FIVE years old
and made little shoes for , qr out Of my
own. Leonora had some zine since re.
fused 10 supply me with any ar,iclgs O.
clothing for my child, as she said she could
not get them made without exciting suspi,
cion, and for the same reason she would no,
allow me TO send up Alphonsine's things in
the basket to DO washed. My own clothes
were washed with Leouora's, and passed
for hers.
/ That night after wen, to bed, my tears
prevented me from sleeping when thought
that the Inlan, uho slumbered quietly and
Unconsciously beside me, was destined 10
pass her ahole life IN tie cavern, and never
again to see the light. With what anguish
! reflected that in the morning her eyes
would open only on darkness, that when she
began 10 walk mus, guide her FIRST Steps
trembling and in terror With no hight to di.
rect them; that she must receive ny cares
ses without seeing ne bes.og them; and
lha, she would listen TO my voice without
perceIVing the tenderness and affection that
would ill my eyes.
Ia dwelling on these melancholy thoughts
! she'd torrent Of tears, and MY heart
seemed to break when extlnaui.hed the
lamp which was never more to lie lighted
for ny child. The morrow vas dreadful
day TO me Alphousine cried almost con
tInuaIiy, and her ctie5 pierced ny heart,
for supposed they mus, be caused by the
darkIe4s- evaiksd with hrr 10 my arms
for hours, From this sad day ny uaio.ld
nate child, tilI she was old enough to begin
10 speak, fretled almost lncessall.y hay.
ing no exterior objects to attract her a,len
ton and nothing 10 amuse her. However,
her health was good she was fat, ard ied
aud slept perfectly well. Leonora always
put bottle Of milk IN the basket.
For my part, soon learned 10 wash and
dress her nearly as well in the dark as 10
the light. 10 make my oil last as long as
possible, only lighted my lamp FOR about
Two hours every evening, after | had pa,
Alphon-iGe to bed, and then occupied
myself most induslrously in sewing for her
or 10 washing her clothes. had obtained
from Leouora seine soap which used very
/ economically: did all these things IN the
cavern Of the fountain, that | might have
the convenience of the water. Before |
eytngulshcd the lamp, arranged 10 a has.
kel, whatever things | should want for the
ppYf dqy and then I raTnropd IN thu IA "