The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-05-13

bandage frequently tied over her ey es, that
in case | should find it necessary 10 hight the
lamp while she was awake, misht do II
without fear OF IFS distressing her.
That winter was less nild than the wlu'
ters Of Spain Usually are, and we felt II even
in our cavern. My child caught cold
which afflicted ne exceedingly, aud as soon
as she got vel, became my self ipdisposed
with the same complaint, aud the necessity
Of gong every other day to the cave of The
trap door much re .arded my recovery. l
implored Leonora TO give me food, not on
( ly for two days, hui, 10 furnish me with
provision that might last several monihs,
and | accompanied this request With
brlbe of ten ducats. Leonora consented
with a lolerable grace; and Tor several
weeks she came every day to the Irupdoor,
and instead Of one BASKET she brough, two.
She gave me large quantity OF glnger.
bread, biscuit, dried fruit, sweolmea,s, choc'
olate, sugar, VINE, syrups, and a small ap
paratus for boiling, heated with splrlis Of
vine.
10 this mauner large stock Of provisions
vas laid IN, bul no entreatles could prevail
% her 10 allow me light Sufficient % burn
all day. Nov and ihen had brioed Leo
nora 10 give me a little oil or a few wax ia.
pers, but she yielded with the greatest re.
( iuctnnre, telling me every time TO use then
only in case OF absolute necessity, as they
we're the last should ever have. And the
( fear that i4eonora would become memorable
On this subject, induced me TO pei-esere ~
keeping ny unfortunate chld ignorant Of
the existence Of light.
Whea Alphousine had attained her third
+ year, she was ~ many respects much more
forward than children usually ore at That
age. Her extreme affection for me seemed
10 give her degree of intelligence, supe.
r,or 10 that which results only from quick
ness Of capacity. All childien love their
mothers, bu, my daughter could lore 10
one else. She bad never received any ca
resses bu, mine NINE VAS the only voice
she had ever heard, and vas indeed the
+ - hole world to her. Fearful Of affecting
ne, she never nov cried aloud aud when
she vepI, II was 50 softly, tina, only kne"
It by feeling her tears. Of,rn when was
a few minutes without speaking, che sup
posed that | also VAS CRY ing N silence. -
She would ihen pass her little hand over
10Y Caee, and It she feli any traces Of tears,
she would throw herself on my bosom, aad
excla.m, "Oh my dear mother, never cry
again"
bad now inhabited the cavern four
years. Heaven still bles, my Alphonslne
with excellent health, and such sas the
sweetness Of her disposition lha, | never
had occasion 10 iun,et on her the slightest
punishment. She never cried without a
cause but 40 expression from ne less ten
der than usual, was 10 her severe repn.
mHnd. had accustomed her from her 10
fancy to the mos, perfect obedience, aud she
could not conceive the possibility OF dong
, any thing contrary 10 my desire. She never
followed me 10 the tfapduor. Before wenl
thiiher, | always placed her on one Of the
large cushions 80 my chamber, aud uas
sure Of fudIng her there Shen returned.
But If stayed longer than usual, she al.
ways she'd tears. As soon as she heard
my returning footsteps, she began TO cell
me BY tie 'enderest names, and ey,ueed the
most animated and touching delight.
One n.ornng Leoaofa announced TO mo
that she felt herself III aud ieyefiss, eud
that It would probably be several DAYS be
fore she brought he any more food. had
plenty Of provisions, bot ! VAS terrified al
the dea that her illness might be loog, that
perhaps she might die, and that my child
and myself must then perish, forgotten, in a
dungeon the Count having let. Catalonia
and gone 10 reside a. Madrid. where, rs
le"nora lulNrmct nte, be had married a
widow OF large funuup.
After | hoJ lea tie trap door. Lsonora
called mc back. " hat do yeu wlsh to
say TO nc p sld l. She hesl,aied for u
few moments and then SAID -" Can you for
give me FOR al the suienngs have caused
you, md for still refusing to betray nv
masters trust l'--' have long since tired
to do 50" | replied, "ald now forgive
sou az christian shoud Weii. thee, -
+A'A Af<t'H'tHi tt@AAf#g W itt@E Up n
prayer expressly TOR ne as feel rhyseil
very H." :" ui indeed pray for you, /
replied. She thaaked me, aud hastily De
parted.
Her illness confirmed three weeks.
had hoped that It would be over IN few
days, ike several former attacks. We had
slll plenty OF provisions, but at the end Of
a fortnight, | began 70 fear that Leonora
~as dead, and that VIC should mover be able
TO obtain any more food. From that NO.
mcnt | restricted ms self 10 tho smallest
quantity that could support BE and wheA
gave my daughter hera. thought With
bitter tears, that perhaps, IN /. s!.ori time,
she would ask me for It IN yam. Ii before
her meals, she sad to me, " dear moiber,
On hungry" telI my hcari sink within
me, and pictured TO myself the dreadful
moment When she might address to me those
distressing words, aud should have moth.
ing to give her. How atdcnlIy did psar
lor The recovery Of tie woman whom / had