Louisville messenger. (Louisville, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1842-11-05
NO. 20.

on Tho sumo hnuHg you nny Iost Nc
sufed that my body Il among tho ,iinss
confined dead of the OCEAN, Alasi
Mrs Potter was doomed 10 drink doop
Of the fountain Of voc.
Aitor waiting tho period Of his OK
pccled return, she began to gnzc win
anSioty on every soil that appeared,
IN view, aud eagerly sought every OPP
portuuity TO learn from the public doc
umcnts, some tidings Of her absent
husband, or the fate of the ship which
he sailed i'm. But all her efforts were
intellectual. The only information
that was obtained on the scbjcCty was
from an English vessel WHICH read
thus MAY Is, 1906, spoke with the
Ranger, from Newport, captain Pot
ter, master, 3S dogs. 80 min. W. This
indefinite intelligence was far from
cheering to the heart of Mrs Potter.
When she saw others blithe, it only
reminded her of her own sadness;
while Nothers were rejoicing in their
reciprocity Of congenial society, it
pointed her to the loneliness of her
own heart. While oiher children
were happy in the smiles of their par
ents, her sweet little Mary would
climb upon her knee, and with ac-
cents that rend a mothers heart, ask
if her father would not return. But
month after month wasted away, sea-
son after season rolled on, until four
teen years had been added to the con-
gregated centuries of the past, yet no
tidings of captain P, no, not even a
probable cojecture concerning the
dark histories of his fate.
Time, that changes all things, had
worn away the acuteness of Mrs. Pot
ter's grief, which was farmore intense
than ii would have been had she wept
at his grave, and known that the last
moments of her husband had been
soothed by affection. AS the last voy-
age of the captain seemed to be to
the unknown coast, she was called the
widow Potter. Having splendid
mansion and country seat of great
value, her hand was sought by many,
and as often rejected, until bachelor
who had resisted the charmes of wo-
men kind for a quarter of d century,
was smifien with the lovliness of the
worthy matron, or with the comeli-
ness of her possessions. She at length
consented that her name should be
changed to Morane. The bridal day
was appointed; the arrangements
were made to greet the coming peri
cd with due festivity.
Late in the afternoon ola cold stor-
my day in November, penniless beg
gar called at neighboring house,
and enquired if The widow Potter liv-
ed in this part Of the city. His APP
pearance denoted extreme poverty;
his emaciated form was reduced to d
skeleton; hischeeks were deeply fur
rowed, and his toitefing frame seemed
to be stitfened in every joint, by dis
ease and hardships yet there was
in hiseye that told ne was
born to better fortune. fg
'Yes' says his informant, Sat the
very next door, and tonight she is to
be married. "A
is to be marriedp says the beggar;
'how long has her husband beend1adH
these many long years; he went
off to sea and has not been heard of
SINCE
'How has she sustained herself
since her husbands deathl'
'She has nunblemished chHracter.'
'Has she any childrenp ps ~ E
'One daughter, who has become
fine young LADY, Pas
q must see her before she is mar
ried; have some communication of
to make W
So saying, he hurried as fast as his
feble limbs would carry him to the
splendid dwelling Of the widow. The
maid in attendance being summoned,
and st eing beggar before her, was
about to close the door against him;
but the stranger interrupted her by
saying: ssFfas
MADAM, may d beggar be permit
ted to see the widow Potter?' Nt
1--WE expect company tonight, am
swered the girl, sand therefore you
must leave immediately
The widow Potter, must sec,'
reJoined the beggar, interrupting her.
The maid, who would have been
glad to dismiss her unsichtlv guest at