The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-04-05

At length the infant fell asleep, and
was transferred from its mothers lap
to wretched pallet in an adjoining
room. Her charge being thus dispos
ed of, she returned into the outer apart
ment. A cooking vessel was on the
fire. She lifted the lid. The steam
family rose from the contents.
"Will it never grow hot" she impa-
tlently exclaimed, and resorting to
bellows, through the creviced sides of
which escaped the greater portion Of
the wind which was intended for the
proper vent, proceeded assiduously, but
almost in vain, to urge the sluggish fu-
ell. "He'l brain me if he comes home
and nothing ready;' she cried to her.
self, in querulous under tone. "Heav-
en- send him luck, and | shall have
peace for day or two," continued she.
''But for my baby, | wish had never
seen the face of Black Norris"
"Let me in;" cried the wrecker, at
the door.
"Thank heaven, he has met with
Iuck;" calculated the wretched wife.
She let him in. He had a trunk up
on his shoulder, and under his arm he
carried a bundle of clothes.
Good luck, Norris?" TREMENDOUSLY and
half-doubtingly, inquired she.
"Yes;" was his sullen reply. "Why
do you ask with such face as thatw
81 was afraid you had not met with
any,"
"Why" demanded he, sternly.
"From your looks" timidy respond
ed she.
"Curse thee;' muttered the ruffian,
'what business hast thou to mind my
looks? Here; Lend hand, and help
this load from my back"
The trunk was deposited upon the
floor.
"What! Nothing ready! Hast thou
not victuals in the house? Hast thou
not fire? Hast thou not hands? and
why is not my dinner ready9 Bestir
thee! | have something to do in the
next room. On thy life let me not be
interrupted till | have done. Haste;
Give me the key Of the big chest"
"Don't wake the baby;" entreating-
ly enjoined the wife. "He has not
slept the whole morning, and is only
just now dropped off"
Curse the child" cried the wrecker.
"Thou thinkest of nothing but the child.
Luok to my dinner"
He went into the next apartment,
shut the door after him, and bolted it.
He examined the jewels again. He
emptied the purse Of its contents and
counted them. He opened the rest of
the pockets. The trousers he had ta-
ken fro n the bundle, and thrown upon
the floor of the other room---all con-
tanned riches. He placed them upon
the ground, applied the key, and hasti-
Iy began to deposit them in the bottom
of the chest. In the progress of his
work, he started and stopped short, at
a shuffling of feet which he heard in the
outer apartment, accompanied by the
sound ofvoices, as Of persons speaking
in low key. Muttering curse he
proceeded. "Norris; Norris" whis-
pered his wife at the door.
He replied not, but went on.
"Norris;' she whispered again. "You
are wanted"
He answered not, but listened an
xiously. All was silent.
"Norris;" she repeated.
"Silence, and confound thee;" was
the ruffian's reply.
81 cannot help it, Norris;" rejoined
she, still whispering. "You are want
ed, husband. o come. Do come"
"Presently," he veciferated. The
last article was put in. He locked
the chest, and unbolting the door, threw
it open.
swell. Is my dinner ready!" he
noisily demanded, entering the outer
apartment, and looking toward the ta-
ble--which had been constructed out
of the fragments of wreck; a corpse
lay stretched upon it. At the head
and at the foot was group of his neigh
bours. He stood foramoment or two
transfixed.
"What means this?'' at length he
boldly inquired, with loud voice, stri-
wing to conceal covering heart.
"Merciful powers;" exclaimed one,
lifting the rifled truwsers, which the
wrecker had thrown upon the floor.
1"Merciful powers, if it isnot your faith
er's body, Norris, that you have been
stripping.
"My fathers body" echoed Black
Norris; the blood utterly forsaking his
cheeks.