The Columbian fountain., 1846-08-15

. The wish was scarce conceived, ere !
felt my soul waited with inconceivable
swiftness through the chill night air. Bars
and bolts were Of no avail in hinderinQ
my course: but without knowing how,
found myself before half closed chamber
door. / paused. A dim and shaded ligh
cast sickly glare upon those within. lis.
tened. A faint and feeble moan told Of dis.
tress and bodily anguish. Oh there was
something 50 heart-rending in that, cry OF
suffering! sound that found its way at
once to a sympathizing breast, and made
the hearts deep caverns echo with the un-
utterable cry. Softly and breathlessly en-
tered, and paused upon the threshold, al
hearing again that touching moan. gazed
around all .betokened worldly ease and
comfort the air Of luxury which lowered
around the Observation-Disclosures CLEAN
of the costly furniture beneath the dim
light--all told that wealth had not spared
its profusion nor taste its arrangement. A
moments glance revealed all this. Another
moan, a still more piteous tone, and | turn
ed my eye to whence the sound proceeded.
Upon low bed, saw childish form ex-
tended. His face was purple, and the dila-
ted nostrils and tightly compressed mouth,
too truly told that pain was wrenching
those agonizing cries from the little suffer-
er's breast. His eyes, CLASSY with the an
guish of disease, were raised, as it were,
in supplication up to. his fathers face, and
in piteous accents he feebly cried,
"My father, can you not take away this
pain ="
gazed upon the fathers form-and 10
it was he whose gay and joyful air had that
day excited my envy and my gloom Now
he was bending in anxious solicitude over
his son, clasping hiS feverish hand, and
smoothing his burning brow, while upon
his face were traced marks of inexpreisible
agony, at viewing his suffering child, con-
vulsed with so much pain.
aFather, dear father, will you not take
away this pain ? It is here my father /"
laying his hand upon his breast ooh, how
il burns!
And the little sufferer writhed meath the
scorchng fame which was blasting his life.
The fathers strained eyes filled with tears
but with violent effort he conquered his
choking voice, and said, 81 will, my son
Bear it like little man, and when the doctor
comes, he will relieve you !" and the fa-
ther's wistful eve turned anxiously toward
the door, as he heard the physicians step up
on the stairs. The Doctor entered--a ven
erable man, with brow Of thought and
an eve of kindness. The father sprang for
ward. ooh, Doctor, how glad ! am that
YOU are come! My child is very ill.,
/ stole closer to the couch, and saw at its
feet, hitherto concealed, the mother, with
her head bowed upon her hand in speech
less agony. But when she heard the doc
tors measured step, she raised her head,
and with half suppressed scream, she
sprang forward, and clasping her hands,
with look which told all mothers love,
all her fears, she cried, "Oh, Doctor, for
the love Of mercy, save my child !" ]
shall never forget that look. 1t made cold
thrill stream o'er me, and my spirits heart
stilled, for fearful instant, its pulsation
The doctor himself was moved, and pro-
ceeding to the bedside of the child, without
a word, he seized his little hand, and felt