The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-28
THE MISERY'S ATONEMENT.

I nearer the window, that she might The better
note what change had taken place in its features
since she placed 1t asleep IN the bed AN earlier
| hour of the morning. a. Ii will die, Georpe.' She
sad speaking softly and mournsully 10 her hus-
band, who was trying to warm himself at the
scanty IRE III the CRATE. II has altered greatly
III cant weep for it. George. Cop is very good
| 10 take 1t to himself. IL will know no wani-no
! suffering with him" But she did weep-biler-
!. y--as only mother who holds her dying infant
IN her arms can weep The man approached he,
and bent over the baby also But he neither spoke
nor wepi " Did you say. that she was really
burnt to death, George? 2" said his wife presently;
F." and her father dead--so awfnllv sudden a.
/ Well. well. Con sends his Judgments" mot
Judgments. Mary, replied the man mildly 1--we
! have censured bad, presumptuous people-reliqi-
Gus folks, as they style themselves, for using that
expression Dead they both are! ! heard of the
fire last night, and went to see the ruins before
YOU were up this morning. As for the poor girl.
/ ne had married her yesterday to a man of his
own choosing-pot of hers and from all gather
ed OF the match, believe she would rather have
gone To the grave than the altar with him yesier-
day" g And he is dead tuo?" Yes--the roof
; FELL in upon him as he was trying to save the
wife he had purchased. Well, wished il hadn't
happened, and that the old man had lived to re-
pent; but God knows best, and will deal more
mercilully with him than he dealt with ourselves
and others. Hist! there's Knocking The
man went TO the door and opened it. He reeled
back. stunned with surprise. hnt advanced in
an instant, and raised his arms TO drive away
his visitors. 90 Spencer, hear me-" pleaJed
the old man. % don't be Observation-Disclosures have
a right to be. | know-but hear me" The
man within the room-he father of the dying
baby-uttered frightful oath, and seized the
door to shut it in the speakers face g You had
best hear him." said our friend. the youth =. YOU
had indeed 81 and, looking narrowly at the mans
threatening countenance me recognized with emo
ton the individual he had accosled on the scene
OF the cnnflagration 10 the morning The wife.
still holding the sick infant, approached her hus-
band, and entreated him to give way Her
words prevailed. and he fell back. sulenly enough
though, from the threshold The old man and
the youth entered. a" am changed man. Spen
cer-I indeed" said the usurer 81 never
should have changed though. but for last night.
Desperate diseases require desperate remedies.
they say, and mine has been desperate enough
God knows" He paused awhie-s,ruoolnp
with his feelings, and continued-'' am come 10
ask your forgiveness for what has passed between
us, and to make reparaiion for the ruin have
wrought. DON'T be harsh with me- DON'T re-
pulse me, as ! have repulsed you, many's the
wicked time. } have money as you know you
shall yet be rich man, Spencer though only in
your just position were you to hold up your bead
with the wealihlest and proudesl'' 60 Money!
sneered the man he addressed Sc yes. that is
your panacea for all evils know it, But will
money bring back the child that lies Iottinq in
his grave, and who died of no disease bpt that of
want and cold? You know came 10 Won and
begged for a trfle Of money tn get him what was
necessary TO save his life, and you refused me
and drove me from your door. Will Inonev''
continued the man savagely, taking the infant
from its mothers arms, :. spare me this child Ell
ther? No; not if yon emPtied the Bank Of
England at my feet. -FOUR reparaton comes ton
late" The Insurer wrung his hands. ..Dnn't
be hard with me. Spencer" he cried for the
love of God show that mercy TO me- which de-
MED to you. We may save that child vet. If
money can command science enough to save him.
he shall live 10 comfort We both for many long
year For the child that's gone-and for NV
child that's gomez" He sank back into the
youths arms, murmuring through his tears
! " Forgive me, Spencer, forgive me-" As
hope 10 be forgiven, do" replied the man.
In less than ten minutes after this scene the
usnrer and his young companion were apain seat
ed in the cab and the driver was urging his horses
towards the Fleet Prison. 'The man am going
to release. has been confined II years." said the
nsurer. " DON'T look at me So am human
now, whatever might have been He borrowed
money of me- thought his security good but it
turned out otherwise. The man was honest.
believe, and would have paid me if he couId
in the Fleet, IL years ago this winter" sAnd
he has never been at large in all that time %
cried the youth amazed and horror. sf rickeo
" Never he had no friends TO do anything for
him. He lived on the poor side of the prison. as
1t is called. and must have been more than half
starved, during the whole time he has been there
but, please God, he shall be a rich man vet -
Here we are" shouted the driver: shall
ring the the bell, sir % They got out. and when
The gate opened the usurer desired 10 be
shown into the waiting room. and that Henry
Abbott might be brought to speak to him Henry
Abbott !" exclaimed the man addressed von,rs
too late to speak to him--he died Yesterday -
With much difficulty they got the old man into
the cab, and while the youth supported his sense
less burden, the driver whipped his horses the
whole way back to the inn they had first Quilted
The usnrer died about year afterwards. but he
lived long enough 10 accomplish a great deal of
good he intended, ard increased the finds of the
principal charitable institutions in tho metropolis
at his death. The youth-but we will be silent
about him. OOr tale is told-.Jsrrold's .JZgoo
zinc.
a qubbling writer Of the last century ouainhv
observes shat when the cannons of the n,incss
bepan war. the canOns Of the cburcb Is, 90 j.