Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-07-31
4 =THRILLING EXTRACT.

The following is an extract from the prize
tale of Mrs. H. Livermore, published IN the
New England Washingtonian. tits founded
on facts -
"One winter afternoon, when huge drifts
of snow blocked up the narrow and irregular
streets of the city, when the ftful wind which
blew from all points of the compass, dashed
hither and thther through the keen air, the
broad snow flakes, Mrs. Austin, scantlly clad,
and lily calculated to brave the raging tenn
pest, left her home to seek one OF the 'numer-
Ous seamen's clothing store, called sloP
Shops" which were scattered throughout Ann
street and its vicinity. In her hand was
large bundle of work just completed by her.
self, George and Emma, and Upon the pay
lnent she was expecting for her labor, the
smiIy depending for their evening meal. Du-
ring her absence, her husband staggered home
wards in a shocking state of inebriety, where
Emma and Charles, the younger son, were
endeavoring to amuse the infant Charlotte,
not yet a year old, who, always delicate, was
row helpless as infancy itself, from recent
severe illness, and who lay in the cradle be-
wailinp her mothers absence. AS MIR. Aus
tin approached the little one and raised 1t In
his arms, with the natural kindness which not
even intemperance could Danish from his ma
ture, Emma, unaware Of her fathers deep in
toxicaton, accustomed as she was to seeing
him more or less so constantly, and percelving
that the babe was quiet, ran down to the al
most empty wood shed, where her brother
George was seeking fuel to prepare their sup
per, and Charles followed after her. Mr. Aus
Tin moved towards the Fireplace, and endeav-
ored to seat himself, bu: losing his balance he
fell. and in falling the babe rolled from his
arms, with its face downwards, into the fiery
bed Of glowing Goals that lay on the hearth
stone. The child was too much enfeebled by
recent illness to extrcate itself, the father so
d-aadfulIy intoxicated, that some minutes e.
.apsed before he was fully aware of its condi-
zion, or could recover his feet; its cotton gar
ments were then blazing, its tender face, neck
and bosom were Kissing on the hot Goals, and
its efforts to shrek were only convulsive and
agoniZed gasps.
''One glance at his infants excruciating
pain drove the fumes of intoXication from his
brain, cIearness came to his head, steadiness
to his hand, and with the quickness Of light
ming he drew the burning babe from the
flames, dashed over it vessel of water, and
was Fastening to the door for assistance, when
the fleet and anxious footsteps Of the mother
sounded on the stairs, and whittier than the
with the reeking. bistered, blackened form of
his babe in his arms, he stood face TO face
with its mother.
-" Oh, God who can tell the unspoken ag-
ony Of the moment! paIalyzed, rooted to the
floor as if transformed to stone, with parted
lips from whence issued no sound, her heart
beating loud and heavily, so that she almost
reeled from the force of its sickening throb,
she fixed her eyes steadily OH her husband for
a moment as if to read the whole tale, and
then prompted by the instincts Of her mater
nal heart, SIZE threw off her trance Of horror,
and flew 10 seek relief
''But the poor little innocent inhaled the
scOrching gas of its fiery pillow, and the Sc
verest of its burns, terrible as they were exter.
nally, could neither be seen nor reached
The small veins Of its neck were tense and
knotted, under the quivering flesh, its every
breath caused convulsive throes, and rolling
upwards its sghtless eyes, spdsmodicalIy
clenching its feeble hands, its delicate sinews
frightened with agony, the half released soul
that hung quivering on its lips, was speedily
freed.
1t was months ere Charlotte Austin could
throw off from her spirit the horrible torpor
which settled upon her, after the agoniZing
death of her delicate babe. 1t seemed as if
paleress would never leave her cheek, as il
her eye would never more burn steadily, OF
her voice be cleared Of huskiness, as if she
had forgotten even to smile or converse, fol-
she moved about as if all but the animal me.
chanism Of her life were paralyzed. None
knew the secret of the accident which had oc
CURED, save the parents, and the vague reply
of Mrs. Austin, that her babe fell into thu
fire during her ABSENCE fastened upon he
the charge of careIessness and neglect, botE
among her neighbors and in the muItiform &C
counts of the occurrence that found their way
INTO the city. She never repealed the charge
but Christ-Iike, was content to bear the sin:
of him who had so cruelty wronged her anc
hers, and to receive the odinm which he de
served. With the same meek uncomplalnin!
kindness, she continued TO minister to his
wants, nttering no word of harshness, Iookin!
no rebuke save what was conveyed by thu
mourntul gaze of her eye"
Kindness 10 fhe 7youDdeT 1cr;co,r IN