The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-12


support MYSELF H3 .H'ft
Lean on me- said the poor infant, who
could scarcely have born the weight of his
ihther's hand. ..' .II..l.. ...
Let me assist you, said, advancing; you
IRE i'll, exhausted; you are wrong to do 30
much; you will suffer for it,. ~u..ir.
sutferi' replied the youth; care not for
myself But you are astranger-an English
man. cannot expect you to assist n poor
mountebank.' #. ..H ....Int.
Lean upop me- replied; and, unable TO
proceed without assistance ha leaned upon
my shoulder. ..... t
We proceeded for some time In silence; but
having reached mean looking house in All
obscure street, he paused. #.
This is my lodging' said he. thunk you,
| am better now; and rclinqushing my sup
port, he nearly fell TO the earth.
Go in with the child answered; but pray
admit me when return, for ! will bring you
something that will revive YOU
lie made no answer, and / left them TO
seek for some restoratves; and having pro-
cured what wanted, returned, and finding
the door open, lventured TO enter.
Upon wrctChed bed, in the corner ofthe
mean apartment, lay what once must have
been beautiful woman. Disease and want
| had wasted her to a mere skeleton and death
was legibly wriltenin her anxious nieagre
countenance. On the floor by the bed lay On
his face the strong man ofthe fair. The sight
of his poor wife, for such, Notwithstanding
his youth, she was, )iearfully changed since
he went forth to exhibit himselffor her sake,
had entirely overcome him, and while tears
streamed from his eyes, his muscular frame
was shaken with the sobs of anguish. The
little child sat on the ground by his father,
weeping bitterly ..
The dying woman, sensible ofmy presence;
and, apologzing for my intrusion, briefly
explained how much had been interested by
the young man, and how anxious was to he
of use to him. ......
Alas said she, i fear no one can be of
much Use to him. have been his ruin, and
my death will he death IA him. He is well
born, sir. and highly bred. Fool that he is,to
love me still All might he well would he
but survive me, aud forget me; but he will
die know it--and nc shall be buried in the
same grave 4 ..... ........ ... ..
You said ho was well bnrn;will not his rel
niives mid your .... ... .....
You have never known MISFORTUNE said
she bitterly; you would otherwise have
known that wealthy relatives. instead ofaid-
ing the unfortunate, are apt to run over eve
ny leaf of his past life, TO seek out reason
why they ought TO desert him, and to sane
ton their assertion that he merted his DOOM
No one feels the truth of what you say
more kecnly than myself May ask his er-
ror?' ... |
a great one sir, and one that / own de-
serves punishment! but not the needless de-
serIion which he has experienced. He loved
me, sir, and was poor aud triendless. Not
that his lore for me was his crime---had IL led |
to my seduction, his poutl friends would |,
scarce have blamed him; hut he married me
--betore he was seventeen, aud when was n
mere child myself lac married me--and tho'
they urged him TO renouuce marriage which
they said might he proved Illegal, he would
not desert me, and so all have deserted him'
And why the exhibition this day witness
ed u, ... .... ." .
'Why! because was dying--and
believe he is now dying too; partly from the
effort, from the degradaton' l....
'Hushn whispered; he is quiet now--I
think he is asleep. Take some of his nour-
shment. Nay, consider how important il is
that when he nwalles he should find you hot !
ter. ... OIL. ....... ~ t-.'..
Theresa was struck with the force of this
and took some the reireshment l offered
her; but she gave large portion oft to the
little child. '... .a' ....i .a &. Jos II
He ate eagerly for a noment;a then we
saw him divide what she had given him. and
lay the largest portion aside. .r.... /,
what are you aboutp said ], gently; cant
you eat it' ..... ... .."H ... 4...I
'Hushn whispered the little fellow, with
tears in his eyes, and pointing to the sleeping
man; papa Inns had none you know.'ot.. aI
We did not speak for some moments, for
we were touched by the child's simple words.
How old is the boyr inquired ut length.
-Four years old, his'poor father is not yet
twenty-five. He looks younger in the face,
and us for his figure, you must Judge of that
every muscle has been unnaturnlly fore
ed.' ly.1ra1 .a" o.. .Ii1a..#. au. ffe#
Uush he wakes.' d. aH .u. ,..y.. a... uj
And the Hercules began to tnove;nnd slow
ly and feebly raising himselffro the ground
he sat up and looked wildly around him.tot
Something nice for papa cried the child,
aud running to him placed before him the lit
tie treasure it had saved. nla aari. aiI'fio ii
'Fredericd ah! remember now said he. /,
'Therese-she is nor----no, no, Iio--she liyes!' II
and he rose and rushed into her arms. gn7 l
/ knew that thoy had sufficient sustenance II
for that night, aud softly, without one word
of adieu, rose and left the house. ! called
the next day, and,found Therese in deep /,
Sleep or rather torpor, and her husband, who
sat motiouless by her side, raised his finger II
to his lip as entered. took a seat at some
distance from the bed, and silently watched
the group; the dying woman, her distracted
husband, and the little boy, who, kneeling at
his father's feet, held one Of his hands, and s
buried his face in his lap. iuig.ui eu b.ua1 II
a AT length the young man raised his head, {
and his eyes met mine. Slowly and hope
lessly he shook his head, and, rising, walked 4
over to the part ofthe room where was sit
ting followed by the child. Ii $50 1g8qY 1850 l.
20 'We need not ardisturbng her. said he N
she will soon slumberi in the grave, withouta {
dream, add without u sorrow dpialprla 81 1
Id sNay, hope for the best = 1 replied, taking I