The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-14

voice, he Degan- nc "OruS we must all Ole
h-unfortunate-in heaven
being alone ineligible.
As if indignant with herself for having Civ
en- way to her feelings in the presence of one
so heartless, Mrs. Oakly instantly dried her
tears, and with something of scorn on her fea-
lures. listened to this lip-language-for well
she knew the heart had little to do with it.
Il have come here he continued, las the
near relative of your late husband, to remove
you from this miserable spotEIA You must leave
this place madam; it Is entirely too poor and
wretched for you
sWretched and poor as it is, on that bed
your brother diedp said the widow, pointing
as she spoke to the low, miserable bed
Mr. Oakly was evidently put down. After
a moments silence, be added,
tits my intention Jas my brothers widow to
treat you without every kindness
Your kindness, sir, comes late,' replied Mrs
Oakly, and it will prove but thankless. He
whom it should have rescued from the grave,
is now beyond your cruelty; and to me, there
fore, your kindness, as you term it, is little less
than cruel
The brow of Mr.; Oakly contracted with an
ger, but the object he had in view was of too
much importance to be thwarted by woman's
ItplOdCiCsf ~, ulcoCuluillS Ills
continued.
i wish you to remove from here at once to
a pleasant town which shall name to you; and
it is also my desire and intention to adopt your
youngest child as my own.
'Seperate me from my children No, that
you can never doP cried the widow, pressing
them to her bosom.
DO not be so hasty in your decision, my
,Joar ,,,oJar,., co;J NJ OoLl,, blaudl,- sb,,t
listen TO me with reason. The child shall be
most tenderly brought up. My wife will love
her as her own; and her education shall be the
shall not only live in comfort, but also have
ample means to educate your other daughter
as you could wish Nay, more; do not ask
you to give me your daughter without equiva-
lent Now continued, drawing his chair still
closer to Mrs. Oakly, and taking her hand, ~
want you to listen to me-neither do / wish
you to give me an answer tonight; you shall
have time to reflect upon my proposition, and
to consider well the immense benefit which
will result to yourself from conceding to my
wishes, or, in case of refusal, the poverty and
wretchedness which will surround you and
these poor babes, aggravated, perhaps, by the
thought that you might have spared their ten
der frames, but would not
The countenance Of the widow flushed with
Indignation; she spoke not, however, but tur-
ming her full dark eye upon him, prepared to
hear what further the man had to say.
1T has pleased the Almighty he continued
ito give one child, now nearly three years of
age; but this child has been blasted with the
most hopeless defornity. You have two beau
tiful children-then give me one, and receive
to your maternal care my poor, blighted Aga
tha.'
And are you father! and can YOU talk
thus easily OF severing the holy bond of parent
and childP interrupted Mrs. Oakly. Have
you not wife-is there no mother to be con-
suited in your most unnatural schemep
'Yes-an unhappy mother but she has al
ready consented Aware that in perfect re-
tirement her poor child can alone know hap
piness, she is willing to yield her up to your
gentle treatment, and will in return bestow her
her love and tenderness upon your own babe.
Reflect, you will still have one lovely child to
console you, while the future welfare Of your
children will be secured by the sacrifice; fur
thermore, there will be the heartfelt pleasure
of knowing that through your watchful care an
unfortunate being will be made happy
DO you know aught of the pleasure of duty,
that You talk so feelingly = said the widow,
scornfully.
Nay, reproach me not thus; look at your
two children, those little beings confided to
your care-can you see their little frames was
ted by hunger, or sinking through toll; should
you die, what then is there for them but cold
and bitter lot of poverty and death-or may
be fate worse than death. You shudder,
then why hesitate, when by simply yielding to
my wishes You are all made comfortable and
happy. l see you are moved. have but one
stipulation to make, should you consent, as |
think YOU will; it may alarm you at first, but
upon reflection you will see its propriety. 1t
is this-you are to promise solemnly never to
claim your child, but to acknowledge poor Ag
atha to be yours, and never, on any account or
any emergency, divulge this important secret.
Do not answer me- said he hastily, as he saw
the widow was about to speak; "take time to
consider my views-I will call at an early hour
in the morning for your reply. Good night
Then kissing the halffrightened children, the
plausible brother of poor John Oakly softly
closed the door, and once more entering his
carriage, returned to the inn.
1t is difficult to conceive the pain and agita-
ton with which this interview filled the breast
of the poor widow. Doubts distracted her; and
decision either way filed her with dread. One
moment she resolved to spurn the offered ran
som from poverty, the next, as her eyes dwelt
on her helpless little ones, doomed by such de-
cision to years oftoil and want, she wavered,
and almost consented to part forever with her
darling Louisa, if by their sacrifice their COM
fort mi ht be secured. Then her mind wan
dered to the poor, cast off Agatha, whom, per-
haps, cruelty and harshness might destroy She
had well OWNED the fathers selfshness, and
should she refuse the charge, he might entrrlst
her to other hands less faithful-for already
she had felt her heart warm toward the unfor-
tunate.
Unconscious of their mothers distress, the |
children had once more fallen asleep. Softly
removing the little arm of the youngest from |
her neck, she carefully placed them on her
humble bed, and then kneeling down beside |
them. she prayed that strength and resolution
might be given her that she might decide justly
and wisely. Mournfully the wind howled a.
round that dismal dwelling, the rain beat a.
rn;rst the shattered XindoWS=hut she heard Il |