The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-20


near the bed, with some powders folded up in
white and blue paper, and several phias contain
| ing medicine, lying upon it, two chairs and the bed
! standing IN one corner of the room In the fire.
! place there was a small clay furnace and hand
full of burning charcoal, upon which was a tin ves-
| sci, apparently containing some nOurishment or
| drink for the sick
The natural gloominess of the chamber was now
| thickened, as the dusk of evening was first APP
proaching and the Pickering light Of the charcoal
| fire being unsteadily reflected through the apart
ment, and upon the cOuntenances of its inmates,
| gave a wild and somewhat supernatural appear
ance TO every object, which was heightened by the
! noise of the bosterous and stormy elements With
| out, each fresh gust of wind broke upon the
! building, causing its roof and sides to groan, and
threatening their displacement, if not the destruc-
! ton of the building itself.
| The clamor of the storm awoke the invalid.
! He asked for drink, which Immediately given
| by Emily, for she it was who was so seduously
nursing her sick husband After having drunk,
with his wifes assistance Cecil sat up in bed and
in tone of soft endearment, she inquired if his fe
yer had abated.
" How do you feel, dearest? Doyou feel better,
my husband! - and with napkin she wiped the
moisture from his forehead, which had gathered
there from his slight exertion He answered family:
81 feel a little better, EmiIy-though am feeble,
| very feeble" And Cecis hand, as he reached it
! forth, trembled though its owner far adj
vanced in years, and decrepitude confirmed his
! sertion "a little BETTER he continued after
/ q
laid PROSTATE and helpless an infant but should
not repine for you, dear girl, have been guardian
spirit to me throughout the whole time of my pain
! fully tedious days and sleepless nights. How can
! repay you for all your kind care and goodness to-
wards meme, who am unworthy of receiving
| kindness at your hands Do you detest me, Emily,
hate me, the degraded, the fallen the dishonored
| Do you wish that we're"
! His wife, with weeping eyes, flung herself upon
| his bosom and sobbed aloud, as she cried, I" No.
no = Detest you, my Cecil You, my own dear
| husband never! - nor are you indeed so fallen,
Cecil but all may yet, all lDiH yet be well-not dis
! honored-not degraded"
| Kind, sweet girl " he responded passonately,
as he drew her still closer to his bosom. Kind,
! sweet girl thy husband has ever been blind TO
! thy virtues he knew not the angel he possessed in
| his Emily-until now, he never half appreciated
| thy sweetness thV worth thy goodness insensibe
that am and, OH horrible thought, that pain and
misery, and sickness, produced by cursed rum,
! should be the means of this blessed knowledge!
| How | requite thee for ali my injustice and
! brutality towards thee
g Nay, dear Cecil, you must speak no more
this subject As your wife, l have done no more
! than my duty, in making you comfortable our
| circumstances would permit and must thank
! the great Dispenser of all things that they no
worse-but get well soon, and shall then be well
repaid. No! you must speak no more now,' she
! continued nterrupting him as he about TO re-
| ply, and placing her hand over his mouth, 9 you
| must speak no more now, | am fearful of ySur
| dlf6dQV-cOupOS6
| to sleep, and when you awake, youwlll be enabled
! to converse without evil consequences ensuing
| :" No Emily, mol must speak now" he cried,
as he gently freed himself from her =" notgi for
may again relapse into that dreadful state, where
all was anguish, and horror and humiliation now,
when | feel that asseverations made will be
corded, for veal or for wo, as they may be kept
now before am free from danger, when the issues
! of life and death are still at now, whilst
! know what ] am speaking and promising. Yes
| hear mo mill heal as |
| now, before high Heaven, and before thee-that if
| it please God to raise me from this bed of danger
! and suffering, will become temperate-never per-
| nit that damned liquor, rum, in any shape form,
| to pass my lips again-never-s so long as this inn
mortal mind is cognizant Of willing and doing-so
| help me God
''Ths is a fearfully solemn promise, Cecil +"
said Emily g but to me, not all the wealth of the
Indies nay the wide world, to me is poor and pitt
! able indeed in exchange to lose all hopes of its
strict fuilment. My petitions, dear Cecil, shall be
incessant 10 that God, upon whom you have so
solemnly called, TO enable you faithfully to keep
this resolution, for without His assistance the
strongest of us are weak. Now, my husband, lay
your head upon your pillow, for fear this excite
| ment will delay your recOvery-s say no more at
present, but lie down, and may your dreams be
! sweet, and your sleep healthful and refreshing
After Emily had smOothed her husbands pillow,
and given him some drink, the invalid composed
! himself to sleep, with conscience more lghtened
| of its burden, and mind more free from the snX-
ieties of life, than had been his portion for many
| months preyious-such being the reward of correct
and virtuous resolves, when made in true spirit
| And the wife-the young and virtuous Emily
she was as beautiful in mind as in her person lovely;
though in the deepest poverty and wretchedness,
was well fitted to grace the magnificent abode OF
the CAV, the rich and the elegant what were her
feelings at this moment, which she felt TO be the
crisis of her fate-what did she do what was the
state of her mind To enter fully into her feelings
and impulses, is impossible. 1t must suffice to no
tice some of the outward acts of the unhappy wo-
! man-unhappy no she was not unhappy-for at
| this moment Emily felt dawning fhope within
her breast she felt an inward feeling OF seliap-
plause which is the tenant of his bosom alone, who
| has done what is TO benefit his kind She had re-
deemed q man. her husband, from beastly lDiem-
perance-a man, the image of lIis Maker, who had
debased his gOdk1 faculties, and fallen 10 The eFel
| of beasts. She was calm, and sat by his bedside
with heart beating high with promise OF happiness
for the future. Observing that he had fallen mo
tranquil slumber she fell upon her knees, and rest
ing her arms upon the bed, with the hands 'casped
in each other she lifted her eyes towards heaven
and there arose in soft and subdued tone OF volee
from the lips of the sick mans wife, prayer, pure
fervent and humble, full OF praise, Iu u slsnns
giving. full Of hope. She finished her prayer aHd
| arose from her kneeng position, when a SWEEP ana
| gentle confidence took possession OF her soui-She
felt that her petition the throne Oh grace lor heh
| husbands forgiveness and speedy restoration W
health was heard and granted. Excellent woman
| Excellent wife
Thus was Cecil Waters, by that scourge Of our
land, brought low upon his bed of sickness, Just es
Gaming with his life and depending solely upon the
scanfT earnings of his young and helpless wife, for
INDISPENSABLE necessaries to prolong his wretched
existence. Well might he say TO her, " how CD
reauite thee - She, feeble woman, who had
watched at his bedside, administered TO all his
wants. performing all the unpleasant and not less
arduous duties ofnurse day after day and night after
night, soothing him in his pain, cheering him IN hls
moments Of gloom and dependency, and when
spared from his COUCH labOring for his support-he
can neUer requite her.
But Emily had her reward-thoge endearing
words and warm enbraces-that promise Of reform
alton which opened hope for the future, and more
than all the conscientious discharge of her duties as
wife. and love for her husband brought their re-
onrnrnnse What hardshns and trials will not