The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-06-13

entreaties. You are Ill, !, your hands
arc burning, my beloved, She said.
Go to bed, I :beseech yes. You need
rest / did as she told mo. She
thought / slept that night, but the lids
seemed tightened and drawn back from
my burning eyeballs. All tho next day,
| lay in the same hot and motionless
state, | cannot call repose.
For days I did not rise, I allowed
myself to sink under the weight ofmy
despair. I began to give every idea Of
exertion.
My mother, one morning came to my
chamber. She sat down by my bedside
and spoke to me. / did not, could not,
care to notice her who spoke 70 me.
My mother rose, and walked round to
the other side of tho bed, towards which
my face was turned. There she stood
and spoke again solemnly. Henry
she said, 4 command you to rise. Dare
you disobey your mother. No more of
this unmanly weakness. must not
speak in vain. I have needed to com.
mand before. My son, be YOURSELF
Think of all the claims which this life
has upon you; or rather think Of that
first claim of Heaven, and let that teach
you to think of other duties and to per-
form them! Search your own heart.
Probe it deeply. Shrink not. Know
your real situation in all it's bearings.
Changed as it is, face it like man; and
seek the strength of God to support
you. speak the plain truth to you.
Your child is an idiot. You must an
swer to God for your crime. You will
be execrated by mankind, for your hand
struck the minds life from him. These
are harsh words, but you can bear them
better than your own confused and
agonizing thoughts. Rise up and meet
your trial. Tell me simply that you
obey me. I will believe you, for you
never yet have broken your word to me-
1 replied Immediately, rising up and
saying, 4 do promise to obey you.
Within this hour I will meet you, de.
termined to know my duties, and to
perform them by the help Of God.'
Oh! with what look did my noble
mother regard me, as I spoke. sGod
strengthen you, and bless you,' she
said; L cannot now trust myself to say
more Her voice was feeble and trem-
bling now, her lip quivered, and bright
flush spread over thin pale cheek; she
bent down over me and kissed my fore.
head, and then departed.
Within an hour from the time when
my mother left me, went forth from
my chamber with q firm step, detc:min-
ed again to enter upon the performance
Of my long neglected duties. I had
descended the last step of the grand
staircase, when I heard laugh in the
hall beyond. I knew there was but
one who could then laugh so wildly; and
too we'll | knew the sound of the voice
which broke out in tones of will merri-
mcnt ere the laugh ceased. For some
moments my resolution forsook me.
[ caught hold of the ballustrade to sup
port my trembling limbs, and repress-
ed with violent effort, the groans
which felt bursting from my heart
| recovered myself and walked into
the hall. In the western oriel winder,
which is opposite the doors by which 1
entered, sat my revered: she lifted up
her face from the large volume which
lay on her knees, as my step sounded
near; she smiled upon me, and looked
down again without speaking. pass
ed on, but stopped again to gaze on
those who now met my sight. In the
centre of the hall stood my wife, lean.
ing her check on her hand. She gazed
upon her son with smile, but the tears
all the while tricklcd down her face.
Maurice was at her feet, the floor around
him strowed with playthings, the toys
of his infancy which he had for years
thrown aside but had discovered that
very morning; and he turned from one
TO the other as if he saw them for the
first Time, and looked upon them all as
treasures. An expression of apturous
stiffness played over the boys features,
but, alas! though nothing but fearful
chlldishness was on his face, all the
child-like bloom and roundncss of his
face were gone. The boy now looked
indeed older by many years. The
smiles on his thin lips seemed to strug.
gle vainly with languor and heaviness,
his eyelids we're half closed, his cheeks