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

eyes lOoked for the bod e Of my child,
1T was mot there. yynera is it? I Icried;
st here is Sthe bvdy Of iiIIii55i murdered
boy? When 4 spike the word smur-
dared, my wife shrieked-.I was rush
ing out, shs stopped me, and; said; : He
sissnot dcad--he is alive My heart
melted sithin me, and tears rained from
z, eyes. My wife me to- the cham
ber where they had laid my child
III D was alive, il. such state could
bs called life. Still his eyelids were
closed; still his cheeks even his lips,
were of a ghastly whiteness; still his
limbs were cold and motionless. They
hid undressed him, and my mother
sale in silent grief beside his bed
When I came near, she uncovered his
fair chest, and placed my hand over
his heart; I felt thick and languid
beating there, but the pulse of his
wrists and temples was scarcely per-
ceptible. My mother spoke to me.
we have examined the poor child, she
said, 'but we find no wound, no bruise,
no marks of violence. Whence is this
dreadful stupor? No one can answer
me.''I can answer you,' I said; mo
one cBn answer but mysolf. Fam the
murderer of the child. In my he'll
lish rage I struck his blessed head
! did not see the face Of my wife, or my
mother-as spoke hung my heud: but
] felt my wife's hand drop from ME;
heard my molher's low breaking
groan. | looked up, and saw my wife.
She stood before me like marble figure,
rather than creature oflife; yet her eyes
were fixed on me, and her soul seemed 10
look out in their gaze.-,Oh my husband,
she cried out ai length, Il see plainly in
your face what you suffer. Blessed God,
have mercy, have mercy on him! he suf.
fers more than we all. His punishment,
is greater than he can bear!' She flung her
arms around my neck: she s,rove to press
me nearer to her BOSOM; but would have
Withdrawn myself from her embrace
'Oh, do not shame me thus, cried; 're-
member, you must remember that you,
are mother Il cannot forget that am
a wife, my husband she replied, weep.
ing. NO, no, | feel for you, and must
feel with you in this overwhelming atilic-
tion.' My mother had fallen on her
knees when declared my guilt; my wife
drew me towards her, and rising up, she
looked me in the face. Henry she said,
in q faint, deep voice, 4 have been pray
ing fof you, for us all. My son, look not
thus from me- AS she was speaking The
surgeon Of my household, who had been
absent when they first sent for him, enter.
ed the chamber. My kind mother turn.
ed from me, andwent at onco with him 10
the bedside of the child. perceived her
intention 10 prevent my encountering the
surgeon. She would have concealed, at
least for while, her sons disgrace; but
/ felt my horrid guilttoo deeply 10 care
about shame. Yet could not but choose
groan within me, to perceive the good
mans stare, his revolving shudder, while
described minutely the particulars Of my
conduct towards my poor child. | saw
him cut away the rich curls, and he poin-
ted out to me slight swelling beneath
them; but in vain did he strive TO recover
the lifeless form; his efforts we're, as those
of my wife and mother had been totally
without auccess. For five daysI sat by
the bedside Of my son, who remained at
first still in that dentl,.like stupor, bu,
gradually faint life like animation stole
over him; so gradually indeed, that he
opened not his eyes till the 'evenening of
the fourth day, and even then he knew us
not, and noticed nothing. Oh, few can
imagine what my feelings we're! How
my frs. faint hopes lived again, as The
beating of his heart became more full and
strong; rs he first novel the small hand
which held in mine, and q, last stretched
out his limbs. After he had unclosed his
eyes, he brcathed with the soft and regu-
lar respiration Of q healthy person, and
then slept for many hours. 1t was abou,
noon on the fifth day, that he woke from
that sleep. The sun lnd shonc SO full into
the room, that partly closed tho shutters
to shade his fuce. Some rays Of sunshine
pierced through the crevices of the shut.
er, and played upon the coverlid of his
tbed. My chi'd's face was turned iowa rds
me, andl watched eagerly for the firs,
CLEAN of expression there. He looked
up, and then around him, without moving
his head. My heart grew sick within
me, as bcheld the smile which PLAYED
over his face. He perceived the dancing
sunbeam, and put his finger softly into
the sireak Of light, and took them away
and smiled again spoke to him, and
took his hand in my own; hu, he had lost
all memory Of me, and saw nothing in nay
face to make him smile. He looked down
on my trembling hand, and played with
my fingers; and when he saw the ring
which | wore he played with. that, while