Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-06-14

and Boston, and receipt for payment for the
TsE1ECrED THE JOURNAL A LADY,
From the Odd Fellows Offering
The Witch.
H MATTEsoN.
Late In the afternoon OF sultry day IN the latter
part of August, 18-, middle-aged man, weary and
dusty with travel paused at the door of farmhouse
in the suburbs of the little village of S. Over his
shoulder suspended by staff, he bore bundle of
extraordinary capacity, and led by the hand child
sweet blue-eyed, golden-haired serious-looking
girl, of some six or seven years. fresh matronly
was standing in the door, when they made
their appearance and their footsteps seemed bent
toward her threshold, she smiled upon them if in
welcome. Embodened by this evidence of cordia-
ty, the ventured to ask her, in modest phrase,
for cup of water, - would she be so kind o.
Of course she would, and with alacrty to bring
it. After offering it to the little girl who drank
sparingly, the man placed the cup to his lips and
imbibed long deep draught. His thirst was evil
IDENTIFY intense, for he paused from the moment
he raised the cup till he had drained it Gifts refresh
ing contents; and when he set it down. big drops of
sweat, like great glass beads, stood upon his brow
"Could he be permitted to rest moment at the
door, himself and his little girl ?'
''Of course he and she were welcome to all the
Inequalities of the house and with cheerful smile
she entreated them to enter and repose themselves
as long as they liked.
The man, who had been seated upon the doorstone,
to avail himself of the proffered kindness when
he was observed to falter and turn pale. The kind
mistress of the cottage stepped forward took him by
the arm, and led him gently forward, followed by
the child When they had entered the house he
grew paler still and leaned heavily still upon
the arm by which he was supported. He made an
effort to speak-extended his hands if he were
cropping for something in the dark-the next moment
he fell upon the floor He dead
The poor child was too young to comprehend the
appalling nature of the calamity, but an indeinable
dread stole into her heart, and she shuddered and
wrung her hands in alright.
The husband of the hOSnitab bile Oft
sion soon after came in, examined the he still
lay on the foor-for the poor woman was amazed at
the suddenness of the that she had not stirred
from the moment of the fall-and started at once in
search of physician. He came, but of course, his
visit was fruitess. In due time coroners Jury was
summoned, who rendered verdict of {; Death by
drinking cold water Two days after the man was
followed to his grave by few kind hearted villagers
and the young child the only mOurner. She look
ed down into the grave, the coffin lowered to
its place then wisuy into the faces of those around
her. and chung afrightedly to the kind woman who
had been the innocent cause of her orphanage.-
Dust to dust" and the earth ratified dolefuly up
the cofn-d shutting out forever, the last token
of the last friend the child had on earth-except
those whom God, who tempers the wind to the shorn
lamb, had already provided for her
She was adopted into the family of the good man
whose threshold her father had passed out of life in
to eternity Did providence guide his footsteps thith
er! There is impety in believing that Providence
does sometimes lead the unfortunate, by nscrutable
means, when they are abroad upon the dangerous
paths of life
The name of the deceased, it was found, on exami-
nation of the contents ofhis bundle, Manchester
and the child said her Hame was Mary Letters
found upon his person. but little to throw light
upon his history-and one package carefully sealed
and addressed = To my daughter Mary to be opened
when she shall have attained her eighteenth year"
This might have solved the mystery, but in the eyes
of the friends into whose hands the child had fallen it
was deemed sacred, and placed where it would be
securely preserved All that could be learned from
the child was, that they had travelled a long way,
sometimes by water, sometimes by stage, and some
times, though rarely on foot. They gathered from
her that the of their being on foot this time
that her father wanted to change their route
and there no public conveyance across from one
to the other. The distance being not more than five
or six miles doubtless he thought it best to walk it
and what with the heat of the day. and the fatigue
of carrying the child the greater part the distance
in his arms his strength was exhausted. The child
gave evidence of an active intellect mild temper
and for one young, nice cultivation. She had nc
recollectiOns of mother. AS far back her recol
lection went she had lived alone with her father
Whenever she mentioned his name, that sh'
began to understand that she would see him more
she wept bitterly. Lonely orphan how happy was
thy lot compared with that of thousands that thron
our streets daily
1t is now twelve years since our little friend Mar
was left orphan. Twelve years in youth chang
the complexion of ones life marvelIous1y. Time ha
dealt kindly with her She is now eghteen-amos
woman-and such a woman She has Just entere
her little chamber and seated herself by the window
where the moonlight falls full upon her noble brow
and graduates in painters phrase, over her beaut
fully modelled neck and shoulders. The warm brow
color of her falling hair contrasts finely with the col
moonlight, and blends the picture into deliciou
harmony. For moment she leans her cheek per
sively upon her hand-then, as if a new thought ha
occurred to her, she starts hastily up, and approach
little cherry bureau, opens the drawer and take
out sealed packet; she is agitated, and tremblt
violently. 1T contains the story Of her origin. F.
moment she gaZes earnestly upon it, sOmethin
bright upon her eyelds glitters in the moonlight
slowly, slowly it wanders her neck and drops
lently upon her packet. Now she raises the pack
reverently to her lips and with trembling fnge
breaks the seal. With what eagernesS she strive
by the feeble light, to decipher its contents A
she can make out is, My darling child = when 81
enjoys, for her kind friends have been too chary
her happiness to furnish her the - motive and tt
cue" Tears are sometimes a luxury, but only Wi
the young When the middle-aged and the old wee
be the fountain is opened by deep misery, al
the waters arc bitter.
\ cool night-breeze, blowing aside her luxuria
tresses and rustng the leaves of the packet. recall
her to herself. She closes the window, procures
light, and seats herself by her little table. Here
the substance Of what she reads:
My darling child: The uncertainty of life al
the possibility that YOU may, perhaps at no dsta
day, be left alone in the world with no knowled
Of the history of your parents, have prompted me
place at your future disposal the following brief
rative. | have delayed the period of your beil
made acquainted with the circumstances until Y,
shall have reached your eighteenth year, in ord
that you may be better qualified to Judge of the M
tives by which have been actuated and the lol