Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-02-08
Thn WIG.


The yV11e.
By JOHN c. WHITTIER.
She was a beautiful girl when first saw her. She
was standing up at the side of her lover at the mar
rage alter. she was slightly pale-yet ever and
anon, the ceremony proceeded, q faint tlnge OF
crimson crossed her beautiful cheek like the refec
ton of sunset cloud upon the clear waters of quiz
ct lake. Her lover he clasped her hand within
his own. gazed on her moment with unmlngIed adj
mration and the warm and eloquent blood shadow
ed at intervals his manly forehead and melted in
beauty on his lips.
And they gave themselves to one another in the
presence of heaven and every heart blessed them as
they went their way rejoicing in their love-
Years passed on and | again saw these lovers
They were seated together where the light of the
sunset stole through half closed crimson curtains
lending richer tint to the delicate carpeting and
the exquisite establishment of the gorgeous apart
ment. Time had slightly changed them in outward
appearance. The girlish buoyancy of the one had
indeed given place to the grace of perfect woman
hood, and her lips were somewhat paler, and faint
line of care clearly perceptble upon her brow.
Her husbands brow too was marked somewhat more
deeply than his age might warrant anxiety and am
bition and pride had grown over it silver hue was
mingled around his temples almost to badness. He
was half reclining his splendid ottoman with his
face half hidden by his hand if he feared that the
deep and troubled thoughts which oppressed him
were visible upon his features.
Edward you are i'll tonight" said his wife, in
low and sweet voice. she laid her hands on his
own.
Indifference from those we love is terrible to the
sensitive bosom It is as if the of heaven refu-
sed its wanted cheerfulness and glared upon with
g din apd dn9 bSE g eve is dF e
our sympathy-that she broods over the feeling
which he or fears to revea-dreadfu to watch
the convusive features of gloomy brow, the inde-
nable shadows of hidden emotion, the involuntary
sigh of sorrow in which forbidden to partic-
pate, and whose character we cannot know The
wife assayed once more.
Edward" she said, slowly, mildly and affection
ately, the time has been when you were willing to
confde your secret joys and to one who has
never, trust betrayed your confidence Why, then,
dear Edward, is this cruel reserves You are troub-
led, and yet refuse to tell me the cause"
Something of returning tenderness softened, for
instant the cold severity of the husbands features
but it passed away, and bitter smile was his only
reply.
Time passed on and the twain were separated from
each other. The husband sat gloomy alone in the
damp cell of dungeon. He had followed ambition,
as God, and had fallen in high career. He had
mingle with men whom his heart lcathed he had
sought out the fierce and wronged spirits of the land
and had breathed into them the madness ofrevenge.
He had drawn his sword against his country he had
famed rebellion to fame, and it had been quench-
ed in human blood. He had fallen, miserably fall
en-, and was doomed to die the death of a traitor
The door of the dungeon opened and light form
est light of summer fell upon the pale brow, and
wasted cheek of his once beautiful wife.
Edward my dear Edward" said she, {" have
come to save you l have reached you after thou
sand difficulties and, | thank God, my purpose is
nearly executed"
Misfortune had softened the proud heart of man
hood and as the husband pressed his pale wife to
his bosom, tear trembled on his eye-lash.
6 have not deserved this kindness" he murmur
ed in a choaked tone of agony.
& Edward" said his wife, in O faint low voice.
which indicated extreme and fearful debility, twe
have not moment to lose. By an exchange of gar
ments you will be able to pass out unnotced Haste
or you may yet be too late. Fear nothing for
am woman and they will not injure me for my
efforts in behalf of husband dearer than life itself
But Margaret" said the husband "you look
sadly ILL., You cannot breathe the air of this dread
full cell.
ooh, speak not to me, my dearest Edward" said
the devoted woman !; {" l can endure anything for
your sake Haste Edward and all will be we'll :"
and she aided with trembling hand to disguise the
proud form of her husband in female garb
e Farewell, my love, my preserver," whispered the
husband in the ear of the disguised wife, as the Off
sternly reminded the supposed lady that the time
allotted to her visit had expired.
20 Farewell, we shall not meet again." responded
the wife, and the husband passed out unsupported,
and escaped the enemies of his life"
They did meet again, but only as the dead meet
in the awful communings of another world. Aztec
ton had borne up her exhausted spirit until the last
great purposes Of her exertions accomplished in
the safety of her husband and when the bell tolled
on the morrow, and the prisoners cell opened,
the guards found wrapped in the habments of their
destined victim the pale but beautiful corpse of the
Wife.
MAssAcHusETrs.-Th following beautiful picture
of the old Bay State is presented by Governor Briggs
in his message to the State legislature:
Massachusetts, has of 1850 square miles,
and within its limits there are now in operation
than eleven hundred miles of railroads. with CAPT.
tai of fifty millions. We have population of about
one million, who engaged in every branch OF bus
ness and of indnstry,-at home and abroad, upon
the land and upon the sea,--which holds out the
prospect of remunerating profit. The annual va
lue of their products exceeds one hundred millions
of dollars. Her credit is unimpaired, and, on ex-
change at home and abroad, her bonds are sought.
The value of the school houses in the State in 1848
was 50, 100000. More than two millions OF that
was raised and expended within the twelve pre-
ceding years In 1849, there were in our three
hundred and fourteen towns, 3749 public schools in
which were employed 1853 teachers, 1926 of whom
were males and 5737 were females. The amount OF
money raised for the support of the public schools
was $830,000 Add to this the amount paid for tut
ton in academies and private schools and the whole
expended for education during the year, exclu-
ding the three colleges, was 81, 168334. thousand
convenient and tasteful houses of public worship,
erected by different denominations of christians beau
t city, town and village of the commonwealth
and bear testimony that people have forgot
ten the God of their fathers. Our public charitable
institutions, for the benefit of the deaf dumb, and
blind the sick, insane and the destitute and for in
structing and reforming juvenile offenders, are the
jewels of the State In public schools the chill
dren of the rich and the poor sill in the same seat,
and struggle for the prize of scholarship upon equal
terms. Here honest industry, prudence and econo-
| hla and diSSin