The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-28

in her manner, that it took much brooding over
what called my wrongs before I could harden
my heart against her. But she was her mothers
image; the same light brown hair, and soft,
twilight gray eyes, and mild delicate features;
she was her namesake, too; and that was enough
to make her odious in my sight. But somehow
| never thought of the matter till some whisper
ing among the neighbors opened my eyes; and
then vowed to myself that she should feel as
her fair mother made me feel, the anguish of re-
jected love; that her dainty lip should drink of
the same burning cup, if | could possibly put it
into her hand.
! When my son came home that night reproa-
ched him with more warmth than ever l had
done; and to my CONSERVATION was answered with
assurances that he loved her as his own soul, and
would as soon give up his life as her love. | did
not know it had gone so far; l was too selfish to
bear any rival in his affections; but the thought
that the daughter ofmy old enemy should be
! loved more than myself was utterly insupporta-
BILE. In vain he described her all that was
gentle and beautiful, one whom any mother
might covet for her son; in vain he declared, that
TO afford me a comfortable home would be his
and Ellen most anxious wish. ! answered him
with impatient scorn for modification at my want
of intuence-pride offended at his low choice,
when he might have done so much better-long-
cherished prejudice--and a fierce thirst for re-
vcnge-were all together strong enough to cou-
quer for the time the deep love bore him. lie
was firm to his purpose; and |, who had been
used to carry my point by violence, provoked by
his determination, worked myself up into such a
frenzy of passion, that scarcely knew what
was saying or doing. cursed his love and its
object, with her father and mother before her;
Knocked at his horror, and vowed, while my lips
trembled with rage, that he should either prom
Use to give up the hated girl that very moment,
or leave my house forever, for that would not
sleep another night under one roof with disobe
dient child-and snatching bible from book
shelf, kissed it with my unholy lips in ratifca-
Of the oath. He gave me one look--a look of
reproach, and horror, and fixed resolution--and
all at once he turned away and left the house.
My headstrong violence had carried me farther
than intended: | did not think he would take
me at my word SO suddenly. 1 had hoped to
, see him yield in some measure, and my first i'm
: pulse was to run to the door and call him back;
but my cruel pride restrained me ,. though the
lessening sound of his footsteps fell heavily on
my heart. | sat down, and in spite of all could
do to keep my anger alive, better feelings would
come into my mind. | thought of the time
when l had nursed him little baby, when had
learned him to call me mother; then of the days
when | used to watch him on his way to school,
till he was ont Of 81 ght, and feel that my sunshine
was departed till his return; when used to hear
MN say MS lessons, ana LOOK AT MS drawings,
with such proud and Joyful hopes Oh how
brightly had they been fulfilled! And as look
ed back through his whole lite, | could not re-
member unkind word against him: the man
had been dutiful as the boy. Even that even
ing had not the excuse that he had answered
/ passion with passion; and over whemed with
these recollections, | began to repent, and to
long for his return, that | hight ask his forgive
ness. Not but that | was as determined as ever
t1,,> 10, .t>-
future would persuade, implore, do any thing
but revle him as had done 1t never struck
me that he would really mind my wrathful de-
| claration because once over, minded it SO lit
; tie myself until the striking of the clock re-
[ minded me that it was past his usual hour for
coming home. Could it be possible that he
would not return? 1t seemed so absurd that my
command in such a matter would have any
weight. Was not the house his own? Had he
/ not filled it with comforts for my use? Had he
O not rather the power to bid me leave it if he
e choose! ] could not believe it in his nature to
: be deeply offended with me for a few angry
words-the first, the very first, had ever used
d to him! l, who had worked for him in health
: and watched by him in sickness-and could an
/ angry breath etface the remembrance of the de-
e voted love of years? Thus | reasoned with my
self for another and another hour; but he had not
come in; and my alarm increased to such heig ght
: that wrapped cloak about me, and went out to
: seek him.
d 1t was in the middle of November; have bit
V ter reason to remember the time, it was picrc.
d ingly cold, and binding mist falling
S through the thick darkness. / knew that he al
Y ways spent his evenings at the Sealeys should
t | go there? Bad as was, the struggle was short
4 between my pride and my maternal anxiety
S Their house was shut up: | knocked with a
S trembling hand, and VIM. Scaley put his head
| +oP, ind Eorr b,5
= spoken together; and with heart almost burst
ing with a tumult Of contending feelings, fall
. tered out my inquiries for my son. Louis had
| not been there at all that night. l turned away
$ with sinking heart; ran to every place where
thought it possible he could be, but no one had
seen him; besides, nearly every body was in
+ bed -.
Returning homewards in state ofdistraction,
/ vet with the faint hope that might find him by
this time in the house, moved my head, know
not why, to look again at William Sealey's win
; dows The mist was partly dispersed, and a
vague formless spot of light indicated the moon
place in the sky. By this faint illumination |
| saw something in the hook of the street COM
manded by the windows. 1t resembleda human
t figure. 1t human figure, and in sitting
posture! did not rush towards it. did not
scream with Joy when l saw it was my son.
/ approached it as if my limbs were frozen. My
$ beat and it was with grasp as if for life, that
f looked into his face. He was sitting bolt up
right on stone, his back resting again the wall,
and his eyes staring up at the windows. He was
dead-dead-dead!
= What become ofme after that do not know
/ have confused notion that he came alive
again, and that laughed SO loud and long as to
t terrify even myself. To say the truth-but his
, is secret think was mad. After time
they told me he had been drinking deep during
the night; but that is not true, for Louis, taught
by his fathers fate, had horror the vice. OI
fhe did drink, for the first and last time, it was
| his mother who drove him to the bottle! Bu
f the cold was enough; he was not the sole victim
!, Of that fearful night---the night l selected fol
$ driving forth my only son from his own home
y William Sealey's wife had come to me in my
, trouble, and generously nursed me in my long
f illness; and when the first stupefaction Of hel
Z griet was over, poor Ellen came too, that we
, might minge our tears together. She did moi
$ know then that my hand had given the blow
3 but told her, and every one, that might re-