The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-06

he was most afftcio ate, and was extremely gra'e
full for every thing that could do for his relief.
won his heart, but perceived with pain i.'at
his disease of body nothing to his sicRl,ess Va
the SOUL which | could not heal. He Leaned np,i
my bosom and wept, while at the same tl'ns re I've ns
prayed for death. | have never seen one Vi nls
years who cour,ed il so sincerely. trieu III every
way to elicit from him what ii was ,hat tenos'eu t
him unhappy--but his lips were seaieu, anu nc
was like who tried TO tuin iiS id'o io'' '''N0
thing which oppressed his spirit II.
"Tt subsequently appeared that the father Of this
child was hanged for murder, IN b county,
about two wears before. IL was the most cold
hlooded homicide that had ever been known in
that country, The excitement ragged high; and
recollect that the stake and the Ralows WED with
each other for the victim. The mob labored hard
to get the man ont of The Jail, that they might
wreak summary vengeance upon him by hanging
him to the nearest tree. But law trumphed, and
he was hanged. Justice held up her equal scales
with satisfaction, and there much trumpeting
forth of this contamination, in which even the
women-merciful, tender-hearted women--seemrd
to take delight.
Perceiving the boys life to be waning, en-
deavored day to turn his mind to religious sub
jects, apprehendng difficulty in one young !;
but he always evaded The topic. ! asked him if he
had said his prayers. He reped
"' Once always-now never
" This answer surprised very much and
endeavored gently TO impress him with the fact
that more devout frame of mind would be
becoming in him, and with the great necessity of
his being prepared to die but he remained silent
" A few days afterwards asked him if he would
not permit me TO send for the Rev. DIR. b., most
kind man in sickness, who would be Of the utmost
service to him in his present situation. He de-
clined firmly and positively Then | determined
to solve this mystery, and to understand this
strange phase of character in a mere child. My
dear boy, said /, mplore you not to act in this
manner. What can SO have disturbed your young
md ial hall ia a
whom you owe debt of gratitude =
I" His eye kndled, and to my surprise-l might
almost say borror-I heard from his young lips,
"' No, don't believe that there is a God
" Yes that little boy, young as he was, was an
atheist, and he even reasoned in a logical manner
for mere child like him.
4" | cannot believe that there i. God, said he
{ for if there were God he must be merciful and
just and he never, 7aeUer, NEVER could have per-
mitted my father, who was innocent to be hanged
Oh my father my father!' , he exclaimed passion
ateiy, burying his face in the pillow, and sobbing
as if his heart would break.
" was overcome by my emotion; but all that
| could say would not change his determination
he would have minister OF God beside hlm-no
prayers by his bedside. | was unable, with all my
endeavors, to apply any balm to his wounded heart
"A few days after this | called as usual, in the
morning, and at once very clearly that the lit
| tie boy must depart.
"' Willie said L. have got good news for yor
| to- day. Do you think that you can bear to hea
it 2 for | really at loss how to break to hin
what had to communicate.
"He assented, and listened with the deepest at
tention. | then informed him, best could, tina
from circumstances that had recently come to light
had been rendered certain that his father was in
nocent of the crime for which he suffered an igno
| minious death
81 never shall forget the frenzy of emotion whicl
| he exhibited at this announcement He uttere
| one scream-the blood rushed from his mouths
| leaned forward upon my bosom-and died"