The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-07

merry in the ring-he, the one who wept beside
the grave of his own dear wife, prayed beside the
cot Of his child-he prayed for her ~,
vision came to me-to which the thought OF death
was nothing should she growing more beautiful
and fascinating every hour, still continue the object
Of INV entire thought and fall to sin On, God
the thought was sckening-then how oent me
down and prayed-tnen now ueHoieo ioi 'ne
fate Of my dear child
"Londons no place for young, motherless and
beautiful girl-for temptation and every aurement
of sin and vice existed there. And should she fall
Would that ere that moment, could see her
corpse before me
"Well, as I'd sit and gaze, and muse on all this,
and my thick coming fancy passed before me,
sometimes she would wake; at first she was sur
prsed to find me there in tears, and sought to know
the cause and she would say Dear father, do
go to rest for you look pale very paie yes 40 co.
fathe., for your own little Mary asks you; then
I'd kiss and bid her good night, wishing her plea
SAINT dreams, and leave her till 1 thought she was
asleep again, and then softly creeping back to
watch till morning.
Each day, each moment, found me growing
weaker and weaker. And, as she grew more and
more fair and beautiful, the more and more failed
in strength and everything-everythlng but love to
her--no abatement could there be IN that while the
lfe-blood coursed in my veins.
"Sometmes took her to her mothers grave
where she was sure always to bring some simple
II.
so good so gentle and kind, telling her that she
must try and be like her. and then she'd ask me
many artless questions-if she was in heaven then,
and if she loved me tenderly as did she, and
when she spelled the only word upon the head
stone-smply MARY she said, " ny, that Is
my name, too!
"My salary became inadequate to my wants.
pinched myself sadly to allow my daughter educa-
tion and to enable her to dress prettly, and that
she might not suffer for any thing. So applied
for more and told them could not live with what
had. But, alas they answered that my request
could not be complied with; they said they would
retain me, paying me what was receiving, or that
might go, for although | was a favorite, l was
growing weak and old, and many younger one
was waiting for the chance and station then had
&c demurred, but it was OF no avail pleaded
poverty, but that was no help, and was turning
to leave, when the manager spoke to me:
"' If you are poor and wanting, you say, can
name way in which you can gain money
"' Name it. eagerly cried !.
$50 Your daughter-she is young and handsome
"'What do you mean by the words 2 shouted l,
as stood painting before him.
"' Why not train her for the arena!
"Horrible idea! Train my little Mary for the
arena No, no, could not think OF such thing.
could not find it in my heart to bring that dear
one pure as she -untouched-unsullied yet
by sin-into the midst of the many low and vile
| creatures hanging around such place. No, no
| the thought was agony.
ESQ toied on harder and harder than ever.
| Little did those who laughed so loudly, long and
| heartily, think the heart of him who caused them
| to do sadly beating while he sang the merry
| song, or danced and capered telling his curious
| jokes, and laughing out SO loudly to himself-ah
| no! At length nature could support 1t no longer
| grew sick and was scarcely able TO go through
| with my performance, and the words of the mana
| ger recurred TO me again-there was no alterna
tive, and was forced to bring her 10 the house.
"And that hour when she stepped therein
| curse-aye, curse it from my heart ~
| And here the poor maniac, after talking SO ra
| tonally, and for such length of time covered his
| face with his hands, and swaying his body TO and
fro, uttered loud curses and cries. Upon this
feared that the remainder of his story was lost, and
| waited long for his paroxysm to cease BY degrees
! his voice subsidized, and he commenced
| - She murnured 'as---ahs an id she was glad tha
she could be earning something to assist me in my
| poverty and she would do her best to learn and
| please Poor child, poor Mary!
| weeks, weeks-and many too, we practised-
| every day for hours, and she would not say she
was tired-no complaint, not one-and she learned
| too, rapidly
How watched her then by her all day, al
| night not a moment could my eyes be from her
After hours and hours of training and toll, she wal
prepared for the d6b@t. The day preceding the
night was sad enough to me. We went together
to her mothers grave and sat an hour or two
| told her that she was to come before thu
word-that she would be surrounded by sin, misery
and temptaton-but ever to treasure the memory
of that mother who, when living, was free iron
tant and peerless the driven snow She wa
| so Young that she did not understand me fully. bu
said-sweet child-that she would go to heaven t.
meet her there, and if she would, she must be goot
to do So
"The night arrived--portent tous highland witt
a sadly beating heart, put on my customary ha
biliments. Mary was to appear in two perform
ances-in the first alone, the second in conjunction
l Il.
did she look when all attred for her first appear
ance. Never had she looked so beautiful, with he
little spanged frock and tights, so like sylph, S
pure, so innocent. Again and again l kissed hel
and bade her fear not.
sThe house, long before the advertised time ft
the raising of The curtain, was densely packed,
the announcement of the first appearance in publ
of the daughter of - -, had been long under
lined, and been heralded forth in glowing word
/, for several days. Yes, men came TO Look upon tn
one " whom poverty had compelled to appear; who
f want had driven from her peaceful home, and
laugh at the jests of her sad-hearted father
"And they would not look in vain-for at II
r hearsal the manager, struck with her beauty al
4 daring courage, with her skill on horseback, mac
me liberal offers for her services, which poverty,
course, made me accept. 1t is not often that ma
n sgers applaud their hrengs.
"Tier above tier they rose-and when, with
!; shrek and merry. Here am" l jumped into tt
e ring, deafenng plandits made all echo again.
|
9 from time 10 time heard them shout. My though
v were upon my child and when the moment can
l., for her to appear, led her by her little hand
), make her bow, feelings of pride mingled with n
a sadness, for it was Mary, my child, for whom tn
it shouted, unto whom they rose, to whom every e
le was turned.
0. "But, oh! What moment for me. With t
III ghtness of air she vaulted into the saddle
o. crack from the masters whip and round went t
r, noble seed like lghtning-round the arena
swiftly, it seemed to me it were not half so lol
of Then how they applauded! My eye followed
ii, as she went, my heart knocked against my bose
e, at each beat, and when she stopped for rest, col
ed not speak, 1t was well for me that they saw it
n they were waving handkerchiets, and sendi
a., flowers from every portion Of the place.
III at was a triumph. | was wild, frantic W
AZ Joy, fear and weakness Sweetly, and with gra
ny she smiled and waved her tiny arms and hands
J., the foamng steed walked slowly around, to let
nv ~ breathe and give her time to rest.
iss "Off again performing more difficult feats I
nd before, but with the same ease and grace.
,as could have told, to have looked on, that she
not done the same thing months and months
tile fore; SO easy, no effort; so coolly, no embarr
the nent. 1t was through-I breathed again.
ph But, no-she must come before them, a
md led her out again. L need not tell you how
did shouted, what they did you'll say my brain
She turned with love for my dear child, and would
think | told the truth.
es- "And now, one more performance, and the
tile that night. On she came, borne by the best
ore former in the arena the favorte in the place
Don what and grace he held her up on high.
-eet smartly she looked, away up there-all tinses
as spangles, glittering finely in the gas light,
and he like Hercules beside her, urging the steec
ward to its utmost powers.
Vha mnst iptra urI1o tbo