Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-31


and she would say-s Dear father do go to rest, fol
you look pale yes, do go, father, for your little
Mary asks YOU; then I'd kiss and bid her good night
wishing her pleasant dreams, and leave her till
thought she was asleep again. and then SO softly
creeping back to watch till morning. a&s.egssz1
u Each day, each moment found me growing weak.
er and weaker. And as she grew more and more
] fair and beautiful the and more failed in
strength and every ythng but love to her
mo abatement could there be in that while the
| life blood coursed in my veins.
g Sometimes took her to her mothers grave where
she was sure always to bring some simple flower,
and would tell her of one who lay beneath, good
so gentle and SO kind telling her that she must try
and be like her and then she'd ask me many artless
she heaven then, and if she loved
me as tenderly did she and when she spelled the
only word upon the headstone--simply MART--she
said, Why that is my name, tool
My salary became inadequate to my wants-I
pinched myself sadly to allow my daughter educa-
tion and to enable her to dress prettly, and that
she might not suffer for anything. 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 night go,
for although | was favorite, was growing weak
and DID, and many younger one was waiting for
the chance and station then had.
81 demurred, but it of no avail pleaded
poverty, but that no help and was turning to
leave, when once the manager spoke to me:
'lf you are poor and wanting as you say, can
name way in which you gain money.
"'Name it. eagerly cried |.
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 p
g Horrible idea Train my little Mary for the
arena No, no. could not think of such a thing. l
could not find it in my heart to bring that dear one
pure as she was ntouched-unsullied vet by sin
into the midst of the many low and vile creatures
hanging around such place. No, no the thought
was agony.
SO toiled on harder and harder than ever Lit
tie did those who laughed so loudly long and hear
tily, think the heart Of him who caused them so to
do was sadly beating while he sang the merry song,
danced and capered telling his curious Jokes and
laughing out loudly to himself-ah, no. At length
nature could support it no longer; grew sick and
was scarcely able to 90 through with my perform
ance and the words Of the manager required to me
again--there alternative, and was forced to
bring her to the house.
And that hour when she stepped therein I curse
AYE, curse it from my heart ~
And here the poor maniac, after talking so ration
ally and for such length of time, covered his face
with his hands, and swayng his body to and fro ut
tered loud curses and cries Upon this feared that
the remainder of his story was lost, and waited long
tor his paroxysm to cease By degrees his Voice sub
sided, and he commenced
6 She murmured not--she said she was glad that
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-l
every day for hours and she would not say she was
tired--no complaint, not one-and she learned, too
rapidly.
g How watched her then by her all day, all
night not a moment could my eyes be from her. AT
ter hours and hours of training and toll she was pre-
pared for the debut 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 soon to come before the world--that
she would be surrounded by SIM misery and tempta-
tOn-but ever to treasure the memory of that moth
err who. when living. free from faint and peer
less as the driven She was so young that she
did not understand me fully but said-sweet child
that she would go to heaven to meet her there and
II she would, she must be good to do so.
"The night neutrality-suspicious. highland with
sadly beating heart, put my customary habili-
ments Mary was to appear in two performance
in the first alone the second in conf JUNCTION with the
best performer in the arena how sweety did she
look when all attired for her first appearance Never
had she looked so beautiful with her little spangled
frock and tights, so Ikea sylph, so pure so innocent
Again and again kissed her, and babe her fear not
" The house long before the advertised time for
the raising of the curtain, was denselv packed for
the announcement of the first appearance in public
of the daughter of --, had been long underlined |
and been heraded forth in glowing words for several
days, Yes men came to look upon the one whom
poverty had compelled to appear; whom want had
driven from her peaceful home and to laugh at the
JeoGo VI HcF Sttu-H0dFCeu IaInOr.
;And they would not look in vain for at rehear-
sal the manager, struck with her beauty and daring
courage with her skill on horseback made me libe-
raj offers for her services which poverty of course
made me accept. 1t is not often that managers ap-
plaud their hirelings.
" Tier above tier they rose-and when With I
shrek and merry Here am y jumped into the
ring, deafening plaudits made all echo again.
g know not how acted or what said-but from
time to time heard them shout. My thoughts were
upon my child; and when the moment came for her
to appear, led her by her little hand to make her
bow, feelings of pride mingled with my sadness for
1t was Mary, my child, for whom they shouted unto
whom they rose, to whom every eye was turned.
But, oh! what moment for me- With the
lightness of air she vauted into the saddle crack
from the masters whip, and round went the noble
steed like Ightning-round the arena so swiftly, it
seemed to me it were not half so long Then how
they appiauded My eye followed her as she went
my heart knocked against my bosom at each beat
and when she stopped for rest. could not speak 1t
was we'll for me that they it not-they were wa
wing handkerchiefs, and sending flowers from every
portion of the place.
1t was triumph. I was wild, frantic with Joy,
fear and weakness Sweetly and with grace, she
smiled and waved her tiny arms and hands, as the
foaming steed walked slowly around to let her
breathe and give her time to rest.
= Oft again, performing more difficult feats than
before, but with the and grace. One could
not have told, to have looked on, that she had not
done the same thing months and months before so
easy, no effort; coolly, embarrassment. It was
breathed again.
But, no. she must come before them. and led
her out again. need not tell you how they shout
ed, what they did you'll say my brain was turned
with love for my dear child, and would not think I
told the truth.