Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-09-05

WHoSc hOuSc udo UCcu ouiHCus duu
she was so greatly enraged at The
prospect of any one sharing the influence
she had obtained over her master, that,
after vaihly irving TO alter his determi.
nation, she revenged her disappointment
upon the poor child by the most cruel
usage. Ten years rolled on in this way;
the old surgeon gave up practice and So
cieiy, secluding himself in his house
and garden. There were no servants
beside Alice Sharpe and poor little Mi.
riam, who was still unreasonably hated
by the former, with boy who had work
ed occasionally in the garden. BY the
exercise of constant waichlulness and
cunning, Alice Sharpe managed to keep
her master and his little profegee almost
entirely apart, and she continued SO to
fill the child's mind with apprehension
and fears of her protector, that when by
chance they did meet, her terror was so
great as to mortify and disappoint the
kind old man. Still be loved the child
dearly, aud used to watch her pretty fig.
ure running abou, with great delight
Sometimes, TOO, when Alice was absent,
for few hours at meeting or market,
he would try TO conciliate and attract
The little creature, and thus, after time,
she learned to love, and forgot TO fear
him. But all this was concealed from
the housekeeper. Why, has always
been mystery to me; however, il was
so, and Alice Sharpe lived in ignorance
of the mutual attachment, until her mas.
ter was taken i'll. Then, for the frs,
time, the secret was betrayed by the un-
controlled grief Of Miriam, and the quer-
ulous anxiety Of the invalid, who craved
to have the child perpe,ually in his sight.
To this, after a time, Alice was obliged
to consent; and little mattress was
brought into the sick-room for her, while
the manner and treatment of the willy
artful woman, changed from its usual
harshness to caressing oppressive
kindness tha, was almost as offensive
But Miriam was too thankful to be allow
ed to remain with her protector 10 be fas-
,idious. ard she nursed him night and
day until his death. ...a.
"He had no medical advice, Alice al.
way ridiculing the idea of danger; out
she prescribed for him herself, mixed mp
his medicines out of his own old stock
of drugs, and administered them. Mi,
riam observed, that afier taking them he
was invariably worse, and that he often
objected to do so; but the housekeeper
always prevailed, and by dint of scolG
ing and coaxing, usually carried her
point. Ten days before his death, Al
ice introduced into his room cousin ol
hers, a lawyers clerk. whom she told
Miriam that her master had sent for; and
will was then made and signed. After
this the woman became careless, and
left the dying man almos, wholly to the
charge Of little Miriam, who was alone
with him whenshe died.
"The last act of his life was TO give
the child packet, which, after his death
he bade her take to the Clergyman; il
would explain who she was, he said
And Miriam positively asserts that his
last words were, Bless you, my own
child, my darling neice!'
"I'he packet, however, was lost
whether the child. in her exceeding mis-.
cry, mislaid il, or it was taken from hel
as she slept, there is no means Of discov'
ering. Alice Sharpe always asserted
that The whole tale was pure invention
and that Miriam had never received any
such article; she, however, remained
positive, and SO do l.
"Well, all was now changed. A will
was produced, executed two days before
the deceasc of the testator, bequeaihins
all Of his property TO Alice Sharpe, and
not one word was said about Miriam -
People talked loudly, bu, the heiress
needed nothing, che took possession o
the property, married her cousin, George
Sharpe, (,he man who made the will,
sent Miriam to the workhouse, and open
ed milliner's establishment.
"Wheels roll within wheels; Mr.
Sharpe was now large rate. payer, and
once or twice overseer; and when his
wife applied 10 the parish officers offering
TO take Miriam I.y ndon as an apprentice
without premium, those iunctionaries
found j, convenient to forget her previous
cruelty to the child, ex,olled her liberal
ity 10 the skies, and, without consulting
The poor girl, bound her instantly.
"1'he life she led in that house was
horrible. No African slave ever worket
harder, or was mo:e cruelty treated; bu
she never repined; she had learned en-
durance from infancy, and the practice
was familiar. Al last, however, she hat
another and greater trial to bear: hel
beauty attracted the evil eye of hel
wre,ched master, and her misery was
complete. The persecution she under
wen. from him, and the jealousy OF bis
wife. made existence burden to her
and many night she has gone to sleef
with prayer for death upen her lips.
"One night THAT named in the indicl'
menD Miriam was occupied in pressing
some straw-bonne,s, when her master
entered the apartment, and after great
deal Of imper,inence, attempted some ia.
miliari,ies. She resisted. and The noise
Of the struggle and her cries brought her
mistress to The room: while the coward.
Iv assailant, as soon ns he saw his wife,