Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-10-31
scene in a Gamblers Life.
BY IRENE.

LIES consuming heart sorrow which lies too
deep to be aIleviatcd by sympathy Her fea-
| lures were sharpened by suffering, and her face
| which might once have been fair had lost its
round proportions and the thin cheek and sunk
en- mourntul eye revealed tale of unspoken
grief.
young baby slept quietly in her arms She
looked lovingly upon Ii, and well she might, for
it was very beautiful. One little dimplrd hand
rested on the soft cheek, and half.parted lips and
closely shut eyeds showed how gently il sum-
bered, Now and thena little girl, sitting close
beside her on a little stool, peeped under the
light shawl that half covered tie chds face,
looked smilingly up to her mother, and again
nestled closely to her side, till as the evening adj
vanced, WEAKNESS made her own lids droop, and
she nodded herself into sound a sleep as the
little dleamer IN her mothers lap The father
sat nearly opposite the group, upon an old chest
that contained their all. He looked haCgard
pale, and distressed. He had long time SAT
with his head bowed upon his hand in abstract,
moody silence, now and then looking towards
his young wife as though he had something
upon his lips to say yet dared not utter. At
length, in a quick, harsh tone, in which the!e
was more desperation than unkindness, he said :
Mary, the captain says lie shall put US a
shore ="
What for p was her as,onished, wondering
reply.
I've no money, Mary. After brought Won
on board, went to G---'s to try my luck
once more, and the scouudrr!s won every dollar
The kEavc, they've cheated me. If could on
Iy have time to try my lack again, I'd soon have
shown them | could win as roundiv aS they"
In giving vent to his excitement. he forgot III,
moment the consequences which his gratihrd
passion had already brought upon his helpless
family. and angrlly started up, and paced the
harrow space about them, with flushed and
scUwUug face.
Poor Mary had received the tdinrs Of her new
misfortune with a suppressed groan. but now
her emotion was fully visible in tie silent tears
that fell thick and fast, while she cncircIed her
unconscious children more closely in her arms
She remembered the many DAYS and nights of
weary tot! she had endured 10 gather portion of
The little sum that was TO convey them away
from the scenes of their suffering, and with
which they were to secure a humble home far
ther west But now all was gone. The bright
antcpatons of home of their own. in some
quiet spot, had long been her strength. and ma
many an honr of sorrow had been lighted
with the thought that one dav they should see
the bright or waving and the prairie flowers
springne silly around their dwelling: and
her heart beat with Joy, as in imagination She
saw her children boundiug upon the green sward
and breathing the fresh, pure air, that had thus
far been denied them; and, above all, she would
see her husband freed from the influencus that
drew him and his hard earnings to the canine
tables with such magnetic witchcrv, despite Of
all his resolutions and promises Bat poor Ma
rvs imagination had Travelled too fast. and her
happy dreams were all crushed now No word
OF rcProach escaped her lips, though She silud-
dared as she listened to the night wind, and tho
how soon they should be without shelter Her
"nlQmP'4lhIHS sorrow touched the heart OF the
anu "s"lh nc !''Fe" "lihSeil Down upon
me o'u Guest anu o"Fyit'g ms race IN MS hands,
d" "tVu 'Ac summons nc Lloilch'atlly expected
l'o'h ''Ie 'af'1'h'
There they sat till midnight Approached
Qnet had token the place OF the noisy excite
m"ni OF the evening, As one after another drop
PED away III siumOer Ihc heavy rumbiing
SOUND oi lie machinery Tell painfully upon The
nervous ear oI lhe gathoier' as he listened to the
aFPr"at" OF every 1oo'-iaiI' tlIl suddenly the
a'uilu ceased ana only 'he fushIhg waters and
dismal whSihng OF the wind broke the stiffness.
Presently the captain accompanied by man
bearing lantern, appeared, and ordered them
forward. They arose and without word obey
ed the summons.
Inc boat was already lowered. and two men
at their oars awaited orders Mary prepared
TO descend, anI placing the babe in their young
daughters arms wiki IA word of caution turned
from them and was ,afelv seated in the beat
By the dim light of the lamp she watched the
coming of Anna, with her precious burden, and
~iih anxious fear saw them lifted to the beats
edge. Sne reached forward to secure them but
Anna totiered and in a moment was plunged IN
TO the rolling waters. a ehriI Shrek rent the
air, and rang through the beat with such wild ar-
ony as aWohe every sleeper.
NV child! Nv Anna ~ cried the frantic
mother, as She razcd vainly in the dark water.
that had closed over her loved ones.
..Save them! save them >" she shrirllcd
willie She STRUGGLED 10 throw herself arer lhap,
thouUh firmly held by one Of the oar>roan Tho
lirFf1 fuDr a broad rlcar, unon tho ,vator and
enabled bin to discern any object that annaa-ad
The father peered into the distance wit, keen
nnick oazc. and then cave load ,lnnt ?, dark
mas, r,,.. tn the ,nrIara Of the u.a,ar WIN -
few expert strokes the swimmer reached Anna
a. She was siu, q beneath me. waves gai,, and
win ,,-on,r hold lie crashed and bore her safe.
~ to the arms of TIE di-;rl tad mother. who foId-
Cd the dripping child 70 her bosom. Still She
,hriekcd-
"My Child! ny babe is gone Oh save him
TOOL" And VITA wild gestures she entreatpd
them to md it,
..WAa, does she mean ?" asked tie aotoa;shed