Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-03-14

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MEMORY! Chain that keep that dread from
before me--letit not haunt me night and day
let me not hear that voice that rings forever in
nv ear, and you may chain and load me down,
and will thank you for it," And he dropped
his head aud buried his face once more in his
hands.
"He has not been so rational for many a
day." said his keeper, "for which am truly
thankful, for he is like lion when the fits are
on him." and
cha ha ha r. shouted the madman, rising,
and Ainging lis arms as high as his manacles
a!lowed-'ha Ina! ha am with you once n.
gain. Come, is all readyl who goes first!
why do you stare so wildly at me! Come, l
am merry, and shall make them laugh to-night!
-bal Ia: I,:, -,:nti his pale face was lit up
with wild demoiiacal expression. Soon he
spoke again:
Where's Mary not come yet! Strange
it's time-long past time, aud she knew well
she should be here early. Why gaze at ME I
she is not - no, no, no, nothing has happened
tell me, is she safe, is my dear child safe? Oh
God remember, Mary is dead-dead! Hi!
ha! ha!' And with loud shricks, he dashed
his hald to his forehead.
Soou he sat down again upon his low iron
It ,ul, deectedly, anil spoke not; then looking
up again, he gazed round and upon the keeper
and myself who stood by the door beyond his
reach.
"Comc nearer to me" said ho Reckoning;
come near, not you; no, not you, fear you,
aud he shuudered as the keeper stepped towards
him-"l fear you, for your eyes strike terror
t. my heart and that aud the form OF my
child before me ever, are all dread IL Come,
and will tell you of my chd--my little Ma
'ry, my own pet child, III tell you how she
died" ."'.
Not daring to trust myself within his reach,
4 stepped rs near to him as possible, so that he
could not reach me he bent forward, placed
mis- head upon his hand and with sudden tre-
NOR, and wildly glaring eye, he began:
Once, know not when, but could count
by days, knew the night, could tell the bright
sun aud clear moon and stars, but now all are
the same TO me--days know none, and light
!i:g''rs around me ever; well, lung, long ago,
ere came to this dull, gloomy place, was out
among men; drank, ate, cried, laughed, like
sneI,, aye, and that too n'errily, for was jes.
ter in tho ring, made the crowd, The heartless
ra,be laugh and shout, aud raised merry
noise, no matter if nv heart was sick OF gay,
nut was slad sometimes to see the long tiers,
the closely packed boxes, and the stalls, each
.r,e with smiles, to hear tho loud laugh and the
merry words, aud know that WAS the cause
of it ALTO hear the loud hurrahs, aud to see
them wave their hats and handkercLieis, when,
with a shrill whoop, jumped Into the ling.
Tuat would cheer me sometimes when my heart
beled tie laugh upon my face, the jest to which
nv tongue gave utterance.
"Weli, SO yeas went on, until my wife my
own beloved Mary, died; size whom loved so
loudly and truly, laid to sleep in the cold,
damp ca,ti,; IL , one could have thought that !,
the Ie>tcr, the clown, the one who then laugh.
cd, could weep! But, Oh how many hours
nave passed beside that lonely grave! my Mary!
she loved ne as few women 1--we; size had ttod
on the same rough road, walk beside me in my
troubles aud sorrows, sharing what enjoyed
or suffering without Il n,ur,nur; and waen |
knew she was dead, it seemed as ifmy time on
earth was over, and tie same grave dug for her
should take NC also. But she had left me one
over whom must watch with anxousness, and
love. if ,ossiil :, more than heretofore. my lit.
tle dauoi,ter the image of her mo.her, my own
little net Mary.
"I struggle with the deep, the bitter curse
Of poverty. Could have cal ,ed livelihood
bv toll. inccssant hardship and endurance; else.