Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-04-14

otherwise and-O, heavens IS it pos
sible "a smile. played about his mouth,
and a sound. as if of prayer, issued from
his lips while he yet sleptl
A faint hope, like the misty Eapor of
approaching morn, fitted before the heart
broken wife. But she could not grasp it
she had NO foundation for it; and with
deep groan she let the phantom pass
She went to her children, and drew the
clothes more closely about them; then
she knelt by their side, and after imprin-
ting upon their cheeks mothers kiss,
and uttering fervent prayer in their be-
half, she sought the repose of her pill
low.
Long ere the morning dawned, Thorn
as Wilkins arose from his bed, dressed
himself and left the house. His poor wife
awoke just as he was going out, and she
would have called him, but she dared not.
She would have told him that she had no
fuel, nor bread-nor anything with which
to warm and feed the children but he
was gone, and she sank back upon her
pillow and wept.
The light of morning came at length,
but Mrs. Wilkins had not risen from her
bed, nor had her children crawled from
out their resting place. A sound of foot
steps was heard from without, accompan-
led by noise, as though light sled were
being dragged through the snow. The
door opened, and her husband entered.
He laid upon the table heavy wheaton
loaf, small pail, and paper bundle
then from his pocket he took another par
eel, and again he turned towards the door.
When next he entered he bore in his arms
load of wood and three times did he
go out and return with load of the same
description. Then he bent over the fire.
place, and soon a blazing fire snapped and
was accomplished, Thomas Wilkins bent
over his children and kissed them then
he went to the bedside of his wife, and,
while some powerful emotion stirred up
his soul and made his chest heave, he
murmured:
"Kiss me, Lizzie"
Tightly that wife wound her arms about
the neck of her husband, and, as though
the love of years were entered in that kiss,
she pressed it upon her lips.
" "There-no MORE" he uttered, as he
gently laid the arms of his wife from his
neck "thesc things have brought are
for you and the children - and as he spoke
he left the house.
Mrs. Wilkins arose from her bed, and
tremblingly she examined the articles up
on the table. She found the loaf, and in
the pail she found milk; one of the pa
pers contained two smaller bundles-one
of tea and one of sugar, while in the re-
naming parcel she found nice lump of
butter.
"Oh," murmured the poor wife and
mother, as she gazed upon the food thus
spread out before her, whence came
these Can it be that Thomas has stolen
them? No, he nerer did that And then
that look, that kiss-those kind, sweet
words ! o, my poor, poor heart, raise
not hope that may only fall and crush
thee ~
"Mother," at this moment spoke her
son, who had raised himself upon his ell
bow, "is our father gone ?"
"Yes, Charles"
"Oh, tell me, mother-did he not come
and kiss me and little Abby this morn
ing 90
eyes, yes-he did, he did v' cried the
mother, as she flew to the side of her boy
and wound her arms about him.
"And MOTHER" said the child. in low,
trembling accents, while he turned tear
full look to his parents face, will not ia
ther be good to us once more 2"
The mother could not speak-shc could
only press her children more fondly to her
bosom, and weep mothers tears upon
them.
Was Lizzie Wilkins happy as she sat
her children down to that mornings meal?
At least, ray Of sunshine was struggling
to gain entrance to her bosom.
Towards the middle Of the afternoon,
Mr.. Able Walker. retired sea-captain,
of some wealth, sat in comfortable par
lor, engaged in reading, when one of his
servanst informed him, that some one at
the door wished to see him.
"Tell him to come in then" returned
Walker.
"But it's that miserable Thomas Will
kins, sir"
Never mind" said the captain after
moments hesitation, "show him in
Poor fellow" he continued, after the ser
want had gone, l wonder what he wants.
In truth pity linn"
With trembling step and dOwneast
look, Thomas Wilkins entered Capt. Wal
ker's parlor.
"Ah. Wilkins" said the old captain.
"what has brought you here %
The poor man twice attempted to speak
but his heart failed him.
UDo Won come for charity q"
"No sir" quickly returned Wilkins,
while his eyes cleaned with proud de-
light.
"Then sit down and out with it. I" said
Walker, in blunt, but kind tone. .
Captain Walker" commenced the
moor man. ne he took the profered seat