Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-04-02

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r. You are LOST felt that should incur Oh ira
+ tons which, during NV whole life. had s,ulie,
a to avoid. should be compelled TO relieve eG
iectually the accusing misery which surround
, ed me- Like one who secs an abyss at his feet
| recoilcd at the thought
'Thc benevolent physician could not COM
, prehcnd my deicstable seiishness, and he be.
lleved my strange dcmeanor the effect of pity
, The cold hesitation of miser, at the sght OF
, suffering he would avoid, would hv from, he
, supposed the emotion of Il soitcncd beart \
melancholy smile rradnted his leaturcS Ap.
preaching me moro closely, he pressed nv hand,
in his with warmth, and said,
"The sight of 50 much misery. sec. affects
you deeply. In our profession. if we would do
our Cuty, wemust become but too familiar with
such sccn"s; you, however, are the only phy-
sician wanted here--lrt us go neqrer'
we went closer to the bedside. ! was la a.
cold sweat. for shame was at work at my heart
and my mean and sordid sub,cr,uge tortured
me.
'Whcn my sister-iu-law saw me so near her
bedside, she rose with difficulty and sat up in
the bed. leaning upon the PHYSICIANS arm
There was visible IN her countcnnnce both
pride and resignation she would have COM
inlnlcd, but she Did not dare to command. and
4
/ from the only person in the whole world she
had despsed. She did not, therefore, descend
to solicitation, but trembling with emotion, she
pointed with her Uttennatcd finger to her child,
saying in heart-broaing tones My poor child
will soon b. mo'herlesS.' This simple but pow
ertul appeal to my compassion did not conquer
my stubborn heart. ! carefully avoided look |
ing at the child, for fear Of reIcnllur, and sall
as cody as could, 'Why do You inaulgc such
melancholy torcbodHrs: You are still Young
and in the care Of sk,Itul physician-we ought
never to despair Any other human being
would have said. Your brother is here he has
come to wipe away your tears, and to make
Won FORGET his former Unworthlncas rely upon
him. for he will be "a father to your chiId' But
sad no such thjng--i had had but one wish.
10 fH Oh! worship Of the golden calf.-how
huty-hcarted, how infamous it makes Us
While thus undecided in what manner to cf-
feet the shameful retreat meditatcd, the sweet
child had steadiIy fixed her eyes upon my iron
coun'enance. appearing mere surprised than
ahashed, when coming close TO me. she took
hJld of my hand, pointed to the foot Of her
n.,hcl's bed, and IL the most touching accent
said,
Sit down there. You are 50 tall | can't Hiss
yor, l'vOu don't take me IN your lap.'
sat down ana she climbed up to seat up
on my knees. The mother seeing tins, cIqspci
her hands and raised her eyes to Heaven as if.
in PRAYER. For myself felt that the decisive
lnJlant hld arrived, and cased my heart in
triple steel
'Nhlt is this woman and what this child 20
me = Thought |. i am under no promise to
support them-thov have no legal claim upon
cannot ob,iye me to feed hen-my
riches, 50 lolr and 50 patiently toiled for. are
n.n'. Yes, MING a.oha-,hc future Is dark aHi
uncertain; TO give away part even, would be
foolish ana lnNruden'
In snort, gave my>ai all the cXccl!ca, gel-
sou- which t.la iot' q hoardn@ IN bring 50
lno tn field Of argument. My
resolution once taken, resolved to be iirm.
and ca'l,nrto my a.d savage scowl, looked
-tc'da~ty IN the tlee of the child. She too
i'r@ei s.rtH!r "a" boldly, AMI np5earal CON
-ijer.n- s., vast "rE she could br"a! through d
IN" Icy rInn@ Mnd which WIS ru'rrnca- :
ei. - '"i-.h throwing her little arms around
my nc"t rl' said M her childish manner,
WA ron be my papa: Oh! wul love
You - lo1 look gust like my dear papa, /
he looked cross too, but he was so Y
good II he dlt lo1k cross ! wasn't alrd,d-.are
you good too' i
clnno' describe 10 You the touching effect
Of l.lS artioSs app mi; yet tatcre not. but |
mixing strong effort to retain my stern and Y
aspect. rudeiy uncaspcd her lut.r ;
arms trom around ny neck, aud without word
N reply placed her upon her feet beside me - Il
In an instant 'hc turned deady y, irgItiuIly pale, l.
hrn IA single hr rolled slowly down her mar
bic check. and fell yet hot upon my trembling
uanl. \ change sudden and entire came over
ne-lny greedy a,allcc, my brutal conductap ap- Il
p'ared before me in their revolving dclortutty t
i felt degraded in the dust no longer tried 0
10 struggle against the principle Of goodness t
Implanted IN Us all, no longer reasoned, Itclt, II
and giving way 10 the hlppncss of being gui- II
led by the heart alone placed my hands up y
IN the chid's head, and in fervid and solemn p
one, exclaimed;
L call Heaven to witness that here in thy c
mothers presence do swear to be to thee as a
father, and never daughter was more tcndcrIy
oved than | Will love thee my child L
'Oh! could wish you had seen the mother
when she heard these words. Her eyes ap, a
1eared to gleam with light, her features were
-adiant with ioy. her breast heaycd conyulsiye- a
y, and she tried to speak, but there was no
-nup1 MT n word roulI bn ,,t,or m,