Washington telegraph., 1852-05-05

whole world she had despised. She did
not, therefore, descend to solicitation, but
trembling with emotion, she pointed with
her attenuated finger to her child, saying in
heart-breaking tones, My poor child a0iU
soon be naotherless.' This simple but pow
erful appeal to my compassion did not con-
quer my stubborn heart. Icarefully avoided
looking at the child, for fear of relenting,
and said as coolly as could, Why do you
indulge such melancholy forebodings p
You are still young and in the care of
skilful physician-we ought never to de-
spair' Any other human being would have
said, Your brother is here he has come
to wipe away your tears, and to make you
forget his former unworthiness rely up
on him, for he will be father to your child
but I said no such thing-I had but one
wish, to fly. Oh! worship of the golden
calf, how finty-hearted, how infamous it
makes us While thus undecided in what
manner to effect the shameful retreat |
meditated, the sweet child had steadily
fixed her eyes upon my iron countenance,
appearing more surprised than abashed,
when coming close to me, she took hold of
my hand, pointed to the foot of her moth
er's bed, and in the most touching accent,
said, Sit down there, you are so tall l
can't kiss you if you don't take me in your
lap 1 sat down and she climbed up to
seat upon my knees.
The mother, seeing this, clasped her
hands and raised her eyes to heaven, as if
in prayer For myself, felt as if the de-
cisive moment had arrived, and cased my
heart in triple steel [ gave myself all the
excellent reasons which the love of boarding
can bring so triumphantly into the field Of
argument My resolution once taken, l
resolved to be firm, and calling to my aid
savage scowl, 1 looked steadfastly in the face
of the child. She, too, looked in my face
steadily and boldly, and appeared consider
ing in what way she could break through
the icy rampant behind which l was en-
trenched. At length, throwing her little
arms around my neck, she said in her
childish manner, Will you be my papa
Oh, will love you SO. You look just like
my dear papa, sometimes he looked cross,
too, but he was so good, if he did look cross,
l wasn't afraid-are you good, too?' can
not describe to you the touching effect Of
this artless appeal; yet l faltered not but
making strong effort to retain my stern
and unyielding aspect, l rudely unclasped
her little arms from around my neck, and
without word in reply placed her upon
her feet beside me. In an instant she turn
ed deadly frightfully pale. then single
tear rolled slowly down her marble cheek,
and fell yet hot, upon my trembling hand,
CA change, sudden and entire came over
me-my greedy avarice, my brutal conduct
appeared before me in their revolving de-
formity-I felt degraded to the dust no
longer tried to struggle against the princi-
pie of goodness implanted in us all, no
longer reasoned, I felt, and giving way to
the happiness of being guided by the heart
alone, I placed my hands upon the child's
head, and in fervid and solemn tone, ex-
claimed, L call Heaven to witness, that
here, in thy mothers presence, l do swear
to be to thee as, father, and never was a
daughter more loved than [ will love thee,
my child Oh l could wish you had seen
the mother when she heard these words
Her eyes appeared to gleam with light, her
features were radiant with joy, her breast
heaved convulsively, and she tried to speak,
but there was no sound-not word could
she utter. The physician was alarmed, and
we feared she should actually die of joy
But JOY seldom kills-she soon breathed
more freely, and tears came to her aid
Brother said she have wronged you ,
she added much more which [ would not
hear. l believe Heaven pardon me) she
would have asked forgiveness for my bru-
tality towards her-it would have over
whelmed me with remorse l interrupted
her thanks by saying that in her feeble state
she ought to avoid the exertion of talking
The physician, who was of my opinion, en-
joined silence and quiet, and after giving
some directions, was about to take leave Of
his patient, when [ called him aside, and
handing him my purse, desired him to take
the necessary measures for her immediate
removal. knew no person in Marseilles,
and the worthy young man took upon him
self the task of finding suitable residence
Though said he, l fear she will not need
it long If but for day. said l, it
will be one day snatched from years of mis-
cry That very evening, everything was
accomplished, and the next day found us in
the occupancy of small house, beautifully
situated in the midst of trees and flowers,
and near the sea shore.
There, during three months, I clung
to the hope that my sister-in-law might re-
gain her health, and for time had good
reason to indulge in the expectation. She
was ever calm and tranquil; she would
smile sweetly as 1 would forget my fifty
years, my grey hairs, and become child
again to please the being 1 had sworn to
love and cherish, but alas my hope was
not to be realized struggle with pow
erty and disease had been of too long dura-
tion the sources of life we're exhausted,
and medical science with the tenderest care