The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-12-08
With astonishment denicted nnnn hor

countenance, Carrie gazed upon the in
valid, and while the tears were chasing
each other down her cheeks; said
"Mother, what mean youl @. nv poor
MOTHER" and unabled longer to control
her grief she buried her face in the scan
ty covering, and sobbed as if her heart
was broken.
"Carrie, child, am dying, l feel it.r
said the sufferer, "a short time have vet
to remain; and when am gone, who
then will take charge Of you, my poor
orphan!"
Don't talk so, mother" said the strick-
en- girl; "you must not die, | shall die too
Il cannot live without you, and wiU
not"
"Child, child, replied the invalid in
voice whose tones expressed sorrow: "you
are young-trust in God, do not give way
to such feelings, overcome them, and the
Father of us all, will be father to you.
And come listen, child-bend down and
listen-my voice is growing weak-my
eye-sight is fast becoming dim; have n
secret for your ear:-I am not your moth
err"
"Not my mother!" shrieked Carrie
"Yes, you are. Who, but a mother would
have fondly cherished me-lavished on
me the fond words of affection, as you
haveI Yes, you are my mother, want
no other" ..
"Listen, Carrie, while yet have breath
to speak; draw near, child, and harken.-
1t was some ten years ago, that, as was
wandering through the streets of Charles
ton, in order to find purchasers for my
work, so that might obtain nv liveli-
hood, that | behcld in my path poor rag.
gcd infant, whose eyes were upturned to
me, as if seeking for pro ection. To leave
1t was>to consign it to death. Barely
having sufficient to keep myself from
want, | at first hesiiated to add another
TO my misery; but its upturned eyes pre-
vailed, and as its little hands were stretch
cd out to me, clasped it to my bosom,
and vowed to protect and rear it as nv
own. | did so, and well have you repaid
me. Yes, Carrie, you are that babe; and
now that | am about leaving you, my
heart ycarns towards you. leave you
in poverty, misery and want, but God will
protect you"
Overcome by the exertions of her rccit-
al she fell helpless and lifelcss upon the
bed. The task had been fatal; her spirit
had fled, and there in the silence of the
chamber Of death, was the young mourn
er, alone in her agony. Though the night
was dark and tempestuous, as If in unison
with her grief-though the rain poured in
torrents, The thunder pealed along the
vaults of heaven; and the incessant flash
es of lightning added tcnfold horrors to
the scene; yet the bcreavei one, the moth
er!css girl, the helpless and unprotected,
needed it not. The tumult of the elements
were calm aud tranquil, compared to the
feelings of utter misery which ragged with
in her bosom. With her check pressed
against the scarce colder one of the dead,
she remained for hours totally unconscious.
Complete desoiation reigned in her heart.
She was torn from the lifeless body; and
when the corpse was consigned TO the
tomb, she was cast houseless and friend
less upon The world. She was, indeed,
plunged into misery; but the last words
Of the dead still ruig in her ears, "Trust
in Cod" and with n hopeful and bursting
heart, she entered the busy scenes Of life.