The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-07-07

DUCK 10 your pledge, wilkins, and VIII
take care of the rest" said the old captain,
as his friend took the basket. "if you have
time, Tomorrow, call on me and l will ar
range the papers,"
As Thomas Wilkins once more entered the
streets, his tread was light and easy. A
bright light of joyousness shone in every
feature, and as he wended his way home
ward, he felt, in every avenue of his soul,
that he was once more a man.
The gloomy shades that ushered in the
night of the thirty-frst of December, had
fallen over the snow-clod earth, Within the
miserbe dwelling of Mrs. Wilkins, there
was more of comfort than we found when
first we visited her, but yet nothing had been
added to the furniture of the place. For the
last six days, her husband had come home
every evening, and gone away before day
light every morning, and, during that time,
she knew that he had drunk no Intoxicating
beverage, for already had his face begun to
assume the stamp of its former manhood and
every word that he had spoken had been
kind and afIectionate. To his children he
had brought new shoes and warmer cloth
ing, and to herself he had given such
things as she stood in immediate need of;
but yet, with all this, he had been taciturn
and thoughtful, showing dislike to all
questions and only speaking such words as
were necessary. The poor, devoted, loving
wife began to hope. And why should she
not? For six years her husband had not
been thus before. One week ago she dread
his approach; but now she found herself
waiting for him with the anxiety of former
years. Should all this be broken: should
this new charm be swept away. Eight O.
clock came, and So did nine and ten, and
yet her husband came not!
"Mothcr," said little Charles, just as the
clock struck ten, seeming to have awakened
from dreary slumber, "Ins't this the last
night of the old ycar?'
eyes, my son."
"And do YOU know what I've been dream
ing dear mother? dreamed that father had
brought us ncw-year's presents, just the
same as he used to. But he won't, will he?
He's too poor, now?"
! "No, my dear boy, we shall have no
other present than food and, even for that
VIC must thank dear father, There, lay your
head in my lap again.
The boy laid his curly head one more in
his mothers lap, and with tarcful eyes she
gazed upon his innocent form.
TIE clock struck clevcn The poor wife
was yet on her tireless, sleepless watch!-
And hardly had the sound of the last stroke
died away, ere the snow crust gave back
the sound of football, and in moment
more her husband entered. With trcm-
bling fear she raised her eyes to his face,
and wild thrill of joy went to her heart
as she saw that all there was open and bold
only those manly features looked more
Joyous, more proud than ever.
"Lizzie, )" said he, in mild, kind accents.
81 am late tonight, but business has de-
tanned me; and now | have favor to ask of
thee"
! "Name it, dear Thomas, and you shall
not ask the second time" cried the wife, as
she laid her hand confidently upon her hus-
bands arm.
+ "And youwill ask me no quesions?" con-
tinued Wilkins.
"No, I will not"
"Thcn," confined the husband, as he bent
over and imprinted kiss upon his wife
brow, Il want you to dress our children
for walk, and you shall accompany US
The night is calm and tranquil, and the snow
is well troddcn--
"Ah, no questions! Remember your
promise"
Lizzie wilkins knew not what this all
meant, nor did she think to care; for any
thing that could please her husband she
would have done with pleasure, even though
it had wrenched her very heartstrings. In
a short time the two children were ready;
then Mrs. Wilkins put on such articles ol
dress as she could command, and soon were
lin the road. The moon shone brightly, the
stars pcepcd down upon the earth, and they
seemed to smilc upon the travellers from
out their twinkling eyes Of light. Silently
Wilkins led the way, and silently his wife
land children followed. Several times the
wife gazed up into her husbands counte-
nance; but from the strange expression that
rested there, she could make out nothing
that tendedto satisfy her.
At length, slight turn in the road bro't
them suddenly upon the pretty white cot.
tage, where years before they had been SC
happy They approached the spot The snow
in the front yard had been showed away, anC
a path led up to the piazza-Wilkins opened
the gate-his wife, trembling followed, bu
wherefore she knew not Then her husband
opened the door, and in the entry they wer
met by the smiling countenance ofold Cap
tain Walker, who ushered them into tn