Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-29
..No, INV dear bow p,ws,e, shall have no

.l--e L e ---s-
81 mo. my dear boy, We shall have no
other present than food and even for
thatwe must thank dearfather.o There,
layryour lheadiin my lap again. ''eaesls =
|iysThe boy had laid his curly head once
more in his mother'slap. and with tear
full eyes she gazed upon his innocent form.
sd The clock struck elevenil The poor
wife WAS yet on her tireless, sleepless
watch But hardly had the sound Of the
last stroke died away, ere the. snow crust
gave back the sound of a football, and
IN moment more her husband entered
With az trembling fear she raised her
eyesrto his face, and a wild thrill went
to herheartsas she saw all there was open
and boldAonly that those manly features
looked more joyous and more proud than
ever. : sfffoliA - 80 ~ -,
alE.. Lizzie, % said he in mild, kind accents.
:. L am late tonight, but business has de-
tanned me, and now have favor to ask
of thee" sn9
,;is. Name it, dear Thomas. and you shall
not ask a second time. cried the wife, as
she laid her hand confidently upon her
husbands arm. ls - -''
"And will you ask me no questions !''
continued wilkins. FE9ii ~
mo, l will not
+ s.Then, +" continued the husband as he
bent over and imprinted a kiss npon his
wife's brow, Iwant yon TO dress our chill
ldren for walk. and you shall accompany
us. The night is calm and tranquil. and
the snow Is well trodden.s All no ques-
1ionsl Remember your promise" ua5
Lizzie Wilkins knew not what all this
meant, nor did she think to care; for any
thing that could please her husband, she
would have done with pleasure. even
though it wrenched hervery heart-strings.
In short time the two children were rea-
dy; then Mrs. Wilkins put on such arti-
.cles of dress as she could command, and
soon they were in the road. The moon
shone brightly the stars peeped down
upon the earth, and seemed to smile upon
the travellers from out their twinkiing eyes
of light. Silently Wilkins led the way,
and silently his wife and children fol-
lowed. Several times the wife gazed up
into her husbands countenance; but from
the strange expression that rested there
she could make out nothing that tended
to satisfy her. la ai-ifzil.
At length, a slight turn in the road
brought them suddenly upon the pretty
white cottage. where, years before, they
had been so happy! They approached
the spot. The snow had been shoveled
away, aud apath led up to the piazza
Wilkins opened the gate-his wife trem-
blingly followed, and wherefore she knew
not. Then her husband opened the door,
and in the entry they were met by the
smiling countenance of old Captain Wal
ker, who ushured them into a parlor
where warm fire glowed in the CRATE,
and everything looked neat and comforta-.
BILE. Mrs Wilkins turned her gaze upon
the old man, and then upon her husband.
Surely in that greeting between the poor
man and the rich, there was none Of that
constraint which would otherwise have
been expected. They met rather as
friends and neighbors. What could it
mean? .s9fla ID lEi ali - aeE R01
h. Hark ! the clock strikes twelvel The
old year is gone. and the new, bright
winged cycle, is about TO commence its
fight over the earth s9l 70 . " IA
Thomas Wilkins took the hand Of his
wife within his own, and then drawing
from his bosom paper, he placed It in
her hand. remarking as he, didtso: 1.'5
z"This is your husbands present for tts
neU yedrP' ND .la7a8Fges la0 3on
The wife took the paper and she open
ed it. She realized its contents at a
glance; but she; ;conld not read 1t word
for word, for, the streaming tears Of a
wild, frantic Joy would not let her. With
a quick, nervous movement she placed
the priceless pledge next to her bosom /;
and then with a low murmnr, like the
gentle whisper of some heaven bound an
gel, she fell half fainting into her hus-
bands arms. ls.., fre
Look up, look up, my own dear wife, "
uttered the redeemed man, " look up and
smile upon your husband and you, TOO,
my children, gather about your father
for husband and father heneeforth /
will ever be. Look up. my wife. Therel
Now, Lizzie, feel proud with me, for
we stand within our own house Yes /;
this cottage is once more our own; and
nothing but the hand of death shall take
us hence. Our good. kind friend here
will explain it all. o. Lizzie, If there is
happiness on earth it shall beneeforth be
ours. Let the pas; be forgotten, and with
this, the dawning of the new year. let us
commence TO live in the future"
Gently the husband and wife sank up.
on their knees. clasped in each others
arms; and elinging ioyfdlly 70 them,
kneIt their conscious, happy children
A prayerfrom the husbands lips wended
its way to the throne Of grace; and the
warm tears triekling down his aged face,
old Captain Walker responded heart.
- $50 - a.. a zszs =
Five years have passed since that hap
DIV moment. Thomas wilkins has clear
ed his pretty cottage from all encum-