Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-28

which impending disgrace he left the town, and
returned but once more. He fed to W a
large city about thirty miles away. / was suf-
fciently in the widows confidence TO know the
whereabouts Of her son, and was pleased to hear
occasionally that he was in employment Occa-
sionally he would send his mother money, no
great amount, to be sure, but it came from him,
and the widowed mothers heart was glad. He
obtained the situation of errandb boy in drug
store IN W, and by constant application to
ms pursuits, and an aptness in acquiring the
details OF business, in the course Of a few years
ne became an assistant in the shop. The salary
gwen 10 young man in this situation barely
enables him to meet his necessary expenses. He
must always appear clean and respectable and
70 10 lhis taxes nearly the whole of his income.
| But, nevertheless, William Floyd 50 managed
that he was able now and then to render his mo-
ther essential service. 1t happened that William
| became acquainted with modest and beautiful
| girl, whom he met at friends house, on one of
his Sunday evenings out to whom he became ar
IDENTIFY attached His affection was returned with
equal sincerity. "Inexcusable folly - cry the
prudent, ''for Young man 50 circumstanced to
be guilty of the folly of falling in love-" "Quite
natural" replies the feeling heart and he stands
| acquitted
Twelve months-and happy months they were
to the lovers-had passed after their first ac-
quantancc, and William was taken sick His
employer had no room to accommodate disabled
servant, and the affection of his affianced bride
would not permit him to enter hospital. She
advised him to 20 to his home. g lie would be
more comfortable there; his mothers attention
would soon restore him" His home poor fell
| low, what home had he! He felt compelled to
follow the Suggestion of his love; for what OBJ
lection could he oppose to it? And he had not
the courage to tell her of the only home he had
He hade her farewell, fondly hoping he should
soon return to her well, and that the secret Of
the wretched poverty of his home and mother
would remain safe from her, to whom he would
not have had it revealed for the world
| saw him on the day of his return. He had
grown to be tall, genteel looking fellow, but it
did not require more than a single glance to sat
isfy me that his days were numbered. He was
in rapid decline. His appearance, 80 far as
his dress concerned, was so far above the
condition of his home that the contrast was ab-
solutely painful to me; and if it had not been
for the love and tenderness which Lit up the wan
face OF the mother, as she sat looking upon the
being before her, | could not have realized the
true relation which he bore to her and all around
him
When the young mans case became known in
the town, the philanthropy of the place was soon
alive with active preparations for his comfort.
The two old maids were never more busy in their
lives, for saw them myself, going to and fro
from their own house to that of the invalid sew
cra times III one day, and always with large
| bundle Of something other in their hands.
God bless their memories,
When called again, much had been done to
render the situation Of the invalid comfortable
lie was supplied with cot aud good bed, and
the heaps Of blankets which the old maids
brought would have smothered him if half had
been thrown over him. DR.. D. took good deal
Of interest in the sick man, and believe did all
that medical aid could do TO relieve the sufferer.
But all was Of no avail. The fiat was issued
and he must die He had not been long home
before he felt convinced that the world was fast
fading from his enjoyment and his thoughts,
when not buried in matters of future moment,
dwelt upon her to whom, besides his mother, his
earthly affections only clung. Sickness, that
sure leyeller Of the naughty spirit, made him
now as anxious to reveal the secret of his state
to her, as he had been anxious to conceal il. He
wished her to he informed by letter of all that
concerned him. 50 that il she chose to fly to his
couch, she might not be startled by the humble
ness Of his surroundings or decoyed into betray-
ing affections for 50 low ii the worldly scale
Of excellence
could not but admire the integrity of his
feelings, while regretted the poor estimation he
put upon true womans deep, devoted, un-
changing love. Scarcely had the time elapsed
when reply TO the letter sent could be expect
ed when Mary Il. appeared i'll person. | was
not present nj the meeting, but | was told by
one who was, that it was n most affecting scene
She kindly reproached him for not sending to
her sooner, and for entertaining the thought for
n moment that his poverty would have been a
feathers weight in the balance of her love.
The struggle for life was fast drawing to a
close each day rendered the poor, aded COM
batant less and less able to battle with death.
and in three days after the arrival of Mary at
the house of her lover the fight was ended, and
death claimed its victim
; The mother and daughter wept together, and
could not be comforted For years after, the
sweet spring flowers which bloomed upon the
grave of William Floyd showed that his memory
wns still dear to one who never forgot her first
and only love. Poor Mary now sleeps in the
valley beside him. Peace to their ashes