Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-29

Lnal usually fcsleu thSies 4-i1isa FEATURES
were, rather sad and thoughtful, than
otherwise ) and 20, heaYensi isiitpossi1
ble2 smile played about his mouth, and
a sound, as if of prayer issued from
his lips while he yet slept. baE s'es! 10
a faint hope like the misty vapor of
approaching morn fitted before the heart
broken wife. But shelcould not grasp it
she had no foundation for it-and with
IA deep groan she let the phantom pass
She went to her children. and drew the
clothes more tightly about, rthem's then
she knelt by their side, and, iimprintings
upon their cheeks, mothers kiss, and
uttering a feryent prayer in their behalf,
she sought the repose of her pillow.
Long ere the morning dawned, Tho
mas Wilkins arose from his bed, dressed
himself and left the house. His poor
wife awoke Just as he was going out, and
she would have called him, but she dared
not. She would have told him that she
had no fue!, nor bread-nor anything
with which to warm and feed the chill
dren; but he was gone, and she sank
back upon her pillow and wept. ;1
The light of morning came at length,
but Mrs. Wilkins had not risen from her
bed, nor had her children crawled from
out their resting place. A sound of foot
steps was heard from without, accompa-
MED by a noise, as though a light sled
was being drawed through the snow
The door opened, and her husband enter
ed. He laid upon the table a heavy
wheaton loaf, a small pail. and a paper
bundle: and then from his pocket he
took another parcel, and again he turned
towards the door,, When next he enter
ed, he bore in his arms load of wood
and three times did he go out and return
with load ofthe same description. Then
he bent over the replace, and soon a
blazing FIRE snapped and sparkled on the
hearth. As soon as this was accom-
plished, Thomas Wilkins bent over his
children and kissed them then he went
to the bedside of his wife. and while
some powerful emotion stirred up his
soul and made his chest heave, he MUIR
INJURED: -,-..-. ----o..
'' Kiss me, Lizzie" ,r....,.
Tightly that wife wound her arms
about the neck of her husband, and, as
though the love of years were entered In
that kiss, she pressed it upon his lips.
Therc-no MORE" he uttered, as he
gently laid the arms of his wife. from his
neck &c these things have brought are
for you and the Children and ashe spoke
he left the house.
Mrs. Wilkins arose from her bed, and
tremblingly she examined the articles up
on the table. She found the loaf, and in
the pail she found milk; one of the papers
contained two smaller bundles-one of
tea and one ofsugar, while in the remain
ing parcel She found nice lump of but
ter.
"Oh," murmured the poor wife and
mother, as she gazed upon the food thus
spread out before her. ''whence came
these? Can it be that Thomas has stO-
len them? No. he never did that! And
then that look. that kiss-those kind,
sweet wordsl o, my poor, poor heart.
raise not hope that may only fall and
crush theep' -..s.-s
's Mother" at this moment spoke her
son, who had raised himself upon his ell
bow, I" is father gone 90 ....-r ..-.
eyes, Charles .......
"Oh, tell me, mother-did he not
come and kiss me and little Abby this
morning 90
"Yes, yes-he did, he did p' cried the
mother, as she flew to the side of her
boy, and wound her arms about him.
"And mother,' said the child, in
low, trembling accents, while he turned
fearful look to his parents face, "will
not father be good to us once more %
The mother could not speak-she could
only press her children more fondly to
her bosom, and weep mothers tear up
on them. ,.t
Was Lizzie Wilkins happy as she sat
her children down to that mornings
meal ? At least. ray of sunshine was
struggling to gain entrance to her bosom,
Towards the middle of the afternoon.
MIR. Abel Walker, retired sea-captain
of some wealth. sat in comfortable par
lor, engaged in reading, when one OF
his servants informed him that some one
at the door wished to see him.
ssTell him to come in, then" returned
Walker.
.eBut it's that miserable wilkins, SIR"
"Never mind.'' said the captain, after
a few moments hesitation. show him in.
Poor fellow" he continued, after the
servant had gone, al wonder what he
wants. In truth, 1 pity him." =.
With trembling step and downcast
look, Thomas Wilkins entered Capt. Wal
:. All. wilkins" " said the old captain,
"what has brought you here ., -. - }.
The poor man twice attempted to speak
but his heart failed him. : NO .
stDo you come for charity ?''
tE No Sir" quickly returned Wilkins,
while his eyes CLEANED with proud
!" Then sit down and out with ii, -
said Walker in blunt, but kind tone. -
L"Captain Walker % commenced the