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


,tdered= d=in-the= path =sin-=o after
another, the tender cords Of friendship
THAT used to bind me, to the world have
snapped assunder; my name has become
Ia by-word, and upon earth have been
lbut foul blot. But, sir, henceforth Il
lam a MANI up from the depths of its
long grave, I, have dragged forth my
heart, and love still has a home therein.
I have sworn to touch the fatal emp no
more, and in my heart 'hereis no lie I
NV wife and children shall suffer no more
tfor the sins they never committed. Il
have seen my old empleyeratthe machine.
shop, and he has given me situation, AID
lis even anxious that should come back
and, sir, he has been kind enough to give
me an order in advance for necessary ar
ticles of clothing. food and furniture
Tomorrow morning / commence work. "
/" And you come to see if yon could
obtain your cottage back again to lize in?
said Captain Walker, as Wilkins hesita-
ted. 1a aHj -aHi i2h3- or -AH
aye. sir-to see if / could hire it from
you,' - replied the poor man, 8 rIu2a
T" Wilkins, how much can You make at
your business ?'' bluntly asked the old
captain, without seeming to heed his re-
quest. y e-7 .'iaH i'-# L.ha" g" .-l
"My employer is going to put me on
to job work, sir, and when get my hand
in, can easily make from twelve to four
teen dollars week.
your family ?" f7A1,-eA'
Gas soon as can get cleared up. L
can easily get along with FIVE or six dol
lars week. m $50 i5h 4
Then you might be able to save about
four hundred dollars year" -. |
i" mean to do that SIR ''." ''~
A few moments Captain Walker gazed
into the face of his visitor, and then
asked: ..--r.. f. -,;.--...-... ID
Have you pledged yourself yet %
/" Before God and in my heart, have ;!
but one of my errands here was to get.
you to write me pledge, and have ii
made to my wife and children I'd
Captain Walker sat down to his table
and wrote out the required pledge, and
then, in a trembling, but bold hand,
Thomas Wilkins signed it. lsa. ,H'-ia
Wilkins - said the old man as he
took his visitor by the hand, "I have
watched well your countenance, and
weighed your words. know you speak
the truth. When 1 bought that cottage
from your creditors six years ago, paid
them one thousand dollars for it. 1t has
not been harmed, and it is as good as it
was then. Most of the time / have re-
ceived good rent for it. and each month
you shall pay me such a sum as You can
comfortably spare until it is all paid. l
will ask for no rent, nor for a cent OF inte
rest You shall have deed of the es-
tate, and in return will take but a single
note and mortgage, upon which you can
have your own time"
Thomas Wilkins tried to thank the. old
man for his kindness, but he only sank
into his chair, and wept like child; and
while he yet sat with his face buried in
his hands. the old man slipped from the
room. And when at length he returned,
he bore in his hand neatly covered bas
ket. -a- p ...- '
+" Come, come" the captain exclaimed,
:. cheer up my friend. Here are some
tit-bits for your wife and children-take
them home. and believe me, Wilkins, if
you feel half as happy in receiving my IA
vor as do in bestowing it, you are happy
indeed" .rrf. ...u %" f7F
80 God God will bless you for this,
sirl'' exclaimed the kindness-stricken
man; {" and if betray your confidence,
may die on the instant ?" -
Stick to your pledge, Wilkins, and !
will take care Of the rest" said the old
Captain, as his friend took the basket
.'If you have time tomorrow, call on me,
and will arrange the papers," m5
AS Thomas Wilkins once more enter,
\ ~ 4 1.r,ht
sy. A bright light of joyousness shown
in every feature, and as he wended his
way homeward, he felt in every avenue
of his soul that he was once more
man --
The gloomy shades that ushered in the
night Of the thirty first of December. had
fallen over the snow-clad earth. Within
the miserable abode of Mrs. Wilkins there
was more comfort than when we FIRST visited
her, but yet nothing had been added to
furniture of the place. For the last six
days her husband had come home every
evening, and gone away before daylight
every morning. and during that time she
knew that he drank no Intoxicating beye-
rage, for already had his face began TO
assume the stamp of its former manhood,
and every word that he had spoken had
been kind and affectionate. To his chill
dren he had brought new shoes and war
mer clothing, 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 of all questions, and only uttering
such words as We're 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 dreaded his approach :;