The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-18

erless boy wrestled with delirium alone
Inc next morning servant went up to
sec why Willie did not come down and re-
turned stating that she believed he was
sick for he did not speak.
Henry did not 60 to him-but, with
Alfred and his uncle, set out for The Acade-
my. The sick brother, nephew, and cous-
IN was left to the mercies of n servant
more compassionate than his Kindred
lhe live long day did the faithful negro
tend the suffering boy and as evening
came on and the brother returned, elatcd
and exulting with success, she ran to meet
hun. go to your poor brudder, massa,
he no long for dis world-been call YOU ali
day: lie talk about paper, and call his
mother to come for him."
Feelings of the bittercst conjunction
caused Henry's heart to thrill painfully as
lie ran up stairs. lie had thought in the
morning, that Willie's illness was only as
sumed in order to hide his shame at his
detection. What was his horror, on gain
ing the bedside, to discover him enduring
all the agonics of brain fever, his c, Is
wild and blood shot, his nostris dilatcd
and cries of anguish issuing from his
parchcd lips.
"lie has cast me off mother, and | am
alone III the world never wronred him
i would have cxultcd in his success
have nothing left but to die. But I for
give INN, yes indeed, | forgive them both.''
Henry threw his arms around him and
addressed him by every endearing cpithet
OF his earlier years, but Willie did not
know him, and as the dying injunction of
their mother came thronging back 20
henry's memory, lie felt that it would
have been better if he had never been
born.
A physician was summond, and Alfred
and hIs father accompanied him to the
sick room. The sufferer shriekcd as he
saw Alfred.
go away" said he, "you have taken
away my brother. Henry! Henry. a
scorpion is on my coat-it will sting us
get it Off"
To satisfy him, Henry took up the coat
and shook it-when from the pocket in
which the paper had been found, a large
seal ring dropped.
Alfred picked it up with trembling
hand-he had worn that ring for several
years and had missed it the evening before
IN the orchard. lie thought he had lost
1t there. Instead of that, it had come off
as he slipped the paper i'll the pocket
LIS guilt was too glaring to be cvadcd,
and he stood before the brothers with n
brand as deep as that OF Cain on his brow.
LIS father and the physician were not nc-
quainted with the facts and knew not TO
what to attribute his confusion.
Henry give him n look that haunted
HIM to his dying hour. Willie became
worse and worse and the physician gave
but FAINT hope Of his rec ovcry. Henry
mourned in dust and ashes his departure
trom his God, and his consequent cruelty
to his brother. After three weeks of the
severest suffering, Willie showed slight
symptoms of convalescencc-and oh. how
tendcrIy did Henry nurse HIM How
gratefully did he thank Heaven for the re-
storation of health to his only brother, and
peace to them both.
Suffice it to say that through long
liie the confidence, rcgaincd there, never
wavercd-but, as ornaments to society and
bright lights in christian community,
they fulfilled the destiny which Heaven
had marked out for them.
Alfred Black committed suicide in n
year or two after his fendish schemin0.-
lie perpetrated some criminal deed and
in attempting to. distance the officers Of
justice, who were in pursuit of him, and
discovering that lie could not succeed, he
went unbGdcn to the bar of his God.
ROSE COTTAGE.