New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-15

to permit It,
And now she is here alone, with her two chill
dren-the boy and his baby sister-here in her
fathers house. She is in deep mourning. She
has lost her mother; but her great grief is not
for her Oh, no, no ! she knows that the good
who die are happy, and all her sorrow is for him
the wanderer. the outcast, the lost!
Our clairvoyant starts from her musing, az
before. She kisses the ring, she bathes it with
her tears, she throws her arms around her Sleep
ing children, and prays to God for help.
The last ember has expired. The sckly fame
Of the lamp is dying. The rain and sleet no
longer lash the window: only the moaning Of
the wind is heard without The wretched mother
is sleeping.
1.-THE SACRIFICE.
Mr.. Slling was considered a sharp man. H
prided himself in his shrewdness, and was not
the least ashamed of a less commendable quail
| ity, which is sometimes called avarice Nobody,
| Mr.. Siling was accustomed to say-nobody
ever got the start of him in a bargain, or cheat.
ed him ont Of penny
| How, then, MIR. Silling came to commit such
a blnnder as the letting Of one Of the attics Of
| his house to 50 that poor young woman with two
helpless brats," nobody could understand.
Perhaps Mr.. silling could not explain this to
himself. He might have known such poverty
could not enrich him Perhaps the pitiful looks
of the applicant, coupled with her modest
beauty, touched him.
| Pshaw Mr.. Silling was above such weak
ness We may therefore suppose that, Mrs.
| Sillng being an invalid, her sffectonate
husband thought she would be pleased to have
somebody in the house to keep her company,
during his absence. Yet the poor woman
scarcely saw Mrs. s. once a week!
Well, things turned out as might have been
expected. The poor woman, unable to support
her little ones with her needle; alas, that pain
full toll should be so wretchedly paid for fell
into Mr. Silling's debt. Week after week this
debt increased Why did not the sharp Mr.. S.
look to his own interests Poor man! he must
| have been insane!
/ But he did begin to come to his senses, when
he found that the poor young woman vas owing
him the enormous sum Of twelve dollars! He
did not ask her for this debt in plain words
but he talked very strangely, and threw out
| some insnuations which frightened her.
| Indignant, alarmed, the young mother shud-
dered to think she was under obligations to
such man. To escape his prosecutions, she
saw that a sacrifice she had hoped and prayed
might be spared her, must be made. She must
part with the last memento of her lost husband 3
affection, the betrothed ring!
1t was this resolution which cost her so much
on the night of agony | have attempted to de-
Lscribe.
Scarcely had the widow, as she was called
awoke from troubled dreams, and arose from
her couch. on the following morning, when she
heard knock at the door.
Smoothing back her disheveled hair, she pro
ceeded with some hesitation to open it. Mr.
Silling bowed and hoped he didn't intrude, ane
said &c necessity alone could have compelled hin
to such step; but he had a large sum o
money to make out, and if she could manage tt
pay him.
- You know l have no money p exclaime,
f the young woman, her bosom heaving, and eye
/ flashing through gathering tears, &c But be pa
tient, you shall be paid to-day, every cent"
The sharp Mr.. Silling pressed through tn
$ doorway; he spoke in a low tone; he told he
f there no necessity for her to make the sacri
e fee she contemplated, and so went on until, EN-
:, boldened by her speechlessness, he let fall
d word, which dropped like burning coal int
her heart. She writhed with anguish me
o ment, then all her woman's pride, and indign,
e ton, and anger seemed concentrated in one loo
IL of intense loathing and hatred, He, the shal
le Mr. Silling, qualed before it. She spoke n
l. a word but he crawled away abashed, ashame
conquered and humbled by a woman $ truth !!
Mt 1t was easier then for her to make the sacl
ne fee, yet it seemed that her heart would brea
H. when she gave the ring parting kiss. IL
of children. although accustomed to her teal
rs clung to her in terror, weeping from very syn
lg pathy, and wondering what new calamity hi
b, betAllen them.
---4llu HOW tltl tlle fllT WIS StltIlHGeH---L
lie last resource and only hope taken from her.
it what was the poor mother to do, to clothe h
children and still their cries for bread VIII
light was therewhat glmmering star in Il
lie stormy sky Of her future
SIS Iu---THE GAMING TABLE.
L. He was tall handsome man, with teatur
IS bronzed by exposure in tropic climes a though
full brow, and mild melancholy eye
t. You would have said some mortal grief IL
| 1,oo, !, SO nrt 1a11 i
| the folds of q Spanish cloak swelled with sigl
is Of anguish. His lips compressed with passio
H. well-dressed man, of light and elega
figure, and features bronzed like his, took hi
by the arm, and addressed him gayly.
ID ''What the deuce is the matter with you, Cla
ence: Three days ago, you landed in this cit
d, full of courage, cheerfulness, and hope; Al
o. now -''
e, My friend,' replied Clarence, with emotio
is ssif you will listen to me, l will tell you Il
T. trouble. mast telli to some one. 1t is bur
. ing my heart-gnawing it, like the worm tn
I'd never dies.
en- First" pursued Clarence, a. should e
e, plain why it was when landed here ! was
IS. high in hope---so full Of joy:
to = 1t was because | left this city, four yea
at ago, the most wretched, the most 'depraved
b. men. | left behind me a wite-do not be sll
he prised at what | say-a wife and her two Chi
tn drcn. | weut abroad to atone for my err
ms hereto show my friends that | was not lost
of to accomplish what conscience told me it W
Sc my duty to do for my children.
ed well fortune favored me. have return
H. with sutfciency to make my family comfort
of ble---but - Clarence seized his friends ar
and the words seemed torn from a tortur
heart' my family is not to be found!
ng Il left my wife and children with her faith
The moment of my arrival here, I fastened
H. his house. Judge of my CONSERVATION and d
ne may, when learned that he had died insolye
all his property been seized by creditors, a
tir my wife and children turned out of doors, pc
ize and hiendless!
,p- g For in the shadow of adversely, old frier
so knew her and hers no more. | have inquired
ed her most intimate acquaintance, and they
pear scarcely to remember that such pers
he ever lived. They know nothing about her no
n: and during two days have spent in anxious a
yes perseverng search. have been able to obt
nd no trace Of her.
g And what adds to my trouble, is a stran
ne terrible impressive dream have had. I thou
BILE | saw my wife and children starving in gar
md i shudder with horror when think of the
of my dream, which has appeared to me tv
~ the same"
,nr Clarence seemed deeply affected, and Mr..
ne bott, his friend, eXerted himself to dispel
IL gloom in which he was plunged.
ai,, Z" Come said he, * do not think any NOR
SiS these idle dreams Thew ware hrn,Irht bOut