Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-04-14


sia alL 1 Be-
ents, as he used to. But he Won't, will
neg He's too poor, now 2" .
No, my dear boy, we shall have no
other present than food and even for
that' we must thank dear father. There
lay your heao IN my lap again."
The boy land his curly head once more
IN his mothers lap, and with fearful ewes
she gazed upon the innocent form of her
dear boy. OIL s a.li 1. ~ Ia .rs
The clock struck elevenl The poor
wife was yet on her tireless, sleePless
watch. But hardly had the sound of the
last stroke died away, ere the snow-erust
gave back the sound of a football, and in
a moment moro her husband entered
With a trembling fear she raised hor eyes
to his face, and wild thrill went to her
heart as she saw all there was open and
bold-only those manly features looked
more joyous, more proud aud pleasing
than ever. ssaser
Lizzie" said he, in mild, kind accents,
Z" l am late tonight, but business has de-
tanned me, and now have favor to ask
of thee" a a
"Name it, dear Thomas, and you shall
not ask a second time" cried the wife, as
she laid her hand confidently upon her
husbands arm.
And will you ask mo no questions ?"
continued he.
"No will not"
Then," continued the husband, as he
bent over and imprinted kiss upon his
wife's brow, :" want you to dress our
children for a walk, and you shall accom-
pany us. The night is calm and tranquil,
and the snow is we'll trodden. Ah no
questions Remember your promise,
Lizzie Wilkins knew not what all this
meant, nor did she think to care for any.
thing that could please her husband she
would have done with pleasure, even
though it wrenched her very heart strings,
In short time the two children were rea-'
dy then Mrs. Wilkins put on such arti-
cles of dress as she could command, and
soon they were in the road. The moon
shone brightly, the stars pceped down
upon the earth, and seemed to smile upon
the travellers from out their twinkhng
eyes Of light. Silently Wilkins led the
way, and silently his wife and children
followed. Several times the wife gazcd
up into her husbands cOuntcnancc; but
from the strange expression that rested
there she could mako out nothing that
tended to satisfy her.
At length slight turn in the road
brought them suddenly upon the pretty
white cottage where, years before, they
had been SO happy. They approached
the spot The snow had been shoYelled
away, and path led up TO the piazza
Wilkins opened the gate-his wife trcm-
blingly followed, and wherefore she knew
not. Then her husband opened the door,
and in the entry they were met by the
smiling countenancc Of old Capt. Walker,
who ushered them into parIor where a
warm fire glowed in the CRATE, and every
thing looked neat and comfortable, Mrs.
Wilkins turned her gaze upon the old man,
and then upon her husband. Surely in
that greeting between the poor and the
rich, there was none Of that constraint
which would have been expected. They
met rather as friends and neighbors. What
could it mean?
Hark the clock strikes twelve The
old year is gone, and the new, bright
winged cycle, is about to commence its
fight over the earth
Thomas Wilkins took the hand Of his
wife within his own, and then drawing
Nv. 'i i.""a, S G sSS.l..l nfiI ;' as no uIi 50
"This is your husbands present for Mo
neW gear %
The wife took the paper. and she open.
ed it. She realized its contents at glance;
but she could not read it word for word,
for the streaming tears Of wild, frantic
Joy would no: let her. With quick,
nervous movement she placed the price
less pledge next to her bosom and then
with low murmer, like the gentle Wbis-
per of some heaven bound angel, ahe fell
half fainting into her husbands arms.
Look up, look up, my own dear wife. "
uttered the redeemed man, 'look up and
smile upon your husband and you, too,
my children, gather about your father
for husband and father hencetorth
l will ever be. Look up, my dear wife.
There Now, Lizzie, feel proud With
me, for we stand within our own house
Yes; this cottage is once more our own {;
and nothing but the hand Of death shall
take US hence. Our good kind friend here
will explain it all. o, Lizzie, If there is
happiness on earth, it shall henceforth be
ours Let the past be forgotten, and
with this, the dawning Of the new year,
let us commence TO live in the future"
Gently the husband and wife sank upon
their knees, clasped in each others arms ;
and clinging jOyfully TO them knelt their
conscious, happy children, a prayer
from the husbands lips wended its way
to the throne of grace and the warm
tears trickling down his aged face, OLD
Captain Walker responded heartfelt
Amen.
IT,. .,o.r. b.v. ,assed since that hap.