The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-10-13

"a curse upon him" exclaimed NJ. de
Matthipsen whose wife strovc to silence,
hnn 10y placing her hand upon his lips.
"Suttcr your husband to speak" cried
Bertha; "he but express my own feelings"
continued she, laying her hand upon the
head other child. Standing 10y the CORPSE
OF my son, limplore the vengeance of God
upon his crimc-it cannot remain unpun-
lshcd. If the law cannot reach it, oteruai
justice has its Judgments, and the world
Its scorn for the nfanlicidc. For myself,
Il will never again behold the murderer
Of my boy"
"For Coils sake do not listen to the
counsels ofyour despair" pleaded NJ. de
Matthinse.n
She replied by smio--by such Il
smile.
Il have no child now-I have no hus-
band-l am alone in the world"
MarceInc lighted taper and placed it
beside the little bed NJ. de Matthi;eSrm
p'ac ID golden cruc.ix on the breast of the
child. Then AL three knclt around it. and
thus the nighC wore away.
AT break of day Bertha rose from her
knees and went to the window, which she
opened. The fresh morning air, laden
with the sweet odors Of spring, entered
the chamber Of death, and II little bird be-
gan to sing chccriy. Bertha drew the
cradle close to the window and fixed i
gaze of painful intensity upon her child.
lie seemed to he sleeping swcctIy. She
fetched his pretticst clothes and began to
deck him with them. Marcclinc gathered
some flowers in the conservatory, and
returned with a crown of white roses.
which she placed on the head OF the lit
tie corpse, whose angel spirit had been
recalled to heaven.
NJ. dc MatthimScn brought from the
| adjoining room an ebony coffin. lined with
white satin. Bertha looked at him with
n bewIdcred expression, but not tear
moistcncd her burning cyclids. She laid
the child in the coffin and Strcwcd around
him the flowers which Marccline had
brought together with the crown. Then
she chose from amongst his plavthngS
those that had been his flvOriteS, and laid
them at his feet. This done, she sat down
beside the coffin and remained in kird
OF stupor until the approaching footsteps
OF the priest were heard in the courtyard
and entrance.hal. She shuddered, rose.
and stretched out her arms towards the
coffin, while she strove 70 utter some
words which her white lips seemed unable
to frame. God at length. took pity upon
rher, and she4sapls setrsriess orI-Itiio floor.
rilsle Aademssde Matthisesen scane
to her assistance her husband placed a
lace viel over the child's remains, closed
the lid of the coffin, screwed it down, and.
taking it in his arms, delivered it to the
priest.
When he returned Mldamo Frausscn
was beginning to recover: she looked with
astonshmcnt upon those around her, and
appeared to have forgotten everything
until her gaze rested upon the cmctv cradle
OF her son. Then she rccollcctcl The Truth,
her heart sank within her, and she again
tainted away.
After three days NJ. Frausscr returned.
All his ambitious hopes had been defeated.
"Mv wife! my child where are thew"
asked he amxiouSlv.
God has had mercy upon her" roplirA
Madame de Matthi;rScn, who was knrcl
ing in tears beside Bcrtha'S bed: lie has
reunited the mother To her child"
II 4
1t is said that in the asylum ut Charcn-
ton is 4 minin:, who believes himself tn
he prime minister, and who is constantly
CRYING aloud for his wife and child.
He tells his name to no one.