The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-01-05

mdH, AND 1 WILL BE THAT MAN!
Within the only apartment of mser
able and almost broken.down hovel, sat
woman and two children, boy and girl
The cold wind found its entrance through
hundred crevices as its biting gust
swept through the room, the mother ant
her children crouched nearer to the few
embers that still smouldered upon tn,
hearth. The only furniture were fou
poor stools, rickstty table. and scanti
ly covered bed while in one corner, near
est to the fire place, was heap Of straw
and tattsred blankets, which served as 9
resting place for the brother and sister
Part Of tallow candle was burning upor
the table, and by its dim light one nigh
have seen that wretched mothers coun
tsnance; it was pale and wan, and WEI
with tears. The faces of her children
were both buried in her lap, and they
seemed to sleep peacefully under hel
prayerful guardianship. ta..
| AT length, the sound Of footsteps upon
the snow crust struck upon the mothers
ear, and hastily arousing her children, she
hurried them to their lowly couch, and
hardly had they crouched beneath the thin
blankets, when the door was opened, and
the man whom we have already seen be.
meath that pretty cottage, entered the place.
With trembling, fearful look, the wife
gazed into her husbands face, and seem
ed ready TO crouch back from his approach,
when the mark of tear.drop upon his
cheek caught her eye. Could it be, thought
she. that that pearly drop was in truth a
tear? No, perhaps snow flake had fallen
there and melted.
Once or twice, Thomas Wilkins seemed
upon the point of speaking some word to
his wife. but at length he turned away, and
silently undressed himself; and soon after
his weared limbs had touched the bed he
was asleep. ~
Long and earnestly did Mrs. Wilkins
gaze upon the features of her husband,
after he had fallen asleep. There was
something strange in his manner, some.
thing ueaccountable. Surely he had not
been drinking for his countenance had
none of that vacant, wild, demoniac look,
that usually rested there. His features
were rather sad and thoughtful, than oth.
erwise; and, O, heavens is it possible? a
smile played about his mouth and sound,
as Of prayer, issued from his lips while
yet he slspt!"
A faint hope, like the misty vapor Of ap-
preaching morn, fitted before the heart
broken wife. But she could not grasp it,
she had no foundation for it, and with
deep groan she felt the phantom pass.
She went to her children and drew the
clothes closely about them; then she knelt
by their side, and after imprinting upon
their cheeks mothers kiss, and uttering
arfervent prayer in their behalf she sought
the repose of her pillow.
Long ere the morning dawned, Thomas
Wilkins arose from his bed, dressed him
self and left the house. His poor wife
awoke just as he was going out, and she
would have called to him, but she dare
not. She would have told him that she
had no fuel, no bread, not anything with
which 10 warm and feed the children; but
he was gone, and she sank back upon her
pillow and wept.
The light of morning came at length,
but Mrs. Wilkins had not risen from her
bed, nor had her children crawled out from
their resting place. A sound of footsteps
was heard from without accompanied by a
noise, as though little sled was being
dragged through the snow. The door
opened, and her husband entered. He
laid on the table large wheaton loaf,
small parcel, and paper bundle; then
from his pocket he took another paper par
eel, and again he turned towards the door.
When next he entered he bore in his arms
a load of wood; and three times did he
go out and return with load of the same
description Then he bent over the fire
place, and soon blazing fire snapped
and sparkled on the hearth. As soon as
this was accomplished, Thomas Wilkins
bent over his children and kissed them;
then he went to the bedside of his wife,
and while some powerful emotion stirred
up his soul and made his chest heave, he
murmured: ba ,h4Vaa7 sM
"Kiss me, Lizzie" ta
Tightly that wife wound her arms about
the neck of her husband, and, as though
the love Of years was centered in that one
kiss. she pressed it upon his lips.
4 "There-no more," he uttered, as he
gently laid the arm Of his wife from his
neck; "these things | have brought are for
you and our children;" and as he spoke
he left the house. % saa1 a5
Mrs. Wilkins arose from the bed, and
tremblingly examined tho articles upon the
table. She found the loaf, and in the pale
she found milk, one Of the papers contain
ed two smaller bundles, one Of tea, and
one Of sugar. while in the remaining par.
oel she found nice lump Of butter,
$50" murmured the poor wife and moth
or, as she gazed upon the food thus spread
before her. from whence these? Can Il
be that Thomas has stolen them? No, he