The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-01-29
For The Cecil Whig.
A LEAF FROM AN OLD BOOK.
BY ANNIE.

BY ANNIE.
| My father had been living sick for
long time. With two little brothers ane
an infant sister he shared my soicitude
Those hands which had gathered togethe
our scantv store were shrivelled ant
feeble, and the form which once will
lngly dared heavens fercest storms II
our behalf was rostrate and powerIess.
lms morning sale of what thing,
remained was to take place. Few IN
deed We're they. almost felt like ber
g'ng them TO delay little longer, bu
no, would Not sue for mercy to thos,
who had SO tar forgotten their duty tc
man as to demand such a sacrifice. Anc
IN sorrow | awaited the Indifferent
crowd and hahbling auctioneer. felt
tempted to hide from their reach some
little things most enGe ,red 10 my heart
There was an old fashioned rocking
tchaIr-my mother used to SIT in 1t. In
her last illness, mufiled comfortably she
was often placed in it. A little work
table, around which we studied our les
sons and father read the newspaper and
mother sewed, II cried heartily as
looked at it; "Poor thing" exclaimed,
''must You go too = "Who will sit
around you; Will they be SO happy a
group as ours - But would hide moth
ing. Let them take all. The sweet
sunlight, and kind air, and pretty flow
ers, and water and the Great Giver's
smile, they cannot take.
They came. tried to move about
unconcerned, but many tear was dried
IN secret. saw my fathers anguish
his hands were clasped on his breast,
and as the harsh tones of the anctioneer
reached his ear he would sigh, and
slckening shudder pass over his features.
My two brothers and little sister, were
happily ignorant. They looked amazed
at the crowd, and CROPPED about unnotic.
ed I'LL called them up stairs TO fathers
bedside.
An old woman, whom nv mother had
often befriended, was parcellng out her
purchases and overheard her say that
she had often wanted that old chair
and she flung herself in it without feel.
ing how painful the sight to me. One
or two spoke kindly to NE; some s-em-
ed sorry, but nobody offered to help us.
Once ] thought cheerful old man with
n pleasant smile was going to buy some
thing and present it TO us, but a busy
gossip informed me he pretended that he
was bidding for us in order to get things
cheaper. Sometimes laugh would be
heard, and testing among the buyers,
and the salesman growing witty as he
warmed in his task, more deeply wound
ed me and more highly delighted the
purchasers.
| was up stairs leaning my head on
my fathers pillow, when some one told
me was wanted below. went down,
stranger was pointed out, who APP
preached me, and asked something about
our affairs. | was attracted BY his look
and taking him aside told him all. II
tried to restrain myself but burst into
tears and hurried away, to my fathers |
room.
In a few minutes | was again called
and the kind hearted stranger said to
me: "These things are all yours again.
The creditors are satiied-can | see
your father I"
10 my father we went, and told him
how generously this man had acted.
tie half stretched out his hand drop
ped it-tried to speak, and deep shud-
der shook his breast The stranger
started ward-"my God he's dead"
| did not sink, but lost all power of
thought, heard nothing saw moth
ing. When | recovered my conscious
ness | was sitting near the open window
with my little sister trying to climb on
my knee, and my two brothers, with big
tears on their cheeks looking wistiullv
at me. The gentleman at the same time
returned with woman who happened
to remain longer than the others. She
took me by the arm and led me away,
talking very kindly to me. while the
good stranger, gathering up the children
made them each kiss my father and
brought them down stairs.
The woman had told him our names:
he now came to me and said he lived
about twenty miles distant--that he
would see TO the funeral, and left me,
saying he would return in a short time.
How | passed the day | know not
the KIND gentleman returned in the eve.
ming and some neighbors came in. The
night passed. Another morning-and
another weary day. On the morrow
my father was to be buried. Now that
We seemed under the care of an able
protector the neighbors renewed their
kind Offices, and perhaps a natural tear
or two were shed besides my own upon
that grave.
They buried him. He is in the dust.
Whittier shall turn? Bat he TO whom