The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-10-13
WHOLE NUMBER 1873

that we must thank dear father, there
lay your head in my lap again
The boy laid his curly head once
more in his mothers lap, and with tear
ful eyes she gazed upon his innocent
form.
The clock struck eleven The poor
wife was yet on her tireless, slcepless
watch. But hardly had the sound Of
the last stroke died away, ere the snow
crust gave back the sound Of football,
and iu a moment more her husband en-
tered With trembling fear she raised
her eyes to his face, and wild thrill of
JOY went to her heart, as she saw there
all was open aud bold--only those manly
f aturcs looked more joyous, more proud
than ever.
Lizzie, said he, in mild, kind ac-
cents, | am late tonight, but business
has detained me, and now ! have IA
vor to ask of thee
Name it, dear Thomas, and you shall
not ask a second time,' cried the vie,
as she laid her hand confidently upon
her husbands arm.
'And you will ask no questions =
continued Wilkins.
No, | will not
'.Then,' continued the husband, as
he bent over and imprinted kiss upon
his wife's brow, l want you to dress
our children for a walk, and you shall
acco mpany us. The night is calm and
tranquil, and the snow is well trodden'-
But
'Ah, no questions Remember your
promise
Lizzie Wilkins knew not what all this
meant, nor did she think to care for
anything that could please her husband
she would have done with pleasure,
even though it had wrenched her very
heart-strings. In short time the two
children were ready, then Mrs Wilkins
put Oh such articles of dress as she could
command, and soon they were on the
road
The moon shoue brightly, the stars
peep down upon the earth, and they
seemed to smile upon the travellers from
out of their twinkling eyes of light. ST.
lently Wilkins led his way, and silently
his wife and children followed. Several
times the wife gazed up in her husbands
face, but she could make out nothing
that tended to satisfy her.
At length a 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 in the front yard had been shovel
ed away, and path led up to the piaz-
"a. Wilkins opened the gate-his wife
trembling, followed, but wherefore she
knew not Then her husl and opened
he door, and in the entry they we're
net by the smiling countenance of old
captain Walker, who ushered them into
he parlor, where everything looked
leat and comfortable Mrs. wilkins
urnsl her gaze on the old man, and
hen upon her husband
Surely, in that greeting between the
,oor man and the rich, there was none
# that constraint which might have
been expected.
They met rather as friends and neigh
,ors. What could it mean
Hark the clock strikes twelve
The old year is gone, new, bright
ginged circle is about to commence its
ight over the earth.
Thomas Wilkins took the hand of his
'ite within his own, and then drawing
ON his bosom paper, he placed it in
er hand, remarking as he did so:
l. zzie, this is your husbands pre-
snt for the new year.
The wife eagerly took the paper and
pened it.
She realized its contents at a glance,
ut she could not read it word for word,
,r the streaming tears Of wild frantic
y would not let her. With a quick,
ervous movement she placed the price,
ss pledge next her bosom, and then,
ith low murmur, like a whispering
some Heaven bound angel, she fell,
slf fainting into her husbands arms