The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-09-01
of a benevolent and overruling Provi.

day that Annie, burning with fever, i'm
plored the faithful Abigail to give her a
drink of cold water. Fastening to the
water cask, the old woman was disap-
pointed by finding it exhausted, Richard
having drank the last drop, and was still
raving in the delirium of fever for more
drink.
My dear child, there is no water
'Oh, 1 am burning, dying with thirst!
Give me but one drop, dear Abigail
one drop of cold water.
just then Mrs. Steel returned from
milking the cows, and Abigail proffered
to the lips of the child bowl of new
milk, but she shrank from it with disgust,
and sinking back in her pillow, murmured,
water! water! for the love of God! give
ME a drink of water"
'Where is the pail?' said Mrs. Steel; Il
don't much like going alone to that we'll,
but it is still broad day, and [ know that
in reality there is nothing to fear; and |
cannot bear to hear the child moan for
drink in that terrible way
Dear mother said Richard, family,
don't 60, 60, father will be in soon; we
can wait till them
ooh! the poor, dear child is burning
cried Abigail; she cannot wait till then:
DO, neighbor, go for the water, l will stay
with the children and put out the milk
while you are away
| Mrs. Steel left the shanty, and a few
minutes after the patient, exhausted by
suffering, fell into profound sleep. Alb
igail busted herself scalding the milkpans,
and in her JOY at the young peoples ces-
sation from pain, forgot the monther al
together About half an hour had e
lapsed, and the mellow light Of evening
had faded into night, when Steel return
ed with his oxen from the field,
The moment he entered the shanty he
went up to the bed which contained his
sick children, and, satisfied that the fe-
yer was abating, he looked round for his
supper, surprised that it was not, as usual,
ready for him upon the table.
NO water in the cask,' he cried, 'and
supper not ready! After working all day
in the burning sun, man wants to have
things made comfortably for him at night.
Mrs. Winchester, are you here? Where
is my wife!'
'Ierciful goodnessp exclaimed the old
woman, turning pale as death, lis she not
back from the well!'
The well!' cried Steel grasping her
arm, 'how long has she been gonep
This b alf hour or more
Steel made no answer-his cheek was
as pale as her own-and taking his gun
from the beam to which it was slung, he
carefully loaded it with ball, and without
uttering word, left the house.
Day still fingered upon the open prai-
rie, but the moment he entered the bush
it was deep night He crossed the plain
with rapid strides, but as he approached
the swamp his step became slow and eau
tious. The well was in the centre of
jungle, from the front of which Richard
had cleared away the brush to facilitate
their access to the water. AS he drew
near the spot, his ears were chilled by a
low, deep growing, and the crunching of
teeth, as if some wild animal were de-
vouring the bones of its prey. The
dreadful truth, with all its shocking,
heart-revolting reality, flashed upon the
mind of the yeoman, and for moment
paralyzed him. The precincts of the
well were within range of his rife, and
dropping down upon his hands and knees,
and nerving his arm for clear aim, he
directed his gaze to the spot from whence
the fatal sounds proceeded A little on
one side of the well pair of luminous
eyes glared like green lamps at the edge
of the dark wood; and the horrid sounds
which curdled the blood of the yeoman
became more distinctly audible.
Slowly Steel raised the rife to his
shoulder, and setting his teeth, and hold
ing his breath, he steadily aimed at a
space between those glowing balls of fire.
The sharp report of rife awoke the far
echoes of the forest The deer leaped up
from his lair, the wolf howled and fed
into the depths of the wood, and the
panther, for such it was, uttering hoarse
growl, sprang several feet into the air
then fell across the mangled remains of
his victim.
Richard Steel rose from the ground;
the perspiration was streaming from his
brow; his limbs trembled and shook, bis
lips moved convulsively, and he pressed
his hands upon his heaying breast to
keep down the violent throbbings Of his
agitated heart. 1t was not fear that
chained him to the spot, and Kindred Lin
from approaching his dead enemy. 1t.
was horror. lie dared not look upon the
mangled remains Of his wife-the dear
partner of his joys and sorrows-the
campanion of his boyhood-the love of
his youth--the friend and counsellor Of
his middle age-the beloved mother of
his children How could he recognize
in that crushed and defiled heap his poor
Jane? The pang was too great for bis
agonized mind to bear. Sense and sight
alike forsook him, and staggering few
PAGES forward, he fell insensible across
the path.
Alarmed by the report of the rifle; At