Spirit of the age., 1853-06-29

arisen from his seat, and was leaning forward,
his countenance bloodless, and the large
drops standing out upon the brow. Chills
|crept back to nv young heart, and wished
was at home. The old man looked up,
and have never since beheld such mortal
agony pictured upon human face as there
was on his.
'Itwas morning when | awoke, and the
storm had ceased, but the cold was intense
/ [ first secured a drink of water, and then
looked In the accustomed place for Mary
As missed her, first time shadowy sense
of some horrible nightmare began to draw
upon my wandering mind. | thought had
fearful dream, but involuntarily opened
the outside door with shuddering dread. AS
| the door opened, the snow burst in, followed
by the fall of something across the threshold.
scattering the snow, and striking the floor
with sharp, heavy sound. My blood shot
like red-hot arrows through my veins, and |
rubbed my eyesto shut out the sight. Itwas
-it-Oh God how horrible it was my
own injured Mary and her babe frozen to
ice! The ever true mother had bowed her
self over the child to shield it, and wrapped
all her clothing around it, leaving her own
person stark and bare to the storm. She
had placed her hair over the face of the
child, and the sleet had frozen it to the white
cheek. The frost was white in its half-opened
eyes and upon his tiny fingers. | know no
what become of my brave boy
Again the old man bowed his head anc
wept and all that were in the hous'
wept with him. My father sobbed like
child. In tones of low and heart-broker
pathos, the old man continued:
Il was arrested, and for long months
-avcd in delirium. / awoke, was sentenced
to prison for ten years, but no tortures coulC
| have been like those [ endured within m,
own bosom. Oh, God, no! am not a ia
natic. | wish to injUre no one. But Will
live, let me strive to warn others not to en-
ter the path which has been SO dark and fear
full one to me. | would see my wife ant
: children beyond this vale of tears.
= The old man sat down, but spell as dee
| and strong as that wrought by some wizard
t breath, rested upon the audience. Heart
/ could have been heard in their beating, AM
tears to fall The old man then asked tn
a people to sign the pledge, My father leap
e ed from his seat and snatched at it eagerly
. followed him, and as he hesitated momen
# with the pen in the ink, a tear fell from tn
n old man eye on the paper.
+ Sign it-sign it, young man. Angel
, would sign it. would write my name ther
n ten thousand times in blood, ifit would brin
6 hack NV loved and lost onos
o My father wrote MORTIMER HUDSON
n The old man looked, wiped his fearful eyes
and looked again, his countenance alternate
I ly flushed with q rod and death-like pal,
ness.
V 1t is-no, it cannot be-yet how strange
d muttered the old man. Pardon me, sil
d but that was the name of my own bray
boy
d My father trGmbled and held up his lie
I arm, from which the hand had been severe
e, They looked for moment in each other
r eyes, both reeled and gasped :
le Ny own injured boy =
My fathern
ty They fell upon each others necks un
On it seemed that their souls would grow al
vn mingle into one. There was weeping in til
le, church, and [ turned bewildered upon t
ne streaming faces around him.
ri Let me thank God for that great blessi
ID, which has gladdened my guilt-burdened sol
'or exclaimed the old man, and he knelt dov
pouring out bis heart in one Of the most m
lte ting prayers ever heard. The spell W
of then broken, and all eagerly signed
he pledge, slowly going to their homes, as
ito 10th to leave the spot.
ce The old man is dead, but the lesson
ler taught his grand child on the knee, as
asst evening sun went down without clol
the will never be forgotten. His fanaticism
, lost mono of its fire in my manhood's hes
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