The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-04-26

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he turned towards the door. When next he en-
tered, he bore in his arms load ofwood; and
three times did he go out, and return with
load of the same description. Then he bent
over the fireplace, and soon a blazing fire spark
led on the hearth As soon as this was accom-
plished, Thomas Wilkins bent over his children
and kissed them; thenzhe went to the bedside
of his wife, and while some powerful emotion
stirred upin his soul and made his chest heave,
he murnlured:
kiss me, Lizzie"
Tightly that wife wound her arms about the
neck of her husband, and as though the love of
years had centered in that one kiss, she pressed
it upon his lips.
@There--no more" he uttered, as he gently
laid the arm of bis. wife from his neck, "these
things have brought are for you and our chill
dren,' and as he spoke he left the house.
Mrs. Wilkins arose from her bed, and trem-
blingly she examined the articles upon the table
She found the Loaf and in, the pail she found
milk one of the papers contained two, smaller
bundles-one of tea and one of sugars while in
the remaining parcel she found a nice lump OF
butter. | -.
- 60" murmured the poor wife and mother, as
she gazed upon the food thus spread out before
! her, "whence came these2 Can it be that
4 Thomas has stolen them? No, he never did
that? And then that look-that kss-those
kind, sweet, sweet words! o, my poor poor
heart, raise not hope that may only fail and
{ crush thee p' > i,,
"Mother,'' at this moment spoke her son, who
had raised himself upon his elbow, lis our father
gone!" l. 80 49,.
ayes, Charles"
80, tell me, mother, did he not come and kiss
me and little Abby, this mornings"
:'Yes, yes-he did" cried the mother as she
flew. to the side of her boy and wound her arms
about him.
! "And, mother" said the child, in low, trem-
bling accents, while he turned fearful look to
lis parents face, twill not father be good to us
once more?" =,
That mother could not speak, she could only
4 press her children more fondy to her bosom and
weep mothers tears upon them.
] Was Lizzie Wilkins happy, as she sat her chill
4 dren down to the mornings meal? AT least, a
ray of sunshine was struggling to gain entrance
to her BOSOM. =
| Toward the middle Of the afternoon, Mr.. Abel
Walker, a retired sea-captain Of some wealth, sat
in his comfortable parlor, engaged in reading,
when one of the servants informed him that
some one at the door wished to see him.
I "Tell him to come in," returned Walker.
"But it's that miserable Wilkins, sir"
"Never mind" said the captain after mo-
ment's hesitation, 'show him in. Poor fellow"
he continued, after the servant had gone, 81
wonder what he wants. In truth, pity him."
nd
! Thomas Wilkins entered Captain Walkers par
lor.
"Ah, Wilkins" said the old captain, 'what
has brough. you here |"
Tne poor man twice attempted to speak, but
his heart failed him.
I "Do you come for Charity"
"No, sir" quickly returned Wilkins, while his
eyes cleaned with proud light.
"Then sit down, and out with it," said Walk
er, in a blunt, but kind tone.
-"Captain Walker" commenced the poor man.,
as he took the proAered seat 81 have come to
ask youif you still own that little cottage be-
yond the hill"
81 do"
"Aud is it occupied"
"No"
"Is it engagcd9"
"No," returned the captain, regarding his visi-
tor with uncommon interest "but why do You
ask?"
"Captain Walker" said Wilkins, in firm and
manly tone, even though his eyes glistened' and
his lips quivered, 81 have been poor and degra-
ded-deeply stepped in the dregs Of poverty and
disgrace Everything that made life valuable, l
have almost lost. My wife and children have
suffered, and God only knows how keenly!
have long wandered in the path Of sin. One
after another, the tender cords Of friendship that
used to bind me to the world have snapped
asuuder; my name has become by-word, and
upon the earth have been but foul blot. But,
sir, from henceforth, am man Up from the
depths of its long grave l dragged forth my
heart, and love still has its home therein. L
hare sworn to touch the fatal cup no more and
in my heart there is no lie. My wife and my
children shall suffer no more for the sins they
never committed. have seen my old employ
er, at the machine shop, and ho has even been
kind enough to give me an order in advance for
necessary articles of clothing food and furniture.
Tomorrow morning commence work"
"And you come to see if you could obtain
your cottage back again to live in9' said Cap.
tain Walker, as Wilkins hesitated.
"Yes, sir; to see if I could hire it Of you" re-
piled the poor man.
"Wilkins, how much can you make at your
business 2" bluntly asked the old captain, with
out seeming to heed the request.
"My employer is going to put me on job work,
sir; and soon as get my hand in, can easily
make from twelve to fourteen dollars week."
"And how ,nucb will II take TO support your
famiy?"
Gas soon as I get cleared up, can easily get
along with five or six dollars week."