Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-23
tfginalS turq.
Wraten for he Spirit ofMe Age-Raleigh.
The Strangers Narrative.
By MARvIDALE.
CHAPTER ~.

AlAt L2k f.H## H 4
- It lay upon its mothers breast, a thing
Bright as a dew-drop when it first decends,
Or as the plumage of an angels wing,
Where every tint Of rainbow beauty blends"
Mas. WsLB..
30 what passions then,
What melting sentiments Of kindly care,
On the pew parents seize"
THoNsoy's SEASONS.
Time passed on, and news at length react
oil me that my wife had brought forth 4 SOL.
At once, with electric swittness, a tide of ner
feelings rushed up N ,he-fcelings new an,
strange, and such as | bal never before en
j1ye1, or even knew the heart was capable
o.. For the moment 1 forgot my Shame, IN,
dishonor, my appetite for strong drink, and
all the associations Of my degr;sled state. /
you are u father you may cOmprch nd m,
feelings otherwise you cannot. One long
ing, burning, Irresistible desire to look upon
ny child-yes, my child-absorbod every fac
ulty Of my soul. | retired to q lonely spot
and there mediate !. At night went to thu
house of u fr;c id, sober, determined to re-
fresh myself with sleep. My friend marked
tn" change in my appearance and wondered
an | was pleased hut he asked me no ques-
t.oAs and | told him nothing of what was
passing in my mind. | retired to bed, but it
was long before sleep visited me. The next
morning, however, | arose much refreshed,
and after breakfast | set off, determined to
see my wife and child, or die in the attempt.
Every moment brought me nearer and near
or to my child, and my impotence increased
with every step. 1t was nearly noon when
reached the lordly mansion Of my father
in-law. Atthe door | met the old man. Al
first he lookcl wildly at me, as though he did
not recognize me bat suddenly his features
--a.. I..,.l ,v,tb ro,ra ard ho ow.IaiDon1 ~, n
husky voice:
James Fonvalc, why come you here?"
"To soc my wife and child" | answered.
Drunken villain y he cried, placing him
self in ron Of me, !" you shall not enter my
house. Turn aud be gone"
"Sir," sail |, stu ing him deiantly in the
face, f" have come here determined to sec my
wife AMI chill |, ald | DW see them, or perish
in the attempt"
"Then perish, :" he exclaimed, as he gnash
cd his teeth and made an attempt to soize m.
by the throat and push me back. | anticipa
ted his movement, AMI with q calmness tina
is yet u~nlccountable to me, | took hold 0
him gently, and with u strength which wa
unnatural, laid him softly down, stepped
over his PROSTATE body, hurried up stairs AM
entered my wife's room without ceremony o
delay.
/ heard the old man ~storming and ravin;
below, and calling to two or three Of his ne
gro an to come to him. | had no doubt h,
intended to make them force me out Of tn
house and the enclosure, but | took no heed
and advanced to the side ofthe bed where la
my wife and child. There were other female
in the room. but | took no notice Of them.
Ellen | cried, do you not know me :?
Her babe was resting upon one arm, bu
she reached up the other, and as | leane
over her, threw it around my neck, prcssc
my face down to hers, and our lips met i
along, long kiss, a kiss of youth and love-"
fUere the emotions Of tho narraaor agai
choked his utterance but he recovered hin
self with an effort and proceeded ;
That was another time when | believe
might have been reclaimed. The new fee
ings, the new association Of ideas in my min
tho new relations in life by which | wou.
have been surro unded, might, and | belle,
would, have saved me. But that ~relentle
old man plunged ne back into the abyss fro
which | had half escaped. But to procee
The tears gushed into Ellen's eyes, and
our lips parted she raised the face of my chi
to me and | kissed it. 1t was a sweet chill
calmly sleeping in its innocence, and | felt
the pride and the love Of II father as | gaz
upon it and pressed my lips tcnderly to
soft cheek.
Ellen" l said, a would fain roma
with you now to love and cherish you b
you hear the voice Of your father comma
ding his negroes to come and put me out.
would resist and die here by your side, /
If / remain there will be a scene which "
kill you. | must 60"
20 my husband 0 my father !" was
she could utter.
] heard the old man, almost choked W
anger, issuing his orders to his negroes, a
heard his wife pleading with him to lct
alone, as the excitement would kill his Gau,
ter. gazed for q few seconds upon thep
face Of my wife, now wet with tears, and
on the placid features Of my boy but he
ing the heavy tread Of the negroes below
turned to depart. As Withdrew | he;
Ellen sob heavily, then family articulate
name.
At the foot Of the stairs I met the old n
and the negroes, but l waved my hand
them to give back, and told them that |
going.
Though you have no regard for tho
of your dau shtcr," said | to the old man,
have, and | will withdraw to prevent
from killing her. Were my life alone at st
/ would act differently"
They made way for me and I walked
with a feeling of desolationa at my heart wi
/ pray God Imay never again experience
returned to my dissipatcd habits, wretcl
reckless, abandoned-without a hope, W
out a wish. 1t was several weeks befor
received another letter from my wife.
told me she had been very sick-nigh
to death-but was slowly recovering;
our child was we'll and growing, and hat
fathers eyes. And she c~oniured me by
the love Of a husband and all the pride
father to leave off my rotations, to amend
ways,and to ~reinstate myself in my own
the estimation ofthe world, againrenewin
promises Of aid and sympathy, and exI
sing lTer desire to share my fortune who
should be freed from the slavery of drum
ness. Bat | was now powerless, a hell
victim in the hands of a merciLess tyra
the tyrant alcohol.
on ApTEP W