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

ed upon the point of speaking som
word to his wife, but at length he turne,
slowly away, aud silently undrcssed him
self, and very soon after his weary limb
had touched the bed he was asleep.
Long and earnestly did Mrs. wilkins
gaze upon the features of her HUSBAND
after h. had fallen asleep. There wa
something strange in his manner-some
thing unaccouutahle-surely he had no
been d linking, for his countenance la,
none of that vacant, wild, demrniac lool
that usually rested there His fcature
were rather sad and thoughtful, thar
otherwise and-O, is it possible -;
smile played about his mouth, and a a
if prayer issued from his lips while ye
he slept
A faint hope, like the misty vapor o
approaching morn, fitted before tn,
heart-broken wife. But she could not
grasp it, she had no foundation for it
and with deep groan she let the phan-
tom pass. She went to her children,
and drew the clothes more closely about
them she then knelt by their side, aud
after imprinting on their cheeks, a moth
er's kiss, uttered q fervent prayer in theil
wehalf, she sought the repose of the pill.
low.
Long ere the morning dawned, Thorn,
as Wilkins arose from his bed, dres ed
hims If and left the aouse. His poor
wife awoke just as he went out, and
would haze called him but she dared not
She would have told him she had no fuel,
no bread--not anything with which 20
warm and feed fhe children; but he was
gone, and she sank back upon her pillow
and wept.
The light of morning came at length,
but Mrs Wilkins had not risen from
resting place. A sound of footsteps was
heard from without, accompanied by
noise as though light sled was being
dragged through the snow. The door
was opened and the husband entered.
He laid upon the table heavy wheaton
loaf, a small pail, and paper bundle,
then from his pocket he took another
paper parcel, and again he turned toward
the door when next he entered, he bore
in his arms a load of wood and three
times did he 60 out and return with a
load of the same description. Then he
bent over the fire place, and soon bla-
zing fire snapped and sparkled on the
hearth. As soon as this was accomplish
ed Thomas Wilkins bent over his chill
iren and kissed them then went to thr
bedside of his wife, and while some pow
erfnl emotion stirred up his soul and
made his chest hcave, he murmurcd:
Kiss me, Lizzie
Tightly that wife wound her arms
.bout the neck of her husband, and as
hough the love Of years had centered in
hat one kiss, she pressed it upon his
ips.
There, no more he uttered as he
gently laid the arm of his wife from his
neck, these things | have brought for
you and our Children and as he spoke
ne left the house.
Mrs. Wilkins arose from her bed, and
remblingly examined the articles upon
he table. She found the loaf, and in
he pail she found milk one of the pa
,ers contained two smaller bundles-one
If tea and one of sugar, while in the re-
naming parcel she found nice lump of
)utter.
'O,' murmured the poor wife and
mother, as she gazed upon the food thus
prcad out before her, whence came
hese I? Can it be that Thomas has
tolen them No, no, for he never did
hat And then that too-that kiss
hose kind sweet, sweet words o, my
'oor, poor heart, raise not hope that
nay not only fail and crush thee p
Mother at this moment spoke her
on who had raised himself upon his
lbow, is our father gone p
Yes, Charles
90, tell me, mother, did he not come
nd kiss me and little Abby, this morn
ngi'
Yes, yes-he did = cried the mother,
IS she flew to the side of her boy, aud
wound her arms about his neck. |