Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-03

knelt by their side, and after imprinting upon
their checks mothers kiss, and utterng fer
vent prayer in their behalf, she sought the re-
pose of her pillow.
Long ere the morning dawned, Thomas Will
kins arose from his bed, dressed himself and
left the house. His poor wife awoke Just as he
was going out, and she would have called TO
him, but she dare not. She would have told
him that she had no fuel, no bread, not anything
with which TO warm and feed the children; but
he was gone, and she sank back upon her pill
low and wept.
| The light Of morning came tlength, but Mrs.
Wilkins had not risen from her bed, nor had
her children crawled out from their resting place.
A sound of footsteps was heard from without,
accompanied by noise, as though = little sled
was being dragged through the snow. The
door opened, and her husband entered. He laid
on the table large wheaton loaf, small par
Gel, and paper parcel, and again he turned TO-
ward the door. When he next entered he bore
in his arms a load Of wood and three times did
he 90 out and return with load Of the same de-
scrption. Then he bent over the fire place,
and soon blazing fire snapped and sparked on
the hearth. As soon as this was accomplished,
Thomas wilkins bent over his children and
kissed them; then he went TO the bedside Of his
wife, and while some powerful emotion stirred
UP his soul and made his chest heave, he MUIR
INJURED
Kiss me, Lizzie
Tightly that wife wound her arms around the
neck Of her husband and, as though the love Of
years was centered in that one kiss, she pressed
it upon his lips.
'There-no more,' he uttered, as he gently
laid the arm of his wife from his neck; these
things have brought are for you and our chill
dren;' and he left the house.
Mrs. Wilkins arose from the bed, and trem-
blingly 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 sugar, while in
the remaining parcel she found nice lump of
butter.
o. murmured the poor wife and mother, as
she gazed upon the food thus spread before her,
from whence these? Can it be that Thomas
has stolen them? No, he never did that. And
then that look that kiss! those kind, sweet
words o, my poor, poor, poor heart, raise
no. hope that may only fall and crush theen
And she wept.
,Moiet, at this moment srnk. her son. who
raised himself upon his elbow; Mother, is faith
er gomez
Yes, Charles
90, tell me, mother, did lie not come and kiss
me and little Abby this morning?'
Yes, yes, he did, he did cried the mother,
as she flew TO the side Of her boy and wound
her arms about him.
That mother could not speak; she could only
press her children more rondly TO her bosom and
weep mothers tears upon them.
Was Lizzie wilkins happy as she sat her
children down TO that mornings meal? AT least
a ray of sunshine was struggling to gain en-
trance TO her bosom.
Towards the middle of the afternoon, re-
tired sea captain of some wealth sat in his COM
Portable parlor, engaged in reading, when one of
his servants informed him that some one was at
the door, and wished TO see him.
Tell him to come in, them returned the oap-
tain. M
But it's that miserable Wilkins SIR said the
servant.
Never mind,' said the captain, after mos
ment's hesitation, fshow him in. Poor fel-
low,' he continued, after the servant had gone;
i would like to know what he wants. In truth,
,IRity him.
NTith trembling and downcast look Thomas
Wilkins entered the parlor.
'Ah, wilkins said the old captain, what has
brought you here?p
The man twice attempted to speak, but his
hsart failed h.m x
DO you come for chsrity?'
No, sir, quietly returned wilkins, while his
eyes cleaned with a proud light.
Then sit down, and out with it, said Walker
in blunt but kind tone.
Captain Walker commenced the poor man,
as he took the proffered seat 4 have come to
ask if you still own that little cottage beyond
the hill2'
j do
is it occupied?'
No.
is it engaged
NO
'Wellp
But why do you ask?'
Captain Walker said Wilkins in firm and
manly tone, even though his eyes glistened and
his lips guivered Il have been poor and degra-
ded, deeply stepped in the dregs OF poverty and
disgrace. Everything that made life valuable |
have almost lost. Ny wife and children have
sufTered-and o. God only knows how ksenly!
| 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 asun-
Ider-my name is a by-word and upon the earth
| have been foul blot. But, sir, from hence
forth am MANI Up from the depth of its
long grave have dragged forth my heart, and
love still has its hone therein. swear to touch
the fatal cup no norel and while in my heart
there is life, my wife and my children shall suf-
fer no more for the sins they never committed.
| have seen my old employer at the machine
shop, and he has given me a situation, and is
anxious that should como back; and, sir, he
has been kind enough to give me an order in ad-
vance for necessary articles of clothing, food
and furniture Tomorrow morning commence