Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-22

within the only apartment OF mlsera-
bic and almost broken down hovel, sat
woman and two children--a boy anda girl.
The cold wind found its entrance through
q hundred crevices, and as its bitter gusts
swept through the room, the mother anl
children crouched nearer to the few en-
bers that still smouldered upon the hearth.
The only furniture were four poor stools,
a rickety table and scantily covered bed !;
while in one corner, near the fireplace,
was heap of straw and tattered blankets,
which served as q resting place for the
brother and sister, Part of the candle was
burning upon the table, aud by its dim
light one might have seen that wretched
mothers countenance. 1t was pale and
wan, and wet with tears The faces of her
children were both buried in her lap, and
they seemed to sleep peacefully under her
prayerful guardianship.
At length the sound of footsteps upon
the snow-erust, struck upon the mothers
ears, and hastily arousing her children she
hurried them to their lowly bed, and hard
ly had they crouched away beneath the
thin blankets, when the door was opened
and the man whom we have already seer
before the cottage entered the place. Will
a trembling, fearful look, the wife gazeC
up into her husbands face and seemed
.eady to crouch back from his approach
when the mark of tear upon his cheel
caught her eye. Could it be, thought she
that pcarly drop was tear No-per
haps snowflake had fallen there and mel
ted.
Onco or twice, Thomas Wilkins SCENE
upon the point of speaking some word t
Lila wife, but at length he turned slowl
aw and silently undressed himself, an
soon after bis weary limbs touched the be
he was asleep.
Long and earnestly did Mrs. Wilkin
gaze upon the features of her husband a
ter lac was asleep. There was somethin
strange in his manner-something una'
countable. Surely, he had not been drinl
ing; for his countenance had none of tha
vacant, wild, demoniac look that usual
rested there. His features We're rather sa
and thoughtful, than otherwise, and,
Heaven is it possible "a smile playe
about his mouth, and sound as ifof praye
issued from his lips while yet he slept.
A faint hope, like the misty vapor
approaching morn, fitted before the hear
broken wife. But she could not grasp j
she had no foundation for it and with
deep groan she let the phantom pass. 81
went TO her children and drew the cloth
more closely about them then she kne
by their side, and after imprinting upC
their checks a mothers kiss, and utterir
ferVent prayer in their behalf, she soug
the repose II her pillow.
Long cra the morning dawned, Thorn
Wilkins ar SC from his bed, dressed hims,
and left tde house. His poor wife awo
just as he was going out and she wou
have called him but she dared not. s
would have told him that she had no fu
no bread, nor anything with which to wa
and feed the children but he was 90
and she sank back upon her pillow &
Wept.
The light Of morning came at lenp
but Mrs. Wilkins had not risen from
bed, nor had her children crawled Fl
their resting place. A sound of footst
was heard without, accompanied by nc
as though light sled were being drag
through the snow. The door opened
her husband entered. He laid upon
table hea7y wheaton loaf, small
and paper bundle; then from his pO