Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-05-11


sure. What did you let the fire 60 out for (!
Come, 60 down and get stick or two, that's
a good wife,
There is none, Henry
well, then, be off with you to bed instanter, !,
have business which must be amended to to-
night
Good night, dear
Good damna-good night
She's gone Would that she was gone
forever Would to God that she and the child
were both sunk in the deep ocean grave for
ever! Well, something new will have to
turn up in day or two, reckor-something
new. Ha ha! ha! "a score Of iends joined
in that horrid laugh, and glutisl their eyes
with their prey.) Beggary, a1xersy, desti-i
tuition, for my once loved wife, and my innO-
cent child The thought is whitening. |
hate them-yet love them, oh /! how fondly.
Yet arm not numbering them by inches @
Oh these fearful bonds would that could
br eak them; yet there is hope. Already the
new year has opened its broad avenues the
starting point is fixed, and the goal before me !;
the prize, health, happiness, comfort, love, a
home, and better than all, clear conscience.
Yet, year after year has thus opened for me,
and still have sunk only deeper and deeper
into the mire. Again and again have / re-
solved, and as often have these resolutions
been broken. Unwearied toll day by day, the
profits sunk at night at the gaming table, and
my wife and child destitute Of the necessaries
Of life Distracting thought! Let me see
how they fare. "No wood" she said I'm
possible yet It's true. The closet empty,
too not a crust Of bread. What have done
God help me. She would have embraced me,
even tonight, with The warmth of Loves first
affection, and repulsed her. Darkest despair
haunts me. Whittier shall fee The
world is dark before me. 1t were best to rid
it of so foul a stain. Ha! l am better now.
They say there is balm that will sOolhe the
troubled soul. have thee now, fond comfort
er. Let me drink deep the draught. 1t is
done: brandy feeds the fame hotter and hot
Ter devils incarnate fit before me, mocking
me with their fendish laugh. Soul thou art
damned murderer, thy doom awaits thee.
see them-I hear them-feel them-they are
all about me. They beckon 10 me. cannot
live!'
In l84G came Rumor, on feet wings from
the westward and southwark, procIaiming
golden lottery schemes on the Pacific shore.
Ell Dorado held up temptingIy to view no in
significant prizes selected from her inexhausti-
BILE boards of treasures; and shortly, swarms
of eager aspirants thronged the field-some to
acquire wealth immense, many but to fill the
blanks which they had drawn, by short and
llcentious existence.
Frederick Mortimer was among the adven-
turers. The same winds that waited the first
intelligence of the newly discovered land OF
gold, filled the broad sails of the pioneer ship,
that bore him to the land Of promise. He
was wild and giddy youth, though possessed
tendrils Of which clung long and strongly be-
fore they yielded to the rude hand that tore
them from their fastenings, and yet, when the
final bands snapped asunder, left part en-
twined around the objects of its love. Now,
twenty summers suns had already developed
the bright petals of the opening flower of his
manhood, and the consciousness of his maturi
ty, combined with an ardent passion for ex-
citement and adventure, drew HIM away to
a foreign cline, while fond mother and sis
ter mingled together tears of sorrow at his de-
parture; but the sunshine Of his anticipated
happiness reflected the rain drops as they fell,
while above hung the rainbow arch Of hope,
promise Of his future prosperity and success.
Years passed on-years Of arduous toll and
unwearied exertions. Meanwhile, young Nor
timer prospered. From the canvas-dotted
plains of San Francisco, had sprung up city.
Substantial warehouses ,Cent mp on the broad
area of Frederick Mortimer's grant, while the
purchase money l0ent do,cn into the depth Of
his extended purse, fortune had been made,
and he now turned his anxious thoughts to-
wards the goal of domestic ielicity-anxious,
for, during four long years, no tidings had
been received from the absent ones.
A lapse Of few short weeks, and he once
more stood upon the soil Of his native land
but with no common emotion did he tread the
thronging thoroughfares, as he wended his
way to the home from which he had so long
been alienated All was changed, wonderful
ly changed. He turned into Broadway, and
proceeded up the great artery Of the city,
There, as before, was the ever changing, ever
moving tide of rumbling stages, that were to
him familiar many buildings remained as he
had left them, but ever and anon, new improve
ments, new and costly edifces stared him in
the face even the pavement was strangely
smooth. He reached B street at length,
and hastily turned the corner the space of
few blocks would bring him to the home he
had left SO long ago. Surely this cannot be
the place yet the streets are the same the
locality is the same, and those houses, recol-
lect them well. Yonder lived DIR. -; and
upon my word, the name upon the door plate
as of old But here the house that am in
search Of should be, while instead there looms
up large block of newly erected houses. Am
l right, or do my eyes deceive me! Howev-