Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-03-15


."Oh, William, she cried, "leaye the.
child alone. You are not fit TO touch
him: See how you frighten him. Go,
now" Hf:
He staggered back, looking confused
and ashamed. /" Well. 1 am sorry for
this, but I'll even go. Poor dear little
Willie" .; ,..--...r
He was about to retire, when turning
back he said hastily, as,if the thought
had for. the moment sobered him"
''But if the child should die"
"Then Gods will be done,'' said the
mother, sobbing. 5msI
ooh, let me fetch doctor.'' he cried,
with look of alarm, q I'll bring one in a
few minutes let me 60"
al have seen to that, William; the doc
tor has been and doneswhat he could
Now go =" .... -gsr.i. q
And he went staggering to his sleeping
chamber, from whence the sound of his
labored breathing shortly proceeded; and
the drunken snoring of the husband, the
waiIing moan of the sick child, and the
occasional deep sighs of the watching
wife and mother, were the only sounds
that broke the stiffness ofthe night in that
little household. G L.Ho-
The mornings light peered in through
the window blinds, and still found the
mother by the child's cradle. She watch.
ed there by her first-born, calling to mipd
its sweet winning ways, its prattle, and
its bright look. But now, alas, there was
but the quivcriug, clammy lips, through
which the child's soul seemed to be tlut-
tering. Its shortening breath labored
on, and its upturncd eyes were half yelled
by the convulsed lid. Senselcss, uncon-
scious and helpless, never had that child
been more dear to the mothers heart than
now; ye. love could not save it, sorrow
could not ransom it. There was ~ long
breath, sigh, gurgling sound in the
throat, and then quiet, it was the quiet of
death. Yet still the mother watched for
him that could not hear her weeping.
At length the morning fairly broke
1t was broad daylight, and the husband
rose from his couch with red eyes and
heated brain. His step was unsteady as
he entered the apartment where still sat
the mother and her dead child.
Its late" said the husband advan-
cling; Il shall not be in time for work.
Why did you let me sleep solong ?".
Poor little Willie ]" was all the sor-
rowing wife could sob out in reply.
! whats the matter % he asked; and
then pausing moment, he seemed sud
denly to recollect the events of the past
night 'I think you said the child was ill.,"
e He's dead! p
40, God !" he exclaimed, cit cannot be-"
He looked down into the cradle, and
there lay the child, calm and placid as il
in sleep yet breathing not, aud with the
hue of death upon its cheek. He groan-
ed, and sunk into chair By the cradle
side, unable to speak. .Ei
But suddenly there passed through his
mind the visions of the past, and he
thought Of the sweet 'prattle of his child
on the evening Of his return from labor,
of the delight he felt in watching its grow
ing intelligence, ,-of his arch wiles and
playfuness-and then of the patient love
and care of his wife, now bowed down in
silent grief beside him. n-s a
Oh, Kate, this is a sad sight. OuI
poor dear child" and the strong man hid
his face with his hands and so0bed audi
bly,. as ao2 ,o,a
She took his hand. He looked up
through his tears and said, a-0ri aaar.5
Il have been very selfish and cruel
towards YOU. Do you not hate me %
"No, no." said the weeping wife ''nol
William, but here, by the body of this,
our first born, letme speak to you of the
past" 4- su m I'D ii
! Not now, not'now." a gao q,
William, must; / have thought of ii
during the night, while l waited for you
and watched by your child and mine
and now feel it 20 be right to speak tc
you as your wife, whom you promised to
love and cherish till death" 10
"I did l did J" a.u
e You took me n girl from my fathers
house and home, where l was happy
You loved me- eg-t ..-r,. mi
! 1" True, and love you now"
/ AZ believe you. William. Well was
young. with little knowledge OF the world,
but / tried to make your home as happy
as mine had been before. | llabored to
made it cheerful and bright for you,
sought to attract You tony side and keep
YOU at home with me and the dear child
there, after your hours of daily labor were
over" ..r z..z... Z
You did, Kate. No wife could have
been more kind and good. . .
William. prayed for you; thought
but OF you, lived but for you.
" Oh, spare me. | know. feel how
cruel have been"
&. No, only thoughtless. When sober,
you have always been kind and loving
but when you have spent your evenings
away from us and come in late
"Ihave been harsh and cruel-I know
it now''
81 Dear William, one other word, and I
have done. Let some of your evenings
be spent beside me. I will try 20 make
you happy. Sit beside me while l work;