Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-19


"Come with me, mother!n said l. steadily,
drawing her hand within my arm, ON return
ing 10 the hall She wrested it from me, and
darted upon my face look of the suspicion
which is always 40 easily aroused in the in
sane
No matter | will take Lulie to the room;
good night ~ said, taking the trustful child
up in my arms and carrying her forward
with a look Of reproach turned upon the
mother.
The maternal instinct was stronger than
s,i, picion. and she followed.
.sOh, God forgive me to what | am Turing
thee with this fair bait, mother Z cried my
bleeding heart dared not listen to it, but
pressed the child closer there. After thread
ing several passages we reached the door Of
the ward--the bar that separates from the
outer world those whom Heaven has untitled
for its cares and duties.
II had been arranged, in order to avoid
harsh measures, that ! should withdraw the
child, il possible, without her notice, while DR..
G., from behind, slipped heavy bolt between
ue
felt my cold lips tremble, and my eyes
swim with giddiness, rs turned to execute
the last stroke Of my seemingly cruel task.
She stood with hands half folded bonnet flung
back, and black hair hanging in matted masses
over her sallow face Her eyes, Of old 30 beau
tifally bcaming were lighted up with the glow
which returned with every evening. Restless
ly they wandered over wall and furniture.
Now was my moment she would soon be un-
manageable
z have brought your rocking. chair, moth
er sit down. and | led her to the seat. Oh!
what farewell was that for q son One quick,
stealthy bound through the doorway--and the
bolt shot between us with grating crash!
dared not stay moment to listen. shudder-
ed at the sound OF my own flying footsteps, as
though an ague had stricken mel
"When will mamma come down was the
oft repeated question Of the unconscously be-
reavcd child, as | sat rocking her below. Soon,
however, the quivering eyelids grew weighty,
and forgot to start open at every sound the
head fell on my shoulder in heavy sleep.
Thus mercifully unconscious, she was carried
to the house of one who had been both friend
and creditor Of our father.
Her waking was agony to me, for felt what
must follow it! buried myself in recess of
the room, leaving her in the charge Of the kind
lady who had welcomed US.
Mamma is mamma coming"
By and by!o was the delusive answer.
But it is sleeping time now; come and lie
down in your little bed, and when you wake
up, perhaps -
aNo! no!n-she screamed, tearing herself
away, and throwing herself upon the floor
z want my mamma seiH have my mann
ma!n
Mother rs she herself was, the lady stood
motionless, with eyes fast filing powerless to
soothe the agitation that frenzied every fibre
Of that little creatures frame. stepped for
ward, and she chung to me with . convulsive
cry
"Take me to mamma! can't say my
prayers! Mammal
caught her hands, and looked firmly into
her eyes
Eulalie! be stilI!o
IL was spoken with cruel harshness, keenly
felt but it had the intended effect; it stunned
her for the moment into silence Her eyes,
CLASSY with terror, looked imploringly into
mine.
Lulie listen to me | tell you the truth !
You cannot 20 10 your mother She is i'll and
for her good, the Doctor has said that her lit
tie girl must be taken away from her. You
cannot understand rhy until you are older.
Bot crying will not bring her; be quiet be my
own brave Lulie!,
For long time her eyes kept their fixed
gaze into mine but change gradually passed
over them. Her hands dropped; her whole
frame was still even breathing seemed sns-
pended At last she turned. One convulsivc
sob came up, but was strangled. She laid her
small hands together and looked upward with
most touching look Of desolation, vet Of trust
in Him to whom she had been Taught to pray.
"Our Father who art in Heaven y she be-
gan and both the lady and myself had turned
our faces to weep before she had finished the
prayer the Saviour taught Serenely it was
repeated she kissed mo, and went to her little
bed
II was years before the child spoke her
mothers name again!
! was notified, on the following morning,
that a meeting Of my deceased fathers credit
ors would be convened at the house that even
ing, and prepared my accounts to lay before it.
They were formally examined by my host
He then took folded paper from his pocket,
and CHANGING around the small assembly, gave
it quietly into my hands opened it, It was
a receipt in full, covering all debts, paid and
unpaid Surprised and touched, | lifted my
head to speak; but his hand was laid kindly on
my shoulder.
Wait moment, Lincoln have taken
the liberty Of sending for your young sister, az
my friends here expressed wish to see both
the cHiuren Oh the laIe W.T. lslncOin.D
He paused until my sister was brought in
In her mourning frcck, with the pink snn-bon-
net that had been thrown over her head for
convenience, she looked like fresh rosebud
on blighted stalk.
The old gentleman arose, and, lifting nap
kin from rIchly-chascd pitcher and porringer
Of silver, addressed me-
May your course, Mr.. Lincoln, be as sue
ccsslul as it has been self-sacri6cing and hon.
orable In tho name Of the friends here IA
semblcd, beg You to accept this gift, as n
slight token of the respect we owe the memory
Of your father and the uprightncss Of his son.
And you, my daughter n--hc paused, and laid
his hand on the raised head Of the child
God bless you'll he feelingly exclaimed.
/" Take this porringer, my dear; IL is marked
with your name and as often az you drink
from il, remember that you have brother to
love and TO be proud Of, and friends who will
never see the children Of your father come to
want ~
upll love ana, Zoo o,r sho oo,J ,.,,tl, :.