Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-11-08

est heart. and to enlist the feelings and
sympathies of the most selfish. The reg
ular tenants of the cellar were the colored
man and his wife, who gained scarty and
precarious subsistence. as they were able
by casual employment in the streets. or in
the neighboring houses Having in sum,
mel made no provision for the tclemency
of winter. they were then utterly desti-
tnte. They bad sold their articles of
clothing and furniture, one by one. to pro
vide themselves with bread until all were
| disposed of. but two broken chairs. box
| that served for table. and a small piece
of carpeting which answered the double
purpose of bed and covering Into this
/ department of poverty were the mother
and daughter lately elected from place
! equally destitute of the comforts of life
introduced. The former was a woman OF
about fifty years, but the deep burrows on
her face, and her debilitated frame. be-
tokened a more advanced age Her face
was wan and pale and her baggard coun-
tenancc and tattered dress indicated full
measure of wretchedness Her daughter
sat beside her, and rested her head on her
mothers lap She was about twenty FIVE
tNdio Vi dI0 u3l8ub bitGc nave DGen
! handsome-but life of debauchery had
thus early robbed her cheeks of their roses.
and Frustrated her constitution The pal
| lIdness Of disease was on her face. anguish
was in her heart
Hours passed on. In the gloom of mid
night the girl awoke from a disturbed aud
unrefreshiug slumber She was suffering
from acute pain. and in the almost total
darkness which pervaded the apartment
raised her hand to her mothers face
4" Mother said she, in faltering accents.
= are yoA here 2"
Yes child are YOU better ~
No, mother-I am sick-sick unto
death There is a cankcr at my heart
my blood grows c9ld-the torpor Of NOR
tallty is upon me -
n the morning, my dear. we shall be
better provided for Bless Heaven, there
is still one place which. thanks to the be-
pevolent, Will afford US susteuauce and
shelter
. Do not thank Heaven. mother you
and | are outcasts from that place of
peace and rest We have spurned Provi
dence from our hearts and need not now
to call it to our aid. Wretchcs, wretches
that we are p
Be composed daughter, you need
rest"
Mother, there is weight Of woe upon
my breast, :hat sinks me to the earth =
My brief career Of folly is almost at an
end | have erred oh, God fatally err
red.-aud the consciousness of my wick
edness now overwhelms me | will not
reproach you. mother, for laying the snare
by which | fell-for entcing me from the
house of virtue--;hc home of my broken
hearted father, TO the house of infamy and
death but OH | implore you. repent: be
warned, and let penltence be the business
Of your days"
Tue hardened heart of the mother melt
cd at this touching appeal, and she answer
ed with half stifed sigh:
Promise me. then, ere die. that You
will abandon your ways of ihiquity, and
endeayor to make peace with Heaven ~
[ dol do But alas my child,
what hore is there for me 2''
God is mercifUl to all who -"
The last word was iuaudible A few
respiratinns at long intervals were heard,
and the pentent girl sank into the quiet
slumber of death Still did the mother
remain in her seat. with heart narrowed
with the smitings of an awakened con
science Until the glare of daylight was
visible through the creyices of the door.
and the noise of the foot passengers and
the -umbling Of vehicles in the street had
aroused the occupants of the cellar. she
continued motionless, pressing to her
bosom the lifelcss form of her injured
child When addressed by the colored
woman. she answered with an idiot stare
Sensi blity had fied--the energies of her
mind had relaxed and reason deserted it's
throne. The awful incidents of that night
! had prostrated her intellect and she was
conveyed from the gloomy place, MANI
AC
/ The Coroner was summoned. and an in
quest held over the body of the daughter.
| In the books of that humane and estima-
BILE officer. the name of the deceased is
recorded =
| LErIrIA Ls.*sr~""