Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-04-05
MARFTNsBURG VA, WEDNESDAY, MORNING, APRIL 5, 1854

mr. watched for BIN that could not bear her
weeping.
AT length the morning fafrIy kbroke. II
was broad daylight, and the husband rose
from his couch with red eyes, and heated
brain. His step was unsteady as be entered
the apartment, where still sat the mother
and her dead child. ~
It's late = said the husband advancing /;
I shall not be in time for work. Why did
you let me sleep 50 longf'
Poor little Willie 7 was all she could sob
out in reply.
/ What's the matter?' be asked; and then
pausing moment, he seemed to recollect the
events Of the past night. i think you said
/ the child was ILL., sass
He's dead =
| %, God. be exclaimed, it eanont be-
He looked down into the cradle. and there
lay the child, calm and placid as is in sleep.
yet breathing not, and with the hue of death
upon its cheek. lie groaned aad sunk into
a chair by the cradle side, unable to speak.
But suddenly there passed through his
mind visions Of the past and he thought Of
the sweet prattle Of bis child on the evening
of his return from labor--of the delight be
had felt in watching his growing intelligence
-of his arch wiles and playfulness--a
then of the patient love and care of bis wife,
now bowed down ia silent grief beside him.
%. Kate. this is sad sight. Our poor,
dear child ! and the strong man bid his face
in his hands, and sobbed audibly
She took his hand. He looked up tbro'
his tears, and said--'I have been very cruel
and selfish towards you. Do you not hate
meY
NO, no 7 said the weeping wife; no, vii.
liam, but here, by the body Of this. our first
born, let me speak to you of the past
Not now, not now"
William, must, have thought of it du-
ring the night. while waited for you, and
watched by your child and mine and now
| feel it to be right to speak to you, though
it is in sorrow
BE morciful to me
j have no word Of reproach for you, Will
liam but | would speak to you as your wife.
whom you promised to love aud cherish till
death
i did! did r.
You took me. a girl, from my fathers
house and home, where was happy You
loved me,
True and ! love you now
4 believe you, William Well. l was
young, with little knowledge of the world. but
tried to make your home as happy as mine
had been before. llabored to make it cheer
full and bright to you. sought to attract
you to my side, aud to keep you at home with
me and the dear child there after your hours
of daily labor were over
You did, Kate. No wife could have been
more kind and good
4 prayed for you; ] thought but ofyou, |
lived but for you
oh, spare me. know, feel how cruel
| have BEEN.
mo, only thoughtless. When sober, you
have always been kind and loving but when
you have spent your evening away from US,
| and come 10 late
4 have been harsh and cruel-I know it
now
Dear William, one other word and have
done. Let me have some Of your evening
leisure spent beside me. will try to make
you happy. Sit beside me while work; and
if do not know so much as the companions
whom you meet elsewhere teach me. and will
learn
ooh, Kate said William, sobbing,' i new
er felt your love so dear to me as now Here,
by the body Of this dear child, solemnly
promise tina. it shall be as you say. ! will
forsake these haunts of dissipation in which
my soul had well nigh been lost, and seek
peace, and pardon. and happiness, again by
your side
And as time past on, the memory of the
dead infant was guarded as precious trea.
sure; for its death bad been sancti6ed to
both. The promise solemnly made by its
cradle coffin, had been kept, aud peace and
blessings descended ia rich abundance upon
the happy cottage home
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