Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-11-22
Trials Of an Authoress.

4
ccd new Story entitled "VIyIA; or the Myst C.
ries of Life" by that talented writer, Mrs L. d
f. n. Southworth, which was to have been CON-
menced about this time but which has not been
Forthcoming. Mrs. Southworth, writes the fol-
lowing letter of apology, to the readers of the
Post, which we are certain viii satisfy her many
admirers, that she has not disappointed them on
any slight ground. The many readers of that
excellent paper, however, will be glad to learn.
that, though disappointed at present, they will
not wait long for their promised treat The story
is to be commenced with the New Year. But to
the letter:
| 'Whle writing 'Retribution'-(a serial work,
written, rs all my books have been from week
to week, to supply the demands of weekly pa
per. i was keeping school and keeping house
! The school numbered more than 81 pupils and
was their sole teacher. At the same time one of
my own children was confined to his bed with a
! long and dangerous illness, and was his nurse
My salary from the school WAS but $3.50 and
with family of four to support it was absolute
ly necessary to do something else TO increase eur
income. 'Retribution' was, therefore, written,
and writer, too, before and after school hours
at night, and in the intervals when the sick hoy
was Sleeping, or at least free from pain. The
! great Source of Life gave me vitality enough to
do and bear all that was required of me- The
school-keeping, the housekeeping, the nursing,
and the novclet, all went on--and not once were
+! my readers disappointed of their chapter The
earlier portions of the Deserted Wife," were
written under somewhat similar circumstances
And then--as my work was not destined to be
always excessively difficult had the comfort
of writing three or four books in comparatively
teasy circumstances-wth little other trouble
than hectic fever, and the constant hurry of sup
stories.
But in writing "The Foster Sisters" which
was my sixth book, my sight, from over-work,
began to fail And, rather than to dsappoint my
readers, continued TO write under circumstan-
ces that have irrcparably injured my eyes.
When the next work, ''fhe Children of the
Isle" was in course Of publication, willie sup
plying week after week the copy for the Post,
both my children were taken i'll with scarlet fe-
YER; the little girl especially was ILL., almost I'M
to death--we were at crowded hotel, and she
had no nurse but me. Yet the work of the pen
went on in the silent watches Of the night, and
by the bedside OF that suffering child; but God
did not try beyond what was able, ana Lottic
got well.
ia1"Clifton," was written under fairer auspices
in the sweet cottagc-home to which we
after yemoyed-and which LAS since beSOme
own.
But may God in Ills mercy save us forever
more from such accumulated trouble visited
our home during the two successive years, in
which The Lost iieiress,' and Miriam, Were
written. 1t is & marvel to me yet, how either of
those works were ever completed. The worst
of what we suffered / will not even hint to you
because it duplicates others, whom would much
prefer to leave to the sure judgment of God
But besides our greatest sorrow, sickness, death,
litigation, the parting from friends identified with
our lives-all followed in close succession, until
was aimosttemptedt to believe that the evil des-
TIMES had received permission to test the full
strength of my human heart l cannot dwell
upon the trials of those last two years; or even
give you the least details about them. You
kRow that my work went or through all, for you
saw that the literary contributions 10 the Post
were uninterrupted, even when lay Frustrated
with illness, and had to invoke the aid of friend
as an amanuepsis, who took down the words AZ
my bedside. Enough. The dark season drew
to a clOse-the sick got well-and time reconcil-
ed to those bitter separations by death and by
absence. God gave us more patience under
wrongs, and more faith in His final Justice. My
long task also approached its end. The last
chapter was written, and q certain ''promiss0ry
note" appended-and then-heart and brain, so
long and cruelty ovcrtasked--gave way-uttcr
lv gave way-hencath the burden. | could not
have believed that the spirit which had done and
borne much could suffer such total defeat
thought that week or at most a mos. Il would
/ restore my strength. And again and again cs
saycd to commence the promised work, but in
etiectually, because the ,ciH rs well as power,
was exhausted. At last thought that should
never be able to write another line for the press
"a circumstance of small interest perhaps to any
except to two obscure children, who, in losing
their mother would lose their only earthly sup
port. Bet Providence is perfect Father-and
nature is wise and good mother. Even this CO.
creed submission to their laws was fraught with
incalculable benefit to their exhausted child. In
IL, IL -,
first rest have had in several years, health and
inspiration have tided back TO heart and brain,
and Providence permitting, the best life of both
shall 90 forth TO my friends aud readers in the
beginning of the New Year.
EMMA ID. Z. n. SOUTIIWORTH