The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-05-12
THE SUICIDE.


State of New York, in district bat sparsely
settled at that time, through which passed a
great high road leading '',o the westward"
a cmigrant fixed upon a local habitation.
The jewellers in that humble tenement
built of unhcwcd logs, were two: and they
were young in life and hope, and young in
that blessed relation which made them one
in flesh and heart
There were many broad acres within the
enclosure around that unprctcnding dwelling,
and they were of good soil, and the hardy
husbandnan rcaped his reward from them,
from year to year.
The winter fire blazcd brisklv on the am
pie hearth, the moon ran high, and the night
air was keen and brisk without, as the two
sat side by side taking Of their future plans,
rs it was ever their wont to do. Tie wife
drew nearer to her husbands chair as though
the bend between them was growing strong
er. Her words were uttered in lowor tone,
as though the night might hold mysterious
strangers who would catch the sound of her
voice, as she revealed to him the pent-up
thoughts which had of late occupied her
mind, and grown daily 10 be regarded more
and more in the light Of certainty that her
iondeSt hol cs wot!ld ere long be realized.
1--WE have lived" she said, land strivcn to-
gcthcr, and we have plosp,rcd, and how hap
Ply shall we be when Providence has given
US richer reward in one to grow up and
share these blessings with us! !" Oh ! the
light that was kindlcd upon that coyish wo-
man radiant face, as she talked to him be-
SIDE her. in whispers. Of being mother.
True vert thou woman to thy nature, to
NY husband, and thy country; and for this
thou vert above all pIicc-pricclcSS.
Sccd-tlmc and harvest came and went for
sixteen years and the hushandman's store
houses grew more and more corpulcnt with
inc product OF each seasons laborS, and he
was iorchand,d. The humble tenement of
unhcwn logs had passed away, and OF it's
site more stately mansion had been erected.
The wife who had helped to plan that
household, had also ceased 10 be; and in her
stead there was one far more stately, more
youthful, more beautiful, but more in all else
unlike the mother. The happiness Of that
husoandnlan had also passed away. With
no one now to talk and plan with linn at cv-
en- tluc, he was alone. lie had a daughter,
a lulI- grown woman. it is tlue---thc one that
he and the wife had built their hopes upon
but she was gay and thoughtcss girl,
and could in 10 wise fill the place of her who
lad ldt him upon lltcs journey alone.
a few more years had passed away in the
course OF time, and the home that had been
built up in the hopes and energy Of young
life had passed from his hands, and the faith
or and the daughter were in the city. The
one was saddcr and more lonely sill: the
other was graycr and more thoughtlCss than
ever before. The passion OF avarcc, which
grows with age, seized upon the one, in the
absence of any stimulus to a better feeling;
wllle the excitement of glittering polup and
show fed the impulse of the unrctlccting
heart that knew little of the world and life.
The father and the daughter grew more
and more unlovng,j for there was little
sympathy between them, and they were srp-
arated. Far hence, upon the golden shore,
he sought to drown his sorrows in feeding
the only remaining impulse to action.
a few more years had passed onward, and
the daughter had become a wife.
Twilight came of a summer evening, and
the husband had returned from the business
cares of the day to his household and his
wife. The night grew dark upon them as
they sat apart, for the bond between them
was breaking fast. The night was fair, and
the soft air came floating in the lattice as
gently as the breathing of a sleeping babe;
but no so the hearts Of that husband and wife,
for they beat coldly. and Their breathing
broke upon their lips in bitter words.
In oxtcnualion, let it be said, the wife was
beautiful even i'll anger, and the flashing
lightning from her eye was from a wildness
that was all unnatural. The husband was
the milder Of the two. It's not strange that
woman should look forward with dread upon
the days Of her travail and the hour of her
peril; but ii is all unnatural that she should
make this the occasion to break the bond
between her and the husband
The season hsd changed from summer to
winter, and, late at night, the doctor sat
alone, all unconscious of what he has here
written: for this tale was untold then. The
sound Of a gun fell upon his ear, from which
he knew thata steamer from some distant
shore was coming up the harbor. His
thoughts turned naturally upon the joyous
hearts of those upon that steamer, who were
returning home. Little did he think upon
that ships deck there stood man, past
middle life, returning laden with the pro-
duct of the golden land, and in whose heart
was kindlcd afresh the joyous hope Of soon
seeing again his only child: little did he
think that within one hour he would meet
that man more so,rowful than ever before.
doctor, come quickly!" l knew the
voice, and started upon the instant, drawing
my overcoat on as emerged into the street.
The night was dark and cold, and the rum
bling omnibuscs were well-nigh stihcd, for
the hand Of that steady old monitor of fleet
ing time upon the City Hall. was just turn
ing the point between to-day and tomorrow.
My companion was as cold, and cheerless,
and silent as the night. Not word was
spoken by either of us, as we passed along
the street. There are times when words are
out of place-mcaninglc empty sounds:
then actions speak with a terrible force, and
silence sends thrill through the heart that
has no language to give it utteranco. l knew
that something had occurred, and could only
conjecture that life was at stake; but who,
and where, / did not know. | thought of
those who cncrclcd the healthstone with him
who was urging me onward faster and faster
by rapid strides: but of them knew none
i'll. l was about breaking this silence by an
inquiry as to the nature of the lease" upon