The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1855-02-08

/
Three years passed away, and the pale,
trembling, feverish merchant, had become
a stout, healthy, rugged man. His home
was the abode Of every joy--a heaven upon
earth. ~.
1t was in the evening Mr. Watkins had
heard his children recite their lessons and
say their little prayer, and their mother had
blessed them and attended them to their
beds. They had just set down alone, the
husband and wife, when some one wrapped
at the door. Lauson arose and opened it,
and Adam Langraye entered theapartment.
Lydia sprang to the old mans embrace, and
she wept tears Of joy to see her kind uncle
once more.
Langrave looked about him with some
thing like surprise depicted upon his coun
tenance, ,and as he shook hands warmly with
Lauson, he seemed almost doubtful about
trusting his own senses. Could it be pos
sible the dying merchant had become such
a living man? The change waste him more
surprising than it was to Lydia, for she had
watched each slow development ofreturn-
| my hS"ltIlJ uuU lIc odW IL dll tI OuOS. ~ 40
in trnth, "a wonderful change.
Quick did Lydia prepared simple re-
past for her uncle, and then old times were
talked about Lauson told how he had sue
ceeded on his farm, and Langravc told
where he had been in the south. The
evening wore away pleasantly and agreea-
bly,. Atlength the old man remained ST.
lent for some moments, and Lydia began
to tremble.
'Lauson, said he, how would you like
to go back to the city, and enter into bust
ness again?
Il couldn't do it, said the young man
with slight shudder.
But l think could raise means
No, no, am not fit for merchant
Mine is constitution that cannot live by
such business o, would not give up this
sweet home for any establishment in the
city. All, sir, learned great lesson
when l came here-a lesson on life. l
know that should have been in my grave
if had remained in the city. l did not
see it then, but see it now. At first l
thought the loss Of my property was ca
lamity, butsir, was a blessing, "a blessing in
disguise. Look at us now and see if we
are not happy-'and,,' continued Lauson,
with great animation, to morrow you shall
see my children. You will have 10 rise
early ifyou would hear their first shout of
Joy and see their first smile of gladness.
+ Thank God Lydia, murmured the old
man as he turned towards his niece, your
plan has been blessed
Lauson Watkins gazed first upon his
wife and tbenupon her uncle. He was
puzzled. His wife caught his gaze, and
with convulsive movement sprang to-
wards hmand threw her arms around his
} neck
!, 'Oh, forgive me, my husband; forgive
me, she exclaimed, while the tears stream
ed down her checks. i
Forgive you? for what? What does
this mean gasped tie young man as he
discngaged his wife's arms ilom his neck
and looked into her face.
why, said Adam. Langrave, 'she wants
you to forgive her for saving your life! Sit
down, Lydia, and III tell him all" .
:. The wife sank into her chair, and then
, the old man resumed:
III explain the whole mystery to you
in few moments, Lauson. You know
how deeply you had become absorbed in
, harrassing business, and how increasingly
you devoted your time to the mere acquire
ment of money. Your wife saw that you
| were losing health and strength, that you
were becoming entirely lost to her and her
| children, in the mazy depths of money
5 making. This latter burthen she could
have borne without murmur, but when
she saw, that you were surely making your
way prematurely to the grave, she thought
to arrest your steps. She told you 'her
Fears, but you needed them not. She saw
: that the hand of the destroyer was upon
, you, and that you only plunged the more
Q deeply into the fell excitement that was
Q killing you. In the extremity she came tc
o me, and begged ofme to assist her in saw
= ing you. l knew of but ore way and
told my child of that. She made me
: promise would carry it into execution, L
a was a sever task, but l determined to per
t formi it. l drew all your money away
: from you, and when l knew that haC
: your last dollar in my possession, pre-
J, tended to fail. When / saw your misery
Y upon the occasion. was tempted to dis
!, close TO you the plot, but resolved that
a would go through with what l had com
S menced; at the same time earnestly pray
4 ing that it might all end for your benefit
b 'And now,' continued the old man, draw
: ing a heavy package from his breast pock
y ct, the deception has lasted long enough
Here are two hundred and three Thousand
: dollars. l took them from youto saw
o your life, and make my dear child happy
+ Ireturn them to you, believing you viii
n not blame me for what 1 have DONE
Lauson Watkins was bewildered at first
a but gradually the. cloud was dispelled from
k his mind. o. Lauson, my husband, ca
/ you forgive me?' repeated Lydia.
s The redeemed man strained his wife t
}. his bosom, and while tears rolled down hi
cheeks, he cried
n Forgive you? no, no, my angel of
o wife; have nothing to forgive. l can on
g ly bless you--bess you with my Who'll
: heart and soul. And you, too, my gener
S our friend he added, extending his ham
a to Langrave, 4 must bless you also.
n cannot speak all now-I cannottell you a
It feelI
y That was an evening Of Joy and thank
a fn1nacuc On tho navt yonnrni N or uucla I on