Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-05-02
CHAPTER TT.

Protracted was the illness of the painter
Though he no longer suffered from the com
vulsions and deliriun of the fever, it was
many days before the ply sician would allow
him TO arise from his bed. The medicines
that be had taken greatly reduced his physical
strength, rendering him, in fact, quite help
less, SO as to require almost the constant care
of his wife With his prostration, the means
for their support were rapidly lessened, till
finally they ran out altogether. This made
him inpatient and fretful at times, and added
to the perplexities of his wife. 1t now seemed
that day after day only opened up new sour
ces of distress. New wants and new sorrows
were multiplied, till the mind of the young
wife and mother bordered on desperation itself.
How true it is that mental agony is oftentimes
less endurable than tie very tortures of the
rack to the body. And now this irri alton
was not likely to be soothed, in the fever aud
pain which her infant suffered from destitution
His cries were incessent, so that father and
mother both might have imagined they suffer-
ed the pangs of purgatory itself, had they
entertained belief in the Catholic religion
If the child slept, and the groans of the hus-
band did not Jar upon the sensitive nerves of
the wife. yet despair was always there to pain
her heart. Poverty was torturing her very
soul She had parted with her furniture al
ready, and such of her clothing as she could
spare, to procure the indispensable necessaries
of life At length all resources of mainten-
ance were entirely cut off, She owed the
shopkeeper for food. and that worthy would
no longer trust her even for gill of milk for
her child. For hunger, and exhaustation,
sickness of body and mind, who was there to
proffer relief? None!
Previous to the artists illness, he had not
. ~ of IL Tboxr
lived up to their income-content, like the
birds of heaven, with the blessings of the
transient hour. Two days passed away with
out food for the helpless family, and they knew
of none to whom to apply for assistance. The
babe became greatly emaciated from the lack
of fnourishment--whilet the artist languished
for the want of the medicaments which the
apothecary was unwilling to supply without
the money. What was the wife to do? Her
husband, child and herself, seemed ready to
perish, and yet no helping hand was stretch
ed forth to their succor and salvation.
The artist one day awoke from restless
slumber, and asked his wife for cup of water.
The infant was then resting in her arms, en-
joying Its only repose since the day before. and
she dared not stir, for fear of waking him and
renewing his cries and fretfulness
sAngelique! Angelique? choke with
thirst Give me drink -
Yes, love, directly. Our boy sleeps upon
my knee Do not disturb him now"
And must suffer and parch with fever!
Oh. Angelique, you love me not to abandon
me thus"
Merciful heaven! What am to do
The cries of the babe are about to recommence.
Ny child my chlldr'
The husband essayed to speak mt his voice
was entirely inaudible. Thex<uas q grasping
for breath, then sort of rattIin ln his throat
when he sunk into = swo1n.
AngeIique qd<ckly arose 70 bis relief, but
the movement fled the cbi3 rom its slum-
Der when it uttered fIe post feEcing cries
She was compelled u hold Il ID hexerrns, and
was unable to apply any restorativss to her