Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-24

the bed answered, and its tones quiyeringi
as they spoke,
ssOh, mothers dead p It was the +
voice of his son who had stolen in and was
now sobbing violently as he tried to raise
her head in his little arms. He had been
for weeks her only nurse, and long since
learned to act for himself. He bathed her
temples he chafed her limbs, he invoked
her wildly to awake.
Dead p said the man, and he was So
bered at once /" dead, dead p he con-
tinued in tone Of horror that chilled the
blood, and advanced 10 the bedside, with
eyes staitang fsosn tsreir sockets he i:.Sii
his hand upon her marble brow" then,
oh, my God have murdered her EN-
lily, Emily, you are not dead, say SO, oh !
speak and forgive your repentant husband"
and kneeling by the bedside, he chafed
her white, thin hand, watering it with his
hot tears as he sobbed her name.
Their efforts at length, partially res
tored her, and the first thing she saw up
on reviving was her husband weeping by
her side and calling her " Emily :" 1t
was the first time he had done SO for years
1t stirred old memories in her heart, and
called back the shadowy visions of years
long gone past. She was back in her
youthful days, before ruin had blasted her
once noble husband and when all was joy
Gus and bright as her own happy BOSOM
Woe, shame, poverty, desertion, even his
brutal language was forgotten, she only
thought Of him as the lover of her youth.
Oh that moment of delight She faint
ly threw her arms around his neck and
sobbed there for JOY
Can you forgive me, Emily? | have
been brute, a villain-oh can you for
give me. have sinned as never man
sinned before, and against such an angel
as you. Oh God, annihilate me for my
guilt"
"CharIesp' said the dying woman in a
5 tone so sweet and low that it foated thro'
the chamber like the whisper of a disem-
E bodied spirit-'I forgive you, and may
God forgive you too; but oh do not en-
o bitter this last moment with such an Inpi-
s Gus wish"
! The man only sobbed in reply, but his
% frame shook with the tempest of agony
% within him.
Charles" at last continued the dying
r. woman, /" have long wished for this mo-
/: ment, that might say something to you
h about our little Henry"
,e God forgive me for my wrongs to him
q too p murmured the repentant man.
q I have much to say, and | have but
"a little time to say it in: feel that l shall
= never see another u "A violent -Gt -ei
7, oo,, ,,ohinor ipforr11r+od haB
"Oh no, you must not de- sobbed
d her husband, as he supported her sinking
IL frame, you'll live to save your repentant
'. husband. Oh, you will. ;"
ii The tears gushed into her eyes, but sh<
10 only shook her head She laid her warm
IN hand on his and continued feebly-
ss Night and day, for many a long year
t. have [ prayed for this hour and never
even in the darkest moment, have doubt
ut ed it would come for have felt that with
of in NE which whispered that as all had de
i'll serted you, and | had not, so in the en-
III you would at last come back to your earl
#. feelings. Oh would it had come sooner
be some happiness might then again hav
de been mine in this world-but Gods WI
nj be done [ am weak-I feel [ am failin
fast-Henry, give me your hand.'
ne The little boy silently placed it in her
re she kissed it, and then laying it within hc
th husbands, continued
ce Here is our child-our only born
he when am gone he will have none to tai
no care of him but you, aud as God is abov
ain as you love your own blood, and as yc
to- value promise to adying wife, keep, iov
en and cherish him. Oh remember that
rec is young and tender-it is the only thingf
10, which should care to live'-she pause
;ut and struggled to subdue her feelings, "w
tly you promise, Charles %
Law will, as there is Maker over me,
full WILL" sobbed the man and the fraii b
.ty. against which he leaned shook with /
the emotion.
thy "And you, Henry, obey your fath'
nor and be good boy; as you love your mot
ter er-you will? ?''
mi "Oh yes p sobbed the little fello
oon Ainging himself wildly upon his mothe
had neck, but mother, dear mother, wh
1fa- shall do without you?-oh don't die
hat "This is too hard,' murmured the d
he ing woman, drawing her child feebly
.us- her, Father, give me strength to endu
ask it!'
lty, For few moments all was still; a
ung nothing broke the silence but the sobs
las the father and the boy, and the low, deaf
had like tick Of the rain dripping through u
we're ON the floor. The child was the first
last move. He seemed instinctively to f
that that giving way to his grief panied
bro mother, and gently disengaging hims
from her, he hushed his sobs, and leani
7oke ON the bed, gazed anxiously in her face
tart Her ewes were closed, but her lips NOV
ming as if in prayer.
light "Henry, where are you?" asked
was dying mother
iace, The boy answered IN his low mourn
v voice.
bos- "Henry, Henry" she said in an unt
and tone, and then after second added, pt
man babe. he does not hear me, y
The little fellow looked up amazed.
a. as knew not yet how the senses gradually Fl
way ed the dying; he was perplexed; the te
" in coursed down his cheeks, and his thr
IT, choaked so that he could not speak.
1t as he placed his hand in his mothers /;
Atty, pressed it.
put "Come nearer, my son-nearer-
idly candle wants snuffng-there lay your
antly down by mine; Henry, love, [ can't Sc
hats has the wind blown out the light ?"
The bewildered boy gazed wildly