Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-10-24

he saw me and his glance tell on the
volume on my knee. Tie asked me
in a stern voice "what had there?'
Few words ever passed between us,
and my answer was to hand him the
book, which l did. without the most
remote idea that | would stand a
criminal In his eyes and transgres.
sor Of his law. He scowled at the
book n moment. then darting an an.
CRY glance NJ my mother. asked in n
voice Of thunder. II "she knew what
her son had been reading?" Ny
mother answered In low tone. with
a slight deprecating GESTURE. that "she
was sure Il could do me no harm, and
| was so much pleased with tho story
she could not find II in her heart to
take IL from me-" was prep ring to
vindicate myself. but | was slow OF
speech. and frightened by my step
fathers boisierous manner. Ho did
not give me time TO plead my limo.
cense by saying that did not know
the book was fiction. He siezed
me by the arm. loudly declaring he
would teach me not TO deceive and
disobey him. and raising his cane he
struck mo again and again across my
shoulders. Every blow rebounded on
my poor mothers heart. she tottered
TO her feet. the mother was stronger
than the disease. and caught bis up
lifted arm. crying out. "0h one blow
Is more than enough u She sunk
back faInting In her chair, her white
wrapper covered with blood which
wis pouring In stream from her lips.
Alarmed. my slep.falLer left OFT beat
ing me, and sent me for the nurse
AS soon rs she came and they got
my poor mother to bed, my step faith
or ran for tho doctor. who said my
mother had broken n blood vessel and
must be kept very quiet. | was sent
from the room. and glad to be alone,
| went out and bid In the garden un-
der the dropping shrubery. aid wept
and struggled alone with my Disgrace.
| had never heen struck before, and
the blows inflicted by my step-fathcr,
not only bruised my body. but crush.
ed and wounded my Utmost spirit. Il
appeared that on her marriage with
my sirp.hther, my mother had stipu'
lated beforehand TO make over all her
property, which was considerable. to
mo. aud he. know ng her timid and
complying nature. had consented. !.
trusting to the future TO get the con.
troll Of IL IN hs own hands. But ~
she grew 20 know him. my mother
was convinced Of tho wisdom and
justice Of her course. and refused TO
surrender her gusrdIanship into my
step fathers hands. exaspvrated nj her
obstInacy. he regarded me, as the
cause OF II. with IN aversion that Dor.
dvrcd on hatred. and her last moments
were emblsered by hs cruel pe,seeu-
lion Of mo. | had listened ut my
mothers door through The day, but
NIL was quiet within. and thinking
she slept | wandered out again l
could not ent. WAS too full OF griei.
although Nurse brought some Of my
mothers sick room dain,ies 10 me In
the garden. Driven In nj last by III"
darkness. | lay down by my mothers
chamber door and sobbed myself to
sleep. | don't know what time II was
when Nurse wakened me by opening
the door, and startled. srrang up and
asked to see my mother. | went to
her bedside and bade her my accus-
toned good night" il was the last
good night ! ever babe her on earih.
for in the morning when l awokc.
Nurse told me, my mother wis gone
where night never come any more.
After my mother's funeral was left
pretty much to omyself, kavoidod my
step father. who In turn avoided me,
for my presence was continual ac-
cusation. | wandered to my moth
er's sick room. but all was changed
there. The blinds were thrown open.
admitting the strong sunshine. which
changed with It's garish brightness the
objects that had always seen in her
life time ,hrongl, somber twilight
Her invalid's chair was wheeled away
the little table, with iIs vials and sIl.
var ball was gone. and the half raised
sash let In u chill draught. which Hut
tered the curtains. and filled the room
with cold and desolate air. Disap.
pointed. ! turned to go away and
met Nurse at the door. "Oh master
Paul |" she cried. "don't look so sor.
ry." while her tears were falling ike
rain. Her tender sympathy warmed
my chilled heart and l threw myself
on her bosom weeping tears Of CRATE
/ ful relief. "There cry. cry dear
boy" she said. "l'will ease your poor
heart" In Nurse l found warm
and loving friend. but for her. my boy.
hood would have been utterly lonely
and neglected. A short time after
my mothers death / was sent "a
school. II was a long time before
made any friends; | was shy Of the
rude mise hief loving school boys. who
mistaking ny reserve for pride wound
ed me. as only school boys can wound
They would say. "see here come,
oar little Dayi! is he not going
forth to whip Goliah ?" which wa
intended as taunt to call out my
pugilislic qualities. ard in derision o
precocious manner OF expressing
my thoughts they exclaimed, "hark
the little fish is saying something
don't he talk like whale though?
was too proud to exhibit any annoy
ance. aud only the darkness and 81
lence of night Witnessed my sorrows
| never told my troubles 10 Nurse
but she often suspected them AM
questioned me. but l would have fel
m yself difcient in courage had no
met my fate uncomplainingly. Bright
er days were coming though. mad
friends among the boys, who admire'
my success in my studies and geneI
ously acknowledged me their superior
/ soon come to have a great iniiuenc
over them, and grew to be n sort