The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-09-24
An HOURS srRuauIE WITH ronox.

village, and in family that had moro
than common attractions TO one who loves
domestic life as we'll rs myself. The little
circle had in it more Of real interest than |
have often seen developed in the same
number Of persons.
Tho father Of tue family-almest zoo
young to feel yet that he was entitled to
that honorable appcllation, was fine frank
hearted young mechanic with wide world
Of life bounding in his veins, an energy
that, when fully aroused, drove everything
violently before him, and warmth Of dispo-
sition that won him more friendship than it
had then given him the goods Of this
world.
His..wife, to whom he had been married
some four years, was 'singularIy beautiful.
They had two children, the one a laughing
lrown-eyed and brown-haired little fairy Of
three years. Her name was Evclcen. Tie
second was Growing, laughing, blue.eyed,
plump little beauty Of less than year,
promising to have all the charms Of the
older at her age.
was sitting one afternoon in quiet
little room with my feet upon two chairs,
reading pleasant little book, in state
between asleep and awake-my host away
at lis shop, hundred yards off, and my
pretty little hostess engaged in her house
hold labors-whcn was thrown out Of my
jndolencc by..a scream that brought me to
nv feet like all electric shock. 1t was n
woman's voice, aud had in It an excess Of
agony that cannot be indicated in words,
SO loud that it rang over that quiet little
village, and brought every one forth to as
certain the cause.
sprang to the door that seperated the
sitting-room from the dining apartments,
aud saw the whole at glance. The
young mother stood at the door with her
first born our darling Eveecn-in her
arms dying. A brief and hurried word
from the servant told me the sad story
Tho little girl had accompanied child
uncle up stairs, and while the attention oi
the older child was for moment turned
away, she seized bottle of corrosive sub
Innate in alcohol, and had taken enoug to
have taken away twenty such lives. The
little thing had tottercd down stairs, and
the mother had met her at the landing with
the empty bottle in her hand, and the
poison oozing from her mouth, and the
child all unconscious of the fearful thing
she had done. Was it any wonder that {
terrible shrek rang out over the quie
village, and that already the occupants O
every house near were rushing towards til
spot where the mother stood.
But few moments could possibly hav
elapsed since the poison was taken, and ye
the effect was already fearful. After tn
first shrek of terror, the mother had qu
eted to calm despair for the moment, an
stood with the child in her arms, maxim
no effort for its relief, and indeed it SCENE
hopeless, for already the subtle poiso
seemed diffused through the frame; Il
brown eyes had lost their lustre, the fa'
was blackened as in after death, and Il
teeth were tight set in convulsive spas
that evidently would not pass away. lie
amined the little lost darling for momer
saw that it was hopeless, and then turn
away, unable to bear that mothers agon
The little door was already half filled wi
villagers, and sobs, and moans and lame
tations over the fate Of the dying CHI
were heard in every direction, mingl
with quick aud hurried questions, as to t
,aanner Of its occurrence, and vain attemI
at answering, which added an oppressi
confusion to the sadness Of the scene.
The little play fellows uncle, who b
been up stairs with the child, had run
stantly to call the father, and but
moments elapsed before he sprang into
middle Of the group. He had been told
and asked no questions. Ihad time to
mark that his eye was very stern and t
his lip was very firmly compressed. OH
too, remarked it, and I knew afterwa
that murmur ran round the circle of
strange it was that he betrayed no
ing.
He reached out his hands and took
child from its mother. It's eyes were !
closed, and a white ooze coming from
tween the hlackened lips. Was ever d.
more assured? saw him open the
lids, and heard him give a sign of re
He told me afterwards that the eye was
ahrunken, and so death had not begu
lie then attempted to open the mouth
the teeth were tight set, and they resi-
his efforts. But with force that see
almost brutal lie wrenched the teeth o.
and opened the mouth.
!" Shame" cried one Of the bystande'
The father did not heed them but
toned To q neiehbor to take the chill,