The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-06-25

-
her that II he lived till the sun set, there was
hope. and as the hours wore on and the long
shadows, stIctchingto the eastward, betokened
the approach Of night, oh, how intense became
the anxiety in her bosom. Fainter and softer
grew The sunlight on The hoor, and whittier grew
the face of the sleeping boy. Twas the shad-
ow of death, they said, and with bitter wall
of woe, Lima fell upon her knees, and. as if she
would compel the God of Heaven TO hear her,
shrieked, ,s.Spare my child. Let him live, and
will bear whatsoever else of evil thou shalt
send upon me. Atilict me in any other way,
aud can bear it, but spare me my cbildr
lnmercy, or in wrath, Lima Hastings pray
er was answered. The pulse grew stronger
beneath her touch the breath came fasier
through the parted lips--a faint moisture was
perceptible beneath the yellow curls, and
when the sun was set the soft eyes of Eddie
Hastings unclosed and tarned with look OF
recognition upon his mother, who, clasping
h m IN her arms, wept for joy, but returned no
word or thought of gratitude towards Him who
had hesn thus merciful 10 her.
Ia small brown cottage 10 distant part of
the small village, another mother was watch
ing beside her first-horr, only son. They had
been friends from ,leir glrlhood, she and Lima
Hastings, together they had conned the same
hard tasks--togeihor they had built their I lay
house beneath the old chestnut tree-together,
hand in hand, had they wandered over the
rocky hills and through he shady woods of
New Eagland and at the same alter had they
pligh,ed their marriage Vows. the one to the
man she loved, the other to the man she tolcr-
ated for the sake cf his Surroundings. From
this pon' their paths diverged, Lima moving
had raised her, while Mabel Parkman one sad
morning awoke from her sweet dr cam of bliss
t. find herself welded to a a drnnkard Only
they who Ike her have experienced similar
awakening, can kuow the bitterness of that
hour, and yet metbinks she was happier even
there, than the naughty Lima, for her love
was no idle passion, aud through veal and woe
she cluns TO her husband, living oft on the re-
membrance of what he had been and tae hope
of what he might be AN, and when b r little
Vile was first laid upon her bos, m, and she
felt her husband's tears upon her check as he
promised 10 reform for her sake ard his sons,
sue would not have X hanged her los with
q at OF the proudess in the land
That vow, alas, was ere long broken, ani
hen though she wept bitterly over his fall,
she felt tha, she was not desolate, for tiere
was masic in her Wilie's voice and sunshine
go h:e r-e.aAsA-
But now he was dying, he was leaving her
forever, and as sh. thought of the long, dark
DAYS when she sho4ld look for him ia vain,
she staggered beneath tlie heavy blow, and in
tones as heart broken as those which had fall
en from Lina Hastings lips, she prayed, ''If
I be possible let this cup pass from me-" ad-
ding, mo; my will, oh God, but thine be
done"
u will do all things weil.'' seenad whisper
Ell III her ear ami thus comforieG she uerved
n rseif to meet the worst. AL the day, she
watched By her child, ehafug his little hand
smoothing The scaniy pillow beneath his head,
bathing his burning forehead and forcing down.
her bitter tears when in his disturbed seep
ne would beg of his father to ''brng him an
"rsnge--a nice yellow crange-he was SO
dry
Alas, that father was where the sorg Of
the inebriate rose high on the summer air. and
he beard no! Che pleadiags OF his son. Twas
dreaTy, desolate room where Willie Parkma...
i,v aud ,yhan tho spp ,rapr dunn .,J ~. ,.;,l
shadows fell, it seemed darker, drearier still.
On the rude table by the window candle
dlmly burned, but as the hours sped on il ick-
cred awhile IN the socket, then for an instant
iiished rr, illuminating The strangely beautiful
face Gf The sleeping boy and went out.
An hour later, and Willie awoks. Feeling
for his mothers hand. lac sad, s.Tei. me true
90 dr,nkards 90 TO ileayen.s
There is for them no promise,' was the
wretched mothers answer
''Then shall never see pa again. Tell him
good bye, Soo;t bye forever" 10
The next time he spoke il wss to ask his
mother 10 come near to him, that he might see
her face once mere. She did so, bending low
and sitting her owr great agony, lest il should
add one pang TO his dying hour.
81 eaanot see yoa," he whispered ''it is so
dark-so dark"
Oh, ~ha. would not that mother have given
then for one Of the lights that cleaned from
the windows of the stately mansion where
Eddie Hastings was watched by careful atten-
eants. But it could not be, and when al last
the silyery moon beams came struggling
through the open window and fell upon the
white brow Of the little boy, they did not rouse
him, fer a Far more glorious light had dawned
upon his immortal vision, even the light OF
the Everlasting.
Ia iiel tasteful boudoir sat Lima Hastings
and at Der side on siken lounge lay Eddie
calmly sleeping. The crisis was past--she
knew he would live and her cup OF happiness
was FULL. Suddenly the morning stiffness was
broken by the sound of tolling bell. twas
the san which bu. for Gods mercy woall at
that moment, perhaps, have tolled for her boy,
and Lima involuntarily shuddered as she listen
ed TO the strokes which at first were far be-
tween. Then they came faster, and as Lima
counted five, she said aloud, "'Tgas child
h.,kf. .l~l1 A l. u a L