The Shasta courier., 1858-04-24
Startling Confession.

Mordecai Paine, saddler doing business in
South Ninth street, was called home from his
workshop on Saturday morning, by messenger
who brought the melancholy intelligence that
his wife, Barbara, had taken arsenic .or the pur-
pose of committing suicide, and was then on
the point of death. He hastened to her bedside
and found her in more agony of mind than OF
body. She declared that there was something
on her mind which she wished to confess to him
before her departure, with the hope of obtaining
his forgiveness. Mr.. Paine, with great emotion
desired her to go on with the disclosure adding
that she might assure herself of his forgiveness
before she had made known her offense.
'Ah, Mordecai, said she, you remember our
large white pitcher was broken some time ago
l pretended to you that the cat broke it, but
that was false, for did it myself
'Oh, my dear, said Mr.. Paine, don't concern
yourself about such trifle. | had forgotten
the pitcher, and it matters not now how it was
broken
There is another NATTER said Mrs. p, after
some hesitation The six silver spoons which
! made you believe were stolen by the Yankee
elock-mender, pawned them to raise money to
net.' ' ~ w
Never mind, my love- said Mr. Paine, en-
couragingly hope heaven will forgive you as
freely as | do
After short pause, Mrs. Paine began again
Your best razor, which you missed last sum-
mer and made so much ado about, snapped it
away to- pedlar for tortoise shell comb
'The deuce well, WE'LL said Mr.. P, recol-
lecting himself, that is all done now, and can't
be amended. Think no more of it, my DEAR
Il could not leave the world with such a thing
on my conscience, replied the fair pentent
Go on, go on cried Mr.. Paine, | told you
that could forgive everything at such time
as this
Mrs. p resumed
You remember our boarder, Simon Drake,
who ran up bill for six weeks, and then ran
eff in hurry without paying cent. He and |
l4sd agreed to- elope together, but he changed
has mind at the last moment, and ran away
without me-
Fire and fury do you dare TO tell me this p
cried Mordecai in great excitement. But as you
are dying, won't reproach you I'll leave you
now to settle the affair with your own con-
science
Stay and hear one thing more, cried the re-
pentant Barbara. The dose took this morn
ing was intended for you. | put it in your cup
of coffee, but in my hurry to get the thing done,
gave you the wrong cup and took the right
one myself
The devil fly away with you, you jader
roared Mordeca as he flung himself out of the
room. In the entry he met the apothecary who
had sold Mrs. Paine the fatal powder. This
medical man had heard of the commotion at
Paines House, and suspecting the cause of it,
he came to administer hope and comfort to the
afflicted.
Don't be alarmed, Mr.. Paine,' said he the
drug ! sold your wife was nothing but magne-
sia. Judged that she wished to destroy her
self, and | tricked her in this way to save her
lfe'
You swindling rascal shouted Paine, show
dare you cheat customer in that shameful
manner, and obtain her money on false pre-
tences? Begonep
And with this exclamation he violently eiec-
ted the astonished apothecary from his front
door The man of physic, suspecting, of course,
that poor Mordecai was deranged, sent two off,
GERS to provide for his safe keeping. His relation
of the preceding dialogue, however, soon OBJ
tanned his discharge.-Pha. Ledger