Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-10-01
A .rnRILLlNG L1rrLE sroRy.

In the month OF June, a pediar and his
wife presented themselves at sundown at
the door ofa litCle farm house, at Brie
IN France. and requested permission to
stay over night. A small room was as
signed To them. as the farmers wife Was
confined to her bed. The next day was
Sunday, and the farmer aud his ssrvants
went to church. The pedlar also stared
10 90. and there remained in the house,
,he wife of the farmer. new born infant
the pedIAr's wife, who feigned illness. and
a child six years OF age. Scarcely had
the people gone out. whEn the pedIar's
wife. armed with knife presented herself
1T the bed OF the sick woman and deman.
ed her MONEY or her life. The poor
woman, sick and weak. delivered up her
keys. and desired the little boy TO show
he apartments. She rose softly from her
bed. followed the pedlar's wife without
being heard. and having beckoned the
child out oI the room. locked the door
She then desired the child to run for his
tRrher, and desire him to bring assistance.
The child did DOT lose an instant; but, by
\ surprising fatality. met the pedlar on
the road. who had stolen from the church
To assist his "ite 10 the preconcertsd rob,
oery. The pedlRr asked the child whsre
he was going, who ingeniOu>ly said he
was going - seek his father, as an at
tempt was m ,de to rob them. The ped
lar said it wHs now unnecessary AS he
himself would go and protect his mother;
and taking the child by the hand they re
turned to the farm. They knocked at
the door. but the farmers wife not recog =.
nizing The voice Of her husband. refused
To open j.: the pedlar made vain eff1Its 80
ind lce her. and finally threatened TO cut
The chiId's throat. and then break it open.
Fur,ous at being unable to prevail upon
her, he executed his horrible threat and
killed the child.
Alter commi,ting this useless crime, he
tried to get into the house to save his
own wife, as time pressed and the farmer
nigh. return from church His attempts
failing he mounted the roof and descen.
ded the chimney. The farmers wife, al
most fainfing now saw nothing TO deliver
her from certain death. The wretch was
almost down the chimney and about to
enter her chamber. when, collecting all
her strength. she by sudden 10 SEPARATION
drew the pAilss straw bed) to the edge
ol IHe uehI|h' anu AS QuIChIy set ur6 10
ii. The smoke in few minutes envelop.
I'd the assassin, who. not being able to
re ascend, very soon fell into the Gre halt
sutfncated. The farmers courageous
wiie lost not her presence Of mind. but.
in his blinded state struck him several
severe blows on the head with the poker.
which put him beyond the chance OF inn
mediate recovery. Exhausted with ia
tisue and mental agony she herself fell
sen>eI, IS on the carpet OF her chamber.
and remainded in this situation till the
farmer end the servants turned from
church. The dead body Of the child al
the gate Of the farm house. was the frsl
horribIr spectacle that struck the eyes oI
the unhappy farmer. They forced open
the doors. and after hsvin! recovered u
life the farmers vile they seized the tWC
cuIpri.s aud delivered them over to jos.
tice The pedIsr survived his wound,
and burns, but both he and his partner
received the punishment due to their
crime.