Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-08-13


ken the previous week. for weary days
and nights the strong man hadyented the
anguish Of q broken heart in the wild
rawlings Of delfrium, yet still be lived on.
His wife---his tender loving Niie--gss
even denied the solsce of sitting by him
to wet his parched lips, or support bis
fainring head on her fond bosom.l 5Thro'
the weary hours of the day he vas lef.
to Solitude and neglect, for the poor, wo-
man worked At the factory. aud without
the pittance of her daily exertions pro-
cured. they would be unable 10 sustain
their miserable existence. IS
L was notyet evening. though all was
darkness in the room ; for light. blessed
light. that God sends down untaxed to
the poor. was doled out to these wretched
dwellings 10 modicums. that barely ena-
bled one to discern objects in the noon
day. A sickly CLEAN of white. though.
came from the narrow dormer window
formed by the piled-up snow upon the
opposite roofs. which drifted into fanias
tic shapes. looked like ghosts !peering into
that abode Of sorrow. -.
The house was crowded. and the thin
walls echoed with the unds of coarse
brutal voices. mingled with oaths and
drunken imprecations. but audible over
all was the ceaseless monotonous beating
Of the sleet against the shattered case
ment. and the 6tful blasts of wind. as il
swept along the cbimnies.
'Alice. Alice that de-p. hollow voice
had uttered more and more feebly. and
yet she came not; but the latch was at
last raised, and "Deai Frank. will be
with you now" was softly said. A ligh,
was struck, and afaded, fragile form bent
in trembling anxiety over the bed.
oh. Alice said the man attempting
to raise himself from the pillow, II tho'L
YOU would never come. / am dying
Have you got anythingto to give-ope drop
of wine. beer. tea. anything that would
take this cold. terrible sinking from my
heart
The girl-for though thin and care
worn. she was very young-loeked at him
a moment in silent speechless anguish
then, wringing her hands. she said Wild
Iy.-"N Nothing. nothing-I could ge,
nothing. The factory clerk said l wa.
late these two days. and he would not
give me even shilling. and Mr. Ssrwoud
is gone out Of town.
God help US. gasped the man faint
ly. oh. Alice, il could only die soon
you might go back to service. away from
this horrid place. When called out fur
you Alice. thought l was going. alone
10 this dark room soslong. something
heavy seemed pressing down my brain,
and twice felt an icy hand grasp my
heart
The young wife wept in agony. while
she murmured distractedly, 'Oh, Frank.
you are dying for want Of nourishment
The doctor told me you would recover il
you got that. nov that the fever is gone.
Oh. he knew well enough could get no,
thing out Of the parish allo wance; since
my poor babes death. they have reduced
even that
Our case is no new thing to him. said
the man; 1T is one of thousands. Look
at all that were struck down with the fe
yer when he came here last year. He
told me there was one dead in every room
and now
The wife sbuddered and hid her face
in her hands. She had paid her tax to
the King Of Terrors, but what if this sole
beloved one was taken from her. too.
oh. | am selfish. Alice; see how wet
you are. my poor girl. and you have no
fire.
'Yes-tbereis is little wood left; will
kindle it now and the patient creature
shook the sleet of her faded shawl. and
mechanically wrung the moisture from
her auburn hair.
In few moments a scanty wood fire
sent forth transi,ory glow. She had
hardly done, when a faint Tap was heard
at the door. Alice opened il, and tiny
child's form could be deserted in the din
light.
is that Patty q said the woman.
'Yes-it's only me- murmured faint
timid, voice. Il have brought you Ii.
tie milk for Mr. Trevor
God bless you.' was the fearful res
ponse, as the child's slender form glided
back into the darkness
), Poor li''ls Patty; did I say was alone
child sat by me long time, and gave me
water when l was nigh fainting. She
wanted to liglt the fire but knew it
would go out again. and was afraid to
keep her, lest the old man would beat
her.
He is sick. and has not gone out with
the organ these two days said the wife.
'Ah. he's bad man TO treat that dear
child SO savage!y.'
Yes. Alice. I'm glad our children are
gone. Cold. hunger and oppression is
the only lot Of the poor mans child. On.
that had left this country when l was
strong murmuted the man. in bitter
Responding tones. From the cradle to
the grave, the worker is ground down TO
a bondage more unremiuing than the
haaa,a e L...L..,. .Ll - - ~