True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-04-07
A Startling Confession.

NoiuCodi diHc, oduu'cT uulIlS Uuel'
ness in South Ninth Street, was called
home from his work shop on Saturday
morning, by messenger who brought
the melancholy intelligence that his wife
Barbara, had taken arsenic for the purpose
of committing suicide, and was then at
the point Of death. He haslened to her
bedside, and found her in more agony Of
mind than body. She declared tia: there
was something on her mind which she
wished to confess to him before her
departure, with the hope Of obtaining his
forgiveness before she had made known
her offence.
"Ah Mordecai," said she. "you re-
member our large white pitcher was
broken some time ago; pretended to
you tina, the cat broke it, but that was
false, for myself did it,"
Oh, my dear" said Mr.. P. "doD'l
concern yourself about such ,riAe. |
had forgotten the pitcher, and it matters
not now how it was broken
"There is another matter" said Mrs
p, after some hesitation. "'The silver
spoons which made you believe were
stolen by the Yankee clock mender;
pawned them to raise money to pay the
mlIinet for doing up my pink satin
bonnet"
"Never mind it, my love-" said Mr..
Paine. encouragingly. 81 hope Heaven
will forgive you as freely as 1 do"
After short pause, Mrs. P. began
again -" Your best razor, which yor
missed last summer, and made so mucl
ado about. | swaPped it away to ;
pedIar for tortoise shell comb"
q" The deuce !--well, WE'LL" said Mr.
P recolecling himself, that's all dont
now and can't be amended. Think nc
more Of it,"
81 could not leave the world with sucl
a thing on my conscience" said the fail
penitent. ..
go on, go on" cried Mr.. Paine, al
told you that | could forgive everything
at such time as this" ....
Mrs. p. resumed:
You remember our boarder, Sine or
Drake. who run up bill for six weeks
and then went off in hurry. wilhou
paying cent. He and l had agreed t,
elope together but he changed his mint
at the las, moment, and ran away with
out me.''
"Fire, and fury do you dare to tel
me this :" cried Mordecai in great ex
cltement. "But as you are dying
won't reploach you. I'll leave you nov
to settle the affair with your own con
science"
"Sisy and hear one thing more," sal
the repentant Barbara. The dose
took this morning vas intended for you
| put into your cup of coffee but in m
hurry to ge, the Thing done, l gave yo
the wrong cup, and took the right on
myself"
"The devil fly away with you, yo
jade y roared Mordecai, as he fun
himself out of the room. In the entry h
met the apothecary who had sold Mrs
P. the fatal powder. This medical ma
had heard Of the commotion al Paine
house, and suspecdng the cause of it, b
came to administer hope aud comfort t
The afflicted.
"Don't be alarmed Mr.. Paine," sal
he, "the drug | sold to.your wife wa
nothing bu, magnesia. Judged that sll
wished to destroy herself; and l lricke
her in this way to save her life."
"You swindling rascal" shoule
Paine, chow dare you cheat custome
in that shameful manner and obtain he
money on false prelenses! Bpgone!"
And with this exclamation he violenll
elected the astonished sporhecary froI
his front door. The man Of Physic {
course, suspecting, that poor Mordect
was deranged, sent two officers to provid
for his safe keeping. His relation of tn
preceding dialogue, however, snon ob.air
ed his discharge -CPhiI. Press.