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

aii sue coulo MT procure him q mofsel ot
food SLe9hsd even stopped TO sue for
charity. aud had been refused.
We had said that the apartment was
destitute of furniture. but the fickeripg
candle now revealed small desk of for.
eign wood. curiousiy carved in the Indian
style, which lay on an old 'fickety table
lbeneath,the window. To this desk the
girls eyes wandered, sconfiDually, ssome-
times With an distracted gaze. that had
no speculation in it. AZ others with an ca.
ger. hasty glance. as Il suddenly struck
with some idea connected with il. -
The sufferer had fallen into q kind of
doze. He opened his eyes. and extend
ing his wasted hand. said ~
sit beside me. Alice. Come closer,
for this icy. shuddering weakness seems
TO Ieayeims when youlare near.
The girl crePt into the bed. and passed
fher hand carelessly over her husband Is
forehead. parting the damp. heavy hair
which lay in disordered masses upon it.
A sickly smile played over his psllid fea-
lures. aud be gafed with unutterable ten.
derness upon the pale. sad face before
him. ~
Dear Frank. said she at length. in a
h stating tone. would you letsme sell
the old desk I? The man that bought the
chairs offered me pound for is.' a1
a shade Of yexation momentsrily swept
across the sick mans face.
.Ah. Alice. did l not before say that
| would rather die of hunger than part
with my poor old uncle's'gift. In all my
poverty have kept that
But, Frank. this is for nv life." said
the girl calmly. I'm too faint and weak
to work tomorrow without getting some
food. Uncle would have been glad thai
anything he had was of use to syou.'
'oh. my poor wife, you are weak and
faint cried the man. and I'm so selfish.
| only think Of myself. Take il. take it.
Alice. dear. Why should we keepit -
Strangers will have it when we are
gone.' ft
She did not wait for him to recall the
words. but with wild eagerness that
was painful to witness. left the room.
In few minutes she returned, accom-
panied by man with coarse apron and
a paper cap.
How are you since, poor fellow p said
he. approaching tie bed. and speaking in
rough but kindly accents.
Poorly. sir. poorly: always longing
for a breath of the pure air.
Il reckon these ere old houses come q
little too close to the window. to give il
much chance to get at you,' said the
man. 'Ah. it's hard not to give the poor
light and fresh air. But keep good hear,
friend it won't be always so ggts
He counted the money into Alice's
HL
which puor Frank sent glance Of ill.dis.
sembled anguish. ~
With the rapidity that only loving
hands can effect. the decayed embers Of
the FIRE were frightened up. and biz Of
white br, ad and a glass of warm wine
W, re held by the tender WIFE TO the trem
bling lips of her husband. who partook Of
the unwonted refreshment with dsvour.
ing eagerness that plainly revealed he
was indeed perishing for lack of subsis
tence. 4 ~
'Oh. that is so good / murmured the
invalid. sinking back upon the pillow with
a sigh Of relief. But. Alice.' said he. in
accents Of tender reproaeh. 'it was me.
not yourself. you. thought Of. Oil let
me see you before my eyes. drink some
of that wine it's done me. good al
ready .a
The girl smiled sadly. She poured a
small quantity OF the wine into cup.
and drank it off. -,
Tell me. are YOU angry With me. Frank
about the desk 2
NO. my poor child; why should be
angry with you? les you have reason
to hate me. for brought you out of com
fort into, al this miser,; but God knows
how hard I've worked. both late and
early. to make a home for you. I'm glad
uncle is not alive to see Us in this strait.
now
WASH. he killed. Frank?' inquired the
vile.
Yes. Alice He was sileut-tben
spoke after a-pause-
Long years Of misery and sorrow have
passed, since then; yet it seems but as
yesterday since my dear uncle came into
our place with that old desk. He was.
as l told you. my mothers only brother
he had gone to sea when she was little
child, but he loved her dearly. and after
years Of travel in foreign climes. he came
back to end all dead in the old home in
his native village. He heard that my
mother had married weaver here in
Manchester. and be came and found her
out. Ny father (oh. God grant there be
none like me. Who can repeat the sacred
name Of father without one emotion Of
tenderness or respect TO hallow it. mem.
ory. was idle. savage. and intemp-rale,
aud treated my poor. patient mother like
brute. Before my uncle came. shs
worked all day long at the factory. SO
that household duties were neglected.
which irrita,ed him good deal. though