The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-31

Mordecai Paine, a saddler doing business in South
Ninth street, Philadelphia, was called home from his
workshop on Saturday morning, by a messenger who
had brought the melancholy intelligence that his wife,
Barbara, had taken arsenic for the purpose Of commit
ting suicide, and vas then at the point of death. He
hastened to. henbedside, and found her in more agony
of mind than 81 Aody. She declared that there was
somethinapa her mind which she wished to confess to
him befoIa Rer departure, with the hope of obtaining
his forgiveness. Mr. Paine, With great emotion, de-
sired her to 60 on With the disclosure, adding that she
might assure herself. OF his forgiveness before she had
made known her offence.
'Ah, Mordecai,' said she, you remember our large
white pitcher was broken some time ago; I pretended
to you that the cat broke it, but that was false, for /
myself did it,
sOh, my DEAR said Mr.. Paine, don't concern your
self about such a tride. had forgotten the pitcher,
aud 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 clock-mender ; l
pawned them to, raise money to pay the milliner for
doing up my pink satin bonnet
Never mind it, my love- said Mr.. Paine encoura-
gipgly. Il hope heavdAt will forgive you as freely as I
After a short pause, Mrs. P. bssan again
and made so much 70 DO aboutt,a I sswsssppsd away to i
pedlar for q tortoise;shelt comb aNA 80 ss@g sxs
well, WE'LL said Mr., r, reconciliug himself, 4thst
ID ia uO0V 0VWN 0OO VoA Y OV Wilma III "
of it., sss
4 could not leave the world with another thing on
my conscience replied the fair penitent.
tGoo on, 60 on cried Mr.. Paine, Told. you that /
could fozsissgsaythiag At such q time as this Mrs.
p. resumed .arYs sa4 Ia; ysg4y1agr
u .H Ell = 4 ssis' N III ~ 3 ~ 1Gl
without peyinx aeens. He aud hsd skfjta t61el0pJ
together but 10 changed his mind at the last nomsnt,
and ran away without me-
Fire aud fury = cried Mordecsi 10 great excitement.
{ But as you are dying | won't reproach you. I'll leave
you now to settle the affair with your own conscience
Stay and hear one thing more cried the repentant
Barbara. The dose l took this morning was intended
for you. / put it into your cup Of coffee, but in my
hurry to get the thing done, | gave you the wrong cup
and took the right one myself
sThe devil fy away with you, you jade = roar,d
Mordecai, as be flung himself out of the room. In the
entry he met the apothecary who had sold Mrs. P. the
fatal powder. This medical man had heard Of the con-.
motion at faine's house, and s~u$pecting the cause of it,
be came to administer hope and comfort to the afflicted.
Don't be alarmed, Mr.. Paine said he, the drug l
sold to your wife was nothing but m~agnesia. judged
that abe wished to destroy herself, and | tricked her in
this way to save her life.'
8 You s~wiudlng rascal shouted Paine, how dare
you cheat a customer in that shameful manner and OBJ
tain her money on false pretences? Begonev
astonshed apothecary from his front door. The man
of phyaie, a~sspecting of course, that poor Mordecai was
~deranged, sent two officers to provide for his safe keep
ing. His relation Of the preceding dialogue, however,
soon obtained his discharge.-(Philadelphia Paper.