Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-03-24
MISCELL A n Y.
From tie Pailadelphia Press, Feb. 16.
A Startling Confession,

Cry PoIcE-Mordeca Paine, saddler do
ng business in South Ninth Street, was called
iOme from his workshop on Saturday morning,
NV a 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 hast
ned to her bed side, aud found her in more
agony of mind than body. She declared that
here was something on her mind that she
wished to confess to him before her departure,
with the hopc Of obtaining his forgiveness
Mr.. Paine, with great emotion, desired her to
20 on with the disclosure, adding that she
night assure herself OF his forgiveness before
he had made known the offence.
"Ah, Mordecai" said she, lyon remember our
large white pitcher was broken some time ago
pretended to you that the cat broke 1t, but
that was false, for myself did it,"
"Oh, my dear" said Mr.. Paine, "don't con.
Germ yourself about such trifle. | had forgot
zen the pitcher, and it matters not now how 1t
was broken"
"There is another matter" said Mrs. P, after
some hesitation. THE six silver spoons which
made YOU believe were stolen by the Yankee
clock mender: pawned them to raise money to
pay the mliner for doing up my pink satin bon
net"
"Never mind it, my love-" said Mr.. Paine, en-
couragngly; 81 hope heaven will forgive you as
freely as do"
After a short pause, Mrs. p began again;
"Your best razor, which you missed last sum
,ner, and made so much to do about, swapped
{ away to a pedlar for u tortoise shell COMB"
,'The deuce well, well" said Mr.. r. recol
,ecting himself, ''that is all done now, and can't
oe amended Think no more of it,"
II could not leave the world with such a
hing on my conscience" replied the fair peni-
ent.
"Go on, go on" cried Mr.. Paine, 81 told you
that could forgive everything at such time
as this.n Mrs P. resumed:
.You remember our boarder, Simeon Drake,
who run up bill tor six weeks, and then went
If in hurry without paying cent He and
agreed to elope together, but he changed his
mind and ran away without me"
Fire and fury do you dare to tell me this g
cried Mordecai in great excitement. but, as
you're diving, wont reproach you. Ill leave
,ou now to settle the affair with your own con-
science"
stay and hear one thing more" cried the
repentant Barbara ''The dose took this morn
ing was intended for you. put it into your
cup of coffee, bat in my hurry to get the thing
lone, gave you the wrong cup and took the
light one myself"
"The wicked one fly away with you, you
iade!" roared Mordecai, as he flung himself out
of the room In the entry he met the apothecary
who had sold Mrs. p. the fatal powder. This
medicine man had heard of the commotion at
Paine's house, and suspecting the cause of IT. he
,a,ne to administer hope and comfort to the at
aicted.
"Don't be alarmed, Mr. Paine," said he, "the
drug l sold to your wife was nothing but mag
nesia. Judged that she wanted to destroy her
self, and tricked her in this way to save her
life"
'You swiudling rascal" shouted Paine, show
dare you cheat q customer in that shameful man.
ner, and obtain her money ON false pretences2--
Begopem
And with this exclamation he violently eject
ed the a>tonished apothecary from his front door.
The man of phySic suspecting, of course, that
poor Mordecai was deranged, sent two officers
to provide for his safe keeping. His relation OF
the preceding dialogue, however, soon obtained
his discharge.