Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-09-03
miscellaneous.
Wish You Were Dead

Il wish you were dead p They were
thoughtlcss words, uttered in thought
less manner but no sooner spoken than
regretted. A bright-eyed child of six
summers, whose countenance was the
emblem of innocence and beauty, had
been pleading, in low, soft tone, for
the mother to remain at home / was
weary and sick, and longod to be Graded
in the arms Of her who had given it
being. But the woman of fashion, ar
rayed in her silken robes, and with jew
els gl;ttoring on her arms and neck, and
impatient to display the same, had only
brushed it aside with, ." Such a torment!
You plague me to death p aud those
never bc-forgottcn words
4" wish you were dead !"
The little eyes, which a moment before
had been kindlcd with hope, dropped
and fell. No cry was heard, but when
again they raised, with sad despairing
glance at the form Of the departing mo-
Their, the pearly drops were glistening
beneath the tender lashes and trckling
down the paid checks. And while she
who had pronoGa1ted thosc usinlenJion1l
harsh words, and who already experienced
the keenest self-reproaches for the course
she had pursued, was being rapidly
whirled away to a scene of unrivallcd
splendor, the little sufferer has allowed
itself to be undresscd and placed upon
the lonely couch, where it lay down to
fulfil its mothers unmeant wish-to die !
1t was late, very late that night,
when the giddy deyotee Of the folly and
show of life returned to her princely
home. As the carriage drove mp to the
door, she perceived light passing to and
fro before the windows. With terrible
forebodings, and without stopping to bid
adicu to the friends who had been her
companions Of the evening, sprang out
Of tho coach on to the walk, and hastily
ascending the marble steps--few by the
servants she dared not question-and
soon entered the room where lay what
was, after all, her darling Eddie.
Her husband and the physician stood
beside the bed The former glanced re-
peacefully at her as, with a frantic
movement, she came up beside him and
leaned over. But she saw him not
Her eyes were bent upon the little form
stretched upon the little couch, which,
in its unconscious dclirum moancd
" No, no, ma, you don't mean that,
do you? You don't want Eddie to
die p
"No, darling, mo- Oh, God forbid -
she cried, in bitter anguish, as throwing
off her gilded trappings, she knelt down
and pressed her lips to those Of the suf-
fcrer.
"Must I die, ma? Must I 70 and
leave your" pursued the child in agony.
50 No, dear, dear, Eddie she conld
not desist saying, II should be mad if
you left me. Oh in pity" she cried,
turning to The man of science, "tell me
he is not dangerous"
A gloomy shake Of the head vaa
only reply. The fever had aetene. ll.a
the very vitals.
"Oh Heaven have mercy she
groaned in terrible anguish, az to her
conscience-strickcn mind came back those
fearful words she had uttered so lightly
awhile before, and felt that thcy were
about to be realized-"I wish you were
dead !"
You don't want me to be laid in the
cold, damp ground, and never see you
again 60 you, maj p continued the de-
lirious child, after a slight pause, during
which a portion Of medicine, just admin
isterod, had been struggling to take effect
---"and never look at the green grass or
bright you maT'
"No, MOI Oh Eddie, dear Eddie ?"
almost shrieEed tho unhappy mother;
"look up, do you not know mo Eddie p
she asked, in as calm and soothing a
tone as she could assume.
For a moment the eyes, with their
wild, appealing glance, opened, and
turned upon the parent, whose cruel
words--so cruel to the loving child
now so tortured It's disordered thoughts 1;
then, without sign of recognition, closed
again, murmuring--
"Oh, ma, | am so tired and sick .--
Don't 60 away; ! want to lay down IN
your lap and rest Then again, that
heart-rcnding appeal, &" You do not want
Eddie to die do you ma y