American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-06-25
Whole No. ES5.
2) II nlOrumS.
A Starting Confession.

nobu'Sif uoiiiS DuSlueSS III COutl NlIltn
Street, was called home from his work
shop Oh Saturday morning, by mes
senger who brought the melancholy
Intelligence that his wife Barbara, had
taken arsenic for the purpose of com
mitting suicide, and was then at tho
point OF death. He fastened to her
bed side, and found her in more agony
Of mind than body. She declared thai
there was something on her mind that
she wished to confess to him before her
departure, with the hope of obtaining
his forgiveness. Mr.. Paine, with great
emotion, desired her to 20 on with tho
disclosure, adding that she might as
sure herself Of his forgiveness before she
had made known the offence.
"Ah, Mordecai," said she, "you
remember our large white pitcher was
broken some time ago; l pretended to
you that the cat broke it, but that was
false, for ] myself did it,"
Oh,my DEAR" 5aid Mr.. Paine, ''don't
concern yourself about such trifc.
[ had forgotten the pitcher, and it mat
ters not now how it was broken"
"There is another matter, said Mrs.
Pr, after some hesitation. "The six
silver spoons which l made you believe
were stolen by the Yankee clock mend.
er: | pawned them to raise money TO
pay the milIincr for doing up my pink
satin bonnet"
Never mind it, my love, my said
Mr.. Paine encouragingIy; ! hope heav-
en- will forgive you as readily as I do"
After a short pause, Mrs."p began
again:
Your best razor, which you missed
last summer, and made so much to do
about, sw9pped to q pedar for tor =.
toise she'll comb"
"The' deuce well, WELL" said Mr..
p, recollecting himself, "that is all
done, and can-t-Be amended. Think
no more Of it.
81 could not leave the world with
such thing on my conscience re-
piled the fair pcnitent.
go on, go on, )" cried Mr. Paine, "I
told you that I could forgive every
thing at such u time IS this :" Mrs.
=. resumed
you remember our boarder Simeon
Drake, who run up bill for six weeks,
and then went OF, in hurry without
paying a cent. lie and I agreed to
elope together, but he changed his mind
and ran away without me,
"Fire and fury! do you dare to tell
me this :" cried Mordecai in great ex.
citcment. But, as you're dying, |
wont reproach you. I'll leave YOU now
to settle the affair with your own con.
science.
Stay and hear one thing more"
cried the repentant Barbara. "Tho
dose | took this morning was intended
for you. | put it into your cup Of
coffee, but III my hurry to get the thing
done, [ gave you the wrong cup and
took the night one myself"
The wicked one fly away with you,
you jade :" ronred Morlccai, as no
flung himself out Of the room, In tho
entry he met The apothecarY who had
sold Mrs p. the fatal powder. This
medicine man had heard the commotion
at Paincs house, and suspccting the
cause OF it, he came to administer hope
and comfort to the afflicted.
'pon't be alarmed, Mr.. Paine, said
ne, "thc drug sold to your wife was
nothing bnt mae0css. ] judged that
she wanted to destroy herself, and trick
ed her in this way to save her life"
"yon swindling rascal" shouted
Paine, " how dare you cheat a custom.
er in that shameful manner, and obtain
her money on false prctencea Be
gone !"
Nnd with this cxclammatjon he VIC.
lcntIy elected the astonishcd apothcca.
ry from his front door. The man Of
phyoic suspecting, Of course, That poor
Mordecai was derangcd, sent two of
ficcrs to provide for his safe keeping.
His relation Of the preceding dialogue,
however, soon obtained his discharge
Mr.. Shillaber tells the foIioWing
rather remarkable gun story
Speaking to-day with n son Of a CUR,
regarding some cunning exploits, he