The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-10-05

MOrdccai Paine, a saddler, doing business in
North Ninth street. Philadelphia, was called home
from his workshop on Saturday morning, by a
messenger who brought the melancholy intelli-
gence that his wife, Barbary, had taken arsenic for
the purpose of committing suicide, and was then at
the point of death. He FASTENED to her bedside
and found her more in agony of mind than body.
She declared that there something her
mind which she wished to confess to him before
her departure, with the hope of his forgiveness
Mr. Paine with great emotion desired her to go on
with the disclosure, adding that she might assure
herself OF his forgiveness, before she had made
known her offence.
'Ah, Mordecai,' she said, you remember our
large pitcher was broken some time ago. pretended
To you that the cat broke it, but that was false for
/ myself did it.
oh, my DEAR said Mr. Paine don't concern
yourself about such a triic. [ had forgotten the
pitcher and it matters not how it was broken
There Is another MATTER said Mrs p, after
some hesitation. THE six silver spoons which
made you believe stolen by the Yankee clock
maker, pawned them to raise money to pay the
mlliner for doing up my pink satin bonnet
tNever mind it, my love- said Mr. Paine en-
cOuragingly. q hope heaven will forgive you as
freely as | do
Alter a short pause Mrs p began again:
Your best razor, which you missed last summer,
and made so much to do about, | snapped away
to pedler for tortoise shell comb
4 could not leave the world with such thing
on my conscience replied the fair penitent.
Go on, 60 Oh, cried Mr. Paine Il told you that
| could forgive everything at such a moment az
this Mrs p. resumed:
you remember Simeon Drake, boarder,
who ran up bill for six weeks and then went off
in a hurry without paying cent. He and | had
agreed to elopc together; but he changed his mind
at the last moment, and ran away from me-
Fire and fury DO you dare to tell me this" cried
Mordcca in great excitement. But as you
dying, | won't reproach you. I'll leave you
settle the affair with your conscience"
Stay and here one thing more, cried the repcn-
tant Barbary. The dose [ 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
The devil fly away with you, you jade" roared
Mordecai, and he flung himself out of the ROOM
In the entry he met the apothccary who had sold
Mrs p. the fatal powder. This medical man had
heard of the connection at Paine's house, and
suspccting the cause of it, he came to administer
hope and comfort to the afflicted.
Don't be alarmed Mr. Paine said he, the drug
I sold to your wife was nothing but magncsia. |
Judged that she wished to destroy herself, and l
tricked her in this way to save her life
You sWindlng rascal shouted Paine, 'hOw dare
YOU cheat a customer in that shameful manner,
and obtained her money on false prctenccs. Be
gone"
And with this exclamation, he violently elected
the astoniShed apothecary from his front door
The man of phisic suspectng, of course, that this
poor Mordecai was deranged, sent two officers to
provide for his safe Keeping His relation of the
preceding dialogue, however, obtained his
discharge.