The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-07-31

quest fJs the immediate attendance OF tne ucu.ot
uron poor woman who wss In dangerous s'so'
alton
No name was signed TO the request, bat the neat
female chiragssphy was Immediately Recognised
by the physician -.
from an rpons nous patron, who had for some time
excited the liveliess curiosity Of the DOCTOR bat
Of whom wish all his anxiety, he could learn no
thing farther than that she was called among tho
poor the Christian lady and thas most OF her time
ras devoted 10 visiting the needy sick. and admin.
isterae to the necessities Of the unfortunate and
destitute.
The mention Of these circumstances sicited .
similar sympathy 10 the breast Of the warm.
hearted Charley, and he urged his friend 10 has
ten 20 the direction given In the note, IN the hope
that they might get glimpse at least, OF the be-
ing, who could 70 such retiring and unostensafious
sincerity. exercise the true and holy devotion OF
Christian charity.
found themselves In the midst of the most wretch
cd poverty aud destitution. They entered the
house. the tottering aud fraii condition OF whien
seemed scarcely to possess stability enough to rem
der n1pfnentary delay beneath It's ragged coister
secure and asked OF ous Of the inmates Who IN
fronted them at the entrance, TO point the way 10
the sick womaa's chamber
The poor woman who seemei 20 recogutzs the
ply -icisn, pninted mp narrow staircase before
them, and shook her head as she muttered to
them that IL nearly over, and that II was now
TOO late to do the old lady any good.
They immediately FASTENED TO the patient, but
the great object oftheir curiosity was not there
The good lady, they we're told in answer to their
Inquiries had Just left TO avoid being seen by aoy
strangers that might be coming in. In onec 'rner
I OF the miserable rooms upon mockery OF oeo
which, with plain pine table anda single chair,
constituted the whole furniture Of the apartment
lay stretchsd the iuseusbe aud dying patient,
Charles seemed to take particular interest In the
case. aud his friend permitted him to have the
entire direction ofther proceedings. A they had
At 49, Nk1r-E fhA ~
woman past all hope Charles turned to the ap
parently half starved being, who seemed 70
be present In capacity OF nurse, aud asked her II
she knew anything Of the character of the patient
She relied that she knew but little, and had
been with her but few days, at the request and
under tbs pay of the good lady, who had been 80
kind and benevolent toalf the poor. All that she
knew Of this good iaiy was that she lived in -
street, which information was eagerly received by
Charles, aud noted down in his memoranda The
old lady, continued the nurse. had evidently seen
better days, and while she seemed to bow with
Christian resignation TO the affi csions that were
upon her, she yet at every interval OF strength,
prayed to be spared IL possible 70 hear OF her
son-ber dear son-wnose nams WAS ever on her
lips, after which, she often said, she thought she
could die happy.
"Poor woman exclaimed Charles, she then has
q sou, who perhaps possesses the means of afford
log every comfort and CONSULTATION TO her in her
dying hour, aad he knows not how wretchediy
destitute she Is. "But pray" continued he, IN his
interroxa ion Of the nurse "by what name, as you
have said, did she call upon her sour"
Charles" replied the WON Al. ''Cbarles was the
name that never left her lips, while she had
strength TO utter it.
..CharIes," slowly murmured he-let me lonk
upon her fac, and in al instant he FASTENED TO
the bed, aud raised the light covering that had hid
her annotated features from 'hin his eyes seemed
To start from their sockets in the widuess OF their
glare a. ia the last CONFUSION of death he recog
niZsd her.
fhn-i lain oh md fall
less by her s:,;e with his arms tucked around the
decrepid form"
The dying woman raised her eyelids. add looked
up IN the stranger who had TINS aroused her.
smile passed her paliid features, her lips
quivered rs IL she would say.
Charles and in instant she had breathed
her last.
A moment passed, while all around stood speech.
less aud motOnless at this affecting scene. After
every means of RECONCILIATION had besu used upon
Charles aim ,st without eifc, his friend diseDgag
ed bis arms and carried him Ia his unconscious
state to the cab. which stood at the door, and
placed him in it.
A few hasty directions were given, aud purse
delivered to the to for every requisite to
the deceased, aud the doctor drove with every
speed to Chares's residence.
Early that day the corpse removed TO the
residence Of the sou, aud the interment conducted
with every attention aud respect that could be
given,
Charles remained in his unconscious state for
had taken place lie gradually recovered himself
far to with his friend upon the cir
cum stances that had TRANSFERRED
Ills mother had believed him lost to her forever.
after an Intellectual efJrt to discover him, during
his absence on bis visit to the island. She hau
believed with truth, the massacre of her husband:
aud arrived 10 strange place. with her health en-
fesblsd aud destroyed by shipwreck that she had
experienced in the vessel 10 which she had depart
81 from ths island, she had fingered out nisera
bic ehd to her existence in the most absct poverty
aud desti,UtiOn.
As soon as his recovering energies permitted,
Charles sought the bovet in which his mother had
lived, and dealt out hs most liberal compensation
all who had in any way administered to her
lief.
But everywhere that he sought to bestow hi.
reward he was met with the assurance of the un-
worthiness aud uudeservedness of the recipient,
and the conf nation that the good Christian lady
rad done everything.
TO see this Iaiy, aud to express his feelings
personally to her, seemed now to be the only Oh.
jsct Of bis life. and the only desire that he felt
before the grave. He had noted her residence as
given by the nurse. and resolved to take the ear
Hest opportunity Of seeing her. ere his own fast
ebbing energies shouid fad it too late.
Early in the morning Of a subsequent day, the
carriage was ordered TO the doUr, and Charles,
taking the direction from his memoranda, gave
his coachmau the address Of the good Christian
lady.
Ins little time, with all the commission of feel.
could excite, be standing Ia the parlor
awaiting the presence of the phi!anthropist In
a moment the lady gsiiy entered the room, uncon.
scous Of the character and business Of her visi-
tant.
As soon how ever, az she discovered che was be-
fore gentleman and stranger, as If checked BY
surprise, her eyeiids fell, aud she dropped a low
and graceful obeisapce. Somewhat confused, she
took her seat. and modesty asked, If there was not
some mistake In her answering to his call
Charles inquired as we'll as he could into her iden-
tity the good lady, aud being perfectly satisfied
this point. he crossed the room, and placed him
elf before her on his Blended knees, begged the
privilege OF expressing the gratitude Of son, for
the holy benev 'lence that had been bestowed upon
a dying mother.
A few words of explanation informed the lady Of
all the circumstances Of be recognition Ia the sick
chamber. and having dif3idently requested that no
allusion should be made 20 the part che had dis
charged to the poor lady, the benefactress desired
an answer to one or two questions.
With great calmness aud pacidity Of manner
that transcribed all former conception Of human.
asked of him fsw particulars Of his early separa-
ton from his family.
..Had he been at former times a resident Of this
city," and whether he had not received profe.-
To these questions Charles gave an affirmative
reply.
"fhen," continued she, "perhaps you have some
recollections Of young lady to whom you profess.
I'd some attachment in your early days"
YES" replied he, ''and to whom plighted my
hon.r and my love-"
"Hsveyou kept that faith to herr" asked his fair
inquisitor.
YES" answered he. 81 believe have. have
never forgotten her-I have never dreamed of low
ing another. During long period Of perjury
through which the vicissitude of circumstances
had passed me, / vas happy only in my r.collec,
ton OF her; yet 90 altered we're my means from
those in the possession Of which l proffsred my
self that deemed myself unacceptable in her
and dIscharged her from every obligation by which
she was bouud TO me-
Ignorant man." exclaimed the good lady, rising
from her chair, rs il her whole frame seemed 10
dilate with an awakened pride, show little di.
you know OF the fidelity of woman's heart Behold
Sonr Margaret--shc Who pledged her first affec
ton to you, aud 20 whom you had returned your
pledge for weai or woe--see her before yo,--yer
ruder the ssnctlfy OF an honorable woman's Ara