The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-09-02
/ wish You were Dead.

pleading in low, soft tone for the moth
er 10 remain at home. 1t was weary and
sick and lorged to be Graded in the arms
Of her who had given it being. But the
woman Of fashion, arrayed in her silken
robes, and with jewels glilterlrg on her
arms and neck, and impatient to display
the same, had only brushed it aside with
Such a torment! You plague me 10
DEATH and those neyer-Io. be forgotten
words:
4 wish you were deadp ~nl
The little eyes, which a moment befd
had been kindled with hope, drooped az
fell No cry was heard; but when agl
they raised, with a sad deGpsiring glad
at the form Of the departing mother, Il
peary drops we're glstening beneath u
lender lasheS, and rickIiDg down the pail
lid cheeks. And while she who had pro :
nounoed those unintentional harsh words,
and who had already experienced the
keenest selfreproaches for the course she
had pursued, was being rapid lys;ggA.iiFEletd !A.iiFEleet
away to a scene of unrivalled h dor,
the little sufferer had allowed be
undressed and placed upon ~
couch, where it lay down to fulfill It's
mothers unmeant wish to die!
1t was late, very late that night, when
tine giddy devotee Of the folly and show
of life returned to her princely home
As the carriage drove up TO the door, she
perceived lights passing to and fro befor.
the windows. With terrible forcbodingA
and without stopping to bid aditu to tts
friends who had been her companions for
the evening, she sprang out of the couch
on to the walk, and hastily ascending tie
marble steps, flew 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-
proachfully at her as, with frantic mo ie.
ment, 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 uncon-
sciou3 delirium moaned:
No, no! ma, you don't mean that, do
you? You don't want Eddie to de?'
No, darling, no! Oh, God forbidP she
cried in bitter anguish, as, throwing of
her gilded trappings, she knelt down and
pressed her lips to those of the sufferer.
'MustI die, ma! Must l 90 and leave
your pursued the child, in agony.
40, dear, dear Eddie, she could not
desist saying, 4 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 was the
only reply. The feYer bad fastened upon
the very yitals.
'Oh, heaven have mercy she groaned
in terrible anguish, as 10 her conscience
stricken mind came back those fearful
words she had uttered so lightly awhile
before, and felt that they were about to
be realized-.I wish you were deadP
you don't want me 10 be laid in the
cold, damp ground, and never see you
again, do you, ma?' CONTINUED the delri-
GUS child, after a slight pause, during
which a portion of medicine, just admin
istered, had been struggling to take effect
land never look at the green grass or
bright sunshine any more; you don't want
to take these from me-do you, MAJ
No! no! Oh, Eddie! dear Eddie' al
most shrieked the unhappy mother, look
up; do you not know me?' she asked, in
as calm and soothing a tone as she could
assume.
For a moment the eyes, with their wild,
appealing glace, opened, and turned up
on the parent, whose cruel words--so cru
ell to the loving chiId--now tortured its
disordered thoughts; then, without sign
of recognition, closed them again, mur.
muring-
oh, ma! am so tired and sick
Don't go away; | want to lay down ii
your arms and rest. Then, again, thai
heart-rending appeal, you do not wan
Eddie to die--do you, ma?'
oh, my child my darling child! wha
shall | dol cried the agonized mother;--
my heart will break. Eddie, Eddie! she
repeated franticalIy.
Again those little orbs opened, and thi;
time smile played around the sweet lips
Mother was family murmured; the lit
tie hands tried 10 move; there was {
slight struggle--a gasp--the all was still
The spirit Of little Eddie had passed a
way.
Over the scene that followed, we droT
the veil. The sanclity of grief preclude'
description. Suffice it to say, that in long
after years that mother never forgot tha
terrible lesson she had learned, She be-
came a woman, and when tempted TO re-
sumo the heartless course she had forsa
ken, to neglect her children, or repea
harsh expressions, her thoughts ihvaFia
bly, wandered to the little form. which
slept beneath the yew trees shade, and
-7!ie was saved.
|
EE' The human heart has, of course
| "a 4 lato,,,;,,r 4 20, 1iyo olo,a