The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-23

they intended to reside.
/ frequently heard from the Orforda durirg
the hrst SIX mouths after their departure from
B, and was glad TO know that thew were
prosperous and happy. About the expiration
OF this time, l received letter from, Mr.. Oxford
in which he notified me of his daughters MAJ
rage to young merchandise herself adding
IN postscript these words: any dear friend
shall one of these days be made scouainted
with my husband, who is the dearest man. and
he will meantime assure himself that Ma-y il
perfectly happy"
After this, year and more elapsed in ~hic;,
but seldom heard frouI them, aud hsd b.
gun to think myself forgotten in tire pleniiui e
OF their new relations and new cares. The true
state OF things, however, in their painful ten
dency, was eventually made known 20 mo Ia
the following letter, which 1 received from
Mary:
My DEAR FRIEND: You must have begun
to think that we have forgotten you, sinee We
let you hear from rs so seldom, but have not
written because had nothing good to tell you,
and did not wish to trouble you with our evils.
Now, however, there is such necessity for it.
that can be silent no longer.
When married, father settled the greater
part OF his property on US, reserving for his own
use about one-hfth part of it, and having hrs
home with US. Until my marriage, he nnu
been in excellent health and spirits, but after
that, speedily noticed change in him for the
worse, which could not account fer. BE grew
thin IN nesh, wasting much, was silent, moody,
and oppressed by some misery which he would
not explain to US. This continued until very
lately, troubling me very much, but it was ro,
until about two weeks since that | discovered
the cause. l was mending his coat for him.
and CHANGING to put my hand into the pocket,
found package of lottery ticketsl Then /
knew the cause of his misery, and perceived
that he was still in the clutches of his fatal in
ta'ustion. From this time my husband AID |
begaH to watch him as closely as we could with.
out being suspected. We were persuaded that
his mind was unsettled, but, dreading the ei
tects of any betrayal of our suspicious, were
careful 10 let him see no change Ia our conduct
towards him.
$50 it continued until yesterday, when he
appeared 80 broken in heath, and 80 disturbed
IN mind, that it was evident something would
have to be done for him. With this object in
view, we sent for physician to consult about
some means for restoring him. During the
conference, father came in, and, l am now con
WINGED, got an idea of our intentions. He did
not let Us suspect it, however, but passed on to
bis room without any change OF counteuance.
Two hours afterwards, when went to call him
TO tea, he was game.
" He had put few clothes in a valise, and
got out by the window, his room being on the
ground floor. What Was to be done7 We dill
not know where to search for him. thorough
inquiry convinced Us of only one thng-th.t
be had left Boston. l Immediately coniectured
he had gone to your city, with some idea Of his
diseased mind directing him. Very probably
he will see you.
"WiA you look for him ? You can do Il
better than we, since he does not imagine YOU
know Of this change in bin, and consequently
will not avoid you. My hush and starts for your
city to morrow, and will call on you immedi-
at y after his arrival Please care for nv poo-
father, 80 hel pless and so wretched as he il.
You cannot imagine grief and anxiety. 1t
seems he has spent nearly all his money.
MARY"
This letter was a thunder clap to me. had
imagined them go happy, and was so unprepared
for any such consequence as ths. Here was
proof that this old man, tempest.tcst through
life, was 10 go down to his grave in the same
storm blast that had howled about him always
was to pass away in the same gloomy shadows
that had ever hung about him-was to pass
away unenlightened, uncheered, by one CLEAN
of hope 1t was the revelation of doom as
irremediable and eternal that which hung
over the house of the old Greek. 1t was fated
that men should know Henry Oxford as the
Lottery Crszed"
Scarcely was / recovered from the sudden
shock of these tidings, when Henry Oxford
came into the Office. l still had his daughter
letter in my hand. I saw him at the door, and,
as he feebly sbambled towards me, read the
depth to which he had fallen-or had been
hurled-in the changes wrought in his appear
ance. Changed he was, of sure'y his hair
L. & ~
ed with care lines and his dry. shrunk, faded
eye more than ever dstraught with that terrible
anxiety of which had read tokens in it's an
pearance when first saw him. In weak. peevsh
tone, unimpressve save only of an cd mans
wre'chedDess he spoke to me a few listless, in
different words. / was so COMPOUNDED by this
complication of events, tbst could only mur.
muir in reply few meaningless expressions Of
my surprise at seei him.
Yes, yes" be replied " | came off rathe-
nexpectedy-wsnted to see the old city onca
MORE"
irq1ired after Mary.
She's very well-told me to give her par.
ticular love TO you
This was said with the cunning nf the lima
tic, as l now became convinced h. was n,
sst down. and i forced mysel TO tax viii bin,
being able, however, 10 elicit bnt little from
him, for his mind wandered. II 3 memory was
much i'm paired, and he was childishly fretful
and vacillstinr.
After while, customer came in and I
was busy with him for some minutes, behind
the desk. When looked around, the old man
was gone, and his daughters letter (which I
had earelessly placed on the counter) was lying
on the floor by the chair in which he had sat.
He knew all, then, and would avoid me as be
had his family. In vain looked for him up
and down the street. could not leave the Of
fee, for / was acne there. As soon as Mr.
Morgiston came in, explained the affair to
him, and bad his permission to search for Mr..
Oxford. My every fJrt and inquiry that even
ing were futile. The weather was horrible
cold, gray, sn .wing-a bitter time for him who
was so feeble, wretched, so Graz d.
The next morning, Msry's husband found
me, and after q few explanations, we concu-
ded to continue the search together. The day
was even more bleek than the preceding one
1t did not snow, but the ground was thickly
covered, and, what with the piercing wind, the
dresr gray of the sky, with dark lowering cloud.
forms moving heavily across from the east, and
the general sombre aspect OF thing it was as dis-
agreeable weather as ever experienced. Every
little thing connected with that day is indelibly
impressed upon my mind. l was disposed TO
consider this f1rbidding face of nature portent
of things fearful. felt sort Of sickly unes-
siness, which could not account for, hanging
around me ss | sailed forth with Mary's has.
band on our apparently useless search. As the
day waxed older, this unessiness grew upon
me, and feverishly we hurried on from place to
place | imagined would n ost likely hear OF
the old man from the lottery deaiers, and plan
ned my inquiries accordingly.
On we hurried, asking IN vain, seeking Ia
vain some token-on, from low, vile places, to