Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-06-25

LOls us manu. 81 1t was a OTlSDL suTOps anu
the rays of the setting sun were playing
in it. t...a
She criedrwhen she kissed me- he
whispered, wiping the tear from his hard
hand. Il don't see what makes her SO
tender hearted. She never took it from
me. But she may have took it from
The old man stopped, and cloud
came over his wfinkled brow. for there
was pang in his heart. He remember
ed the gentle. accomplishing being who
had once been his companion-the moth
er Of his child. He remembered how
she became his wife, even when the
bloom Of manhood had passed from him;
how she loved him. and nursed him, and
cared for him. and how she taught her
child to love and care for him too. And
he remembered how she had never com
planned even while suffering. and how she
died with smile and blessing on her
lips. though the gold of her husband
brought her no comforts.
Noah Brennan bowed his frosted head
more low. and in his heart he wished that
he could forget all but the few fleeing
joys of his wife. But he could not for.
get that it had been whispered how his
wife might have lived longer, if she had
proper clothing and proper medical at>
tention.
But it would have cost SO muchl 1
saved the money!
Ah-the reflection would not remove
the pang. The other memory was up
permost.
Noah Brennan had passed the allotted
age of man. being over three score and
ten. and all his life had been engaged in
accumulating money. He had denied
himself every comfort, and his heart had
been almost as the gold he boarded
But as his hair grew more white and
upon him, he thought more-rehected
more. The sweet smile of his dead wife
was doing its mission now; and the pure
love of his gentle child was continual
remembrance to him that there were
better hearts than his own.
At length the miser rose and passed
out from the room. He would have left
the hut; but. as he reached the little en-.
try way. he heard voice from the gar
ret. 1t was his child's. He crept up to
the door. He crept up the rickety stairs.
and looked through crack in the door.
He saw Agnes on her knees. Tears
were rolling down her cheeks, and her
hands were clasped towards Heaven
And she prayed.
oh. God! be good to my father. and
make his heart warm aud PEACEFUL
Make me to love him with all tenderness.
and enable me to do we'll and truly the
duty pledged to my sainted mother! l
promised her would love and care frr
him always. Father in heaven, help me!
o! help mel
The old man crept down the stairs and
out Of the doors, and for whole hour
he walked alone among the trees. He
thought again OF his wife-again of his
child and then-of his gold! And this
was not the first time he had walked
alone there. He did not himself know
exerling over him.
Agnes-pure. good. beautiful Agnes
-wept long and bitterly in her little gar
ret, and when she had become calm, and
her cheeks we're dry, she came down and
got snpper. But she was not the milling,
happy being that had fitted about that
scauty board heretofore.
A few days after this. as Noah Bre-
man approached his cot one morning, he
heard voices from within. He peeped
through a rent in the coarse paper cur
tain and saw Wslter Adams with bis
chilJ. Her head was upnn WalLer's
shoulder, and his arm was about Ter.
Walter was an orphan. and had bee n
Agnes schoolmate. and her fervent lover
through all the opening years of youth.
He was an honorable. virtuous man. and
loved the gentle girl because she was so
good. and SO gentle. and so beautiful
And she loved him. not only because he
had captured her heart in the times
agone. but because he was. Of all her
suitors, the only one whose character
and habits promised JOY and peace for
the future.
4 cannot leave my poor old father,
Walter the old man heard his daughter
say. Il must live to love and care for him.
On all The earth. am the only one left
to love him. II is hard! My heart may
break! But The pledge of love gave to
my dying mother must be kept
And SO the great dream of my youth
must be changed TO this sad reaiity!' ex-
claimed Walter. sorrowingly. Il cannot
ask you to leave your father. sweet Ag
nes. for the very truth in you which l
worship would be made lie could you
do so. But have a prayer-en earnest.
sincere prayer-I pray that God. in his
mercy. may remove the curse from your
fathers bended forml'
The curse. Walter?'
'Aye-THE GOLD cuRsE!' rejoined the
youth. fervenrly. L hope God may rem.
der him pennilessl'
'whatg PenniIess?' repeated Agnes.
with start.