The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-12-02
THE MANIACs CONFESSION.

A lew years ago visited au insane as
ylum. The woman in charge conducted
us through many apartments, giving Us
all the information In regard to tho oecu-
pants she was able and kindly answering
all the questions until we came to room
where Que of the patients had lately died +,
and now lay awaiting the disposal of her
friends, who bad been appraised of her
dccease. We entered, and gazed rover-
emily upon the face o! the sleeper. She
was a woman in the prime OF life aud
bore traces of great beauty. What great
sorrow had bereft thi, beautiful creature
of her reason! and By what relative, and
for what motive, had she been inearcera-
ted in this living tomb! were queries
which were in my mind as gazed upon
Ter lifeless remains.
Ny eyes inyoluntarily wandered over
the apartment. 4 little table stood in
the corner, beneath the grated window.
\ Bible lay upon it, and as took it up,
paper slid from benes sth the leaves ana
fell at my feet. raised it. 1t was
closely written sheet, and a glance con-
WINGED NE that it was a sort Of revelation
which had been written there during the
last hours of the life that had fed.
"What is this!" l asked, holding up
the paper.
"Oh, that is probably some OF Aggy's
scribbling. She u7ed to call for a pen
and paper, and ste would write over sew
eral sheets, and then destroy them. That
i, probably one Of them-of 90 conse-
queuce, | presume" said the woman.
asked if [ might retain it.
Why yes, if you wish to- she re-
piled.
hid it away in uy bosom, aud wc
soon left the preni'c5.
What could you possibly van; of that
crazy woman's scribbling!' my compan-
ion asked, as We left the bailiing.
Il fancy there IS something here worth
preserving" IrePlied. Let US examine
it,"
As We rode bomeward, read it aloud
to my friend. Ii was written in trea-
bling had, aud read as follows
Il was the only and idolized daughter
of fweaithy parents. Iposses.ed haush-
ty aud imperious temper, which was new
er subdued or restrained. My parents
were not religious, aud no care was taken
to impress upon my mind religious truths.
Consequently grow up uupfOcipled and
extrem' ly passionate. While every paios
was taken with my education and accom-
plishments, my heart was left to run wild
overgrown aad choked by the briers and
tborus Of tyranny; yet | was passionate
ly attached to my friends, and as long as
they did not cross my iwpcriOus will, l
got on nicely with them.
Thu I grew to wonanhood. Cuance
threw me into the society of young law
yer of distinguished abilities, VITO had
begun what was predicted to be bril-
liant career. soon learned to love him
with all the depth of my passionate and
impulsiVe nature; and was wild with Joy,
when one day be came to me, aud in ell
oquent language told me how long and
devotedly be had loged NE and asked me
to be his wife
I'VE were married. If | occasionally
felt twiDge of disgust OF my own quail
fcatious for wife, soon siienced it
with the argument that ny love was
strong enough to make up for al defcen-
cies. "My husband was all that was
good, ami noble, aud generous. | was
often passionate and unreasonable. But
be would take NE to his bosom, and kiss
me so tenderly. and say so gently, "You
must subdue this unhappy temper, Aggy.
1t is making you miserable"
"Tben when be was gone, would fy
10 my chamber, lock the door, and give
myself up to an uncomfortable ft of
weeping for rery shame.
ave had been married about year.
One evening (would to God | could blot
from the record of time that fatal night;
bat it lives like Kissing fiery serpant in
my memory. and has doomed me to utter
despair in this world, and fear the Dext!)
my husband did not return at the usual
hour. | watched long at my accustomed
place, at the parlor window. His slip
pers and dressing gown were warming by
by the CRATE, aud every thing was IN read
mess for him; but be did not come Twi-
light deepcned into darkness, and be-
gan to grow uneasy. All my selfish feel
ings were reused, ard / felt myself sorely
grieved. An hour more yet he came not.
paced up and down the fOor in 6t Of
impatience. A ring at the door, l waited
to hear his step upon the stairs; but it was
a lighter step than his, accompanied by
the russliDg of silk. Nellie B, an
intim ate friend, bounded in. She was
dressed for the opera. She said their
carriage waited at the door for mself and
Ernest. told her Ernest had not re-
turned from bis Office, and | could not
20. She looked Disappointed. A sud
dem thought seized me. Would it not be