The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-11-23

/ N'ShSuiihS nhrks. lDere mad been mat.
tent'on to her requests, neglect Of her
wants, and angry repulsion when she
had lntruded those wants too impatiently.
As the garment grew in beauty under
the mothers skilfuI hards. fretfuness,
'mpatlence, anger, and disobedence were
doing their evil work upon her soul.
For nearly two whole days, every thing
had been neglected for this bit of vanity;
| and the greatest sufferers were the chill
dren-bsby and Anna. Yet, so absorb
ed was the mother in her work, that she
had only dim perception Of her error.
She did not, OF course, escape the jar Of
dlscord that ran in disturbing pulsa,ions
through her household, and 80 her own
spirit lost hourly measure Of self pos
session. Light causes disturbed her lit.
tie annoyances fretted her beyond control;
even the smallest obstruction in the cur
rent of her thought sent the hot blood to
her cheeks and temples. Her husband
ielt, and was made unhappy by the
change in her temper. Her domesucs
were chafed by her impatient way Of
speaking to them; and we have already
seen something Of the effects produced
on one Of her children
! Little Anna, after being repulsed and
threatened retired to distant part Of
the room, and. crouching down in the cor
ner remained silent during long time.
The baby, after having fretted in the era
die for half an hour, lost itself in sleer.
And so the mother worked on in peace,
greatly to her satisfaction, the rich flow.
ers growing into form and beauty under
her skilfull fingers, and spreading them.
selves over the garment she was decora
ting for her child. And what OF the child
now She had driven her away angrily,
a little while before and since that time
she had neither heard her voice, nor the
sound of her footstep. All at once y
thought oi Anna came SO distinctly into
her consciousness, that she looked around
quickly to see if she were IN the room.
Anna" she called. But there was no
reply.
Anna" The silence Of the apartment
gave her heart strange feeling, and lay
ing down the garment upon which she
was at work, she arose
Anna ! she called again, AS her ewes
rested up, n the form of her little one Iv.
ing upon the floor. Passing over quickly
she stopped and caught the child in hcr
arms, repeating her name over and over
AS she did so. But Anna WAS fast asleep.
and did not answer So she land her up
on the sofa, aud bent over her with "a ten
de', learning emotion at her hear. And
now the unusual redness Of Auna's
cheeks attracted her attention. ard she
. paced her hand upon the soft flesh, rer.
vouNIy. 1t was above the natural heat.
She caugh, up one of the little hands es
gerIy. Its burning touch sent shudder
Of fear through her bosom.
Anna, dear ! Anna She laid her
| lips close to the chd's ear, and called
her name tenderly bu. the door Of hear
ing sleep had barred against the entrance
Of even mothers voice. And now she
remembered with painful distnctness,
how she had repuIsed and spoken angri.
| ~ To the little one. and she saw again the
look Of fear that shadowed her face, as
she raised her hand threa,eningly. Tears
came into her eyes, filled them, and ran
down over her cheeks. Through this
binding rain, she sought TO read the signs
on Anna's cOunteuance; but al. she could
see there tended only To- augment her
fears. The little brow seemed contracted
/ there was a nervous unsteadiness about
the lips and eye-lasnes the breathing
WAS heavy, and the chest l,,bored.
Anna, dear, speak to motherl Speak
~ mother, darling =
But Anna only mourned and worked
her mouth in strange, unusual way.
Cob, | wish Henry would come home =
sobbed the mother 10 herself, giving way
still further to the excitement OF alarm.
This child is very i'll, am sure. Oh,
what can all her =
There came now the sound Of closing
door. Then q manly tread WAS heard in
the passage below.
Father! Henry Is that you z The
mo,her called brea,hessly.
yes, Edith. But what is the matter q
And the husband and father, startled by
her tones, came hurriedIy up the stairs.
oh, Henry, I'm so glad you've come
home, said bis wife, as she grasped his
arm,
What has happened = His voice was
unsteady, and his face grew slightly pale.
I'm so frightened about Anna
About Anna 7
Yes; she's lying in a heavy stupor,
and her skin is like FIRE; see = and she
drew him to the sofa upon which the lit.
tlesgirl was lying.
Mr.. Lewis stopped over his child and
laid his hand against her cheek.
She has burning fever, said his wife,
anxiously.
Mr.. Lewis did not reply but took one
little wrist between his fingers, and search.
ed for the pulse. He was still and silent
for nearly a minute.
How long has she been in this wsy =
he inquired, with betrayal of alarm in
his voice.
Il found her asleep on the floor, Just
now, and tried to waken her. Oh dear,
Henry, what can it he T.
l. a