Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-06

sunken eyes, and look of sorrow that is
habitual. Marks of intemperance upon his
face, and an attenuated form, upon which
hangs loo ely the Oldest and most ragged OF
clothes; voice that trembles, and hands
that tremble, and legs that totter, as if weary
of their burthen.
have but little while to live. l blame
no one but | do say that the divorce men
toned has been the means of bringing me
down so fast left a mansion to find hov-
ell lost my boy, and my wife-and there is
no one to take me by the hand and call me
friend.
And my boy ~
saw him to-day-a rich mans step-son,
and he passed me by with a frown, and look
of scorn. .-.-. .-.
Oh! it was hard! He whom would have
died for, frowning upon me as he would upon
any other old beggar; and drawing his broad
cloth closer to his form, as if he feared would
contaminate it with my touch. How | loved
him! He is flesh of my flesh, and bone of
my bone held him in my arms and rock
ed him to sleep when he was child = and he
put his arms around my neck; and called me
father!
NY boy! my boy! I wonder if he knew
me? | hope not-for the sake of humanity |
hope not and pray not. Perhaps they have
told him am dead-he may be true to me as
| was when he slept upon my bosom.
Heaven grant it If may only meet him
in heaven, and have him recognize me there, it
is enough!
And the former Mrs. Tompkins-who is
married again-rolled by me in the carriage
to-day, and pretended not to know me. 1t is
,,l,r bnro chn Anac frnyo
me, and draw my rags about Inc proudly when
| see her. hope do not hate her, do not
want to but there is something bitter in my
heart, and words that are biting on my lips
when see her.
If she had not robbed me of my boy -
When she did that, she took away from Inc
all of lfe's happiness, and made of me the
coward and the beggar that am.
have travelled the downward road on the
lightning train. The jovialty that used to be
mine is mine no longer, | would as soon ex
pect dead man to sing "Pop goes the wea-
sell" as to expect myself to be jovial now.
"My boy my boy"'
"Stuby Ha! ha Why, John Tomp-
kins."
A musical voice, and a silvery peal OF
laughter, startled me when had got thus far.
Then all was STILL and pretty soon, alas
my late wife was near Inc and endeavoring to
torture me- Were those hot curling g-tongs
that were probed over my face or were they
mosquitoes I? Friends seem to be pulling hair,
and an imp was endeavoring to appropriate
my whiskers
mercy ~ I screamed.
"Ho! no My dear John what a silly fel-
low YOU are What's the matter Oh! oh
you look so deadly comic!'
Was really dreaming. Such a voice, and
such musical laughter opened my eyes
| wide, and looked.
dear, blue eyes, and cherry lips, and dainty
cheeks, and a merry expression upon heI
countenance, stood before me, tickling my
face with straw "lou'v been dreaming
haven't you dear ?" she asked. "And I've
been watching you, and laughing at, and YET
plying you. 1t was so funny! My boy =
my bo-o-y' and fresh peal of laughte,
nearly startled my out Of my boots.
Are you Mrs. Tompkins ?" | asked
slightly smiling, and yet not entirely without
the influence Of Morpheus. Are you my
wife, If not whose are you y
Yours, guess-ain't | ~ and she look
ed up with an arch expression. "And NEAR
| 10 De untll-uutN-We Sct ulFolCoui
(Which heaven grant will be long tim'
hence I" | said, fervently.
you've been reading about the last di
vorce case, guess and fell asleep in th
chair, know" she said. "And my advice
is, leave the divorce cases alone hereafter )
and then you won't take on SO when you g
to sleep. It's awful isn't it,"
And while folded her to MY breast, an,
smoothed down the hair that was so beauti
full, told her it was, and said was very gla'
we married each other for love, and hoped
we would never allow a CROSS word to pas
between US; for such little discrepancie
lead to great ones. l spoke, too, of the i'm
portance, of allowing good sense as well a
love, to rule in choosnga a future life 4; and de
precatcd the practice SO much in vogue, G
marrying in haste, to repent at leisure. v
And mentioned the divorce cases before tn
public, as solemn warnings to the unmarried
and practical proof of the truth Of the saying
In selectinga wife, young man, or hus
band, young woman let your heart and you
sense have full sway, and following thei
teachings to the letter"