The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-02-11

| was half parallzcd with terror and be-
wildcrmcnt. Then catching up my little
darling, made an effort to compose my
self, and responded to the sober call of
duty. | carried her down stairs, and
though almost fainting at the sight of her
blood, held back my agitation with a
strong hand, ard proceeded to wash the
red stains from her face, and find out the
extent Of her injury.
The wound, happily, was not Of scri-
Gus nature: but the imminent danger of
losing her eye that she had escaped, made
me shudder whenever the thought passed
through my mind, and so affected me,
that | grew weak and nervous, and on
attempting to resume my work, found
that my strength was gone.
And so, in my ovcr-cagerness to SNAKE
a good day of it," l had comprised the
loss of day.
After trying with an unsteady hand, to
make my needle do its work, | threw
down my sewing in despair, and went
over to the chamber where I had laid
lietty to sleep. The dark rcd scar, Just
Gin the orbital verge, rebuked me as
strongly as if it had been living voice.
Dear child. How could l have so for
gotten the needs Of her opening mind
How could ! have so failed to realize
that while | was absorbed in my own en-
Payments, she must have something to do
For several minutes stood bending
over her. Then going to the drawer in
which her wax doll was laid, | unlocked
it, and taking out the beautiful effgy
placed it Oh the pillow beside her. How
sweet the two faces looked the living
and the inanimatc. | gazed at them
until my eyes were blinded by tears: and
then went back to the sitting-roonl, where
| made another effort to resume my work
My hand had grown little steadlcr, but
the heart was gone. For very short
time cndeavorcd to force myself to keep
on with my appointed task but mind and
body both dssentcd so strongly, THAT the
garments [ had hoped to complete were
finally laid aside, not to be touched again
until Tomorrow.
AS l was doing this, a sigh for my lost
day passed sadly from my lips. At this
moment | heard Iletty's feet and voice ::
she had awakened, and finding Dolly by
her side, had forgotten all the past, and
was as happy as a child could be.
" Dear, dear, sweet Dolly" she was
singing as blithcly as if grief had never
laid finger upon her beart.
"Oh, mamma - she exclaimed, as she
entered the siltng-room, "you are so
good to give me Dolly to play with" and
she came dancing to me, with her dewy
lips put up to mine for kiss.
There was no rcbuke Oh those precious
lips-oh no. That kiss was loves own
best expression; aud yet it stung me with
renorse.
Hetty's trial was over, her grief for
gotten. But on my bosom was laid the
burden OF regret, and / could not throw
it off. Her state of disturbance had
passed like the morning cloud and the
earthly dew but mine kept pulsng ON
and shadowing the hours that might have
passed in cheerful work.
counted that day lost, except for the
lesson it taught me for when | laid my
aching head upon its pillow at night,
could not look back upon any useful
thing accomplished. There had been
fruitlcss efforts to do many things; but
my restless state kept me fitting and
changing, and my half-formed purposes
wrought out no sure results.