The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-09-13

| VI tuds McICtduV, Uitueut uDout IHc
dreadful crisis that seemed to threaten
the whole community. With the spirit
of evil they exulted over the downfall
Of others. No matter what the face
might express as they doled out words,
their helrts were so full Of malign salts
faction, satanic cxultation, that it quite
put the arch iend out of countenance to
look at them-and reflect how much his
children had outdone him in satanic mis-
chief
What if pale, hopcles, haggard men,
whose wild eyes told Of desperation, came
to them, imploring mercy? Mercy.
they might as we'll have urged the starv:
ing lion not to eat when food was put in
his way. They seemed to riot on the
sufferings of their fellows They took
land, and script, and mortgages out of
the trembling fingers of widows, aud
doomed the hopeless orphan to ruin and
starvation with "A gusto that was heart
chilling TO witness. Mercy in shaver
Of notes ,lercy in huge black rock
of flint, with eyes of marble and soul Of
lead Ask no mercy Of those walking
sepulchres, gilded without, but rotten
within. Will there come day when no
mercy will be shown to them?
Angels of peace aud content watched
over that humble family.
What fire it was--that first fame of
the season! ruby rcd, golden yellow,
leaping, sparkling. cracking: Baby,
with laughing, beautiful eyes, lay crow
ing 'in the wooden cradle--and such
baby! milk white and red--broad brow,
lightly touched with sunny curls, that
looked as if tiny breath would dissolve
thcm--chceks, arms, hands, fingers, riot
ing in dimples--over all the air of
healthy vitaIity--a joyous existence. -
The patient cripple on the bed, a boy of
fifteen, who had never walked, smiled as
he glanced from his book upon the cheer
full group. Lucy, the eldest daughter,
was preparing the table for the evening
meal, and fitted from one place to anoth.
cr, smile of content lighting up her
pretty facc-and three handsome boys,
from the ages of four to eleven, bursting
in at that moment, clamorous for supper,
Completed the picture.
Hurrah for the fire :" exclaimed Jo-
sey, the eldest, flinging himself on the
hearth. "Now we shall have fire all
winter and good, warm clothes. 1t was
SO bad last wintcr-no clothes-no fire
SO little to cat, and poor father half
crazy"
"My pa has got six hundred dollars
in the savings bank, and lots of work.
chirruped little Jim, stretching his boots
toward the flame.
Yes, didu't he work for i, though,
cleaning out the cellars, and digging the
wells; and didn't he like to get killed
with foul air? I'm glad he's porter now,
in that great dry. goods store, cause it
aint SO hard a2d he dresses nice, and
lets us come to see him sometimes
Make room at the fire for your ia
thcr, children-I see him coming" said
the mother, with cheerful voice, as she
came forward to take the babe out of his
cradle. "Lucy, set the tea to sleeping,
and take the toast up. You Lad better
light lamp, too, | think"
The tea was drawn-the light burning,
and still she father came not. He SEEM
ed long time passing from the front
door to that of the room where the fami-
ly were.
When he did enter there was that in
his haggard face that frightened them
all, and as he sank covering upon seat,
and hid his face in his hands, their
friuht broGo ont IN rvaSt;,nc
90. father, what is the matter p and
"Thomas, my husband what has hap.
pcned?"
"God have mercy on you all - at last
issued from the white lips of the father.
"Thc Preston Bank has failed, and my
employer has failed Tn utterly swamp.
ed-Im ruined - His voice broke
down again, and great tears rolled over
his honest face, over his rough fingers.
"Thomas-you-don't-mean to say
that you've lost your six hundred dol
lars." exclaimed his wife, while the
children sat stupe6ed--''you can't mean
that you've lost that !"
Every cent" echoed the poor man
dismally, "and out of employment be-
sides. No matter what becomes of me
now-Pm utterly discouraged - clean
give out; my heart has no more hope"
go! don't speak so, Thomas said his
wife, with quivering lips
How can help it, Martha? Think
how toiled and saved for that money
Think how | went without new clothes,
and everything else / needed, so we
mightn't suffer this winter as we suffered
last. God knows how thankful l was to
him for 'abling me to lay it up for time
Of need--now we must all starve-l don't
see nothing else ahead"
"No, Thomas, VIC shall be poorly
enough off-but We shant starve,' re-
piled his wife.
go! father, come and drink cup Of
tea," said Lucy, pleadingly, the tears
dropping one by one from her eyes.
"No, child, l can neither eat nor
drink. When l heard it, if some one
had struck me over the head with a bar
of iron couldn't have felt sharper
pain; and it hasn't left me a moment
since.'
Very little could the poor children eat, ,
and they stole off almost suppcrless to
| bed.
The next day the doctor came. His
patient. he said, had the brain fever
Only little wcek-and the sexton, the
coffin, the hearse followed, and the strick.
en- family, the broken-hearted wife and
little ones, carried father and husband to