Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-08-28

While You listen; Tor II my sin was great,
my punishment has been hard TO bear
My father was poor--so poor thai he
sometimes wanted bread--wten my
mother was taken i'll, and Deacon May
hew came TO pray with her. l worked
hard, and strove TO keep her from suffer
ing; bul she often needed things we had
no money to procure. He brought them
to her, and The day she died promised
that he would always be friend 10 me.
She had been dead but few weeks when
neighbor's son. who had been my play
fellow, came back from sea.
Il was sixteen now, and he was 10
longer a boy, bat had become the mate
of his ship. He loved me, Willie, and
asked my father if l might be his wife.
His ready hand had always helped my
father, and we doubted nothing of his
consent, and were so happy, when he
told US he bad promised should marry
Deacon MAYHEM. | told him | could
not love him-begged him 10 spare his
child, but he had been taught 10 think
that | was sinful, thai by this marriage
alone | could be saved. He rejected Our
tears and prayers, and swore a dreadful
oath that should be the Deacon's wife.
The ship was 10 sail next day. There
seemed no hope for US. wept-l pray
ed implored my father to despa ir.
He refused me-to!d me the doctor said
he could not live, and tha, if | disobeyed
him he would curse me with his dying
breath. Then, i my agony of love and
sorrow, believed it right 10 lIsten-to
yieldto think that my duty to my lover
was paramount; that he was the husband
of my heart, and before Heaven the
tiqhlful claimant of my hand, il was no
sin | commtted when next J sAw my
fathers face and told hn---oh, hour of
horroI,---.hat could never be the wife
Of Deacon Mayhem; that had placed
iIshonoratle bar between US, that | WIS
/ free no longer, bat was the mistress and
afiianced wife of George Sandersof
your father"
My father said the boy, starting up
in the bed.
"IIushr" and the wretched woman
quailed in terror lest that word had rous-
ed the sIumberer 10 the adjoining room;
/ but the silence remained unbroien, and
the trembling voice continued: He was
gone who alone could defend me. was
! helpless in their hands. | told the Dea
con all. Ny father painted the disgrace
we must suffer. They told me George
would never return-that | must be an
outcast. They showed me letters prov
! ing him a villain who had wronged 9TH
els. | was mad, bewildered, and like
drowning wretch, caught at anything to
save me from the shame that seemed in
/ evitable. He said-that stern Old man
he would forgive my fault. Willie, he
does not i. the world! When knew
that you, the proof of my shame to him.
were 10 be born, | begged that he would
let me 90, and leave him forever; but no
he sail the child should be as his and
no one should ever know the truth. but
when his eyes first rested on your face
/ he saw whose features that face bore,
and hated you; and from that hour ul
now my life has been one scene OF ago
ny. He could not scourge a hapless
/ babe, but be could prophesy the evil that
must await you; and while |, still tremb-
! ling, hoping. prayed your father would
return and claim me-forgive my sad
1 belief of his untrulh--and bear me hence
/ 10 some far distant country, news came
/ that his vessel was lost. and he who alone
could save me, ne was drowned. All,
/ Willie, the old love centered in You.
Judge how | have felt each pang. InllIct-
/ ed for what knew were trivial faults
Bat it shall be no longer. y on must 90,
! Willie. You must leave your poor moth
eT; and when you grow to be man
come back TO me-come back 10 me, my
darling, and | will claim you, my treas
ure, my all, my darling. darling child. :
And with convusive sobs she strained
her boy 10 her heart.
1 You shall 60 with ne mother. can
work for YOU We may not fare 50 well
as we do now, out we will be much hap
pier
No, darling, have been selfish long
enough. You can steal away, and no
one will find YOU. but were | 10 60, we
7 should be followed, caught, and you feel
again that horrid lash. No, no, no. You
must 20 alone, and | will wait here for
you, Willie, 10 pray for you, to think Of
You always--always, darling. until they
lay me in the church yard" And min
Cling their sobs of anguish, the poor moth
er and child, clasped in each others arms,
wept bitterly, while he calm breathing
. OL lllc DEdtOIl SOAIUt'A dhdiblS III t44C
7 adjoining room. Nov Willie, try to
sleep. l will go and get such things as
you most require.
Don't leave me mother; | cannot bear
10 have you from my side
Il will no. leave you darling; it Will
be but moments task And with The
. thoughtful care a woman seems to retain
even in the deepest extremity of grief,
she selected the clothes and food most
easily conveyed IN a small bundle, return
ing ever and anon TO kiss his brow, TO
press his hand, or whisper some low tone
of fond endearmeni, while the tears
streemed down her cheeks, and blinded
her swollen eyes as she passed uoiseless-
" from room 70 room. AT length her
/ preparations we're completed, and bath
ing aud dressing the wounds inf cted by
the lash, She raised the poor child from
the led. and aided his stiff AM trembling
limbs in the task Qf dressing. When all
was done She drew a lille purse from
her pocket--ihe fruits OF her own indus
try formed rs eonien,s-and begging VII
lie again and again to be good and care
full OF ban. self TO write 10 her when
could do. SO without being fouid-out. 90
never 10 come back until ne could do SO
cafely---all, all the anxious charges love