Litchfield enquirer., 1860-02-23

BRUARY as,s1S60. as,. su- aoa 1 But too soon, alas! Robin recovered iron his trance. It was morning; and, as he b, degrees recovered his senses and looked
 around, he became aware of the dreadf, change which had taken place. He lay on his old mattress. in his old cot
 tage, surrounded by poverty and want. Poo
 Alice was calmly sleeping, unconscious O the sorrow. that awaited her. The wailing of her child aroused her frcm a dream o peace and joy. She gazed at the sad seen, too much bewildered fully to comprehend it but the monrnfal truth was soon too evident to her; and Robin. amidst tears ard bittel self-reproacbes, told her all that had hap pened- he had fostered and indulgee his growing hatred of Walter, till it wa. ready to burst forth at the first provocation and how, blinded by passion, he had forgot ten the fairy's precept, and wished the fata wish--lN to las mcsgA6or. se7s&s -231ssEaos
 Alice could not restrain her tears, but she loved her husband too well to reproach him W tn an error of which he had already so deeply repented. She arose from her hum. ble couch, attired herself once more in the coarse garments of poverty, and then en. deavored by her caresses to soothe the clamorous sorrow of her little boy, who was crying loudly for his breakfast. as. rr.
 Whilst Alice was thus employed, she was startled hy something falling at her feet; and, to her great joy, she behcld her purse. How 1t came there she never knew. Probably the fairy had reiented SO far as to grant this small supply for their immediate wants: it contained two or three gold coins and some silver. Little, indeed, but yet sufficient to save them from perishing with want before Robin could earn anything by his labor.
 Alice took from her small hoard as much as was necessary to purchase some bread ahd went to the nearest bakers shop. The baker was stranger, and, of course, did not recognize her; but, as she was returning, she met one of her former neighbors, who greet ed her with" So, you are come back again, Mistress Maynard; well, you don't look much better off than before you went" AL ice simply said, "We have again been unfor- tunate." The neighbor shrugged his shoul- ders, and bade her good morning, and Alice proceeded home. rsa.*
 And what became of Walter and Mary Collinsf The same sad change had taken place in their circumstances. They had opened their eyes that morning on Q scene of squalid misery, far worse than that to which Robin and Alice were reduced,
 Walter had been carried, the previous night, to bis luxurious couch, stumfed by intoxication. When he recovered his con- sciousness, his aching head was resting on a pillow of straw. in dreary wretched apart ment; his ears were assailed by the bitter complaints of bis wife, and the cries of his helpless little ones. Woe and wailing were around him, remorse and despair in his heart. Not only was Walter reduced to his former '.eaArty hut he had not received the small Alice, by the sestOrdtrun- q "a thu rcod sides this. both Walter and Mary had, dur. jug their prosperity, given way to sloth and selfindulgercc; therefore they were quite unftted for any exertion
 Mary could do nothing but weep, and Walter sat in sul!en silence, resting his burning temples on his hands, and only occa- sionally rousing himself. to silence, with fierce threats, the opportunities of his hun gry children. .-.... ......
 The day was far advanced, and things were still in the same sad state, when gen. tie knock was heard at the door. "Come in." said Walter, in Q surly tone. The latch was raised, and Alice stood before them. ....s..s t.-.-.. .. ...
 "Are you come to mock our sorrows?" ex- claimed Walter, bitterly.
 God forbid!' replied Alice; "but bring you food. aud money to buy nore," and she handed basket to Mary, who was instant ly surrounded by her famishing children. who with clamorous eagerness seized and devoured the bread which she distributed amongst them. ....l... ... .. !,
 Walter looked on with a morose and gloomy conntenance. It was hard strug- gle between his pride and his wants. But hunger prevailed. and he received the food which Alice had brought, though not with thanks, yet with a sort of sullen resignation.
 On her return Alice found her husband busily employed; during her absence he had procured some materials, and now he had set in good earnest to work at his old trade.
 When it was known that Robin was come back, he soon got plenty of work. The shoemaker who had set up in his absence was idle and drunken, and, finding that no one would employ him after Robins return, he went away to try his luck elsewhere.
 cuaprrp
 Time rolled on; and when the end of the year approached, it fonnd Robin and his wife contented, and in tolerably prosperous circumstances. They had been able by de. grees to supply the place of most of the fur niture, which during their former distress they had been obliged to part with; and their cottage had again assumed Q neat and cheerful aspect. Robin would have been quite happy, but remorse kept it's place in his heart, and he could not be at rest; and whenever he beheld the care-worn, sorrowful faces of Walter Collins and his wretched wife, and half-naked little ones, he felt that no sacraice would be too heavy, if by it be could restore to them what, in moment of anger, he had deprived them of.
 Again the anniversary of the memorable day had arrived. The frugal supper had been removed, and the small oaken table drawn near to the fire, and by it Sat Robin and his beloved Alice. ss.. .,sa.ase la. .s- Robin was wiser and better, though s sadder man. He had learned how fault committed in s moment ofnngarded passion may destroy that peace which the repent