The Van Buren press., 1861-05-01


some of my duties In the presence of my
husband / was sometimes sullen and mo-
rose. He gently cbided me, but ! was gov
erned by false, wilfui pride, and would
not own that had been wrong, and / often
accused him OF being unfeeling toward me.
He sought all in his power to make my
home comfortable--my. every wish answer
ed 30 far - it could be justly done. "A
- At length yA were born. jscail God
to witness that feved you most dearly but
yet your innocent cries. and your tax upon
my time and care, SLOWED to sometimes
worry me, and when my husband would beg
OF me to remember the precious charge Of
met him with sullen looks and bitter
words. Not long after you were born, my
husband took stand in the political field.
and his talents soon placed him firmly in
the respect and good will Of the people. He
was chosen a member of the State Assem-
| bly,. and he began to devote much of his
time to the duties which his fellow. citizens
placed upon him. Instead of taking pride
In the talents of my husband, and lending
him my aid, / only found fault because he
was away from home so much.
| d" Once, when we were in company, a
gentleman spoke to me of the high position
my husband had gained, but then l treated
the idea of my husbands neglccting his bu.
siness for such things with q sneer. He
heard me. knew that James had never
neglected his business, and vet l said SO.
When we returned home he reproved me
for what l had done. / was only angry.
He begged of me to remember his feelings.
laughed at his feelings. He told me / was
making him miserable. Ididn't care. Then
he assured me that he could not live with
me if continued to behave as had done
l allowed this to make more angry than
ever. and determined that l would no,
give up that 1 had done wrong. and bade
him leave me soon as he pleased
Laura. l cannot tell you all that fol
lOwed-how l taunted that noble hearted
man-how [ triaed with his feelings, and
how l. blindly and recklessly. unriveted the
strong links that bound his heart to me.
i saw that change had come over his coun
tenance-that it was deadly pale and tina,
his lips quivered. He went to the cradle
where you were lying and took you up il
his arms. He pressed you to his bosom anc
kissed you saw a tear was in his eye
and saw his lips move as if in prayer
Then he laid you back in the cradle and lef
the room. He came not back to me tina
might. The next day received note from
him, in which he informed me that he hat
placed ten Thousand dollars in the hands o
a trustworthy person, and that could draw
the interest semi-annually for my support
was frantic with grief-my heart was al
most broken-my head whirled in agony
but could gain no further intelligence
From that moment, Laura. I-I-neve
saw-my husband again p
AS Mrs. Burke ceased speaking, her head
sank upon the bosom of her child and sh,
wept aloud.
i "And you saw him not when he died.
murmured Laura. winding her arms abou
her mothers neck, and sobbing with grief
al know not that he is dead, my child,
returned Mrs. Burke, and as she spoke, sh
sank upon her knees and prayed that he
daughter mi ght be saved:
Laura Burke stood by the side of Will
lam Wilmington. and her right hand restet
within the right of the young man. 1t wa
evening. and she stood there to be married
The clergyman who had come to per
form the ceremony, was o stranger in tn
place, he having come from . distant par
OF the country. and at the present time he
had assumed the duty OF the pulpit for on
Sabbath, while the regular clergyman wa
absent from the town.
The magic words that made William
and Laura man and wife, were spoken, anC
the couple awaited the parting advice ane
counsel OF the minister. He spoke of tn,
important duties they had voluntarily as
sumed. Then he fixed his eyes upon tn,
fair bride. and while his lips trembled. ant
his eyes gathered moisture, he said;
"To yon, my fair child, would fair
give a word mole of counsel. You mus
remember that the home altar is under you
minIstrations and oh, tail not to see ths
the purest OF your affections are kept burn
ing there, SO that they shall ever light with
a joyous brilliancy the life you have chos
en-. ., could you but know what hsppi
ness, what earthly bliss hangs upon youl
course, you would never
The clergyman stopped. His eyes had
flied with tears, and his utterance wa.
choked. AT that moment low cry broke
from the lips OF Mrs. Burke. The minis
ter turned and caught her eye. All pres.
ent wondered at this scene, but when in q
moment more, the mother of the bride tot
tered forward AMI sank upon the bosom Of
the clergyman. they were lost in amaze.
ment.
Amantha ~ whispered the man. as he
bowed his head. " Amantha %
"My husband o, my husband. Have
you come to forgive me?''
b" Yes. yes. my wife. Is there not hap.
piness for US yet on earth ?"
The mother would have spoken, but she
could not. She could only cling more
frantically to her husband. and bless him
that he had come back to her. None wer.
there but tha. wept at the soene. and Laura
left the side of her new made husband to
seek the embrace of her father.
At length the mystery was EXPLAINED %
those who had witnessed the novel SCENE
But to his wife and child alone, did J.mo,
Burke tell of sll that be had sutferei-ho,y
he had wandered from place to place-Anl
how he at length became preacher of tho
gospel. He told how hs had ysarned Ia
see his wife. and how he had forgiven bcr
for Whist she had done. and also. that hs
had dsterr.insd to see hsr once mor,. and
for that purpose he had come hack.
L. n