The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-10-24

to Mary Ann to come on an I'll sell out an
GO to Illinois, Good pcvary land was cheap
hen,au' I'd rather go furdcr of for the sake
of quiet.
80 we pulled up stakes and come ont
here; but it weren't long afore the noise fol-
Tered us, wuSs than ever, and we found out
at last what it was One night woke up
with my hair standin' on end, an hcerd Ra-
chel Emmon's voice, Just as you heerd it
last night. Mary Ann hoord it, too, and its
little peace sh's give no senco that time
And 50 It's been goin' on an on these eight
or nine year."
"But,' | asked. "arc you surc she is alive?
Have YOU seen her since? Have YOU asked
to be mercful and not disturb you?'
eyes" said he, with bitterness of tonc
which seemed quite to oblitelate the softer
memories of his love; i've seen heran' I've
begged her on my knees to lctme alone; but
it's no use. When it got 80 bad ! couldn't
stand it, wrote her letter. but never
got no answer. Next year, when our sec
ond boy died, frightcued and worried TO
death, believe, through he was scrawny
enough when he was born,I took some mon
cy I'll saved to buy yoke of oxen,an went
to Toledo o purpose to see Rachel, 1t cut
me to do it, but was desprit | founl her
liviu' in little house with strip O garden
she'd bought. s'p'oso she had some six or
seven hundred dollars when the farm was
sold,a she made good deal by sewin,be-
sides. She was sottiu' at her work whom
went in an knowed me at ouct, though
don't believe ], d ever have l,nowcd her She
was old an thin an hard-oolin'; her mouth
was pale an sot like she was b,tin' some
thing all the time; an her eyes, though they
was sunl; INTO her head, seemed 10 look
through an through an away ont tho Othor
side o. you.
1T iist shut me up when she looked at
nc. She was SO corpsc-likc | was afraid
she'd drop dead, then an there; bur made
ont al last to say. Rachel, I've come all the
way from Illinois to see you She kept
l)oliin' straight ut me, never sayn' wor |.
Rachel said |, I know I've acted bad to-
ward you. God knows didn't mcau to do
it. l don't blame you for puyin' it back to
me the way you're doiu', but Mary Ann and
the boy never done you no harm. I've come
all the way o purpose to ask your forgiven
ess, hopin' you'll be satisfied with what's
been done an leave OF bearim' malice agnl
us She looked kind o sorrow:ul-lko, an
| drawcd deep breath. an shook her head
| oh, Rachel says l. an before | knowoi it
| | was right down on my knees at her feet
Rachel, don't be so hard on me. I'm the
ouhappyest mau that lives. | can't stan il
10 longer. Rachel, you did't use to be SC
cruel when we was boys and girls togcth
er. Do forgive me an leave off hauntin Inc
| So
Then she spoke up at last, an says she
"'Ebcr Nicholson, was married to you il
the sight o God!
80 know it, said I; 'you say it to me cv.
| cry night; an it wasn't my doin's that you
/ re not my wife now; but Rachel, if l'd be.
/ uaycd you. or ruined you, or killed you God
| couldn't punish me wuss than you re pun
| sh.n' me-
she give kind O. groan, an two tears
run down her white face. 'Eber Niohol
/ son, eaid she, ask God to help you for
can't. There might have bean time whel
| could have done it. but it's too late now.
"'Dont say that, Rachel said |; it's ucy.
Ell too late TO he merciful an lorgivM'.
1T doesn't depend on myself said she
! I'm sent to you, It's the only comfort
! have in life 10 be near you; but I'd give NJ
! that if could, Pray to God to have me
! die, for then we shall both have rest
"An' that was all could git out Of her,
81 come home agjn. KNOWN I'd spent my
money for no,hin'. Sence then it's been jisl
| the same as before, ,-notreg lar every night
] -
! three or four days an, then comes on aGin
Fact is, what's the use o livin' in this way?
We can't be nejghborly; we're afcarcd tC
| have anybody come to see MS; we've got nc
peace, no comfort o. beju' together, an NJ
! heart 10 work an git ahead like other folks
Its jist KILN me, body an soul
Here the poor wretch fairly broke down
and bu into 2n uncomfortable fit of weep
| ing. | waited quietly until the violence OF
his passion had subsidized. A misery 81
stran- e, so completely out the RANGE % nu
man experience, so hopeless, apparently,
was not to be reached by the ordinary ut
terances Of consolation. | had seen enough
to enable me to fully understand the feartu
nature Of the retribut;On that had been vist
ted upon him for what was, at worst, {
weakness to be pitici, rather than Il sin tC
be chastisad. Never had man been worse
punished, he had trdly said. But was FIR a
ever from comprehending the secret Of thosC
nightly visitations. The statement of Ra
chel Ernmons, that they were now produced
without her will, overturned -supposing il
to be true-thc conjecture which | mi IN
otherwise have adopted. However, it was
now plain that the unhappy victim now sob
bing at my side could throw no further ligh
upon the mystery He had told me all ht
. knew.
"My friend" said l, when he had become
calmer, | do not wonder at your despcra
ton. Such continual torment as you must
! have endured is enough to drive a man to
maducss. 1t seems to me to spring from the
malice Of some internal power, rather thai
The righteous justice of God. Have yol
never tried to resist il? Have you never
called aloud in your heart for Divine help
and gathered up your strength to meet anc
defy it, as You would to meet man who
threatened your life?"
Not in the right way, I'm afeared," saiC
he. Fact is, | always tux it as a judgment
hangn' over me, and never thought o moth
in else than jst to grin and bear it,"
Enough of that, said I,--for a hope o
relief had suggested itself to me; you have
suffered enough, and moro than enough
Now stand up and meet like e man. Wher
the noises come again think Of what you've
endured and let it make you indignant anc
determined. Decide in your heart that yoJ
will be free of it, and perhaps you may b(
so. If not build another shanty and sleel
apart from your wife and boy, so that they
may escape, at least. Give yourself this
claim to your wife's gratitude, and she viii
be kind and forbearing."
81 don't know but you're more'n hall
right, stranger" he replied in a more cheer
full tone. Fact is, never thought on it II
that way 1t lightened my heart a beaI
tellin' you; an if I'm not too broke an used
up-like III try and foller your advice.
couldn't marry Rachel now if Mary Ann wal
dead, we've been druv so far apart. / don