Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-03

Volce that went thrlugh me Ike sword.
Robbers! Take back that lie, base thief
Ihou art tie robberl Give me my ownr
DO saying, she tore from my dress-that
Sp;endld silk one you so often admircd-and
putting it on, disappeared.
In utter dismay and confusion, there |
stood, not knowing which way to turn, or
what to think But ] was not allowed mnch
time Tor reflection immediately felt my
i hard grasped by the cold, bony fingers of
three ragged children, who were crying and
cln9lng to her clothes. Give me my money!
sad she, as she wrenched the purse from my
4 trembling hand There, it will buy some
i! bread, poor things J she added in softer
tone, as she Il ing it into the eager hands Of
the children, it viii buy YOU some bread 7 |
looked after her as she followed the tattered
groups but my tongue vas dnms my feet
were glaed to the earth, and my whole frame
was shrivering with cold and terror
Ihis woman had only gone, when her pace |
was taken by another, who was very deli |
cate and pale, her dress, though much disor- /
dercd, bearing evident marks of good taste /
Her eyes wer> red as if she bad been weeping |
but they bright ned up when they saw the |
watch and chain, which, strange to say, were
still upon my person. Yes, thank God ex-
claimed she, this viii save him my own
beautiful watch my father gave me on nv
marriage day-the sefsame one-I know it |
well Tnis will pay it all-this will take
him out If prison! Give me my watch p
And without looking at me at all, she seized
upon the watch and hurried away, repeating
wildly to herself, Yes, this will save him
this will take him cut of prison-my own
. beautiful watch 7
3 Next was disrobed of my elaborately quilt
ed silk skirt by squalid Irishwoman, who
. went away mutterins. sort of apology for
her rudeness, Poor crayther it's not that
E would harm ye, 70 be sure; and may be we've
: got as much left upon you now as many a
poor thing that deserves more, Wasn't i:
Patrick's wages that bought the quilt And
isn't it ones own he takes, wherever he finds
: it?
Then three pallid creatures, from differ
!, ent directions surrounded me, as stood like
. : marble statue, hardly knowing whether
!; was dead or alive. One Immediately divest-
: ed me of my jewelry, saying contemptuously
. as she turned away, / care not for the trash,
but it IS mine. It was pawned for rum; now
i it shall keep alive my starving ones little
: longer. The second took my scarf, gloves,
!, richly embroidered cuffs, undersleeves, and
- handkerchief saying with bitter smile
How exquisite how beautiful Yes, will
,f adorn myself once more, and see if my hus
:, band will recognize me- | used to wear such
! things once when he loved me better than
= rum. What have [ done that [ should be
= clothed in rags, and see the fnery that was
J. purchased with my own money sported on
- on these line things, and sec how they will
- compare with my present home, those ema-
: ciated limbs, and the garments that sea, cely
: :; hide theml Shall not look.like queen
! Saying this, she turned away with hollow
= laugh, leaving me with the third who with a
r. resolute arm, seated me on the steps OF a
~ building beside which | stood, and speedily
=, ~ taking off my best CATERS and lamb swool
~ stocAings put them on her almost naked feet,
= mutterng to herself have needed them
Sorely, soreiy. Bow cruel in the heartlcss
:, thief to keep them from me =
- Once more | was left alone. If could
- have sunk into the earth, gladly wonld
- :. have done so. Bat no, there | sat dressed
!, only in under garments, and looking moro
10 like ghost than living creature. But
~ - had not reached tie climax of horror An
- other female appeared in the distance; sht
j approached, and felt de4th-like sicknes.
&c as she stood before me- | tried to close my
-. eyes against the spectre bat could not. Sh
&, was the perfect picture of despair; and, be
~ sides, there was something in her look tha
&c oyerawed, that made me quail like a crim
,1S nal. LAYING her hand on the full whit
nf skirt that flowed to my feet, and examinin
a. its texture, she said in low, thrilling voice
~ Yes, this will do: it is beautiful, very beat
Az tiful indeed and should it not to be = pul
al chased with the money that vas toiled fc
rI;s by these poor hands, while my darling ang,
80 lay morning in his hard cradle, and | coul
On. = not take him up-could not hush him o
o;l my bosom Woman, she said, looking n
~ in the face with gaze | shall never forge
IT 81, &c e. = 4
b;S and have no money t. buy more | d
not answer her :; had lost all power of u
terance There was a calm, desparing G.
preston in her eyes that froze me. 81
fastened them on me moment. and percei
ing ing my shudder of horror at the idea of b
'lth ing utterly deprived of clothing, and left
tor gazing stock in the public street she Dire
'me back, saying, "No, sinful, condemned WON;
t no! | cannot take away thy covering.
list o my child, my cherub, my blessed angel
was heaven thou art innocent, but she is guilt
was No madam | had thought to take it for
Ion shroud, to lay out my dead blbv, my mt
t-off dered child-murdered by the cruelty of
. to drunken father There he lies, in pill owlc
be cradle, with the little soiled frock he h
OR. worn for weeks still on himl | colll II
l5ht go to the neighbors for a shroud. | co
'nce not be- when there was cloth of my ow
Don- so white so fine, so suitable. But no, | "
her not take it from youl Ii | am mol her
and am v oman. Better that | should forbt
u better that my innocent one should 60
hat the grave uncovered He has never SHINE
that let him lie in his pure nakedness. Gods
on gels shall spread over him their spotl
'ked wings. Keep the ill go ten clothing.
'uld may shield thy form from the gaze of M
ople but it cannot shield thy soul from the GU
nix of the childless mothct- the Drunhar
and Wife,
as | D my husband the sound of that yo
1awl is ringing IN my ears this moment Perh;
cps; am weak and foolish bat truly as
made living and sitting he-e, | will never use {
of those articles of dress again. | will |
ance on mourning, and eat bread and water
only will sec no company-no, never will sh
man my face to the world; never will set
with foot into the street again. so long as |
air the wife Of rumseler
she
and
look. "MY FATHgR--MY MOTHER, LOVED NJ
hont Send your little child to bed happy WI
,ed ii ever cares press, gise it a warm good nj
houl- kiss, as it goes to lis pillow. The mem
Of this, in the stormy years which fate
a nv have in store for the little one, will be
pathlaba,n,c cta 10 ha ha, ildarad haphe