The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-04-09


the room to the Stairanding He put forth one of his
feet and was about descend when suddenly he stopped
and grasped with both hands the door-trame.
"Ah--ah," he gasped, "I-feel-faint. I'll haste
nto-the open air"
Slowly he descended step by step-stil growing fee
bier as he proceeded until he reached the bottom Of the
stars-when heavily he sank upon the floor from sheer
sickness and fainting.
Good God" fell audibly from his lips and then he
rolled slowly over upon the floor, groaning in agony
Next day. when the carts that bore the dead bodies Of
those whom owned the grave were going their
rounds they found him wing the spot where he had
tallen-a corpse Thus died he whose sacrgious hand
had dared to strike where death had first struck The
fever had cheated him, but would not be cheated Who
he they never learned and they buried him in the
public ground-him and his rival in one grave. What
length will man not go-what viii he dare, to crafty
his thirst for revenge. But he who lie hath said
vengeance is mine, and will repay"
My Treasure.
He was all that was left to me-my little Clarence
for the grave had closed the loved form of him who
was to have been nay stay and comfort through life and
with all the tenaCty of dispaiF my heart clung to my
idol boy, my last and only earthly comfort. In the
rst storm of grief determined return at once the
dear friends and relatives that had but three years
before lefta happy, hopeful bride; but interest and
sense OF duties that might thus be neglected keeny
pressed upon and drove back the rising deermina-
ton With enough of the worlds goods keep off the
fear Of poverty and aHd comfortable home fairly
started ana associated too with all the happy hours Of
married life felt what to break up and depart would
be sacrifice Of which was capable. Iielt too that
there work enough for nae to do if would do it
for had not immortal soul entrusted to my keeping
be fitted for eternity Ard besides tus how many of
Gods creatures might be rendered happy by benefits
received at my band? So determined at once to break
through the cloud that seemed to envelope me- and go
Db0U che Iu4E
still young and many years Of usefulness was before
My little boy was indeed u comfort to nae, and the
Of him. together with the thankuuess that he
not TAKEN served to que whatever rebeous thoughts
that might rise in my widowed heart. How many grief
stricken there who stop TO reflect how much
the trial might have been how much heavier the
blow might have fallen had God seen fit He never
mtes our hearts 50 severely but that there may be al
ways found some source OF cousoIaon;andI often think
how thankful those widowed mothers should be that their
little ones are spared.
Years few on apace and my Treasure was baby
no longer, but a romping rolIckiug shool-boy, now
trying for the first time the stern realities of school dis
cipIne. Il with regret confess that I saw him
longer babvgr0wiug almost out Of my embraces but
with this the reflection that few years, ii
he spared would find him stay and comfort indeed
cung to this thought with almost childish inatuati0n,
and its cheerful spirit served dispel many weary and
lonely hour. When l saw him finish his last scholastic
year and prepare leave for the untried dangers
and temptations Of college life no wonder my heart
rebeIed AGAINST my better ulo}oent and almost forced
mo to l.aaI, hin, gtI II, o. A. ;, ~ H.
mothers eve Reason nrevaiIed however and bp left
me attended hy many oit repeated words Of advica and
feryeut prayers which only mothers heart can offer.
Those Years Of absence were very long ones to me,
although hey broken by his occasional visits home
At last the long separa0n was at an end. with the
honorary graduation came the restoration to the home
that had missed him 50 long Il was with Dardonahe
pride think that I nazed nnon his manly form and
now overwhelmingly the noble trairs in his character
rrtarsncad the btser ones 80 common To o1rnat1re
Then if was that elr that the labor of so many wears
Ihoueh thev had sometimes seemed irksope were not
IN vain Something too of the old love of Years long
past came yelling uD into my heart as bcheld how
much he resembled linn who at the age Of my boy had
won the love and admiration Of nv vounr heart
But tile irving hour Ito mel was vet to come-aI-
though knew hir to be ,yoe, son all that mothers
heart could wish vet could net drive aav the convc-
ton thar some av NV place in bis heart must probably
be usurped by one in whose power It Yog3 be TO render
MIN very happv or very miserable
This thought was narrowing to me- hut cast itavay
and tried to forget that he could ever be anothers
Struggle a. might, when the hour came was unpre-
pared for it. Ny whole nature became rebellous the
moment the subject was baoacled by him. but succeeded
in being calm aud keeping back the words that NV plead
ing heart prompted | listened attentiyely while he
her many virtues and all the attractive ea
lures Of her character with lovers ondneSs and par
O.
feelings that filed nv heart? Jeaous Yes, and Of one
whom had neyerseen. Ii had listened to nv dar-
ing's recital as mother should. would have been pre-
possessed in her favor instead of induging in those
wicked feelings so quickly to bring after them punish
nent concealed from him those feelings. and wish
ag him all the happiness he anticipated lid him good
1Fc with the words 60 nv SON and bring to your
home YOUR chosen bride and may she never prove less
, friend than your mother has eyerbce
Hs went from me bearing A hsnnr bonefnI heart
title dreaming that his was almost bursting with it,
weight Of concealed sorrow Iknew that re0onstrance
was useless and determined that he could be happy
10 word or act OF mine should MARI that bapninessId
knew fuf well that hint to him Of nv bitter hnf not
,ntircv uamotborIv feelings would uncle his e,Jn OF
oy viii other than pleasant ingredients
H. retnrnad but OH how ehaRged (}hr the aoonr ,f
hat hour. when Is3w him return with slow li9oerinu
tons AMI the heart 60 Ifrt and barrv on his dn9rtrr
NV hnr.tnp vith the Sorrow win which il ,as sr
.harrd With What faeIIaS of hitter repentance and
nrIi.h did listen to hi, s1ortIIin af the hIaetiur,
# his homes Of the meeting On M arrival of norrsa
instead of t6e precious lovely being he So ondIv boned
yonId bless and share his baroue down the stream o
ira Her death had been otacef,I one hut OH how
ndJen, when hahad NV bravo |o, 80 bo,,ad yir}
,riaf and his yoptbf,I snrif so Suddenly and faarflI
rushed what wonder tfat woYd have given q.orIds
bd tber bea, T,;Tel N have rad rho rs%s+ f. a.
,var sanin and how ,iIIinrI Gladly would have Wi.
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