Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-11-19

ness of daughter-who owed her fortunes,
sueh as they were, to the poor woman starv-
ing and neglected i'm the next foom--leaying
parent, dying perhaps, In the care OF on.v
child FIVE years old, that mildly rel ected
uponfhe remarks which the 'neighbofs might
make on the occasion. / was speedily 81
fenced by that iadescribable manner which a
Low bred woman always can assume to those
whom she considers as interfering withher
concerns; and on her departure, her husband,
his eyes still dazed and lustreless from last
nights excess, merely put his head inside of
my door and gave me lock; but that glance
decided me against interfering any further.
was doomed 20 cherries Christmas eve
alone, in wretched lodging, with no other
occupants than a bed-ridden old woman and
miserable child. had taken rather more
expensive dinner than usual that evening, in
honor of the day; and when returned, lind
ing my fire rather low, l called out to the
little .eaild, who was, supposed, in her
granny's room, to come and show me where
the coaieellar was A shrill eyes, sir" an
swered me, and waited for my little guide.
She was a long time coming; and / was get
ting wearied and eold,when heard strange
hobbling outside my door, and, to my horror
and amazement, the old mother staggered in
with coal-scuttle in her hand, the little
child grasping her thin. dress and smiling all
the while. r,
"Gracious Heavens" gasped, show is
this? Why are you here? Whatever in
duced you to get up to do this would
have gone without fire hundred times
rather than you should have run this risk"
The old woman smiled, as | seized the
coaLscuttle out of her palsied hands. ats
nothing. I'd do it for you, sir--for you but
not for them-no, not for them. God bless
you, sir Goodnight and merry christmas
to you. Come, Nancy, darling"
ssFor Gods sake,"I cried, ego back to
bed; you'll kill yourself in this bitter cold
Go back, beseech you"
'I'm going, SIR said the, shiyering crea-
ture, .but are you sure you want nothing
fetched, or anything ~. 4 -,l''- -
sTn Heavens name, no pr cried again
'Dogo back to bed-you'll kill yourself"
NO" muttered the poor old wretch, as |
watched her retreating to her den. shall
not have killed myself" And so murmuring
she hobbled out of sight.
Ny terrors were increasing / poked the
fire, but could get no addition to my spirits
by watching the friendly blaze. AT last, worn
out, and at late hour, determined upon
going to bed, and trying to overcome the sad
forebodings which had 9seized upon me by
sleep. l lay long time awake, but at length
went off into deep slumber. How long L
remsined unconscious l do mot know, but
troublesome dreams affected my sleep, in
creasing in horror till they eliminated in my
starting up in my bed with loud cry ringing
in my ears. Believing it to be the effect of
disordered fancy, Twas preparing to sleep
again, when my blood ran Jelly through my
veins at a repetition of the former cry. 1t
was a child's voice. Yes; and in the next
room listened, and heard a struggling, and
then the pattering of naked feet upon the
boarding of the adjacent chamber. l was
frozen with fear. Suddenly heard the child
cry out in panic of fear, Granny, granny,
DON'T Send it away send it awayl Go
away ] / don't know you; you are SO ugly.
Go awayi" And a struggle again. This time
the child's voice was raised almost to a shrek.
/" 60 awayl go awayi Who are you? Let
granny alone. oh, mother, mother, come
back come back to granny" And moment
after the little naked feet went pattering
down and up the stairs, while the child moan
ed piteously, "0h, mother, mother, come
backl" Mastering my fears as well as j
could, leaped out of bed, huddled on some
clothes, and cautiously opened my bedroom
door. 1t was pitch dark outside but | could
hear the child, still moaning, descending the
kitchen stairs. Feeling my way to the old
wOman's room, reached the door and paused
to listen. There was silence over the house,
save when the Bailipg of the little girl could
be indistinctly heard below. Carefully push
ing the door open, l entered, and nearly
shrieked aloud at the sight which met my
1aA IN, Ha1 faa
knees together, sat the old woman. Her
eyes we're widely staring, her hands grasping
the wretched quilt, her Jaw dropped, her face
the color of stone, and as infexible. She
was dead --=l... .--..ff 49,.
Taking hasty inspection of the miserable
room, TO insure that no one was concealed
there, and that there had been no foul play,
carefully and shudderingly retired, and had
just lighted my candle in my room when
heard the child ascending the stairs again. /
called her by name, and she ran, sobbing to
me, speechless from horror As soon as
could obtain an answer from her asked her
what she had seen Was. it a mans' .g
"No, no; it wasn't man, nor a woman
She didn't kUow what it was, but it was so
dreadful, so ugly. Oh, poor gramyl"
This was all could learn from her. put
her into my bed, and leaving the candle
lighted, went out of the house and walked
about the streets till daylight The carOusers
had returned, aid knew the worst then. They
were sobeled after the shock; and were civil
to me, and thanked me for the care l had
taken of the child, whom, however, they stu
diously kept away from me. The old woman
was decenIly buried; and on Newly FEARS Day
/ left my lodgings. l shall never forget that
night SO long as live. But nchqt acas ii tie
child Sap?