The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-05-11
A STARTLING CONFESSION.

Mordacai Paine, sadler, doing busi-
ness on North Ninth street, was called
from his work On Saturday morning by
messenger who brought the melancholy
intelligence that his wife, Barbara, had
taken arsenic for the purpose of commit
ting suicide, and was then at the point of
death. He hastened to her bedside, and
found her more in agony of mind than
body. She declared that there was some
thing on her mind which she wished to
confess to him before her departure, with
the hope Of obtaining his forgiveness
Mr.. Paine, with great emotion, desired
Der to 90 on with her disclosure, adding
that she might assure herself of his for
ei7eness before she had made known her
offence
'Ah Mordacai,' said she, you remem-
Der our large white pitcher was broken
some time ago; | pretended to you that
the cat broke it, but that was false, for [
did it myself
'Oh, NY DEAR said Mr.. Paine, don't
concern yourself about such a trife. I
had forgotten the pitcher, aud it matters
not how it was broken
! There is another matter said Mrs. P.
after some hesitation. The silver spoons
which | made you believe were stolen by
the Yankee clock mender, pawned them
to pay the milliner for doing up my pink
satin bonnet
Never mind it, my love- said Mr. P.
encouragiugly. 4 hope heaven will for
give you as freely as do
After a short pause, Mrs. P. began
again:
Your best razor, which you missed
! last summer, and made so much to do
about, l swapped it away to a peddler,
/ for tortoise shell comb
! The deuce .-wen, WE'LL said AIr.
Paine, recollecting himself that is all
done DOW, and cannot be amended. Think
no more Of it,
1 could not leave this world with such
a thing on ny conscience, replied the
fair peuiteut.
! 60 on, 60 on, cried Mr.. Paine, I told
you that ! would forgive everything at
such time as this
Mrs. Paine resumed:
You remember our boarder, Simon
Drcke, who ran up bill of six weeks,
and then ran Of in q hurry without pay
ing cent. He and l had agreed to
elope together; but he changed his mind
at the moment and ran away without me-
Fire and fury do you dare to tell me
this? ? cried Mordacai in great excitement.
But as you are dying, won't reproach
you. Ill leave you now to settle the affair
with your own conscience
Stay and hear one thing more. The
dose | took this morning was intended
for you, put it in your cup of cefee, but
in my hurry to have the thing done, |
gave you the wrong cup and took the
right one myself
The devil fy away with you, you Jade =
roared Mordacai, as be flung himself out
of the room. In the entry he met the
apothecary, who had sold Mrs. Paine the
fatal powder, This medical man had
heard of the commotiou at Paine's house,
and suspecting the cause of it, he came
to administer hope and comfort to the
afflicted.
Don't be alarmed, Mr.. Paine said he,
the drug sold to your wife was nothing
but magnesia. Judged that she wished
to destroy herself, and l tricked her in
this way to save her life
You swindling rascal shouted Paine,
'how dare you cheat customer in that
shameful manner, and obtain her money
on false pretences Begone ?
And with this exclamation be violently
elected the astopished apothecary from
his front door. The man of physic, sus-
pecting of course that the poor Mordacai
was defaDged, sent two officers to provide /
for his safe keeping. His relation of the
preceding dialogue, however, soon OBJ.
tanned his discharge.
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