The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-12-28
He says he does
What g his namef'

MS
He won't tell us. He goes by the name
of Smith; but I am satisfied such is not
his true name. He is in the last. stage of
!, consumption and delirious. He HAS lucid
intervals, but they do not last long. He
has been here week, He was picked up
i'm the street and brought here. He heard
your name, and said he knew you once,
i Mr.. Sanburn went to the room where
the patient lay, and looked at him-sureay
he never knew that man. There must Be
isome mistake he said.
The invalid heard him, and opened his
eyes-such biood-shot, sunken and un-
ieasthly looking eyes.
Harry he whispered. trying to lin
lhimself upon his ellow; 'is this Henry
Seaburn?'
That's my name.'
And you don't know me?'
Poor fellow" said the physician, "he
never came out Of that fit, he died in Just
half an hour after you went OUT" r
1t was dark when Seaburn catne home.
'tYou didn't tell Bridget where to put
those demijohns, Henry" said his wife.
She had not noticed his face, for the gas
was burning dimly.
.Ah.. I !. forgot. Come down with me
Cora, and wen find place for them.' w.
His wife followed him down into the
basement, and one by one he took the
demiiohns and carried them into the rear
yard, and there he emptied their contents
into the sewer. Then he broke the vessels
in pieces with his foot. and bade Bridget
have the dirt men take the fragments away
in the morning. Not one word had he
spoken to his wife, nor did she speak to
him. He returned to the sitting room,
where his boys were at their books,
and took seat upon one of their tete-a-
tete. He called his wife and children
about him, and told the story Of AIexan-
der Loinberg. Gitg .4# t,55
| And now my loved ones,' added he, lay
ing his hands upon the heads of his boys,
| I have made n solemn VOW that henceforth
my children shall find no such influence
Mt their BONES. They shalt never have
occasion to curse their father. I will
touch ewine-cupnom more forever. What
say you. my boys, will you join me in the
sacred pledge?
They Joined him with glad. gushing
| willingness. for their hearts were full. and
their sympathies all tuned, by a mothers
careful love, to right. -.t3k+ u - ~ Z
And you, Cora?'
Yes, yes,' she cried. tAnd may the
holy lessons of this hour never be forgOt-
ten. Oh God, let it rest an angel of mercy
upon my bows. Let it he light to their
feet i'm the time of temptation. And so
shalt they carry with them from their
home.'
Tam sure do not and he would have
said that he did not wish to. only the man
...~..,l
not wonnd what little feeling he might
have left.
| Have you forgotten ynur old playmate
in bovhood, Harry-your old friend i'm
other years-your friend in Colleges?
What! gasped Seaburn. starting back
aghast, as a glimmer of truth burst upon
him. This is not Alec Lomberg?'
'All that is left of him, my Hail. return
] ed the fellow putting forth his wasted skel-
eton hand, and smiling faint. quivering,
dying smile. Ah-pater peccavi.'
You wouldn't have known me, Hal
Good Heaven-nO!
| Il know I am altered. All, Hal, sic
transit gloria nttndI.'
But. Alec cried Seaburn, how is this :?
| Why are You here?
Rum, Hal, Rum! I'm about done for
But wanted to see you. They told me
You lived not far away land / would look
upon one friend before died.
But heard you were practicing in your
profession, Alec, and doing WE'LL
so did well when practiced. Hal, I
up all that
i And your father where is hep
DO not mention him. Hal. We've bro
ken. I do not know him he taught me to
drink! Aye. he taught me! and then
turned the cold shoulder to me when
drank too much. But 1 am going Hal
going, going. ~.
Henry Seaburn gazed into that horrible
face, and remembered that its owner had
been-the soon of wealthy parents; the
idol ofa fond mother; the favorite at
school, at play and College;a light of in
tellect and physical beauty, and noble
generous friend. And now, alas!
Yes And the poor fellow started
higher up from his pillow, and something
of the old light struggled for moment in
his eyes. Pray for me, Hal, pray for my
soul. Pray that 1 may go where my
mother is. She won't disown her bov.
She could not have done had she lived.
Oh she was good mother, Hal. Thank
God, she did not live to see this! PRAY
for me-pray-pray-? Let me go to
her!
AS the wasted man sank, he fell to weep
Ing. and in a moment more one of his par
oxysms came on and he began to rave. He
thought Henry was his father, and he
cursed him, and cursed the habit that had
been fastened upon him underthat fathers
influence. But Henry could not stop to
listen. With an aching heart he turned
away and left the hospital. He could not
go home to dinner then; he walked down
town and got dinner there. At night he
went to the hospital again. He would
enquire after his friend, if he did not see
hum.
From the Memphis Appeal, Dec. 9Th.
Bloody Tragedy.