The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-02-01

SHOCK, DuC Heafu nlil a0u CneSo WoruS
| Il was also instructed in the vision to sc
your father free, upon the day that you be
came my wife
But said at last, my whole heart re
coiling from him, this would be a shame
full wrong to Priscilla. 1t cannot be Wis
ion from heaven, but delusion and snare
Marry Priscilla, and set my father free
Surely, surely, it was lying vision
No. he said. fastening his gaze upol
me; 4 chose Priscilla rashly of my owl
Judgment. Therein erred but | hav
promised her half the dowry as a compen
sation for my error
Father / cried, surely ought to hav,
some direction also, as we'll as he. Why
should only he have vision 2 Then I add
ed that would go home and see Priscilla
and seek sign for my own guidance
| Dec A. Priscilla was ill in bed when
reached home, and refused to see me.
arose at o'clock this morning and stol,
down into the parlor. AS | lighted tn
lamp, the parlor looked forlorn and deserted
and yet there fingered about it a ghostly
feeling, as if perhaps my mother, and th,
dead children | never saw, bad been sitting
on the hearth in the night, AS We sat in tn,
daytime. Maybe she knew my distress, anc
had left some token for my comfort ant
counsel. My Bible lay upon the table, but il
was closed her angel fingers had not open
ed it upon any verse that might have guild
| ed me. There was no mode of seeking direc
| ton, save by casting lots
cut three little slips of paper of one
length, and exactly similar-tb'ee, though
surely, only need two. Upon the FIRST
| wrote TO be Brother More's wife = and
upon the second, 10 be single Sister. :
The third lay upon the desk, blank and
white. as if waiting for some name to be
written upon it, and suddenly all the chilly
cold of the winter morning passed into a
sultry heat, until there open the easement
and let the frosty air breathe upon my face.
| said in my own heart would leave my
selfa chance, though my conscience smote
me for that word chance So laid the
three slips of paper between the leaves OF
my Bible. and sat down opposite to them,
afraid of drawing the lot which held the Sc
cTet Of my future life.
There was no mark to guide me in the
choice Of Que slip of paper from another ;
and L dared not stretch out my hand to
draw one Of them. For l was bound to
abide by the solemn decision 1t seemed too
horrible to become Brother More's wife; and
to me the Sisters Home, where the Single
Sisters dwell, having all things in
common, seems dreary and monotonous and
somewhat des0ate. But if should draw
the blank paper My heart futtered; again
and again stretched out my hand, and
withdrew it; until at last the oil 10 the lamu
70 lIFrhf !
DINNER, and. fearful Of being still longer
without guidance snatched the middle
lot from between the leaves of my Bible.
There was only a gimmer of dying
light, bywhicn Tread the words, 60 be
Brother More's WIFE
This was my last entry i'll my journal,
written three years ago.
When Susannah came down stairs and
entered the parlor, she found me sitting be.
fore my desk, almost in an idiotic state,
with that miserable lot in my hand. There
was no need to explain it to her; she looked
at the other slip of paper, one blank, and
the other inscribed, TO pe Single Sister,
and she knew had been casting lots. |
remember her crying over me little, and
kissing me with uDaccustomed tenderness
and then she returned to her chamber, and
heard her speaking to Priscilla in grave
and sad tones. After that, we were all passive
even Priscilla was stolidly resigned Broth
er More came over, and Susannah informed
him of the irrevocable lot which | had drawn
but besought him to refrain FROM seeing
me that day; and he left me alone to grow
used to the sense of my wretchedness.
Early the next morning returned tc
Woodbury.; my only consolation being the
thought that my dear father would be sci
free and might live with me in wealth anc
comfort all the rest of my life. During the
succeeding days l scarcely left his side
never suffering Brother Nor,
to be alone with Inc; and morning and Johr
Robbins or his wife accompanied me to tn,
gate Of the Jail and waited for me to return
with them to their cottage.
| My father was to be set Free only on my
wedding day, and the marriage was hur
ried on. Many of Priscila's store of wed
ding garments were suitable to me. Ever,
hour brought my doom nearer.
One morning, in the gloom and twilight
of December dawn, suddenly met Ga
briel in my path. He spoke rapidly ant
earnestly. but scarcely knew what he said
and answered falteringly:
4 am going to be married to Brother
Joshua More on New Years Day, and h
will then release my father WI
Eunice,' he cried, standing before me in
the narrow path, you can never marry him
| know the fat hypocrite. Good Heayen
love you hundred times better than be
does. Love! The rascal does not know
what it means
answered not word, for felt afrai,
both of myself and him, though did no
believe Gabriel to be wolf in sheep's cloth
ing.
Do you know who am p he asked.
No | whispered. ss-as
4 am your mncle's nephew by marriage,
he said, and have been brought up il
his house. Break off this wicked p,arriag
with this fellow More, aud l will engage t
release your father. | am young, and cal
work. ! will pay your fathers debts
1T Is impossible,' replied, Brother Nor
has had heavenly vision, and | hav
drawn tue lot. There is no hope. mus
marry him upon New Years day
Then Gabrael persuaded me to tell hin
the whole story of my trouble. He laughe
little and babe me be of good comfort
and | could not make him und, stand nov
impossible it was that should con.en
against the dispensation of the lot
Always when was with my father
strove to conceal my misery. talking to hin
of the happy days we should spend togethe
some time. Likewise sang within til
walls of the prison the simple hymns whic
, we had been ont to sing in the peacefr
l church in school amid congregation of 8,
rene hearts, and | strengthened my ow
heart and my fathers by the recollecte
\ counsels of my dear lost pastor. Thus III
r father guessed little of my hidden suffering
3 and looked forward with hope to the da
s that would throw open his prison doors.
e Once went to the pastor, dwelling
Woodbury., and poured out my heart to hin
d save that made 10 mention of Gabriel
d and he told me it was often thus vii
s young girls before their marriage, but TIL
l had clear leading; he also told me tn
Brother More was devout man, and