The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-26

The wasted form of the child lay
there, all pale and withered; the
straight brown hair was parted on
his thin forehead; the mothers un-
covered breast, where his head rest
ed, was white, and The hands deli
cate; the raiment was luxurious; that
head had not been reared in expecta-
ton of dying on bed of rock.
Ellen burst into O food of tears, and
wrung her hands as she stood by,
looking on what she had done.
The woman lifted her eyes and tried
to form her lips into smile; she no
longer felt any vehement passion, and
the torment of thirst was now only
one of the psngs of death. Her eyes
wandered to the water, but when
Ellen moved to fetch some, she stop
ped her.
"No; it was for him. He is at ease
now. You did right. Don't grieve."
Forgive me-" said Ellen, kneeling
at her side.
''Oh, yes! the poor, precious babe
suffers no more. I was mad; you
said truly in that. I nursed him at
my breast till his lips grew dry even
there; We lived not far from your
cavern, and have seen you, and been
glad you had water. We had some.
We:@ Yes; is not my husband dead;
and my boy is dead, too! See! there
IS blood on his face; wipe it away; he
will die else.'' Ellen's sobs caught
her wandering attention. 81 remem-
Der now; you killed him! Oh, good
angel, guardian angel! You have
III I,Sy nd SC T {<>
fer. He is gone from this dear, dear
body! wish it did not look so like
him still-it looks in pain, too-it
looks thirsty" Ellen hid her own
face on the mothers shoulder for an
instant-her children had awakened
at the noise of the pistol, and they
we're out of bed and clinging around
her; her sorrow reused theirs, and
the sound of their lamentation reach
ed the dying woman's ear. "There
are my children crying. Alasl 1
thought they had all been dead"
''They are mine," said Ellen.
'Yours are at rest; yours are all
| dead"
''Thank Godr' said the mother;
and, though the words were earnest,
the voice was faint; all the effort of
nature was in them, but they came
feebly from her lips After that, in
distinct sounds and murmured names
only were heard; her breath came in
gasps, and at long and longer inter
walls, till the faint shuddering of her
limbs ceased by degrees, and, after it
had been insensible to the world for
awhile, the spirit quilted it forever
Ellen's heart died within her; her
senses were troubled, and she pressed
herself in Paulett's arms without
knowing when he came or being sur
prised that he was there.
ooh, Paulett!" she said, at last, II
have not done wrong, but it is so
dreadful!''
Paulett soon gathered from her all
that had happened, and gazed with
pity on what had once been beauti-
full form, but rejoiced that it suffered
no longer. Ellen, shuddering, ar
ranged the dress, composed the
limbs, and, with thousand tears,
placed the infant on that breast which
had been so faithfully its mother to
the last. And there they slept-mo-
ther and child-the day of trouble
ended for both
''My poor Ellen,'' said Paulett, II
wish 1t were thou and my children
who were there at restr' and Ellen
pressed her Charles and her Alice to
her heart, and would have been glad
if they had, indeed, been dead.
TO BE CONTINUED.
PLEASE DoN'T.-On recent occa-
| sion one Of Our friends Woo cop,;por