The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-30
BDDEFORD ME-, FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER %, 1867.

down rs we'll as could in my drunken stat
and clinched both hands In her hair.
God of mercy exclaimed my wife, q
she looked up In my 6endish countenance
you will not kill US, you will not harm
Willie,' Is she sprang to the cradle ant
grasped him in her embrace. I caught he
again by the hair. and dragged her to tn
door. and as lifted the latch the wind burs
10 with cloud Of bnow. With wild 'ha
hs = l closed tho door and turned tho hut
ton, her pleading moan mingling with tn
blast and the sharp cry Of her babe. But m!
work was not complete. turned to the lit
tie bed where lay my eldest son, and ] snatch
cd him from his slumbers, and against hi
half.awakened struggles, opened the doo'
and threw him out In agony OF fear HI
called mo by name was not fit to bear
and locked his little fingers in my side.pock
ct. Icould not wrench that frcnzied grasI
away, and, with the coolness Of devil aS
was, I shut the door upon his arm, and with
my knile severed the wrist"
The speaker ceased moment, and buriet
his face In his trembling hands, as IL to shu
out some fearful dream, and his deep ches
hcaved like a storm.swept sea. My fathe'
had arisen from his scat and was leaning
forward, his countenance bloodlees, and thu
largo drops standing out upon his brow
Chills crept back to my heart, and I wished
was at home. The old man looked up
and never since beheld such mortal agony
pictured upon human face as there was or
his. He continued:
"It was morning when l awoke, and the
Storm had ceased, but the cold was intense
first secured drink Of water, and then
looked In tho accustomed place for Mary
As missed her, for the FIRST time shndowy
sense Of somo horrid nightmare began te
dawn upon my wandering mind. Though
had dreamed q fearful dream, but invol
UNFAIRLY opened the outside door with shud
dering drcnd.
As the door opened tho snow burst In
followed by fall Of something across th'
threshold, scattering the cold snow, ant
striking the floor with hard, sharp sound
My blood shot like red hot arrows through
my veins, and I rubbed my eyes to shut ou
tho sight It was-it-Oh, God, how hor
rible! Il was my own injured Mary, and hsl
babe, frozen to ice
The ever true mother had bowed hersel
over the child to shield It, and had wrappet
all her own clothes around 1t, leaving hel
own person stark and bare. She had placet
her hair over the face Of tho child, and th'
sleet had frozen 1t to the whito check. Tit
frost was white in its half opened eyes, ant
upon i.s tiny fingers. know not what be
came OF my brave boy"
Again tho old man bowed bis head ant
wept, and oil that wero in tho house wep
with him. In tones Of low, heart.broker
pathos, the old man concluded:
aI was arrested, and for long months raw
ed in delirium, woke, was sentenced Il
prison for ten years, but no tortures coult
equal those in my own bosom. 0, God
no am not fanatic: I do wish to injurt
no ono. But while I live. let me strive tc
warn others not to enter the path which ha'
been 30 dark and fearful one to me.
could SEQ my angel mother. wife and chill
dren beyond this vale Of tears"
The old man sat down, but spell as deer
and strange rs that wrought BY some wiz
ards breath rested upon the audience
Hearts could have been heard in their beat.
ing, and tears to fall. Tho old man thcr
askod tho people to sign the pledge. My fa'
ther leapod from his seat and suatched at u
eagerly. had followed him as hc hesitated
q moment with his pen in tho ink; q teal
foil from the old mans eye upon the paper.
"Sigu it, young man, sign It. Angel,
would sign It. would sisn my namo ten
thousand times In blood, II II would bring
back my loved ones"
Ny father wrote his namo, "Mortime,
Hudson"
Tho old man looked, wiped his fearful
oyes, and looked again, his countenance al.
ternstely flushed with red and death.like
paleness.
"It is--no, itcannot be, yet how strange,
muttered the old man. "Pardon me, sir,
but this is the name Of my brave boy"
Ny father trembled and held up his lef,
arm from which the hand had been severed,
They looked for moment into each others
ewes. both reeled and exclaimed
my own injured boy"
my father !"
They fell upon each other till Il seemed
their souls would grow and minglo into one.
There was weeping in that church, and
turned bewildercd upon the streaming eycs
around me.
Let me thank God for this great bless
ing. which has Gladdsned my guilt.burthened
SOUL" exclaimed the old man, and kneelinG
down, poured out hl, hesrt in one Of the
most melting prayers ! ever heard. The
spell was broken, and oil eagerly signed the
pledge, slowly going to their homes N II
10th to leave the spot. Tho old man 10 dead,
bu. the lesson no taught the grandchild on
the knee as his evening sun went down with.
on. cloud. will never he forgotten. His
fansticism has lost mono Of its 6re In my
heart.
APPROXIMATE ADDITION. time ago
an uffec,ionaie wife departed this lie, and
- .lL--e. oc h.. l,nsk.nd ,.,l,n ram ain.