The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-02-26
WOoDsFIELD. MONROE COUNTY. OHIO FEBRUARY 26 1861

footstep-not his heart-beat-oh, the
footstep of the invisible thing that was
springing toward him in the darkness.
She never would come He had been
there yesrs-forever! And the night was
clearing little-most horrible of ALL
Accustomed to the gloom, his eyes began
dimly to distinguish objects in the vault
below. The most ordinary articles took
hideous shapes-nothing was still-all
moving toward him.
He tried to get back on the top step
he could not stir! Something on the
stairs and he could not cry out-clouds Of
blackness rolling slowly back, and his
agony growing keener with the restored
power Of sight.
One more wild struggle-more fright
ful sounds-all those dreadful shapes
coming closer and closer--a faint utter
ance of the words his mother had taught,
Our Father, which
Then there was long, dull noise,-the
child slid slowly from stair to stair, and
lay motionless at the foot.
School was over, the children had dis
persed, and were riotous with their hour
of play. Miss Folsom still sat in the
dull room; a few rays from the setting
sun brightsned it little, but she did no.
notice. She was busy-writing letter
to the Guardians about her salary.
It was not until she rose to 90 out to
supper that she remembered the boy
Never mind; to be sure she had left him
longer than she meant, but it would do
him goodl
She went to the cellor door and opened
it.
"You can come out" she said.
There was no answer.
"Are you sullen yet? Take care, or
I'll leave you all night. Come out this
moment!"
Not soundl Call louder, Miss Fol-
som, speak more sternly; how dare the
little pauper disobey your voice!
She peered eagerly into the darkness.
Nothing there With a feeling at her
heart such as had not stirred its pulses
for years, the teacher moved cautiously
down the steps. The light from the open
door streamed in, and showed the little
form huddled on the ground.
Miss Folsom raised the boy and carried
him up stairs into her own room. God
knows what she felt then-oh! well that
He is merciful!
The next day the children knew that
Charley Gates was in the sick room, but
whether their blunted senses connected
his illness with the punishment of the
previous evening, mattered little; there
was no one to whom they could complain.
Itwas week later-just week.
The boy Charley lay in little bed by
the open window; the afternoon sun
streamed in warm and pleasant.
All that day he had had his senses for
the first time, but he was so weak that he
could not talk much. The dull deIirium
of the past days was over-no more AZ
peals to be taken out of the dark-no
more cries of, Mother, mother" that
had wrung Miss Folsom's soul whenever
her duties permitted her to enter the
apartment.
Charley had been asleep-he had ava
kened only few moments before, and
begged to have the window opened, and
Just then Miss Folsom came in
He saw her, and put up bis little thin
hands, while wild terror, such as his
face had worn in his delirium, shot over
his features.
"Ill be goodI I'll be goodl' he cried
family.
"You'd better 60 away, said the nurse
grufay; you'll make him as bad aseyer.
Il won't hurt you, Charley" groaned
Miss Folsom. "Oh! Charley, Charley,
won't hurt youP'
"Dont make such fusss," retorted
the other; '.you didn't mean any harm
but if it gets out you'd lose your place.
But Miss Folsom was on her knee:
by the bed, kissing wildly the pale hand
which lay over the coverlet, and begging
for mercy.
Charley was not frightened any longer
he lay looking at her with 9 staring won.
der.
"Who are your" he whispered. &
"l'm your teacher Charley. Oh, for
give me-"
81 didn't know you could cry, be saiC
quietly, but the words would haunt the
woman to her death. s q
She could not talk to him much; very
soon he seemed sleepy again, and lay fol
little time with his eyes closed.
"You stay here, said the nurse; ell
come back right away"
Miss Folsom took the chair she haG
left, and sat watchIng the little pale face
with remorse such as | pray you and
may never feel.
Suddenly he opened his eyes, and I
strange brightness illuminated his whole
countenance
"The music" he said in clear voice
s'the music Fe;
Miss Folsom could not speak-coult
only follow his upturned gaze with fright
ened awe. s
He laid his head back on the pillow a
last and looked at her.
"Did you see thsm?' he whispered.
"See what, Charley?" she sobbed.
A smile irradiated his face-the sun
| light stole in, and lay soft and bright OF
the bed; again the child's hand was up
| lifted the eager eyes gazed far away il
the distance. sn
"Our Father, which art in Heaven
Down on her knees Miss Folsom listen
ed, but there was no other word. Th'