The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-27
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II ut Is false-he never robbed you
The was innocent; oh, Luke Bradley,
give him to me again, let me see him
once more, for now he must be grown
Ito manhood, and he was like to me
as child could be; oh, if you but
tknewlwhat it is to yearn for child
fyou have not seen for years, and
know not what may be its fate, you
could not have it in your heart to
refuse me-" slsFS
Z Mrs. Bradley buried her face in
her hands and turned away; the re-
Election of something painfully recur-
ring to her. Her husband seemed
moved, for he answered, in q husky
voice:
"Woman, woman, I have not your
child"
'tBut you took him from me, and
that which you have taken, ye can
give back"
sob, Luke, let the woman have
her child, for she must deeply feel its
ioss."
"Mary. if it were in my power, she
should not ask in vain."
ooh, man, man, you can give him
to me, if you would; why could not
his tender years save him from your
ruthless laws? for he was scarcely
more than eight years old, and barely
knew right from wrong; he was not a
fit subject for vengeance, even had
he done what you alleged against
him, and which L swear he did not. !"
"The case was clear against him,
but thought not his sentence would
have been so severe"
"What matters your thoughts
when they were too late; you should
have stayed your hand, and forborne
to press against one so young. Did
you not think of the mothers an
guish, when you tore from her her
child? No, } ou knew not-you cared
not, for her feelings, for she was
despised thing, an outcast, house
less wanderer; and yet she loved her
child more than those of gentler
blood, for she had borne and watched
it amidst suferings and sorrow We
dreamt not of; it was to her daily,
hourly solace; and, oh! how fondly
she did look at it in its growth, and
think how like it was to herself: the
same stamp of countenance and COM
plexion, the same raven-hair, the
same dark eyes, all, all her very
counterpart, and yet you tore him
from her arms, sent him far away,
and, from that time, she has not
looked upon him again. In that
hour, Luke Bradley, I prayed to
curse you-to wither up your hearts
glad feelings-and to place grief and
sorrow in their stead-it has come to
pass. Now, if you will give me back
my boy, I will pray again-my
prayer may be liz .ened toSyou may
forget your sorrow, and be happy
again. Luke Bradley, will you give
me back my boy?"
Woman, woman, 1 am troubled
for you; and, were it in my power,
would do as you wish"
1T Is IN your power -"
.Would it were so, you should not
suffer longer"
"Tell me, my good woman" said
Mrs. Bradley, sis that your child?"
"She isl
81 have looked long at her, and
yet she bears no traces of thine?"
"Then, she is like her father"
GLOW know I that?"
because you have my word for it.,
which is all you ever can have.'
"Woman, I grieve to see one like
her brought up in thy wild way of life
L feel for her interest; why, I know
not-but still I do feel drawn towards
her, and if you will consent that she
shall stay with me, she shall be cared
for, as kindly even as you could
wish"
why should r. part with my
child?"
"You shall have money!
"Can gold wipe out the ties of
flesh and blood? or do you think,
because you are rich and powerful,
you can buy the affections of a mo-
ther for her child?"
'Have you no wish to see her we'll
placed in the world, beyond the
chance of want?"
"She is happy as she is, and covets
not more"
'Tell me, girl, would you stay with
me?"
my mother has been ever kind to
me-"
"And so will l."
''But not q mother"
Eyes, all q mother can be-"
Lady, there is tie that links MS
in our wild way of life We know not