Middletown transcript., 1868-01-18

parents and tell them my last request is that they
will care for you and the children. Give my
babes fathers blessing and love, and oh my
own bear up for their sakes. | commend my
soul TO God and pray Him to iogve my persec,l-
tors. They murder an innoccnt"-
Here the letter was broken off, but in an
unknown hand was scrawlcd,-
''lIc is innocent now He'll never hav1a
chance to murder another man. his Id neck
is broken.h
In speechlcss grief | gave the letter to
my parents, who seemed overwhelmed
when they read it, father walked the floor
in agony tearing his hair; while mother
sat wringing her hands in fearless sorrow,
saying, ''oh my poor boy, to die such a
death, and be buried in naneless grave,
and not tear to shed over thy fate
D, God the fountain Of my heart seems
dried up"
Like hers, my grief was fearless. My
brain seemed on fire. But the tears came
like rain when my little Alice came in and
innoccntly asked for her papa; saying Il
want to kiss him mamma"
Through the mercy of God / lived on
and was sane. But the sweetness of life
had flowed out. The strong arm, had
been wont TO lean on was near me no lon
ger. My wise councillor, my leader, my
beloved, lay prone in the dust Hereafter
| must stand alone, and bc father and mo-
ther too, to my children. Knowing this,
tried to lend all my thoughts and enger-
gies to the best way of caring for them.
! had comfortable home with my pa
rents, who felt nearer than ever now.
remained with them, living in quiet
seclusion, having no desire to go out into
the world, and shrinking from contact with
strangers.
! heard often from my mother and sister
| and with every letter came entrcaties for
my return, but, | could not 60 there yet
| could not bear the sight of old familiar
faces and things, t'would bring my troubles
all back too freshly. | longcd to be with
those two dear ones once more, and often
in my dreams, was home as of old, free
from care and full of hope In one letter
my sister wrote me that the Grestcrs had
been arrested and hung. They were taken
in some new crime, condemed to be hung
and then confessed to the murder for which
my husband suffered. could but rejoice.
Retribution had come, and We were free
from disgrace.
1t was in the Spring that Gerty was five
years old, that heard father saying tht
public school in that place was without ;
teacher. and he, with the other trustees
were somewhat perplexcd to find suitabl,
person to take charge of it. AS he spoke
the thought crossed my tlind that nigh
do it, had long been thinking | woul,
like to be independent, and do something
to relieve my father of my support, So
told him what | wished to do. He smiled
and said "oh, no, daughter; we want yo,
at home, your own children are enough
for you to educate" But pleaded that
could educate them and others too. The,
were old enough to accompany me to school
1t was better for them to go to school, thai
be taught at home, and if were the teach
or they would be cared for as by no on
else. This carried the point; for | wa
amply qualified in regard to education t
more than fill the situation.
After entering upon my duties, whic
, were not arduous, | felt better than ha
q for years. My occupation drew me on
! from self, and this was what needed.
: continued teaching here for nearly thrc
years, when some difficulty in regards t
funds caused the school to be closed. A
. this time my sistcr-in-law was visiting u
: and persuaded me to accompany her HON
!, to Albany, saying if / must teach an
! could not survive without it, could get
situation there which would pay me muc
:, better, and her house should be my HON
if liked After thinking much about il
= / concluded to try it, But it was sol
trial to leave this place, which had she
. tered me for eight years and go anon
= strangers. Beside was to leave Alit
,s with her grandparents, at least for Will
4 4 and the thought of being separated frol
7 her for the first time troubled me.
= seemed like forsaking her, although kne
. she would be cared for affectionately an
= !, tenderly. When leaving 1 gave many il
: functions that | should be summoned in
: mediately if she were taken sick. 81
!, = look little like it as left her; for she hi
I always been remarkably robust. But chi
!. dren are always liable to contagious di
Y case, and feared she might not escap
IN Gerty was always frail little thin
10 iooklnS several yctHs younger tnah 81
- ;. should and. was often unable to attcl
T. school. / Isometimes feared she would nev
= grow up to womanhood but Alice was
y picture of rosy healthfullness to delight
u u mothers eyes and allay her fears.
~ When we reached the city, found
= pleasant home and kind friends in my 81
= ter and her husband. The change great
III benefited Gerty. and if Alice had be
= with us should have been content.
- :, liked my new situation, and was al
s. pleased with the social circle in which Il
:. - sister moved. | was still young, my heal
10 ;s and beauty unimpaircd, and after my To-
IL u isolation, society was both novel and agre
~ able.
often had letters from father, telli
ip of my darling's welfare, with sometin
ls ae one from herself, telling me she wanted
~ see mo 90 much and to nleaae come and 4