South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-09-08
To Die i'm Peace.
By MALcoM ALsrYSE.

while his bead sank upon his breast.
What's the matter, Jack 2 asked fell
I low workman.
Il can't tell exactly was the reply; Il
am sure of one thing, however, and that is.
| | am not able to work have a severe pain
/ in my side, and sometimes when | raise nv
head suddenly from my work, | get so dir
zy that | can scarcely see. | cannot help
but have presentiment that my working
days are almost numbered. Ii only could
/ be assured that
'You do look badly interrupted his COM
panion, as he commenced laying off the in
scripton on the stone at which be was work
ing. Il have been thinking for some time
that you seemed scarcely able to perform
/ your labor
You know, Tom, it used to be said there
was none could cut out a stone, or carve an
( epitaph more quickly than l, but now my
hand has lost its skill, and the swftest
workman has become the slowest.'
well, jack said Tom, do not get dis
couraged maybe
'IIow can help it when I think of what
the future may possibly bring forth a.? The
Lord knows that my dread is not on my
own account. But it makes my heart sick
when | think that those | leave behind
may have to bear extreme poverty. | can
die bravely, bravely if need be, but to re-
alize that they may have to battle against
even bitter want is too much The world
is cold, so cold !
80 Jack [ hope that your fore bodings
may not prove true "
'Dcar Jessamiue, and my other child,
little Minnie, are both delicate flowers
continued Jack, though am a poor mar
ble-cutter. Tom, have shielded them
from the rough storm and the keen blast.
Not like me, but like their dead mother are
they geutle and refined
depend upon it, my comrade,' spoke
Tom, impulsively, that if you are taken
they will not want for protectors. We,
your mates
Tom, my friend, your own families are
sufficient care for you all
Providence will not forsake them. Char
/ ley will return some day
ALAS poor Charley :! said Jack, mourn
fully. Il am afraid that he has gone before
me. o, if could have even a hope of his
return to take care of my children, if the
worst comes, it would help me to be con-
tent. Poor lad ! he left us with brave
words upon his lips, and high hopes in his
heart
Jack was only telling what he had de-
tailed to Tom many a time before 1t
seemed to do him good now, however, to
speak of it,
For two years his success in California
just about balanced his reverses Then we
ceased to hear from him, aud now, for more
than two years We have received no definite
intelligence Of him. Once a report came
to US, vague and unfoundcd it seemed, that
he was dead We were compelled at last
to believe it, for after that we never heard
Of him again
The two meE piled their cbisols yigor-
ously for few minutes, tears in the eyes
OF each. Then there was 4 blow in a place
where it ought not to have been. Jack S
chiscl dropped from his grasp, and his
hands flew up to his face.
Lord have mercy my presontimcnt is
true it has come at last
He tottcrcd and fell Tom rushing Up
to him, saw hat the blood was gushing
from his mouth, while bis face was of a
dcathly Wilderness
Poor Minnie. Poor Jesse" he murmured.
Jack, old friend, spoke Tom Blaine,
beIplessly, what is the matter 2
lie received no reply save a groan Of
pain, and was forced to call for help.
Thus Jack Barton was borne from the
shop where he had abored for many and
many month more helpless than an IN
taut, aud, so far as could be judged, be
would never strike mallet OF cLisel there a.
gain. Iii, cottage was in tho suburbs of
the town ond was pleasantly and com(orta-
bly, situated.
Poor Jack 10 had been % hard struggle
for him 70 pay Tor bis home but b. bad
at last done So, saying, q cW have at least
a secure shelter for my motherlcss chill
dreu'
Jack had spoken correctly when he talk
ed Of his daughters a. two fair delicate
howers. Jessamne, Just going out Of, and
Minnie just entering into her teens, we're
both sweet girls. Alas that they should
be called upon 10 encounter the coldness
and the scoruful indifference Of the world (.
Jack bad indeed shielded them 10 his own
strong arms, aud 30 far as be was able
nothing but sunshine bad ever fallen across
their paths. Their mother died while Min
nie was but mere infant, and Jessamiue
was stIl very young. a little more than
four years before, the,r second cousin
Charles Barton, who bad been reared by
Jack az % 30 had been bis own sou, bad
left them 20 seek bic fortune in the gold
mines Of California This was a heavy
blow on Jessamine, especially, and when,
two years later, tho news came that be was
dead, did not tho tidings bring TO her a