Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-05-18

nest, anu all afouhu IL DIS oil paper
remnants of my i'll fated story.
did not tell of my sdiscevery, but
from that day commenced fearful
war againts rats and mice. l gave
no quarter to my prisoners when ia
ken alive-for the cleaning eyes
seemed always mocking me. Not
willing that the fate of my genius
should be decided by rat tribunal,
gathered my spare moments to-
gether, and commenced another
story. Many Interruptions prevent
ed its completion during the sum-
mer. When winter came, 1 prom
ised myself more leisure. One days
work would finish it; and the day
chosen was one on which my hus-
band would be away from home, and
for the night also. As he left the
house, he said, Take care of Har-
ry, he doesn't seem weh to-day"
replied, ''He is only little cross
and thought no more of his fathers
caution. When l began to write,
the child became so troublesome
that l sent him to the kitchen, to re-
main with Bridget till 1 called for
him. Dinner was served, and eaten
alone, for Harry was asleep in the
nursery. Bridget said she wished
would Just look at him, for he didn't
seem to pear right. Lost in my
imaginary realm, | forgot my poor
boy till the lamps were lighted;
and l heard the soft pattering of lit
tie feet, and felt the tender clasp of
little arms, and sweet voice said, as
the aching head laid ON my bosom,
"Oh! rse so sick. Arn't you solly,
Muller?" All that long afternoon
he had been moaning in his pain,
and would only disturb me for his
good night kiss. / gave it, and laid
him in his crib, telling him to be
good and quiet, and he would be well
in the morning. l then returned to
my writing, finished it at late hour
and then retired to my chamber.
Still ringing in my ear l hear the
same sound then heard as opened
my door. 1t was Harry's voice,
choked with Group, trying to call my
name. For moment I was paral-
wed; then the doctor was sum-
moned, and every remedy applied;
but none availed. All night my
words Knocked me. 'You will be
well in the morning. ...,
When the morning came, it was,
indeed. ''weil with the child" but
for the mother. how was it? How
was l to meet my husband? Could
l tell him that my neglect had killed
his boy: Weak hearted, as l had
been weak minded, / confessed
nothing, and doubled my sin. l can
not tell how much / suffered. 1
could offer no consolation to my
husband, and shrank from his COM
forting words. Sometimes thought
l saw mournful, doubling look in
his eye, as he would ask me over and
over again for the particulars of that
fatal day; and to answer those
questions, l had not only to resort
to concealment, but to falsehood.
Wearily year dragged by; with its
close, God, in pitying love, trusted
to me another little life. Gratefully
and prayerfully l accepted it--but
still was not happy. There was
weight on my soul that nothing
would tighten but to tell Mark my
weakness and my sin. But 1 had
waited too long, even the comfort of
confession was denied me, for my
sin had found inc out.
Thought had destroyed all my
miserable scribblings, but some of
them had been mislaid, and found |
by Mark among his papers. He
came to my room, where 1 sat hold
ing the babe, with the writings in |
his hand, and told me how he had,
long before Harry's death, suspected |
the thing of which he held the proof. |
81 do not oppose you in your liter
airy attempts" he said. ''For myself, |
l will not require any wifely duty,
and only ask for whatever love you
can freely spare; but for this child |
1 ask more He raised the little |
fellow in his arms, and turned away
that 1 might not see his feelings
softening over the babe, but harden
ing. 81 ask" he continued, "a
mothers care; but if you have not
leisure for that, let us understand it |
so at once, and q suitable person
shall be provided to attend to his
comforts and wants.
Humbly and remorsefully list
ened,- then told him how had |
sinned and suffered: how his tender
ness had made me feel my own un-
worthiness; and shrinking from him
he had thought me cold and neglect
full. AS 1 had sought forgiveness
from above, so now sought it from |
him. Fully and freely he gave it
and the happiest hour for months
past was then.
The Old dream of fame was ended |
forever with little Harry's sweet life. |
Never again have 1 taken up my pen |
in the hope of winning literary dis
tinction. To-day 1 write the record
of my folly and sin as a penance
and warning.
By the side of my darling's grave,
God taught me a great and solemn |
truth; that the sublimest work given |
unto woman to do, is in making
little children worthy of the places
of honor which the world opens to |
their advancing years; is in fitting
them here below for the Infinite |
Love that awaits them in the ''far |
beyond .'-Peterson's .Maga@ine.
The Pearls.
A traveller had lost himself in