The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-03
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
THE SUICIDES CRAVE.


at the meeting or crossing Of three public
roads; the body has been thrust down, under
the darkness of night, into cofinless
grave. The breast, formly torn and acer-
ated BY passions, has lately been mangled
into horrid deformity by the pointed stak e;
and The traveller, as be walks, rides, OF
drives along, regards the spot with an eye
Of suspicion, and blesses bis stars that he is
a living man. The suicides grave-where
is it y? On the bare and cold top Of that
mountain which divides Lanark from Dum-
friesshre. There you may see congregated
the hoody craw, and the grey gled, and the
eagle-but they are not congregated in
peace and friendship; they are fearful rivals,
and terrible notes do they utter as they con
tend over the body of her who was fair,
and innocent, and happy. Alas, for Alice
Lorlmer. Her story is sad one, and it
would require the pen Of Sterne or a
Wilson to do it justice. But the circum-
stances are Of themselves so full of mourn
ful interest, that, even though stated in the
most SIMPLE language, they cannot fail, /
should think, to interest-naV, l will say it
at once to excite sympathy and pity FOR
why should We not pity the unhappy and
unfortunate They are pitied in poverty.
IN oJSl uIity, 10 Sickness, in death. Why
should not W. even pity the guilty and
abandoned Fass are pitied 10 priscn, on
the day oftrial, and most Of II. 10 the hour
Of execution There-ev there-on that
platform, the murderer himself obtains that
sympathy which we refuse to the suicide
lie who has only ruined, destroyed himself,
is neld in greater adherence than the man
who has ruined innocence, and even muir
dered the unhappy mother and unborn
babe. Away with such unjust and ungen-
erous distinctions Away, and to the high
way and to tie mountain top, and to the
ravin, and the falcon. and the eagle, with
the seducer and the murderer and let the
poor suicides grave, in future, be in conse-
Grated ground, where remembrance may
soon overlook bis woes and his very exist
ence Let him sleep unknowing and un-
known in the churchyard of bis fathers.
Alice Lorimer, | myself knew was init
mate y acquainted with her-I was a com
panon and favorite. In frosty weather
we have frequented the same slides, and
when Alice was in danger of falling, l have
caught her in my arms we have hoped
together for bours. playing at beds, and ]
even made Alice privy to all my birds
nests. Hers was indeed a playful but gen
tie nature. Her heart was light, her voice
clear and cheerful, and her whole affections
we're epgrossed by an only surviving parent,
widowed father Alice was bis FIRST borr
and his 'ast Her mother had given her
life at the expense Of her own and bel
father, shoemaker in the village Of Croal
chapel, devoted his whole spare time to the
education of Alice. Often have / seer
him, with the shoe on the last, and the ell
sbum in bis hand, pursuing his daily Ia
bors but listingly attentively all the whilt
to Aly's readings. 1t was thus the chilt
was taught to read the Bible, to say be-
prayers, and ultimately to make her father
dinner and her own. Their cottage stood
at what was termed the "head Of the town,
on sunny eminence looking to the west
behind it we're the shade and the shelter o
many trees, Of the widespread oak, TIE tai
ash. and the sweeHy y-scented bIrch. Oh
Sabbath afternoons, John Lorimer might b.
seen with bis beloved child, clean and neat
ly dressed, ascendlng to the top Of the Bor
moors braes and, from the green SUNNI
Of the emlnence, looking abroad over
landscape, certainly not surpassed by an,
which has yet come under the writer's OBJ
servatiOn. On bis one hand lay the worl
and silver clasped Bible, from which por-
tons Of the gospel were occasionally read
and ou the other reposed Poodle, a littl
wne-haired dog Of uncommon natural parts
which had been greatly improved by edu
cation. Poodle could bark, and do all man
ner Of things. His eyes would 'glisten il
friendship, or beam in reply" His nos
was a platform. from which many littl
pieces of bread had been tossed up into th
air and afterwards snapped. He was al
obedience to little Alice in particular and
at her bidding, would do anything but swim
. he had somehow or other, contracted al
aversion for the water, probably referable t
some mischievous boys having one da
thrown him into ClOseburn Loeb.
Alice and | went to school together
Her fathers cottage lay directly in my way
aud | called daily for the sweet gul. Tb
other boys laughed at ne, and made foe
Of me, and asked me if had seen Ahc
- this morning. could not stand this ; fo
} reverenced the little innocent lamb-so
bit the Mr.. Impertinence a blow lr th
stomach, which sent him reeling over seN
eral benches. | was no more taunted abou
IS Alice Lorimer. There were a number I
odor and less femme girls at the school {
this time. At play hours these congregst
II ed by themselves behind the school, Will
> the boys occupied the playground in from
Alice was one day severely handled by
neighbor's daughter, who had fixed qua
| ral On her and than hoot hor aovoraIu a.