Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-04-04
The Blacksmith,s Story.


The Blacksmith's Story.
BY FRANK cLIvE.
We'll, mol Ny wife amt dead. sir. but I've los
She left me Voluntarily. and neither was te
tsrather queer story. and think you will
When yeu hear the circumstances-'twas rather
rough on me.
She was soldiers widow. He was killed at NAL
And when married her she seemed to sorrow 70,
But io Brought ss her here to Kansas never want
Abetter wife than Mary was for i've bright year.
The change of scene brought eheerfulness. and
OF happiness warmed Mary's cheeks and melted
Ithink she loved me some-I'm bound to think
Ard as for mel can't begin to tell how loved
herl
And ten reckon was nigh to perfect happi-
Twas herss-'twa mine-but I've no language to
How that little girls weak fingers our hearts to-
gether drew ..-..
Once we watched it through a fever. and with
Dumb with an awful. woridless woe. we waited
And though I'm not pious man. our souls to-
Fer Heaven to spare our darling went up in
yoiceless prayer.
what words could tell
Olasped in each others arms. our grateful tears
;SOmstimss. you see, the shadow fell across our
But it only made the sunshine seem doubly-
welcome guest.
-, me n i,Ianfv and kent the anvil
Eas siy and late you'd find me there hammering
Love nerved my arm to labor. and tuned my
tongue to song.
mighty strong
m e nail a shoe.
And while was at work we passed compliment
Iasked him how he lost his arm. He said twas
AT Malvern Hill AT Malvern Hilli Did you
know Robert May?"
Checking with horrid doubt;
-aIf you're a man. just follow me; well try this
with dizzy steps 1 led him to Mary. God Twas
Then the bitterest pangs of misery unspeakable
Frozen with deadly horror. she stared with eyes
And from her quiyering lips there broke one
l0.
Twas he j the husband of her youth. now risen
from the dead, a.. L;...- -
senses fed.
What could be done2 He was reported dead. On
He.stroye in vain some tidings of his absent wife
Twas. well that he was innOcenti Else I'd have
killed him too. AZ, e..L-;.,,.
trumpet blewi
1t was agreed that Mary between us should de-
And each by her decision would sacredly abide.
No sinner at the Judgment seat. waiting eternal
Gould suffer what did while waiting sentence
in that room
Rigid and breathless there we stood, with nerves
While Mary's eyes sought each white face. in
Godi Gould not wOmaa's duty be less hardly re-
Between her lawful husband and the father of
her child.
An. how my heart was vas. chilled to ice when she
Forgive me. JohnI He is my husbandI Here!
AliveI not deadt
raised her tenderly and tried to tell her she was
But somehow in my aching breast the prisoned
words stuck tight!
but. J John. I can't leave baby" WhatI wife
Must 1 yield all9 All. erueli Better that I
Think Of the long. sad lonely hours waiting in
gloom for me-
No wife to cheer me with her love-no babe to
climb my kneel
And yet you are her mother, and the sacred
Is still the purest tenderest tie that heaven ever
Take her; but promise. Mary-for that will bring
no shame
My little girl shall bear. and learn to lisp her
fathers nameP' t
1t may be. in the life to come. I'll meet my child
and wife;
this life:
One long hand-clasp from Mary. and my dream
of love was donel
One long embrace from baby, and my happiness
Buffalo Courier.