Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-10-25
HUSBAND, or CHILD?
FROM THE GERMAN El
EMILY z. SWASDEE.

No other axe resounded through the
forest with such a clear and decided
ring as that welded by Thomas; none
other so sure of its aim, while raised
between sky and its destined rest.
His voice was the most cheerful,
and his carol the merriest that reyer-
bcrated in the beautiful woodland
that extended through the Rhincland
to the borders of Holland.
Wherever his hands were employed,
the work was accomplished III half
the time. The merry Thomas, the
magnificent Thomas, sthc indus
trious Thomas, ," were the names Civ
en- him by people far and wide, aud
when he married and became the
father of son, he was jOllier than
ever.
His wife seemed to partake of his
spirit, and his boy gave promise of
becoming just such a happy soul.
The whole neighbOrhoOd We're happy
in the harmonious life Of this iOyOEs
trio, while each derived a particular
pleasure in witnessing the felicity Of
the other. But suddenly, the light
ming flash of circumstance pencira-
ted this happy home.
One bright morning, axe IN hand,
he stood beside q fallen tree, while
wife and son stood near, ready to
gather the fragments, and they were
no mean chips that fell beneath
Thomas stroke.
High over his head the Ghttering
steel was raised, and as his glance
noted the reflected ray of sunshine
following il, he shouted merrily,
''Wife, sees't thou my meteOr:' Hui.
is it not verify like the flash of one!
But the shining metal and It's attrac-
tive meteOric hight did not disappear
within the wood. Glancing lightly
over the bark, it entered Thomas s
foot, and there was no time for use
less tears. The wife's grieving heart
did not vent itself in idle lamcnta
tions, but questioned how was she to
get her husband home?
The other labOrers had not arrived.
Thomas was always the first at work,
as now he was also the first to regain
his cheerfulness to encourage wife
and child III this trial. 4 spring
near supplied water to wash the
wound that proved to lie severe, and
the manly Anton divested himself OF
his little shirt to bind il up with.
This carefully done. Thomas set
his big white teeth firmly together
rose, srasping with one hand the
shoulder of his boy, and supported
on the other side by his wife, he or
dered, march quick! the house /
not such long way of, then all vii
/ be we'll"
Taking the shortest routc home
| obliged to cross over a railroad track
/ Although this was forbidden road
/ for pedestrians, they considered it tht
/ best in this emergency. But herl
misfortune overwhelmed them in ter
rible earnest.
At the first step the sufferer caugh
his wounded foot on the rail; stun
bled, fell, throwing his boy into tn,
middle Of the road, breaking the lit
tie fellows leg.
A helpless, living mass they In,
there, and before both could be res
cusd from their perilous bed, IL,
stcanIug, roaring monster OF tia
road came tearing down upon them
leaving their boy Iaangled, bleeding
corpse the next instant before them
Such was the story told by IhCma
and his wife to the Mortified and sym
pathizing people.
But there must have been some
thing singular and mysterious con
uected with this mOuruful event tina
remained untold, a secret within, thei
own hearts, for inspIte of repeate
eudeayors to have the story told agai
they would always answer. "Io
Il lrT fr III
Of horror followed at the renen
bcrance.
Thus years passed without mItiga
ing the strange melancholy and dee
detection that had settled on tn,
once merry Thomas and hi> equal
cheerful Gertrude.
The wounded foot had long SinC
recovered. aud Thomas handled n
axe with his former strength, Win,
: his wife was ever ut his side. WaI
and care were strauges in their hOm
and they retained the love and r
spect Of all, and appeared TO 10y
each other as formerly. No word
complaint ever passed their lips, AZ
n still this perpetual sorrow that III
=. bauished every smile from the face
: this once joyous couple.
Could this be the result of the tra
ic death of their child? Naturally e
dowcd with n sound mind and bod
disposition cheerful, and ready
sec the bright side Of all troubl
g that had heretofore oyertGken theT
it was scarcely probable that such II
tures should give themselves up e
tirely to this ceaseless grief. The
must be some secret cause.
l left no pains uutried to ingratia
myself in their favor and obtain the
confidence. Not only curiosity "
excited, but had a real pSycholos