Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-04-10

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sword. Robbers Take back that lie
base thief! Thou art the rObber Civ
me my Own!'' So saying. she tore from
me my dress-that splendid silk one yo
have SO often often admired and putin,
it on disappeared.
In utter dismay AMI c"ifusioi, there
stood, not knowing which way to turn o
what to think. But / vas not allowed
much time for reflection. Immediately
felt my hand grasped by the cold, bonl
fingers of three ragged children, who wer
crying and clinging to her clothes. ''Giv,
me my money - said she, Is she wrencheC
the purse from my trembling hand. 'There
it will buy you some bread, poor things J.
she added in a softer tone, as she funs,i
into the eager hands of the children, ii
you will buy some breadsr looked aftel
her as she followed the tastfyed group bu
my tongue was dumb, my feet were glued
to the earth, and my whole frame was
shivering with cold and terror.
| The same woman had oSy gone wher
| her place was taken by another, who wa:
very delicate and pale, her dress, though
much disordered, bearing evident marks o.
good taste. Her eyes were red as if she
had neen weeping, but they frightened W
when they saw the watch and chain, which,
strange to say, were still upon my person.
Yes, thank God ~ exclaimed she, ''this
Will save him my own beautiful watch
my father gave me on my marriage day
the self-same Cne-I know it well Give
me my watch - And without looking al
me at all, she seized upon the watch and
hurried away, repeating wildly to herself,
''Y es, this will save him-this will take
him out Of prisOn-ny own beautiful
watch -
Next L was disrobed of my elaboratelv
quilted silk skirt by squallid Irishwoman,
who went away mutteringa sort ofapology
for her rudeness. Poor crather, it's not
that would harm We, TO be sure and may
be ye'ye got as much left upon we now as
many poor thing that deserves more
Wasn't it Patrick's wages that bought The
quilt? And isn't it ones own he takes,
wherever he finds it 20
Then three pallid creatures from differ
ent directions, surrounded me, as l stood
like marble statue, hardly knowing
whether l was dead or alive One imme-
diately Invested me of my jewelry, saying
contemptuously as she turned away, Il
care not for the trash, but it is NINE 1t
was pawned for rum now it will keep
my starving ones little longer.1 The
second took my scarf, gloves. richly en-
broidered cuffs, under sleeves, and hand
kerchief, saying, with bitter smile, "How
exquisite how beautiful Yes, will put
them on. | will adorn myself once more,
and see if my husband will recognize me.
l used to wear such things when he loved
me better than rum. What have l done,
that should be clothed in rags, and see
the tinery that was purchased with my
own money spOrted OH the person of
another : Oh, yes, L will put ON these
fine things, and see how they will compare
with my present home, with these emacia-
ted limbs, and the garments that scarcely
hide them Shall not look like queen?''
Saying this she turned away with hollow
laugh, leaving me with the third, who,
with a resOlute arm, seated me on the steps
of building beside which | stood, and
speedily taking OF my best CATERS and
lambs wool stockings, put them ON her
almost naked feet, muttering to herself, II
have needed them sorely, sorely. How
cruel IN the heartess thief to keep them
fIOm me -
Once more l was left alone. If could
have sunk into the earth gladly would /
have done so. But no there sat dressed
only in under garments, and looking more
like ghost than living creature. But /
had not yet reached the climax Of horror.
Another female appeared in the distance !;
she approached and fell death-like sick
ness as she stood before me. L tried to
close my eyes against the spectre but could
not. She was the perfect picture Of de-
spair; and, besides there WAS something
in her look that oyerawed, that made me
quail like criminal. Laying her hand
on the full white skirt that flowed to my
feet, and examining its texture, she said
in low, thrilling voice, ''Yes, this will
do ); it is beautiful indeed and was it not
purchased with the money that was toiled
for by these poor hands, while my darling
angel lay moaning in his hard cradle and
| could not take him up-could not hush
him on my bosom Woman" she said,
looking me in the face with gaze l shall
never forget, 81 will take this linen now,
for il is needed, and L have no money to
buy mOre'' | did not answer her. l had
los, all power of utterance. There was a
grim, despairins expression in her eyes
that froze me. She fastened them on me
a moment, and peroeiving my shudder of
horror at the idea Of being utterly deprived
Of clothing, and left rs a gazing stock in
the public street, she drew back, saying,
NO, sinful, condemned woman-no! l
cannot take away thy covering.
0, my child, my cherub, my cherub, my
blessed angel of heaven thou art innocent,
but she is guilty. No, madam! l had
thought 20 take it for 4 shroud, to lay out
my dead baby, my murdered child-mur-
dered by the cruelty of drunken father
There he lies, i'll his pillowless cradle, with
the little soiled frock he has worn for weeks
still on him | could not beg when l knew
there was cloth of my own, so white, so
fine, so suitable. But no, | will not take
it from you! If l am mother L am a
woman. Better that l should for5ear-
better that my innocent one should GO to
his grave uncovered He has never sinned !;
let him lie in his pure nakedness. Gods
angels shall spread over him their spot
less wings. Keep thy ill-gotten clothing.
1t may shield thy form from the gaze of
man, but it cannot shield thy soul from
the curse of the childless mother-the
Drunkard's Wife -
q NV husband the sound of that voice