The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-07-22

room, and kind, compassionate faces
we're around me. asked for Tom.
He was in prison, awaiting his trial.
. There had been a quarrel at the
tavern whittier my cruel words had
driven Tom, aud Tom had struck
his antagonist. The man wasn't
dead. though they thought he was
at first-but he was badly hurt
about the head But il he was bad
ly hurt about the head. But il he
recovered-well, it would'n 20 90
hard with Tom.
| arose and went to the prison {;
but they would not admit me. No
one was 10 see my husband till after
the trial Another day crept by a
night and when morning cane
went down TO the door and opened
it, with u vague feeling OF expecta
tion which always accompanies Sc
we're affliction, and looked ont. The
sun was rising grandly aud bright
ly over the black stone Jail. The
frost hung thick aud sparkling over
everything, even on the scrap OF
folded paper that lay at ny feet, I
stopped and picked it mp idly, as we
catch at straw or twis sometimes
without any motive or power OF voli-
tion. The superscription caught my
eye il was my own name, aud my
husbands handwriting. l tore it
open and read
DIAN Lucy IL have broken out Of Jail,
ant am going well, no matter where. I
didn't strike Hastings with an intention
20 kill him. | was inioHicsted, aud IL
was more bis fcult than mins but he
may die and then--st Any rate, IL 10 for
you, Lucy, for me to 20. | never was
worthy OF your love. Now you can 20
back TO your father and forget me aud be
happy. You will hnd the bonds for that
money I hsve 10 the bank in the desk Il
is enough to make you aud the child
oomfortsbis. Forgive and forget me,
Lucy. God bless you-you and the
baby"
"Toa."
This was the end That was the
reward that my cross worl hal pur.
chased for me. Truly, truly, the
wages Of sin are death. We shall
not need one pang Of corporal pun-
ishment, one spark OF real fine, to
perfect our torment il we are lost.
Conscience is all niiicient-remorse
that worm that never dies. 1t is
not for mo to attempt to talk about
what | suffered ia the days that fol-
lowed that morning. Words could
not express it, save to one that has
passs 81 through the same furnace
Of affection. But lived, for sorrow
and death rarely walk in each other
steps, and nursed my baby, and did
the work my hands had to do.
did not go back 20 my father, l
remained at Toms home, aud kept
his things all about me, even his cap
hanging on the wall. Forget him 7
Does love ever forget
Hastiugs did MT die. He recov.
erod and made public statement. He
was more ia the fault than Tom was.
Then he put a notice in oil the pa
pors. telling Tom to come back but
hs did not come.
Tue winter passed away with long.
long nights Of bitter remorse, and
tender rccollections Of the dear hus-
band whose strong arms had once
beeu my stay and support; the spring
came-the summer another winter /;
three years went by-crept by.
My child, Toms little baby, grew
to be fury little thing, with blue
eyes aud golden hair and tongue
that never wearied of it's childish
prsttling. All day long she sat on
the door step, where the evening
sunbeams slanted in, lisping to her
doll and listening, while told her
Of the father who would come back
to us some day. For surely he
would come.-Most surely Gods
mercy would vouchsafe some com
peusation, some pardon for such re-
pentance as my soul had poured
forth.
The third Spring was peculiar /;
somehow the far-of sky seemed to
drop down in nearer, bluer folds /;
the sun wore q softer radiance !;
the trees, the trees, the grass. the
flowers, o diviner, tenderer beauty.
| ros, every morning aud looking
out OF my little window ut the kind
ling glories Of morn, with feeling
of strange, tremulous expectation.
| seemed to feel the shadow Of some
great event that winged it's light
above to be answered.
One evening oh, that evening !
A May sky, soft aud blue, hung over
u green blossoming earth ; the turtle
dove cooed on the distant wood aud
robin twittered to her young brood
amid the milky bloom OF the orchard.
Gods love shone in the golden
brightness of the westward going
sun. My child, little Etfie, sat ou
the doorstep talking to her doll aud
watching the birds. All at once
she clapped her dimpled hands aud
bounded to her feet.
"Mamms," she cried gleefully,
'pappy comin'-pappy comm; Eide
go meet
The words stirred my heart to its
utmost depths aud dropping my
work followed out OF the door. a
man was coming up the garden
path garments were tattered,
nis step slow aud uncertain, A
beggar, no doubt. I called Ellie to
Il Il