Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-10-28


bed we start on long journey to-
morrow"
The poor woman, after burying the
child, had sold what was left on the old
farm on which she was horn.
When she came to this State and called
on me, asked her how she could live
moment with such a man, ard why she
did not get rid of him by the law she
said:
"He is my husband. l promised God
to take him with all his faults. He did
the same thing with me. His father was
bad man and drank hard. George is
not az much to blame as you think. He
is soft and gentle and loving when not in
liquor aud oh ! how he has tried to give
up drinking, Why he isthe father of my
poor dead baby. l killed my father by
marrying George. l owe debt to my
poor dead father-it is to save George"
How the poor creature lived l do not
know. II l offered her out OF my poor
store she would get angry, and so that l
should not see how Strengthened she was
and how much she sutfered-I think SO
now, though at the time l was very much
hurt-she gave me to understand that she
did not wish me to call on her. know l
have given the true reason.
About six months ago a message came
to me from a man in jail he wanted to
see me. No name was given. 1 went to
the jail, and whom did see but George
Wiltern. He was in rags his bloated and
purple face was sad sight he could
hardly talk from shivering, He had been
picked up as a common drunkard, and,
unable to pay his fine, mad been sentenced
| 80, IHa hair, tINt1
strange that he did not ask me to procure
his release, and when | proposed it he
said no-that the chain gang was the
lowest infamy and he wished to plumb it.
| Those were his words, and he said he
would serve out his term and then leave
the country. OF course, he said, he could
never see his wife again. He begged me
to help her along aud see that she did not
suffer too much.
Well, managed so that he came away
from the Jail that very day. But what
seemed very strange, from that time till
to-day never heard a word from George
or Mary, although | made all kinds of
searches and inquiries.
And now | will let Mary tell her story.
After placed her in chair she had to 70
through course of crying. All women do
that, you know. She composed herself
after awhile, aud then began
Eyes, Mr., Ihur5ton, you cant think
how happy am, and Ill tell you all about
it. George never told me- hut knew all
the time who rescued him from the chain
gang | don't intend TO thank you
haven't words. God loves you for that
good act. Well, George CAME to our little
hovel that day and, oh such a sight. He
was shaking ike leaf, and all over ilth,
and his clothes as ragged as beggars.
n said to me Mary, do not b.
afraid of NE. l killed your father.
killed your baby have stripped you u
! every thing you had in the world Thre,
nights ago | came here and found YOU
asleep; stole your only frock ant
: chemise and pswnei them for grog. Iol
r haven't been able to leave the house since
l You are starving. See how pinched you
cheeks are. do not come to make ex
\ cuses. You have never reproached you
1 beaaly husband. Mary, give me that cora
: necklace and cross Of our urad baby. Civ
/ them to me, or l shall kill myself right be
] fore you --...- .....
Il never saw him look so before
: There was CLEAN about his ey
= that made me think he was mad. 1t ma
y have been from fear, but | took you
i present from the string by which i hun
, in my bosom.
!. tHe snRtched il as a hungry dog does
bone, and left me without another wore
y, melody sent me clothes and food, an
got me some sewing to do. l know VIII
y it was God knows, tool, and God, an
he who saved o poor, wretched woma
|. from starving. And long month plsse
4 away.
N 81 never thought should see Geo2g
:, again. | thought he could no. live
" week, for he LETT me so haggard aud wcr
~ and thin, and his eyes were bloUdhhot,
~ he lived, thought he must be mad al
II in a mad asylum. aud then came lett
: postm4rked far away IN tue mountains
and the letter vas from Gsorge-my on
dear George, whom | still loved. Here
10 is; read it.
Az Ard the letter was in this wise
le My own dear, abused aud suiferil
wife, ii should fall on my kuees at yo
N feet, and remain there for an eternity,
ID could not pour out sorrow enough for n
ne cruelties to you. cannot rel eat tibet
in for they make ne shudder; cannot a
your forgiveness; / oay beg your pi;
y a
IL | took them from you rs my only hol
lie Tae night / was ip prison | thought
r them. They were tic only things l L
III not robbed you Of. hsd dream, in 7
"A fifth gnd rags. thai rIpht. Our little ba
he came 10 me-hr was so phlE=, aid pm
he and smiling and he tied IN my dir
arms snd put lis little fac, to mine, al
nd kissed !ae and the little sweet hi
IN ala
ba 90 and see mamma ard beg Of her l
an necklace AID cross and YOU must W,
"a them next to ynrr heart, aud God will o.
~ Won strength to he poed. rb- was ,
H. dream ia iai!-in filth and veruin. A
he when hoy tn,l INC was free r
% to uur ,yretuhe2 howell You ka
lar how dtspera,e [ looked aud acted the
a Add | tore 4wty a sured Of NV coat 4
nj arranged that the chan and cross 5l,ol
,er hang right ov.r my heart A fear
thirst that vl,s harrlup in INV s3ul drf
IN ne Alo9g to ono al nv oil h.uuts. f0
,as ws5 sh.kigg AZ gn5 with tin. epus fe
III ny old igLAI,cl.. An old conrad, IS IL
H. aud h!thy, and ragged aud dcpr.drd a.
ara begged me to enter and drink and /
an a tuA eins4 Of tho poison 20 NV ii
~ Then I felt on nv heart .N,s measure
nst the chain and cross. aud dashed the Of
NV untasted 10 the ground, and rushed av
- into Tho street: md walked on and
i,,, until the first gray dawn Waatfad
~ rather than lny dnyn-and nv sw
' white baby Kissed me again. md pratt
d to me and told me to hold that dear ne
.,Js lace and c,o-, in nv hand aud 10 pray
:, God for 4,,eIpth Awnkenipp / did u
I,,t a. held them il, nv hands am i,