The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-05-06

IllG CURING SllOAt dHONb lilG tIduG Big
nodded. dozed. began to snore, she |
dropped her knitting on the tioor, awoke, |
her eyells heavier grew, arose and ST. |
lently withdrew.
Along the creaking stairs she crept, to |
the lone chamber where she slept, and |
close the window-curtains drew to screen
herself from outward view. She stopped
the key-hole of the door, she set the
candle on the floor, looked meath the
valance-half afraid to find man in
ambuscade; then sitting down, aside
with care she laid her garments on
chair, slipped on her ghostly robe Of
white. took off her shoes, blew out the
light. then, in the darkness, from her
head removed her wig and went to bed,
curled M. with chilly sobs and signs, and
duivering shut her drowsy eyes,
Poor single souls who sleep alone, the
night wind hath dismal tone TO
vour lone ears--you start with fear at
every midnight sound you hear, when
late at night with weary heads you creep
into yonr weary beds. The nights seem
long, your lips turn blue, your feet grow
cold-you know they do
She slept at last she heard once more
the ripple break upon the shore again
she sat upon the strand, and some one
clasped her fair Young hand and words
were whispered il her ear that long ago
she loved TO hear, and, starting up, she
cried in glee " knew you would come
back to me. She woke. Alas no
love was there. Her thin arms clasped
the vacant air. Twas but dream. She
lived alone. Without she heard the night
wind moan, while on the window-panes
the snow was wildly beating. From be-
low the smothered sound of voices came
when still with Busby's social dame.
Their guest sat by the fading fire and
watched its heeting flame expire while
/ she listened, but no word they uttered
could be clearly heard but soon a recol-
lection came that sent shudder through
her frame--the sausage to be fried at
morn, the breaksast table to adorn, was
III the bedroom where their guest would
soon betake himself to rest. The clock
struck ten, she softly said, III get it
ere he goes TO bed.
The spare bed stood within room as
| ,hill and humid rs a tomb twas never
aired, twas seldom swept iii its damp
corners spiders crept they built their
| bridges through the air, and no rude
broom disturbed them there. The ram,
hat fell on roof decaycd, dripped through
The chinks that time had made, and on
the whitewashed walls ran down ~ won
lrons frescoes tinged with brown the
window-panes, with frost o'erspread
we're warmer than chat icy bed. Cold
was the mating on the floor cold blew
tie breeze beneath tile door cold were
tile straight backed chairs Of wood; cold
vas the oaken stand that stood on spind-
ling Ices that looked as chill rs lone, bare
pincs OH some bleak hill high rose that
bed Ger things below, like some tall Ice
berg capped with snow. Here every
highly houured guest, when bedtime
eane retired to rest. \
Within its large aHl moldy press hung
Mrs. Busby's best silk dress: her Sunday
bonnet shoes, and shawl, on rusty nalls
against tho wall, by Mr.. Bushys suit Of
blue. that at his wedding had been new.
Here on Il peg his best crayat reposed
within lis old fur hat; here, slut from
sight 81 human eyes, were rows oi mince
and apple pies, with rolls Of sausage and
head cheese. stored on the shelves ana
! left TO freeze.
! From out her cot the maiden crept
! slipped on her shoes and softly steppee
along the hall and through the gloom nm
, til she reached the chilly room, Unseef
she crossed the icy floor, unheard m
locked the closet door, snatched iron
g the shelf. in firm hold, n bag Of sans
o ace. stiff ana cold, then turning quickly
Q sought to beat a sudden. safe, and sur
: retreat. Too late! A light cleaned q
$ the wall. and sound Of footsteps file
p tile hall, then to the room came boldl
u on the stalwart form Of Littlelohnl Sh
backward stepped and stood aghast
:, then closed the door and held il fast.
q With chattering teeth and trembhn
frame across the floor Lycurgus camt
!, He placed the candle in his hand upo
~ the spindling oaken stand. Then close
the door, and, with a frown, within
y cold chair settled down. He threw h
'e boots upon the floor, and, rising, trle
Y the closet door; but Aunt Rebecca,
81 alright, chung to the latch with all h'
p might To look within Lycurgus faile
$, he turned away and thought it naile'
ry Then, pulling down the snowy sprea'
Mt he put his warm brick in the bed, too
III off his clothes, and slipped between u
p sheets of ice, so white and clean, bic
st out the light, and, with sneeze, clio
ld TO his chin he brought his knees, b
meath the clothes he drew his nose, al
I'M tried in vain to find repose; while EAU
ot Rebecca, from the wall, took down t
ht Sunday gown and shawl, she wrapp
re them round her freezing form, al
'p- blushed, to keep her visage warm.
The paper curtains, loosely hung up
sy the windows, rustling swung, VIII
err through each quiyering, narrow fral
re, of frosty panes dim light came Il
an, made the furniture appear like dus
ith phantoms crouching near. Lycurp
listened in the storm and hugged
ray brick TO keep him warm, but colC
ow grew the humid bed, the clothes c.
ak eealed around his head: to feel at ease
cry Vain he tried; he tossed and turned fir
art side to side; each time he moved,
is meath his weight the bedstead creaI
our like some farm-gate. His brick gr
cold, he could not sleep, strange 8