Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-02-10


drunken husband was ever in attend
ance. she resolved to fly with her child,
an infant of seven months, from the
scene of her many sorroWs, to the East,
! where she hoped to get employment
but here she was followed and
tortured by her tyrant husbands pres
ence. Life became almost unbearable,
and but for her child, whom she devo.
| ted]y loved, she would have ended her
own existence. jealous of the atten.
ton she lavished upon her bate, the
inhuman father threatened to take ii
from her. Not dreaming him capable
OF SO diabolieal an act, she did not fear
the fulfllment of this threat. and on the
afternoon of the day they found her at
their door. she left her darling under
his care, while she went forth in search
of employment, On her return after a
fruitless afternoons labor, she found
their lodgings deserted, and not trace
OF the whereabouts of her child to be
seen. Realizing that her husband had
kept his threat, she rushed, frantic with
| grief, about the streets In hopes of find
ing some cle1 to the little ones retreat.
At length, tired of wandering about,
she sat down upon doorstep to rest.
Here she remembered nothing further;
and "Ohl Ellen, the invalid continued,
to think that should have come to
You, to be nursed by you back to life
you who would be justified in turning
me from your door, because of the
blight / have cast upon your noble
brothers life. But God knows how
bitterly / have been punished for my
folly.n
Tears filed Mrs. Parker's eyes, as she
concluded her sorrowful story, and
trinkled down her pale cheeks. Ellen,
kissing the tears away, vainly tried to
cheer her by picturing a brighter fu-
ture, the possibility of again finding her
missing child. She delared she would
never be happy while her tyrant hus-
band lived.
Ellen, embracing this opportunity.
disclosed the details of Parker's death
and burial to his heart broken wife, who
listened with bated breath and long
drawn sighs till she had finished the sad
recital; then throwing her arms about
Ellen's neck she sobbed out her grief on
her shoulder.
The latter endeavored to soothe her
sorrows, but Lucy was inconsolable, not
SO much at the loss of her miserable
husband as at the realization of her own
destitute Condition-deprived OF father,
husbal id and child. My poor baby y
she walled, ssif / only had you could
bear all else"
Then bear with your trials, dear
Lucy; your child is safe and welI,"
Ellen said, and proceeded to tell the
weeping mother how her child had
been found at a gentleman's door; how
it had been taken in and tenderly cared
for until she should be sufficiently re-
covered to receive it back; that this
same gentleman was at that moment
waiting to restore it to her arms, and,
recommending her to quiet and rest,
Ellen lett the room to prepare her
brother for the meeting.
Lucy had covered her face with her
hands and promised to comply; but
finding herself alone she threw herself
on her knees, and raising her hands and
eyes to heaven, in fervent tones she
thanked the Father of the widow and
the orphan for having spared her to her
fatherless little one. "Oh, God!" she
concluded, bless and prosper him
who, in his charity, has succored my
lost lamb in its hour of direst need.
Rising, she stood face to face with
Frederick Wells.
For an instant her tongue refused to
articulate word, but as her eyes fell
upon her lost darling, whom he carried
in his arms, she utterd glad cry, and
snatching the child to her bosom, the
fond mother almost smothered the
little one with caresses.
Mr.. Wells, standing a silent witness
of this reunion, felt amply repaid for
his long years of pain, and he thought
how much more blessed it is to give JOY
than sorrow.
When Mrs. Parker raised her eyes,
with tears of joy, to his face,
and said: Mr.. Wells, how shall |
ever pay this great debt OF gratitude,
for not only do / owe my own life to
your kindness, but also that of this
child, infinitely more precious to mepn
he answered: By giving me the right
to watch over and protect you both,
will be made immeasurably happy,
and drawing mother and child to his
breast he kissed Lucy's tear stained face.
Of course she consented, for a few
months later quiet wedding took place
from the Wells residence. when, after
all her sorrows, Lucy Parker became
the wife of her hearts first love.