West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-12-13
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN.
WOMAN'S DEVOTION.
Suggested for the Freeman by o
recent Criminal Trial at
Parkersburg.

UtdlllS dlOulu llcl saw ucI 1dGcl
as she ran along the path to
school, playing, skipping and shout
ING in girlish glee at the snow
flakes as thsyy aQated about, kissing
the din pies III her innocent cheeks;
| saw her again as she left. the
school room and walked out into
young womanhood, fresh, accom-
rlished-eyes sparkling with the
brilliancy of newly set diamonds:
l saw her at the monday of life,
stately N bearing, beautiful, with
countenance aglow with the
bloom of health and purity of
character, like rare flower whose
delicate tinted folds had never been
touched by blighting frosts, nor
soiled by the scorching heat of
tropic suns; saw her still again
as she was led to the hymenial al
tar by one beneath her in birth,
education and society, and against
the earnest protest of father moth
er, sisters, brothers and friends; saw
her sever the ties of q life and join
heart and hand with him whom
she saw but to love. 1t was love
that now impelled her, womanly
love, that which shines brighter
and brighter as years roll by, until
every fault, as seen by others, in
him whom she loves, to her re-
fleets a virtue-the only true, de-
voted lasting love of all the earth.
l heard her singing, happy
wife and mother, in her cabin with
her family and her choice.
Time passed like flying clouds,
without bringing to her, or to hers,
in It's unfolding mysteries, either
greatness or distinction, yet that
same quiet, loving resignation and
contentment was there.
Again: [ saw him arraigned be-
fore a criminal court on a charge of
grand larceny; | saw the Judge
with sternGst countenance sitting
on the bench; | saw the jury in
the panel and heard them receive
their charge; [ saw her brothers in
the rear Of the Courtroom leaning
over the railing, apparently unin-
terested spectators at the trial. |
saw him with stolid and indiffer-
ent look as he listened to the evil
dence looming him TO disgrace and
dishonor forever, unmoved and i'm
movable. [ saw her as she sat by
his side, with one hand clutching
his, and with the other caressing
her Children, while with eager
eyes, Redeemed with scorching
tears, she watched each witness
anI every move of Court,
jury counsel and crowd. Ema-
ciated car, worn, heart-broken,
friendless, she stood by the stocks
awaiting the end, clinging to him
in the hours of deepest, darkest
adversely, every look, every pulse,
every throb, every breath, a silent
prayer for the liberation of her hus-
band, the father of her children,
for whom she gave life
of light, for life of darkness and
despair. | saw the jury retire to
consider of their verdict; saw
them return; | heard the husband
prisoner commanded to "stand up :"
| heard the court ask the jury "to
look upon the prisoner and say
whether he is guilty or not guilty )"
Iheard the solemn voice of the fore
man as he said "GUILTY," and before
the sound had passed the windows or
reverberated from the walls of the
temple, the awful tragedy was
climaxed by "a scream of anguish, a
wall which can alone come from
heart-shattered womanhood, that
made every heart quicken and
every eye n!oisten with sympathy
and love; and in a swoon, like un-
to death, lay pure, devoted wife at
the feet of Il felonious husband.
heard the sentence of the court
sending him to the Penitentiary
for years, cut off from home, friends,
wife and children, branded with in
fanny and disgrace. [ saw her in
most piteous agony hold on to that
man until he was shackled | saw
her follow him to the threshold of
the prison and there remain until
the screaking Of the heavy doors
and the thud of the great iron bolt
L