The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-10-11
OF The exhausted slave while b

OF the exhausted slave while her
master polished her shoes.
The kettle boiled over, and Peter
prepared himself some tea and slices
d bread and butter IL was one OF the
frequent lapses Of domestic aid. when
he either cooked for himself or went
without food. He had just commenced
breakfast when plaintive NEW from
the kitten reminded him of It's exis-
teucc. As lie opened the side door 10
lift the millt.can wbiff of fresh air
smote a thrill through Ills senses.
And stunted may tree. its spirit un-
vanquishcd even by years OF city i'm
prisonment, held branch Of fra
grant hawthorn towards the south.
Leaning against the door post 10 in
hale the perfume, Peter let his heart
incline wistfully To dreams of country
gladness, till the hour OF eight. rung
from church tower hard by, warned
him that lie must start in ten minutes
II lie were to be ut his post by nine
o'clock Turning sadly indoors lie
filed "fsoxer's" saucer with milk. and,
sitting down at the bare wooden table.
tried to resume his meal. 1t had sud-
denly grown distasteful to him. \
spray Of the fragrant blossom he had
pluclted lay beside his plate. Ills was
all the townsman's craving for the
country; and, as lie munched his bread.
the vision splendid passed before his
minds eye. lie beheld u low.eaved cot
tagc with clcinatis nodding over the
roof and old-fashioned roses pceping IN
TT the windows, and garden with
gilly flowers and hollyhoc!is whose
stalks were as sounding reeds for the
drOwsy nurnur of bees and the merry
cackle Of fowls, while m open door
revealed clean kitchen with bright
hearth and coy arn-chair-the very
abode of peace
Then, with the impetuons decision of
quiet, slow man, he asked: why
should not enjoy these luxurics? The
meanest farm laborer may indulge
them. Why not !? My days are passed
IN fusty city Office, toiling to earn
money; and TO what purpose? That |
may pay rent and taxes for house
which is u horror to me, aud that |
may provide food and clothes for those
whose only religion Is To despise the.
My wife is independent of me. Should
leave her, she will have little less
for her campaigns: that is the worst
deprivation she will suffer. And nv
patrimony, which insures me forty
pounds sterling year, will mean afiiu-
ence IN some rural spot" He thought
of Thoreau, even of Robinson Crusoe,
in that moment Of romance; the lust
for freedom was strong within him,
and his resolution was not long a.mak.
ing.
Stepping upto the hall for his hat,
he yearned to rescue certain treasures
from his room: some favorite books,
one or two old letters. But willie he
considered, warning crcak from
above proclaimed there was no time to
LOSE. SO, stepping out with no greater
circumference than the small handbag it
was his wont TO carry dlily to and
from the city, he gently closed the
door with IL joyful sense of SO doing
for the last time. lie had little feeling
of regret. none Of conjunction, no hes
itation regarding the future; the un-
wontcd eShilarating certainty OF free
dom quic.ie ned his pulses and ran like
wine through his veins. The mere
closing OF t!:at door, with its blistered
paint and furnished <nocker, seemed
to shut out all that had been bitter and
Illuminating in his old life, and to set u
seal upon his passport to new and
beautiful one. An entreating new d.
rected his attention to the kitten .ol-
lowing close at his heels. 1t was the
one living creature in his home which
had craved his companionship, so fold
ing IT in his arms he strobe away.
Seven years later, Mrs Augusta Parr,
in an enthusiastic canvass involving
the enfranchiSemen OF woman. drove
along quiet country road in War
wiciSshire in the noontide heat. The
sun beat tiercely on her, and tho dust
raised by the wheels rendered her
throat parched and dry She felt ex-
hausted and dispirited. for it had come
on her with convincing force that in
very truth she had made a mess of her
lie. She was no longer young, and
She was alone in the world. Her daugh-
ter had married a drunken brute who
beat her. Her husband. too, she had