The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-09

DIN. OENlSON TOOK II
before snail have explained all L
want it to be known that have stolen,
stolen, for eight years. And now 1 need
not steal any more. They took away
the lace handkerchief, but they cannot
take away from me my sin and its ever
lasting punishment. They cannot touch
that. And am glad!
al will tell you all about it. Edwin,
that was my son; my own dear, dear
little boy. All, bye.low, bye-low, rock
a-byc babyl'
1t was terrible TO hear that poor
mother sing in her stificd broken
voice, laying one arm in the other and
rocking it as if it were young child.
Then she gave o little scream and camo
to herscf
Sister Perpctua, as you have mercy,
do not let me lose myself again before
have told everything. What was
snyinRP Yes, my son Edwin. IIo was
not bad. You must not believe that. /
swear It. He was not bad. And he
loved his mother He did not love his
father. His father was hard on him
Mr.. Willett would blame my boy for
reading novel on Sunday, as if he had
broken all the commandments. he
Tint sins breaks tho whole law Ed
wins father would shy. My SOP liked
20 do rs others did. No worse than tho
others. When could gave him mon
cy. l sold some jewels, but my hus-
band missed them and asked for them.
They wcro not mine. Only 20 wear.
They were un investment. You know
how some women live like queens and
have not dollar to spend as they
please. That was the way with me-
have all Mr.. Willett's money now. But
1t is ten years that have not my son.
Now ain going to find Edwin. Money
will be of no use in hcll--it would melt,
would it not?"
She was wandering again, poor soul.
Sister Perpetua gave her q spoonful of
something from q vial. noticed that
the good sister began to look SCARED,
and that modo me feel little lonesome.
Mrs. Willett went on talking, all on one
note, dull and hollow, like the wood
pecker tapping, as you might say.
Edwin had debts. For horses, wines,
tailors' bills-I do not know what.
Poor boy, he could not pass through
certain streets, for fenr of the cruel
mon whom he owed. lie was his fla
theirs clerk. His salary was no more
than that of the other clerks. He took
twelve thousand dollars from the safe.
If speculation which he made had sue
ceedcd, he would have replaced the
money. But the market had dropped.
And that money was only borrowed
an advance on what would some day
be his own, you understand. His ia
Their found out about the deficit in the
safe, and cursed him, and cent for the
police. Edwin conld have escaped.
But he stayed to kiss his mother good
by. l hurried him out of the house.
The officers called to him to stand still.
He leaped down the steps to run. They
sprnng at him; he stumbled and fell
That killed my boy. carried him in
my own arms into tho honsc. They
could not take him, dead, to prison. So
l had him al to myself for awhile.
His father would not lool, ut him. He
told me that my son was In hell.
II wished to have my child buried
quietly, without persona coming to
stare at him. His father would havo
oil the relatives hidden. Tho clergy
man said at the funeral that my son
was in hell. Mr.. Willett told him to
say That. Told him TO mako Edwin
serve as warning to tho young men
of his kindred. I mover went to church
after that day. No matter what tho
preacher might say, l should always
hear him declare that my son Is in hell
"a year Inter Mr.. Willett had paraly-
sis. took cnre OF him faithfully.
There never was a word spoken be-
tween US nbout Edwin. When Mfr.
Winett was dying no said to me, 'Su-
sauna, yon havo been good wife 20
mo. l hope to meet you above l
closed his eyes; md began to plan how
to avoid him in eternity. For want
to live forever with my boy. He loved
mo-. His father did not love me. He
could not love anything but money and
respectnbilitY trust TINT he has
them where no Is. OF course he is in
Heaven, for he always did what no
thought right. But for virtue such as
bis, there ought to DO Heaven with
hard golden pavoments hnd no love,
lie would enjoy that. AS for me, I
will 60 with my son,
Now, latent thought that If my
Edwin must go to hell for stealing,
thai woald be the way for mo, too.