Sentence:  The only charm within the hated walls of my prison had ceased to exist ; the galling chain of slavery threatened to crush me — for the soother, the <WSD>palliator</WSD>, the dear, dear friend of my bosom no longer felt a participation in in my sorrows. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Someone or something that palliates; A person or thing that sooths or reduces difficulties.