Year: 1860




Where in fiction is there anything
more strange than this fact, related in
the Musical World, by r. S,orrs Willis


lhe following strange Incident hap
pened while l was living in Germany. In
the neighborhood of Vienna there dweit
young peasant woman, who supported
herself by the cultivation of vegetables,
which she disposed of in the Vienna mar.
ket. She Inhabited small house, at.
tached to which WAS her vegetable gar
den. Young as she WAS she was married
but her husband had died, leaving her a
little girl who was now just old enough
to run about and play with the other
children in the neighborhood The moth
er Was still handsome, and desirous of a
second marriage. About this time, in.
deed, there was visiting her young man
for whom she had conceived an affection,
and whose proposition Of marriage she
was now beginning impatiently to wait.
But no proposal was made. A dark
thought finally crossed the young wo-
mans mind that there must be some OBJ.
stacie IN the way, and that this obstacle
was in all probability the child. An un-
natural struggle of jealousy took place,
which resulted in fearful determination
she would make way with the child
Beneath her house was deep cellar.
where she occasionally stored her vege.
tables.


Taking her child by the arm oue day.
she led 1t down stairs,a and thrusting it
aside, closed the door, locked it and hur
rIed up stairs. The same evening her
lover came they sat chatting together,
but no mention WAS made Of the little
"bSent,s The next day after desertion
oi twenty four hours, the mother went
softly dowu and listened at the door,
The quick ear Of the child caught her
mothers step, and she implored her to
take her out Of that dark place-she
was SO cold and very hungry. No an
S"er was returned, and the mother crept
quietly up stairs. In the evening the
lover came again. They took supper to
gether and passed social evening. AT
ter the second twenty four hours had
passed, the mother made another visit to
The child. Again the little sufferer heard
her, and with feeble voice begged for
crust OF bread-only one crust of bread.
THIS pulled little upon the mothers
heart, but-her purpose was fixed. Ano,h.
er day passed. The mother went quietly
down stairs and listened. All was silent.
She opened softly the door the child Law
dead. Taking swiftly the body up stairs.
she lad 1t upon bed and immediately
making a great outcry, called the neigh
bors together, telling them that her child
had suddenly died. And so it seem 3D.
The child was lying in its coffin, bes,re "n
with flowers, brought by the little play.
mates in the neighborhood, who had
come to attend the funeral Of their lost
favor'e. The procession mooved towards
the Quie, Gottes ackre, Goods acre.)
where was to be planted ibis little seed
OF an immortal Hover. A clergyman was
in attendance. The mother stood look
ing down upon the grave, over which the
holy man was repeating, with solemn
voice, Our Father, who art in Heaven.
hallowed be thy name thy kingdom
come thy will be done on earth as it is
in heaven. Gire as this day our daily
bread-' A piercing shrek, and the
mother fell with groan to the earth
Looking wildly around her, she then, in
gIbbering accents, related TO the shud-
dering throng at the grave the very deed
her own hand had committed. She lived
no: long after. Crazed and smi,,en bv
the hand Of God, she miserably died-a
signal instance of retribution, and start.
ling lesson upon the words, Give as This
day oar daily bread