The Sumter banner. (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, August 15, 1849, Image 1
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- SuM r Baniner:
MB O WEDNESDAY lIORNING, BY.
_WILM LAM J. FRANCIS.
Tso DoMrs In adyance,. Two Dollars and
?Pifty.cents at th ex firatiori of six months, or
T e Dollakrat the end of the year.
dp prisucoutinued until all arrearages
lire' thl isattheoption of the Proprietor
3Advet'seirtes inserted at 75 ets. per
'qqu s4 iiie r less,) for the first and
ihalf , 4.sn for each subsequent insertion
i'tiitiilr of insertions to be marked
on Vtlments or they will be publish
d ': t.i-dered to be discontinued, and
1 $4*obdingly.
D6lar-per square for a single in
Q4%hrteily and Monthly Advertise
klb*d huirged the same as a single
dise bd tonthly the same as new
one -'
> 0 jituoy Notices exceeding six lines,
Aicatibni recommendi ng Cand
datefe' topallio offices or trust-or puffing
Exhibitl twill be charged as Advertise
? ' 'titers by mail must be paid to in
an Atuul attendance.
Bace's Reformation
A,8OCOTCH STORY.
'1 Y JAMBS GIBSON.
8ythpside ofa lonely, yet beautiful.
ly ruralbyrdad in Stirlingshiro, Scot
Iland, therestands a small, but hand
-sobne:cottage. inwhich resides to this
'day, a venerable couple, who have
ttiod:. life'weary . pilgrimage together
for ridiy-years, and whose grey hairs
"bat; oronthemselves and the na- I
' ioiu75*tich so many samples of genu.
ine dness of heart may be found.
Uh *,s, but not companionless, had
beej < irlot together in life ; but to
mourmurat ,the dispensation of Provi
denej A*as noc their desire, neither
their want, and- a rich reward of sweet
conth tment had -hitherto blessed their
sojout'n'in this vale of tears.
Thelfrc9ttage stood by the roadside,
itsfood"in thecentre of a neat garden
plaethat was slightly raised above the
level of:the road, 4nd grounds around
it . ri front, the ernbankment was not
hi $r; an tio feet; in the rear, it
'ar d'Train five to six; besides a ditch
of cnsiderable. depth at its base, in
wh6.coursed a stream of limpid water
at g, !Imes of the year; but at the pe
riocdto which we refer, it was somewhat
awbllen.
A tasteful peaked fence surrounded
ti difat a moderate footpath's
breadth from the edge of the embank
ment 'round which any one could walk
comfortably outside the fence, without
inoerring the risk of tumbling over.
A little gate opened toward the road,
which was reached by a descent of two
or three steps.
If this pretty cottage was another in
mate', a drunken, worthless wight on
whom neither precept or example could
over woi-kany change ; and whose in
vaiiable rule was to get drunk every
opportunity, and get sober only through
riecessity.
He was the brother of the cottager,
and verybody throughout the country
knew Jamie Grossett ; he was one of
those unaccountable beings that every
bodyiliker, and nobody ever gets offend
ed at,
,Tamie had listened for years to an
adeic0 the minister of the parish had
got up especially for Jamie's own case;
buty the imperturbable gravity with
,thlchihe -listened to the worthy man,
ha& become so annoying, from certain
.h eappearances, that it had been
W'iand Jamie was lo't like a
wh~'ithont a rudder, to follow the
bt ofis own inclinations.
I appenied about this very particu
lar time, that a young gentleman, the
so Os~a~ very respectable family long
acguantad with thoG Grossett's, was on
a visit-a; the cottage, and a sudden in
ttayhad sprung up between Jamie
Ia ,to thie no small annoyance of
?h'6tagers; and various hinta ha-.
;b ethrown out to that effect, to warn
the ranger of what was due to himself
and*the respectability of his parents;
all'of' which hints seemed only thrown
.away, as Mr. Bruce--which was the
young gentleman's name--did not seem
to feel it convenient to understand
them. Night after night beheld these
two worthies set out together, but sel.
-dont indeed did the same night witness
their retuirn; and when they did come,
it was in a most lordly state of indiflfer
onoe regarding sublimary matters.
The old cottagers,- grieved to the
heart, remonstrated in vain with young
Brace;' they urged a thousand reasons
for a chance, all of which he readily
admitted, but Jamie had gained so
greatr an influence over the young man
that, when evening came round, off they
would go on the old course.'. Bruco at
length getting ashamed of it, one wet
and drizzily, rainy night, objected, on
the ground of the uncomfortable state
of the weather; but Jamie's eloquence
prevailed; and away they went for an
other carouse.
Thb murky cloud of mist blackened
and made indistinct objects at no great
distance ; and, as luck would have it,
they took a road they had never been,
together, before. Jamie was well ac
quainted with every road in the coun
try, but Bruce was a stranger to them
all ;---Jamie had selected, for this
night's carouse, a lonely Toll House
on a moor land route; situated on the
margin of a stream that tumbled over a
rocky precipice in the near vicinity.
This stream was crossed by a bridge,
at the end of which stood the Toll House
where the worthies intended to pass
their evening.
There, in a snug corner by the ingle
side, Jamie placed himself, with a face
beaming, and shining, and smiling, as
if warmed by all the generous emotions
that ever filled the human heart.
Jamie despised the appearance of a
gill stoup----he loved the jolly-!ooking
mutchkin measure--so big-bellied and
landlord-like and happy--and nothing
but the inutchkin would serve, on this,
as on all other occasions; and a mutch
kin was accordingly called; but, as Ja
mic observed, if that was not enough,
they could easily get more when that
was done, there was plcnty in the house
--Jamie was happy: Oh! glorious,
Glory, altogether! what a glorious time
of it a Bachelor could have, if he only
liked; Jamie was in estacies, the Land
lord was happy too, and 3r-uce could
not help being infected with the same
spirit: and hour after hour passed away
on pleasant wing.
The night had far advanced, and Ja
mie's mutchkin had been filled and re
filled again and again, and every time
it came in, he told them to 'drink away,
they could get more when that was
done; but the pleasantest times iiill pass
away, and the sweeter the momcnts the
quicker they fly.
Sleep had over come the landlord ;
and Jamie and Bruce sat ogling each
other through a hazy mist that obscured
their vision as if uncertain of each oth
er's identity; the 'wee short hour ayout
the twal,' had announced the n.arch of
time, that Jamie had still one eye open,
and that was as good as two, for by
this time it saw double.
But, as we said before, everything
has an end, and so has sleep; the land
lord awoke, and in the mnst delicatei
manner possible bundled Jamnie and
Bruce to the door, closed it behind
them, leaving them So work thcir war?
home the best way they could.
Jamie leaned for a moment against
the door, and the roar of the water-tal
broke on his confused senses !ike the
rushing of a mighty storm.
'Odds, master Bruce,' .amn'ie ex.
claimed. 'what awfu' noise is thatt'
'Nothing, only the winid,' replied
Bruce.
'Lord, man, what an awfu' blast it
blaws;- hear hoo it iroars'
'It's the trees,' sugg~ested Bruce,
with a hie-cup;-an~d there was not a
single tree for many miles roundi, but
Jamie also acquies~ced in the suggestion
that it must be trees.
'Lord, man,' said Jamie, as lie stag
gered to cne side, 'its like tao blaw a
body ower a'o gither.'
'Take a hold of my armis Jamiec,' said
Bruce, endeavoring to approachi his
comrade cautiously; but, staggerinig upi
against him, lie almost drove h1im
through the window of the Toll-IHouse.
'Guid guide us" exclaimed .Jmulne,
'but it bla'ws folks about just like as they
were dried leaves.'
'It is indeed stormy,' chuimedC in
Bruce; not venturing to say too much.
'Stormy!' exclaimed Jamie, 'it hasnia
blawn a blast like this since the year
twenty-twa, when it blew the steeple ofi
a' Megs Mill, and the Shawl Factory;
it's a doonricht hmurricanie: hua'e ye a
handkerchief, M~r. Bruce?' ilhuee re
plied in the aflirmative.
'Then juist tak it oot, and tie' t roud
yc'r haffectts tae keep your hat oni: for 1
lost a guid ane last Christmuas: I'm no
sure whither it was blawn off or no; hut
I fand it frozen in a dub, like an auld
milking pall, twa mionths after; the n
ly thing I kcn't it by was the word
London printed in the croon o't; it was
nao rnair like the same thing than if it
never had been a liat ava'; hats is hats,
Mr. Bruce, and altho' mine is a wee
thing bell-crown'd, and oot o'famshionm,
I'm no prepared to loose it yet; sea just
tak a fienvd's advice and tie't on.'
The two worthies . accordingly -tool
out their handkerchiefs, and fastone
their hats on their heads, to prevent
their being blown off, on a night. whet
there was not air enough to float a this
tle down.
'Noo, Maister Bruco,' ecquired Ja
ric, 'are ye all right?'
'All right,' replied Bruce.
'Then let us proceed homeward, anti
stick by me ; and haud on tae anc ani.
ther; for l'n no' thinkin' the wind's
favorable.'
'No, it's direct in our faces, I per.
ceive,' said Bruce.
'I was thinkin' sea,' returned Jamie,
'it's tye the case Maister Bruce, I
never saw it fail yet; but lord hoo the
wind roars; this rag about my Iugs an Ies
the din awull,' it's like to take a body's
breath clean awa'.' And hero Jarnic,
turning round to brenth more freelv, per
ceived Bruce moving offin tho wrong di.
rection.
'\Vhar are ya gaun?' shouted Jamie.
'IIotme, to be sure; do you think I an
going to stand all night tualkin there?'
'llechl, mie!' exclaimed Jainie, contemp.
tnouisly, 'hol I'm sma rt, 0, but I'm sa rt!
it'll be at long time 'till ye reach haime
that wav, I'm) thinkiii'; inan ye dinna ken
your richt haad frtae your left.'
'I own, Jamie, that mty faculaies have
been more clear than at the present -imo
minat; yet, I am confident this is the way
home'.'
'A nil li'n as cot.ftdent that it is not.'
T'Well. it is certainly the way we cane.'
'The way we cate!' exclaim ned .1lunmie,
in sou aniung surprise. 'The way we cane!
aind ha'e ye nu' been far enough the way
y en cme?'
'yes. I thin- we have,' replie d 1ruce.
'eel then, I think we're u n:mi mois
on talt point, and we ay as well go back
agaiin, inltcad O'gnLi ny fit-lther the way
we camie;'
'Yes,' said Druce, 'that's exactly wl hat
I wat; I want home again, and e'rtainly
the way to get there is by the way we
n' aistcr 1Bruce, I li nn like to ca'
you a dloon-richt block heatd; bit certainly,
your ficnltiis must he i'i a woefuall stara
o' derangerient, tae nevance sie and tir
gemeaic'nt as that; rana I'am ashrauld o' vi',
fairly ash:, anwi n' ye--no' to he alale Ine
see sae plain i a fct--- tit the samte ro-ad
muills?, as a maitter of coase, bring ye tao the
siann place.'
'Yets. yes(,' sai.l Iiruce, h'ginaing to
< alit los ownt san:nleSs. -lut you iutst
be aware we lo not start froii the saint'
phwtte..lamti(.'
'Aiais tar lirtte,' sail .huanie, in a tont'
al mai:nmer thatt was ment:lt to carry' con.
v:ct.t)i :lg with it, 'Jo you- think-'-tlaitt'
-- I mu tiah 1'
'\ ll,' said lb ucE' il l he'ittingti mllland.
a:.r,. 'I dot ia:cuw, .haie, whlt,' t-r yout
it re ,r ni t; biu s inii f us tnsist be wroig,
that's :1 ,a r m:u r.'
'har eaul:' and it' :s e't:cr u ha it
is. tat, .iil .Ilni, wl iti a all ;ir of satis
fact in.
Well, Jic, it's of no use getting
angry: I a sk yon once for all, will vou
.;) wlit-'t me or not?:'
No, I tanti: yot, sir; I liye i'll
never ie sace l::r left tae tyscl'. lit cot
o here I mauia gailtg; I') 11 m i1O siC a
fool, as to :anig ai travcllin' on a nicb t o'
tempest :tid thaakness like the present.'
'Well ,' said I rutce, let uis go some
w her~te or othier .J uni , 'im get tini' d read
f'ul sick;:-go oni amti 1'll foldlow.'
'Na, ana! hue followini' wvark; the
.'ttler or alo ata ,;--gie's your handti \Ir.
lIrttc'.' Bruce comtplied, and they
staggered off' hiotmewat to tgethi'-.
Jontie hapt~pen ed to be right in hais
c;>urse,~ and away they went in their
'.Noo Maister JBruce,' he rearatkedi
to his comant i' a. 'y ant see honw the
wiatd blaws a bo dy hatte-' hut J1amtie
lad not titme to say mtore er'e lie was
blow ove altgethradaggtig jiruce
after' andt over' himt, unitil is nose plough.
ed the mudi in a amost uncomfolrtable
amaantner.
'The de'il a like o' this3 I ever saw,'
said! .1 ine, itn a v'exedI manniter.
Ytiu're- a e heti ter' thtan a 1ute bt' east to
be pullini' ait,.--'get tal.'
Jmul:ie, at h-'ngtht losing a'l pahence,
Ibegani to ponhl te .1rutce amotst uma neretCi
fuilly, ae tis elfde fence e l'ected wh1iat no
thaitng else woubtil; he wats r'oesed itot
ac'aion, and afIteri a few~ maometnts's figh)
ting, both were. risedl to a sitting pcO
ture; where a, afte'rrestinigafew~ maomitent,
e(tal tetrmin ed to purts'~e their' r'outt
ieendet ttfd each othert.
biut oh! what a woefunl aight of mateb
itn' anad cont tera marchting~--whaat a we.aii
andt r'ep'-ssing the haouse. anti dodigint;
each otthetr----and statggering inato hedge:
andh ditches and wading tharouagh at
ot and mire; with thecir htats tied (ta thia:
hteads', as if' 'a tale ofwn hdbe
blowing all thietimae. witihdht
Th'le tnight watssnett anid the jGtla
darkness of the early morning hours
hung over the earth ii such: density,
that a sober man could scarcely have
seen, much less a dtinken one. Bruce,
tired and wearied, was sitting on. a
stone at the foot of the mound on which
the cottage stood, without being aware
of its -vicinity Sleep was beginning to
crawl over his worn and fatigued facul.
ties, and that miserable feeling was
stealing on him,-that miserable feeling
the drunkard experiences, but no pen
can describe-or language either--it is
regret certainly;---but the word will not
convey a thousandth part of the misery
of that feeling;-with the :arched
tongue, and the fevered brow, and the
clouded mind, struggling between phan.
toms, and facts, unable to discover the
clear position in which he is placed.
While sitting on the stone, a short
and hoggish kind of granting- and
grumbling aroused him from his apathy,
and looking up he saw something mov
ing that seemed more like a giant than
a man,---and exclaiming in terror 'Who's
there?' received for answer the very
echo of his own words, 'who's there?
-Wha d'yo think is hero,you stupid
brut.e?---its me; d'ye think is here, you
stupid brute?-its me; d'ye ken wha
that is?' It was Jamie himself hang
ing on to the garden fence, round which
he had made a tour five or six times,
looking for the little gate, which he had
passed as many times, without observ
ing, and was on his way round again,
feeling every spar individually, without
being able to distinguish the gate spars,
from the others.
'Is that yoiu Jamie!' enquired Bruce,
in a tone of astonishment.
'Wha else could you think it wad be,
Maister Bruce? You're very kind to
keep a body standing here all night.
waiting your pleasure.'
'Is this the house?' again enquired
Bruce.
'llech e! hech me!' exclaimed Ja
ie, '1y mann be in a deplorable state,
when ye dinna ken you're ain hoose,
hech! hech!'
'Well, I was not quite sure,' was the
humble response of Bruce.
'1 lech me?' was again the wished-to
he-significent exclamation of Jamie.
'1low do you get up there Jamie?'
'Oo, ,just erawl up Maister Bi-ne
that's the way beasts get up, but it's
not the way I got up.'
lBruce clambered up the embankment
and soon stood by the side of Jamie,
who again his march round the house, :
at the same time commanding Bruce to 1
follow.
1lwging by the peaked fence, lean.
ingy back ward,---leaning his whole weight
on the upper fastenings---swaying to and
fro---the fence gave way, and precipita
ted Jamie, holus bolus, down the em
bankment into the ditch among the wa
ter, which had washed him as clean as 1
a new pin, before he could extricate 1
himself.
Jamie had, however, by the accident,
cft'ected an opening, Jamie crawled up
the cmbankment; and through the hole
lie had made, he reached the door of
the house,---at the same moment with
his sisterin-law, who hearing the noise,
hadl got up, and come to the door with
a lighit.
Nout deigning to notice Jamie, who
sliped ent o the house without speaking
sh etand opened the gate for Bruce,
and led him to his chamber in silence;
then layinig him on his bed, she, with
an achiing heart left him.
'P'hillip,' she said to her husband, on
entering her- own apairtment,--'this is
dlreadful, andi~ must be lput a stop to; 1
cJarie nohig about that worthless fellow
haie, bt a respectable young man
like liruce, to comae home in such a
siate, is shameful.'
'I sideed, but we cannot help it
'Yes, we can help it Phillip?'
'nsenuse, Mary! what can wec do?'
'I know what I shall do,' answered
Mary- dlet erminedly.
'What will you do?' enquired her
'TIll do this much; I'll guarantee
that lie has (iranuk his last drop.'
'Lourd sake excelaimecd!' Ph:illip, 'ye're~
1no' gaun to kul1 the man, are ye?'
'No, but 1'll cnre him the'.
'I canna see the possibility of that
Mar-y,'
I'lint I can sec it: and I've made up
miy umiind to it, before to-day; and il
(do it, if you will pro~miso that you will
not speak to him one word while he re
nmains uder your roof-which wvill net
be longer' thant three days at most.'
'Well then, 1 promise.'
''And you will proinise--furthernmoro,
nmot to shake vmu. hadn, and inook na
mournful as yon can, aid turn ' away
when ho: ask you' any %questions; and
likewise keep out of his way as much as
possible; ay?', .
'Weel, Mary,' ho at length besita
tingly.answercc, if itrmaip be sac, it
maui bo sae,--that's all: but I dinna i
like to treat onybody sac sourrily as a'
that comes tae.t
"Well, that's settled,' said Mary, I
'and now go, away to your bed again.' i
The old man went off to bed, and the old
lady sat think for 6 moment: and the 1
tears came over her eyes.
She at length arose, and taking her
candle, she proceeded to the chamber
in which Bruce lay extended on the bed, i
in a horrible mud and filth. His face I
was as black as a negro's, while a sickly i
smell of whiskey filled the whole room; I
his eyes stood glassy in his head as a <
dead man's---his mouth wido open, and r
choking sound rattled in his throat. It t
seemed like the death-bed of a idiot. i
The good old lady, with tears in her t
eyes, commenced to undress him, nor
stopt until she had taken every article s
off of him---even his shirt, leaving him t
entirely made, excepting his hat, e
which she allowed to remain, tied on a
under his chin.. Then taking the feath- u
!r bed from under him, she let him lay d
)m the mattrass, covering him with the a
eather-tick in lieu of blankets. She s
ook every article of bed-clothes from
he room-bed curtains, window-cur- b
ain, table-covers, car pets, bureau-cov- n
!r, and every article of the weaver's o
nanufactu-.c she took with her; togeth. b
,r with his own clothing, leaving not an d
article wherewith he could clothe him- I1
;elf when he awoke. a
The old lady then returned to the I
itchcn, and sat down by the fire. s<
After some hours.of death-like sleep, a
te began to move; and his slumber be
rame disturbed, he rolled and tossed as ti
f some horrid night-mare had but re- t<
noved its shackles from his bosom,
vhich heaved high, with labored breath- o
ng. Seeing then that all danger was t
it an end, the old lady,closing the door
>ehind her, left him to awake to a full I
icnse of his most deg-aded condition. F
The day was far spent, and the sun p
as high in the heavens, ere lie became p
iware of his existence, and his recollec- n
ions of the preceding- evening, which p
Yere confused enough, were anything v
mt pleasant. It was some few minutes I
diter be awoke, that lie discovered the ii
ingular state of the room; to say noth- p
ng of the very primitive state in which iw
to found his own person. His wander.
rg senses slowly, and but partially, re- I
urned one by one, but all their united
>owers, could not unravel the very sin
;ular appearances which met his eye s
>n every side. HIe gazed stupidly u
-ound the room, endeavoring, but in
-ain, to see something that might assist it
its memory, but nothing would; in fact i
ic was not quite certain where he was,
;o much was the room changed that
te could not tell whethcr he was at g
tome or not. t
Sometime passed away in a vain *
itruggle to recall the past evening, but
di to no purpose.
lHe then determined to get up and e
Iress himself, and then put the best t
ace on the matter possible; but what C
was his surprise whern not an article of
~lothiing was to be found. H~e searched s,
n ever-y corner, and under the bed, and n1
a evcr-y closet; but all to no purpose. a
lie was thunderstruck and confound- p
~d beyond miesure; there was not one i]
norsel of r-ag to cover his nakedness, lI
ad( lhe stood in the middle of the room
like one demented: when gradlualy a
turning round, lhe ea-nie full ini front of I
the looking-glass, ini which, perceiving s
tihe very ridiculous caper lie cut, with I
hat on and nothing clsc, lie rushed head
long into bed again anid hid himself uni
derinecathi the tiek.
What were now his cogitations, wve
will not attempt to describe: but we
think our reader-s may imagine, they
were anything but pleasant, or satisfac
tory.
Thre day began to wear apace; a
deathl-like stillness reigned overt the
whole house, a disagreeabhly, mournful
sort of silenice, which rendered his~ sit-1
untion ir-ksome and painful. His head
ached dreadfully, arid his mouth was
parched, and dry as a chip, and not a
dIrop of water to cool his raging thirst,
was to be found. His face and hands
were plastered over with a coating of dry
mud, the stifl'uess of which must have
felt, agreeable, I suppose, v'ery. Ab
sorbed in the most bitter reflections, he
thius spent the rest of the day. The
Sun had now reached the sumnmit of the
western hills, and it's brilliant rays day
ted thr-ough the apartment, like a fare
well oering of 1.-. dearing da ye h
aniserable man had not l6arhed one jot
f the mystry which onvelopedthis sita
cation Soy iith dn aching heat ho
resigned himself: to..his -ate, and en
leavored to await in patience,the.plea'
imre of the good-peopld of the houseo,t
*elieve his uxious mind.
Daskness'at length hegati t6 etaeep
radually over the earth; Anid al he be
icid its slow march, his -mental anxiety
ncreases almost to madneing.
Shame also kept him tied to his bed,
yut when the night had so-.adyanced
.bat the hour of evening prayer hadaW
)roached, which he could. note by, the
listinct sound of the prepnat-tiona which
-eached his silent chamber. then the so
emn sound of the good man's prayer,
mnouncing the hour of retiring to, rest,
Ie could suffer no longer, but bounding
ut of bed, be tied his handkerqinef
round him, then opcning'theAopr ger
ly he pronounced the word Pbhilip,'
a a tone that seemed to come fromhe
osom of the grave.
The old . man took the light, 'and
lowly, strode along the.passage towar4
lie door, which Bruce held slightlyop
n. 'For-God sake, exclaimed Brnce,
a the old man approached, 'tell me the
leaning of all' this, Mr., Grossett;,q) t
oes it all mean?' But the old .man
hook lis bead mournfully,; and. _alkc
lowly away.., Poor Bruce attercd a
roan of agony,. which. had welli nigi
rought theold man hack again,bad it
ot been that his better half- appeared'
pportunity at, the very. moment,. and
rought him' away; Bruce banged this
oor to, in astwinkling; .not wishing' to,
low himself to' her; under such humili
ting circumstances;, she advancedi,
owever, and opened his' door, which,
nmt him scampering to: bed, with'tlhe
rility of a deer.
'Do you want any thing to eat,:Mais
sr Brnce?' she enquired in a kindly
C.
'No! no!':no!' he exclaimed in accents
[ agony, 'but tell me Mrs. Grossett,
all me the meaning of all this.'
'That I never shall: do, Maister
truce; if you do.not recollect the. ai
illy apalling circumstance, I anm truly
lad; and I am sure I shall bethe -last
arson ever to mention. it; but, you:
lust remain where you are untilunmop;
ortunity occurs for you to escapes te -
'hole neighborhood are under the im -
ression that you have fled the country,
hich you must do, as soon as we Jcaa.
rocure some clothing for yoti,: wich
ill be soon.'
'But, m elful God!' exclaimed
ruce, 'What have I done?'
'Mr. Bruce,' said the old lady,'it is
no use asking liny one in. this .hoe
ich a question,; for no one 'Would be
rikind enough to 'tell you.'' -
'But it. is imuch more unkind to hide
from me; I implore you i1 - the nanii.
God, to relieve my anxiety.'
'Rather Implore the Almighty to for- -
tve you Mr. Bruce,' said the old Iady
irning away, and leaving Bruce in a
ate of mind bordcrigg on. iea'ny.
eturning in a few minutes,. she placed
mne food an~d water by liis bedside, andl
losing the door behind her. as she re
red, left him to a night of merdal mii
ry and torture..orbl
To attempt to describe thehorb
mnsations ,that agitated liis .feverek
uind, were impossible.. turing a long'
ndl weary night, in which his fancy was
eculiarly fertile in creating' imagmay
istruments to torture his reason ,.he'
miged for the returning ligh~t to examine
is hands if there were bloo'd on .the:p
nd visions, wild and haggard, floated
efore his wind's eye,-continuallys an
uming the most hideous shapes aru4
trms his troubled fancy could suggesty.
nid lie groaned under the intolerabig
eighit of his misery.. Sleep!--g 're
led sort of lethargy of th~o, senses, i
vhich every sense acted as a rack% pon
uaving the power to struggle for re ie
i-as all lhe could get. Oh! the pp
ble misery of such slee,t P&~~
umre grasp bound him~ to the pt
nent that scorched his unieug
ninid; and his faint and gaspiig
vould at length burst frha
uim to a full sense of his 3 J~4
shile the tears rolled do~wn hie
is he inwuardly. cursed' thehellishiqtu
hbat had consummiated 'se oompletu
mui of his happineide' Sontmet ho
thought ho-saw Jathiei-approaich his be
ide, with his thi-bal cut'from'ear to c4
md the blood gushin pmnd ghii
Prout the 'ghnstly woun;' apie"~~l
itait in horror at the awitl :eCtSae
and his blood ran cold,'as a l'ec rccl
lection of a quarrel on the previous mght
would partially occ: to his mouddle4
memory.
Hour after hour he tosadiai hied