Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 69: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MINERVA’S LETTER. 67 that I fear I am recognized. I must tell you-the whole of my miserable story I have begun. I have thrown myself on your kindness; I must not shrink, however pride may coun- sel me. I am compelled to add, that I have not now, and have not had, sufficient food to sustain life comfortably, I, who have all my life had delicacies at my command, am starving; my only food and drink has been a little dry bread and water. There, it is told; my trembling fingers have per- formed an unwilling task, but what could I do? If it were not for the hope I have of seeing him once more, I would give way to fainting nature, and die; but my faith forbids, and counsels me to take every needful precaution to sustain life. May I come to you, if only fora while? TI should have been the happy wife of your son, if ill fate had not intervened. I can scarcely guide my pen for weakness and dizziness, and can only add, that, if on Thursday you will come, or send for me— for I have no means—you will find me ata grocer’s on the corner of A and L——— streets. Very truly yours, MINERVA DE MOoONSERATR. “The poor child!” cried the farmer’s wife, tears in her eyes, ie Isn’t it terrible, mamma ?’ murmured Jessie, her fair face troubled, and her large eyes distended; “it makes me shiver from head to foot to think of any one suffering, actually suf- fering for want of food, and only think of our abundance.” “ Well, what would you do, mother?” asked the farmer, hastily. « +0 take her home here, the poor child; take her right home. Do you go after her, father? she shall find rest here ; think ! she would have been the wife of our dear boy.” Here the motherly heart gave way, her voice fultered and fell; she arose, and hastily left the room. “And Herman used to write such beautiful letters about ~ her,” said Jessie; “how I long tosee her. He told meI should love her, and I know I shall. Father, is it not strange? can we do to find Herman? We must go to Cuba, father; we must search from one end of the island to the Other.” Her beautiful eyes were bright and humid with tears. [email protected]