American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-05-03
From the New York Christian Herald.
THE WIDOWS SON.


and her little son, a lad ofabout ten years oil
age. She had formerly seen better days.
Her husband was respectable sea captain,
and supported his family in ease and afflu-
Ience.-But amidst his own and the hopes
|of his family, he was lost at sea, and his
property shared the same fate. The widow
had two little sons, one of six years old, and
1.-THE other, above mentioned, then an infant
She retired from the circle in which she had
$50 long moved with esteem, and purchased
la neat little cottage which stands by the wa.
tiers side.-Here she brought up her little
!boys, and early. endeavored to lead them ir
the way they should go. She felt hersel
Ito be pilgrim below, and taught her sons
THAT this world wasnever designedforhome
In this manner this little family livet
retired, beloved and respected. The mother
would often lead her children on the hare
sandy beach just as the setting sun was tip
Iping the smooth blue waters with his las
yellow tints. She would then tell them o
their father who was gone, and with he
finger would often write his name upon ths
sand, and as the next wave obliterated ev
cry trace OF the writing, would tell then
that the hopes and joys of this world ar,
lequally transient. When the oldest sol
arrived at the age of twelve, he was seiz
ed with an incurable desire of going to sea
He had heard sailors talk of their voyages
of visiting otherclimes, and other countries
and his imagination threw before him
Thousand pleasures, could he also visi
them. The circumstances and entreatie
.lofa tender parent, and an ahectionate littl
brother were all in vain.-He at lengtl
wrung reluctant consent from his mother
and, receiving from her bible, a mo
theirs blessing and prayers, he embarke,
on bord a large brig. He promised hi
mother, as he gave last parting hand
THAT he would daily read his bible, and a
loften commit himself to God in prayer
A few tears and few signs escaped hir
las he saw the last blue tints of his nativ
land fade from his sight-for there wer
1.-THE cottage of his mother, and all the Joy
Iof his childhood, but all was novelty a
!. Iround him, and he soon forgot thes
Ipangs, amidst other scenes. For som
thine he remembered his promise to hi
J mother, and daily read his bible: but til
sneers ofthe wicked crew recalled his min
!, from reviewing the instructions Of his p
] GUS mother, and placed his bible in tn
bottom of his chest, TO slumber with hi
conscience. During a severe storm, il
ii deed, when it seemed as if destruction wa
|yawning to receive every soul ON boarc
, he thought of his mother his home-an
This promise--and, in the anguish Of hi
heart, resolved to amend, should his life b
[spared. But when the storm had subsidee
the seas were smooth, and the clear su
! brought Joy and gladness over the gre;
waters, he forgot all his promises, aud
now seemed as if the last throb of cor
!. science was stihed. No one of the Gre
icould be more profane-no one more res
: dy to scott at that religion, which, in HI
childhood and innocence, he had bee
: taught to love and revere.
n After an absence of several years, TIL
.lyouth found himself once more DRAWN
: near his native land. He had traverse
:, 1.-THE globe over, but during all this time h
r had neither written to his mother, nc
. heard from her. Though he had throw
r off restraint, and blunted the finer feeling
Iof his nature, yet his bosom thrilled wit
, pleasure at the thought of once NOR
: Injecting his parent and brother, 1t wa