The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-02-10

vadcd his soul reinorse took possession OF
him, and returning to the place, he threw
himself, overwhelmed with tears, at the feet
of the pedlar. Take back your money!"
said he: believe me, when relate the Cir
cunstances of my ,deplorable situation, and
think, oh think, what extreme torture the
mind of parent, who beheld his family star
wing to death, must be in, before he could
resolve upon committing crime similar to
that which have just now done. My heart
has been unaccustomed to guilt like this.
Let me beseoch you to come to my cottage,
that YOU may have and opportunity Of be-
holding the deplorable condition Of my wife
and children upon the sight of which, am
persuaded you will not only forgive, you will
not only pity me, but you viii become my
bencfactor, nay my preseryer,''
The honest pedlar, perceising the poor
mans embarrassment, raised him from the
ground and comforted him. Unable to with
stand his solicitations, or rather yielding to
the feelings of his own compassionate heart,
he hcstated not a single moment to follow
the peasant, though he did not know but it
was at the hazard of his life. Butwhat were
his emotions when he entered the peasants
ruinous habitatien, and beheld the scenes of
distress which pervaded every corner of the
place. How moving every object The
children almost naked, lying upon straw,
dying with hunger; and the mother, dreadful
reflection overwhelmed with sorrow, and
! distracted with despair.
7 The peasant now related to his wife, with
extreme anguish, the horrid circumstance of
his resolution to rob, and of his attack upon
the pcdlar. You know, said he, with what
eagerncss | went to the town, indhlging the
fond hope, that / might find relief from
some compassionate person. | told my art
less tale to one and to another; to third,
and to fourth but, alas found none but
| hintY hearts; all were busted in amassng
richie, or in dissipating what they had alrea-
dy acquired. Refused by all, | became des-
peratc and, in the height OF my fury, went
into aeighbouring wood-Can Gu believe
it, have dared to lay violent hands on this
good man. Ihave dare to rob him." Here
his tears, beholdng the distresses ofhis fami-
ly, and remorse for the commission of so a.
trocious an action, totally hindercd him from
utteriRg another word
The wife, knowing their situation, seeing
the dstresses of her husband, ant. feariAg that
he might be hurried to prison, and perhaps
to execution, exclaimed, with the utmost "a
citation of mind sob Sir, pity my poor
babes; consider our mirerable situation.
Poverty, alas has not altered oul sentiments.
III all our misery we hitherto preserved our
: honesty; but till the fatal hour, when my hus-
band impelled by distress, and hurried on by
: despair, vcntured, rashly ventured, to modest
5 YOU in the wood. beseech,-l me not sup
plicatc in vain,--I beseech your mercy for my
husband implore your compassion for my
tender infants"
The good pcdlar, overcome by this me-
lancholy scene, mingled his tears with those
of the poor people. &C Fear not, said ne,
: am not your enemy, but your friend. Take
these twenty crowns. ] insist upon it.
Would to God my ability were equal to my
: wishes would relieve you more amply.
am heartily sorry that | cannot secure you
happier lot for the future"
"What exclaimed the peasant, instead of
treating me as your enemy, are you SO kind
as to become my benefactor and protectors
Would you be my preserver? Alas my
, crime renders me unworthy ofthe least favour
from you. No: though die through hun-
: ger, cannot consent to take the money"
: epcdlar however, positively insisted up
OIL their taking the sum he offered, and the dis
trcsses of the family compelled them to &C
ccpt it. The father, mother, and children,
now kissed the benevolent hand of him who
= had rescued them from the devouring and
, corrodng jaws of death.-Tears only oneve-
, ~ face bespakc the gratefuln SIS of their
: hearts and the pedlar retired with that de-
light and satisfaction which benevolent minds
alone can taste.
: Oh We, on whom Fortune has designed to
smile, ye gay. We proud, ye avaricious af-
ter pcrusilg the above relation oft the bene-
; Violence of a poor pedlar, can your hearts be
, ever steclcd against the cries Of the niserar
, bic, or the pinngs OF distress' Can You
hcncetorth behold the sufferings of your fell
low creatures without endeavouring to relieve
f them Can you, after reading this, refrain
, from doing goods Oh sleep not in the bosom
OF aihuencc, but let your purse be open to
relieve the distresses Of the poor Consider
: Fortune is inconstant. Enjoy her present
t favours but forget not this important truth,
t that your supertuities at least, are the pa
trimony of the poor. And, my children,
to sympathze with a,iother whose woes on
, misfortunes are great, is in some sort mode
, of relief although it may not be in your pow
CT to afford them any pecuniary assistance:
if you had money to spare, am convinced
you would do that also.
From the New Monthly Magazine.
Tvry CARA TALE.