The Litchfield County post., 1827-04-19

shelter 0t the neIghb0rIne hlllS, to protect II from the inclemency of the less gentle winds. It stood sufficiently distant from the village to lose all its hustle, but was near enough to par ticipate in all its convenienees. A little bye path led past its door to the parish church :; and on the Sabbath the villagers would pause on their way, to admire the neatness of the dwelling, or to inhale the fragrance of the sweet flowers that blossomed with every sea- son, in the weIl-cuItivated and well-weeded garden, or to greet the neighbor as he went forth to worship, with his wife and his five children-so many models of what an Eng fish yeoman and his family should be.
 The cottage had been in the possession of James Morland and his ancestors for upwards of a century. They never hadheld higher, but never lower station than that of small farmers; and their means had always been equal to their necessities, or their wishes.- James, father, however, though an honest, was not a frugal man; he had lost his partner early in life, and he had neglected his oppor- tunities OfprOviding against "rainy season" When he died l
 "And bequeathedto to his son good name,''- he left him scarcely any other inheritance.
 James had married well-aUeN in the only sense in which the word can be applied to marriage. His wife was one who felt and en- joyed the blessings of religion, and his chil- dren were brought up in the nurture and ad- monition the Lord. Religion always brings contentment, and without contentment there is no happiness. Its effects were manifest, not only in their own characters and conduct, and in the dispositions and habits of their own family, but in their domestic arrangements, and in their attention to those comforts and hum, hlo olorapcias 1uh;ch ,,,oAu fh oiw hor,o nc attractive as it was substantially valuable.- James had never any temptation to leave it, because he could no where have found so much enjoyment as in his own house; where his cheerful Mary and smiling little ones, re- cOmpensed his labor when done, or lighted, by their influence, his daily toll.
 The ways of Providence are often most mysterious; but to the eye of faith, there is always some convincing evidence, that when the virtuous are afflicted, their trials are sent to prove, and not to crush that their strength may be seen in trouble, and that their excel lencein diversity, may be like the perfume of bruised fowers-mOre powerful in its effects. and more extensively useful. Mary Morland had given birth to sixth child; but her se- were and dangerous illness had for several weeks prevented her husband from attending to his work. She had scarcely recovered, when their COW died, and two of their sheep were stolen. These misfortunes obliged James for the first time in his life, to be in arrears with his rent. He hoped. however to be req dy with it after harvest; but in consequence of his wife's confinement, his crop was very late, and the wet season had cOmmepced be- fore it was gathered in. Other difficulties came upon him, and he saw no possibility of discharging the debt, for which his landlords agent, a cold-hearted man, had become very pressing. James was too upright in principle to promise payment within short period: for he knew that many prosperous months alone could enable him to recover the ground he had lost. A distress was therefore levied on his house and land and James Morland and his family were driven from the ancient dwelling of their for-fathers, with no other possession than their honest hearts, and a humble de- pendence on Him, whom they knew clothed the fair flowers of the beautiful garden, and provided homes for the little chirping spar rows that nestled in the thatch of the cottage from which they were exiled.
 The whole family had passed the threshold, and had fingered for some minutes in the gar den. The wife had given her infant to the care of her eldest boy ,and was gazing through the half-Open lattice, into the late cheerful and happy parlour. The tears had gathered in her eyes, as she trained up and fastened a branch of the honeysuckle that had given way, and then plucked one of its many blos- soms, on which she looked earnestly. as if bidding farewell to the beautiful tree she had so long watched and cherished. The mourn ful group of children gathered round her, and endeavored to attract her attention by asking questions as to which of their flowers they should carry with them. The poor afflicted mother turned around,-she could contain herself no longer; but clasping each by turn to her bosom, she wept bitterly as she bade "God bless them." The husband, full of hustle and apparent carelessness, had entered his cottage, to see that nothing had been left behind; but when he returned, it was evident that it's bare walls and desolare appearance had weighed heavily upon him. He looked on his wife, suppressed heart-sob, and ex- claimed, "Come, my Mary, take up your child, and God will guide us to some other resting place." The family passed through the little gate of their garden, again turned to gaze on their once happy home, and went their way.
 Their dog had been spectator of the scene, and he seemed perfectly conscious of the sor- row that had fallen on his masters house, as he ran from one member of it to another. .whi- ned and wagged his tail, to each, and then lay down in farther part of the garden, gazing wistfuy on the group. He had marked the