American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-04-10

of Devon. Its site had been well chosen, for il
commanded an extensive prospect of the surround
ing country, and yet had the shelter of the neigh
boring hills to protect it from the nclenency Of the
less gentle winds. 1t stood sufficiently distant
from the village to lose all its hustle, but
enough to participate in alt its conyeniences. A
little byepath led past 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 nhale the fragrance Of the sweet flowers thag
and well-weeded garden, or to greet their neigh
Dor he went forth to worship, with his wife and
his five children-so many models OF What an En-
lglish yeoman and his family should be.
The cottage had been in the possession Of James
Morland and his ancestors for upwards Of centu-
ry. They had never held higher. but never
lower, station than that of small farmers: and
their means had been always equal to their
stiles, or their wishes. James's father however,
though an honest, was not frugal man: he ad
lost his partner early in life, and he had neglected
his oppol tunites Of providing against 'rainy
season. When he died
sAnd bequeathed to his son good name,''--
he left him scarcely any other inheritance.
James had married weli-,cel IN the only sense
in which the word can be applied to marriage. His
wife was one who felt and enjoyed the blessings
Of religion, and his children brought up in
the nurture and admoniton of the Lord. Religion
always brings contenment, and without contents
ment there is nohappiness Its effects were man
lest not only in their own characters and conduct,
and in the dispositions and habits OF their Young
family, but in their domestic arrangements, and in
their attention to those comforts and humble ce-
gances which made their home as 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 his smiling little ones
Irecompensed his labor when done. or lishtened by
their influence his daily toll.
The ways of Providence are often most mystic
rous; but to the eye Of faith there is always some
convincing evidence, that when the vrtuous are
afflicted, their trials are sent to prove and not to
crush that their strength may be seen in trouble,
aud that their excellence in adversely may be like
the perfume of bruised Aowers--mo powerful in
its effects, and more extensively useful. Mary
Morland had given birth to sixth child but her
severe 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 mis-
fortunes obliged James, for the first time in his life,
to be in arrears with his rent He hoped, however,
to be ready with it after harvest; but i'll cunse
quence of his wife's confinement, his crop was
very late, and the wet season had commenced be-
fore it was gathered in. Other difficulties came
upon him. and he no possibility Of discharglng
the debt, for which his landlords agent, cold
hearted man, had become very pressing. James
was too upright in principle to promise paymes.
within short period for he knew that many
prosperous months alone could enable him to re.
cover the ground he had lost. distress was
therefore levied on his house and land and James
Morland and his family were driven from the am
cient dwelling of their forefathers, with no other
possession than honest hearts, and humble de
pendence on Him whom they knew clothed the
fair flowers Of the beautiful garden, and provided
homes for the little chlrping sparrows that nestled
ofch fho oh,
exiIetl.
The shoe family had passed the threshold, and
had fingered for some minutes in the garden. The
wife had given her infant to the care OF her eldest
boy, and was gaZh. through the half-open lattice,
into the late cheerful and happy parlour. The
tears had gathered in her eyes, she trained up
and fastened branch of the honeysucke that had
given way, and then plucked one Of its many bios
SONS, which she looked earnestly, as if bidding
farewell to the beautiful tree she had long watch
ed and cherished. The mournful group Of children
gathered round her, and endeay0red to attract her
attention by questions as to which vi their flowers
they should carry with them The poor, afflicted
mother turned around, -she could contain herself
90 longer; but claspng each BY turn to her bosom.
she wept bitterly as she babe :. God bless them"
The husband, full Of hustle and apparent careless
ness, had entered his cottage, to see that nothing
had been left behind but when he returned, It
was evident that its bare walls and its desoate
appearance, had weighed heavily upon him. He
looked on his wife, suppressed heart-svb, and
exclaimed, Come, my Mary, take up your child,
ard God will guide US to some other resting
place."-The family passed through the little gate
OF their garden, again turned to gaze ON theif
once happy home, and went their way.
Their dog had been spectator OF the scene, and
h. seemed perfectly conscious of the sorrow that
had fallen on his masters house, as he ran from
one member Of it to another, whined and wagged
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