Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-19

The cottage of James Morland was
the preiiiest IN one of the most roman
tic villages Of the county of Devon Its
site had been well chosen, for it com
mandeG an extensive prospect OF the
surrounding country, and yet had the
shelter ofthe neighhouring hills to pro.
tect it from the. lnclemency of the less
gentle winds. 1t stood sufficiently
distant from the village to lose all its
hustle, bot near enough to participate
in all its conveniencies. A little bye
path led past the door to the parish
church: and on The Sabbath The villa
gers would pause on their way 10 ad
mire the ueatness of the dwelling, or
to inhale the fragrance of the sweet
flowers that blossomed with every
season, 10 The we'll cultivated and well
weeded garden, or to greet their neigh
Dor as he went forth to worship, with
his wife and his five children-so
many models of what an English yeo.
man and his family should be.
The cottage had been in The posses
sion OF james Morland and his ances
tors for upwards of a century. They
had never held higher, but never a
lower, station than that of small farm
ers; and their means had been always
equal to their necessities; or their wish
es. james father however, tho an
honest, was not a frugal man: he had
neglected his opportunities of provid
ing against d rainy season. When be
died.
"And ~bequeathed 10 his son a good
name."-He left him scarcely any o.
Their Inheritance.
James had married well-weN in
&he only sense 10 which the word can
be applied to marriage. His wife was
one who felt and enjoyed the blessings
of religion, and bis children were bro't
up in the nurture and admonltion ofthe
Lord. Religion always brings con
tentment, and without contentment
there is no happiness. Its effects were
manifest not only in their own char
acters and conduct, and the DISPOSE
tons and habits o their young family,
but in their domestic arrangements,
and in their attention to those comforts
and humble elegancies which made
their home as attractive as it was sub.
stantially valuable. james had new.
er any temptation to leave it because
he could no where have found so much
enjoyment as in bis own house; where
his cheerful Mary and his smiling lit
he ones recompensed his labor when
done, Or lightened by their influence
his daily toll.
The ways of providence are often
most mysterious; but to the eye of
faith there is always some convinc.
ing evidence, that when the ~virtuous
are afflicted, their trials are sent to
prove and not to crush; that their
strengthmay he seen in trouble, and
that their excellence in adversely may
be like The perfume of bruised flowers
-E powerful in its effects, and
NJ fensively useful. Nary Nor.
Ian given birth TOT 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, sndtwo of their sheep
were stolen. These misfortunes obi
ged James, for the first time in his
life, to be in arrears$Vith his rent. He
hoped, however, 10 be ready with i
after harvest; but III consequence o
his wlte's confinement, his crop was
very late and the wet season had CON
menced before it was gathered in. O
Their difficulties came upon him, anc
he saw no possibility OF discharging
the debt, ior which his landlords a
gent, acold hearted man, had become
very pressing James was too uprigh
III principle "a promise payment MIN
a short period! for he knew that man,
prosperous months alone could enabl,
hun 10 recOver the ground he had io,l
n distress was therefore levied on Ei
house aud land, -nd jams Murlsu,