The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-23
THE LOST SON.
Hoot away despair!
Never yield to sorrow
The blacklist sky may wear
A sunny face Tomorrow"

NJ piaOhesL shg may wear
A sunny face tomorrow"
1t was Saturday night, and the widow OF
the Pine Cottage sat by her blazing faggots
with her five tattered children at her side
endeavorlng by listening to the artlessness
OF their juvenile prattle, to dissipate the
heavy gloom that pressed upon her mind
For year, her own feeble hands had pro
vIded for her helpless family, for she had nc
supporter; she thought of no friend in all
the wide, uhtrlendly world around-but that
mysterious Providence, the wisdom of whose
I ways are above human comprehension, had
visited her with wasting sickness, and her
little means had become exhausted. II was
/ now, too, mld-wInter, and the snow Law
! heavy and deep through all the surrounding
forests, while storms still seemed gathering
IN the heavens and the driving wind roar
ed amidst the bounding pines, and rocked
her puny mansion.
The last herring smoked upon the Goals
before her, 1t was the only article of food
she possessed, and no wonder her .forlorn
desolate state brought up in her lone bo-
som all the anXleties of a mother, when she
4 looked upon her children; and no wonder,
torlorn as she was, if she suffered the heart
sWelllngs of despair to rise, even though
she knew that he whose promise is to the
widow and to the orphan, cannot forget his
word. Providence had many years before.
taken from her her eldest son, who went
from his forest home, to try his fortune. on
the high seas, since which she heard no
note or tidings of him; and in later time.
had, by the hand of death, deprived her of
the companion and staff of her worldly nil
Z IN bn W
to this hour she had been upborne. she had
not only been able to provide for her little
flock, but had never lost an opportunity of
mlnlstenng to the wants of the miserable
and destitute.
The lndolent may well bear with poverty
while the ability to gain sustenance remains
The individual who has but his own wants
to supply. may suffer with fortitude the win
ter OF want his affections are not wounded,
his heart not wrung. The most desolate in
populous cities may hope, for charity has
not quite closed her hand and heart, and
shut her eyes on misery. But the industri-
Gus mother of helpless and depending child
ren-ta1 from the reach of human charity.
has none of these to console her. And such
an one was the widow of Pine cottage but
as she bent over the fire and took I'D the
last scanty remnant of food to spread before
her children, her spirits seemed 70 brighten
up, as by some sudden mysterious impulse.
and Cowper's beautiful lines came uncalled
across her mind
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace,
Behind frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.
The smoked herring was scarcely laid
upon the table, when a gentle rap at the
door, and loud barking of dog attracted
the attention of the family. The children
flew to open it, and weary. traveller in
tattered garments, and apparently indffer-
ent health, entered and begged lodging,
and mouthfnl of food said he, ri" it is now
twenty-four hours since | tasted bread"
The widows heart bled anew as under a
fresh complication of distresses; for her
| sympathies fingered not round her fireside.
She hesitated not even now; rest and share
OF all she had, she proffered to the stranger.
"We shall not be forsaken," said she, "or
! suffer deeper for an act Of charity"
The traveller drew near the hoard-but
when he saw the scanty fare, he raised his
eyes towards Heaven with establishment
land Is this all your store ?" said he" and
share of this do you offer to one you know
not? then never saw | charity before but
madam" said he, continuing, 2" do YOU not
wrong your children by giving a part o!
your last mouthful to a stranger?" "Ah,'
said the poor widow, and the tear drops
gushed into her eyes as she said it, g have
boy, a darling son, somewhere on the face
OF the wide world, unless Heaven has taker
! nd | nltr
would that others should act towards him
God who sent mamma from heaven can pro
vide for US as he did for Israel and how
should this night offend him, if my sor
should be wanderer, destitute as you, and
ne should have provided for him a home
even poor as this-were to turn you unre
lleved away"
The widow ended, and the stranger
sprlnging from his seat, clasped her in hi!
arms" God indeed has provided lust sucI
Il home for your wandering son-and ha.
given him wealth to reward the goodnes.
OF his beneiactress-my mother oh m,
mother"
II was her long lost son returned to hel
bosom from the lnules. He had chosen tina
disguise, that he might the more complete.
ly surprise his family; and never was sur.
PRISE more perfect, or followed by sweet
er cup OF joy-that humble residence in the
forest was exchanged for one, comfortable
anu indeed, beautiful in the valley, and the
widow lived long with her dutiful son, il
the enjoyment OF worldly plenty, and in the
delightful employments of virtue, and at this
day the passer by is pointed to the luxuri
ant willow that spreads its branches broad
and green above her grave, while he listens
to the recital OF this simple and homely but
not altogether worthless tale.
~
MEDICAL DUELs. "Many medical duels
have been prevented by the difficulty of ar
ranging the 'methodus pngnandi.' In the