The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-22
From, the Johnsto,Un w. " Republican.
AN AFFECTING STORY.


go woman in ordinary cases so mere a
mortal, how, in the great and rare events OF
life, dost thou swell into the angel !"-ex-
claims late popular writer. The opinion
has been expressed by many before him.
and history bears on its page some splendid
proofs of its business. Numerous, however,
as are the recorded proofs of woman's capa-
biity of greatness, they bear but small pro-
portion to its thousand eXertions which have
passed unnoticed to oblivion, and perhaps
the finest and truest displays of female hero
ism have been in humble or in private life,
when the heart made its sacrifice un-
prompted by the hope of eclat and unsus-
tanned by the certainty of fame.
A case came under my observation last
week, which, for its disulay of patient forti-
tude. untiring perseverance, and deep and
cruel suffering, as we'll as the melancholy
interest which it excited, has few or no
parallels.
Two brothers, whose wives also were
sisters, resided near Glasgow in Scotland,
and on the fruits of their industry in their
lucrative and respectable occupation (they
were Calico printers,) supported their fami-
les in comfort and ease, and were enabled
to give their eight children all the advan-
tages of mental and religious instruction
for which the better class of tradesmen,
particularly, are so distinguished in that
country The distress, however, which for
years has pervaded the manufacturing dis
tricts of Great Britain extended at last 10
them, and continued its visitations until
their prospects were desu oyed, and their
perseverance exhausted. Denied all hope
of better times, they resolved in despair to
abandon an occupation which no longer re-
paid their toll, and in June last they en-
barked with THEN families for Canada, with
the purpose of purchasing and cultivating
land.
They settled in the town of Ramsay, 20C
miles above Montreal, and there soon found
in the task of building their log hut, and
clearing their heavily timbered new land
that they were entirely untitled for, and I'M
equal to the duties and labors of their new
vocation. Provisions were dear and scarce,
the climate was severe, and their fund oil
money was almost exhausted; a hard WIN
ter was before them, and-looking on their
wives and children, who had thus far en-
dured their prvations patiently, ifnot cheer
fully; they resolved, with the advice Of
their few neighbors, to cross into the
States" and seek their employment in some
of the new manufactures. They started
ON the 18th November, expecting to send
in a short time for.their families, which they
were leaving but senderly provided. II
was not, however, until the 10th of Februa-
nv that q letter reached its anxious expect
ants, stating that they had at length found
employment at Fall River, in Massachusetts
and would send for their families SO soor
as they had earned the means
But for this their families could not wait
they were sinking underline pressure of evils
among which the hope delayed" counted
but as trifling. The sum of money which
the husbands had been able to leave then
was but small, and the scarcity ofprovsons
prevailing in the incipient settlement was
shared by them even to extremity-to abso-
lutte hunger. The crevices, and seams o.
their log hut were but partially closed, and
admitted the snow at every blast of the
winter wind. Amid hunger and cold, ant