The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-01
THE DESERTED CHILDREN.
AREAL INCIDENT.

/
children, in canoe. He had lost his wife,
was transporting his all to a new country,
where he might again begin the world.
Arriving towards evening at small island,
he landed there with the intention of en-
camping for the night. After remaining
for short time, he determined to visit the
opposite shore, for the purpose, probably, of
purchasing provision; and telling his chill
dren that he would soon return TO them, he
padded off, leaving them alone on the
island. Unfortunately he met on the shore
with some loose company, who had invited
him to drink He became intoxicated, and
in attempting to return to the island in the
night, was drowned. The canoe foated
away, and no one knew Of the catastrophe
until the following day.
! The poor, deserted children, in the mean
while, wandered about the uninhabited
island, straining their eyes to catch a
glimpse of their father Night came, and
they had no fire or food-no bed to rest
upon, ard no parent to watch over them.
The weather was extremely cold, and the
eldest child, though but eight years of age,
remembered to have heard that persons
who slept in the cold, were sometimes
chilled to death. She continued, therefore,
! to wander about; and when the younger
children, worn out with fatigue and drowsi
ness, were ready to drop into slumber, she
| kept them awake with amusing stories.
| At last, nature could hold out no longer,
and the little ones, chilled and aching with
cold, threw themselves on the ground.
! Then their sister sat down, and spreading
out her garments as wide as possible, drew
them on her lap, and endeavo1ed to impart
the warmth of her bosom, as they slept
sweetly on her arms.
! Morning came, and the desolate children
sat on the shore, weeping bitterly. Atlength
they were filled with joy, by the sight of
canoe approaching the island. But they
soon discovered that it was filled with In
dians their delight was changed into ter
ror, and they fled into the woods. Believ-
ing that the savages had murdered their
! father, and were now come to seek for them,
they crouched under the bushes, hiding in
breathless fear, like brood of young par
tridges.
The Indians having kindled a fire, sat
down around it and began to cook their
morning meal, and the eldest child, as she
peeped out from her hiding place, began to
think that they had not killed their father.
She reflected, too, that they must inevitably
starve, if left on this lone island, while on
the other hand, there was possibility OF
being kindly treated by the Indians. The
cries. too, of her brother and sister, who
had been begging pteously for food, had
| pierced her heart, and Weakened all her en-
ergy. She told the little ones, over whose
[ feebler minds her fine spirit had acquired
an absolute sway, to get up and go with
her; then taking hand of each, she fear
lessly led them to the Indian camp fire.
Fortunately, the savages understood oul
language, and when the little girl had ex-
planned to them what had occurred, they
received the deserted children kindly, and
conducted them to the nearest of our towns,
where they were kept by some benevolent
people, until their own relations claimed
them.-Kestei7, .SO1tue1lir.
ORDER is Heavens first law. God him
self is the example of it and by nothing
does he bless his creatures more, than by
the steadiness of the order Of nature and
the regularity of the seasons. What uncer-
taintv is there in the ebbing and flowing of
the tides? What deyiations in the changes
of the moon? The sun knoweth his going
down and his rising up. Even the comet is
not eccentric i'll travelling the boundless-
ness of space, he performs his revolutions
of fifty or hundred years to Il moment.
And in all the works of God what seems
disorder is only arrangement beyond our
reach: " For in wisdom he has made them
all"
Hear the apostle: "I.et every thing be
done decently and in order" The welfare
of your household requires that you should
observe times. Every thing should have
| its season; your business, your meals, your
devotional exercise, your rising, and your
rest.
1t is important to peace, and temper; and
diligence, and economy. Disorder also
multiples disorder. For no one thinks Of
being exact with those who set at nought
all punctuality.
The same principle requires that you
should keep every thing in its place. Sub
ordination is the essence Of all order and
rule. Never suffer the distinction of life
to be broken down. Ali violations of this
| kind iniure those who are below the grada-
ton, as well as those above it. The relln-
punishment OF authority may be as wrong as
its exercises. lie that is responsible for the
duties of any relation. should claim its pre-
negatives and powers. How else is he to
discharge them ? Be kind and atfable to
servants; but let nothing divest you of the
mastery. Be the tenderest Of fathers, but
be the father; and no sensible woman will,
am sue, be offended if add, be the most
devoted of husbands, but De the husband.
jGy
! A countryman in one of the western States,
with load of meal, drove up to a lady's door,
when the following brief conversation took
place Do you want to buy any meal
! :" What do you ask for a bushels p Ten cents
ma IN, prime ~ 80, can get it for ftp"
| In despairing voco) 50 Dear lady! viii you
take bushel for nutAipg9" lis it siftcd?'