Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-13
the subject, and kindly assured him that


ment OF administering consolation to YOU
in your distress, and of inducing you tc
adopt those means whereby you may OBJ.
tain the forgiveness of God.''
r. Talkino more to me of the forgive
ness OF God said the sick man, " unit
you hear Of the crimes to be forgiven, and
then if yoa think prayers for me can reach
the skies, offer them up"
was the only child" said Conway,
of pioas parents, both of whom died
soon after attained my twenty-6rst year.
They gave me good education, and left
me fortune sufficiently large to enable
me to procure every comfort in life that a
reasonable man could desire. But not
withstandlrg that same Being who sprink-
led the Ornament with innumerable
worlds has with equal profusion scattered
tblessingsin Hsg path, was not satisfied
with my portion-and for all his favours
| returned nought but the basest ingrati-
tude. Avarice took possession of my
soul, and such was the power that she
exercised over me, that I determined to
augment my treasures even at the risk of
my sayation. | became unfeeling and
oppressive to the poor-unpitying to the
distressed-and turned deaf ear to the
cries Of the miserable and unfortunate. /
beheld U moved, the tears of the widow
and the orphan. They pleaded in vain to
me, ard when my daughter has afforded
them what little relief it was in her power
to besbw, I was offended and blamed her
for her charity. In reviewing my life,
have wondered at the matchess clemency
of that God who rolls the thunder through
the skies and plays with the forked light
ming, in not striking me dead whilst
have been wringing the last farthing from
some poor debtor. Although have not
imbraSd my hands in the blood Of fellow
mortal, l have been worse than murder
er. | have by my cruelty, sent worthy,
but unfortunate man broken-hearted, to
an untimely grave. He possessed more
than competency, and it was not by any
neglect or imprudence on his part that his
circumstances became embarrassed.
heard of his difficulties, and offered to as
sist him. The terms on which | propos-
ed my aid were such as might be expect
ed from the most greedy extortioner, and
nothing but his urgent necessities could
have induced him to accept them. Thus l
laid the foundation for his ruin. When
the time for payment arrived, he was not
able 10 meet his engagement. and to OBJ
tain temporary relief he was compelled
to comply sFith nay etill greater exaction.
Time after time was he obliged to resort
to me, under similar circumstances, until
all his property had to be sold to satisfy
my demands, and he was reduced to beg
gary. You must agree with me, sir, that
l have small claims to Heavens pity,
when I tell you that I beheld with the
most inhuman unconcern, that man, with
his locks whitened more by grief than
age, almost bereft of reason, soliciting the
charity of an unfeeling world. His mis-
fortunes soon brought him, as have be-
fore said, to the grave-and his wife, who
had been tenderly brought up, and had
been accustomed to ease and plenty, died
soon after, in a poor-house, confirmed
maniack. They left two boys, too young
to be sensible of their parents wrongs.
These children were apprenticed by the
guardians of the poor, and will shortly be
Of age. / have provided amply for them
| in my will, as the only means by which |
can make any reparation for the injustice
| have done to them and their parents.
I have also endeavoured to make restitu-
ton for the injuries | have done to 9th
ers."
The weakness Of Conway frequently
obliged him to stop in the course of his
narrative, and he was now so much ex-
hausted that he soon fell asleep. Mr..
Worthington and another of the neigh
bours remained with him till morning
when after duplicating for mercy on his
behalf, they took their departure, the I'M
happy man still declaring that he was
afraid to hope for forgiveness. He was
now declining rapidly. Matilda resumed
her place BY his bedside, and read and
prayed with him. Her father appeared
fervently to Join in her petitions, and
when he became too feeble to speak, he
would raise his hands and eyes to Heaven
as if imploring pardon. In the afternoon
he sunk into state of insensibility, and
continued in that condition until the next
evening, when his spirit forsook its habit
alton of clay.
Mr.. Worthington survived him only a
few years, but before he died, he had the
happiness to join Matilda in the holy
bands of matrimony to most excellent
man. with whom she lived to a good old
age, blessing to all around her. That
portion of her time which was not occu-
pied in her domestick concerns was devot-
ed to visiting the sick, to comforting the
distressed, and ministering to the wants Of
the poor and needy-and to her might
with truth be applied the beautiful Ian
guage of living poetess =
% Her yoice-the very sound