Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-12-02
wnnumaTon, DEL. FRIDAY, Dro. ., 1881.
LUCY MARI

and philanthropc charity sends forth the sweet
est incense. 1t is a lovely trait in the charac-
ter Of the aged-for ii argues tenderness of
feeling. an expansive mind, and warm and
benevolent heart, existing amid the desoiation
OF years; and by this we know that time, which
freezes up the flowers Of beauty and the peren-
NAL foune Of youth, has not been able to reach
the springs of humanity which flow from the
! inner bosom, We admire it in the middle
aged and active, but from these we expect the
iready and active benevolence which is due from
man to man--they are the bone and .sinew OF
society, and own duties from which their faith
ers are in a measure exempt. But the charity
OF the young is that which mingles present
pleasure with all the fulness of future hope, and
sheds around the character a more than earthly
glory. "fs r.i
/ Every poor family in Alesbury knew Lucy
Mar, of the Sweet Brar cottage, over the brook
by the meadows; where her father lived on
snug little farm which he had bought out of the
hard earnings of his young days, and where he
long lived in good circumstances, honest, and
industrious. There were many pretty girls in
Alesbury, in those times, but they were, as
now, too much devoted too pleasure, too fond
OF gay dress and gay company. and spent too
much time with the beaux, to have great deal
Ito devote to better purposes. Among these
Icircumstan ce of her frequently bringing up to
the village small presents in basket, which she
carried round to those families who, through
misfortune. sickness, or accidents, were strug-
lgling with distress.
| Her father, when she was quite child, gave
her spot of ground. Lucy said he, this shall
be all your own; if you are a good girl, and in
dustrious, it will yield you many good things,
and you shall dispose OF them as you like. Ev-
cry summer she paid constant attention to its
cultivation--her brother assisted her in the
! most laborious part of the business, and
in process of time it yielded abundantly. She
had a present also, once, of two pretty lambs
and from this small stock in few seasons came
,, a fine little flock--the wool of these she spur
+ for stockings and mittens.'for the people about
, her neighberhood and in the village, to whose
relief also the produce of her little garden went
From resources such as these, Lucy was ma,
ny times enabled to cheer the spirits of d, s.
ponding poverty, and often did her small pre-.
scents, well timed always in their application
dissinate the gloom that was gathering 'rount
a widowed or an orphan family. Among the
poor, and there were several families of such
in and about Alesbury, she was idoliZed; anc
., she early, very early. had the joy of knowing
that if the prayers of grey-headed. decrepid,
tlesolate age were valuable, she was rich in suci
treasures. Beyond her circle of Ineasurabl,
dependent friends, she had few intimate com
panions-- and secluded amid the retired shade
9 of the eet.briar cottage, she passed the frs
n sixteen years of her life In tranquility and. in
q nocence.
y / think Lucy was about sixteen, when tn
Y law suit between her father and the Lawrence
7 took place, which ended the loss of his estate
/ for the court decided that he had bought tn
H., Il haI
!. was severe stroke to the family-for in thi
!. farm the good man lost all that he was worth
d and found himself involvedn debt besides hay
L ing devoted all that he had made for man
years to enrich, and beautify, tnd improve hi
Is, delightful situation; and the expenses OF tn
lr unexpected suit having been considerable.
id When MIR. Mar returned from the court, c
n the evening of the day in which his fortur
le had been decided. an affecting scene took plac
= All is lost, said the poor man as his wife
o Ipened the door to receive him--all is lost! M
iPtry, we must leave to others this pretty retire
;, which we have fixed up SO snugly and comtor
is able, for our old age, and on which we SO lor
he fondly hoped our children would succeed US
If, but it is the will of heaven--we must bear
lie with the resignation that becomes us
he The kind mother clasped her hands silentl
ge and turned pale-but when she saw her hu
iut Ddnu aHtCtcd aiiiiosh W sSe'A - $50 - - - =
I'D ural fortitudc of the woman, and endeavort
ch cheerfulIy to encourage him under his misfo
les tunes. The children gathered round their p
Ter rents, and with tears in their eyes listened
a the fathers sad account--and then we mu
;ks.lleave the Sweet-briar cottage, said they a
y sobbing, and in the same breath. Yes, repea
re- ed the unfortunate father--the tears ran doV
= his cheeks, and unable to restrain their teelin
longer, the whole family were bathed in tear
Misfortunes, sudden and deep and une
oil pected misfortunes, made sad inroads upon
ir- hearts even of the most sober and philosopf
cir and the young and unfortifed, often be
ofIthem with less of frmness. But Lucy W
err had been sitting long silent in one corner,