Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-12-13
NaISCE LII A n Y.
TIE LAST HERRING.

From "vilage Tales" by Stacy q. Potts, Esq.
1t was Saturday night, and the widow
o, tho Pine Cottage, sat by her blazing
faggots, with her five tattered children
at her side, endeavoring by listening to
the artlessness of their juvenile prattle, to
dissipate the heavy gloom that pressed
upon her mind. For long year, her
own feeble hands had provide for her
helpless family, for she had no supporter
she thought no friend, in all the wide
unirisndly world around! That mysteri-
Gus providence, the wisdom of whose
ways are above human comprehension,
had visited her with wasting sickness,
and her little me- ans had become exhaust
cd 1t was now, too, midwinter, and the
snow lay heavy and deep through all the
surrounding forests, while storms seemed
gathering in the heavens, and the driving
wind roared through the bending pines,
and rocked her puny mansion. The
last herring smoked upon the Goals be-
fore her: it was the only article Of food
she possessed; and no wonder ifher des-
olatc state awakened in her lone bosom
all the anxieties of mother, when she
looked upon her children-and no won
der, forlorn as she was, if she suffered the
heart swellings Of despair to rise, even
though she knew that He whose promise
is to the widow, and to the orphan, can
not forget his word. Providence, had ma
ny years before, taken away her eldest
son, who went from his forest home to
try his fortune on the seas, since which
she had heard no note or tidings Of him;
and in later times had by the hand of
death, deprived her Of the companion
and staff of her worldly pilgrimage, in
the person of her husband. Yet to this
hour she had been upborne; she had not
only been able to provide for her little
flock, but had never lost one opportunity
of ministering to the wants ofthe misera-
bic and the destitute.
The indolent may well bear with pow
erty while the ability to gain sustenance
remains. The individual who has but
his own wants to supply, may meet with
fortitude the winter Of want; his a0ec-I
tions 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 OIL misery. But the mother Of
helpless and depending children--far
from the reach of human charity, has
mono Of these to console her. And such
an one was the widow Of the Pine Cot
tage; yet as she bent over the fire and
took up the last scanty remnant of food
to spread before her children, her spirits
seemed to brighten up, as by some sud-
den and mysterious impulse, Cowper's
beautiful lines came uncalled into her
mind
"Judgc not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace,
Behind frowning Providence,
He hides a smiling facc.''
The smoking herring was scarcely laid
upon the table when gentle rap at the
loor and loud barking OF the dog, attract
ed the attention Of the family The chill
lren flew to open it, and weary travel
or in tu;tcrcd garments, and apparently
Indifferent health, entered and begged
odging, and n mouthlul Of food for, II
laid he, 1T is twenty four hours since |
astod read.'-The widows heart bled
new, as under fresh complication of
for her sympathics fingered i
lot round her fircsidc. She hcsitated
ot even now-rest, and n share of all
he had she profiered to the stranger.
1--WE shall not be forsakcD," said she.
or suffer deeper for an act of charity.'
.f