Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-06-21

Az AFFECTING INCIDENT is thus related 10 the
Newburyport Herald -
discourse delivered on "Wednesday eve
nng in the Pleasant -street church. before the so
ciety for the Relief Of Aged Females By the Rev.
Mr. Stevens of Boston, Prayers were offered by
Rev. MIR Williams, OF this town. The annual re.
port of the society was read, and collection taken
up in aid Of the funds Of the society.
The discourse of Mr Stevens was a production
glowing with warm and elevated feeling, chasie
aud energetic IN language, and fully sustained the
reputation which had preceded him here.
Ia concluding hts remarks, Mr. Sle.ens said he
would relate part Of the history of family in Phil
| adelphia with which he intimately acquainted
II Consisted Of the parents and four children. The
husband was in an employment which enabled hlIn
10 maintain his family comfortable and lay by
| thing as provision for his old age. In the midst
of his usefulness he was seized with the consoup
ton, and during protracted illness the iill!e
| tate which lie had acquired was chiefly expeaded
Aiter his death the mother tasked herself tn sup
port her little family. Night after night was che
engaged in laboring with her needle for thar sup.
port, the children sitting by her side endeavoring
to comfort aud encourage her. Her arduous exer.
ton shortly brought the same diseas Sc which had
| taken away her husband. The support Of the fam
| lily thus entirely cut of. At this arisis the
Oldest boy then not over seven years of age. went
from door TO door begging for some employment,
TO keep the family from starvation Those upon
whom he thus called, too busy to listen TO the
story Of child. Finally. by dint of perseverance,.
he succeeded IN obtaining a situation in the Globe
Cotton Null, in Philadelphia, receiving for services
| IS cents per week. lie succeeded in getting a
younger brother INFO the same establishment. who
was paid 80 cents per week. Their united wages
one dollar and iwenty five cents per week-ser
we'd to sustain the sick mother and the family. In
tina way things went on for some time: the mother
was ias Fastening TO the end OF her earthly career
None interested themselves in the fate Of these OBJ
scufe INDIVIDUALS. Their neghbors vicious,
| degraded people, as poor Is themselves.
For a long TINE roasted potatoes were their only
food-ahd The small pieces of wood which they
could collect In the streets. their only fuel
Finally, female, who had been bridesmaid to
the mother. heard Of her distress and sought her
out. Her assistance and personal services were
freely given, but alas it was too late she could
bot smooth the pillow of death. The mother was
laid IN her grave by the side OF her husband, and
the children were left orphans. The kind lady re-
NAMED by, disposed of what little furniture was
len, and obtained situations for the remnant of this
afflicted family. Their prospects began to assume
| brighter hoe. Al their meeting at the end of
every year, they could say that the past year had
been more prosperous than any before it.. Finally
an opening was made for the older boy the chris
tan Ministry. and that boy said Mr Stevens, is the
iad'ridUai trlo notr addresses you
We have rarely witnessed a more powerful effect
than The announcement OF this fact produced. /,
was as though an electric shock had been sent
through the whole audience. SO entirely unpre-
pared were the assembly ior such a termination
so completely had their sympaIbies been given to
sufferers, whom they supposed were at that tins
many miles distant. that the declaration that one.
WHO had passed through The scenes in which their
eehnes mad been 80 strongly enlisted stood before
mem Was unexpected and startling 10 the highest
degree.