The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-12-26
SELECTED TALES.
THE BLIND WIDOW,
AND HER FAMILY.

l was but child when Mrs. Hamilton
became widow but l was permitted TO
attend her husbands funeral, aud can new
er forget the small group Of darkly clad
forms that clustered round his grave, nor
how with childish curiosity, ! caught the
hand of one of the little orphans, and gazed
rudeIy into its face TO see if he were crying.
Nor can forget how ] turned away and
wept, when | saw the widow with clasped
hands, raise her sightless ewes TO heaven,
and heard the deep sobbinss of the eldest
daughter and son, who led their blind moth
er TO the grave l wept, but with infantle
selfishnees for I reflected, what If il were
our own dear father who was dead. and
how would Charles and Harriet cry, and
how badly we should all feel if our poor
mother could not see-Such were the nat
ural suggestions of simple, childish feeling,
and so deeply does the pen of early I'M
preston engraye its character on the tab
let's of the immortal mind, that The little
scene just described. though of no pariicu-
lar importance to myself, shines forth to
recollection us yividIy ms If il were but yes
ierdsy's transaction, although many long
years have since gone by. But TO my mar
rative.
Mr.. Hamilton married with good pros
poets in life. mean an humble life. He
was the owner of n small dry goods shop in
one of our Southern cities, and his well known
honesty and persevering business habits,
rendered it probable that he would arrive,
if not at opulence, to ut least respectable
independence. But who, nlas may cal
culate on the certainty of any human c.
senil Mr.. Hamilton had the misfortune
iu render himself unpopular by tie open
and earnest advocacy of religious and polit-
ical lenets which were deemed heretical in
his neig ghborhood.
Notwithstanding, however, his unpopu-
lariiy there was li:tle doubt of his having
obtained n competency, but for The breaking
out of n fire which resulted in the deslruc-
ton of his shop, and neaily all his unin-
sured effects. This was an almost over
whelmiug disaster, as il reduced him to the
necessity Of accepting offer Of clerk
ship in a large mercantile esiablishment,
the proprietor Of which, Mr.. Ward, enjoyed
no very enviable reputation.
Long and faithfully had Mr.. Hamilton
labored in the service of Ward, the nvails
of that labor barely affording his family n
subsistence including the expense of edu-
eating bis two eldest children, the first a
beautiful daughter of seventeen, and a son
two years younger; when he was taken n
way by sudden and severe sickness from
the active scenes Of life, leaving his afflicted
wife aud children 10 struggle unprotected
through q cold, uncharitable world
II was with heavy heart that Widow
Hamilton returned from the funeral to her
humble home. "The one dear voice" was
not there to welcome her, neither the kind
hand which had often, since the deyelope-
ment of that dreadful disease called the
cataract of the eye, been extended TO direct
her uncertain steps. The pale mourner
sank for a moment overcome with painful
emotions, but the many sweet consultations
of the faith whose hopes had rishlened her
whole life, sent down its precious encour-
agemen.s to her heart and gave her peace.
Thou art not m orphan, my little James" "
cried she, clssping her youngest son fondly
in her arms. Neither are yc fatherless," p"
she continued, drawing closely together her
bevy of bereaved ones, the father of tho
fatIIerless is yours. lie watches you, and
will spread his mantle Of love over you, aud
We shall not be hurt" The death Of Mr.
Hamilton, will of course be supposed, from
his extremely small income, left his family
in very depressed circumstances, The ex.
pen.es incurred in his sickness and burial
were considerable and the widow found
/ herself under the immediate necessity o
disposing Of her pleasant home, and re
moving to miserable lodgings in narrow
street, in order to save the additional Cos
Of high rent.-Here, with the assistance q
her eldest son, Robert-who, at his father
deceasc, was taken into the estublishmen
Of Ward--the slight avoils Of Marian
{ sewing-and her own small Jobs Of knitting
(being the only work her afflicted situatio
allowed her to do,) she contr,ed to live
although the siric,eh aud most ingeniou
economy was necessary to keep them fror
n stnte Of actual psupeIIsm. But no com
plant was made; aud when they we're a
! seated around the scanty evening hre, fo
, Robert stnid with them mt nights clos
est observer could not have detected a siDgl
cloud upon their smiling faces. nor heard
: sentence from their lips, be,okcning sugl
but the mos, peaceful serenity. Aud whe
the long evenings sweet and cheerful cor
versation was over, they all joined in sing
ing a family hymn, in prayer and thanks
giving, and the young members ofibat hol
family sougb, their pillows. with the seed
of eternal life spreading beautifully ilei
warm roots through the souls deep avenue.
But the hour Of temptation was at hand
for one, at least, Of ;heir number, aud vii,
were the snares of the enemy to enirap hi
victim.
Ward, had, during The life-iime of Mr.
Hamilton, tried every art 10 his power {,
obtain the services Of that excellent man IL
some of bis dishonest schemes. He com.
menc.d by endearoring to sap Mr. Hsmil
,u..s. ...r.f ,rt,rt. t,a st,s.tL iuo tIst fttu.