The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-07
THE LAST HERRING.
" Hoot away despair,
Never yield TO sorrow
The blackest sky may wear
A smiling face To- morrow."


II was Saturday night and the widow OF the Pine
cottage sat by her blazing aggots, with her FIVE tat
tered children al her side, endeavorng by listening
10 the arllessness their Juvenile prae 10 dsspaie
The heavy gloom that pressed upon nsf m,na TOT or
helpless family, for she had no supporier--she
thought She had no friend In all the wide unfriendy
world around. That mysterious providence, The
wisdom OF whose ways are above human compfe,
hension had visited her with wasting sickness, and
her liltle means had become exhausted. II was now
mid winter and ihesnow lay heavy and deep through
the surrounding forests, while storms seemed gather
ing in The heavens, and the driving wind roared
through the bending pies that rocked her puny
mansion.
The last herring smoked upon the Goals before
her. II was Tie only article OF food she possessed;
and no wonder IL her dsconsolate Stale brought up
in her lone bosom III the anxeties of mother when
she looked upon her children; and no wonder, for
lorn she was Ii she suffered the heart swellings oil
despair to rise though she knew that He whose
promise is 10 the widow, and 10 the orphan, cannot
forget his word. Providence had many years be-
fore, taken from her an elder son, who went away
from his forest home To Try his fortune on the seas
since which she had heard no note or tdngs Of him;
and in latter times she had been BY the hand DEATH
deprived OF a companion and stall Of support in her
husband Yet 10 this hour she had been upborne she
had been not only able 10 provide for her ille flock,
but had never lost opportunity oil miniserng 10
the wants ltbe miserable and destitute.
The indolent may well bear with poverty while
d
vidual who has but his own wants TO supply, may
suffer with fortitude the winter OF want; his afec-
tons are not wounded his heart Is mol wrung- The
most desolate and populous cities, may hope, for
charity has not quite closed her hand and heart, and
shut her eyes on misery. But the industrious mo-
Their OF helpless and depending children, far fromthe
reach OF human charity has none ofthese to console
her. And such a one was the widow oil the Pine
Cottage, but as she bent over the fire, and took up
the last scaDy remnant Of food TO spread before her
children, her spirits seemed TO brighten up, as by
some sudden and mysterious impulse, as Cowper's
beautiful lines came uncalled across her mind
Judge no, the Lord by feeble sense
But trust him for his grace,
Behind a lrownng providence,
He hides smiling face.
The smoking herring was scarce laid upon the
table when gentle rap at the door, and the loud
barking OF the dog, attracted the attention OF the
family. The children flew to open il, and weary
traveller IN tatcred garments ana apparently inu'l-
ferent health, entered, and begged lodging ana
mouthfn OF food; "For," said he iii is now twenty
four hours since TASTED bread" The widows heart
bed anew, under fresh complication OF dis
tresses; for her sympathies fingered not round her
own freside She hesilated mol even now-resl and
share OF all she had, she proered TO the stranger.
!" We shall not be orsaken," said she, "or suffer
deeper for an act of charity
The traveller drew near the board, but when he
saw the scanty fare, he raised his eyes toward hea
ven in astonishmeni--" and Is this all your store"
said he-" and share Of this do you offer TO one
you know not l-then never saw charity before -
But madam" said he, do not wrong your children
by giving part oil their last monthiul 10 stranger"
Ah,' said the poor widow, and the tear drops
gushed into her eyes she said It, have boy,
darling son, somewhere on the face OF the wide
world, unless heaven has taken him away, and on
ly ac towards you would that others should act
towards him. God who sent mama from heaven,
can provide for US as he did for Israel-and how
should !, this night offend HIM, ii my should be
wanderer, destitute as yon and he should have pro-
vided for him home even poor as this, were
TO turn you unrelieved away.
The widow ended, and the stranger springins from
his seat, clasped her In his arms" God has indeed
provided just such home for your wandering son
and has given him wealth 10 reward the goodness
Of his benefactress My mother--Oh my mother"
II was her lost sonl returned 10 her bosom, from
the Indies Astounding in riches. He had chosen this
disguise, that he might the more completely sur
prise his family: aud never was surprise more per-
feet, or followed by sweeter cup Joy That hun
BILE residence In the West was exchanged for one,
comfortable and, indeed, beautiful in the valley
and The widow lived long with her duful son. 10 the
enjoyment OF worldly plenty, and in the delightful
employments of virtue and al this day the passer by
is often pointed the luxuriant willow that spreads
its branches broad and green above her grave whilst
he listens TO the recital of this simple and homey
but not altogether worthless tale