Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-12-24


half dozen sheen, beside doing all the more
inborious work oi the family. No human
eve was upon them That had seen them ~
former days, aud they were fast forgetting a
world. by whicli they were already nearly
fugotten. No real want OF nature remained
unsatisaed, and their Heavenly Father was
ns near them here, us IN amy other place.
Glorious aud cousoilng idea that his CHI
aren can be carried to no spot IN creation,
where he will not bo present 10 sustain and
comfort them How glorious the idea OF an
Omnlpo,ent God!
Nothing, usder the power OF religion,
served so mech 10 console the heart oi Mr.
Kirkwood, as ihc presence aud Tue hapP'-
ness of f,is grandchildren. Frederic was
eight, ana Clara thee years o!d and they
were as 'uppy al The Cottage IN the Glen
as lhey would have bceu IN the palace OF ihe
Tbuilerlcs, From has heart, he could adopt
tirc lenauaae uf Paley: "l seem to see the
bcpcvolencc of the Deity more clearly IN
the pleasures OF young children, than III any
thing else in the world. The pleasures oi
grown persons may be rcckened partly oi
ihcir own procuring; but the pleasures oi
heu.sl,y child are so maDiieslly provided for
by another, and the benevolence Of The pro.
VISION is so unquestlonhble, that every child |
Ul
sensible evidence OF the finger Of God
"rhesc children are happy, Mary" he
would gay; "thry feel no regrets for the
pasl--no fears Tor the future, but enjoy the
present with zcsi. Or wants are scarcely
greater than theirs. Lei ~, then, not regret
The past let ~ not be ANXIOUS for The III
ture but in performing present duly, ana
being grateful for present good, let us trust
our Heavenly Father, without fear or mis-
g,iag."
Neither Mr.. Kirkwood nor his daughter
found any lelsnrc for idle replnlEgs. The
Indispensable labors of each day, with the
care and instruction of The children, occu-
pred them fully. Frederic was sent 10 the
district school, there 10 acquire what he could
of cducutiou but hc was al intellectual
anl thinking boy, and soon began to call on
his grandfather TO assist him through the
difficulties he encountered, as his mind IA
p,dly developed. The education OF Clara,
Mrs. Klrkwood considered her own peculiar
business. And when the little 2Irl was old
enough To 90 10 school, she sui preferred
pursuing the task herself, Us she dreaded ies'
her daughter should breathe other than
pure moral atmosphere.
Next to religion, the abundant means oi
education is undoubtedly The glory and bul-
wark Of New England. And the district
school, where the son of The town panper
may obtain the ioundation OF an education
that will render him intelligent and useful, is
AN ipcalculabl0 blessing. But wherever hu'
man nature is, there is depravly ; and where
human beings mngle together, this depra'i'
" is called into exercise. Even young
children ure not the innocent creatures some
persons appear 10 suppose but IN almost
every school may be found tie germ OF al
most every vice. So thought Mrs. Kirk.
wood; and il led her ~ educate her daugh.
ter entirely at home.
Time rolled on; and the children at tho
cottage increased in wisdom and stature :
the parent and grandparcnt IN mectnesS for
the kingdom Of heaven. Industry ana
economy. both of time aud goods, was the
order of the house and the children cheer
fully followed the example set them by their
superiors. Frederic was always diligently
employed, when moi engaged with his books;
aud the healthful aud Joyous little Clara was
The assistant OF each one, as circumstances
required, from her grandfather in the mill,
To the servant girl at the washing tub. Per
mission 10 play in the open air, was holiday
~ her heart aud she was light and joyous
IN spirit as The warblers Of The grove. Con-
tent aud peace rcignod in tho family. With
each returning sun, their orisons were duly
offered OH the family altar; and when the
shades VI evening closed around, their thanks.
gyings and praises ascended 10 the throne
ol the Eternal,
~ holy inccnsc-sweeter richer far
Than that npcn the golden altar shed
In JudEh's sacred fnine."
No change OF any moment took pace ia
their circumstances, aud nothing II iutunly
VAS locked forward 10 with peculiar interest,
un,il Frederic attained his fifteenth year.
Then, one evening, after having been un-
ususily thoughtful aud silent, he suddenly
looked up and SAID,
Il want 10 be O minister Of the gospel,
and want 10 60 to college, grandfather"
Both ,he grandfather aud the mother look
ed up ia some aslonisnment; but they lis
tened patiently 10 his plans, aud heard hlm
declare whai efforts he was willing tU make
what dcprlvatluns 20 endure.
"Dear .randiaihcr-dcar mpthcr,' said the
elrar boy, IN conclusion. "do listen to me
km, ly. II vii do me no harm 10 make The
attempt. You, grandfather, and our good
pss,Ur, viii help liz me for college; aud
doubt not ihal by my own industry, and what
you ran conveniently 90 for me, shail some
how or other get through. feel that cdn
do nothing without an edncation.'
ave will think on The subject, my son,
sa,d his grandfather, "uud III due ilIne let
YOU know the result o.! our deliberations.
Meantime, attend {" your prcscn, duties, aud
take 40 nnrious thought for the morrow
The important subject was not mentioned
ngain for The evening; but II cngrossed Mrs.
krkwood's mind, aud kept her waking
many hours oi the night. From her sodl' :
birth, she had consccrated him TO the service
of her Heavenly Father, though she knew
not IN whit way that service might be dc
vlandeJ. Now she hoped he had consccra'
ted himself; aud HAT what seemed 50 aspIr
Jog ~ n youth in IH> situation III life, was al
Impulse from above, rnher than the natura
workings of an ambitious mind. Bat sh'
was heploss in herself, md could only asl
TO be directed by Han who is perfect in wis
DOM to be provided for by HIM who is ~
tnno ~ riches. What needed she moro
Tho next day Mr.. Krkwood aud hi'
deughlcr held II consultation on The subject
and when, toward evening, Frederic saw hI'
,aul'rr ,eaching over u chest of old books
hI- eyes spaikled, aud his heart throbbed
With ia,crIsh impotence to ascertain If his
cnnlrciufcs were accurate. Ills Joy was
cuinpcie. when lie saw the necessary books
aud granInals come firth some in mutt.