Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-03-18
[WHoLE No. 57I.

w imam Leslie Hhu an uncle called
Michael Norris, but what particular
cause Of grati,ude-'
What causeP interrupted Mrs Les4
lie; "a thousand causes: from a mere in
lant, when | have heard my husband
say that he gave him The first shilling
he ever possessed-lhat kind uncle, alb
sent or present, was his good genius.
lie insisted upon his being sent 10 Bel
ford school; paid himself for masters
whom his guardians thought superluous;
rescued him from the frantic frenzy Of
his step father saved his lie at the most
rmIninen, peril Of his own iron, the fui ious
assaults OF the furious mailman placed
him IN the paper mill, which, bot for the
rash spccuiations OF bis partner, would
have been no, merely a comfortable in
cone for himself, but an afhuent provi-
sion for his family aud, last and dear
est Kindness, when William, with his
characteristic generosity, loved poor
girl, the ponronless orphan Of naval
officer, when erested connexions and
ofiicIous friends all opposed the union,
did not he, from across the wide ocean,
send himself not merely his upprobaiiou
ol the destined marriage, bat portion iot
the destitute bride never saw him.
continued Mrs. Leslie, in lower tond
than that which had been dictated by
her enthusiastic recollection of her bene-
factors goodness; but u'ght and NOM
ing | hnye prayed for HIM, and night
and morning do my poor children Join
in those prayers and my dear husband
amongst his latest words-'
Did he too pray for The uncle who
seenred TO have forgotten him;' asked
the old man, his voice half slihed with
emotion. Look, Margaret,' added he,
stripping up his sleeve and showing a
deep scar extending dr1gonaIIy across his
left arm; this scar was received from
the knife with which his furious and
frantic step-father was pursuing William
Leslie. AN Michael Norris. You
will not dlsdain TO acknowledge the
cripple whp comes 10 your door hungry
and ragged. Here too said he, taking
from his pocket bundle OF papers,
'are characters that you well know
Tearlully, tire warm hearted aud CRATE
iul Margaret returned the embraces Of
her venerable kmsman, presented her
three children to him one by one, and
replied To his que sttons US To- their change
of circumstances.
1t needed lew words to- tell the story.
Nothing is more rapid than descent.
The rolling oi Store down hill is n true
type OF falling fortune. Taking advnn.
tage Of II long illness with which William
Leslie was afflicted ,his partner ngascd
in desperate speculalions. They failed.
The rash speculator abscondcd, and
William renamed, bankrupt without
friend or resource. Honest to the last,
his ~tIe resigned her small settlement
to satisfy the creditors. His debts be-
ing paid, he had tried every means OF
living, and whilst he retained his lrealth
had supported his family 10y the most per-
severing industry but a fever, occa-
stoned 10y oyer-exertion, had come OIL; -
his constitution, impaired by anxiety
and labor, had been unable TO resist the
attack, and sirce that period the vile
who had been the faithful partner Of
his cares and his tolls, had at least so far
succeeded as TO maintain her childfen
without the assistance Of charity, wheth-
eT public or private.
why not have written To- me wheu
this bankruptcy took place" inquired the
uncle.
Alas, dear sir, we had before heard
Of that terrible hurricane fn which
'ln which, said the old man, filing
up with stern conposure the sudden
pause that from a mixture of delicacy
and sympathy had arrested Margaret
Leslie's words--'In which the plantation
where | resided was laid waste, my house
fevcIIed 10 the 2rou,sd, and my wife with
four hopeful children buried IN the ruins,
In striving to rescue them, this thigh,'-
striking the wlihered hnb wrh IA hazel
wig this thigh was broken. j owe my
to the gratitude Of an e.
negro; but for months, for
y ears, all nature was blank before me!
have sometimes wondered how could
have survived such bluw--lor what
purpose was spared! The doubt was
sinful, aud finds its rebuke, its thrice
mere rIu rcbukr, ia this blsslul hour -
4 ou HtHIu VI NY Iorscs 'hen, uV"i hd'-
aaret Poor William heard OF them"
I'VE were sure that something must
have gone am,ss, from receiving no re-
ply TO the letter which announced the
birth of our boy, end claimed your prom.
ise Of standing godfather at his cbrnten-
ing. William did no, like 10 write again
upon such an OCCASION; II would have
seemed like encroaching upon your too
generous spirit. But when the news Of
that awful hurricane arrived, and Mich
olas hume and the Collnses made IN
quiries in London and ascertained that
y our plantation had indeed been amongst
hose Iaid waste, then your silence was
too well explained. heard this sad
news FIRST, for il arrived during the dread
ful illness which preceded my hosband's
bankruptcy. And when he regained so
much breathing time after his own mis-
fortunes as To- ask news Of YOU, no tidmgs
could be obiained-aIl trace of you seem
eJLa. Oh that he had lived 10 see
this day HIS will be done But oh
that my poor husbnnd had bot h,ed 4.
see once more The kIns:nap he loved so