The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-04-08
For the Hawkeye and Patriot.

adjourned. P. B. BELL, Sec'y.
For the Hawkcye and Patriot.
Mr.. EDiToR,-I propose giving you, at
moments of leisure, some sketches from
real life, under the head of SCENES
AT HOME. The following, if you
should deem it worthy of place under
your miscellaneous head, you may con-
slider as
NO. |.
Death Of a Father and Husbaad.-In
the month of FEBRUARY, in the year 1911,
my father, having prepared TO remove
to the State of Ohio, then thought to be
the ''lar west,'' resolved to pay last visit
to his own aged father previous to his
migrating westward. The morning of
his departure, he gathered his little family
together as he was wont, read portion
Of Gods holy word, sung one of the
sweet songs of Zion, and committed in
prayer his wife, himself and children to
the care of Him who heareth the young
ravens when they cry. He took an
a1ec,ionate farewell of each OF us, and
appointed that day two weeks as the day
of his return. The time passed cheer
fully away with the juvenile portion of
the family. each of us anticipating the
return of our parent with such little pre-
sents as our own Imagination had sug
gested, he would bring us. The day
came, but no parent came with it. Day
after day came and went, without bring
ing our beloved one, or any things of
him. Reader, have you ever been, or
are you now a wife and mother of seven
children! and has the dear object of your
affection, the husband of your youth been
long absent beyond the time appointed for
his return! If this has been your expe-
rience, you can conceive of the anxiety
that reigned in our humble dwelling
Days Of anxious watching were succeed
ed by nights of sorrow, until "hope that
longest lingers,' almost died within us.
Spring, with all its sweet and balmy in
fluences, had come upon us: and one Of
the most bright and beautiful days of that
lovely season had just fairly risen upon
us; my mother was assisting her two
eldest boys in some labor in the garden.
Happening 10 cast our eyes up little
lane that led to our dwelling, we beheld
the venerable pastor Of the congregation
of which my father and mother were
members approaching us. His looks re-
vealed to my mother at least, that he was
the bearer of heavy tidings to us. She
exclaimed to US, "your father is sick or
dead!'' We all clustered around the
good old man as soon as he entered the
yard. My mother enquired in an agony
| if he had any news from her husband.
He babe her compose herself, saying tina,
her husband had been very sick, and
walking into the house he remarked II
fear he is dead" He then produced a
letter sealed with the ominous black wa.
fer; which, on being opened, confirmed
our worst fears. My mother read until
the awful truth was confirmed that her
husband was really dead. She gave one
heart rending and agoniziDg shrek Of
woe, and fell senseless to the foor!-
Though the writer Of this sketch was but
a mere child, yet, Oh! how wildly is
that day of deep sorrow pictured on his
memory! After my memory was restored
to some degree of composure, the vene-
rable man of God took up our dear family
bible, and read some Of those precious
promises so peculiarly applicable to wild
ows and fatherless children, and then
poured out fervent prayer to the God of
all consolation, in our behalf. That pa
rent, whose voice l was never more TO
hear on earth, had taught me from my
infancy to reverence the word of God;
bat never before did see such beauty
in the bible as in that hour Of sor-
row., Every promise seemed to come
as if spoken directly by him, wi,hou,
whose knowledge sparrow cannot fall
to the ground. That widow and her chill.
dren believed and trusted in the author
of that bible, and found in the experience
of quarter Of a century every word and
promise verified to the very letter. The
aged pastor departed with countenance
though believed with tears, which spoke
a heart at peace within; experiencing, no
doubt, the sweet peace Of those who
"vtsit tie ,cido,0s and ffatherless IN their
at9iction.' ,. PHlLANDER
s