Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-03-11

party called off their dogs, spoke graciously to
the child and his mother, and passed slowly out
of sight. As they left her, Mrs Leslie, for she
it was approached the old man, to replace her
infant in his cradle, niched in the fragrant shade
of some overhanging hazel stems, just beside his
rude seat Struck by the evidence of poverty,
sickness and sorrow afforded by his tattered APP
parel, and his wrinkled yet venerable counten-
ance, she took up pitcher which stood by the
cradle, and with the kindness which tie very
poor so often show to each other, and remark
upon the heat of. the day, offered small cup full
of milk, which formed the contents of the Jug.
He took it with a trembling hand, and thanked
her with an emotion which our readers will COM
prehend, but which at once surprised and inter-
estcd its object
g Your name is Leslie?" asked he, as after
returning the cup with thanks and blessings he
made room for her beside him on the thymy
bank.
Your name is Leslie p
Margaret Leslie. 1t is So
"The wife of William Leslie ,"
{" His widow. All, me his widow! y replied
she, with sigh I" the widowed mother of those
children" Michael, added she, as the boy came
near them, "take some milk yourself, and carry
cup full to your sister, and bring what wheat
ears she and You have gathered to my little
heap
"Michael '' echoed the old man, "your hus-
bands name William? How you to
cali his Michael But the name belongs to
your family, perhaps your father some
favorite brother2"
{" No." replied the widow, (" it was for differ
ent reason. very dear kinsman of my hus-
hands bore that name, and in token of love and
gratitude to him, and in fulflment of an old
promise, our only son was c.ristened'
C remember" muttered the cripple to him
self, :" | remember William said that his first boy
should bear my name, aud | think he wrote TO
that effect after the child was born but the let
ter must have arrived at that time of misery
Then rousing himself and turning to the gentle
creature whom feeling Of unusual interest still
detained at his side, he added aloud, :" 90
member that William Leslie had uncle
called Michael Norris, but what peculiar cause
Of gratitude"
What cause p interrupted Mrs. Leslie ga
thousand causes; from a mere infant, when |
have heard my husband say that he gave him the
first shilling he ever possessed that kind uncle,
absent present, was his good genious. lie
insisted upon his being sent to Bedford school
paid himself for masters whom his guardians
thought superfueus ;--rescued him from the
frantic frenzy of his step-iather, saved his life,
at the most imminent peril of his own, from the
furious assaults of that wretohcd mailman placed
him in the papermil, which but for the rash
speculations of his partner, would have been not
merely a comfortable income for himself, but an
ailuent provision for his family and last and
dearest kindness, when William, with his char
acteriste generosity, loved a poor girl, the por-
tionless orphan of naval officer, when interested
connexions and oficious friends all opposed the
union, did not he from across the wide ocean,
send himself not merely his appreciation of the
destined marriage, but portion for the destitute
bride / never saw him, continued Mrs. Leslie,
in a lower tone than that which had been dictated
by her enthusiastic recollection of her benefactors
goodness 'but night and morning 1have prayed
for him, and night and morning do my poor chill
uFen JON III THOSE prayers; anu my uedI nuSpdHu,
amongst his latest words -
"Dd he too pray for the uncle who seemed to
have forgotten him. asked the old man, his
voice half stfed with emotion. "Look, Mar
garct,' added he, stripping up his sleeve, and
showing deep scar extending diagonally across
his left arm " this received from the
knife with which his furious and frantic step
father was pursuing William Leslie. am
Michael Norris You will not dsdain to
knowledge the cripple who comes 10 your door
hungry and ragged He too, said he, taking
from his pocket bundly ofpapers, "are charac-
tiers that you well know
Tearfully, yet joyfully, the warm-hearted and
grateful Margaret returned the embraces of her
venerable kindsman, presented her three ehileren
to him one by one, and replied to his questions as,
TO their change of circumstances
1t needed few words to tell the story Nothing
is more rapid than descent The rolling of
stone down hill is true type of falling fortune.
Taking advantage Of long illness with which
William Leslie was afflicted, his partner engaged
iu desperate specnlations. They failed. The
rash Spectator absconded, and William remained,
bankrupt, without friend or resource. Honest
to the last, his wife resigned her small settlement
to satisfy the creditors. His debts being paid, he
had tried every means of living, and, whilst he
retained his health had supported his family by
the most persevering industry but fever, &C.
| casioned by oyer-eXertion had come on his con.