The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-12-22
BY MITCHENER & MATHEWS
From the Boston Miscellany.
THE UNHAPPY STRANGER.

tending our departure from the dock was al last enueu
and had good opportunity to wander quietly ABOUT
the boat studying it is my wont TO do 'he Varousy
marked coun,snancss ofmy fellow passengers. When
the supper bell rang. there was general movement
ads towads the after cabin, and as fell in with the
crowd. huppsnsd to cast my eyes upon the only
Uroup left behind This was composed Ofa mddlaa'
gsd man and his three children. The latter were get'
ting ready to retire TO :es and the youngest 'wee'
little girl, Ofperhups three years OF and an0n
kent questioning her father as follows where's NON
ar, ps?' pa, where's mOiherP' When will she
come buok9' The kind and delicate attentions OF the
father. as he smoothed the pillows and laid them IN
their nest tended 10 interest my feelings and whsn at
the supper table, my fancy busy with the scene
Just witnessed.
It was now quite late; the aziy uttered joke, and
the les. frequent peal ofuughter seemed to announce
the spiritual presence of repOse The newspaper the
book, and checksrboard were gradually laid aside and
in . little while nearly all tho berth curtains were
drawn up and their occupants in the arms OF Sleep
MANY of the lamps were out and those that did remain,
produced dim solemn twilight throughout the cabin
the only part at all animated being that corner where
the boot,bluck was engaged in his appropriate duty.
rsrte-sufice to say entirely disPeSd by The
following incident.
Just as was about 10 retire, the sigh OF burden-
cd heart smo,e my ear, and as turned, beheld amin
dvidual sitting near BERTH with his face resting up-
on the pow-wesping bitterly. lie was hne lhtel-
lgent looking man. in the prime life, and on near>
or observation found him to be the identical one who
had before attracted my attention. approached his
seat. and in as kind tone as possible, inquired the
cause of hs unhappneDs adding that should be plea
sod to do for him anything he might desire. For mo-
nent fresh food OF tears was my only answer, but
these he soon wiped away, and extending 10 me his
, hand he thus began to speak.
~ grateful TO you, my dear sir, for your express
tons ofkindness and sympathy towards me, but the
weight which is resting upon my spirit cannot be sasi'
ly dspellej. have been sorsy afflicted Of late, and
the associations connected with that event are what
caused me to forget myself and give vent to my emo
sions in tears. To be found weeping like child in the
midst ofa multitude ofstrangerS, may be cOnsdered
week.-mrs. not sin, but that you may understand my
conduct will relate to you tho cause
'One short month ago, as paused to consider my
condition. fancied myselfto be tho hnppest o.
men. My cottage home, which stands in one Of the
fa,rest valleys of New Hampshire, then perfect
uic,ure of con,entmsnt and peace much loved wife
and three children then the joys Of my existence.
Every peasurabe emotion which enjoyed was Par-
tcipatsd in by her. who was my first and only love-
From our united hearts, every morning and evening,
ascsnded dsepfet prayer ofgratude to our Heaven
" Father; and from the same source, sprang every
hope concerning the temporal prospects ofour Children
and to US and hem OF the life beyond the grave. We
were at peace with God and with regard to this world
we had every thing we desired.
'The time of harvest being now ended, and an urs
gent invitation having been received from my father in
law, concluded to take my family, and make visit
10 the pleasant village in New JsrAey, where my vile
and were children together, and where we had pgh-
ted our early lave vows. All things were ready, and
leaving our homestead TO the careo servant we star
ted on our journey-rsaching due time, and in SAFE
ty cur place of destination. s,
1--WE found our friends all well aud glad to see uS-
Not care or trouble rested a single heart Thank
nl for the blessings ofthe past and present, all our
prospects of the future bright heart could
desire. 'Old familiar faces" greeted US at every
nsr old friendships again revived, and thousand
delightful associations crowded around so that we
had nothing to do but be happy.
Thus had two weeks passed away, when, on the
very night previous intended departure for home
my wife was suddenly taken i'll, and when the NOR
row dawned II was widowsr. aud my children
mohsress The idol ofmy heart, instead ofreurning to
her earthly home. taken above the stars where the
happiness oflhs redeemed will end God great
and His will be done but alas, it almost breaks my
heart think ofthoSe bitter, bitter words never more
cannot bear 10 think of lt-neVer upon the earth
shall behold that besuteous orm and listen to that
heavenly voice, which which my delight & PRIDE.
To my eys the greenneGs Of earth is forever departed
oh! who can tell what day or an hour may bring
fOrthf Oh, how lonely, lonely my poor poor heartl
These lust words Ofmy stranger friend were uttered
in smotherOd tone, and with dropping head, and
though he held my after had risen to go, tore
myself away, for thought it my duty to retire.
When awoke in the morning, after troubled sleep
found the boat was at the Dock and the day some.
what advanced. My first thought was concerning The
unhappy stranger with whom Ionged TO have another
interview, but in making digent search found thai
he was gone, and with him his three sweet orphan
children. His FORM aud the few words he had Spo.
ken, seemed TO me like dream. Oh yes, they were
indeed the substance Of a viSion-a dream of human
life. Surely, surely life is but vapor, which appear.
eth for a little season, and then vanshsth away. Az
the great Jeremy Taylor hath eoquenty written--