The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-12-01
THE WIDOW AND HER SON.
BY WASHINGTON IRvlNG.

Somers, aged 26 years. The poor mother
had been assisted 10 kneel down at the head
oft. Her wuhered hands were elapsed, as
if in prayer; hut could perceive, by a feeble
rocking of her body, and ConvnlsNe motion
of her lips, that che was gazing on The last rel
les other son, with the yearDipg OF mothers
heat.
Preparations were now made TO deposit the
cOffia IN the earth. There was that busting
STIR, which breaks 80 hafshly on the feelings
ofgtefa and affl flcuoD; directions were given
in the cold tones OF business; and there was
the striking Of spades into the gravel, which at
the grave Of those we love, Is all sounds The
most wr,hing' The hustle seemed 10 wsken
the mother from Wreiched revere. She
raised her glazed eyes, and looked about with
q faint wdness.
As the men approached with cords 10 lower
the coffin into the grave, she wrung her hands,
aud broke into an agony Of grief poor
woman who attended her, took hor by the aim
and endeavored 10 raIss her from the earth,
and to whisper something like consolation.
may, now,-uay, ~now- don't take II 90 sore
ly to heart But the mother could only shake
her head, and wrbg her hands, as one not 10
be Comlorted.
As they lowered the body into the earth, the
creeking Of the cords seemed to agonIze her;
but when, on some accidental obstruction,
there was joslhng of the coffin, all The ten-
derness of the mother burst forth; as if any
harm could come to him that was far beyond
the reach of worldly suffering.
could see no more, my heart s%eled IN
to my throat, my eyes filled with tears,-l
feI, as If were acting barbarous part in
standing by and gazing idly on tbs scene OF
maternal anguish. wandered to another part
of the churchyard where ! remained until the
funeral had dispersed.
Ii was some time before left the place.
On my way homeward, met with the woman
who hsd acted as comforter; she was justre-
turning frcm accompanying the mother 10 her
lonely hablalion, and drew from her some
particulars connected with the affecting. scene
had witnessed.
The parents of the deceased had resided in
the village from childhood. They bud inhpb
tied one Of the neatest cottages, and by var
ions rural occu upa,lons and the assistance OF
small garden, had supported themselves cred
HsbIy and comforsby, and led happy and
bIameless life. They had one con. who had
grown up to be the pride ftheir old oge.
Blu, unfortunately, this son was tempted, du
ring year Of scarcity and agricultural hard
SHIP 10 enter INTO lhe service of one Of the
small crafts that Piled on neig ghboringGriver.
He had not been long in this employ, when he
was entrapped by press gang, aud carried
off 10 sea. HIS parents received Iidings of his
seizure, but beyond that they could learn moth
ing 1t was the loss of their main prop The
father who was already In6rm, grew hearllesS
and melancholy, and sunk into his grave.
The widow left lonely in her age and feeble
nes s, conld no longer support herselfaud came
upon the parish.
Time passed till one day she heard the COT
tage door, which faced the garden, suddenly
open. A stranger came Oul; and seemed Ia
be looking eagerly and wildly around. He
was dressed IN seamen's clothes, was ema-
cated and ghsstly pale, and bore the air o
one broken bv sIckness and hardshlps
saw his mother and FASTENED towards her bul
his steps were falterng; he sank on his knees
before her, and sobbed like child. The
poor woman gszed upon him with yacan
and wandering eye,--'Oh my dear, dear noIt
er! don't you know your son2 your poor boy
George2
Ii was, indeed, the wreck OF her once no6l'
lad; who, shattered by wounds, by sickness
and foreign Imprisonment, had, at lengt
dragged his wasted limbs homeward, TO re
pose among The scenes of childhood. Th
rest Of the story is soon told-for the youn;
man fingered but few weeks, and death cam
20 his relief
The next Sunday after the funeral bav
described, was at The village church, whel
to my surprise lsaw the poor old woman tot
terng down the aisle 10 her accustomed sea
on tho alter. She had made IN effort 10 pu
on something like mourning for her son; an
nothing could be more touching than this slru
gle between pious affection and utter poverty
a black rIband or so; faded black handker
chief, and one or two such humble attempts Il
express by outward signs, the grief which pa
ses show.
When looked around upon the storied mo
umeutp, the stately Indictments, the cold mar
Bile pomp, with which grandeur mournsd mag
n,ficIenIly over departed pride, aud turned ,
this poor widow bowed down by age and sol
row, at the alter Of her God, and Offering u
the prayers and praises Of pious though b.
ken heart, felt lha, this living monument
reul grief w0s worth them all.
, related her story TO some Of the wealtf
: members of the congregation, and they we
rnvcd nv H. Thev exeTted thetnsey6s