The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-11-03
A PASSAGE IN HUMAN LIFE.
BY WIN. HOwITT,

IN my daiIv walks into the country, | was
accustomed to pass certain cottage. Ii was
no cottage Ornc; no cottage of romance. II
had nothing particularly picturesque about 1t.
II had its little garden and its vine spreading
over its front; but beyond these il possessed
no feature likely to fix it in the mind of poet,
or novel writerkand which might induce him
10 people it with beings of his own fancy. In
fact it appeared to be inhabited by persons as
little extraordinary as ITSELF A goodman Of
the house il might possess, but he was never
visible: The only inmates ever saw, were
young woman, and another female in the
wayne Of life, no doubt the mother,
The damsel was comeIy, fresh, mild looks
ing cottage girl enough; always seated in one
spot, near the window, intent on her needle.
The old dame was as regularly busted, to and
fro, in household affairs, She appeared one
Of those good housewives, who never dream
of rect. except IN sleep. The cottage stood
SO near the road, that the FIRE al the farther
end Of the room, showed you without being
rudely inquisitive, the whole interior, in the
single moment Of passing. A clean hearth,
and cheerful fire, shining upon homely but
neat and orderly furniture, spoke Of comfort;
but whether the dame enjoyed or merely d,f-
fused, that comfort, was a problem.
passed the house many successive days.
twas always alike, the fire shining brightly
and peacefully, the girl seated at her post by
the window, the housewife going TO and fro,
catering and contriving, duetng and managing.
One morning, as went by, there was a
change; .he dame was seated near her daugh-
ter, her arms laid upon the table, and her head
reclined upon her arms. | was sure that it
was sickness which had compelled her to that
attitude of rePose; nothing else could have
done II. | felt that knew exactly the poor
woman's feelings. She had felt WEAKNESS
stealing upon her; she had wondered at il &
struggled against it, aud bore up, hoping it
would pass by; ill, loath as she wac TO yield,
i, had forced submission.
The next day, wheat passed, the room ap-
peared as usual; the fire burning pleasantly,
tbe girl a, her needle, but her mother was not
seen; and glancing my eye upwards l percei-
we'd sthe blind close drawn in the window a.
bove.--ll is so, SAID TO myself; disease is in
its progress. Perhaps 1t occasions no gloomy
fear of consequences no extreme concern; and
yel who knows how it may end? 1t is thus that
begin those changes that draw out the central
bolt which holds together families, which steal
away our ire-side faces and lay waste our af-
| fechons.
passed by, day after day The scene was
the same. The fire burning; the hearth BEAM
ing clean and cheerful: but The mother was no,
10 be seeu,-,he blind was still drawn above
AT length | missed the girl; and 10 her place
appeared another woman, bearing considerable
resemblance to the mother. but of quetel
habit. 1t was easy 10 interpret this change. -
Disease had assumed an alarming aspect. -
the daughter was occupied n intense watch
ing, and caring for the suffering mother; ant
the good woman's sister had been summoned
to her bed side, perhaps from distant spot
and perhaps from her family cares, which nj
less an important event could have induced he
10 elude,
Thus appearances continued some days
There was silence around the house, and al
air Of neglect within is ill one morning l be-
held the blind drawn in the room below ant
the window thrown open above. The seen,
was over; the mother was removed from he
family; and Of those great changes effected il
human life. which commence with 80 little oh
serva,ion but leave behind them such lastD
effects.
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