Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-05-25


II"My God, woman you must indeed be
in want, Ia venture on, on such night ~
he drew forth q piece of silver, aud, piac-
ing il on her ouisiretched palm, passed on.
The wretched suppliani stood for a
moment, spell-bound, as if doubling the
reality Of her success, and then, with a
shrek Of overpoweriDg glndness. she
rluiched the heaven-sent gin, and hur-
ried honeward, with beating heart and
renewed energies.
Il As she turned the corner Of the FIRST
street, she saw the stranger pausing Ia
gaze IN surprise upon her wild actions
hut her heart was too full of its own emo
lions, To care for his aslon,shment, or even
to think Of gratitude for the dispe nsation
ol aims. Wealth seemed to have come
again IN her possession, and she WAS as
fran'icnlly joyful as the wild maniac who
dreams of sanity. The sudden reaction
from despair now transported her hopes
INTO the highest degree Of extravaganza,
and, for u moment, she deemed that all
those Of her orphan children, would have
an end ln that little piece of silver she
seemed To hold the wealth of the Indies,
or its equivalent, because il was The tails
man To provide for their immedia ncces-
sities-and there was not room enough III
her thoughts, for u single doubt Of the
future.
But, alas here another and unihoughi.
Of disappointment arose. Every shop, or
| place where she migh obtain even the
| slightest morsel of food, was closed aud
barred against her; while their atten-
danis were doubtless sweetly dreaming
IN their warm and quiet beds-and The
poor woman was AT last forced to turn
again TO the door Of her haprss dwelling,
with nousht to aIlay the cravings Of hun
ger, or dispense warmth lo The shiverng
bodica ol lis expeciant occupants. She
returned as empty handed as she went
forth, save IN The possession of "A small
piece OF gliltering metal, which seemed
nj that moment but u bright mockery OF
its own intrinsic value. What was i!
worth to her then /, Nothing She
could not ca, it, even though the gndw-
lngs of her appetite seemed 10 tear like
a vuliure within her breast /; nor would
II any more warm or feed her hungry
children. The reflection overpowered
her, and as she staggered to her cheer
less home, she sank again Immediately
apoh its threshold. The shrcks of her
children rang for n moment in her ears,
and then to that mother all was as silent
ns the grave.
How long she lay there insensible she
knew not, but when she awokc from he,
deep leihargy it was morning, aud her
children were some of them weeping,
and others sleeping beside her hitherto
inaninaie form. She gazcd about in
wonder for a few moments before she
could at all realize her present situation,
but at length recollection once more
dawned upon her mind, and her miSeries
again oppressed her.
With great difficulty she arose to a
sitting posture, for her limbs were st III
and weak with cold and extreme exhans-
iIon, while the innumerable pangs which
attended the slightest exer,ion "f her
faculties, seemed TO threaten the ag"niz-
ing dissolution of every vital part about
her. Ileie she learned that her eldest
daughter, n girl about eight years OF aye,
had taken the money she brought, and
gone forth To procure food, and also To
inform the neighbours that her mother lay
dead upon the floor Of the house, and had
left herself, with the rest, destitute, friend
less, aud alone.
IL was another bitter parg to her heart
to have the extremity q! their poverty
made public spectacle To the envlous,
unrelng crowd, who would sncer, and
pity her wrelchedness, while they might
perhaps only point for relief to the aims
house but there was now no help for
she found herself unable TO stand or walk,
and was therefore forced to remain and
await the approach of those whom the
story OF her daughter might probably at
tract thIher.
They came-neIo hbours and strangers
with a sudden rush, and found her
again insensible, but not lileIess, though
disease had set lis fiery seal upon her
wasted features, and the throbbing pains
>hook her delicate limbs, as with the
iremblings of palsy. 1t was pililu
sight Indeed-that devoted mother lying
upon the floor Of cheoIless hovel, poor
and emaciated, with scarcely an article
Of comfort or necessity, and surrounded
by her nearly lamished family, while a
burning fever was rapidly laying waste
her strength, aud preying upon her vital
system.
They raised her up, and were cndeav-
curing To restore her TO sensibiliiy, when,
attracted by the crowd around her door,
Il stranger entered, with the same appa-
rent motive as the rest. Ills dress and
bearing denoted him to be OF superior
condition 10 those present, and they, sup
posing him TO be physician, fell back
as he advanced towards the suffering
woman /; but his eyes had no sooner rest
ed upon her form, than with extreme sur
prise he exclaimed, "The very beggar
met last night ~ Then, after staring
moment into her features, ms if his STRAIN
ing eye-balls would start from their sock
els, he added, in voice Of deep ang uish,
"And, oh Heaven, my SISTER :"
II He was indeed the widows brother :.