Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-05-18
From the Philadelphia Enquirer.
THE LAST SILVER SPOON.
An incident of real life.

In incident of a deeply interesting nniure
passed under our observation not great while
since. The pressure Of tho times, tho losses
by banks, by The exposition Of stock bubbles
and the depreciation OF property, have, as we
all know, produced many touching and painful
rases nf distress The rich have become poor,
the easy in circumstances have been reduced to
want, and many father who had devoted the
nowcr of his life TO the accumulation of Il
moderate independence, aud who had with
pride and Joy watched the growth OF his chill
drcb, d.arer in some cases tlirn life itself, has
suffered deeply aud krenly. Ii is too often
the error, moreover, of fond and indu gent pa
rents, To unfit their offspring for The rererscs OF
fortune. They train them up like hot house
plants, forgctiul of the cold blasts ofmisfortune
ar indnlging The hope that hsy at least will
escape vlcissitudc, aud not be called upon To
' labor for their daily broad. II is in such cases
that the arrows of adversely are felt with the
most acutoness, and tho wonder is not that we
occasionally hear Ola mind too weak to bear
up amid tho darkness Of despair but that SO
many who have been toppled in an instant, as
u were, from high prosperity TO ruin aud penu-
ry, should still in the true spirit of philosophy
and Christianity, struggle nobly and manfully
on. Such Ordcals are the true tests Of charac-
ter. Ifpassed through unscalhed, they indi-
cate the possession of the nober energies of
confidence in Providence, and in tho glorious
faith of our religion. How beautiful does the
character of woman shine forth amidst sorrow
aud suffering How her gentle spirit rises,
and acquires new nerve and fresh yigor, IA
the clouds Of adversely gather How she
clings with fidelity which has no kindred to
more earthly things, to the beings of her love !!
What sacrifices she makes! What trials she
submits to, and with n spirit Of calm aud pa
ti..nt ,rbn ba
upon crust day, rather than add to the SUI.
iorings of the idol of her heart, or with the
object Of relieving the distresses of her chill
drcn! But, to our incident.
We happened not long ago, to be sitting
III the room of u friend, jeweller and silver
smith. well known to the community as
man of integrity and character. His attcn-
tion was suddenly called by the appearance
OF an elderly gentleman, who opened The
door OF the store, passed hastily into the back
office where we were seated, and observing
that the store keeper was not alone, as hasti-
ly wIthdrew.-Our friend recognised, called
la and followed him. They con,ersed to-
gciher for few minutes in an under tone,
and then the store keeper returned to his
little Office. We saw that he was ogitated
as well as affected. lie stammered as he
attempted to continue The conversation with
MS, and his eye was moistened with a tear
We looked at him lnqulrIngly-he become
more confused, and finding it impossible
10 control his feelings, or explain his conduct
he osked.-"Do you know iha, old gentle.
man !" We replied that we thought we did,
but were not quite certain and at the same
time named an individual who formerly stood
very high in our community as merchant.
DO you know any thing of circumstances /?
Nothing in detail; but some facts that have
rouched US, authorize belief that he is quite
poor.
Poor indeed, responded our friend-and he
drew from the case in which ne had Just de-
posted II a silver spoon.
"That," he remarked, "is the last of the
family plate Piece by piece has been sold
IN this way, and for many weeks past the
spoons have been disposed Of by that worthy
but unfortunate man, with the object Of OBJ
tanning means whcrewith 10 go TO market.
And once, not ten years ago, he ranked as u
wealthy merchant Of PhiluJelphio, and kept
hi- carrIsge He is now reduced To this
painful extremity has three lovely daugb-
irrs, NJ we'll ns an aged wife, who still look
up 10 hun as theIr only support. and Heaven
knows wlint they will do, with thu, their last
resource cxhau-,rd."
Our freud had scarcely concluded this
bret account, when the slight figure Of sl
young Finale, closely yeiled. possed into the
si"re. Tie lefi W again, and vos absent for
so'ne tune. On returning he was evidently
more affected than on the first occasion.
AID yet, mi"plrd wilh the sad expression Of
r"unichnnce, vas uD evident CLEAN of pleas.
IRE nj something sbicb bad transpired. uls
story WIS n br,~f un" Tue fcmale was the
Youngest dangh'cr ~ the did ger,lemsn.-N 4
Sli" with her s'0er hsd long known her
is'h'r'h di.iress. bvt not ~ us fuii rcsli,v.--
They had Soon their luIurirs depart irom
them one by ono. aud instead Of wurmuriag. /
had reJnlr"d that they were 80 we'll able to
Sparc ilcm. On the uiorpng Of the day H.
q"rsiIoi, how"v"r. the mother came to ,brm
~ tesrs aud told tho whole stnrg adding l
that ~" last sP""n had just been hnrnc n
"sy ~ The manncr aud inr The purpose drs- I
cfIbed. The par girls wrrr dr''ply ,ouc he'd |
but the intelligence was nut alingrihcr IN !
expcctcd-!nr they had long vainly endcav I
urcd To close theip eyes 10 the truth ur the
changed cOndiiwn OF thclr father. Thrir
determination wus speedily taken They had I