The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-02-13
Miscellaneous,
From Miss Leslie's Magazine.
Khe Widows East Trial.
A TRUES STORY
BY MRS. M. SARGENT.

was widow"
'And Tomorrow you to be TAX en- into the firm
as partner This was uttered by an aged female
VINO was sitting with Of her withered hands
casped IN that OF her son, young man of two-and-
twenty, who sat looking in her face, with affection
ate interest. This fully repays me, my beloved son.
for all have Suffered
For moment the sons features appeared clouded
with sorrow; he thought what that su erng had been
OF the years long past, when the mother now sitting
beside him, so beloved, had submitted to toll and pr
vaon, enduring all things for his sake; his eyes glis-
tened with tears, till brushing them away hastily,
smile broke over his countenance
True, MOTHER he said; sbut let those reco!ections
be forgotten now. The memory of the past we will
bury in oblivion, aud think only of the DAYS that are
to come.
But you will not allow prosperity to harden your
heart, William; you will not let your good fortune
make you high minded land forget Him who has been
friend in the hour of troube?'
mo, mother, will not forget that the child of
God, yet should temptation assa me, have only to
think of your preceps and example, and they would
always deter me from doing wrong. But think moth
err he continued, brig int CLEAN lighting up every
feature, show happy shall be in being enabled to
place you in the sphere Of life to which your vir-
tues enttle you. Ifyou knew how often busy fancy
has pictured this hour; how often have dwelt upon
the idea of one day being able to place you in home
equal to your mert,you would not wonder that now,
when see my hope on the eve of accomplishment,
it should thus subdue me-
'Nor do !, do I, my son, the mother said with
fearful eyes; 'but you think favorably, boy,
of your aged mother than she deserves. doubt not
many will think, and say, the old woman has now
more than she merits; and really though am proud
Of your advancement, should not murmur, at never
having more comfortable home than the present one
you have provided me-
The night ptchy dark, not star being visible,
while the wind blowing in ftru gusts, portcnded
storm of unusual violence
90 Twill be stormy night, fear,' said the young
man, rising land going toward the door TO look out -
The river is already swollen, and if the rain falls
it did the other evening, I fear much damage will
ensue You heard Of the poor fellow drowned in the
canal last night p
sYes,' the mother replied. Il hope he had friends
to care for him. 1T is dreadful death to die she
added musingly.
rhcy say not said William, many who
have encountered it, assert the being brought to, is
the most painful part to endure.s
II NAV be So THE mother answered; but lervent
y trust no one dear me, may be submitted 10
the experiment.
a vivid flash of lightning, followed by the low, rum
bling thunder, caused William now to retire; and OBJ
serving again that the river would be very high, he
closed the door.
Twas now the usual hour for family worship. The
mother had seated herself in a corner OF the hre-
Mace with her features settled into look oil dcvo-
ton while the son, with corresponding gravity,walk-
ed toward the stand on which the family bible was
placed, and opening the sacred volume, began read
ing chapter Religion with them, was not the cold
expression of the lip alone 1t was the incense OF
the heart TWAS beautiful sight, the aged mother,
and her only son. bending their knees and lifting up
their voices to the Most High. Perhaps the events
of the day had given deeper tone of tenderness to
Williams voice and feelings; certain it was, he had
never pray ed more ferventy than on that evening;
and when they separated for the night the poor old
woman looked forward to the bright vista of the flu
ture with full confidence Of its meeting her most san
gune expectations
The mother of William had been left widow,
while he was in his second year. by dint of hard la
Dor, she had managed to keep her boy at schooiun
I'll he arrived at his fifteenth year, when she obtained
n situation for him with merchant, residing at the
aoprishing town of Rochester, in the state OF New
York. Williams good conduct and steady appiica-
,,n to business, won him the favorable opinion OF
his employer. The merchant was man OF great be-
nevolence he could appreciate merit in whatever sta
,o, II xvos to be met; and when he saw the lad sup
porting an aged mother out of his carnings-neSer
minanu with the low and vicious, and practising II
deity in business unusual in one SO Young was I'M
possible to avoid feeling an involuntary respect or m
character. William was aware oil the "ercna"'
kindness; no knew that his salary exceeded that CIV
en- to other boys still he never presumed upon the
meroeant's disneresiedness, but was alike respectui
=, his empoy ers and their customers On the day
in which he was introduced to the readers notice ne
had been offered share in the merchants lucrative
business. Never had mis- brightest visions pictured