The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Mothers Magazine.
The Pocket Bible:
OR, "HIS LOVING KINDNESS
CHANGES NOT"
BY CHARLES A. GOODRICH.

IL
had been started in business by a gentleman
of wealth, with every prospect of success.
He was active, honest and enterprising; and,
although he had married early after commenc-
ing business for himself-perhaps too early
the lady whom he had selected as his COM
panion was worthy of his choice. She had
more ambition some of her friends thought,
than comported with their circumstances !;
and although she contrived to repress il, in
consideration that her husbands income for
the present was SMALL it was apparent that
her spirit was aspiring, and that she was look
ing forward with some Impotence to the time
when she should be mistress of fine house,
with furniture corresponding. A friend of
hers, who was married about the same time,
had at once entered upon the enjoyment of
these objects of ambition, and had even a
carriage at her command. Quite possibly
Matilda Grant cherished the secret hope
that she might one day he able to visit that
friend in a similar establishment of her
own.
The dispensations Of God, however, not
unfreauently intervene to thwart our plans
and defeat our hopes of worldly good. He
has higher views respecting US than we our
selves entertain-thc elevation OF our souls,
and those of our friends TO a crown of glory
IN his own blessed mansions-and prepare
ton therefore is necessary, which requires
sorrow here in order to Joy hereafter. Thro'
much tribulation must we enter into the
kingdom of God.
For few wears Mr.. Grant went on well in
business. His purchases were made with
judgment and his goods were credited to
those who, he thought, would be able topay.
But, unfortunately, and unforeseen, his prin-
cipal creditor failed, and in single day
Charles Grant was a bankrupt.
At the time of this sad reverse he was i'll
of fever. 1t was difficult TO conceal it from
him; but the news had a still more unhappy
effect upon him than was anticipated, and
from that hour he continued to decline, and
in a few weeks he was carried to his long
home. 1t was grievous blow 10 his wife,
with whom her friends most sincerely sympa-
thized, and to whom they rendered forherself
and two children son and daughter-all
the kind assistance which their circumstan-
ces allowed.
On an investigation of Mr.. Grants affairs,
his failure proved even worse than was feared;
and although the gentleman who had advan-
ced the capital was quite liberal in the settle
meut of the concern, the widow and her chill
dren had but few hundred dollars, and for
most of that she was chiefly indebted, it was
thought, TO the generosity of her husbands
friend.
This result, added to the loss of a fond and
truly estimable man, made the shock still
more terrible. She felt the calamity keenly;
and the more so as she had no near relatives
at hand to condole with her, and was igno-
rant of the divine consultations of religion
But there was mercy in her cup of sorrow.
The Spirit of God came in to heal that trou-
bled spirit, and to sanctify those trials to her
soul. At length she was enabled to bow in
humble and quiet submission to the will of God,
and betake herselft to the support and educa-
ton of her lovely children, now her solace
and delight,
At the time | saw her in the bookstore she
was in pursuit of a pocket Bible for her son,
named Charles, after his father. The pur-
chase was beautiful edition-uot expensive
but lust such as fond and religious mother
would wish to present to son whom she low
ed. and which she hoped would prove lamp
unto his feet. A further circumstance about
this Bible knew in after years; on present
ing it, she turned the attention of the happy
little fellow to blank page in the beginning,
ON which, in beautiful wreath she had in
scribed her own name, and under it the words,
To my son. followed by the appropriate and
touching lines:-
"a parents blessing on her son
Goes with this holy thing;
The love that would retain the one
Must to the other cling,
Remember It's no idle toy,
A mothers gift-Remember, boy'
And still little below were printed, in
small but beautiful capitals, words which a
mothers faith might well appropriate His
LovING-KINDNEss CHANGES NOT
At the age of seventeen Charles Grant was
a stout, strong, active youth. He was more
than ordinarily ambitious, but as his ambi-
ton had not full scope, he was restless, and
l sometimes thought, unhappy. Had his
mother, at this critical era of his life, been
able to find some employment suitable to his
active and ambitious genius, 1t would have
been fortunate indeed; but she knew of none !;
and beside, she needed his aid-but what
was more than all, she was alone, and felt
that she could not dispense with his COM
pany.
About this time, a young sailor, by the
name of Thornton, belonging TO the neigh.
borhood, arrived home from a voyage
Charles naturally fell in his way, and was
delighted with the story of his wonderful ad-
ventures. He listened long and intently.-
His age and circumstances combined to ex
cite in his ambitious bosom the desire for
similar exciting scenes. Without design
ing any special wrong, young Thornton at
length proposed to Charles TO accompany him
on his next voyage, which he should COM
mence IN few weeks. For time he hes
itated, or rather declined-his mother and Al
ice would never consent, and to leave them
oy stealth was more than he felt willing to
40. Thornton did not urge him, as it after
WARDS appeared, but Charles was himself
11o,ongly inclined to go, while the young sal
ior was quite willing to have a friend and
c Gnn, so bright and enterprising as
Gharles Grant. In an evil hour. The latter
aeeideo 70 CO. and to go without the knowl-
On the night appointed for their denar,nre