The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-06-25
VOL. X.
The Raft.
OR. THE WIDOWS TWO SONS.
BY REV. J. TODD.


take 10 describe; but just as he begins 10 en-
Ter The forest passing from Franconia.he will
see a road running at right angles 10 that
which he travels. Wen, il was some little
distance down this lonely road that the small
vood-colored dwelling OF Widow Howe
stood. at the time Lam commencing my sto-
ny. ,
Some years before this, young sailor had
unaccountably wandered up this way from
the waters and soon found tie that bound
him here. This was pretty girl, who con-
scented TO marry him on the hard condlion
that he would no more go 10 sea. ltcost HIM
much rumination as he sat alone thinking 1t
over. and many a cigar was turned into ash
es in irving to soolhe him into acquiescence.
AcGuiesce, however, he did, and they were
married and purchased the little domain
have mentioned. The sailor found It al ilrst
rather difficult TO manage his iarm, but by
naming his oxen larboard' and 'star6oard,
and his blind horse dead eyes, he got along
very we'll They lived happily together for
several years, when Howe was suddenly
called from time into eternity. Ills young
wife was left with two litlle boys, james and
john.
The history ofyears is compressed into a
few sentences. That is, few sentences
pass over years without telling Us any thing
| That took place. This is all mean when
say that the history Of Widow Howe for
many years may be told in Il few words. She
was industrious, frugal, mild, persevering,
and carried Il heart conteIted and peaceful,
because it had been chastened, and purified,
and subdued by religion. She taught her
BOYS all that she knew.-She told them the
story of their father over and over again. part
IL to soothc her own heart and partly TO lead
her bows 10 cherish his memory. These OBJ
| iac,s were accomplished, together with one
o. which she did not dream. She would tell
how her father came there, a light-heared
young sailor how frank and generous he
was; what he had passed through on the
great waters; what he was to her, and what
he would have been TO them, had he lived
! Alas,why is il thatwhen our friends are gone,
sc wish TO heighien every excellence, cover
every weakness, and dwell only upon what
we loved most in them2 Why does sorrow
seek for that food which increases 1t! shall
not stop to discuss il.
The boys TtcW up, interrupted by So
cieiy. simple in all their views and tastes.
They we're the pride and Joy of the widow 5
heart. They knew every wind and turn, ev-
cry hole for The trout which the wild Am
monoosuck afforded. They could tell the
time when the fshwere 'out,' by the eye and
the scream ofthe hard-hearted, selfish kings
tshcr.-They could tell when the storm
would come, by watching the awful Laiay-
i ellie lis he put on his nlght-cap OF clouds
, and they could climb the tree, the rock, and
! the mountain, with Il foot and an ease pecu
liar TO themselves. But as they grew up
they felt unsatsiiej. They longed 10 see
the world, by which they meant, they long
ed to 70 to sea as their father did, 10 pas:
through what lac passed through, and Il
3. have tale 70 tell equal 10 his. 1t was
Iona time before they could bring themselves
: 10 mention this desire 10 their mother. Many
5 were The tears she shed when she did heal
il. and most bitter were her regrets thar she
; should indulge her fond heart in telling the
personal history OF their lather and in thus
sowing the seed whose harvest she was now
10 gather From the day they revealed ili;
= desire, and by certain questioning whicl
= every mother understands, be her child wha
e he may. she had learnedthe strength Of theil
= desire she considered her house desolate, and
| the end OF her earthly consultations 10 have
5 come.
; During The long winter which preceded
the departure of these young adventures
they used TO spend their evenings in talking
= over what was before Them. They would
J Use all the sailor language OF which they
! we're masters, tell of the places which they
,vould Ike to visit. of the sights they wOulC
, see. of the exploits they would perform, and
. always finish the air-casile by painting their
| return 10 their home, their pockets flledwiil
1 money. their chests with curiosiiies, fol
! moiher,' which would amaze her and al! her
u adniring nciehhorS, with trakets not few
i for each and ali their acquainlances, dweller,
# in the mountains for twenty miles around.
/ | cannot tell how it was, butthc fact can
t not be called III question, that Laura HILL {
: reighbor of miles distance, happened TO be
Il in frequently al the widows, and on being
Il stronely importuned, would stay during The
/. long winter evening, and hear those young
; brothers talk nor can tell any better how
it hapncned, that John usually went homo
4 with this mountain lily, nor how he could be
SO generous as TO promise his old schoo
5 mate that when he returned, he would mo-
I FORGET 10 bring her nice new shawl Or
5 such occasions, the generous girl would pro
fess to considel such promises and such gift:
as of no value in her eyes, and most earnestly
and often most tendery entreat him, for hi:
mothers sake. to stay at home and behave
himself. | am not able to say what argu
ments she used besides, if any but it is true
that John found il quite as hard TO resist hers
-. as those of her mother.
!, But when the spring began TO open, and
= the deep SHOWS on the mountain began "a
: thaw and slide, and cause streams to rise and
4 roar which were echoed far aud near, the
] Young men began TO make preparations fol
] their immediate departure. They had man
1 uiactnred one large sailors chest, making
I their fathers their model. inasmuch as then
5 mother would on no condition consent &c
! their taking that. They had so far maturet
/ their plans as to enter their names at Port
land, as sailors before the mast. for long
I voyage.
Ca bright morning in May. you NIGH
: have called at the widows and found every
thing looking sad and desolate, as though the
5 abode had been visited with some awful ca
: Iamity. The COW was lowing in the yard
wondering, as far as COW can wonder. why
she was neither MIXED nor turned into the
pasture. The pigs were calling for break
j. fast with voices SO loud as to preclude the
possibility of any failure Of theirlungs or Iheir
! ito L.. HI md fpa Hnn