Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-07-24
From the Salem ( West Jersey Standard.
A Scene i'm Real Life.

When the bard Ct Avon denominated the world a
stage and the people its actors he merely spoke with
his usual truthfulness. How many little dnmas
every day enacted in private life that need no touches
of romance-no gas lights and tinsel give them
absorbing interest but which become obvious from
the fact that all too deeply engaged in the parts
OF their own play to give heed, take interest su-
Gent to note, those of their neghbors. Here and
there the more prominent fragments Of piece are
Observed but generally disconnected TO but
passing remark. One Of these fragments from a
life repete with misfortune and poverty has recently
been the occasion of some conversation in this
and we give it to readers it was told to -
A family of Catholic Germans, consisting of the
parents and four small children, settled in Salem last
year and from dissemination to permit their wants to
be made known, existed through the winter In the
most AFFECT poverty. About the commencement of
Spring the husband sckened and died, and the family
thereby became reduced to the last extremity of
Indebtedness. The grief of the widow at her be-
reayement was intense, and for time she refused to
be comforted. Alone, In foreign land and with
the exception of her helpless chdren) surrounded by
none but strange faces ii seemed as if the last crown
ing misfortune had filed her cup of misery TO the
brim. As there Catholic Cemetery in this neigh
borhood, the Friends with their usual kindness, Of
fercd the body of the deceased resting place In their
burying ground. This gladly accepted, but a
new difficulty arose.
The widow, stongly imbued with the principles of
the sect TO which she had always belonged would not
consent TO lis lnterment without the formula of the
Catholic burial service. There being no priest of her
persuasion at hand, she applied worthy citizen to
perform the ceremony but be replied that he could
not conscentiousy act In the matter Misconstruine
his scruples, she exclaimed with earnesness-'sO Oh
do The Pope will absolve youi" He endeayored
to prevail upon her to apply 10 one else. but
without effect At length he asked, if it was not
under the circumstances, entirely requisite that a
priest perform the ceremony, why she, being good
Catholic could not act on the occasion! After few
moments consideration, during which she appeared to
be forcIby struck by the suggestion something that
had not before occurred to her, she consented to un
dertake the sad Office
An eyewitness of the interment and accompany-
ing ceremony speaks of the scene as most affecting
number of felow-countrymen of the deceased had
collected round the grave, when the widow with
sense of duty amounting to enthusiasm and rising
above the intense grief which had conyulsed her,
stood forward and taking the earth upon spade pro-
ceeded to consecrae it. She then went through win
the solemn burial service OF the Catholic Church in
mannerso impressive as to bring from the eyes
OF many present long unused to The melting mood.
The ceremony was concluded by the widows offering
an appropriate and extremely eloquent prayer for the
rest Of her departed husband and she turned from
the grave for her desoate home and starving children
apparently with every spark of hope extingushed in
her bosom.
But it is said that the darkest cloud has ever a
bright star it, and she found that her home was
to be desolate and her children starving no longer
He who hearkens to the cry Of the widow and the
fatherless had raised them up friends in the hour of
their EXTREMIST need. The death of the husband and
the peculiar circumstances attending his funeral. 5i
rected public attention TO the family when its destitute
condition became known and immediate relief afforded