Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-10-17
THE POCKET BIBLE,
OR HIS LOVING KINDNESS CHANGES NOT.
by CHARLES A. GOODRICH.

was standing at tho counter OF BOOK
store, some years since, when lady entered,
and inquired for pocket Bibles. know her
well. A few years before, she had married
a respectable young merchant, who, although
possessed of but little, ifany, capital himself
had been started in business by gentleman
of wealth, with every prospect OF success.
He was active, honest and enterprising and
although he married early and after COM
mencing business for himself, perhaps too
early-the lady he had selected as his COM
panon 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 it, in
consideration that her husbands income for
the present was small, il was apparent that
her spirit was aspiring, and that she was
looking forward with some Impotence to the
time when she should be the mistress Of a
fine house, with furniture corresponding. A
friend OF hers, who was married about the
same time, had ct once entered upon the en-
joyment Of the objects of ambition, aud had
even carriage at her command. Quite
possibly Matilda Grant cherished the secret
hope that she might one day be able TO visit
that friend in similar establishment Of her
own.
The dispensations Of God, however, not
unfrequently intervene to thwart our plans
and defeat our hopes of worldly good. He
has higher views respecting us than we our
selves entertainments elevation of our souls,
and those Of our friends, 10 crown Of glory
in his own blessed mansions-and rrepara-
ton therefore is necessary, which requires
sorrow here in order 10 joy hereafter
Through much tribuation must we enter in
10 the Kingdom of God. =.
For few years Mr.. Grant went on well
in business. His purchases we're made with
Judgment, and his goods were credited TO
those who, he thought, would be able 10 pay.
But unfortunately and unforeseen, his prin-
cipal creditors failed, and in single day
Charles Grant was a bankrupt
At the time of this sad reverse he was III
of fever. II was difficult TO conceal II
from him; but the news had still more I'M
happy effect upon him than was anticipated !;
and from that hour he still continued to de-
cline, and in few weeks he was carried TO
his long home. 1t was grievous blow TO
his wife, with whom her friends most sincere
ly sympathized, and TO whom they rendered
for herself and two children a son and
daugher-all the kind assistance which their
circumstances allowed.
On an investigation of Mr.. Grants affairs,
his failure proved evenworse than was feared;
and although the gentleman who had ad'
vanced the capital was quito liberal in the
settlement of the concern, the widow and
her children had but few hundred dollars
and for most of that she was chiefly indebted
it was thought, 10 the generosity Of her hus'
bands 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 neal
relatives at hand TO console with her, anc
was ignorant of the divine consultations of re-
lgion. But there was mercy in her cup o
sorrow. The spirit of God came in TO hea
that troubled spirit, and to sanctify those
trials to her soul. At length she was en-
abled to bow in humble and quiet submission
to the will of God, and betake herself TO the
support and education ofher lovely children
now her solace and delight.
At the time | saw her in the bookstore
she was in pursuit of pocket Bible for he
son, named Charles, after his father. Thu
purchase was soon made. II was beauli
full cdi,ion-not expensive, but just such a
fond and religious mother would wish Il
present to son whom she loved, and whicl
she hoped would prove lamp unto his feet
A farther Circumstance about this bible
~
turned the attention ofthe happy little fellow
10 blank page in the beginning, on which
in beautiful wreath, she had inscribed he
own name, and under il The words, "To m,
son." followed by the appropriate and touch
ing lines
"a parents blessing on her son
Goes with this holy thing;
The love that would retain the one
Must 10 the other cling.
| Remember tits no idle toy,
A mother gft-Remember, boy"