American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-09
THE WIDOWS LAST TRIAL.
A TRUE STORY
BIZ Mr.. N, Snrgen

By Ms. N. Sargent.
ole was the only son Of his mothet, and she was
widow"
And tomorrow you are to be taken into the
firm as partner This was uttei cd by an aged
female, who was sitting with one of her with
cred hands clasped in that other sons, il young
man of two-and-twenty, who sat looking her in
the face, with eyes heamng with ahectionate
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 SUI
fering bad 6een--of the years long past, when
the mother now sitting beside him so beloved,
had submitted to toll and privation, enduring all
this for his sake; his eyes glstened with tears,
till, brushing them away hastily, smile broke
over his countenance.
True, MOTHER he said; 'but let these recol
lections be forgotten now. The memory of the
past we will bury in oblivion, and think only of
the days to Gomez
But you will not allow present prosperity to
harden your heart, William; you will not let
your good fortune make you high-minded, and
forget Him who has been friend in the hour
of trouble?'
No, mother, | will not forget that am the
child of God; yet should temptation as 'ail me,
have only to think of your precepts and ex-
ample, and they would always deter me from
doing wrong But think, MOTHER he contin-
ued, bright CLEAN lighting up every feature,
'how happy | shall be in being enabled to place
you in the sphere of life to which your virtues
entitle you Ifyou knew how often busy fancy
has pictured this hour-how often have DIV cit
upon the idea of one day being able to place
you in home equal to your merit, you would
not wonder that now, when see my wishes on
the eve of accomplishment, it should thus sub
due me-
Nor do Nor do |, my son. the mother
said, with fearful eyes; but you think more ia
vorably, my hoy, 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 advance
ment, should not murmur as never having u
more comfortable home than the present one
you have provided me-
The night was pitchy dark, not star being
visible, while the wind, blowing in ftful gusts,
portended storm of unusual violence.
'Twill be stormy night fear said the
young man, rising and going towards the door
to look out. THE river is already swollen,
and if rain falls as it did the other evening,
I fear much damage will ensue. You heard
Of the poor fellow drowned in the canal last
EVENING"
YES, the mother replied. Il hope he had
friends to care for him. IT'S a dreadful death
to de- she added musingly.
They say not said William; many who
have encountered it, assert the being brought TO
it is the most painful part to endure.
1T may be So the mother answered; 'but |
fcrvently trust no one dear to me may every be
submitted 10 the experiment.
A vivid flash of lightning, followed by the
low, rumbling thunder, caused William now to
retire; and observing again that the river would
be very high, he closed the door.
1t was now the usual hour for family worship.
The mother had seated herself in corner of
the Fireplace, with her features settled into a
look of devoton; while the son, with cores
pondng gravity. walked towards the stand on
which the family bible was placed, and, open
ing the sacred volume, began reading IA chap
ter. Religion, with them, was not the cold
expression Of the lip alone. 1t was the incense
of the heart. 1t was Il beautiful sight, that
aged mother and her only son bending their
knees, and lifting up their volces to the Most
High. Perhaps the events ofthe day had gwen
deeper tone of tenderness to Williams vol e
and feelings; certain it was, he had never pray
cd more iervently than Oh that evening; and
when they separated for the night, the poor old
woman looked forward to the bright vista OF
the future, with full confidence OF It's meeting
her most sangune anticpations.
The mother of William had been left a WI
dow while he was in his second year. But, by
dint of hard labor, she had managed to keep
her boy al schoo! until he arrived at his fifteenth