Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-02-17
A SKETCH,
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE POOR.
BY MRS. SARAH J. HALE.

Mrs. Conant was seventy years old;
these had not all been years Of sorrow-
but who can keep themselves warm during
the storms of winter BY thinking of the
pleasant summer sun? AT seventy years
Of nge she was feeble, chidess widow,
with no earthly resource, save her own
trembling hands,to support herself, and two
orphan grand children, and many kind
friends and an ample fortune all had pas
sed away,
What avails it to count over one by ono,
the waves of misfortune, that had swept
on rising higher with every wild burst, till
finally her earthly treasures had all been
overwhelmed the flood had passed-and
all that was spared her from the wreck was
the love Of two little helpless beings, the
babes Of her youngest and darling son.
While we have an obi ct to low, and
feel ourselves beloved in return, we are
not wholly without enjoyment in life. In
vest the wealth of the affections safely and
you can never be quite bankrupt. Some
little green shrub-some sweet flower there
will be, sprnging even in the sterile and
desoate pa h Of poverty, if we carefully
cherish these humble blessings with the
warmth and dew Of the affections.
II would, to n mind that only judged by
worldly policy, seem as if those children
must have become q great burden and
trouble to their poor old grandmother -
Even some kind hearted people may be in
clned to think that relieving her from
the duty of providing for her charge would
have been the most charitable act gener-
Gus benefactor could have performed. And
we call this relieving of mere physical suf-
ferngs benerolence! 1t is the lowest grade
of this virtue Why do we not take the
feelings, the affections, the hearts of tho
poor into account when we would relieve
them?
Those little children were, to Mrs. CO.
nant, all the world She had nothing be-
side TO call her own, to love and to live 70 /;
and vet, because she would not consent 10
part with them, put Item out (none but the
widowed mother Of little children can know
the full import of the phrase -she was
called foolish and obstinate; and those who
protested themselves willing TO assist her
could not consider il their duty TO allow her
TO indulge and spoil her grandchildren
withheld their aid till she would become
reasonable, and consent 10 accept i, in their
own way People may be tortured till
they yield, without being subjected to the
thumh-screw or the ordeal by water.
Mrs Conant had been an excellent seam
stress, and at seventy years old, few in
plain needle work were more expect
Could she have obtained constant employ
mcnt and fair compensation for her work
sho would have supported her little ones
and herself (she always thought and spoke
Of their wants hrst IN comfort. But she
could not with all her seeking, obtain work
20 occupy more than four days in week
Even with this encouragement, had sht
been Justly rcmunerated, she might have
subsisted, for she required but little nour
ishment herself, and the children were
cheerful as larks, even when they had on
ly two meals in day, because they enjoy
cd those with their dear grandmother. She
once ted friend poor woman, like her.
self, but one who could feel q sympathy III
those generous emotions which the mos
grovellng cares can never entirely reprcss
in the heart of u true woman told Will
tears and smiles blended on her lurroweC
cheeks, how her dear little grandson Hen
nv once proposed to his sister 10 save hal
their supper for three successive nights
and give it to their grandmother for he
Sunday dinners, because she had Spoken
Of the Sunday dinners she used 10 have
when she was rich.
sand they did save IT," said Mrs. Co
nant, ''and that very Sabbath as well as
al. bnf nel c,rr
days, that could not go out to obtain food
and the three pieces oil bread, with LITTLE
cheese which the poor babes have saved
was all we had TO eat during the day Fo
myself" continued the patient woman, ="
only tasted amorsel to please the children
am used TO fasting on The Sabbath now
once ii was otherwise; | made il the day
of Teasing; but God saw that affection.
were necessary, and he has Withdrawn
outward blessings. Yet | will bless hi
name while he continues TO feed mo will
the true bread"
..Bat you do not fast every Sabbath day
do your inquired her friend.
81 do, and am contented 10 Fast" wa
her meek reply-"but it wrings my hear
TO know that my children are hungry
Ard yet they never complain, and they al
ways kiss me when they see me weeP-as
sometimes do-and they say they don
want any thing only 10 live with me. An'
Henry will tell me what he intends TO de
when he is little bigger, how he shall work
and buy me cakes, and apples, and lea,anC
all good things. And Mary is now learn
ing 10 sew-poor thing! fear she can new
or earn her living by sewing
II was no wonder Mrs. Conant thought
need'e,work poor business by which &c
i've she could get but ten cents for making
selrt' and even at that rate had only work
sumcIent TO employ her four DAYS in the
week No wonder she was discoura ged
her earthly labors were nearly flushed.
Sorrows aillict every Stage of human
HE; but they never appear so gloomy as
when they press heavily on the aged. and
bow down their grey head TO the dust
The ieebleness thai can hardly supper, the
weight of years, when burdened with heavy
grlefs, would seem 10 find a pleasant relief