American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-30
| From the Salem, New Jersey, Standard. ]
A SCENE IN REAL LIFE.

When the Bard of Avon denominated the
world stage, and the people its actors, he
merely spoke with his usual truthfulness How
many little dramas are every day enacted in
private life that need no touches of romance
no gas lights and tinsel to rive them absorbing
interest; but which become obvious from the fact
that all are too deeply engaged in the parts of
their own play to give heed, or take interest sut
ticent to note those other ineghbors. Here aud
there the more prominent fragments of piece
are observed, but generally so disconnected are
they as to cause but Il passing remark. One
OF these fragments of life repletc with misfor-
tune and poverty has recently been the occa-
sion OF some conversation in this town, and we
give it to our readers as it was told to us:
A family of Catholic Germans, consisting OIL
the parents and four small children, settled in
Salem last year, and from Discrimination to per
NIT their wants to be made known, existed
through the winter in the most AFFECT poverty
About the commencement of spring the hus-
band sickened and died, and the family there
by became reduced to the last extremity of
Indebtedness. The grief of the widow at her
bereavement was intense, and for time she
refused to be comforted. Alone, in a foreign
land, and with the exception Of her helpless
chidren) surrounded by none but strange faces,
it seemed as if the last browning misfortune had
filled her cup of misery to the brim. AS there
is no Catholic Cemetery in this ncighborhood,
the Friends, with their usual kindness, offered
the body of the deceased resting place in
their burying ground. This was gladly ac-
cepted, but new difficulty arose. The wi
dow, strongly imbued with the principles of the
sect to which she had always belonged, would
not consent TO its intermeut without the for
pf Z bo n lio al bn
ing no priest of her persuasion at hand, she APP
piled to worthy citizen to perform the cere-
mony; but he replied that lie could not consci-
entiously act in the matter. Mlsconstrung his
scruples, she exclaimed with earnestness-"Oh
do!-the Pope will absolve you" He endeav-
ored to prevail upon her to apply to some one
else, but without effect. At length he asked,
if it was not, under the circumstances, entire
ly requisite that a priest perform the ceremo-
ny, why she, being good Catholic, could not
act on the OCCASION After few moments
consideration, during which she appeared to be
forcibly struck by the suggestion as something
that had not before occurred to her, she con-
scented to undertake the sad office.
An eyewitness of the interment and accom-
pauying ceremony speaks Of the scene as most
affecting. number of fellow countrymen of
the deceased had collected round the grave,
when the widow, with sense of duty amount
ing to enthusiasm, and rising above the intense
grief which had convulsed her, stood forward
and taking the earth upon spade proceeded to
consccrate it. She then went through with
the solemn burial service of the Catholic
Church in manner so impressive as TO bring
tears from the eyes of many present long UNI
used to the melting mood. The ceremony was
concluded By the eloquent PRAYER for the rest
of her departed husband; and she turned frors
the grave for her desolate home and starving
children apparently with every spark Of hope
extinguished in her bosom. But it is said that
the darkest cloud has ever bright star near 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 ia
therless had raised them up friends in the hour
OF their EXTREMIST need. The death of her hus-
band and the peculiar circumstances attending
his funeral directed public attention to the ia
my, when its destitute condition became
known and immediate relief afforded.