Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-01

cneer, since ne had health and character aud eXpe-
renee ana family left the best of capitals for be-
ginning The world with. Just at this time, he was
brought home speechess, over anxiety of mind had
been too much for hm--ho could neither eat nor
sleep; ana after long, patient, accomplishing
struggle with the cares and miseries which beset
him--.a struggle of which his poor wife knew moth
ing TIL long afterwards constitution rave way
all at once, and he fell from his chair at the desk
! OF a wealthy merchant, who, knowing his worth
and deceived by the resignation and cheerfulness
of the poor fellow, believed he was preparing him
with certainty for sphere of great usefulness -
while he was dying by inches in his very presence.
inc poor wife met the bearers of her husband
at the door, without cry or a tear. The children
gathered about him--but even their waiings did
not disturb him, and for many long and weary
day there was no hope-none whatever; but one
evening, late in the summer as he lay there with
his lighted eyes fixed upon the open window-pasp-
ing for breath and evidently struggling with some
great change at work within hm---he turned sud-
denly toward his wife, and knew her, and pressed
her hand between both of his and then---while her
heart was trimming with terror and Joy, fearing
that every breath would be his last, and full of
thanktulness that reason had been vouchsafed to
him to know his children and their mother once
more---he'lited his thin hand towards the western
sky, and whispered, "oh, that we might all 90 to-
getherr
And there was nothing to be heard in reply, but
the humble breathngs of broken. hearted wife,
repeating the same prayer; and the sobbings of
little children waiting to take leave of their dying
| father
! "lf could only be certain, my dear Wife" lie
added after short pause, could only be satisfied
that you and the children were provided ior---that
you were beyond the reach OF want, should die
happy; but there Tits no use talking; / might
have foreseen all this; might have provided for
IT. and IT | had done SO, not only would it have
made you and the dear children happy, but do in
my heart believe---"
"Happy ---oh Charles"
"As happy, mean, as you could be, after we
had been separated by death--at any rate your loss
would not have been trebled to you as it must be
now---but---l declare, | don't know what was 90
ing to say--ahit was ths---l1ad done my duty.
love, when 1t was very easy to do it, | should not
only die happy now, but as am living man, do
believe 1t would have heightened my own lie---re-
stored me to health perhaps. All! why do you
Withdraw your hand ?---why leave me at a moment
like this? Merciful Heaven! what's the matter
with her? Run, children, rum"
| The poor wife, who had been sitting by the side
| OF her dying husband, with his head gathered to
her bosom, smoothing his damp hair, and sobbing
over his thin transparent hands, started up and
sprang through the half open door; and after few
moments, they heard drawer open and shut vio-
lenty in the next room-the sharp rusting of paper
/
which way to turn, she came back trembling and
weeping to the bedside of the poor sufferer, and
pressing her damp lips to his forehead she whisper
| ed to him to be of good cheer-to be comforted--
and when he started up and gazed into her eyes
with speeches. terror she told him that God had
heard his prayer, and that his little ones and their
mother were all provided for.
provided for how when where what
has happened" cried the husband, trying to lift
himself up, and gazing at her with a bewildered
look, and gasping for breath. ooh speak to me =
let me be sure that | have understood you, and
though ready and willing to die, still, as God
life again"
The poor wife answered not word but she fell
upon her knees with cry Of Joy and thankfuness.
and bel three children knelt with her, while from
her uptted band futtered paper which her dying
HUSBAND was just able to make out the meaning of.
1t was life policy for five thousand dollars taken
out twelve years before in the name of the wife,
and was now WORTH after deducting the sums lent
to her by the office to pay the yearly premiums
WITH and keep her sick husband after his failure.
over eight thousand dollars. These were the saw
lngs OF prudent and thrifty housekeeper in the
season of prosperity, when two dollars a week put
aside for the purpose became the seed for richer
harvest than her husband had ever hoped for in the
days Of commercial change and overthrow. For a
while she had forgotten the policy, believing it
could be of mouse to her to the children till af-
ter the death of her husband; but when she dis
covered that owing to beneficial provision of the
charter which entitled her to borrow back tco thirds
of the whole amount she had paid in, together with
tlco-rs of all the profits she was entitled to, she
bestirred herself and prevented the forfeiture, and
nog, when there was no other help--no other hope
under heaven-and the partner of her youth was
dying of anxiety about his wife and his little ones,
10! they were provided for and the husbands life
savcd-the broken heart healed -and the active
man of business restored 10 usefulness; and all to
the forecast of young and fashionable, and up to
a certain time, frivolous and thoughtess woman.
| P. S. Go thou and do likewise