Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-03-26
(Contiaaed firom FIRST page.)

tho prayer. Odt of the abundance al
the heart The mouth speakcih; but on'
could hardly realize tha, the old gentle
man, who an hour or Two since loked
his daughter SD unmerciiully, c"uld pra,
so eloquenIly and ierven'ly for her future
welfare. But in the midst 6i their pray
er their ears were startled by approach
iny bells. Nearer they drew and nearer
the sleigh drew up at the door. And
now the old gentleman, aware OF his
daughters feeling. cut of The reserved
petitions ofhis prayer for all nations and
k.uired, ani. dove,a'llng the dnS"logy
upon the middle of the performance,
hurried to the door To meet
IIannah's lovers jaiher--who had
come to inquire if Farmer Burke, "r any
of his folks, could guess, Judge or cnlcn-
late, what in na,ur' had become of his
son Johu'
Poor Hannah! She SLEPT very liile
that night.
CHAPTER u.
The olory ola New England winters
day, ns literal glory, brighter than the
eyes can bear, H. III the clear, cold, bra.
cling, brilliant morning. The snow,
which % the day preceding melted upon
the house tops, rocks and trees, hangs ~
dnzzl,ny icicles, from which the hight oI
th. early sun dances in myr'ads %! spark
ling raylc,s. The fields ale coated iaf
aud vide with dazzling SILVER. The
smoke OF the chmneys tends sirnight up,
IN drliraie columns, contrasting, yet
harmouizing, with the clear cold sky
Every sound comes well pronounced and
distinct To- the ear now the blow of au
axe, now the music Oi some playful dog,
nov the clear laugh Of some hilarious
urchn, now the merry sleigh bells jingle
as the smoking horses dash by you, nno
nov the dolorou. squeak-s-q-u-e-a-k at
some heavy sled or unreasonable cart
wheel. The patient oxen, with their
Zee r-hrsrded dew-ap, step doggedly far
ward, putting down each foot ns they
procerd, as il they have weighy and
well considered purpose IN every step
Boy. and men, we'll mmi'led IN WOODEN
ncck.cloihs and mii,tus, nnd women
clothed in substantial fabrics, with heavy
shoes, and now and then pair oiiilhcr'-
br,-ky about, as # they had an cage,
and bounding li!e IN them. Every sight
is clear, aud every sound, like tn,
breaking of snow under feet, short and
crisp. All things appeared fitted i"'
the season, the -n,,h mnnled, the peo-
pie quickly clad, and the very fodder
thrown upon the top Of the slcd for the
use at the cattle "n ih- journey, look =
~ If 1t ws'e placed there to keep the
load warm.
On this Thanksgiving morning, pari
oi these sights and sounds were absent ;
bm the excess oi others, aud some
strange ONES peculiar 10 the day, sup.
plrd their places. IL there were no
sIrds, there were the more sleighs. II
the woodman's axe did not s,ar,le the
erh""s, now aud then wss hra,d the
' craca of a rIfe or the report of lonlne
p.,e, IL ,he hands of some hobble- de-
hoy, who could not be persuaded to
keep his humds oil the trigger I'LL alter
dinner. But these iircverent noises
ceased, when the first belP sounded
loud and clear from the oG Meeting
House TO warn the good people to hurry
their shaving aud ablutory operations, Ia
bc in season for the days services.
Many weie the happy meetings that
dav. Visitors to the houses oi their
parents .N"hsng-d greetings with iiieuds
whom they had not seen before for u
twclvemon,h, aud now reIoiccd To meet
III health aud peace. Looks Of adinra-
ton, aud honest exclamations of How
Won have grown y to the young-and
How we'll You are looking - to the
nld :--drrlnra,,m nf de eight in charm
ing children introduced 10 fathers oi THEN
fathers the blushiug JOY of maidens al
finding eyes, with winch they were ia.
u,l,sr, had not forgotten in absence to
seek their old signals Of recognition
hearty grasps Of the hand, and, IN man,
case, We suspect, hearty kiss.-Ali
these things and more, marked the gen.
ernl Joy, and spoke palmer than words
could do,the Thanks sgving of the Heart
IL must not be supposed, however, rha,
no one was sick and sorrowiul amid this
rejoicing. Within the sound of the
church bells, under the very caves OF
the sanctuary, lay one to whom the
"''E"' '''h WdS do'utsfo C'Vse IoItFtf
Through crevice IN the shutters, lain,,
but well marked ray of light was painted
on the ceiling of the darkcned room and
as the lonely widow'seye counted shadow
after shadow, passing like shifting par-
allsls over Tins light path, she knew, AZ
they all moved one way, that the meet.
ing house was filled with grateful wor
shippers. And had ehe, the bed-ridder
and destitute, nothing to be grateful for
Oh, ycs, much. Her friends had cared
Tor her earthly comfort, and in oil hcI
s,ckness-iho', so far as her own means
went, she was indeed desiitute--lhe
wn'chinl and unobtrusive care of the
humane had guarded against any suffer
ing which attention could alleviate ol
remove. And now, upon the festive
day, chairs and table, cellar and store
room were filed with the offerings oI
those who acted nnop The Drecent. tTo