Washington telegraph., 1846-03-18
THE UNKNOWN.

pleasant town of W.
The girl who answered the bell soon
returned and told the lady that a poor wo-
man was at the door, begging nights
lodging.
The lady cast a troubled look at the dead
leaves that were whirling in eddies along
The streets, and then at the dark clouds
that were drifting together overhead, and
sighed. Her husband had a nervous dis
like to admitting unknown persons into his
house, and had often charged his family
not to suffer any such to cross his threshold.
She therefore arose with a heavy heart,
and went to the door where the stranger
stood holding the hand of pale, sad.look-
ing little boy, about six years of age. The
woman, detected and care-worn, seemed
ready to sink with fatigue. The lady
kindly inquired into her situation; and
heard the following account.
Several years ago she had emigrated to
the West with her husband and i've chill
dren, in hopes of bettering their condition.
Their hopes had been disappoin;ed-sick-
ness had entered their cabin-ihe husband
and father was crried of by the levers OF
the climate, and the children, one by one,
had followed-the poor feeble boy which
she held bv the hand, alone remained
When all was over she sold the little pro-
perty that remained, and with the boy be-
gan, on foot, their melancholy journey back
to their native place at Cape Ann. That
evening, for the first time, she found her.
self obliged to ask charity, but it was so
hard to bring her feelings to it, that she had
passed through the whole town without
having courage to stop al a door, until she
made her first application at that house.
But" said she. 1--WE do not want food,
nor clothes, nor money, we only ask tor
shelter for the night"
The lady felt that this was a case in
which she ought rather to risk the dispea-
sure OF her husband than to send the
strangers away. Accordingly. she led them
into the house, and while the bed was pre-
pairing, she urged them to eat, but they
both refused food, and as soon as their bed
was ready they retired and soon fell asleep.
When the master Of the house returned
and beard what had happened, he exclaim-
ed, angrily:
They shall not stay here-nlr father
never would harbor any vagrants. neither
will l."
But, my DEAR" said the lady, .'they are
now asleep-.sou cannot send them away
now-it is very dark, and " hat hurt can
they do herei"
They will get up when we are asleep
and rob The house, and be OF before we
know anihing about it. 1t is all Il prelence
to get inside of the house-bIt they must
be up and oil"
"Oh pray DO not turn them out this dark
cold night" said the lady. "if you are
afraid Ut their robbing the house, | will sit
up and watch them: but they are worn out
aud unaLle 10 20 any farther"
I'VE will soon see how that is, said he;
and going into ,he small room where they
slept, he called uut in loud snice, Come,
get Up and be OlI--you canEOt stay here
1 cannot have you here"
The woman raised her eyes with look
OF sien. despair. bat the boy, whh ner-
yous agitation, painfully different from the
motions Of a happy healthy child, sPrang
from the bed, and clasping his hagds To-
geiher, fell OF his knees and cried out, in
!. shrill. imploring tone, "Oh, sirl don't turn
us out this dark night we are tired almost
to death. Oh, dc let us stay till daylight"
The gentleman relented at the appeal
and turning to his wife said, III you choose
10 give up your nights rest for the sake OF
their staying. have no objections, but you
must watch them all the while"
The lady willingly consented, and sooth-
ing the boy, sent him back to bed. She
then took seat in the neighboring room,
and prepared TO fulfil her promise, BY waich-
ing them all night.
The strangers slept heavily, but not
quietly. The poor woman groaned oiten'
and murmured in her sleep OF many sor-
rows. Once or twice she said, with a deep
sigh, "Welll well! my heart is breaking,
but the Lord is good +"
In after years, that lady was called TO
endure loss after loss, and trial after trial,
until her heart was almost crushed within
her; but often, when she was ready to sink
with despair, the sleeping words OF that
unknown widow came home 10 her heart
and brought strength and comfort, and she