Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-07-15

not weep so,' he SAID, Tod IS father TO poor
widows and orphans. Call upon bin IN thy
distress, and he will aid thee.' That is what
he said, and is il not true, then 2"
Eyes, dear child" said the mother, it is
true!"
"Well,n said the boy. 'swhy do you weep
so long, then Pray TO God, and he Will help
you"
GOOD child, thou art right" said his moth
er; aud the tears flowed less bitterly, and com
fort was mingled with her sorrow. She fol-
ded her arms, and raised her moist eye toward
heaven and Ferdinand folded his hands, also,
and looked upward, and the bright moon shone
upon the mother and child.
And the mother began TO prav, and the boy
repeated every word after her:
"Great Father in Heaven" she said "look
down upon poor mother and her child--a
poor widow and poor orphan raise their
eyes TO thee. We are in great need, and have
no longer any refuge upon the earth. But
thou art rich in mercy. Thou hast myself
said, Call upon me in the day OF thy trouble,
and will deliver thee Oh, to thee we pray.
Thrust not forth from this ewelling-take not
from poor orphan his only inheritance. Or,
if in thy mysterious, but still most wise and
benevolent purposes, thou hast otherwise de-
creed, prepare for US resting place upon the
wide, vast earth. Oh, pour this consolation
into our hearts, lest they break as we wander
forth, and from yonder hill, TURF to look for
the last time upon our housed"
Sobs interrupted her: weeping she gazed
towards Heaven, and was silent The boy,
who stood with folded hands, suddenly ex
claimed, with outstretched finger
Mother, look what is that2 Yonder
moves a fight. Yonder flies little star
Look, there it hurries by the window! Oh,
see, now it comes it How bright, how beau
tful it Shines Look, only look! it has a
greenish light. 1t is almost as beautiful as the
evening star. Now it moves along the cell
ing. That is wonderful.
at is the FREELY, dear Ferdinand" said
his mother. SIN the day time it is a small
and unsIghtly insect, but in the night it gives
out most beautiful light"
"May catch it?" said the boy "Will it
not hurt mel"
at will not burn thee" said the mother,
and she laughed. while the tears rolled down
her cheeks. 'sCatch il and examine it closer
it is one of the wonders of Gods almighty
power"
The boy, entirely forgetful of his sorrow, at
once tried TO catch the sparkling fire fly, now
on the floor, now under the table, now under
the chair.
'.Ah, me, what pity" said the boy, for
as he had stretched out his hand to grasp the
bright insect, it flew behind the great chest
that stood against the wall. He looked under
the chest.
81 see i, plainly enough" he sad. "There
II IS close against the wall--and the white
wall and the floor, and every bit of dust near
II, SHINE as II the moon shone upon them
but cannot reach it. My arm is not long
enough"
'fHave PATIENCE said his mother, sit will
soon come out again"
The boy waited little while. and then
came TO his mother, and said with soft i'm
ploring voice
Mother, do you get it out for me, or move
the chest little from the wall, and then can
easily catch it,"
The mother rose, moved the chest from the
wall, and the boy took the quiet fire fly exam
med 1t IN the hollow Of his little hand, and
was delighted with it.
But his mothers attention was attracted by
a diflent object As she moved the chest,
something which had stuck between it and
the wall, FELL upon the floor. She uttered a
loud cry as she picked it up.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, ''now all our trou.
bles are over. This is last years account book
which have looked for in vain. | thought
II had been destroyed as OF no value, by stran-
gers, perhaps, while ] lay insensible, during
my Illness. Now 1t can be shown that thy
father paid the money which they demand Of
US. Who would have thought that the ac-
count book was behind the great which we
took with the cottage, and which has not been
moved since we bought itf'
She at once lighted lamp, and turned O.
yer the leaves OF the account book, while tears
OF Joy sparked in her eyes. Every thing was
correctly put down--the sum which her de-
ceased husband owed of three hundred
at the beginning Of the year. and what he had
paid OIL IN money and work Below stood
the following lines, written in old Meyers
own hand:
Il have settled accounts with James Bloom
today (St. Martins day and he now owes
me fifty crowns"
The mother stuck her hands together with
JOY, embraced her child, and exclaimed with
delight
'Oh, Ferdinand, give thanks to God. for
we now need not leave home-now we can
remain In our cottage"
'And | was the cause, was not, mother?'
said the little fellow. "lf | had not begged
you 10 move the chest, you never would have
found the book. 1t might have lain there a
hundred years"
The mother stood for a while in silent as.
constituent, and then said
ooh my child, il was Gods doings.
feel thrill ofawe and reverence when / re-
fleet upon it. Look as we both PRAYED and
wept. there came the sparkling FREELY, and
pointed out the spot where this book was
concealed. Yes, trulvl Gods hand is in all
things, however tiff ng. Now comes by
chance. Even the hairs OF our heads are
numbered not one of them falls tothe ground
without his knowledge. Remember this for
thy life long and put thy trust in him. espe-
cially IN the time OF need 1t is easy for him
10 aid aud TO save. He does not need 10 send
a shining angel to us. He can send us help
by winged insect"
The mother could not sleep tina. night for
Joy. Soon after the break Of day, she took
her way TO the Judge, who at once sent for
the heir. He came, he acknowledged the
writing as genuine, and was much ashamed
OF having slandered the woman before the
court. and having called her a liar. The
Judge declared that he owed her some recon-
pense for the shame and great sorrow which
he caused her. The man was not unwilling
to make atonement foI his injustice.
But when the poor woman had related the
whole account OF the evening prayer, and of
the appearance OF the fly, the Judge SAID
THAT is the finger of God--he has visibly
helped YOU 70