Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-28

Still, more than one painful thought for her
orphan child, came across her departing
spirit and James already felt how dreadful
it must be to have no father nor mother in
the world, no friends, no cheerful home, and
no house of shelter, except among host of
the sick, the halt, the lame, the manned, the
blind, the vicious and the deserted, in apoor-
house
He hardly heard, amid his great grief, his
mothers dying blessing and her words of
comfort and advice fell upon his unwilling
ear as though they had not been uttered
But his imprisoned caresses, and his fer
vent prayer to heaven, could not delay the
departure of spirit to the land of shadows;
and he scarcely knew she was dead until
her cold lips gave back no answer to his
warm kisses. And then it seemed that his
poor heart must break, from the intensity of
his sorrow. But there is no permanent mis-
cry that does not flow from guilt and as
James knew nothing of this, he began, after
a few days, to be cheerful, and even happy.
1t is true he shed many bitter tears alone /;
and he dreamed many time of the cold,
damp graves of his departed parents, and
saw them in the death-robes in which they
were placed in the narrow house. And he
never forgot the pleasant scenes of his child
hood-the earnest devotion of his mothers
affection, or the sterner strength of his faith
er's love, both exhibited in thousand name
less ways. But he ever thought of them as
angels of God and it seemed to him that
their cheering faces were looking down up
on him from every fleecy cloud, and from
every radiant star: for they were children
of the covenant, and had taught him of that
home where all are holy, and by their ex-
cellent example had led the wav for him !;
and he began to believe it to be even better
to have friends in heaven, than upon this
fleeing earth.
In the poor-house to which he was taken,
there was food enough to eat, and he did not
want for clothing; but the inmates were
treated as though they were not as good in
the sight of heaven as those who possessed
wealth. Would that this were the fault of
public establishments for paupers alone; but
it is too generally the characteristic of every
day life. How frequently have we seen the
eloquent tear stand trembling in the eye of
injured indulgence, while the tongue made
no complaint, and a smile of content has
forced itself upon the placid countenance
BY far too much of the protested christani-
ty in the world is only canting Journalism,
while there is scarcely spark of true be-
nevolence in the soul-a lifeless, hypocrti-
Cal pretence, that gives us virtue in words,
but vice in deeds.
The pauper lad felt this, in the treatment
of the overseers of the towns poor; and
then he began to feel how hard it was to
want the watchful care of devoted love, and
even the home of poverty. No one taught
him the principles of knowledge; no one
unfolded to him the sublime lore of the Book
of Inspirations no one knelt with him at
the altar of devotion; no one spoke kindly
to him and in the deep bitterness of his
lonely restitution, he determined to leave a
place that to him was only gloom and mise
ry. The manly strength of his fathers ma
ture came over him, and he felt that he could
knock at the great door of the world, and
if necessary, force an entrance, and build a
temple for himself Thought to the young
heart is but resolution and this is half the
battle of life-for a strong heart makes a
strong arm. The next day found James
Watson in the streets of New England
city, without a penny in his pocket, or a
friend within its precincts; and yet, with
only twelve years upon his brow, his heart
beat with a confidence that would have been
creditable to ripened manhood.
"Sir, can you tell me of man who wants
boy to work for him, and will let him
study in the evenings 7"
This question was addressed to a benevo
lent gentleman in the street, by the poor boy
who came running up to him, just as if he
felt sure that the well-dressed stranger coulC
and would give the information DESIRED
The lad was clothed in the garb of the work
house, and his thick, heavy shoes were GOV
cred with the dust of travel but his fine
mantling brow, and quick, intelligent eye
no less than his honest simplicity, attracted
the gentleman's notice.
"What is your name, my lad ~
James Watson, sir"
Whose boy are you-and where do yol
live, my little fellow p
81 have no parents, and have just run a
way from the workhouse, because they d
not treat me kindly, and will not teach me-
He had met true disciple of Him VIII
went about doing good and there was some
thing so confding, artless and genuine i
the boys whole manner, bespeaking him t
be no ordinary lad, that the stranger too
him to his home. Upon conference wit
the town authorities from whence he came
he learned the whole of his short history
and then took him into his family as an il
mate. Mr.. Newton was at the head of
benevolent institution, and while he coul
) make James useful he could also afford hir
time for study, and aid in the acquisition {
knowledge. He had found just the HON
, he wanted and then he remembered h
fond mothers injunction, given to him agai
: and again, and repeated upon her dying be-
| "Be faithful, honest, and diligent, and frent
will always be found, and the Lord will pre-
l tect YOU" Faithfulness aud diligence b.
} came the characteristics of his life, and ev
ry day won for him a warmer regard, and
t wider field for the exercise of his CROWN
I powers
Under the direction of his benefactor, IL
r boy applied himself in his leisure hours
3 the acquisition of scientific knowledge an
y he kept ever in his mind, as a motive pc,
q er, the maxim, " Attempt great things-e
I pect great things" With an enthusiast
temperament, and a heart all faith, he kne
: nothing impossible; and with characterize
e relf-reiance he put himself to every pursu