Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-13
The Old Family Bible.

Whoever has travelled among the Scottish
hills and daes, cannot have failed to observe the
scrupulous fidelity of the inhabitants to the old
family bible. more honorable trait of char
acter than this cannot be found; for all men,
whether christians or infdels, are proud to put
reliance in those who make the Bible their con-
fdant, and whose we'll thumbed pages show the
confidence which their owners possessed in it.
A few years ago there dwelt in Ayrshire an
ancient couple, possessing of the worlds gear
sufficient to keep them independent from wants
or woe and lettering steps. A gallant of farm
er became enamored of the daughter, and she
nothing 10th, consented to be his. As the match
was every way worthy of her, the old folks con-
sented and as they were DESTROYS of seeing their
BARN comfortable, the two were made one In
few short years time cut down the old people
and they gave their bodies to the dust and their
souls to the Creator.
The young farmer having heard much of the
promised land beyond the sea, gathered together
his buds, and selling such as were useless, pack
ed up those calculated to be of service to him at
his new home. Some neighbours, having the
same itching for adventure, sold off their homes
and homesteads and set sail for America
Possessed of considerable property nthe shape
of'serthls company were not like the general
ity of emigrants, poor and frendless; but happy
and full of hope for the future. The first thing
done after the landing was to bring forth the old
family Bible, and return thanks and praise to
Him who had guided their bark to safe haven.
AS the farmers object in coming to this country
was to purchase farm and follow his occupa-
ton, but little time was spent in the city he had
arrived in, and as fellow passengers had previous
ly determined on their destination, he babe them
farewell, and with light heart turned his face
towards the setting sun. Indiana at this time
was settling fast, and having heard of its cheap
and fertile lands, he determined on settling with
in its borders.
On the banks of the Wabash, he fixed on
farm and having paid cash for one-half, gave a
mortgage for the balance, payable in one year
Having stocked his farm and put seed in the
ground he rested from his labor, and patiently
waited the time when he might 60 forth and reap
the harvest; but alas! no grain gaddened his
heart or rewarded his toll The fever of the
country attacked him, and at the time when the
fields were white with the fuIlness of the labor
er's skill, death called him home, and left his
disconsolate wife widow, and his only child an
orphan.
We leave this first sorrow, and pass on to the
struggles of the afflicted widow year afterwards.
The time having arrived when the mortgage was
to be paid, she borrowed the money of a neigh
Dor who had been attentive to her husband and
to herself, one who knelt at the same table with
her to renew their protested obligations to the
Giver of all good. Hard and patiently did she
toll to repay the sum against the promised time;
but all would not do, fortune frowned, and she
gave way to her accumulated troubles. Disheart-
ened and distracted, she relinquished the farm
and the stock for less sum than she owed her
christian neighbor, who not satisfied with that
put an execution on her furniture.
On the Sabbath previous to the sale she took
Courage, and strengthening herself with the
knowledge of having wronged no one, went to
the temple of the Father, and with heart filled
with humility and love, poured out her soul to
him who turneth not away and having COM
muned side by side with her Christian neighbor
returned to her desolate home.
Here her fortitude had like to have forsaken
her, but seeing the old family Bibe,' she rever
emily put 1t to her lips and sought consolation
from its pages Slowly she perused its holy anC
inspiring verses, and gathered hope from its new
er failing promises. .
The day of sale having arrived, her few good;
and chatteIs were in due course knocked off t.
the highest bidder, Unmoyed, she saw pass from
her possession article after article without muir
mur. till the constable held up the old famiI
Bible. This was too much. Tears flowed anc
gave silent utterance to a broken heart. Sh
begged the constable to spare her this mementc
of her revered and departed PARENTS and the hui
name man of the law would willingly have givel
ii to her, but the memorable creditor declares
everything should be sold, as he was determined
to have all that was owing to him
The book was, therefore, put up, and abou
being disposed of for few shillings, when sh
suddenly snatched it; declaring she would hav
some relic Of those she loved, cut the sende
thread that held the brown linen cover, with in
tention of retaining it. The cover fell into he
hands, and it two fiat pieces ofthn, dirty paper
Surprised at the circumstance she examined
them, and what was her joy and delight to fine
that they each called for five hundred pounds OF
the bank of England On the hack of one, il
her mothers handwriting, were the followin,
words: when sorrow overtake we, seek yer Bi
be.' And on the other, in her fathers hand
Yer fathers ears are never deaf The sale wa
Immediately stopped and the family Bible give
to Its faithful owner. The furniture sold wa