Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-09-19

though there be a cloudless sky, tell within an
hour ofthe time Of rain. 1t was 4 sober, golden
afternoon in autumn. Stirred by the sultry
breeze, the yellow leaf rustled in melancholy
eloqnence. Eddying gusts were sporting on
the hills, and the valleys sent up their Fg:antlHe
murmurs to the ear. A thousand birds, ofevc-
~ hue and song, were chipping in the sombre
woods.
"Charlotte, Charlotte, slip on your bonnet,
and 90 along with me this afternoon SAID DIR.
Bell. And in thirty minutes they were jaunt-
ing slowly and pleasantly along the road. Now
and then the clear and silvery laugh of Charlotte
rang sweetly through the woods. The Doctor
cracked a Joke or two, and talked with Il v0lu-
bilitv which was rare to him. How would you
like to live in such a house rs that" said he,
pointing to a lowlv hovel, near the road
Charlotte east Il turtive glance in the direction
of the hut. and would have doubted that it con-
tanned a human being, had she not seen the
smoke curling lazily from its roof. "Some
miserable drunkard or ~prowling thief, | dare say,
makes that his nome to screen him from the
ewes of honest men," said Charlotte in re-
ply.
"Well see" thought DR.. Bell. And they
An hour had not elapsed, when the Doctor
rena arked:
Il perceive, mydear, We are to have a little
rain. and may be caught before We can reach
home"
Charlotte looked back towards the west, and
discovered that heavy clouds Were rushing
wildly up the heaven. At that moment a
eafening peal of thunder startled her. The
Doctor txraed the head ofhis steed homewards.
1t was a sublime scene that now presented it.
self to the trembling Charlotte. The approach
ing storm Was in full view, and the eokds,
marshaIling themselves like bloody giants in the
sky, were tossed to and from by the storm
breath ofthe Almighty The electric fluid shot
forth inlivid flame, and the deep thunder shook
the earth. The sobbing winds swept fnrieusly
through the bowling woods, and the leaves
darkened the light of heaven. Then came a
calm, and big drops of rain. The doctor piled
the lash; and before the storm burst forth in its
fury, be arrived at the little hut to which he had
before called the attention of his wife. Here
as they alighted from the carriage to seek shell
ter the rain fell in torrents.
There, indeed, in that wretched howell, were
objects Of melancholy interest Charlotte, who
was already drenebed with rain, and shivering
with cold, SAW neither of her preconceived be-
ings. Instead of a bloated sot and covering
thief, a careyorn mother, surrounded by four
trembling children, seated in the centre of the
loose hoor-the only dry spot in that trail
tenement.
A little gin WAS repeating i'll sweet and
p~laintive tones our Lords prayer; the heads of
the others were s~everalIy reclined upon that mo-
hers lap. As she gazed upon their devotions,
her e4oaastenanee betrayed that she felt all of
Natures dearest, tenderest sympathies for her
little ones, and Il sanity smile and Christian
resignation beamed from her half fearful eyes.
Charlotte stood for a moment in the door of
that sanctuary, unnoticed by the inmates, and
at a single glance saw their painful destitution
of the comforts of life. In one corner was a
sad apology for a bed, close to the head of which
stood a plain, uncovered stand, supporting a
well thumbed bible. Not a thread of carpet
was to be seen. a half quenched fire was
struggling into life upon the hearth; an old
homely cupboard, without doors, exhibited a
meagre account of knives, forks and Dishes
Recognizing Doctor Bell, the widow sprung
towards him, and clasped his hands in hers with
feelings akin to emotion. Charlotte was not
a little astonished at such a reception; but they
were introduced-and the poor woman at once
took her by the hand and led her to the chair
which she had just left.
sYou are welcome, my dear madam, to such
shelter as the God of the shelterless has pro-
vided for me. But you are cold-very cold"
and she laid her hand on Charlotte's shawl.
"Yes-a little-I am-but-" and it came
to Charlotte's mind that the poor woman, too,
was cold with her plain and unreasonable dress;
and it were cruel in her to complain in her pre-
sence. Charlotte looked her full in the face
N,-or h,J cha canp Such haop,c of tapdarDaGS
There was something heavenly in her eyes
which awakened the most painful admiration.
Then, in the countenance of her children there
a sweet sadness which made her sick at
heart. She asked of them their several names,
and was promptly but modestly answered.
After some time spent in broken conversation,
the storm began to abate, and it was not long
till the clouds disappeared from the face of
The Doctor stepped out to prepare
for leaving: and as if to seize the opportunity,
the widow poured into Charlotte's ears a strain
of eloquent and enthusiastic praise of her hus-
band, rapid and full of feeling such as she had
not expected to hear.
"Good, kind creature" she added, che never
me- to thank him as | should. Oh! he
generous indeed, you know not how much
we owe him for the amount of happiness we
have of life"
"By what means, mayI inquire, has he secur-
ed so large a claim upon your gratitude"
"Aany; by his constant and untiring labors
around the couch of my poor, dead husband; by
MS attention to my most pressing wants when
he breathed his last; by his regular visits since
his decease, and the consolation he has offered
from his words of kindness; by the most sub
stantial evidence of his goodness Of heart in
me the means of subsistence from to-
day, until l was able to provide for myself;
by"
@No more, no more" interrupted Charlotte,
how can you live in such a house as this"
"Oh you know not how happy | ann here, with
God my Father and Husband, and these dear
children to live for. am taught in that blessed