Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-05-26

thanked God for the birth Of a new day.'
suppose YOU are thankful, mother,
that you have not had the hydrophobia, nor
the cholera. nor yellow fever 2
There IS great reason TO be thankful
Tor an escape from these ravages, Maria.
Don't, beg of You. speak go lightly of
your many escapes, and your thousand
deliverauces.'
: / have truly escaped great deal mo-
ther: have escaped the trouble Of nuylug,
because we are too poor to live in better
style il have escaped he faiigues attend
ing upon selecting some tapestry carpets
have escaped ever so many colds, be
cause did not go to amusemets have
escaped giving party, because Samuel
said he did not feel himselfable TO give one
this year. Indeed said the thoughlless,
giddy woman, Il have escaped great deal
more,-there's fire, sword, pestilence, and
famine. None Of these have come nigh
me-
Mrs. Hopkins could not forbear smiling,
and yet she secretly deplored the want Of
real gratitude ia her daughter-in-law-
hat, Maria, she inquired, swoud you
most ot all desire the coming year, admit
ting all our wishes came at our bidding ?
Mrs. SImpkins hesilated moment
will tell you what of all things on earth,
should esteem tie greatest blessing -
what should prefer above all others -
bag of California Gold =
Il am sorry for your selection, child
Gold rs desirable, know. inasmuch as it
procures many cJmforts but remember,
Maria, what Solomon chose was far better;
a bag Of wisdom and an understanding
heart
Y Oh are always quoting some old Tes-
lament character, mother. For my part, |
think more Of some heroes and sages that
Scott, Bulwer, and Dickens have written
about
Mrs. Hopkins sighed over such a tho't
less woman, but discreeily kept her temper
and made no I'll natured remark. She
always prayed that God would turn her
heart, for she knew she could not.
The New Year had already arrived
and Mrs. Simpkns demanded Other indu.
gent husband an X, as she called it, to pro-
cure some presents suited 30 herself and
children. As usual, she obtained it and
starting for her shopping expedition she
forgot all her grievances.
But Maria, called out her mother, YOU
are not going out with your feet unprolect-
ed, this slippery day; do come back and
put on your rubbers you know you always
say you cannot stand on ice.
have not fallen yet, and don't tear
it at all. | am more afraid Of another
kind of DOWNFALL said she play fully, as
she shut the door. She ,could have her
own way. GalIy she slipped along down /
the street, and met with no mishap. She .
found everything to her mind, and her ten
dollars were quickly expended upon set
of chessmen, fan, loo box, and small .
work box for her Oldest daughter. She .
took them all in her muff and hands, for .
she could not wait to have them sent home, +
so great was her desire to display her pur-
chases. Troiting down the hill, little /
distance from her own door she slipped, |
and away flew all the purchases in every I
direction. She tried 10 rise, but alas she .
had disocated her ankle, and in the effort .
to save herself had severely strained her .
wrist A gentleman near assisted her to .
rise, and seeing the difficulty, lie procured .
a carriage instantly, and in moment she .
was at her own door. The driver rang
and soon the cries Of Mrs. Simp
kns could be heard in all parts Of the
house, mingled with reproaches tha. she +
omitted to wear any protection 10 her feet. I
Mrs. Hopkins kindly soothcd these up /
braidngs, which were uttered too late, |
and dispatched message for her husband !.
and physician. Ins surgeon pronounced /
her ankle badly fractured, and DaViag set /
the bone and bandaged the swollen limb, /
amidst shrieks and groans, which only /
chIoroform mitigaled into insensiblllty.-
Mrs. Slmpkins was doomed To- suffering I
and unprepnred. Her Paln !
was intense she was bruised internally ; /
and with great difficulty could he touched /
at all. Sleep was banished from her eyes, F.
only as an opiate procured ii, and then II
was unrefreshing.
As her nother-in-law was sitting by her /
side, gently soothing her distracted feelings,
as she mourned over the loss OF slumber,
she ventured TO ask her if she did not find
this common blessing, sleep, iurury Of
which she had never before thought !
sOh DEAR murmured the sufferer, ]
shall never, never be so ungra'etu for this
BLESSING again.
Mrs. Simpkins' eyes were badly ailecs.
cd and the light rendered painful, and OF
course excluded from her apartment.
Il have been thinking, said she one
day as a faint ray shot across her bed
what blessing is light | never thought
of il before. and sight, too oh, if could
only be as | once was
But said Mrs. Hopkins, Maria dear,
you will be Ear better than ever you were
| trust. You are coming to yourself child
90 self reflection, TO gratitude for what you
never before priced.