Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-03-28
The Merchants Widovv.

II picture Of Life in a city.-One bitter
cold night last week betwe cen the hours OF
| eleven and twelve, as one. Of the night
guardians Of our city was taking his &C.
customed round he heard noise, and in
turning to learn whence it came observed
an object, which proved, as he drew near.
er, to be female in lumber yard, in the
act of gathering stray lathes and pieces Of
board and eldeav oring to hide them un.
der her apron. The officer took her into
custody. He was about conveying her to
prison when she began to plead for her
little children, begging that he would take
them TO prison too, that they might not
freeze, and promising if he would that she
would not murmur at her own fate. Shs
stated that within an hour she had put
them TO bed by the scanty warmth Of the
last burning ember which she owned
that she left them sleeping quietly, not re-
alzing the poverty which surrounded
them that her name was P-and that
she resided in c. street. ~
| AT the announcement of her name the
officer looked at her intently and by the
/ light OF the street lamp which shone
through the cold night air full upon her
face, he was almost horror struck to re-
cognise in his prisoner the widow Of his
deceased partner in business Without
divugins bis name, or speaking a word,
he turned with her towards her dwelling
and found her domestic affairs as she had
stated. On the floor lay three pretty,
! children, the Oldest about seven years Of
age, and the youngest, golden haired
boy, aged one year. The hearth stones
were iireless. On the table lamp burn ,
ed brightly as ii to exhibit with more
truthfulness how scantily the lonely cabiir
was furnished. The woman and her
children were ina wretched condition, not
having sufficient clothing, food or fuel 4,
sustain life another day. She and he
little ones were very soon provided with
the comforts of life. -a..-a.. z.s.s ,
The mother, New England born wc4
man was TO proud TO beg for her Bostu,s
born children, and not having sufiiciel:'
'slop work 10 meet the pressing wants 1f
a severe winter, resolved 10 buffet H.,
chilly midnight blast and steal for them.
Accordingly, after wrapping them in
few garments, she left her loved ones at
home and sailed forth. She passed
through several wealth crowded streets
where the merriment which flows from
the wine cup seemed rife, and from whose
splendid parlors the rich glare Of costly
. chandeliers cleaned forth as if to defy the
! darkness Of the night, and walked until
she reached the spo: where she was found,
fortunately By one who knew she was an
honest woman, aud the " idow oe Boston
merchant.
The secret of her present condition may
he all summed up in few words. After
acquiring between two and three thou
sand dollars, her husband yentured, like
too many, 10 indulge i'm what he termed "a
harmless glass of wine ! he soon became
iis>ipated, and died drunkard !--leaying
his wife destitute. The family is now do
ing well. Readers, This is but one OF the
many similar facts which exist in moral
Boston. Is il hard matter to conceive
what preventive 10 the ruin of this family
was most peeded? We think not
Boston Bee. ...s.-..u.. ~...-.