The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-04-04
THE TRIUMPH OF GENIUS.
AN AFFECTING STORY OF A WOOD CARVER.

Robert western was steady ana IN
dustrious mechanic, easily earning COM
Portable livelihood for himself and little
family. His wife, Mary, was pattern
of an industrious and frugal housekeeper;
and not cottage in the little town of
Brookford looked so neat and cheerful as
that of the industrious wood d-carver. But,
misfortunes overtake the best people, and
in the case of Robert Western they did
not come singly. He was taken i'll of
lingering and almost incurable disease.
To be sure his little savings were quite
sufficient TO maintain him under the sad
affliction for several months-but even
these were suddenly swept away by the
bankruptcy of his employer, who had
retained such portions of his wages as
Western could spare to lay aside for a
rainy day. Thus the rainy Gay came but
the money was all lost.
Westerns friends assisted him for a
time, but they were poor, and thus it was
eventually be his resting place.
One day when the wife had been to
Squire Beasly's to receive small bounty
which the good squire was wont to bestow
weekly upon this interesting but suffering
family, and while she was returning home,
an accident happened which completely
changed the destiny of this worthy but
suffering couple. 1t rained hard, and poor
Mary Western was wet through to the
skin, but she thought nothing of that. She
fastened quickly along, pulling her scanty
cloak nearly over her face, when car
riage, driven with speed, rapidly turned
an angle In the road; and before the driver,
who kept his head down to shield his face
from the violence of the sleet, could see
the coming figure, or arrest his horses.
the poor woman was dashed TO the ground
by the pole OF the vehicle, and thrown
several yards from the wheels into pool
OF water that had collected at the park
entrance. The carriage was instantly
stopped, and gentleman alighting, hast
ened forward, onl raising the female from
the ground, expressed, in the kindest man.
ner' ms regret and pain al the misfortune.
"i am not very much hurt. thank you,
sir, only very much frightened" she said,
very family, as the gentleman led her to
the steps of the carriage.
"Poor creature, she is wet through" :"
exclaimed soft voice from the coach
"Ieil US where You live, good woman,
and we will drive you home"
"Oh, no, thank you madam! 1t is not
very far, and | can walk. Don't let me
keep you in the rain, madam. don't
think the horse touched me at all; and |
must go home to my poor husband, for
he IS sick. Thank you, maGam."
"Then come TO my house tomorrow at
twelve. l wish particularly too see you
al IL
are you sure you can walk?"
"Oh, yes, thank you madam, quite
well.n
"Do not forget Mrs. Chester6eld's wish
Tomorrow added the gentleman, kindly,
as ne took out his purse; but, after mo-
ments hesitation, as if fearing to hurt the
poor woman's feelings, he returned it un-
observed to his pocket, and repeating his
iady's injunctions, stepped into the car
rage and was rapidly driven away in the
direction of the magistrates hall.
Pressing her hand tightly on her side,
and drawing her breath with short inspi-
rations, for she was much hurt, though
from delicate motives alleging the contra
fy., poor Mary slowly proceeded strug-
CLING down the street, and ultimately
eheu HeT miSerdOle aDOUe at the out
skirts of the village. Pausing a moment
a, the door, she pulled the string that lift
ed the wooden latch, and crossed the drea-
~ dwelling; and more melancholy
chamoer than that she now entered, pe-
nury never called "home." A patched
and broken latticed window transmitted
Just enough of the cheerless December
light to reveal, in chilling colors, the few
dliapidated pieces of household goods that
constituted the scanty furniture.
On stump bedstead in the nearest
corner to the huge chimney and long ex-
nnguished fire, sat the attenuated form OF
SICK man, whose shrunk features and
large lustrlous eyes bespoke too plainly
The ravages of disease and want. an old
coat drawn ovel his shoulders shielded bis
body from the keen wind thai bowied
down the chimney, and found hnndred
mouths through the broken plaster and
,iiied door, whirling the sand upon the
arlcked floor in sweeping eddies round
the room.
Before him, on the drugget of the bed.
,ested ar old tray, with small chisel,
KNIFE and file, few chips of wood, and
NE carved figure of king in armor, cut