The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-02-23
Triumph of (;cn.rs.

ford looked 50 neat and cheerful as that Of the in.
dustrous wood carver. But misiortunes often o.
vertakc the best ufpcope, and in the case OF Rob
crt Western they did not come sinyly He was
taken of lingering and almost inculahlc disease.
To be his little savings were quite sufficient
to maintain him under the sad afilcton Of sevc-
raj months but even these We're suddenly swept
AWAY by the bankruptcy ofhs employer who had
retained such portions Of his wages as Western
could spare to lay aside for rainy day. Thus
the rainy day came, but the money was all lost.
Westerns friends assisted him for time, but
they were poor, and thus it was that he feared
that the poor house must eventually be his rest
ing place.
One day when the wife had been over to Squire
Beasley's 10 receive a small bounty which the
good squire was wont to bcstow weekly upon thi.
interesting but suffering family, and while she
was returning home, an accident happened which
completely changed their destiny. Il rined hard,
and poor Mary Western was wet through to the
skin but she thought nothing of that She hast.
cned quickly along, pulling her scanty cloak near.
ly over her face, when II carriage 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 slcct could
see the coming figure arrest hi, horses the poor
woman was dashed to the ground 10y the pole Of
the vehicle and thrown several yards from the
wheel into pool Of water which had collected
at the park entrance The carriage was Instantly
stopped and q gentleman alishting, hastened for
ward. and raising the female from the ground, ex.
pressed in the kndest manner, his regret and pain
at the misfortune.
al am not verv much hurt, thank YOU, air, only
very much frightened She said, very family, MS
the gentleman led her TO the steps of the carriage
Poor creature, she is wet through" exclaimed
n soft voice from the coach Tell us where you
live good woman. and We will drive you home"
ooh, no, thank you, madam" 1t is not very far.
and can walk Don't Jet me keep You in the
rain. madam | don't think the horse touched me
At all and must go hoine tony poor husband
for be i, sick Thank YOU. madam"
Then come 10 my house tomorrow at L.; |
wish particularly TO see you--Nr Chestgrficlds,
a. thc Eim. But are YOU sure YOU can wall; :"
oh vrs, thank You, madam quite well"
"Do not forget Mrs. Che. .'er.iclI's wish tomor-
row" added the ver,lema1, kindly, q, ho took out
his purse, but after u moments hc-imtiu'l, as if
fenrnyt1 hur, the poor wonns ie"lin,s, he rc-
turned ], unohscrvcd to his pocket and repeating
hrs lldy'> injuctionS stepped into The carrllge
and WIS rapidly driven away III the direction Of
'Ao magistrates bail.
Pressing her hand ,igh'lyor Ler -ilc, and ,lraw-
ing her breath with short inspirations, for she was
much LUr', though from delicate motive, allcdg-
ing the Couirur", poor Mary slowly proceeded
-traggliuy down the street and ul-uatcl reached
her mi-crableabode at the out.hrt, ul t.r village
F'u-iu- Iulmpn, NJ the door, Size pulled the
s'r'rr that lifted the wooden latch. aud crossed
the drs.ry dwelling aud more melancholy
chamber ALgn She now entered, pruury never call
ed home" \ patched and broken laticed win
dow transmitted Just enough of the chccrle-s DE
cemhcr light to reveal ~ chilling colors the few
dIlapilatcd pieces of household goods that con.
~,ltutcd the scaniy furniture,
On stump bcdSteuI in the nearcS, corner to
the huge chimney and lur,' cXtingul>hed fire sat
the attcnuatcd form of a sick m.n whose shrunk
features and large lustrous eyes bespoke too plain
" the rGvageS Of disease and want An old coat
drawn over III, shoulders shielded his BODY from
the keen wind that howled down the chimney. and
found n hundred mouths through the broken pla,-
ter and ried door, whirng the sand upon the
brick floor in sweeping cddlcs round the room
Before him On the drugget Of the bed rested an
old tray, with smal! chsel, knife and file, n few
chips Of wool and the carved figure Of King in
armour cut from little block of the wltest ash
With his long skinny finger, he had lust set the
finished workmanship upon the tray rs his wife
entered and Ire turned his grutil,i gaze from
his completed task. with mourniu inquiry and uf
fectonatc sulciiudc, upon his drunclcd and not
less miserable Wife
you ere wet and cold, Mary, and there is no
fire TO warm YOU said the husband mourulully
rs with deep sigh he glanced at the few white
ashes strcwn over the broad hearth, rs his wife
diyc>ted herself of her shawlani bonnet 81 wish
You had not gone though God know, we have
kept off the parish ill the h,t Would they do
nothiug' Well, it is not for myself | Care-ior
my stay here is getting very short-but for you
and
The Lord be good TO US" exclaimed the wife
with sudden grief. "If havn't lost the money the
Squire gave me- aud the order for the flour oh
dear oh dear what foolish creature am Bui
I'll 90 back directly ami look for it, know
must have dropped them when fell
And wiping away the tears that gathered in
her eyes, she began to refx har wet bonnet She
went again to the scene of her misfortune and the
order for the flour WAS found in puddle, but no
traces Of the lost silver could be discovered She
therefore came home in tears
Never mind it, my dear, for You know it was
not your fault, Look here, have finished the
last Of the sett, though God knows they are Of No
use to us, for nobody here will buy them; but
am sure the wish had to finish them, and your
confidence, has kept me alive all the year. How
do YOU like il now, That is the christian king"
And with a sad voice, and momentary gleam of
pleasure in his hollow eve, the mechanic placed
the last Of sctt Of chessmen that he hal designed
and executed himself into her thin hand-making
the two armies to consist Of n Christian and Sara
cen host, each piece being perfect figure armed
irrespective costume, and executed with the ut
most truth and deliracy