Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-24

take your stocklnS oOWn. Suslom, AZ
least, should be observed, and perhaps
thy young heart may not be disappointed
This was uttered with sigh. which was
responded to by the mother, and silence
again reigned in that humble dwelling.
'Yes,' muttered the father, "this night
seven years ago SHE disappeared, eloped,
and no tidings heard of her since. And
these children
Think of it no more, husband, she was
an ungrateful child; but this is not all,
the anniversary of that misfortune heralds
in another, our rent is due tomorrow and
a merciless landlord to deal with. What
shall we do o?'
Ungrateful child Yes. yes, so she
was, at least in that one act, for up to
that period was she not our pride, our
comfort? You ask what shall we do
about the rent. Why, do as others have
done before us, go to the poor-house and
that day which has and will give Joy to
thousands, viii be to us the gloomiest /;
and that little girl, that dear creature,
whose stocking now hangs upon that rus
ty nail in expectation of finding therein
some pleasing toy. viii find in its place
mouldy crust of bresd-it is all her father
has to give. God be with us, but this is
q fearful world
20, husband, say not that. The world
is Deity's work, and are not all created
things his creatures 2
True, it is our lot, then, come what
will, let us bear it patiently. Yes, wife,
you are right. But have often thought,
and sometimes my thoughts assume
strange forms, and the mind conceives
strange ideas. There is fearful mystic
ry in the philosophy of Deity, for do We
not see the wicked prosper, and the
righteous begging bread ? Crime dwells
in palaces and sits in cushioned pews it
rides in costly vehicles, and mocks the
cries of the poor for bread, while honest
poverty starves. Ioften think of this, and
regret to say, find myself murmuring at
the DEGREES of Providence
Dear husband, what are the few short
years of life on earth to that which is eter-
nal. If the righteous suffer here, will
they not be forever happy there ? while
the wicked and the prosperous man of
crime, for his short lived pleasures on
earth, will meet an eternity of wo here
after
You are my better angel, Gertrude,
from this time forth l will never repine
Hark some one knocks, see, John, who
it is
John opened the door and admitted in
to the room an old man and woman, both
carrying a bundle, evidently all their
worldly wealth. The old traveller stood
for moment in the middle of the room,
gazing on the group before him, then in
quired how far they were from the city.
Two miles, was the answer.
Two miles-we will not be able tC
reach it tonight. my dear wife is nearly
tired out, we have travelled far to-day
Then, sir, travel no further. John
hand chairs-sit down-that lowly bed is
yours for the night-to-morrow it is the
landlord's-sleep there in peace. Wife,
get some bread and cheese for our guests
and John, put some more chips on the
fire, for the wind whistles wintry around
the house.
And is this your family, all your fam.
lily 2 inquired the female traveller in a
tremulous voice.
No; no! not all, we had one other
daughter
Dead alas, we must all die
Dead to us, my good woman, but not
to the world; but let us speak no more
of her. Here is some bread and cheese,
it is all poverty has to offer, and to it you
are heartily welcome
There was another pause, every one
seemed wrapped up in their own thoughts,
and as the wind whistled around the
house and shook its old dilapidated win
dows, they mechanically crept closer to
the meagre fire. There came upon their
ears. in that lonely quiet house, the sound
of merry voices, the violin. the tamborine,
and the loud jocund laugh broke upon
the stiffness like some ill-omened messen-
ger. Yet was it Christmas eve. But
from whence came such strains? This
question was asked by the traveller.
All, SIR replied the host, those joy
full sounds, in which are mingled many a
youthful voice, proceed from the dwelling
ofmy landlord. He is wealthy, immense
ly wealthy; and although lavish to ex-
travagance in his own family, he is ever
the poor mans foe. Many an inmate of
the poor-house owes his fate to that hard
hearted, cruel man. Even now these ve-
ry sounds which should proceed from
happy hearts, are forced and intended to
mock our poverty
Is it possible p
Go to that door, sir, look out and you
will see that his windows are up so as the
gay so Inds may reach our wreiched ears.
All, sir, human nature is a mystery, this
is one of its enigmss, and can only be ex-
planned when the secrets of all hearts
must be made known. Hark that shout
all mockery-all mockery.'
The morn of Christmas day was love-
ly one, the sun arose bright and beautiful.
its soft beams warmed the chilly air and