Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-11-05
BENEVOLENCE AND GRATITUDE.
A TRUE STORY.

) TRUE STORY.
, IT was a raw bleak night; the rain was falling
| fast, while the wind blew in violent gusts A
Portsmouth night-coach stopped at the principal
inn OF the town to change horses The cold and
wearied travellers alighted for few minutes to
enjoy the comfort of a blazing fire. as we'll us &c
take refreshments.
will you give poor fellow nights shelter
III your hay-lott ~ asked a weather-beaten sailor
addressing of the ostlers who was fastening the
harness
"No, not to such as vou," answered til. man
"yOu had better make the best of YOUR way off OF
You will get more than You look for, if YOU prowl
about here any longer"
Perhaps, Young man" replied the tar. "you
may one day be sent adrift upon the world, with
out penny to keep your head above water; and
as TO honesty, | know better than to take what is
not my own, if had not a shoe to my foot"
Il wouldn't trust You farther than l could see
you, said the ostler, "and if you don't be off, I'll
make YOU"
! Poor Jack was turning away, hungry and foot
sore, when he was tapped the shoulder by Il
lad who acted as stablebov. eff YOU were to 90
down the road 10 the first little shop you come
I to- he said, Widow Smith would, | dare saw
let you sleep in her wood house she is good
old creature, and is always ready TO help any one
in distress"
"Thank you, thank you," said the sailor.
a
in the breast of the folorn stranger they told him
that there still were hearts in which Kindness flow
ed
John Willis, on coming ashore, had been rob
bed of his little all, thing of no uncommon oc-
currcnce, and he was now compelled to beg his
way 10 London. He deeply felt the rebutfs he
frequently met with. The prevalence of imposi-
ton frequently renders it hard for those who
really in need TO get help, for their truthfulncsS is
often questioned.
Jack followed the directions given him, but he
found the shop closed. He felt that it was an I'M
Seasonabe hour; still the favorable account that
he had received of its owner encouraged him to
tap at the door. His summons was answered by
the worthy dame, who, having listened compass
sonately to his tale of suffering, babe him enter
and share her frugal meal. The tar entertained
his benevolent hostess with recital of some of
the shipwrcckS he had witnessed, and the narrow
| escapes he had himself had And she piouslv d-
rccted his mind TO the good Providence which had
preserved him to the present hour and the Savior
who had died to redeem him. The rcpast over
! the widow placed some clean dry straw in one
corner of shed attached to her dwelling, and
with thankful heart the wearied traveller stretch
ed himself upon it. end slept as soundly rs if on n
| bed of down
! Before continuing his Journey in the morning
! Jack looked in TO thank the good woman for the
shelter she had given him he found, however, a
warm meal awaiting him. Having partaken OF it,
and accepted few cents to help him on his wav
he departed with hearty bencdiction from his
! hostess.
Ten years passed, and the little incident here
| recorded had long escaped the memory of all save
one, of the parties concerned. Ten wears had
wrought many changes i'll the town and most of
the Inhabitants but they had glided gently over
the head of widow Smith. The only alteration
pcrceptbc in her was that her hair had become
more slvcry, and her form was now slightly bent
! She still continued her horS of love and though
! her means very limited, she was looked up
| on as the friend and ncighbor of all who were sick
! or in want
| One morning large fical-looking letter was
put into Mrs. Smith hand by the postman. Its
/ purport was to beg her attendance in London on
! the following day, when the writer said she would
receive gratifying intelligence which it was wish
cd to communicate to herself personally. Much
consultation and gOssiping ensucd. One of her
nc"hbors thought it a hoax, to play the old lady
a trick another said it would be highly impru-
dent for a woman other years to take such Jour
new especially to trust herself alone in such a
wicked place rs London; while third was quite
sure that the writer had some evil design 1t
did appear formidable undertaking to one who
had never straycd ten miles from her native
place. The widows credulitv had often been i'm
posed upon vet she would believe anything but
that any one would Intentionally deceive or wrong
her. She had great confidence, too in the protect
inc providence of God, whom she served in humble
dependence on His grace in Christ and therefore
felt no fear in complying with the request in the
letter. Where fore, Notwithstanding the ridiculc
of some and the rCrlonstIai1cc of others the good
me starte by the first coach which passed thro
on the morrow, and reached London i'll time to
meet the appointment
The address given her was at an nn and
arriving there She was Immediately ushercd into
private apartment, where two spectabc looking
men were waiting to receive her. The widows
surprise was increased when one of them accost-
ed her with the familiar phrase, " How do YOU do,
mother Don't YOU remember me, my worthy 2"
added he, in an ,wcr to her haf-frightencd inqur-
inc glance Il am Jack Willis, the sailor YOU
housed and fed ten years ago when he had neither
money nor friends. | am now captain of a mer-
chairman; and this gentleman" turling to his
companion, " will in my name, do the nccdtul to
settle an annuity of fifty dollars upon YOU as ii
proof of m gratitude for your kindnrss, and es-
pccially for your good advice, which | hope by
! Gods mercy, led me to think of and to trust in
him for salvation
The widow, unable to give uttcrance to the emo
tons of her swelling heart, burst into tears.
Widow Smith returned to her cottage home,
thankful to God for his blessing on her humble cf
fort, to benefit humble creature in bod and soul,
and for hi> bountiful care for her and delighted
that She now had increased means of usefulness
and never after did she listen to tale % suffering
without thinking of poor Jack WilIis-Londom
Tract M0ga-iHe.