The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-11-26
CHAPTER VI.--1Ne Disaster--The Merchant
and has Valet.

aNW AtS FWFets
aGIoom is upon thy lonely hearth,
Obi silent house once filled with mirth."
HENAEs,
On the following day, old Meg's cottage,
which had always been opened as q cheerful
resting place to the weary traveller, was turn
ed to a house Of mourning. Jack Brewster
had left it on the previous evening with light
heart and embarked on board OF his little
craft. Notwithstanding q tolerable gale was
blowing at the time, Jack after taking his Gus
tomary survey Of the heavens, concluded it
had reached its height, aud ventured into the
Offing. But,
7'0ft the wisest on mlsfortune's shelves,'
Are wrecked by errors most unlike themselves"
Jack had placed too much reliance upon his
skill and previous good luck in fOretelling the
weather! The gale continued to increase in
violence, and when the morning dawned, the
neighbOring shores were strewed with the
shattered fragments and rigid cOrpses Of the
little vessel and her unfortunate crew.
Old Meg, who was always upon the look
out after storm, was the first to discover the
disaster. When she found who the real suf.
ferers wers-that honest, OPEN hearted Jack
Brewster, be, who for the last six years had
beenA regular visiter at her rude home, whose
face had become as familiar as any household
object, in whose kind and cheerful words she
had found sOlaee in her darkest trial, the only
being in this broad, wild, uncultivated land
Of strangers, whom she dared to address with
the familiarity Of friend-when she real-
lied that he had been taken away, the sum Of
her sorrow seemed fully made up. And still
more agoniziug was the afflietion at this time,
nst as she reposed q new trust in him, and
fslta security in his kind, manly declaration
Of assistance. Had Meg been possessed Of
any ordinary mind she would have been pros
tFsted BY the severe shock; but
bMore lofty courage dWells m
IN one weak heart which braves an adverse fate,
Than hls whose ardent soul indignant swelis,
Warmed through the fight, OF cheered through
high debate"
She did not despair; she still clung to her
sacred charge with all mothers devotion,
and sought protection in Him who tempers
the northern blast to the shorn lamb.
At about noon the same day, two travellers
halted at the cottage for rest and refreshments.
From their dress and conversation, It was ey-
ident that the strangers were no less person
ages than an English merchant and his valet.
While they partOok OF their scanty meal, they
cOnVersed freely upon the rebeIlious state Of
the colonies, and the probability that stringent
measures must eventually be resorted to in
order TO subdue the insurgents. The mer-
chant seemed to be conducting the conVersa-
tion for the information Of his valet, but old
Meg was not an inattentiye; though apparent.
" deareless listener. Shewa O republican oi
thepurest stamp, and entertained most di:
vine abhOfTence for everything that sayored Of
royalty. She had tasted Of It's bitter oppres.
si6as "a the mother country, before she had
entered upon the daring resolve to seek 3
quiet and humble homo in the rough, new
world, alone and unprotected.
.As she was performing her domestic dntlei
wherever she went, she left the room for /
moment, when the merehant instantly chang
Cd The conVefsation and addressing bis valet n
an under tone, said
HDid yoa observe Hhat beautiful child the