The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-05-01
The Two Widows.
BY NATHANIEL HAW
rose aTa'n.

The following story. the simple AMI iomc>-
ti, incidents "i which ma, ". deemed scarce
" worth relating after such lapse of time,
awakened a ,Irrrcr ot interest. a hundred
wears a2o. in principal seaport in the H., of
Massachusetts, The rainy twilight Of an au-
,umn day: rarlor or the >ccond floor "f 4
small house, plainly furnished. as hc>""mr'l
the midllinr circumstances Of IT. inhabitants:
-. .l.,.nr,,.l with li,r'.. ,.mrio>iii.> from hc-
vond I'll" sea. anI few ieliratr specimens
Of Indian manU:icturc-ihc>e are the only
particulars to Ice promised in regard to scenes
ana >ra>aa Two vounr and comclr worlcn
>at toaeih,r hy TIL fire>i,!e nursing their
mutual and peculiar SORROWS, The, were tie
r,rrnt hri,i.> nf' two brorh"r> a ,ai,or ani p
iani>nlan. and two >ucrc>>ir" DAYS had hro'i
riC!inr> q; the death ut each, tv The chances
ni Canadian warfare and the tvmrcstuou> A.
lan,ir. The universal sympa;h, rxrit"d h
:i!.> bereavement drew numerous con'iolin.
.,.i,-> t" the hai,iia;inn "f the widowed sisters
Several. among whom was the minister. had
rcuuinrl until th, verge ot evening: when
ore TX one. whispering many comfortable
passages oi' : riprUrc that were answered hy
more arnnllnt fears thrv took their leave
AMI departed to more happy homes. IL,
mourncr>. thou.h not in~rn>ihlr 10 the kind
ness of th,ir friends had yearncd TO he lcf
alone United a> they had been. hv the re
a:innship of the lising. and now more closc.,
To tlla, of the dead each felt as if wilatrve
consolation her grirt admi:,cd.wa> 10 be toun,
in the bosom of the other. They joined rhri
hearts. and wcpt together silently. But atie
an hour of such indulgence, one of the sisters
Whose emotions were influenced hv her mild
,,ni,t. vet not feeble character began 10 rec
o!lcct the prcrcp'> of resignation and endur
anre which rirrv had taught her, when sh
did not think 10 need them. Her m>iortnn,
hc>i,lr>. as earliest known. should earle,
cease tc Interfere with her regular course a
duties; accordingly, having placed the tahI
before the fire. and arranged frugal mca
she took the hand OF her companion.
: Come. dearest sister, ,ou have not eaten
morsel to day she said. Arise. pray vo
: and let Us ask blessing on that which is pr
vidcd for us
Her sister-in-law was of a lively and rriti
: bic temperament, and the first pangs of h'
sorrow had been expressed hy shricks an
passionate lamentations. She now shran
rom Mary words. like wounded suffer.
' from the hand that rcyives the throb.
I There is no blessing for NE. neither will
4 ask it, cried Margaret. with fresh burst q
: tears Would it were His will that | mig
d never taste food more
d Yet she trcniblcd at these rebellious G
preSsion>, almost as soon as they were utterc
/ and hy degrees Mary succeeded in bringir
g her sisters mind nearer to the situation {
i her own. Time went. and their usual ho
:. of repose arrived. The brothers and the
l. brides entered the married state with no mo
o than The slender means which then sanctio
i ed such a step, and confe,lerated themselv
e in one household. with equal rights to I,
IS parlor, and claiming exclusive privileges
q two sleeping rooms contiguous it Thi,h
the widowed ones retired. after heapinc ash
is upon the dying cmbers of the fire, and pl5
it ing lighted lamp upon the hearth. +
ID doors Of both chambers were left open. 50 I'll
p a part of the interior of each, and the bel
B. with tLeir unclosed curtains, Were reciprocal
: visible.
in Sleep did not steal upon the sisters at 0
e. and the same time. Mary experienced t
- effect often consequent upon grief qu:er
k, borne and sank into utter forgettulnes~, VIII
re Margaret became more Disturbed ard tczer