Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-05-12
THE TWO WIDOWS.
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

The following story, the simple and domestic
incidents of which may be deemed scarcely
worth relating, after such lapse of time, ava
kened degree of interest, a hundred years ago,
in principal seaport of the bay of Massachu-
sets. The rainy twilight of an autumn day; a
paror on the second floor ofa small house, plain
ly furnished, as beseemed the middling crcum.
stances of its inhabitants; yet decorated with lit
tie curiosities from beyond the sea, and a few
delicate specimens of Indian manufacture
these are the only particulars to be promised in
regard to scenes and season. Two young and
comely women sat together by the fireside nurs-
ing their mutual and peculiar sorrows. They
were the recent brides of two brothers, sailor
and landsman, and two successive days had
brought tidings of the death of each by the
chances of Canadian warfare and the tempestu-
Gus Atlantic. The universal sympathy excited
by this bereavement, drew numerous condoling
guests to the habitation of the widowed sisters.
Several, among whom was the minister, had re-
mained till the verge of evening; when one by
one, whispering many comfortable passages of
scripture, that were answered by more abundant
tears, they took their leave and departed to more
happy homes. The mourners, though not in
sensible to the kindness of their friends, had
been, by the relationship of the living, and now
if whatever consolation her grief admitted was
to be found in the bosom of the other. They
Joined their hearts, and wept together silently.
But after an hour of such indulgence, one of the
sisters, whose emotions were influenced by her
mild, quiet, yet not feeble character, began to
recollect the precep:s of resignation and endur-
III, LoJ he, ,ha,, ,bo
not think to need them Her misfortune, be-.
sides, as earliest known, should earliest cease to
interfere with her regular course of duties, ac-
cordingly having placed the table before the fire,
and arranging frugal meal, she took the hand
of her companion.
"Come, dearest sister, you have not eaten n
morsel to-day" she said. "Arise, pray you,
and let us ask blessing on that which is pro-
vided for u.s."
Her sister-in-law was of lively and irritable
temperament, and the first pangs OF her sorrow
had been expressed by shrieks and passionate
lamentation. She now shrank from Marys
words like wounded sufferer from hand that
revves the throb
"There is no blessing for me, neither will ]
ask it," cried Margaret, with fresh burst OF
tears. "Would it were His will that might
never taste food more.
Yet she trembled at these rebelous express
ions, almost as soon as they were uttered, and
by degrees Mary succeeded in bringing her SIS
ter's mind nearer to the situation of her own.-
Time went, and their usual hour of repose arri-
we'd. The brothers and their brides entered the
married state with no more than the slender
means which then sanctioned such a step, and
confederated themselves in one household, with
equal rights to the parlor, and claiming exclusive
privileges in two sleeping rooms contiguous to
it, Thther the widowed ones retired, after
heaping ashes upon the dying embers of the
hearth. The doors of both chambers were left
open, SO that part Of the Interior OF each, and