Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-03-16

As she repaired to the place appointed for
the sale her tears fell fast and thick" and
her audible sobs revealed the anguish Of her
heart. There we're none to whom she could
| look for advice none from whom she could
hope for favor; for she was "a stranger in
strange land, ]" and her deep Affections had SO
wrought upon her physical system, that she
feared 10 person would pay her passage for
term Of slavery less than her natural life
On being questioned in regard to her age,
health and strength, she replied, Three and
Fifty are the years of my life; and as many
of them have been dark AID full of trouble,
my bodily ;nfrmities are numerous. And if
it be my lot to fall into the hands of hard
master, my days will soon he numbered; but
l care not how soon they are ended. if can
only embrace once more ~ lost sou. Oh,
my son! my SON! where is he? Would to
God | could see him before ] die -
| At this outburst Of maternal tenderness,
the auctioncer roughly babe her be silent.
and, with tonc aud countenance that would
have disgraced the chambers of tue Spanish
inquisition. be cried out-"Wao bids for this
old woman? Her passage money is twenty
five pounds Will any gentleman take her
at this price, for term of years less than her
natural life )? A farmer who had come some
miles to purchase person to take charge Of
his dairy, said if the woman was acquainted
With that business. and the captain of the yes
sci would vouch for her honesty, he would
take the poor object of charity for ten years.
at the price named. The captain could not
do this. as he had no knowledge of her char
acter previous to their departure from Ger
many. As the farmer was nbout to leave.
muttering to himself in broken German that
be would bay no man without rcconmen-
dation. tile poor old matron drew from her
pocket the following notes:
OLDESDERG, Germany, Dee. 10, It.
| 70 WHOM IT MAY CONCERN The under
signed respectfully represents that the bear
er of this is an honorable widow. in INDECENT
circumstances that domestic Affections have
/ forced her to visit America. where she hopes
to procure employment n some respectable
family, whereby she may obtain a sum suffi
! cient 10 pay her passage, that she may be able
to accomplish the object Of her mission. My
former acquaintance with her deceased hus-
band, and knowledge Of her personal charac-
ter. induce me to recommend. her tqFthe ton
der ,nercies Of those for whom she may be
called to labor. Signed.
JouAsN LoNpAMnAs, Burgomasser
This recommendations proving satisfactory,
the farmer paid the sum required by Captain
Scharf, Of the Jaagfraa, and proceeded to u
magistrate to sign the agreement. The pur-
chaser wrote bis name, and underneath il the
old woman wrote hers. AS the magistrate
glanced at the document, he remarked, You
must DO relatives for you both have the
same surname The farmer took the paper,
and seeing the name "katbarne Herzweh"
asked the woman, in German, il she had a
son in America She replied, 81 have. sir, F"
"Would you know your SON." asked he, with
much emotion "Yes,' answered tue old
matron. "for my sons name is 7. j Herzweh
and be has the mark of star on his breast.
The farmer instantly tore open his cloth
ing, disclosed the mark upon his breast, and
casped his mother to his heart, exclaiming
Madam, you have bereft me Of all words,
only my blood speaks to yon in my veins !,
And, instead of taking her homo slave,
he sent for a carriage to convey her to bis
house, caused the richest daiutes to be spread
before her and his softcst couch prepared for.
her repose Here was bliss, pure and spir-
itual as that enjoyed by the Angels of Heas-
en-. Kindly and affcctiorately did he soy to
his mother
e.iiii thine.
All thai life can give, affection prove,
is thine and only thine for nausht
Can be beloved as you love-
ouI Wilat was ~ thae l'toueeV" s"S e''1"sNS
in the feelings of that seemingly rough man
towards that poor old woman! What indu-
ced him to treat with love aud venorasion her
whom but few hours before he had regard
ed as bis slave? 1t was simply knowledge
of the fact that the being who stood before
him was his olrn mother!
Now let the reader extend the principle IN
vo!yed in this "talc Of truth, and he will see
the legitimate tendency Of Christianity =
A belief in the Fatherhood of God. and the