Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-11-30
TERRIBLE RETREBUTION.

VhNNlhLk khNXlGAbOEAONs
About fifty years ago, in the western part of
the State of New York, lived a lonely widow,
named Mozher. Her husband had been dead
many years her only daughter was grown up
and married, living at the distance of mile or
two from the family mansion.
And thus the old lady lived alone inher house
by day and by night. Yet in her conscious in
nocency and trust in Providence, she felt safe
and cheerful; did her work quietly during tho
daylight, and at even tide lay down and slopt
sweetly.
One morning, however, she awoko with an ex-
traordinary and unwonted gloom upon her mind,
which was impressed with the apprehension that
something strange was about to happen to her
or hers. So full was she of this thought that
she could not stay at homo that day, but must
60 abroad to give vent toit, by unbosoming her.
self to her friends, especially to her daughter
With her she spent the greater part of the day ;
and to her several times repeated the recital of
her apprehension. The daughter rs often re-
peated her assurance that the good mother had
never done injury to any person. and added, az
cannot think any one would hurt you, for you
have not an enemy in the whole world
AS the day was declining, Mrs. Mozher sought
her home, but expressed the same feeling as she
left her daughters house.
On the way home she called on neighbor,
who lived in the last house before she reached
her own Here she again made known her con-
tinued apprehensions, which had nearly ripened
into fear, and from the lady of the mansion she
received answers similar to those of her daugh-
ter. You have harmed no one in your whole
life-time-surely no one will disturb you, or
molest you; 60 homo in quiet, and Rover shall
80 with you Here Rover, (said she to a stout
watch dog that lay on the aoor,) here Rover go
home with Mr.. Mozher and take care Of her.
Rover did as he was bid; the widow went home
MIXED her COWS, took care of everything out of
doors, and went to bed as usual Rover had
not left her for an instant. When SHE was fair
ly in bed, he laid himself down upon the outside
Of the bed and as the widow relied upon his
fidelity, and perhaps child herself for needless
ftar, she fell asleep.
Sometime in the night she awoke, being star
ted, probably, by slight noise outside the
house. II was SO slight, however, that she was
not aware of being startled ut all /; but heard
as soon as she awoke, sound like the raising
Of window near her bed, which was in room
on the ground floor. The dog neither barked
nor moved. Next there was another sound, as
If some one was il the room aud stepped eau
tiously on the floor. The widow saw nothing
but now, for the first time, felt the dog move,
as he made violent spring from the bed; and
at the same instant, some thing fell on the floor
sounding like the fall of a heavy log. Thes
followed other noises, like the paving of thc
dog feet; hat soon all was still again, and thu
dog resumed his place on the bed without hay
ing barked or growled at all. .....
This time the widow did not go to sleep, i'm
mediately, but lay awake wondering, yet die
not deem it best to get up But at last sh,
dropped asleep, and when she awoke the su,
was shining She hastily stepped out of bed
and there lay the body of a man extended Oh
the floor, dead, with large knife in his hand
which even now he grasped. The dog had seiz
ed him by the throat with the grasp of deatl
and neither nun nor dog could utter soun'
till all was over. The man was the widow
son-in-law, the husband of her only daughter
He coveted her little stora Of wealth, her house
her cattle and her land ; and instigated by thi
sordid impatience, he could not wait FOL the de
cay of nature to give her property up to hiE
and his, as the only heirs apparent, but mad
this stealthy visit to do a deed of darkness i
the gloom of night. A fearful retributio
waited for him.
The widows apprehcnsons, communicated
her mind and impressed upon her nerves by wha
unseen power we know not-the sympathy {
the other woman who loaned her the dog--an
the silent but certain watch of the dog himsel
formed chain OF events which brought the mul
derer's blood upon his own head, and which al
difficult to be explained, without refsrrence to tf
Providence or oyer-rulign power which nun
bers the hair Of our heads, watches the sparrow
fall, " shapes our ends, rough hew them no
we will"
This is one of Uncle Toby's stories and it
derived, as to its facts, from most respectful
Quaker family, whose veracity he cannot doub
--Portsmouh Chronicle.
The ToNGuE.--A white fur on the tongue