The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-04-11
Poor Widow,

-oooo~c~o~~o~-
Poor Widow.
was just rising from dinner, whena widow
desired to speak with me- .! ordered her to
be shown into my study. "My dear sir, en-
treat You to excuse me-" she said 81 must
pay my house rent, and am six dollars too
short. | have been i'll month, and could
hardly keep my children from starving.
must have six dollars TO day or Tomorrow
Pray hear me, dear sir"
Here she took small parcel out of her pock-
ct, united it, and said, ''There is book en-
cased in silver my husband gave it to me
when was betrothed, 1t is all can spare,
yet it will not be sufficient. part with it with
reluctance, for know not how I shall redeem
it. My dear sir, can you assist me?'
l answered, "Good woman, cannot assist
you" SO saying put my hand accidentally, or
from habit into my pocket, had about two
dollars and half "'rhat will not be suffi.
cient," said to myself, ''she must have the
whole sum and ft would do, want it my
SELF" asked her if she had mo friend who
would assist her.
She answered, "No, not living soul and
would rather work whole nights than beg. |
have been told you were kind gentleman. If
you cannot help me- hope you will excuse
me for giving you so much trouble. Twill try
how will extrcate myself God has never
yet forsaken me, and hope will not begin to
turn away from me in my sixty seventh
year."
My wife entered the room. Oh, thou trait.
I orl chon,a
should have been glad to have sent her away,
under some pretext or other, because my con-
science whispered, "Give to them that asketh
of thee, &c. My wife too, whispered in my
ear, "She is an honest, pious woman, and has
CUr l----A;AI- l,1>-- -;c-..A,,-aaaN y
Shame, Joy, avarice, and the desire for as
sistipg her, struggled in my heart. I whisper.
ed, 81 have but two dollars and she wants six.
| will give her something and send her away"
My wife, pressing my arm with an affection.
ate smile, repeated aloud what my conscience
had been repeating, "Give to him that asketh
of thee" &c.
| asked her arcLly, if she would give her
ring to enable me to do it,
"With great pleasure" she replied, pulling
off the ring.
The good old woman was too simple to OBJ
serve, or too modest to take advantage of the
action.
When she was going, my wife asked her to
wait a little in the passage.
"Were you in earnest, my dear, when you
offered your ring9" said |.
"Indccd was" she replied. ado you think
| would sport with charity? Remember what
you said to me a quarter OF an hour ago.
entreat you not to make an ostentation of the
gospel. You have always been SO benevolent
Why are you now SO backward to aid this
poor woman Did you not know there were
six dollars in your bureau, and it will be quar-
terday soon!'
pressed her to my heart saying, "You are
more righteous than |. Keep your ring il
thank you.'
| went to the bureau and took the six dol
lars. was siezed with horror because | had
said, 81 cannot assist YOU" The good woman
ton. When she saw it was more, she could
not utter word at first GLOW can thank
you," she exclaimed. "Did you understand
me / have nothing but this old book, andi
is DID,"
"keep the book and the money" said has
tily, "and thank God and not ME. do not
deserve your thanks, because | so long lesita,
ted to help YOU"
shut the door after her, and was so much
ashamed could hardly look at my wife. "My
DEAR" said she, 'make yourself easy; you
have yielded to- my wishes. While | wear q
golden ring, you need not tell fellow-crea'
ture in distress that you cannot assist him"
| folded her to my heart and wept.-Lte Q,
Rer. H. G. Ravater.
KILLED nY RArrLEsSAKE.-We regret
to record the death of Mrs. Long, wife of Ma,
thaniel Long, residing on Frog Creek, about
Is miles south of this place, and near Alfa
The circumstances attending this melancholy
event are as follows: her husband was in a
woods near by getting shingles, and she, desi.
rous of calling him to dinner, walked around
so as to call him, and in stepping over a log
was bitten in the leg. She was carried home
where she died in few hours. She was only
10 years of ge.--Tdmpo (Fla.) Herald.
A NOBLE Boy.-A touching incident occur
red recently at a steamboat sinking i'll the
Missouri river, near st. Louis. Among the