Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-02-01
ny SAMUEL ID. HARRIs, Jr.
SELECT MISCELLANY.
IFr0m the American Union.I
A Friend i'm Need.
CHAPTER /.
BY OLIVER OPTIC.

j
.sNAY, mother, be Of good cheer; God will yet
redeem Us from the misery that environs us" said
Emma Wilson, pale, slender maiden, as she
leaned over the bed of her sick mother
ssAias, my child, know not what will become
of us, in strange city, without money and with
out friends. s.
aGod will take care Of us, my smother-will
raise up friends to assist us in the hour of our
greatest need" yag 16l h.i, ..aa.#r. IN
"My poor Emma! may heaven bless you! and
if must be taken away by this fearful plague,
lead you in safety to home"
ssNay, mother, the fever is not always fatal;
there is hope, yes, great hope, that you will yet
recover" and the poor girl turned away her head
to hide flood Of tears that unbdden coursed down
her checks.
This conversation occurred in miserable, di-
lapidated building in the of Tehoupilus street
in New Orleans. Mrs. Wilson was poor widow
from the north, who, after struggling vainy against
the adverse current of penury, which had borne
her down to they very verge of destituton, had ac-
cepted the invitation of her only brother in Louis
lena, to make her home with him.
With only sufficient means to pay the passage
of herself and Emma to New Orleans, she had
landed in that city in July, just as the fearful pes
thence, which even now RACES there, had made its
appearance. They were without money, and in u
strange place. THE residence of Mrs. Wilson's
brother was in the interior of the State, and she
had not the means to pay her passage thther.
A letter was Immediately despatched to him, in
forming him Of the great strait to which they had
been reduced. A week had elapsed, and no an
swer had been received They were in the ut
most extremity of want.
Stern necessity compelled them to sell por-
ton of their wardrobe and few trnkets, with the
proceeds Of which they had taken the room in
which we find them. ''' .. ..
Another week passed by, and they received a
letter frem Mr.. Wilson's ovcrseer, stating that he
had started for the north fortnight before. The
letter nude no tendre of assistance, contained no
money, and they were reduced to the brink of
despair '.' ".~
The small sum they had procured by the sale of
their wardrobe was now exhausted. The yellow
fever began to rage fearluly around them, and the
future was, indeed, dark and dreadful to coLtem-
plate. -,'. s..-...5-.. .'..i ...-,
A further sale of articles from their wardrobe
afforded them the means of subsistence few days
longer Emma had made several attempts to pro-
cure some Sewing, bit without success. AS the.
poor girl returned one day from her frutless cr-
rand, she found her mother lying upon the bed
with all the symptoms Of the dreadful plague.
Her heart had almost sunk within her as she re-
allied the awful situation to which they were re-
duced. The tears flowed in, plenteous showers
down her wan cheeks, as she knelt by the bedside
and breathed forth aprayer to Him who never for
gets the widow and the orphan in their trbulution
Her heart gained strength from this act Of de-
votion She felt that she leaned upon the arm OF
an all powerful Father, who is as able as he is
willing to succor the needy in the hour Of peril
and distress. u.s ..a J.. ,..... ...r-.
"Thy will be dont!" exclaimed she, drying her
tears. as she bathed her mothers head, and at
tempted to recall her to consciousness.
She had been partially successful, Mrs. Wilson
opened her eyes, and throwing her arms around
;xdimas neck, kissed her tenderly. Her mothers
heart bled, as she gazed upon her daughter, per-
hans, alas! to be an orphan, alone and unprotec-
ted in strange city, ere another day should pass
away. Is ot i,olH7 -'ag.u.Ia" g@y elitT.raala i
with fearful eyes, she spoke of the future, and
commended Emma to that God to whom alone she
could look for succor in the darkness Of the com
, Emma attempted to comfort her; but, oh! what
can solace the fond heart Of weeping mother, as
she looks forward to peril, danger, death, when
they appear to be waiting, like giant spectres, to
enfod the beloved object Of her hearts affections
intheirruthless embrace! Sad, sorrowing moth
er! her own woes were as nothing; the plague,
death itself was nothing, for her child, her only
one. who had loved, cheered and blessed her in
her weary pilgrimage of life, whom she folded in
her maternal arms in infancy, in youth, in maiden
hood. What were plague and death to her, while
Emma was nienaced by all the miseries the cold
world has in store for the child of want and sor-
row W!srGeaaa eG1H2k& s5a5 asr NV
: etWeep no more, my mother; know of skill
full physician who can, with Gods blessing, turn
the fever tharmlessly aside," said Emma.
laaMy poor child, we have not penny left to
buy bread, much more to pay physician" !" groan-
ed Mrs. Wilson, in anguish. y,a55 IL y9,,
1--WE can get money; I will sell something
lnOre"sIiqs' oe9v 'eiiff oa' Il a.t .. aT3as',l
aWe have nothing more to sell, Emma. o,
what will become Of yoq, my childll"a n VI 9,as
.I"Du not weRpss mstherEdo not; my watch is
a,ilIfleft,''s repieaaEmmaFt theiaears started
,fresb down 'hcf cheeks sfo9eN #tT 8"'fAa