Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-01-30
MISCELL A N E @ u S.
The Poor Widows Request.

widow desired to speak with me; | Or
dered Der to be shown into my study -
tMy dear sir, entreat you to excuse me, .
said she, 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 het
pocket, united it and said, stThere is a
book encased in silver; my husband gave
it to me when was betrothed. It is all
l can spare; yet it will not be sufficient.
part with it with reluctance, for know
not how | shall redeem it. My dear sir,
can you assist mes"
| answered, Good woman. cannot
assist you.' so saying put my hand ac-
ciden;ally, Or from habit, into my pocket ;
had about two dollars and a half, ssshe
must have the " hole sum and if it would
do, want it myself" asked her if she
had no friend who would assist her.
She answered, 'No, not living soul,
and would rather work whole nights
than beg. have been told you were a
kind gentleman. If you cannot help me,
hope you will excuse me for giving you
so much trouble. vii. try how | can
extricate myself. God has never yet for
saken me, and hope he will not begin
to turn away from me IN my sixty sew
enth year.
My wife entered the room. 0, thou
traitorous heat! was angry aud asham-
ed. should have been glad to have sent
her away under some pretext or 9TH
er, tecause NY conscience whispered,
Give to him that asketh Of thee &c.
My wife too, whispered irresistibly in
my ear. "She is an honest, pious woman,
and has certainly been i'll do assist her il
You can"
Shame, JOY, avarice, and the desire for
assisting her, struggled together in my
heart. | whispered, 81 have but tive
dollars, and she wants six. ! will give
her something, and send her away"
My wife, pressing my hand with an
affectionate smile, repeated aloud what my
conscience had been whispering, "Give
to him that asketh of thee" &c.
| asked he. archly "if she would give
her ring 10 enable me to do it :"
"With great pleasure" she replied,
pulling off the ring.
The good old woman was too simple to
observe, or too modest to take advantage
Of the action.
When SHE was going, my wife asked
her to wait little in the passage.
"Were you in earnest my dear, when
YOU offered your ring:" said |.
Indeed was" she replied. "Do you
think | would sport 18th charity' Re-
member what you said to me a quarter oil
an hour ago. entreat you not to make
an ostenta,ion of the gospel. You have
always been so benevolent. Why are
you now SO backward to and this poor
woman? Did you not know there were
six in your bureau, and it will be quarter
day soos
pressed her to my heart saying, "You
are more righteous than l. Keep your
ring. thank you"
went to the bureau, and took the six
dollars. | was seized with horror because
| had said, Il cannot assist you. The
good woman, at first thought it was only a
small contribution. When she saw it was
more, she could not utter word at fist.
''How can | thank you" she exclaimed.
"Did you understand me have moth
ing but this book, and it is old"
"Keep the book and the money said
hastily, and thank God not me. | dc
not deserve your thanks, because so long
hesitated to help you"
shut the door after her, and was SC
much ashamed could hardly look at my
wife. My dear, said, she, make yourself
easy you have yielded to my Wishes
While wear golden ring, you need moi
tell fellow-creature in distress, that yot
cannot assist him." l folded her to my
heart and wept.-Lie Of Rer. J. G. Lar
alter.