The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-11-30
Terrible Rc.sihu.lon.

ABOUT ully years ago, IN the western
part of the State OF New York lived a lone.
| iy widow, named Mozher. Her husband
had been dead many years; her only daugh.
ter was grown up and married, living al
the distance of mile or two from the fam
lily mansion.
And thus the old lady lived alone in hei
house by day and night. Yet in her con
scious innocence and trust in Providence,
she felt safe and cheerful; did her work
quietly during the daylight, and at eventide
lay down and slept sweetly.
One morning, however, she awoko with
an extraordinary and unwan,ed gloom up
on 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 home that day, but must 20
abroad to give vent TO it, by unbosoming
herself to her friends, especially to her
daughter. With her she spent the greater
part of the day; and to her she several
times repeated the recital of her apprehen-
sions The daughter as often repeated her
assurances that the good mother had never
done injury to any person, and added, II
cannot think any one would hurt you, for
you have not an enemy in the world"
AS the day was declining, Mrs. Mozher
sought her home, but expressed the same
feeling as she life her daug ghtor's house
On the way home she called on a neigh
Dor, who lived in the last house before She
reached her own. Here she again made
known her continued apprehensions, which
had nearly ripencd into fear, and from the
lady of the mansion she received answers
similar to those other daughter:
"You havo harmed no one in your whole
lifetime, surely no one will disturb or mo-
lest you, go home in quiet, and Rover
shall go with you. Here Rover, said she
to stout watch dog that lay on the floor,
here Rover; go homs with Mrs. Mozher
and take care of her."
Rover did as he was told; 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 inst
When she was fairly in bed, he laid him
sclfdown upon the outside Of the bad; and
as the widow relied on his fidelity, and
perhaps chided herself for needless fear,
she fell asleep Some time in the night she
awoke being startled, perhaps, by slight
noise outside the house. 1t was SO light,
however, that she was not aware of being
startled at all, but heard, as soon rs she a.
woke, sound like the raising of window
near her bed, which was in room on TIE
ground floor. The dog neither barked nor
moved. Next there was another sound, as
| if some one was in tie room and stepped
cautiously on the floor. The woman 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 something
fell on the floor, sounding like heavy log.
Then followed other noises, like the paw
ing Of the dogs feet; but sooa all was still
again, and the dog resumed Lis place on
the bed without having barked or growlsd
at all.
This time the widow did not 60 to sleep
Immediately. but lay awake wondering,
yetnot deeming it best to get up. But at
last she dropped asleep, and when she a.
woke tie sun was shining. She hastily
stepped out of bed, and there lay the body
ola man on the floor, dead, with large
knife in his hand, which was even now ex-
tended. Tho dog hal sezod him by the
throat with the grasp cf death; and neither
man nor dog could utter sound till all was
over. The man was the widows son-in-
law, the husband of her only daughter
He coveted her little store Of wealth, her
house, her cattle and her land. And nsti-
gated by this sordid impotence, he could
not wait for tho decay ofnature to give her
property to him and his, as the only heirs
apparent, but made this stealthy visit to do
aNdecd of darkness in the gloom of night.
A fearful retribution awaited him.
The widows apprehensions communi-
Gated to her mind and impressed upon her
nerves, by what unseen power we know
not, the sympathy ofthe other woman who
loaned her dog, and the silent but certain
watch of the dog himself. formed chain
of events which brought the murdeler's
blood upon his own head, and which are
difficult to be explained, without reference
to that Providence or overrulng power,
which numbers the hairs of our heads,
watches the sparrow's fall, and "shapes
our ends, roughen them as we will"
This is one Of Uncle Toby's stories; and
is derived, as to all its facts, from a mos
respectable Quaker family, whose veracity