The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1854-09-14
Ralph Halfway is reckoued by COM

mon observers, as we have said, an un-
fortunate man > but could any amount
of ill-luck or calamity make that epithet
fitting him whose temperament is so
cheerful that his sun will break through
the heaviest clouds His heart is a
never intcrmitting fountain of love to
God, and peace and good will to man.
Ruth, what are you listening for I"
asked the father; 81 hear nothing but
the factory"
"Nor |, father I wish we did not
always hear that-it-"
"It puts ycu in mind of fathers ac-
cident know Ruthy, and so it does
me, but then it sets me off thinking how
my life was spared, and how should
never have known what good woman
mother is, but for that-'tis not every
wife that would care for such poor
rack as l am"
"Oh, father :" exclaimed both
mother and child.
well, then, it is not every woman
that would give up the thoughts of being
the wife of rich agent for company,
move out of a nice new house, and
stitch, stitch, from morning to night to
support her family. Who has "a right
to be cheerful if have not? can tell
YOU there are times when the factory
makes my thoughts 60 straight up"
Our friend Hathway's voice was
rather choked he cleared it, and added
Z" but what are you listening to, Ruthy,
dear ?"
Why, father, was listening to the
railroad whistle; We always hear it
when the wind is west"
Why, l heard it when you were
setting up the Dishes"
"Oh, did you, fathcr' then Charlie 3
. letter is near the post Office by this
time"
"Don't be too sure, my child"
81 can't help being sure, mother.
Charlie never fails to write when ne
says he will, and his letter is to tell us
whether he can come to thanksgiving,
and it's only twelve Gays to that, and l
shall be just sixteen that day"
Yes, yes, Ruthy," said the father,
4" come what may, Thanksgiving day
!, will always be thanksgiving to u.s."
"Oh, there's Col. Miles !" exclaimed
Ruth, and she rushed to the door, not,
however, without giving her father a
brush of kiss as she passed.
, "Col. Miles ~ she shouted, "can't
: you please to stop at the post Office, and
) bring our letter from Charlie ?" The
colonel was not going to the post Office,
but his turning off place was near it,
and it was but the work of two minutes
r for Ruth to beg seat in bis little wagon
5 to get her mothers leave to go herself
: to the post Office, to take the chance OF
r two miles walk home il she did not &c,
t a ride, and above all to obtain leave to
O open the letter herself, as soon as re
o ceived, to which ever member of The
IS family it might be addressed.
d Three hours passed away, when An
r thony, a colored man, living at MIR
,s Gardner's in the village, brought Mrs
s Halfway letter from Ruth. 1t en-
d closed one from Charles. On Ruth's
% letter was written in large characters
d "Read this first" and the mother
,r cad as follows =" Dear mother anc
q father-don't feel too bad. / shall be
e on my way to New York when you &c
d this Miss Emma Gardner has lent mt
d ten dollars, and what clothes | shal
a want. Father can't go and you can
II leave father, mother; and II can
=, stay. Father, you will keep up mother
:, spirits, won't you. know it will come
o out all right.
"P. S.-Mr. Gardner has gone t.
r Boston, so Miss Emma and l have hac
!. no one to consult with. l would no
n tell any body else for the world"
is Mrs. Halfway, pale and trembling
It gave this letter to her husband, while
Q she read that from her son Charles.
s "Dear father and mother, and Ruth
h I have got into somo trouble. L ask o
:. you all not to feel anxious or distressed
J. I expect to get out well, but if l do no
| shall keep right side up, as fathe