Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-11-06
A STORY OF 4 FAITHFUL lOG
PREMONITORY WARNINc

sIVAI VI 4 FAITHFUL COG
PREhoNIToRY WARNING.
The following story is said, by the
Portsmouth Chronicle, to be derived as
70 all Its facts, from most respectable
Quaker family, whose veracity cannot be
doubted
About fifty years ago, in the western
part of the State of New York. lived a
lonely widow, named Mozher. Her bus-
band had been dead many years, and
her only daughter was grown up and
married, living at the distance of a mik
or two from the family mansion.
"And thus the old lady lived alone in
her house by day and by night. Yet in
her conscious innocence and trust in Pro-
vldence, she felt safe and cheerful-did
her work quietly during the day light,
and at eventide lay and Slept sweetly.
Zone morning, however, she awoke
with an extraordinary and unwonted
gloom upon her mind, which was impress
sed 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 90 abroad to give vent to it, by
unbosoming herself to her friends, espe-
cially to her daughter. With her She
spent the greater part of the day, and to
her several times repeated the recital Of
apprehensisns. The daughter as often
repeated the assurance that the good
mother had never done injury to any per-
son, and added, Il cannot think any one
would hurt you, for you have not an enemy
in the world"
Gas the day was declining, Mrs. Mozher
sought her home, but expressed the
same feelings as she left her daughters
house.
'On the way home, she called on :.
neighbor, who lived in the last house be-
fore she reached her own. Here she again
made known her continued apprehensions,
which had nearly ripened into fear, and
from the lady of the mansion she received
answers similar to those of her daughter.
''You have harmed no one in your whole
lifetime, surely no one will molest you.
Go home in quiet, and Rover shall 60
with you. Here, Rover, said she
to stout watchdog that lay On the
floor, "here, Rover, 60 home with Mrs.
Mozher, and take care of her." Rover
did as he was told. The widow went
home, milked her COWS, took care of every.
thing out Of doors, and went to bed as
usual. Rover had not left her for an
instant. When she was fairly in bed, he
laid himself down upon the outside of
the bed, and as the widow relied on his
fidelity, and perhaps child herself for need
less fear, she fell asleep. Sometime in
the night she awoke, being startled, pro-
badly, by slight noise outside the house.
1t was SO slight, however, that she was
not aware of being startled at all, but
heard, as soon as she awoke, q second
like the raising of window near her
bed, which was in room on the ground
floor.
The dog neither barked nor moved.
Next there was another sound, as if some
one was in the room and stepped cautious
" on the floor. The woman saw MOTH
ing, but now for the first time felt the
dog move, as he made violent spring
from the bed: and at the same moment
fell on the floor, sounding like
a heavy log. Then followed other noises,
like the paving of dogs feet; but soon
all was still again, and the dog resumed
his place on the bed without having
barked or growled at all.
"This time the widow did not 20 to
sleep Immediately, but lay awake won.
dering, yet not deeming it Desl to get
up. But at last she dropped asleep, and
when she awoke the sun was shining.
She hastily stepped out of bed, and there
lay the body of man extended on the
floor, dead, with large knife in his hand,
which WAS even now extended. The dog
had seized him by the throat with the
grasp Of death, and neither man nor dog
could utter a sound till all was over.
This 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 in
stigated by this sordid impatience, be
could not wait for the decay of nature to
give her property up to him and his, as
the only heirs apparent, but made this
stealthy visit to do deed of darkness in
the gloom of the night. A fearful retri-
button waited for him. The widows
apprehensions, communicated to her
mind and impressed upon her nerves by
what unseen power we know not, the
sympathy of the woman who loaned her
dog, and the silent but certain watch of
the dog himself, formed chain of events
which brought the murderer's blood upon
his own head, and which are difficult to
be explained, without reference to that
Providence or oyerruling which numbers
the hairs of our heads, watches the SPAR
rows fall, and shapes our ends, rough