Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-09-23
TERRIBLE RETRIBUTIoN.

A
About fifty wears ago, in the western part OF TIT
State of New York, lived lonely widow, namec
Mother Her husband had been dead many years
her only daughter was grown up and married iVl's
at the distance of mile or two from the 1ahhy
mansion :,
And thus the old lady lived alone in her house by
day and by night Yet in her conscious lnnocency
and trust in Providence she felt safe and cheerful
did her work quietly during the daylight ana al
eventide lay down and slept sweety
One morning however, she awoke with an extra
ordinary and unwonted gloom upon her mind, which
was impressed with the apprehension that something
strange about to happen to her or hers 90 HllI
was she of this thought that she could not stay at
home that day, but must go abroad to give vent 10
it by unbosoming herself to her friends, especially
to daughter With her she spent the greatest part
of the day and to her she several times repeated
the recital of her apprehensions. Inc daughter as
often repeated her assurances that the goou nioIne
had never done injury to any person. ana aoded,
cannot think any one would hurt you Tor you nave
not an enemy in the world.
AS the day was declining, Mrs. Mozhcr sought
her home but expressed the same 1eehhS as se ici1
her daughters house.
On the way home she called on neighbor, who
lived in the last house before she reached her own
Here she again made known her continued appre-
tensions which had nearly ripened into fear, ana
from the lady Of the mansion received answers SIM
liar to those of her daughter: You have harmed no
one in your whole lfetime-surely no one would dis
turb you go home in quiet and Rover shall go with
YOU Here Rover, (said she to stout watchdog
that Law on the foor,) here Rover, go home with
Mrs Mother and take care of her. Rover did as
he was told the widow went home, mliked hcr
cows took care of every thing out of doors, and
went to bed usual Rover had not LETT her Tor an
instant When she was fairly in bed, he laid him.
self down upon the outside of the bed and as the
widow relied his fidelity, and perhaps child her
self for needless fear, she fell asleep Sometime IN
the night she awoke being startled, probably, by
slight noise outside the house. 1t was so slight
however, that she not aware of being startled
at all, but heard soon as she awoke sonnd ike
the raising of window near her bed, which was IN
a room on the ground floor The dog neither parked
nor moved Next there was another sound, as II
some one was in the room and stepped cautiously
on the floor. The woman saw nothing; but now for
the first time felt the dog move, as he madea violent
spring from the bed and at the same instant some
thing fell on the floor sounding like the fall of a
heavy log Then followed other noises like the paw
ing of the dogs feet; but 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 go to sleep immedi-
ately-but lay awake wondering, yet not deeming it
best to get up. But at last she dropped asleep and
when she awoke the sun shining. She hastily
stepped out of bed-and there lay the body oil man
extended on the floor, dead with large knife in his
hand which even now extended. The dog had
seized him by the throat with the grasp OF death
and neither man nor dog could utter sound till all
was over The man was the widows son-n-law,
the husband of her only daughter. He coveted her
little store of wealth. her house. her cattle, and her
land. And instgated by this sordid impotence, he
could not wait for the decay of nature to give her
up to him and his, the only heirs appa-
made this stealthy visit to do deed of
darkness n the gloom of night. fearful retribu-
ton waited for him. The widows approximations,
communicated to her mind and impressed upon her
nerves by what unseen power we know not-the
sympathy of the old woman wAo loaned the dog
and the silent but certain watch of the dog himself
formed a chain of events which brought the muir
derers blood upon his own head, and which are diff
cu to be explained without reference to that prov
idence or overruling power which numbers the hairs
of heads, watches the sparrow's fall and shapes
our ends rough hew them we will"
This is of Uncle Toby's stories; and is derived
as to all its facts, from most respectable Quaker
family, whose veracity he cannot doubt.
Portsmouth Chronicle