Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-02-08
n WIDOWS REQUEST.

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w. .r N WIDOWS REQUEST.
49,, :" from dinner when "a
n;doS was p;Sod u.s. I'SnN 81 sno l. with me; order
cd her to be shown into lily >, .,
'' My dear sir, I cntreat you to Nouss .se
me, J" said she, 81 must pay my hou~
rent. and 1 am six dollars too short. I
have been i'll a month, and could hardly
keep my children from starving. 1 must
have six dollars to-day or tomorrow
Pray, hear me dear sir.'
Here she took a small parcel out of
her pocket united it and said, "There is
a book encased in silver my husband
gave it to me when l was betrothed. 1t
. is all l can spare yet it will not be suf-
feient. | part with it with rcluct ance,
for know not how l snail redeem it,
My dear sir, can you assist me?"
l answered, Good woman, l cannot
assist you" SO saying put my hand ac-
cidcntalIy or from habit into my pocket !;
had about two dollars and a-half, she
must have the whole sum; and if it would
g do, l wantedit myself. l asked her if she
had no friend who could assist her.
She answered, d" No, not a living soul
and would rather work whole nights
than beg. Ihave been told you were a
kind gentleman. Ifyou cannot help me,
: hope you will excuse me for giving
you SO much trouble. l will try
how | can extricate myself. God has
never yet forsaken me. and hope he will
not begin to turn away from me in my
sixty seventh year"
My wife entered the ROOM O, thou
traitorous heart! was ashamed and an
cry. | should have beer glad to have
sent her away under some preteXt OIL
other, because my conscience whispered.
"Give to him that asEeth Of thee" &c.
My wife, too, whispered irresistibly in
my ear, "She is an honest, pious wo-
man and has certainly been ill; do assist
her if you can"
Shame, joy, avarice. and the desire for
assisting her, struggled together in my
heart. l whispered, a. have but two
dollars and she wants six. l will give
her something, and send her away"
"My wife, pressing my hand with an
affectionatc smile, repeated aloud what
my conscience had been whispering
" Give to him that,asketh ofthee," &c.
asked her archly, ''if she would give
her ring to enable me to do ?'
-" With great pleasure" she replie
pulling of the ring.
The good old woman was too simple tc
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, wher
you offered your ring ?'' said |.
Indeed l was" she replied. L" Dc
you think l would sport with charity 2
Remember what you said to me a quarter
of an hour ago. l entreat you not tc
make an ostentation of the gospel. Yor
have always been so benevolent. Why
are you so backward to aid this poor wo
man Did you not know there were si1
dollars in your bureau, and it will be quar-
ter day soon %
Ipressed her to my heart, saying, "Y OF
ARE more righteous than l. Keep YOU
ring. thank you.'
Iwent to the bureau and took the si1
dollars. [ was seized with horror be
cause had said, al cannot assis. YOU
The good woman, at first thought it wa.
only a small contribution. When she
saw it was more, she could not utter {
word at first.
"How can thank you," she exclain
ed, "Did You understand me? l have
nothing but this book, and it is DID,"
-" Keep the book and the money!" sale
hartlIy, and thank God not me. dc
not deserve your thanks, because 81
long hesltated to help you.'
shut the door after her, and was 81
much ashamed could hardly look at my
wife. "My dear, said she, make your
self easy; you have yielded to my wish
es. While l wear golden ring. yo1
need not tel a fellow creature in distress
that you cannot assist him. folded
her to my heart and wcpt.-LJe of Rev
y. q. Lavater.