Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-16

willing to work, were starving
would have starved, but for this one
circumstance-they read our adver-
tlsement.
Il lay" said the lsdy--she is a
lady" on Thursday night upon that
poor old lounge, for our beds and
bedding have been long gone-hcre
in this cold room, without food or
fire. would have gone out and
begged for my children, but my
daughter said No, we are tired of
life, why seek to prolong our misery
we had rather die. And they all
huddled together in their miserably
ta,tered nest to keep each other
warm. could not sleep. could
pray, and did most sincerely 20
God, give US our daily bread forgive
US if we have been led into the temp
tation Of prelerring death TO life I;
incline the heart of some Of the be-
neyolcnt Of this City to learn and
pity our des,i,ution, or save my chill
dren from this sore famine | then
felt easy | almost fell sure that my
prayer was heard. In the morning,
as usual, we borrowed paper TO
look for advertisements for work.
The first thing that struck my eye
was an advertisement headed Amer
lean Widows Relief Association ;
but.my heart almost sank back again
to despair when | saw that one hun
bred already preceded me. But |
had hope, and | fixed up this little
girl as well as | could, and sent her,
trembling, TO your house. II is the
first time that one of my children
ever went out TO beg"
She was so long away that | had
almost lost hope again; yet ! still
trusted that my prayer would be an
swered. Heaven knows il was.
mo mothers heart leaped with
such Joy as mine did when | heard
her foot upon the stairs, and looked
down and saw her bundle-siw her
heavenly smile-heard her Joyous cry
of Ooh, mother-oh. slsicr-oh
brother-scc herc-see here They
saw five dollar gold coin. They
laughed-ihey wepi--lhey danced
they were crazy-and, must J say it,
| never shed such holy tears. or ut-
leied such a thanksgiving before.
"Oh, gentlemen, am thankful
How shall thank you enough I Who
shall | thank Z"
"Thank Heaven"
81 lave-I dol ever will
was proud am humbled"
1t is impossible to depict the scene
witnessed by two Of the Association
who went to visit this family: the
little girl had told her ar,less tale,
but without giving them any idea o
the extent Of restitution. The moth.
or excused herself from rising be.
fore her visi,ors-what lady woulC
not, il only wrapped in a ragged
morning gown, and without shoe
and stockings.
The young ladies', who had beer
admired in silks aud laces in the par
lor, hid themselves and their wretch
ed apparel IN dark closet. They
could not be seen until furnished will
decent clothes by kind lady.
The misery wi,nessed-ihe livit
lips and pale cheeks of the sufferer
the pililul tale Of the siealthy APP
proach of "woll'' TO their door, un
I'll he gained possession, and coulC
not be driven out-lhe undeniabl'
record of one hundred and thrtl
pawn-ilckets ; some of the latest o
which marked the last things tina
misery parts with for lood-al,ogeth
er were too much 10 bear. Ii melt
ed the hearts of strong men, inure'
TO scenes Of misery but who evel
before had seen some very sad scene
almost as bad-the same day
Such misery must be relieved. T.
do it we must have money. W.
have on our books $50 names O
worthy American widows, with FAM
lies of children, who are in want
Some of them, besides the above, ar
in dreadful destitution.