Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-01-30
Eiterarp Selections.
From Graham's Magazine.
THE HOUsEKEEPER.

y
you, we are sure, for it is most commen-
dable, brief and-singularly true.
A poor widow, in the city of Philadel-
phia, was the mother of three pretty chill
dren, orphans Of ship-builder, who lost
his life in the corvette Kensington, a ma
val vessel, built in Kensington for one Of
the South American republics, and launch
ed in 1926. The South Americans being
short of funds, the Kensington, after
years of dalay, was sold to the emperor
ofaIl Russias, and sailed for Constradt in
1880. Some forty of the carpenters, who
had built the vessel, went out in her /;
she had immense but symmetrical spars
carried vast clouds of canvass-was
caught off Cope Henlopen in a squall-
her spars came laundering to the deck,
and poor Glenn, the ship-builder, was
among the slain.
The widow was allowed but a brief
time to mourn for the departed; pinch
ing poverty was at her door upon her
own exertions now devolved the care
and toll of rearing her three children.
Cynthia, the eldest, was pretty bru-
nette Of thirteen; the neighbors thought
Cynthia could ego out to work > the next
eldest, Martin, fine, sturdy and intelli-
gent boy, could go to trade; and the
youngest, Rosa, one of the most beauti-
ful, blue-eyed, blonde little girls of seven
years, poetical fancy ever realized, " the
neighbors thought" ought to be gtce's
TO somebody, TO raise. The mother
was but a feeble woman; it would be
task for her to obtain her own living,
they thought and so, kind, generous
souls, with that peculiar readiness with
which disinterested friends console or ad-
wise the unfortunate, ''the neighbors" be-
came very eloquent and argumentative.
But though the mothers hands were weak
her heart was strong, and her love for
her ch1lQTen StlIl stronger.
1t is rather a singular trait in the hu-
man character, it appears to US, that peo-
pie possessing the ordinary attributes of
sane Christians, should readily advise
others to attempt, or do that from which
they would instinctively recoil; the mass
Of Widow Glenn's advisers might have
been far more serviceable to her, by
contributing their mites towards preserv-
ing the unity Of her little and precious
family, than thus savagely advising its
disbandage.
Newspapers, at this day, were far less
numerous, very expensive; and circulated
to q very limited degree, indeed. But
the widow took paper, a family weekly
journal and while casting her vacant
eye over the columns, at the close of a
Saturday eve, after a severe weeks toll
for the bread her little and precious ones
had eaten, the widows attention was call
ed to an advertisement, as follows:
"a HousEKEEPER WANTED.-An
elderly gentleman desires a middle-aged,
pleasantly-disposed, tidy and industrious
American woman, to take charge and
conduct the domestic affairs of his house
hold. A reasonable compensation allow
ed. Good reference required-the appI5-
cant to hare no membranes. Apply at
this Office for the address, ETC."
The eager smile that seemed to warm
the wan features of the widow, as she
glanced over the advertisement, was dim
med and darkened, as the shining river
of summer is shadowed by the heavy
passing cloud, when she came to the chill
ling words-'sthe applicant to hare no iaa-
cuns5rances."
"No Noincumbrances," moaned the widow
--'sshall none brt God deign to smile OF
have mercy on the helpless orphans? Are
they 70 be feared, Stunned, hated, because
helpless Must they perish-die with
me alone-struggling against our woes
poverty, wretchedness No! | know
fnere Is a God: he is good, powerful
merciful he will turn the hearts ofsome
towards The widow and the orphan apd
though basilisk-like words warn me 70
hope not I will apply-I will attempt tc
win attention-work, slave. toll toll to;I
until my poor hands shall wear to fl.
bone, aud my eyes no longer do their Of
fce-fhe will only have mercy. pitv fo,
my poor. poor orphans-Go bless tbemp
and in melting tenderness and emotion
the poor woman dropped her face upo,
her lap and wept. Her tears were tn
showers Of hope, to the almost parche,
soil other heart, and as the gentle dew
Of heaven fall to the earth, so fell tn
wiaow's tears in balmy freshness upon he
yialans ofa brighter sOmething-in tn,
fasare
Il was vet early IN +ba evAn;re, q. he