Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-10
MistGllantOns.
WAS 1T NOT PROVIDENCE,

About forty years ago, in the Western
part of New York, lived lonely widow,
Mozher. Her husband had been dead many
years, and her only daughter was grown up
and married, living at the distance of mile
or two from the family mansion.
And thus the old lady lived alone day and
night. Yet in her conscious innocence and
trust in Providence, she felt safe and cheer
her work quietly during the day
light and at eventide slept sweetly.
One morning, however, she awoke with
an extraordinary and unwonted gloom upon
her mind, which was impressed with the ap-
prchension 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 go abroad
to give vent to it, unbosoming herself to her
friends, especially to her daughter. With
her she spent the greater part of the day,
and to her she several times repeated the
recital of her apprehensions. The daugh.
ter as often repeated the assurance that hel
good mother had never done injury to any
person, and added, I"cannot think any one
would hurt you, for you have not an enemy
in the world"
On her way home she called on neigh
Dor who lived in the last house before she
reached her own. Here she again mad
known her continued apprehcnsions, whicl
had nearly ripened into fear, and from tn,
lady of the mansion she received answer
similar to those of her daughter. "Yol
have harmed no one in your whole lifetime
surely no one will molest you. Go hom
in quiet, and Rover shall 60 with you; here
Rover" she said to stout Watchdog tha
lay on the floor, "here, Rover 90 homo witt
Mrs. Mozher and take care of her." Rove
did as he was told. The widow went home
milked her cows, took care of everything ou
of doors, and went to bed as usual. Rove
had not left her for nm instant. When sh
was fairly in bed, he laid himself down upo
the outside, and as the widow relied upo
his fidelity, and perhaps child herself fc
needless fear, she fell asleep. Some tim
in the night she awoke, being startled prol
ably, by slight noise outside the house,,
It was so slight, however, that she was nc
aware of being startled at all, but heard, {
soon as she awoke, sound like the raisin
of window near her bed, which was in
room on the ground floor.
The dog neither barked nor moved. Ne!
I there was another sound, as if some oil
; was in the room and stepped cautiously {
the floor. The woman saw nothing, b
h now, for the first time, felt the dog move,
: he made n violent spring from the bed, al
:, at the same moment, something fell on {
, floor, sounding like heavy log. Then f
lowed other noises, like the paving of dol
J. feet; but soon all was still again, and t
: dog resumed his place on the bed witho
having barked at al !.
This time the widow did not immediate
go to sleep, but lay awake wondering, y
not deeming it best to get up. But at Ii
she dropped asleep, and when she awo
the sun was shining. She hastily stepp
out of bed, and there lay the body of a mi
nd extended on the floor, dead, with lal
i, knife in his hand, which was even now
= tended. The dog had seized him by I
Y throat with a grasp of death, and neitl
man nor dog could utter sound till all v
es over. This man was the widows son-in-ls
to the husband of her only daughter. He C
Is. eted her little store of wealth, her hou
go her cattle, and her land; and instigated
his sordid impatience, he could not wait
ri the decay of nature to give her property
u to him and his, as the only heirs-appare
: but made this stealthy visit to do deed
D. darkness in the gloom of the night. A fe
tt, full retribution awaited him. The wido
apprehcnsions communicated to her mil
and impressed upon her nerves, by wi
unseen power we know not, the sympat
of the woman who loaned the dog, and {
silent but certain watch of the dog hims,
3 formed chain of events which brought /
murderer's blood upon his own head, a
which are difficult to be explained, with'
reference to that Providence which numb
$. the hairs of our heads, watches the sparro
fall, and shapes our ends, rough hew th'
v. as we will."-Harper's Weekly.