Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-05-06
WAS 1T NOT PROVIDENCE?

About fifty years ago, in the western part
of the State of New York, lived a lonely wild
ow, named 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 the conscious innocence and
trust in Providence, she felt safe and cheerful
did her work quietly during the daylight,
and at night slept sweetly.
One morning, however, she awoke with an
extraordinary and unwonted gloom upon her
mind, which was impressed with the appre-
henson 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 90 abroad and give vent
to it by 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 her aeprehensions.
The daughter as often repeated the assurance
that her mother had never done injury to any
person, and added, 81 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 made
known her continued apprehensions, which
had nearly ripened and from the lady of the
mansion she received answers similar to those
of her daughter, "You have harmed no one
in your whole lifetime, surely no one will mo-
lest you. Go home in quiet, and Rover shall
90 with you. Here Rover" said she to a
stout watch dog that lay upon the floor, "here
Rover, 90 home with Mrs. Mozher, and take
care of her." Rover did as he was bid
She went home, MIXED her cows, took care
of every thing out of doors and went to bed
as usual. Rover had not left her for an in
slant. When she was fairly in bed, he laid
down on the outside, and as the widow reli-
ed on his fidelity, and perhaps chided herself
for needless fear she fell asleep. Some time
in the night she awoke, being startled, proba-
bly,, by a slight noise outside the house. 1t
was so slight, however, that she was not
aware of being startled at all, but heard, as
soon as she awoke, a sound like the raising OF
window near her he'd, which was in a room
on the ground floor
The dog neither barked nor moved. Next
there was another sound, as if some one was
in the room and stepped cautiously on the
floor. The woman saw nothing, but now fol
the first time felt the dog move, as he made a
violent spring from the bed, and at the same
moment something fell on the floor, sounding
like heavy log. Then followed other noises
like the paving of dogs feet; but soon all
was still again, and the dog resumed his splace
on the bed, having neither barked or growled
This time the widow did not 90 to sleer
Immediately, but lay awake wondering, YET
deeming it best not to get up. But at las,
she dropped asleep, and when she awoke the
sun was shining. She hastily stepped out o
bed, and there lay the body of man extend
ed on the floor, dead, with large knife in hi
hand, which was even now extended. The
dog had seized him by the throat with GRASP
of death, and neither dog nor man could ut
ter sound till all was over. This man wa'
the widows son-in-law, the husband of be-
daughter. He coveted her little store o
wealth, her house, cattle, and her land; and
instigated by sordid impatience, he could no
wait for the decay of nature to give her prop
erty up to him and his, as the only heirs-ap
parent, but made this stealtby visit to do {
deed of darkness in the gloom of night. A
fearful retributiou awaited him. The wild
ow's apprehensions, communicated to he
mind and impressed upon her nerves by wha
unseen power we know not the sympathy o