Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-05-27
From the Knickerbocker Magazine.
THE WIDOW LEEDoM's LAST LOAF.

mild air; the yellow sunshine yet gilded the
| hill tops, and the soft shadows of twilight
were creeping silently up the valley, as the
gentle widow Leedom, with her child in her
arms, wended her way homeward. She was
tired, for she had toiled all day in Farmer
Woods kitchen, and though it was Saturday
evening. she had not been paid for her labor.
The kind hearted housemaid at farmer Woods
had urged her to wait for her-supper, but she
could not stay. She had no eye for the glory
of that superb October sunset. as she walked
wearily on, her tired arms scarcely able to hold
the little joyous creature that laughed and
crowed, and ever and anon peercd into her
bonnet, lisping his sweet-toned mamma, mann
ma She thought only of her expectant little
ones, and the means of obtaining bread for
them to last over Sunday. AS she neared the
village, she seemed irresolute whether to en-
fasting children, rose up before her in imagi-
nation, and she stopped, her lips moved mo-
ment or two as if in prayer, and then quicken
ing her step, and hurrying on like one who has
neryed himself to a sudden resolution, she
| turned into the main street, and was soon
standing before the counter of the bakers
shop. The baker was an austere man, but it
was not in human nature to resist the widows
pleading tone and touching expression, as she
falteringly asked him to trust her to a loaf of
bread for day or two. The man handed her
the loaf reluctantly, and was about to insist ON
prompt payment, when glance at the widows
flushed face and embarrassed manner, deferred
him. With scarcely audible thanks she con-
| cealed the loaf under her tattered shawl, and
drawing her babe closer to her bosom, hasten
ed home.
ssMothcr's comet mothers conlel'' cried a
couple of vouug, eager voices, she entered
the gate, and her seven-year-old Robert and
his little sister came running to meet her
They were pretty children. The little Mary
Inherited her mothers m lid blue eyes and del
icatc complexion, and the boy his fathers
handsome face and honest brown eyes. Poor
children, they were accustomed TO being left
alone, for the widow went out to work daily,
and the night was always welcome, that bro't
their mothers loved return. They had thou
sand things to ask and tell, which fell unheed-
ed this time on the ear of the sad mother, tho
she instinctively answered them yes and no,
as occasion required. She gave the loaf TO
Robert, and taking little Mary's hand, they en-
tered the house together. The table was al
ready set out by the cxpectant housekeepcrs,
but there was nothing on it that could be con-
strued into anything eatable, save a cup of mo-
lasscs and some salt. The mother cut slice
| of bread for each of the half-famished chill
dren, and sat quietly by, nursing the youngest,
while they ate it, for she had no heart to eat
! herself. She was very sorrowful as she looked
at those little dependent beings, and thought
| of her failing strength and shading her eyes
with her hand, the tears stole silently down
her pale, patient face, and fell among the
bright curls of the little unconscious head pill
| lowed so peacefully on her bosom. She had
| been sorely afflicted. The husband of her
youth had been stricken down by falling
beam, while attempting to save sick child,
that had been overlooked in the hurry and pa
mic, from a burning building. The child was
saved, but he who perilled his life for it, the
strong, brave-hearted man had perished. The
fruit of this union, her eldest born, her pride
| of heart the noble boy whose every movement
and expression had been so many SMILES of
his buried father, was wanderer she knew not
whittier.
ssYears after the boy had left her, when OBJ
ert Leedom came often to see her in her lone
illness, and ventured to tell her at length how
he had loved her from the time they had play
| ed together at school, and how he had remain
ed single for her sake, and came back always
to the same old port that he might breathe "a
gain the same air that she breathed, and be-
sought her to let him sustain and shield her,
| to comfort her in sickness and sorrow, she
gladdened the honest sailors faithful heart, by
consenting to become his wife. No wonder
the young sailor loved her, she was so neat in
her habits, so gentle and industrious; and her
calm, sweet face and holy eyes shone ever
with s'the beauty that dwelt in her soul. .
She had learned to love her second husband,
and had borne him three fair children. when
the sad news came, that the gallant vessel liz
which he had sailed was wrecked on the dan
gerous coast near Absecomb, and in his gen.
erous efforts to save others, Robert Leedom
was lost. She had been widow the second
time only six months, and now, as she thought
of her utter inability to support her fatherless
children, even in the summer time, and saw
no other prospect before her whichever way
she looked, and knew that the cold, drear WIN
ter was coming gradually on, her heart failed
her utterly, and she could only weep. The
wondering little ones tried by every endearing
art they could think of, to attract-her atten-
tod, but in vain. impressed by their moth
er's mournfnl mood. they ate their bread al
tmost in silence, and when they had finished,