The weekly ledger., 1857-05-16


yet it must be done, for what God has decreed,
no man can withstand. With sad hearts
they took last long look at the lonely grave
and proceeded on their journey.
A cloud Of sadness hung over that once
happy family, where bright hopes had been
cherished and pleasant dreams of the future
had enchanted the mind Now, whether by
messy brink or barren plain all was sorrow,
and each step onward only seemed TO seper-
ate them from one it seemed impossible to
lose. The aged mother grew weaker and pa
ler as each day passed away. The father also
was sad; his grey hiars were bowed in sor-
row. Still there was one link which bound
the aged couple to the world. One who was
worthy the name of son; whose heart was
pure, who was untarnshed with the guilt of
the world, and knew not its wicked ways
From him the only ray Of light, the only
spark Of hope proceeded to cheer their gloomy
way. That one was George.
The grief which was constantly preying
upon the mothers mind together with expo
sure, consequent upon encamping in the damp
air at night, were more than she could bear,
and though she strove to contend against
every demonstration of sickness, and hide the
effects of the mortal disease which was prey
ing upon her vitals, vet before they had
reached the borders Of the golden land, she
lay PROSTATE upon the bed Of death Call
ing around her all with whom she was ac-
quainted, she bid them last adieu. She
spoke words of comfort to that aged hus-
band and father, the one with whom she had
shared every comfort and every misfortune ;
I ON to ba o1
on earth. She prayed God to bless George
to guide his steps Alright; to give him pure
heart, end strength sufficient to bear up sue
cessfully against the evil tides of life. She
casped the hand of George within her own
and as the bitter tears streamed down her
aged and pallld face, she told him to look to
the future for his happiness, and never to
blight the pledged faith with the one whose
happiness he should hold dear as life With
prayer upon her lips for their welfare, her
spirit took its winged flight for the mansion of
its great Creator, to return to them no more
on earth.
Again were the remaining two Of that
family plunged in deep grief the wound that
had scarcely ceased bleeding was now torn
airesh. Although they had looked with re-
gret to this hour, for disease cannot long be
hid, yet when the time did come, it brought
deeper sorrow and more lasting pain to the
heart
George, true to his promise, bore every
grief with meekness, strove to suppress every
sigh and hide every emotion which might tell
to his fathers heart the bitter feeling of his
own. His father was in need of all the com
fort his young heart could give, and George
left nothing undone that could relieve his fa-
theirs grief
Al last, after SIX months of toll, anxiety
and suffering had been endured, the father
and son, only, reached the land Of bright
hopes-the land of gold
Soon after reaching the place in which
they designed to settle, George wrote to Ma
ry, describing all that had passed during his
journey; yet held out to her the bright en-
couragement that by the aid of his father he
would return within the appointed time, when
nothing but the sorrowful past should cast
shadow over their future happiness.
Time passed on. George and his father
had obtained claim from which, by care,
they had laid aside some few hundred dollars.
Georges heart beat lighter, when he thought
the time would not be far distant when they
should have made enough to let him return
to her who was his hearts FIRST love. He had
written many letters but, through the mis-
management OF the post Office department,
had received none to assure him that Mary
was not dead, even as his mother and sister
were.
Fortune did indeed seem to smile upon
them now, for as they were working in their
claim, they came upon lead which yielded
much gold, and gave prospects of the speedy
accumulation of large fortune. Georges
father was too eager in collecting the gold,
and placed himself in many situations disa-
greeable to himself and injurious to his health
He had not been used to seeing so much gold
and the thought of obtaining it filled his
brain with the fire which burns in every ava
ricious heart. Morning and evening, early
and late whether dry or drenched with rain,
the old man labored, toed for gold. 1t was
in vain that George demonstrated against such
actions. What was life to him, when happi-
ness was gone He worked that he might
enrich his son; when that was accomplished,
what cared he then to die?
Georges fears for his fathers health were
soon confirmed He had noticed that his face
grew paler and his eyes DIM but the father
spoke not of the deep pain within that was
daily taking him nearer to his grave. One
evening when they had returned from their
work, the old man seemed unusually tired
He ate but little at supper, and retired ear
ler than common to rest. George made sew
eral inquiries in regard to his health, but he
received no definite answer He also retired
to rest, yet he could not sleep; he was fearful
fnr his fnthers snfelY lie arose and with q