The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-12-29

" ditcT was StlcuG lOs u ulOucuU, IuCI
he said:
allow can he take care of you here in
these vast woods7 He cannot give you
food and shelter here"
at says in the Bible that God takes
care of the ravens and the lilies of the
field, and I can trust him; he can keep
me from harm here as we'll as anywhere
else, and perhaps he will send somebody
to take care of me-"
THAT he has done already, child"
exclaimed Walter. "Tell me who you
are?"
With artless simplicity Mary related
the story of her life. Her name, she
said, was Mary Waters her father was
sea captain, and during his life they lived
very comfortably in the city; but he was
lost at sea. After her fathers death her
mother removed to the little village be-
yond, where she maintained herself and
child by sew ing for the wealthy people.
But broken down in health and spirits,
she died, leaving her orphan child to the
mercy of strangers and the cold charity
of the world, poor haven of safety and
au unavailing means of support. Truly
with Hood we may exclaim-
Alas for the rarity
Of Christian charity
Under the sun
For year Mary had gone from place
to place, poorly clad and half starved, un-
+;l 30 I,,,t dr;vou frono bor loe+ ,,;,,r.blo
home, she sought refuge where Walter
found her. and trusting implicitly in the
all-prevailing, overrulng care of God, she
determined to stay there, hoping tina. he
would send her friend, and ee had -
Walter Murray listened to the artless story
and when she concluded, he said:
"Mary, you may call it Godsend if
you will, but certainly you have found a
friend. You must come home with me;
my home is some distance from here, but
we will reach it by night There, my lit
tie one, you shall be no more neglected,
but loved and cared for"
Mary clapped her hands in an ecstasy
of childish JOY, and exclaimed,
ooh! | feel so happy now, have
something to thank God for on thanksgiv-
ing day" .......
Walter seated her in front of him on
the horse, and wrapping her ip his mantle,
they rode on for some time in silence. AT
length he said:
"Mary you thanked God for my prom.
Use to befriend you-why did you do that?
1t was me you ought to thank"
Il do thank you, oh! so much; bnt il
was God who made you promise"
How did He make me promise?
did it with my own free will
"Yes, know, but still it was Him;
can't tell you just now, but He put it into
your heart to come into the wood and fnC
me, just the same as if saw some money
and wanted to steal it, God would put i
into my heart not to, and so I wouldn't. .
"Better logic than ever learned
at school, Mary" exclaimed Walter
II am perfectly satisfied with your explain
alton"
Mary was perfectly satisfied, too, al
though she did not clearly understand
him; and she felt happier, poor child,
than she had done for many long
day. 4 l ..
When Walter Murray reached his city
home with his little charge, hearty vel
come, a warm fire and Thanksgiving
supper, awaited him. Mrs. Clinton
his widowed sister, had two months before
lost her only child, little girl about
year younger than Mary, and hearing
her name; and into the place so sorely va
cant the mourning mother took the home
less orphan. and her exclamatious accord
ed with the child's
! "Now, Walter this is indeed thanks
giving night to me. You are safe a
home, and have given me something to
love mes in the place of my lost Mary"
Walter contrasted the similitude O
their sentiments, and for weeks anG
months pondered it over in his mind.
Mary Waters had indeed found {
home now, and one where she was brough
up carefully and instructed we'll. Sht
was taught to call Mrs. Clinton Aun
Ellen, and Walter, Uncle Walter; and hel
warm impdlsive heart was filed with tn,
deepest love for them.
Year after year passed by. and thanks
giving day was always celebrated by Ma.
y as the day that gave her such kind
friends and happy home, aud by Aun,
Ellen for her sweet little adopted niece.
Thus ten years fed, and the child who
from persecution had fed to the barren
woods, and there, trusting in the sover-
eign mercy of God. had so providentiaIly
found friend. had grown to womanhood
with all the characteristics which marked
her childhood fully developed.