Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-13
THE WIDOWS LAST TRIAL.
He was the only son of his mother,
And she was widow"

He was the only son of his mother,
And she was widow"
And tomorrow you are to be taken into
the tirm as partner" This was uttered by
an aged female, sitting with one of her withered
hands clasped in that of her son, young man
of two and-twenty, who sat looking in her face,
with eyes beaming with affectionatc interest
"This fully repays me, my beloved son, for all
have suffered"
For n moment the sons features appeared
clouded with sorrow; he thought what that
suffering had been; of the years long past,
when the mother now sitting beside him, so be-
loved, had submitted to toll and privation, en-
during all things for his sake; his eyes glisten-
ed with tears, till brushing them away hastily,
smile broke over his countenance
"True, mother" he said; "but let these
recollections be forgotten now. The memory
ofthe past we will bury in oblivion, and think
only of the days that are to come"
"Butyou will not allow prosperity to harden
your heart, William; you will not let your
good fortune make you high-minded, and for
get Him, who has been friend in the hour Of
trouble?"
No mother, I will not forget that am the
child of God-yet should temptation assail me,
| have only to think of your precepts and ex-
ample, and they would always deter me from
doing wrong. But think, mother" he con-
tinued, a bright CLEAN lighting up every fea-
ture, how happy shall be, in being enabled
to place you in the sphere of life to which your
virtues entitle you. If you knew how often
busy fancy has pictured this hour, how often
have dwet upon the idea of one day being
able to place you i'll home equal to your
merit, you would not wonder, that now, when
| see my wishes on the of accomplishment
it should thus subdue mc.r
2 "Nor do /, nor do !, my son." the mother
said, with fearful eyes; but you think more
fayorably, my boy, of your aged mother thar
she deserves. | doubt not many will think, and
say, tie old woman has now more than she
merits and really, though l am proud of your
advancement, | should not murmur, at never
having a more comfortable home than the pre-,
sent one you have provided me-"
The night was pichey dark, not star being
visible, while the wind blowing in fitful gusts,
portended storm of unusual violence.
"'Twill be stormy night fear" said the
young man, rising and going towards the door
to look out. "The river is already swollen,
and if the rain falls as it did the other evening
/ fear much damage win ensue. You heard oI
the poor fellow drowned in the canal last
night"
"Ycs," the mother replied; 81 hope he had
friends to care for him. 'Tis dreadful death
to die" she added, musingly.
"They say not" said William, "many who
have encountered it, assert the being brought
to, is the most painful part to endure"
1t may be So" the mother answered "but
I fervently trust no one dear to me may ever
be submitted to the experiment"
A vivid fash Of lightning, followed by the
low, rumbling thunder, caused William now tc
retire; and observing again that the river would
be very high, he closed the door,
II was now the usual hour for family wor-
ship. The mother had seated herself in cor,
ner of the fireplace, with her features settled
into look of devotion, while the son, with q
corresponding gravity, walked toward the stand
on which the family Bible was placed, and open.
ing the sacred volume, began reading chap.
ter. Religion with them, was not the cold ex.
preston of the lip alone. 1t was the incense
of the heart II was beautiful sight, that
aged mother, and her only son, bending their
knees, and lifing up their voices to the Most
High. Perhaps the events of the day bad given
deeper tone of tenderness to Williams voice
and feelings; certain IL was, he had never pray
cd more fervently than on that evening; and
when they separated for the night, the poor
old woman looked forward TO the bright vista
Of the future, with full confidence Of its meet
ing her most sanguno anticipations.
Tho mother of William had been left widow,
while he was in his second year. BY dint Of
hard labor, she had managed to keep her boy
at school, until he arrived at his fifteenth year,
when she obtained situation for him with a
merchant residing at the fourishing town Of
Rochester, in the State Of New York Williams
good conduct and steady application to busi-
ness, won him the favorable opinion of his en-
ployer. The merchant was man Of great
benevolence; he could appreciate merit in what
ever station it was to be met; and when he saw
the lad supporting an aged mother out Of his
carnings-never mingling. with the low and
vicious, and practising fidelity in business
unusual in one so young, il was impossible to
avoid feeling an involuntary respect for his
character. William was aware Of the merchants
kindness he knew that his salary exceeded
that given to other boys; still he never pre-
sumed upon the merchants disinterestedness,
but was alike respectful to his employer and
their customers. On the day in which he was
introduced to the readers notice, he had been
offered share in the merchants lucrative
husincss Never had his brtohtaet visions MIC.