The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-05-12
GBt Yomc Cjrtlr,
The Distressed Family.

An inhabtant Of village in the cir
Gle of Suabia was reduced to the most
extreme poverty. For some time his
family had subsisted on little oatmeal;
and this being exhausted their miseres
were extreme. a baker to whom the
father owed nine crowns refused with
unrelenting cruelty to supply them
with any more bread till the sum was
paid
The cries of the wretched babes al
most expiring from want and the tears of
an affectionate wife pierced him with
unutterable anguish dearest hus-
band, said the distracted mother,
"shall we suffer these miserable infants
TO perish2 Have we given them birth
only to behold them die of hunger? See
these poor victims, the fruits of our
love- Behold their cheeks already COW
cred with the paleness Of DEATH All,
me, expire with grief and misery
Alasl could I but yet preserve their
lives at the expense Of my own Run,
fly to the next town; speak your dis
tresses; let not our false shame conceal
them; every moment you lose is dag
ger to your dying family. Perhaps
Heaven may yet be touched by our mis-
cries. You may find some good heart
ed person who may yet relieve So
The unhappy father, covered with rags,
and more resembling a spectre than a
man, fastened to the town. He en-
treated, he solicited, he described his
wretched situation with an affecting elo-
queQce, which the bitterness Of anguish
must inspire In vain he implored COM
passion, not one would hear him. Rem
dered desperate by such unexpected
cruelty, he entered into a wood, deter
mined to attack the first passenger
Dire necessity now appeared a law, and
opportunity soon occurred. A pedlar
passed by; he stopped him; the pedlar
made not the least resistance, but gave
up his purse containing twenty crowns.
No sooner had the unfortunate man
committed this robbery, than he felt the
horrors Of remorse; and turning to the
pedlar threw himself in tears at his feet.
"Take back your money" said he; "be-
lieve me how much it cost me before ]
could be resolved to commit this crime;
my heart has been unused to guilt
Come, l beseech you, to my cottage
you will there see the only motives that
could lead me to this action; and when
you view the deplorable condition of
my family, you will forgive-you will
pity me-you will be my bonefaotor--
my prcserver,"
The poor honest pedlar raised the un-
fortunate man and comforted him. Un.
able to withstand his solicitations, OF
Tather yielding to the feelings of his
own compassionate heart he hesitated
not to follow the peasant But with
what emotions did he enter the ruinout
habitation How moving every obiec
the children almost naked living on
straw, dying with hunger; and the moth
er the picture of the deepest distress
The peasant related the adventure tC
his wife. "You know, he said, "witt
what eagerness 1 went to the town IN
hopes Of finding some relief. But, all
met only hard hearts, people benefit
ted 10 amassng riches, or in dissipatinl
what they already have In luxury ant
idle expenses Refused by ALL despor
ate, furious, 1 went into neighboring
Wood-oan you believe it2 have dared
-ohl oh, [ can't tell your
"Rity my poor babes, exclaimed the
distracted mother, looking with moving
earnostness at the pedlar, "oonsider my
miserable situation Alas poverty hatl
not altered our sentiments. 1t is al
our misery, We have yet possessed ou
honesty / beseeoh your mercy for m,
poor husband; i implore your oompas
sion for these wretched infants"
The good pedlar, melted BY this mel
ancholy scene, mingled his tears Will
those Of the poor people. ~ am you