Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-16
%See Numbers l, As, As.


NAPO AOE AAhLnOrtalAJys
A few years since, when on a visit to Wo-
burn Center, our attention was called to a
man who was drawing hand carriage with a
child In it, accompanied by two other children
who were walking by his side. Occasionally
he picked flower from the wayside and pre-
scented it to one of his young companions He
appeared to be engaged in conversation,
doubtless explaining the names and qualities
OF the flowers, which attracted the notice of
the children.
THAT man" said our companion, sis gem
orally considered rather odd in his ways
though nc one has ever alleged anything
against him; on the contrary, he is very in
dustrous, very frugal without being mean,
and leads very retired life. He is not yet
forty, though he seems much older and is
still bachelor.
When he was lad, his mother took charge
OF friendless girl, and brought her up as
carefully as if she had been her own daughter :;
and when she reached womanhood he offered
himself to her in marriage, but she declined,
and married another. This refusal seemed to
make no change in his habits; he continued
active in business as jouneyman currier,
and passed his little leisure always IN his mo-
theirs company. Sometimes his shopmates
Joked nm about being rejected, but he invari-
ably turned their Jokes aside by good-na-
tured remark. He was not to be offended
His youthful companion, when she left
with her husband he treated atfectionately as
a sister, and told her, if unfortunate, to al
ways bear in mind that in him she would
have a friend while he lived. She had four
children, when her husband died and left her
destitute. Her early friend learning her con-
dition, FASTENED to bring her and her little
ones home to his own house, and provided
for b,J
own. Although his mother is now well ad-
vanced in life, she is as kind to the widow and
her children as her son. Every Sunday,
when the weather is fine, he walks with them,
and though man of few words in the compa-
ny of those with whom he works, yet he takes
special delight in chatting to the children"
We stated these facts briefly at the time,
and having been at Woburn again few days
since, we made inquiry concerning this sin
gular man, if he continued as kind to the
widow and her children as when we first
heard the story? We were informed that
both she and her benefactor, as well as his
mother, were dead. Between two and three
years since sine and his mother died within a
few months Of each other, leaving him alone
to take care OF the children. The youngest
was adopted by an aunt; but he retained the
others and provided for them with the same
devotion as when he first took charge of them.
He washed aud mended their clothes himself,
cooked their food, sent them to the day ard
Sunday schools, and was, in Short to them
both father and mother, for he did not
employ a domestic to do his house work.
About six months since he ruptured a blood
vessel, and was informed by his physician
that he could not hope to survive.
Calmly he dictated ms will, and divided his
property, some eight or ten thousand dollars
equally among the children, and then "fel
asleep in Jesus" His only regret in leaving
NE was his anxiety for the future welfare o
the children; but firm in the faith that hi
heaNehiy 1ather would take care of them, he
commended them to His love, kissed them
and passed to his rest. When he was laid il
She coli n, lady who saw him said that hi
was surrounded by the children, who went a,
if their hearts would break And well tho,
might for he had been to them in life and II
death all that the kindest father could hav,
been. His name was Stephen CUMMINGS
and he was much respected by all who knew
him.
How pure must have been his love, ct,
have triumphed over time and all its muta
tions, over pain, sickness, sorrow, and tn,
grave, and to have doomed in such immorta
beauty, when all else had becomed witheret
and dry" Yet the world said he was odd be
cause he had a way of his own, and because
he sought pleasure from source which til,
good alone appreciate. How exalted mus
have been his inner life, for all his actions
seemed to be mountaineering was ever salt
or done by him for display or for the applause
of his neighbors, but all was the outgrowth o
retiring, patient love. He was ripe for i'm
mortality when his Father called him home
In this age of selhshness it is truly refreshing
to record such an instance of noble disinter
estedness.
WHAT THE TENNESSEE UN1oNIsTs SAY o
1.-THE Nashville Union-the brave orga
OF brave and uncompromsing Union sent
ment in the heart of the southwest-has tn
following statement of the issues of the war
"Ihe most bigoted, jealous. graspinp. insa
uate, cruel, barbarous and despotic infiupnc
which ever cursed nation, has been the mo
hucal power of African slavery. The deadl
foe to all progress and Improvement. the enc
my of free thought and of free speech. IN
oppressor and disiranchiser of the poor Nh
monopolizer Of land and the consolidation O
wealth, hostile to the mechanical arts and I
all inventions, the corrupter Of courts and tn
pollution Of churches, il has sought to max