The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-30

of the old homestead. Father and mother
had "fuflled all the days of their appoint
ed time" BtotherS and sisters had gone
1 forth to homes of their own. One brother
and one sister, both many years older than
herself, alone remained of the large circle
that had once gathered round the old hearth
stone. Neither of them had married, and
neither of them did marry but quietly they
i lived out their lives Of singlehood, united in
loving tendance upon the infrm sister, and in
all the various household interests of their
small establishment.
Reserving always due time for the cultva-
tior of her mind, and the varied reading that
her active aud graspng intellect required, her
needle was Thankfu's chief source of en-
poyment. The household sewing was a
mere bagatelle to her, and the demands of
| charity, even, could not exhaust her tiraless
industry. The tiny hands were ever deftly
employed, and the marvels of needlework,
the stores of linen, with its delicate stitchery,
the miraculous patchwork, the elaborate en-
brodery, with which the house was filled at
tested her tireless skill.
There might be quiet and peace in the IT,
dy, silent household. The placid faces of
Joel and Srah, and Thankfups beamng one,
sufficiently attested that this was true. But
that there was great want in the heart of the
infrm woman, whose advancing years brought
so little compensation for suferings and sacr-
fees of the rast, who can doubt. Philan-
thropy, bencvolence, difusive charity are
forms which lovely natures take on for their
issuagement. But at the best the relief must
be partial, pleasurable as it is, and full of the
highest enjoyment. Something more init
mate in its nearness TO the hearts own feel
ings and interests. all human beings need,
than these. Thankful had long learned this
from experience.
Her being received new life from the an
uouncement that at length reached her, in a
letter from the Rev. Mr. Nel.on, that he pro-
posed sending home his only child, a son of
seven years. Three other children had died
victims to the climate in which they were
born. His wife had been three years dead
and now the lonely man must deprive him.
self of the sole link remaining of his house
hold band. Thankfuls heart was very sad
for him. But it bounded with gladness at the
thought that she could welcome to her home
ard gently nurture the little waite about to he
launched upon the sea that laved the inhos-
pitaole shores of its BIRTH She wrote, ask
ing 10 be permitted to assume mothers care
of the little child.
A great change came over Thankful Brew
ster with the arrival Of the child. During all
the years that had elapsed since she volunta-
rily laid away from her the JOY of her life, a
settled mournfulness had made her eyes the
saddest that ever was seen. In her most
cheerful moods this never left her. In those
happiest hours, when she was devoting every
energy to the benefit of the needy and suffer
ing, it was still there. But when the little
Z Ralph came, the sadness went out of those
calm, serene eyes forever, and in its place
shone a gladness like that which beams from
the mothers eye when she gazes upon hel
first born.
Never was devotion more beautiful than
that with which Aunt Thankful Gas from the
day of the child's arrival she was clled, il
imitation of his affectionate appropriation o
the titie,) gave herself to the care OF her lit
tie charge. No mother could have beer
, fonder none more wholly alive to every in
terest of the child. There was no weak in
diligence, no undignifed fretfulness. Re
: proof was not wanting in its season, nor sucl
! correction the child's faults demanded
/ Rut + tboo /, bo
love as her caresses or her PRAYERS
And the boys love was her compensation
for all her sorrows and her cares. He lovec
her as he might have loved the mother h
scarcely remembered, while her beauty ant
} her Eelplessness aroused in him passionate
devotion, such is extremely rare either il
child or man. To have braught tear 10 he
eye, or pang to her heart, was soon a pun
, ishment greater than he could have borne
. and thus, through his great love, Aun
Thankful became the mistress of the boy
destiny All, we'll for him that she was
A wise, calm woman, strong in Christian faith I!
E All the years, since that day that brough
S the child to her, have been happy ones. Nc
3 that no sorrow has ever darkened them. Yo
know there have been sorrows, and painfr
: partings, because Aun. Thankful lives quit
l alone, and the grass is green on the graves
q Joel and Sarah. Beneath the restless wave
! of that great cemctery-the scales anoth
er-perhaps best beloved of all. But ther
are to be joyful meetings, by and by. Thos
j who have laid aside the fesh are not dead
only gone to better home. newer life
Out of the quiet church yard, from the deptt
q of the ocean, they shall all be gathered atth
. last
4 David Nelson died on shipboard, and W;
buried in the sea- ten years ago, as he W;
sailing homewarl to look once more upon tE
/. faces of his kindred and the friends of h
y youth. Aunt Thankful sometimes feels th
J. they are less widely separated now tha
n when he lived on earth. Perhaps she
+ right
) You have seen the handsome young Ina
;. who drew her to church, in the little carrag
ar That is Ralph Nelson, her adopted son. T
,t made the carrigae with his own hands, pu
&c posely for her use, and he never fails to bril-
it 10 her door whenever devotion, or pleasur
n or duty call her forth. No son could be mo
"a 4 devoted and the mutual love of the two
J. something marvellous to witness.
an Ralph will bring home wife soon, one
nd Aunt ThankfuPs nieces, and the DEAR beau
t S,,l ol1 I.d,, x,iJl nayar he alone any more