The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-01-11

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noted for its cheerful happiness. Her
friends shook their heads, gravely, and
predicted evil consequences from the
indulgence of such great grief. Some
even went to her house for the purpose
Of remonstratingwith her. She refused,
kindly but firmly, to see them. She
thanked them for their sympathy, but
could not yet bear to see any one she
had known during her husbands life
time. .f.et
Living in the same village, was an old
man who had been firm friend TO Han
nah's father. His name was Eben
Pratt. He was Quaker, and man
well known in the village for his purity
and uprightness Of character Hannah
had been attached to him from child
hood, and had always seemed to regard
him as second father
Eben Pratt was very kind to her when
her husband died lie felt sorry to see
her give way so entirely to her great
grief, but for long time he made no
effort to check it, He thought il best
to wait awhile At last he determined
to speak to her on the subject One
morning he went to her house, and asked
for an interview She begged him 10
excuse her, as she felt unfit to see any
one that day. The old man renewed
his request saying that he must sec her
on matter of great importance, and
was shown into her presence He found
her seated in darkencd room, clad in
heavy mourning. She sat listlessly,
aud with sad, heart-broken expression
on her face Her two boys were sitting
in distant part Of the room, watching
her with looks Of awo aud wonder. -
She greeted herold friend absently, and
asked him TO be seated Ebcn Pratt
took the chair TO which she pointed,
and. after silence Of few minutes,
said, half sadly aud half steruly:
II see thou hast not yet forgiven the
Almighty, Hannah /"
Hannah started, aud looked at him
in surprise
II sec that thou art still lolended with
thy Maker he went on, because, in
his wisdom, he has seen ft Ia visit thee
with sorrow Ia this right, Hannah y
There was something in the old man .
tone and manner that affected her
greatly.
Indeed Uncle Eben, she exclaimed,
Il did not look at il in this light p
perhaps not, he replied, "but Is it
not so ? The Almighty gave thee q
good aud true husband, aud for time
thou didst live in happiness. Thy hus-
band was Gods gift TO thee, Hannah,
aud il he has seen fit to deprive thee OF
this blessing, is it right for thee to rebel
against his will God gives Us all light
health and chcerfulness, and il is our
duty to use them TO the best advantage
Yet thou sittest here, with the pure
light shut out, brooding vainly over thy
loss, sacrificing thy health, and destroy
ing thy cheerfuluess. Now ask thy
own conscience, Hannah, if this is not
rescnting the action Of thy Maker p
"But, Uncle Eben, il seems so heart
less to be cheerfulan happy, after such
loss as mine"
@Not SO, my child, not SO. When the
Almighty took thy husband, he did not
design to make thee miserable | do
not ask thee not to grieve for thy help
mate, for that would be unnatural j
simply ask thee to be cheerful and con-
tented with thy lot"
81 am the only one affected by my
sorrow" said Hannah, hesitatingly
"Is it So" asked Eben Pratt, re.
proachfully. "Hast thou been so blind,
HannahI Look at thy boys" he con-
tinued, pointing to where the children
sat, hushed and awed. "Dostthou hear
their merry laughter now as often as
before2 Is thy household as happy and
contehted now as formerly 2"
Hannah bowed her head humbly, be-
fore this rebuko; then stretching out
her arms, called her children to her.
Clasping them to her breast, she burst
into passion of tears.
"They are ALL have left, she sobbed.
"Thou speakest truly" said Eben
Pratt, gently. "They are all that is
left to thee, and yet thou wouldst cloud
their young lives with sorrow"
81 sec it all now How wrong have
been" sheanswered, through her tears,
"fiow can ever thank you, Uncle
Eben, for the good this visit has done
me Z"
Hannah, said the old man, rising
from has seat, God deals with each Of
US in his own way. He has sent try