The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-01-22
The Widows Son.

1AO ~ tsAOW w . NOh'
/ Ii was fine December morning. nearly
two year. ago, when | was walking on II
country road not many miles from one Of
the busiest manufacturing towns of Eng
laud. I he snow clouds during the night
had dropped thick veil on wood and
field, AM on the distant moor whose out
lines were boldly defined against the lead
en- sky. had been far from well lately,
and the beauty Of the wintry scene filled
my heart with unwontcd bucyahcy and
| pleasure.
suddenly the clear tone of the passing
bell fell upon my ear, and saw that
was near one of those pretty English
churchyards that crown the summit of
many II hill, and in which lie the rude
! icreiatlrrs of the hnmlcts beneath them.
Ani looking again, | saw IA little funeral
procession slowly move up the snowy path
and enter the low church porch. ]
mounted the steep brae, and reached the
chnr hyard Just as the little procession
was vending its way to an open grave.
1t was an humble funeral, only two
mourners followed the plain coffin, and
they were women, an old woman
with face that showed few signs Of any
thing but sclii>hness the other Younger,
better looking. and with face of such
agonizing woe that it haunted my dreams
for months. She was dressed very simply
and poorly, and the few pieces Of rusty
n,l.i IN ,l, ,c1 IL
showed how deep must be the poverty
that coull pay no better outward respect
for the dead, mOurneI at heart 20 truly
She made no noisy demonstration of grief.
While the solemn service was being read
10y the gravhnired minister, she kept her
poincd eyes fixed on the coffin and when
they moved it into is place, and the sol
emn words, ''aShcs TO ashes, dust to dust"
followed by the rattle Of the snowy earth
upon the coffin lid, were heard, she closed
her eyes with IA convulsive shudler.
When the muurncrs left the grave
stepped forward and looking down, read
on the coffin lid the words
MARX lIowARD AGLD o."
There was a man by my side, and tc
him | turned and asked "who he was
that lay there in the prime of his youth"
lie WAS Il tail, rough, working man, and
| was not IL little surprised at the agitation
OF his face as he answered, in Il low,
p incd voice, " lie was the only son of
his mother, and she is widow"
might well look surprised at lhe tone
in which they were spoken. | suppose
he saw the expression on my face, for he
continued
"Ay, q widow, AM poor, too-very
poor. And he were her only son and
hope in hie."
God help her." l said, "ber's is a
bitter lot"
"Ay,' he continued, -" ny, fine lad
was Mark Howard, sir, when first cast
eye on him just three years apone. And
now what is hc--what is he :"
I've no right" he continued, 'to
stand 10y his grave. I'm nowt of kith and
kin; but rhowt / maun come and see
him lad where brought him, sir"
- You need not look so scared like,
sir; there's many man does murder
whose hand is never red with the victims
blood--an' | killed him. Not that
meant to harm thee, lad :" and he went
closer To the fast filing grave. No, no :;
bat led him into temptation, an it were
too strong Tor the lad, TOO strong"
II have 10 right 10 ask you such II
question" said, but your words have
made IL deep impression upon my mind
Why do you bring this serious charge
against yourself?
"lou ask me how came TO kill the
widows son. Listen sir. think to
tell you may ease nv heart, may be-
never set eyes on Mark Howard until
the lad come to my side in tn factory
ava yondcr, three years ago this Christ
mas ii lc,-you see | am weaver far
ava. where the black clouds lie banked
and when fir; saw him, he were as
fine and frank a lad n cod be. and ms
free from vice and shame as yon untrod-
den snow | was pleased wi the lad and
took kindly to him. Likely | might be
rough and short at times but | really
liked him aud made him companion.
lie soon told mo his hie's story-how be
were fthcrlcs-, and an only child an
how that, God willing, hc meant TO work
for his mother and take her frae her poor
home into II better, AMI may be make
lady of her yet ! think, sir, nay know
that on the day he told me a that
stayed AVA frae the public house and
kept him ava frae il too.
lie lived wi mc-Mark did-much
as young'r brother, for have neither
wife nor weans. What | did he did.
And many an evening, when nave spent
long hours at the beer shop, he las been
by my side.
Not that I were n drunkard, sir
Nay, nay; but | drank deep, as many e
US do, sir, deeply and steadily. were
fond of going to the club, where we ak
cd politics and make speeches and drink