The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-08-22
thought of her inability to support her
iatherless children even in the summer

thought of her inability to support he,
latherless children even in the summe
time, and saw no other prospect befor,
her whichever way she looked, anc
knew that the cold, drear, winter wa,
gradually coming on, her heart failec
her utterly and she could only weap.-
The wondering little ones tried by eacl
endearing art they could think of to at
tract the attention, but in vain.
Impressed by their mothers mourn.
full mood, they ate their bread almost
in silence, and when they finished, she
arose mechanically, and laying hel
babe in its cradle, put them to bed
She heard them say their prayers, and
bade good night and God bless them
carefully and tonderly as usual, but
with that subdued, spiritless tone
that emanates from heart without
hope. She continued kneeling by their
bedside long after she had prayed and
wept. Bitterly she wept, but thtre was
no plying eye to see now, no tender
hand to caress, no loving voice to
soothe, as the cry from her over-bur.
dened, dospairing heart, My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me ,
went up over the unconscious sleepers
in that hour of agony.
No pittying eye,' did I say ? The
Eye that never slumbers nor sleeps,
was there: tbe loving kindness that
has said I will be a Father to the
fathorless, was about her even then,
though she knew it not. In the power
Of the Spirit, came the blessed assur-
ance, in answer to her despairing cry
.--' | will never leave thee nor fOrsake
thee and her soul grew calm, all her
old trusting faith returned, and she
arose from her knees TRANQUILITY, feeling
that the Lord is ever present help
in time Of trouble She took down
the little worn Bible from the mantle,
and as she read on through the closing
chapters of st. John, an expression OF
peace ineffable,-' the peace that pass.
eth understanding settled serenly on
her sweet face. Putting the Bible rev.
erently back, she took some mending
from her basket, and soon the clear
tones ofa hymn sounded through the
Stiffness Of the little cottage and
How firm foundation, when pealed
from lordly organs, and echoed through
vaulted dome, never ascended more &C
ceptable to Him who sitteth on the
great white throne
But other eyes beside the All-secing
had been looking in through the low
easement at the lonely sufferer, and now
the sweet tones Of the holy hymn were
by knock at the door
The widow opened it, and saw before
her trayel-stained mar, who asked |
only for a crust of bread and sup of
water. The widow glanced at the loaf
which still lay on the table, and then
at her sleeping children, aud hesitated |
but only for moment; there was
in the tone Of the strangers
Vo ice that came gratefully to her soul,
rs the breath of spring over violets,
and she thought of her own beloved
BOY asking for charity in some distant
and, and she FASTENED to place a chair,
and reach him the loaf, trusting to
Him who causeth it to rain on the
Earth where no man is, to satisfy the
lesolate and waste ground for her or.
pkans.
My mother! my own precious
mother cried the familiar voice, in
,roken tones, and springihg forward,
he was caught and strained to tn:
,eating heart Of her long. lost son.
My son, my son. she could only
nurmur, while he exclaimed: Il am
ich my mother, | have been to Cali
ornia, and have come back rich, be-
ond all | ever hoped or dreamed Of
Ny poor furnishing mother, 1 am just
n time, thank God I! thank God = and
lother and son knelt together in one
lad earnest prayer Of thanksgiving.