Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-04-11
Was it rot Providence2

About forty years ago, in the Wes-
tern par; Of New York, lived a lonely
widow mother Her husband had been
dead many years, and her only daughter
was grown and married, living at the
lily mansion. And thus the old lady liv-
ed alone day and night. Yet in her con
scious Innocence and trust III Providence,
she felt safe and cheerful, did her work
quietly during the daylight, and at even
tide slept sweetly. Cne morning, how
ever, she awoke with an extraordinary
and unwonted gloom upon her mind,
which was impressed with the appre-
hension that something strange was a.
bout to happen to her or hers. So full
was she ot this thought that she could
not stop at home that day, but must go
abroad to give vent to it, unbosoming
herself TO her friends, especially to her
daughter. With her,she spent the great
er part of the day, and to her she several
times repeated the recital of her appre-
tensions.
The daughter as often repeated the
assurance that her good mother had new
er done injury to any person, ,sand added:
81 cannot think any one would hurt you
for you have not an enemy Ill the world y
On her way home she called on il neigh
Dor who lived in the last house before
she reached her own. Here again she
made known her continued apprehen-
sioEs, which had never ripened into fear,
and from the lady of the mansion she
received answers similar to those Of her
daughter. '.Y ou have harmed no one
in your lifetime, sure no one will mo-
lest you. Here Rover" said she TO a
stout Watchdog that lay on the floor,
g here, Rover, 60 home with Mrs. Mo
zher, and take care Of her." Rover did
as he was told The widow went home,
mi. kad her COWS, and took care of every
thing ont of doors, and went to bed as
usual. Rover had not left her for an in
slant. When she was tarely i'll bed, he
laid himself down upon the outside, and
as the widow relied upon his fidelity,
and prehaps child herself for needless
fear, she fell asleep. Sometime in the
night she awoke, being startled, proba-
bly,, by slight noise outside the house.
1t was so slight however, that she was
not aware of being startled at all, but
heard as soon as she awoke, sound like
the raising Of window near her bed,
which was i'll room on the ground
floor. The dog neither barked nor
moved. Next, there was anoGhef sound
as if there was some one i'll the room and
stepping cautiously on the floor. The
woman saw nothing, but now for the
first time, felt the dog move, as he made
violent spring from the bed, and, at
the same moment, something fell on the
floor, sounding like heavy log. Then
followed other noises, like the paving of
dogs feet; but soon all was still again
and the dog resumed bis place on the
bed without having barked or growled
at all This time the widow did not
90 to sleep Immediately, but lay awake
suffering, yet not deeming it best to get
up. But at last she dropped asleep, and
when she awoke the sun was shining.
She LASTLY stepped out of Led, and there
lay the body of man, extended on the
floor dead, with large knife in his hand,
which was even now extended. The
dog had seized him by the throat with
grasp of death, and neither man nor dog
could utter sound till all was over.
This was the Widows son-inlaw, the
husband of her only daughter. lie COW
eted her little store of wealth, her mouse
her cattle, and her land; and instlgated
by his sordid impatience, he count net
wait for the decay Of nature to give her
property up to him and his as the only