Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-11-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
Was it not Providence 2

About forty years ago, in the Western part
of New York. lived lonely widow mother.
Her husband had been dead many years, and
her only daughter was grown and married,
living at distance, of a mile or two from the
family mansion And thus the old lady lived
alone day aud night. Yet in her conscious
innocence and trust in Providence. she felt
safe aud cheerful, did her work quietly during
the daylight. and at eventide slept sweetly.-
One morning, however, she awoke with an
extraordinary aud unwonted gloom upon her
mind, which was impressed with the appre>
hension that something strange was about to
happen to her or hers So full was she OF
this thought that she could not stop at home
that day. but must 20 abroad TO give vent TO
it, unbu>umng herself to her friends, especial
ly Ia her daughter With her daughter she
spent th grearer part Of the day, and to her
she several times repeated the recital OF her
arprehenslrns
The daughter as often repeated the as
snrance that her good mother had uever done
injury To- auv person, and added 81 cannot
think any one would hurt you, for you have
not AN enemy in the world" On her way
home she called on neighbor who lived in
the last house before she reached her own
Here again she made known her continued
npprehensions, which had nearly ripened into
fear and from the lady of the mansion she
received answers similar to those of her daugh-
ter "You have harmed no one in your life-
time. sure no uue will moleSt you, Here,
Rover" said she to stout watch dog that lay
on the floor. "here, Rover, go home with Mrs
MUzher, and take care Of her." Rover did
As he was told The widow went home, MIXED
her COWS, took care of everything out of doors,
and went to bed as usual. Rover had not
left her Tor an instant When she was fairly
in bed, he laid himself down upon the OUT
side. and as the widow relied upon his fidelity,
and perhaps child herself for her needless fear,
she fell asleep. Sometime in the night she
awoke. being startled, probably. by slight
noise outside OF the house. 1t was so slight,
however. that she was not aware of being
startled at all, but heard as soon as she awoke,
a sound like the rising of window near her
bed, which was in room on the ground floor.
The dog neither barked nor moved. Next,
there was another sound, as If some one was
in the room and stepped cautiously on the
floor. The woman saw nothing, but now, for
the first time. she felt the dog move he made
IA violent spring from the bed, and at the same
mon.ent somethiu" fell on the floor, sounding
like a heavy log Then followed other noises,
like the paving of dogs feet but soon all
was stili again. and the dog resumed his 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 90 to sleep or to get up.
But at last she dropped asleep and when she
awoke the sun was shining. She hastily
stepped out of bed, and there lay the body OF
a man extended on the floor dead. with a
large knife in his hand, which was even now
exrended The dog had seized him by the
throat with grasp of death, and neither man
upr dog could utter IA sound until all was over.
This uIan was the widows son>in- law, the
husband of her rniy daughter. He coveted
her li;tle store of wealth her house. her cattle,
and her land and Instigated by his sOrdid
impaticuce he could not wait the decay of
nature to give her property up to him and his,
as The only heirs apparent, but made his
srealthy visit to do de ID of darkness in the
gloom of the night. A fearful retributiOn
awaited him The widows apprehensions,
Communicated to her mind, and impressed
upon.her nerves by what unseen power we
know not, the sympathy Of the woman who
loaned the dog, and the silent but certain
watch of the dog himself. formed a chain of
events Which brought the murderer's blood
upon his own head and which are difficult to
be ex plaiued without that reference to Provi-
deuce which numbers the hairs of our heads,
watches the sparrow's fall and shapes our
ends, rough hew them as we will.
HdTper'S Weekly.