The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-01-30
2.

ooilhS lalHet very much IN opposition 10
the wishes Of her family Gan opposition
solely arising from his poverty, remained
In his native town, pursuing his trade with
medium success for a few years, and then
removed with his wife and young daugh-
ter, their only child, to one of the great
eastern cities where he found out that,
with his skill and industry and persever-
ance, he might in time acquire an honest
competence. Self reliant and proud in
spirit, he resolved neither to ask or accent
assistance from any one, much less from
any of his wife's relations, whose UREA
sonable prejudice agaiusthim had wounded
him deeply. and be determined to convince
them of his ability to support and main
tain his wife and daughter, whom he ten
DERBY and devotedly loved, by his own un-
aided exertions, with great hopes of ulti-
mate comfort and sffiueDce.
For a short time he met with most en-
couraging success, but his extraordinary
exertions had overtaxed bis strength. Un-
willing, however, to abandon his profit
able employment, he continued his labors.
against the entresties of his wife. until an
insidious disease had taken so firm a hold
that from sheer exhaustion he was finally
forced to yield, and was Frustrated on a
bed of sickness. from which he never re-
covered. Slowly but gradually he failed,
yet. so strong was his hope, he could not
realizs the gradual but inevitable decay.
Consumption, that slow, irremovable but
fattering disease, claimed him for its
victim.
The means which he had saved were
soon exhausted, under his increased ex-
penses, but his proud spirit and unfailing
hope of recoyery forbade the communicat-
ing his situation to any of his wife's rela-
tons, and the wife's devotion to her hus-
band was too fervent to allow of thwart-
ing his wishes. She sold one article of
furniture after another to pay for medi-
cipcs, rent and subsistence, and though
she diligently sought employment, she
found none that she could follow without
neglecting her husband, who now, though
nearly helpless, was still looking forward
to re coyery with unvayering faith and
hope.
A day came hen there vas not a mouth
full TO cat in the house, not the means Of
procuring it. The wife nor daughter had
neither tasted food for twenty four hours.
The husband and father was partially de-
~lirious, yet needed nourishment. Could
any one imagine the anguish Of that mother
thus driven to the necessity of entreating
her child, then but a little over eight years
of age, to go into the street and solicit of
strangers sufficient to preserve them from
star walton? Her daughter, all unused as
she was to such employment, sore of heart,
and weak from hunger, went as she was
directed.
Ii was some time before she could ac-
quire the courage even to hold out her hand
to the passing stranger, but after a severe
struggle she finally timidiy extended a
hand, while she clung " 18th the other to a
lamp post for support. In this position she
ittUdiuSh Aoi JIM ihIC Il iSIkkA, nNahs
discouraged and almost huart-broken,
hiding her face as best she could, she wept.
She made no noise but the tears of bitter
anguish could not be restrained. She fell
q gentle hand upon her head, SO gentle it
must be Ter mcilfr's. Ureevering her
face, and looking through her tears, tx
pecting TO see the sweet face Of her mother.
she was disappointed, ard at first ALARMED,
TO see before her a man ofapparent middle
age, dressed in the conventional garb of a
Quaker. She had often seen peoale of this
persuasion, but had never known or spoken
to one. His voice, gentle as Lis hard,
said, Child. tell me thy sorrow.' She
looked in bis kind face and for a few NOM
eat. could not speak for sobbing.
lie stood the meanwhile patient and
quiet. then. taking her little cold hands in
his great warm ones, ssktd her again the
cause Of her distress. She could only fsl-
ter between her sobs that her father was
sick, and both he and her mother were
hungry. Come, said he, and show me
where thy father lives Her hand in his,
the child led her companion TO her home,
and what a sad and desolate home it was.
The stranger saw before him upon a bed
a dying man, and by his side a weeping
woman, worn almost to emasiation by
anxious watching and abstinence from food
for she had long stinted herself. in her
great wifely Ard motherly love, the longer
TO supply the needs of husband and child.
The stranger read the sad story at q
glance; it needed no inspiration. Advanc-
ing with a gentle step, his face beaming
with tenderness, With one hand laid upon
the brow of the dying husband, and the
other extended to the weeping wife, which
she eagerly seized in both Eer own, he
spoke a few words of comfort and then
suddenly and somewhat hastily withdrew.
The husband turned his dying eyes to-
wards his wife, aud for the first time seem
ed to realize that death was near. In a
voice scarcely audible, he told her he
should soon leave her and his little dsugli-
ter; that a bright angel had appeared
to him, and, touching him on the forehead
had whispered words of comfort, which
disnelied all dnubt and fear All darkness