The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-15
The widow of the Pine Cottage.

1t was Saturday night and the
widow of the Pine Cottage sat by her
blazing fagots, with her five tattered
children at her side, endeavoring by
listening to the artlessn ess of their
prattle to-dissipate the heavy gloom
that pressed upon her mind. For a
year her own feeble hand had pro-
vided for her helpless family, for she
had no supporter; she thought of no
friend in all the wide unfriendly world
around.
But that mysterious Providence, the
wisdom of whose ways is above hui
man comprehension, had visited her
with wasting sickness and her little
means had been exhausted. 1t was
now, too, midwinter and the snow lay
heavy and deep thru all the surround
ing forests, while storms still seemed
gathering in the heavens, and the
driving wind roared among the neigh
boring pines and rocked her tiny
mansion.
The last herring smoked upon the
Goals before her; it was the only ar
ticle of food she possessed and no
wonder her forlorn and desolate state
brought up in her lone bosom all the
anxieties of mother. when she
looked upon her children; and no
wonder. forlorn as she was, If she
suffered the heart swellings of despair
to rise, even tho she knew that He,
whose promise is to the widow and
orphan. cannot forget HIS word.
Providence had many years before
taken from her her eldest son, who
went from his forest home to try his
fortune on the high seas. since which
she had heard no tidings of him; and
in her latter time had, by the hand
Of death, deprived her of the COM
panion and staff other early Pilgrim
age in the person of her husband.
Yet to this hour she had upborne;
she had not only been able to pro-
vide for her little flock. but had never
lost an opportunity of ministering to
the wants of the miserable and desti-
tute.
The indolent may well bear with
poverty, while the ability to gain sus-
tenance remains. The individual who
has but his own wants to supply may
suffer with fortitude the winter of
want; his affections are not wounded,
his heart not wrung. The most desc
late in populous cities may hope, for
charity has not quite closed her hand
and heart and shut her eyes on mis-
cry.
But the industrious mother of help
less and dependent children, far from
the reach of human charity, has none
Of these to console her. And such a
one was the widow of the Pine Cot
tage; but as she bent over the fire. and
| took up the last Scanty remnant of
food to spread before her children.
her Splits seemed to brighten up, as
by some sudden, mysterious impulse,
and Cowper's beautiful lines came I'M
called across her mind:
"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind frowning Providence
He hides smiling face"
TIE smoked herring was scarcely
laid upon the table when a gentle rap
at the door. and loud barking of a
dog, attracted the attention of the
family. The children flew to open
I it and a weary traveller in tattered
garments and apparently Indifferent
health entered and Begged a lodging
and a mouthful of food. Said he, ut
is now twenty-four hours since 1 have
tasted bread" The widows heart
bled anew as under fresh complica-
ton of distresses; for her sympathies
fingered not around her fireside. She
hesitated not even now; rest and a
share of all she had she proffered to
the stranger. I'VE shall not be for
saken," said she, 'or suffer deeper for
an act of charity"
The traveller drew neark the board,
but when he saw the scanty fare he
raised his eyes toward heaven with
establishment. "And is this all your
store 2" said he, land a share of this
you offer to one you know not? Then
never saw 1 charity beforei But,
madam" said he continuing, do you
mot wrong your children by giving a